(no subject)
Chapter 4 - Give me a reason
House sat before the piano, flapping the keys violently, like a self-assured ad-libber on a concert playing for his audience’s enjoyment, though enjoyable was the last attribute one could brand the sounds coming from his direction. He mixed up every second chord, and was hardly concentrating on the melody, his mind was rather occupied by Wilson, and by that damn test!
’I shouldn’t have to push it! It must be a misunderstanding! Maybe I got her words wrong! I was 22 for God’s shake! Way much younger than this self-satisfied kid, who trys to play the man ! Jesus! I was not sure what I was doig at that age, nor was she! Hah… I have to admit it to myself at least! If we did this…than…’
He couldn’t finish his train of thought, because a white folder landed on the piano like in a pre-calculated film scene.
Wilson was standing next to the piano, his hands on his waist, looking extreamly angry, as House could hardly see him before.
"You have left before I got the results back. I was looking for you over an hour! Than I’m idiot, tried to find the room of your young patient. What’s his name? Ah! Jimmy Peterson! You know the boy with the hereditary diseas…By the way, he sends his love as well as he has informed me, that he is fine, there’s no need to worry, his state is very satisfying compared to the other 70 years old stroke patients in the hospital! I’m sure that his mommy would be very glad to know that his one-night love-affair was finally not fruitful. I sure hope that you can explain this! Whose samples were those at all? And please don’t tell me that they were Vougler’s and Formen’s or…"
"Stop it Wilson! The samples were MINE…!" - House was still staring at the results in complete disbelief…staring for such a long time that Wilson had to ask:
"Are you alright? House? What’s the matter with you? You look pale…is it your leg again? House?"
"No. No. I’m perfectly fine Wilson…I have a son…" -he didn’t know why on earth did he tell this to Wilson, he just had to tell it to someone, this was too much for him, way too much!
"You have a what?"
"You heared right. I have a son…"
"Oh God! Stacy?"
"Nooo!...Starts with the letter C."
"Cuddy…?"
"Hell no, you idiot!"
"Who than?
"Chloe…"
"Chloe? Chloe who? I have never heared about her, have I?"
"As for me I hoped you never will."
"But…House! A baby? How? When? I mean, you have been dating a women meanwhile you acted like the bachelor of the year… and…and now she has your child and you ignore her! it’s ridiculous! Why didn’t you tell me at least? I thought we…"
"Yes, we are…but this women…I couldn’t…she…she…she died Wilson!"
"Died! And the baby? Where’s the baby? House!"
"The baby is fine, Wilson…perfectly fine so far…"
"So far? What do you mean?"
"He’s pretty much a BIG baby, as it were,…so…"
"How ’BIG’?"
"From the outside or from the inside you mean?"
"It’s not funny! And it’s not some kind of a joke, is it!"
"No, Wilson, it’s not a joke, I wish it were indeed. But THIS is very serious, I’m afraid, if your do-gooder was right."
"He’s a specialist…that would be rather impossible…"
"Than I’m not joking." - he wanted to tell the truth, but how? It was even unbelievable enough for him. And what could Wilson do? He knew nothing about Chloe, nothing about his past, and nothing about the big mistake he made so many years ago. How could he explain that? How could he explain what he was aware of now, that he was no more than a 22 years old irresponsible kid with false expectations and that Chloe was right when she left him. She must have known it better, that he was not ready for having a baby then, not at any level, that he had other dreams, that he was too young, that he simply wouldn’t be able to take the responsibility of it. Now he saw everything in a different light, saw Chloe as he have never seen her before, being guilty, but judicious at the same time.
"How old is he House?"
"Who?"
"Your son of course! You must have seen him, if you got that sample…"
"I was 22… and… well, Wilson, you were right…"
"In what?"
"I was kidding."
"What? Wait? This was…"
"A joke, you goofy!"
"Oh! You son of a …! God! How could you be..?...be…"
"It’s alright Wilson! Calm down! And, by the way, the samples were my cousin’s, a bad family tradition, you know. He just wanted to be sure. That’s it."
"That’s it?"
"Yeah. That’s it. And now, if you excuse me, I had a long day…"
"Hah, what? You just …you just…!"
"Umm, yes exactly…good night Wilson!"
Wilson just stood there looking after House with his mounth slightly open, like a gargoyle , trying not to fling the iron candlestick after him.
House sat on the edge of his bed, thinking.
’That’s just great! I have a son, we work together, we hate each other and we both hate Chloe and Rowan Chase, wondeful. It couldn’t be more bizarre. I must talk to Lizzy!"
"Hi! Lizzy, it’s Greg!"
"You?"
"Please don’t put it down Lizzy. I have to talk about it…"
"About what?"
"About my son!"
"I didn’t know you have one…"
"Stop playing your game Lizzy! I know it! I know it for sure! And now, please tell me what I should have heared before ages!"
"Are you sure you would like to hear it?"
"Of course! Chase is my son after all…I just have no idea what to do with this fact…"
"Will you tell him?"
"I don’t know yet.."
"Rowan wanted to…"
"Rowan?"
"What were you thinking? Why did he visit you before he died? Not because he wanted to consult with Wilson! He had specialists in Australia! He went there to tell you! He wanted to see Chase, he loved him Greg, that’s why he finally kept his secret. You wanted to hear the truth, now here it is! Chloe didn’t love you any more, she liked you, but that flame was over. She met Rowan at a birthday party, our parents knew each other, and so my dad invited him. He was very handsome, older than Chloe and was offered a job back home in Australia, so he was planning to move back to Sydney soon after finishing his studies in the States. He asked Chloe to marry him and she said ’yes’. She made a mistake when she kept on going out with you without telling the truth, I think she liked you both somehow, she didn’t want to hurt you Greg.
A week after we left, she realised that she is pregnant. She was not sure whether the baby was from you or from Rowan, so she kept in silence. She had a lot to lose Greg! Rowan had everything you could never offer her then, you were a nice guy, but too young and not ready to be a father! Immediately after Robert was born she found out that he is yours. He had your blood group. Chloe had A, Rowan had B and Chase had O. But I don’t think I have to explain this to you, you are a doctor yourself. Rowan was so happy, he loved this kid, he had no suspicions. Robert was 6, when he had his tonsils out. By that time Chloe couldn’t take this lie any longer, she wanted to tell you, she wanted to tell Rowan, but the things got extreamly complicated, so she started drinking. Not too much at first, but when Robert got sick, the dismay and the fear that Rowan will find out made everything from bad to worse. On the day they took Robert to the hospital, she got very drunk by the time Rowan got home. She talked through the hat, they had a huge argument, and finally she offered a remark about you and Robert. Rowan rushed into the hospital and asked for a paternity test and the rest you know. He has never told it to Robert, and forbade it to Chloe too. He loved Robert, he didn’t want to hurt the kid, but everything changed. They had arguments every day and finally Rowan left them. The only thing he told Robert was that he and his mother could not get along with each other any longer. After the divorce Chloe went on drinking, more and more, and Robert had to deal with it. She decided not to mention you to Robert, but about two weeks before she died, she asked Rowan to tell you the truth, to let Robert know you. That’s why a few years later he called you and asked to employ Robert in the Princeton Plainsboro. I don’t know his reasons Greg, why he did keep it back from Robert, I tried to convince him that telling him would be the best thing to do, but he was adamant, he said that Robert is his son, no matter who his biological father is, he was the one who brought him up and that nothing could change it.
"But how? He is still sore at him for leaving him alone, for letting his mother die, for ignoring him without a reason!"
"Rowan had his faults as any of us! But he did love Robert…in his own way…I realised it int he end… knowing about you didn’t make him a better person Greg. His pride got hurt, he could not look at Robert without bitterness. When he got to know about his lung cancer, he came to see me. I hated him Greg, I can tell you! Hated him for everything, for Chloe, for Robert, but still, it was my Chloe who have turned down his offer, to stay together, to forget about it, to stop drinking, she couldn’t be helped, Rowan tried but he got weary of it, that’s why I forgave him finally. He felt sorry for Robert, for everything he had to go through because of his selfishness. He promised me that he will tell you that Robert isn’t there without a reason, beside you. "
"And he has forgotten it as far as I know."
"As you have forgotten to tell Robert about his lung cancer."
"That’s not the same!"
"No. Not the same."
"And now? What should I do now? I don’t think he loves me too much after certain events…if I tell him…he would freak out…if he would believe it at all…"
"Look, Greg, I can’t tell you what to do. You two got a chance finally. Try to take it. That’s all I can say, that’s what Chloe wanted, that’s what I want, but the decision is yours. Take care! By Greg!"
"Thank you Lizzy…for telling me…I’ll call you…by!"
House sat before the piano, flapping the keys violently, like a self-assured ad-libber on a concert playing for his audience’s enjoyment, though enjoyable was the last attribute one could brand the sounds coming from his direction. He mixed up every second chord, and was hardly concentrating on the melody, his mind was rather occupied by Wilson, and by that damn test!
’I shouldn’t have to push it! It must be a misunderstanding! Maybe I got her words wrong! I was 22 for God’s shake! Way much younger than this self-satisfied kid, who trys to play the man ! Jesus! I was not sure what I was doig at that age, nor was she! Hah… I have to admit it to myself at least! If we did this…than…’
He couldn’t finish his train of thought, because a white folder landed on the piano like in a pre-calculated film scene.
Wilson was standing next to the piano, his hands on his waist, looking extreamly angry, as House could hardly see him before.
"You have left before I got the results back. I was looking for you over an hour! Than I’m idiot, tried to find the room of your young patient. What’s his name? Ah! Jimmy Peterson! You know the boy with the hereditary diseas…By the way, he sends his love as well as he has informed me, that he is fine, there’s no need to worry, his state is very satisfying compared to the other 70 years old stroke patients in the hospital! I’m sure that his mommy would be very glad to know that his one-night love-affair was finally not fruitful. I sure hope that you can explain this! Whose samples were those at all? And please don’t tell me that they were Vougler’s and Formen’s or…"
"Stop it Wilson! The samples were MINE…!" - House was still staring at the results in complete disbelief…staring for such a long time that Wilson had to ask:
"Are you alright? House? What’s the matter with you? You look pale…is it your leg again? House?"
"No. No. I’m perfectly fine Wilson…I have a son…" -he didn’t know why on earth did he tell this to Wilson, he just had to tell it to someone, this was too much for him, way too much!
"You have a what?"
"You heared right. I have a son…"
"Oh God! Stacy?"
"Nooo!...Starts with the letter C."
"Cuddy…?"
"Hell no, you idiot!"
"Who than?
"Chloe…"
"Chloe? Chloe who? I have never heared about her, have I?"
"As for me I hoped you never will."
"But…House! A baby? How? When? I mean, you have been dating a women meanwhile you acted like the bachelor of the year… and…and now she has your child and you ignore her! it’s ridiculous! Why didn’t you tell me at least? I thought we…"
"Yes, we are…but this women…I couldn’t…she…she…she died Wilson!"
"Died! And the baby? Where’s the baby? House!"
"The baby is fine, Wilson…perfectly fine so far…"
"So far? What do you mean?"
"He’s pretty much a BIG baby, as it were,…so…"
"How ’BIG’?"
"From the outside or from the inside you mean?"
"It’s not funny! And it’s not some kind of a joke, is it!"
"No, Wilson, it’s not a joke, I wish it were indeed. But THIS is very serious, I’m afraid, if your do-gooder was right."
"He’s a specialist…that would be rather impossible…"
"Than I’m not joking." - he wanted to tell the truth, but how? It was even unbelievable enough for him. And what could Wilson do? He knew nothing about Chloe, nothing about his past, and nothing about the big mistake he made so many years ago. How could he explain that? How could he explain what he was aware of now, that he was no more than a 22 years old irresponsible kid with false expectations and that Chloe was right when she left him. She must have known it better, that he was not ready for having a baby then, not at any level, that he had other dreams, that he was too young, that he simply wouldn’t be able to take the responsibility of it. Now he saw everything in a different light, saw Chloe as he have never seen her before, being guilty, but judicious at the same time.
"How old is he House?"
"Who?"
"Your son of course! You must have seen him, if you got that sample…"
"I was 22… and… well, Wilson, you were right…"
"In what?"
"I was kidding."
"What? Wait? This was…"
"A joke, you goofy!"
"Oh! You son of a …! God! How could you be..?...be…"
"It’s alright Wilson! Calm down! And, by the way, the samples were my cousin’s, a bad family tradition, you know. He just wanted to be sure. That’s it."
"That’s it?"
"Yeah. That’s it. And now, if you excuse me, I had a long day…"
"Hah, what? You just …you just…!"
"Umm, yes exactly…good night Wilson!"
Wilson just stood there looking after House with his mounth slightly open, like a gargoyle , trying not to fling the iron candlestick after him.
House sat on the edge of his bed, thinking.
’That’s just great! I have a son, we work together, we hate each other and we both hate Chloe and Rowan Chase, wondeful. It couldn’t be more bizarre. I must talk to Lizzy!"
"Hi! Lizzy, it’s Greg!"
"You?"
"Please don’t put it down Lizzy. I have to talk about it…"
"About what?"
"About my son!"
"I didn’t know you have one…"
"Stop playing your game Lizzy! I know it! I know it for sure! And now, please tell me what I should have heared before ages!"
"Are you sure you would like to hear it?"
"Of course! Chase is my son after all…I just have no idea what to do with this fact…"
"Will you tell him?"
"I don’t know yet.."
"Rowan wanted to…"
"Rowan?"
"What were you thinking? Why did he visit you before he died? Not because he wanted to consult with Wilson! He had specialists in Australia! He went there to tell you! He wanted to see Chase, he loved him Greg, that’s why he finally kept his secret. You wanted to hear the truth, now here it is! Chloe didn’t love you any more, she liked you, but that flame was over. She met Rowan at a birthday party, our parents knew each other, and so my dad invited him. He was very handsome, older than Chloe and was offered a job back home in Australia, so he was planning to move back to Sydney soon after finishing his studies in the States. He asked Chloe to marry him and she said ’yes’. She made a mistake when she kept on going out with you without telling the truth, I think she liked you both somehow, she didn’t want to hurt you Greg.
A week after we left, she realised that she is pregnant. She was not sure whether the baby was from you or from Rowan, so she kept in silence. She had a lot to lose Greg! Rowan had everything you could never offer her then, you were a nice guy, but too young and not ready to be a father! Immediately after Robert was born she found out that he is yours. He had your blood group. Chloe had A, Rowan had B and Chase had O. But I don’t think I have to explain this to you, you are a doctor yourself. Rowan was so happy, he loved this kid, he had no suspicions. Robert was 6, when he had his tonsils out. By that time Chloe couldn’t take this lie any longer, she wanted to tell you, she wanted to tell Rowan, but the things got extreamly complicated, so she started drinking. Not too much at first, but when Robert got sick, the dismay and the fear that Rowan will find out made everything from bad to worse. On the day they took Robert to the hospital, she got very drunk by the time Rowan got home. She talked through the hat, they had a huge argument, and finally she offered a remark about you and Robert. Rowan rushed into the hospital and asked for a paternity test and the rest you know. He has never told it to Robert, and forbade it to Chloe too. He loved Robert, he didn’t want to hurt the kid, but everything changed. They had arguments every day and finally Rowan left them. The only thing he told Robert was that he and his mother could not get along with each other any longer. After the divorce Chloe went on drinking, more and more, and Robert had to deal with it. She decided not to mention you to Robert, but about two weeks before she died, she asked Rowan to tell you the truth, to let Robert know you. That’s why a few years later he called you and asked to employ Robert in the Princeton Plainsboro. I don’t know his reasons Greg, why he did keep it back from Robert, I tried to convince him that telling him would be the best thing to do, but he was adamant, he said that Robert is his son, no matter who his biological father is, he was the one who brought him up and that nothing could change it.
"But how? He is still sore at him for leaving him alone, for letting his mother die, for ignoring him without a reason!"
"Rowan had his faults as any of us! But he did love Robert…in his own way…I realised it int he end… knowing about you didn’t make him a better person Greg. His pride got hurt, he could not look at Robert without bitterness. When he got to know about his lung cancer, he came to see me. I hated him Greg, I can tell you! Hated him for everything, for Chloe, for Robert, but still, it was my Chloe who have turned down his offer, to stay together, to forget about it, to stop drinking, she couldn’t be helped, Rowan tried but he got weary of it, that’s why I forgave him finally. He felt sorry for Robert, for everything he had to go through because of his selfishness. He promised me that he will tell you that Robert isn’t there without a reason, beside you. "
"And he has forgotten it as far as I know."
"As you have forgotten to tell Robert about his lung cancer."
"That’s not the same!"
"No. Not the same."
"And now? What should I do now? I don’t think he loves me too much after certain events…if I tell him…he would freak out…if he would believe it at all…"
"Look, Greg, I can’t tell you what to do. You two got a chance finally. Try to take it. That’s all I can say, that’s what Chloe wanted, that’s what I want, but the decision is yours. Take care! By Greg!"
"Thank you Lizzy…for telling me…I’ll call you…by!"