THE THINGS THAT ONE TAMES - CHAPTER 37/39
A Forever Knight/House, M.D. Crossover
AUTHOR: A.S. NightBird
WRITTEN: April 2006
PAIRINGS: House/Cameron, Nick/Natalie, Strong Wilson/House Friendship
RATING: FOR MATURE ADULTS - This story contains profanity and adult sexual situations.
SUMMARY: A Forever Knight/House, M.D. Crossover - House meets the ultimate medical challenge. For Steve McQueen fans, he plays a prominent role in this story.
See Disclaimers, Author's Notes, etc. in Part 1.
CHAPTER 37
Once everyone settled down, House made an announcement. "I think you can go home, Nick. There's no reason for you to stay here any longer." He scribbled something on a prescription pad, tearing off the sheet and handing it to Natalie. "Here's my home phone, office phone, cell and pager. Any problems, any questions, don't hesitate to call immediately. I don't care what time it is. Okay?"
She took the slip from him. "Yes, thanks."
House removed the hep-lock from Nick's wrist and placed a Band-Aid on the spot. Knight looked at it, thinking how odd it was that the wound didn't heal immediately.
"I'll call Henry to come get us." Greg tossed him his cell phone. After making the arrangement, Nick turned to everyone. He handed each one a card he took from his wallet. It contained his name, address, home phone number, cell phone number and email address. "I don't know how I can ever thank you all enough for what you've done for me ... for us." He put his arm around Natalie. "I can assure you, we'll always consider you our friends. You will always be a part of our lives. Our home is always open to you. And I promise you that none of you will ever want for anything. We'll always be here for you."
Greg took the card. "You're welcome, but it's really not necessary. As a certain doctor once said, 'Solving a puzzle is its own reward.'" He winked at Natalie. She grinned when she heard him repeat her words that she'd spoken so many years before.
Cuddy gave everyone the next couple days off.
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"Will there be anything else tonight, Nick?" Henry asked once he'd opened the limo door.
"No, Henry. Thank you. We'll be fine," Nick said as he and Natalie headed to the front door.
"You must be exhausted." He studied her closely.
"I'm tired, yes, but too excited right now to even consider sleeping." She squeezed his hand.
They went into the drawing room and sat down in front of the roaring fire. A woman in her early 50s with greying hair entered the room. "Hi, Martha. This is Dr. Natalie Lambert. Nat, this is Martha Taylor, the best housekeeper in all of New Jersey."
Martha blushed and waved her hand at him. "Very pleased to meet you, Dr. Lambert. Nick has told me so much about you over the years that I feel I already know you." She shook the younger woman's hand.
"Oh he has, has he?" She playfully punched Nick in the side. "It's very nice to meet you, too, and please ... I hate formality. Please call me 'Natalie'."
"Certainly. Can I get anything for you two?"
"How about some of that rocky road marshmallow ice cream?" He glanced at Nat. She nodded her head fervently, making Nick chuckle.
"Right away!"
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They'd finished their ice cream and had been quietly talking while curled up on the couch together. Natalie gazed deeply into his eyes. "I always knew Janette was watching me, even though I never saw any evidence of it. I could sense it, though."
"Really?" His eyebrows rose.
"Yeah. It was a feeling I had. And I knew she was telling you everything that was happening in my life. I wasn't sure at first ... when the sunflowers came on my birthday with no card, I knew they were from you. And the roses for Valentine's Day and gifts and flowers at Christmas ... again with no cards. But when the flowers came after my promotion, there was no doubt in my mind that she was watching."
"I hope that didn't disturb you in any way."
"No, believe it or not, I found it oddly comforting. It was as if she was a thread tying us together. I never knew where you were, but somehow I felt you close to me."
Nick leaned in and kissed her. "I never stopped loving you. I was terrified you'd hate me for what happened. I never, ever wanted to hurt you. Can you ever forgive me?"
"There was never anything to forgive, Nick." She took his hand in hers and squeezed it tight. "I knew the risk I was taking. I don't blame you for anything. I never did. I knew you were also the reason I survived. I was deeply saddened that you left without seeing me, but I understood that, too. None of that matters anymore now, anyway." She drew him close and kissed him.
Nick gently pulled away, got off the couch, got down on one knee in front of her and took her hand. "Dr. Natalie Lambert, I love you with all my heart and soul. You charmed me with your beauty, strength, intelligence, warmth, kindness, and sweet personality. Since meeting you, there's never been another woman I've wanted more. Now that it's possible, I want to spend the rest of my life with you." He reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out the ring box, opened it and presented it to her. She gasped. "Natalie Lambert, will you marry me?"
Tears started to pour down her cheeks. "Yes. Yes, Nick. I will." She threw her arms around his neck and slid off the couch to join him on the floor. They kissed, then he put the ring on her finger. "It's the most beautiful ring I've ever seen!"
They stood up. Nick swept her off her feet into his arms and carried her to their bedroom.
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Greg opened the door to his townhouse and was greeted by a squeak. "Hi, Steve." When the rat heard the familiar voice, he started running around his cage, squeaking frantically. "Geez, I guess you've really missed me." He chuckled. "Truth is, I've missed you, too."
Tossing his jacket and cane on the end of the couch, he retrieved the water bottle and food dish and hobbled into the kitchen. He poured himself three fingers of Scotch, rinsed and refilled the water bottle and food dish and grabbed an Oreo cookie, then headed into the living room.
He placed the items on the coffee table, picked up the folded towel, and reached his hand in the cage. Steve jumped right onto his palm. Sitting on the couch, he opened the towel on his lap and settled the rat on top. Immediately, he snuggled against Greg's belly and nuzzled his free hand, which earned him an affectionate scratch behind the ears. "How about this?" The rat stood on his hind legs and squeaked as he sniffed the cookie. Twisting it open, House handed him the part without the icing. "I get the good stuff," he told him, popping it into his mouth.
As the rat ate the treat, House talked to him. "A lot sure has happened in the past two and a half weeks. Allison and I have been getting along pretty well ... when I haven't been an asshole, of course." Steve's beady little eyes studied him as he kept munching on the cookie. "You know how I told you I didn't understand how I could love you and not a person? Well, I do really. It's just so difficult for me to trust anyone ... after Dad ... and Stacy. But Allison ... she just seems to take me as I am, yet won't let me get away with any shit. She stands up to me when I act like an idiot." Greg picked up his glass of Scotch and took a long sip.
Steve finished eating and pushed his way under House's hand. He began to idly stroke the animal's fur. "I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. Nick and Wilson have been talking to me a lot. What they say makes sense. And watching Nick and Natalie together. It's amazing how she still loves him, even though he nearly killed her. Of course, he didn't mean to...." He picked up the rat with both hands. They rubbed noses. Steve squeaked. "Yeah, I love you, too, but I need to go to sleep. I have to get up early."
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