FIC: Learned Fools 2/? (Rated PG-13)
See disclaimers and spoilers in Chapter 1.
0o0
In all the years they'd been chasing after him Sydney rarely had had the chance to talk to the people Jarod interacted and worked with alone. So before they had entered the hospital, Sydney had informed Parker that he wouldn't be accompanying her into the meeting with the dean. He also wanted to meet with the doctor Jarod had worked under because of the respected, almost reverential reputation this man had earned as a brilliant diagnostician.
Sydney watched his companions until after they were shown inside Dr. Cuddy's office before walking over to the front desk where a doctor now stood reading a chart. “Excuse me, Doctor -” The younger man turned to face him and Sydney noted he had warm friendly brown eyes, much like Jarod's.
“Wilson,” he answered, then asked, “How can I help you?”
“Might you know where I could find Doctor House?”
Wilson checked his watch, “He's probably in his office. I'd show you myself if I were about to head up to my office but I'm on duty here in the clinic.”
Sydney nodded, “I'm sure I'll be able to find it. Thank you, Doctor Wilson.” He started for the elevators when he heard Dr. Wilson's voice again.
“Ask one of the nurses at the station if you have any trouble finding it!”
Sydney turned to give the other doctor an acknowledging thank you nod before pushing the button for the elevator. By the time time he had stepped in and the doors closed behind him, Sydney's thoughts had already returned to the doctor he was about to meet with. Besides the fact he had unknowingly helped the Centre to steal away Jarod's life, the other thing Sydney hated working for them was the virtual isolation he had from the outside medical community.
The elevator stopped and the doors opened revealing the fourth floor. Upon exiting Sydney almost turned to the right but decided he walked straight forward instead, deciding that if he didn't find the office he was looking for he simply do as Dr. Wilson had said and find a nurse to help him. He was pleased to discover he had chosen the right route because as he passed by an empty conference room he found the glass door with “Gregory House, M.D.” written on the door leading into the Diagnostics department.
The desk in the room was without an occupant but the movement near the door didn't take long to catch Sydney's eye. In the lounger chair that had been situated near the room's door sat a man with his eyes closed and his right leg propped up on the ottoman in front of him. Even without ever having met this man Sydney could see severe pain etched in this man's face as he rubbed his thigh vigorously with both hands.
Taking in his appearance Sydney wasn't sure that this man was the doctor he sought to talk to as the man certainly didn't dress as most doctors did
Sydney opened the door and spoke, “Dr. House?”
“I think that's what the letters on my door said the last time I checked.”
Knowing the other half of his reputation as well as knowing Parker for so long really should have helped Sydney to not be surprised or shocked by his words which were dripping with rude, heavy sarcasm. Nonetheless Sydney found himself taken aback and speechless long enough to cause the other doctor to open his eyes to glare at the intruder standing in his doorway.
“Well?” House growled, “Who are you and what do you want?”
Sydney stepped further into the office far enough to let the door close behind him, “I'm Dr. Sydney Ritter, and I hope I can talk with you a few minutes about-”
“You're a psychiatrist.” It was a statement, not a question.
This caught Sydney somewhat by surprise, “I beg your pardon?”
“I said you're a psychiatrist, a head shrinker, a Freud loving charlatan who is trying to pass himself off as a doctor amongst those of all who are the actual real doctors. Furthermore, as a psychiatrist you make your living off of the emotional misery of other people while at the same time you reap the personal benefit of satisfying your own need for perverse jollies. Did they send you?”
“I'm sorry but I don't know whom it is you when you say 'they', Dr. House,” Sydney replied.
“They as in Drs. Cuddy and Wilson.”
“I've never met Dr. Cuddy. As for Dr. Wilson, I-”
House swore getting up slowly from his chair, his breathing momentarily sharp from the fact his thigh was screaming like a banshee for having been disturbed. “Go back wherever it is Wilson found you because I don't need any psychiatric analization or the counseling crap that goes along with it.” House all but shoved his way past Sydney and because he was disabled Sydney elected to take a step back to let him pass without protest.
For a few seconds Sydney just watched him limp his way past, stunned at the contempt he had heard in the other doctor's voice and words. Sydney knew House's reputation said he wasn't the easiest person in the world to get along with but he hadn't expected to be met with such hostility. As he finally shook himself from the shock, Sydney followed House back towards the elevator only to find the door closing his very dark face. Sydney pushed the button, and wait for another to come knowing that maybe it was better that he didn't accompany House to wherever he was headed.
Probably the dean's office, he mused as he stepped into the elevator himself and as the doors closed, Maybe I should have given Parker the first round with Dr. House after all.