Second chapter, hope you'll enjoy it : ) thanks for your comments.
Cuddy just took Rachel to bed, the little girl has asked one more time if House would be there tomorrow morning when she’ll wake up. Cuddy tried to evade her question, but Rachel is stubborn and Cuddy had to tell her that House wasn’t there, that he left the town, and Rachel asked why and when her “dad” would be back to play with her and to watch the pirate cartoon with her, and when Cuddy left her bedroom, she heard the little girl speaking to House and asking him to come back because she misses him very much and her mother too. Cuddy is now sitting on her bed, she wanted to work but her mind is obsessed with House and what he’s done to her and to Rachel. She knows she never should have taken the “risk” to make out with him, to have a relationship with him, he told her at the end of this “magical day”, he told her : “I won’t change and I will do horrible things to you again” his words resound in her head, but … she didn’t want to believe him, she was so happy, so in love with him, the only thing she wanted at this time was to be with him, to be loved by him, to spend the most possible time with him, in his arms, tasting his lips, breathing him, feeling his body against hers. She refused to think of the consequences, she refused to let him go away one more time, she had waited more than 20 years to be with him! And now, now what? She feels so empty, he left a huge hole in her heart, as huge as the hole in her living-room that he made with his car. And unaware of it, she begins to shake more and more violently, and finally she bursts in tears. She cries a long time, and she’s still crying when the phone rings.
-Lisa Cuddy, she says with some sobs in the voice.
-Lisa? It’s Julia, what happens, you seem heart-struck! Are you ok?
-Yes, I’m fine, I’m just tired, don’t worry. What do you want?
-Lisa, I know you, you’re lying, I can hear in your voice that you’re not ok. Talk to me, Lisa, tell me what’s wrong.
-Julia, if you want or need something, tell me, otherwise leave me alone, I don’t want to talk, … about anything. Can you understand?
-Well, I … ok, but if you need to talk or something, you know I’m here…
-Yeah, I know, good night. And Cuddy hangs up. She knows she wasn’t very kind with Julia, but she thinks that Julia has a part of responsibility to what happened last week. If she hadn’t insisted to have lunch with Lisa and this guy from the coffee shop, nothing would have ever happened. At least not this horrible and scary thing. And maybe she could have find a way to talk to House and to get things better between them, Wilson told her House had decided to make things change, in a good way, he told her that House was willing to make amend to her and to win another chance with her. And she believes it, in the hall, when House pushed her against the wall, he told her it wasn’t her fault, and before in his hospital room, he told her he was wishing they could at least be back at the point they were before they started dating each other, with the teasers, the banters… the “old good time” to say the least. But she knows, and she knows that he knows too, that a simple back to “old good time” isn’t realistic, not after all they went through together, not after all these wonderful nights… after these tender moments they had together… It’s time to move on, to get over this beautiful but sad story, to find some peace, to try to live… to take a new start. And to manage to do it, she and Rachel have to move in another town, in another state… She gives herself two weeks to find the right place, and then no more hesitation, they’ll leave this place and all the memories which are associated to it. Yes, that’s the right thing to do, as someone used to say.
-Hey, Mister, do you want another drink?
-What?
-Do you want another drink? Your glass is empty.
House looks at his glass, then at the barman and nods. He needs one more cocktail to keep the pain away, to think rational however paradoxical it can appear. If he intends to settle himself here, he has to find a hospital where he can work. He turns to the barman and asks him:
-Is there a hospital here?
-A hospital? Are you feeling bad?
-No, no, I’m fine, I’m a doctor and I search a job, House replies.
-I understand, says the barman, you won’t have the choice, there is only one hospital in this town, you can’t miss it, go to the west and you’ll find it, it’s a brand new hospital, the old one has burnt 2 years ago.
- Thanks for the information, House says. After all, he has maybe a good star which watches over him. When he came here, he had no idea what he was doing, he really thought to stay here for one, maybe two weeks, and then to move in a big city. Now he could stay longer. Yup, tomorrow he’ll go to this hospital and try to get a job there. He’ll try to be a “good doctor”, to be a “good employee”, to behave like a responsible adult, and maybe in one year he can go back to Cuddy and prove her that he had changed, that he’s now someone on who she can count, and then … if he’s patient enough he can get back at her and win her heart again… But he knows that to be able to change for Cuddy, he has first to fight his own fears, his pain, not only the physical pain, but also the psychological pain. And that will be one of the great challenges of his new life. But it’s the price to pay to have a tiny chance to go back together with Cuddy, to be with his only love. If Wilson were there with him, he’d probably tell him that’s the first step on this hard road, an important step. But unfortunately Wilson is not here and House misses his friend and his advices. He can maybe call him…
-Mama! Mama!
-Rachel! What do you want, little shrimp? says Cuddy in a soft voice.
-I want to see House! We go to him! answers the little girl with a big smile and while jumping on her bed.
Cuddy looks at her, she can’t tell her the truth, it would break her little heart, she has to protect her from pain and from the cruel adult’s world.
-Rachel, sweety, you know that mommy has to work, I’ll tell Marina to go to the park with you so you can play with your friends, she says and smiles to her daughter.
-No, I want House, I want Dad! Rachel keeps saying and jumping.
-Ok, I promise you we’ll go to see him soon, but not today. Be a good girl and mommy will bring you a little surprise, ok?
The child stops jumping and looks at her mother. She is young but like every child she feels when her mother lies, when her mother is sad.
-Mommy, where is House? why you are sad? she says and stares at Cuddy.
-I’m not sad, Rachel, lies Cuddy, Mommy has a lot of work and is a little tired, but don’t worry, everything will be good. And she caresses Rachel’s head and gives her a kiss. Com’on, Rachel, let’s have breakfast, Marina will arrive soon.
And indeed, 5 minutes later Marina comes in the kitchen.
-Good morning, Doctor Cuddy, hello Rachel!
-Good morning, Marina. I have to go now, I have an important meeting this morning, see you, Cuddy says and leaves her house.
-Marina, Rachel says.
-Yes, do you want something? Marina asks and sits near the little girl.
-I have a secret, Rachel whispers.
-Oh really, Marina whispers her back. And do you want to share it with me?
Rachel looks seriously at Marina. After a few seconds, she seems to have taken a decision.
-Yes, but don’t tell mommy, it’s a surprise.
-I swear! Marina answers and raises her right hand.
-Mommy is sad, Dad is not here, I want to see him, I want him, Rachel says and shows the telephone to Marina. Please, and she gives her the telephone.
Marina looks the girl, surprised. She doesn’t know what to do. The Doctor Cuddy explained her briefly the situation, but Marina thinks that Rachel is right: both of them, the mother and the child, need this man, how crazy he may be. Marina saw Cuddy and House together, she saw the love between them, and then the pain they felt after the break up, but it’s not her business. She doesn’t want to intervene in Doctor Cuddy’s private life. But she must admit though that she understands what Rachel feels, the little girl has no more dad now, and her mother works a lot and late. Rachel’s face breaks her heart and she decides to do what the child wants.
-Ok, Rachel, I call Doctor House, but that will be our secret, you mustn’t tell your mommy, you promise?
-Yes! I promise, says Rachel with a big smile and a finger on her mouth.
-So, what do you want to tell Doctor House?
-I want him, I want him to play with me and to watch Scallywag, mommy doesn’t want.
-Ok, we tell him that, Marina says and takes the phone.
-And …, Rachel adds.
-And? asks Marina, surprised.
-And mommy is sad, says Rachel seriously.
-Ok.
Marina looks into Cuddy’s phone book and finds House’s number. Should I really do it or should I just pretend to do it? Marina hesitates, but the hope she sees in Rachel’s eyes gives her the courage to dial House’s number. They wait but no one answers, and then they hear the answering machine and House’s voice : “Hi, you’re on the phone of Gregory House, I can’t answer you right now, but leave me a message, biiiiip”.
-Hi, Dad, I want you, mommy is sad, come home! says Rachel, disappointed because her dad doesn’t speak to her.
-We’ll try again later, ok Rachel, Marina says. Do you want to cook some cookies?
Cuddy just took Rachel to bed, the little girl has asked one more time if House would be there tomorrow morning when she’ll wake up. Cuddy tried to evade her question, but Rachel is stubborn and Cuddy had to tell her that House wasn’t there, that he left the town, and Rachel asked why and when her “dad” would be back to play with her and to watch the pirate cartoon with her, and when Cuddy left her bedroom, she heard the little girl speaking to House and asking him to come back because she misses him very much and her mother too. Cuddy is now sitting on her bed, she wanted to work but her mind is obsessed with House and what he’s done to her and to Rachel. She knows she never should have taken the “risk” to make out with him, to have a relationship with him, he told her at the end of this “magical day”, he told her : “I won’t change and I will do horrible things to you again” his words resound in her head, but … she didn’t want to believe him, she was so happy, so in love with him, the only thing she wanted at this time was to be with him, to be loved by him, to spend the most possible time with him, in his arms, tasting his lips, breathing him, feeling his body against hers. She refused to think of the consequences, she refused to let him go away one more time, she had waited more than 20 years to be with him! And now, now what? She feels so empty, he left a huge hole in her heart, as huge as the hole in her living-room that he made with his car. And unaware of it, she begins to shake more and more violently, and finally she bursts in tears. She cries a long time, and she’s still crying when the phone rings.
-Lisa Cuddy, she says with some sobs in the voice.
-Lisa? It’s Julia, what happens, you seem heart-struck! Are you ok?
-Yes, I’m fine, I’m just tired, don’t worry. What do you want?
-Lisa, I know you, you’re lying, I can hear in your voice that you’re not ok. Talk to me, Lisa, tell me what’s wrong.
-Julia, if you want or need something, tell me, otherwise leave me alone, I don’t want to talk, … about anything. Can you understand?
-Well, I … ok, but if you need to talk or something, you know I’m here…
-Yeah, I know, good night. And Cuddy hangs up. She knows she wasn’t very kind with Julia, but she thinks that Julia has a part of responsibility to what happened last week. If she hadn’t insisted to have lunch with Lisa and this guy from the coffee shop, nothing would have ever happened. At least not this horrible and scary thing. And maybe she could have find a way to talk to House and to get things better between them, Wilson told her House had decided to make things change, in a good way, he told her that House was willing to make amend to her and to win another chance with her. And she believes it, in the hall, when House pushed her against the wall, he told her it wasn’t her fault, and before in his hospital room, he told her he was wishing they could at least be back at the point they were before they started dating each other, with the teasers, the banters… the “old good time” to say the least. But she knows, and she knows that he knows too, that a simple back to “old good time” isn’t realistic, not after all they went through together, not after all these wonderful nights… after these tender moments they had together… It’s time to move on, to get over this beautiful but sad story, to find some peace, to try to live… to take a new start. And to manage to do it, she and Rachel have to move in another town, in another state… She gives herself two weeks to find the right place, and then no more hesitation, they’ll leave this place and all the memories which are associated to it. Yes, that’s the right thing to do, as someone used to say.
-Hey, Mister, do you want another drink?
-What?
-Do you want another drink? Your glass is empty.
House looks at his glass, then at the barman and nods. He needs one more cocktail to keep the pain away, to think rational however paradoxical it can appear. If he intends to settle himself here, he has to find a hospital where he can work. He turns to the barman and asks him:
-Is there a hospital here?
-A hospital? Are you feeling bad?
-No, no, I’m fine, I’m a doctor and I search a job, House replies.
-I understand, says the barman, you won’t have the choice, there is only one hospital in this town, you can’t miss it, go to the west and you’ll find it, it’s a brand new hospital, the old one has burnt 2 years ago.
- Thanks for the information, House says. After all, he has maybe a good star which watches over him. When he came here, he had no idea what he was doing, he really thought to stay here for one, maybe two weeks, and then to move in a big city. Now he could stay longer. Yup, tomorrow he’ll go to this hospital and try to get a job there. He’ll try to be a “good doctor”, to be a “good employee”, to behave like a responsible adult, and maybe in one year he can go back to Cuddy and prove her that he had changed, that he’s now someone on who she can count, and then … if he’s patient enough he can get back at her and win her heart again… But he knows that to be able to change for Cuddy, he has first to fight his own fears, his pain, not only the physical pain, but also the psychological pain. And that will be one of the great challenges of his new life. But it’s the price to pay to have a tiny chance to go back together with Cuddy, to be with his only love. If Wilson were there with him, he’d probably tell him that’s the first step on this hard road, an important step. But unfortunately Wilson is not here and House misses his friend and his advices. He can maybe call him…
-Mama! Mama!
-Rachel! What do you want, little shrimp? says Cuddy in a soft voice.
-I want to see House! We go to him! answers the little girl with a big smile and while jumping on her bed.
Cuddy looks at her, she can’t tell her the truth, it would break her little heart, she has to protect her from pain and from the cruel adult’s world.
-Rachel, sweety, you know that mommy has to work, I’ll tell Marina to go to the park with you so you can play with your friends, she says and smiles to her daughter.
-No, I want House, I want Dad! Rachel keeps saying and jumping.
-Ok, I promise you we’ll go to see him soon, but not today. Be a good girl and mommy will bring you a little surprise, ok?
The child stops jumping and looks at her mother. She is young but like every child she feels when her mother lies, when her mother is sad.
-Mommy, where is House? why you are sad? she says and stares at Cuddy.
-I’m not sad, Rachel, lies Cuddy, Mommy has a lot of work and is a little tired, but don’t worry, everything will be good. And she caresses Rachel’s head and gives her a kiss. Com’on, Rachel, let’s have breakfast, Marina will arrive soon.
And indeed, 5 minutes later Marina comes in the kitchen.
-Good morning, Doctor Cuddy, hello Rachel!
-Good morning, Marina. I have to go now, I have an important meeting this morning, see you, Cuddy says and leaves her house.
-Marina, Rachel says.
-Yes, do you want something? Marina asks and sits near the little girl.
-I have a secret, Rachel whispers.
-Oh really, Marina whispers her back. And do you want to share it with me?
Rachel looks seriously at Marina. After a few seconds, she seems to have taken a decision.
-Yes, but don’t tell mommy, it’s a surprise.
-I swear! Marina answers and raises her right hand.
-Mommy is sad, Dad is not here, I want to see him, I want him, Rachel says and shows the telephone to Marina. Please, and she gives her the telephone.
Marina looks the girl, surprised. She doesn’t know what to do. The Doctor Cuddy explained her briefly the situation, but Marina thinks that Rachel is right: both of them, the mother and the child, need this man, how crazy he may be. Marina saw Cuddy and House together, she saw the love between them, and then the pain they felt after the break up, but it’s not her business. She doesn’t want to intervene in Doctor Cuddy’s private life. But she must admit though that she understands what Rachel feels, the little girl has no more dad now, and her mother works a lot and late. Rachel’s face breaks her heart and she decides to do what the child wants.
-Ok, Rachel, I call Doctor House, but that will be our secret, you mustn’t tell your mommy, you promise?
-Yes! I promise, says Rachel with a big smile and a finger on her mouth.
-So, what do you want to tell Doctor House?
-I want him, I want him to play with me and to watch Scallywag, mommy doesn’t want.
-Ok, we tell him that, Marina says and takes the phone.
-And …, Rachel adds.
-And? asks Marina, surprised.
-And mommy is sad, says Rachel seriously.
-Ok.
Marina looks into Cuddy’s phone book and finds House’s number. Should I really do it or should I just pretend to do it? Marina hesitates, but the hope she sees in Rachel’s eyes gives her the courage to dial House’s number. They wait but no one answers, and then they hear the answering machine and House’s voice : “Hi, you’re on the phone of Gregory House, I can’t answer you right now, but leave me a message, biiiiip”.
-Hi, Dad, I want you, mommy is sad, come home! says Rachel, disappointed because her dad doesn’t speak to her.
-We’ll try again later, ok Rachel, Marina says. Do you want to cook some cookies?
