I Got You Babe: Part One of Two
Title: I Got You Babe
Pairings: House/Cuddy
Rating: R - language mostly and slight references to not so nice things.
Chapter: 1/2
Disclaimer: I don't own House M.D. nor the characters.
Summary: A prison inmate becomes a patient of House's and attempts an escape, taking hostages in the process.
Author's Note: I'm really uncertain about posting this... And I could probably have fleshed this out, but I'm not for various reasons that have to do with other fics I'm working on. Um. It's a two parter, which I regret and wish I could post as one whole one chapter fic, but the page length is kind of long, so... Two parter. Yep. That's it. Oh! And those was totally inspired by a news article a couple weeks/month ago.
House entered Cuddy’s office and offered himself grandly to her. “How can I service you today?”
Cuddy glanced up from her desk, unimpressed. “You’ve got a case coming in.”
“Right.” House gave her a nod.
Cuddy looked back up at him, eyebrows drawn. “You already know?”
“I always have a case coming in,” he said.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “His name is Casey Dawson. They’re bringing him over from the prison. I just wanted to warn you that he’ll have an officer with him at all times. Don’t do anything stupid.”
“Like provoke him?” House asked. “Or give him firearms?”
“Just behave,” she told him and directed herself back to her work.
“What did he do?” House raised an eyebrow curiously.
“Murdered a lot of people.” Cuddy flipped a chart closed.
House took a step closer to her desk. “And we’re giving him medical treatment?”
“Other doctors can’t figure it out,” she replied and pulled out a folder from the middle of a stack.
“I guess I can give it a go.” House gave a shrug.
Cuddy raised her eyes to him. “You will, you’ll make him better, and we’ll send him back.”
“Gotcha, boss.” House gave an affirmative nod. “Just make sure you don’t get too close. Being locked up without a woman for so long, he’ll probably jump the first thing with yabbos. And since yours are like a beacon, I could only assume-”
“Out!” Cuddy commanded, glaring, and watched as House left, a smirk on his face.
___________________________________
“Is this your brilliant idea?” Cuddy demanded, storming into the hospital room.
“I’m with a patient.” House indicated the man in ankle shackles.
“This is urgent.” Cuddy raised the document with her forged signature on it.
“I don’t even know what that is.” House milked his innocence. “Besides, you might want to leave now. Me and Robocop are going to get the convict to radiology.”
Cuddy looked from House to the wheelchair next to the hospital bed and then to the cop standing next to the wheelchair. She directed her eyes back to House and nodded before heading back to the door.
The sound of gunfire made Cuddy jump and she spun around quickly. The convict, Casey Dawson, had managed to retrieve the gun from the officer and shoot him. The injured officer was on the ground as blood began to ooze from his wound.
Casey knocked House to the floor and grabbed Cuddy quickly, almost tripping on his ankle shackles in the process. Two officers entered the room, guns drawn, and froze as Casey placed the gun in his hand against Cuddy’s head.
“Don’t.” Casey warned, clutching tighter onto Cuddy. “Or she dies.”
“Or you die,” one of the officers replied, his gun aimed.
“You think I’m joking?” Casey asked.
Casey moved the gun and shot at House, who was massaging his thigh which he landed hard on. The bullet narrowly missed him. Cuddy let out a cry and the gun was back against her head.
“I think I might’ve killed your partner, too.” Casey nodded toward the officer on the floor.
Both cops looked to the fallen police officer and the blood pooling around him. They looked back to Casey.
“If you get out of this room and meet my demands,” Casey began, sweat forming on his brow, “I’ll let the doctors go.”
“We’re not giving you hostages, Dawson,” the other officer told him.
“They’re going to be casualties soon,” Casey shot back. “You can take the cripple doctor with you. Leave us.” Casey gave a glance at the injured cop. “He seems to be bleeding out pretty well.” He looked back at Cuddy. “You’re a doctor, right? How long do you think he has left?”
Casey turned his body slightly, keeping his view on the police officers while allowing Cuddy to get a glimpse of the wounded officer. He jammed the gun harder against her head.
“How long?”
“I... I don’t know...” Cuddy stared down at the pale officer as he bled out. “He needs surgery. Without it, maybe... twenty minutes. Tops.”
“Twenty minutes,” Casey told the other two officers. “That’s all you get. After that, I’ll kill her.” Casey indicated Cuddy and then nodded towards House. “And him, too.”
“Allow us to take Gryziec from the room, Casey,” the first officer said.
“Fine.” Casey pulled Cuddy away from the injured officer.
The first officer took a few steps closer to the one on the floor. “I’ll take him while Officer Ide will stay-”
“No!” Casey exclaimed. “No one stays!”
“What if the doctor took him out?” the second officer suggested.
“No,” Casey answered.
“I’m not touching him.” House frowned, looking up at the officer from his place on the floor.
“House,” Cuddy warned.
“Ted Bundy tried to kill me,” House replied, now looking to Cuddy.
“Shut up!” Casey exclaimed. “Everyone. Get out. Now!”
Casey held on to Cuddy even tighter and shot again at House, missing for the second time. He also took another shot at the wounded officer.
Casey shook his head. “I swear to God, if you don’t leave-”
“We’re backing out, all right?” the second officer raised his palm and took a step backward. “Just... don’t hurt anyone else.”
“Take the cop with you.” Casey nodded to the man he shot. “I hate blood. And take that asshole too.”
Casey gave a nod to House. House shook his head as he sat on the floor with his back against the wall.
“I’m not going anywhere,” House said in response.
“Get out,” Casey told him. “Now.”
“No,” House replied.
Cuddy glared. “House.”
“Yeah, Dr. House,” Casey nodded. “Get the hell out of here.”
“Come on, Dr. House,” the second officer waved a hand to House. “Do as he says-”
“Or I’ll kill you,” Casey cut in.
House rolled his eyes. “Yeah, ‘cause I’ve never been shot before.”
“All right.” Casey straightened up. “The wise ass doc stays along with this one. Everyone else out. Now.”
The first officer dragged the injured officer out, leaving a trail of blood behind him. Casey demanded that all the blinds be shut and covering the door as well, leaving the remaining three in semi darkness.
Casey pulled Cuddy over to the hospital bed and pulled her down on top of him. He rested calmly against the pillows while Cuddy was awkwardly situated against him, the gun to her head.
“You’re gorgeous, you know.” Casey told her, getting a clear view down her shirt from behind her. “Nice tits.”
“Great ass,” House commented from his place on the floor.
“Yeah, man,” Casey agreed, smirking.
Casey reached down with his free hand and slid it along Cuddy’s side before sliding it underneath her and giving her buttocks a tight squeeze. Cuddy tensed, sucking in a harsh breath. House watched, making sure things didn’t go too far.
“God, I just wanna bang her.” Casey’s eyes were back on her breasts.
Casey’s hand moved around Cuddy’s body and down her thigh. Cuddy couldn’t hold back the whimper of fear as Casey’s hand skimmed back up, catching her skirt and raising it.
“Might not want to do that now,” House said.
“Why?” Casey stopped. “You gotta thing for her?”
“No, but the moment you’re on top of her, they’ll shoot your brains all over that wall,” House told him. “Pretty horrific experience for the both of you. Not so much for you because you’ll be dead. Her, on the other hand, will be covered in blood, brain matter, your dead body missing half or all of-.”
“Okay, I get it,” Casey cut him off.
The knock on the door caused Casey to remove his hand from Cuddy’s thigh and tighten his grip on her. He looked to House.
“Who the hell is it?” Casey whispered to House.
“Who the hell are you?” House called out to the covered door.
“My name is Arnold McAllister,” a deep voice spoke from the other side of the door. “I was hoping we could talk things over, Casey. Maybe get you to allow Dr. House and Dr. Cuddy to leave.”
“Tell him I want a plane ticket out of here,” Casey told House.
“He wants a plane to get out of here,” House called to the door and then looked back to Casey. “Yeah, like they’re going to let you on a plane.”
“And I want two hundred thousand dollars!” Casey called out, not speaking through House anymore.
“Where is it that you want to go, Casey?” Arnold asked.
“They’re not going to let you on a plane,” House repeated.
“Shut up, House,” Cuddy glared across the room.
“Hey!” Casey tightened his grip and Cuddy let out a cry before her air was cut off by Casey’s arm around her throat. “Don’t talk to him.”
“She can’t breathe,” House indicated Cuddy with a nod.
Casey shook his head. “I can’t think.”
“You all right in there, Casey?” Arnold spoke up.
“Shut up!” Casey called out to the door.
“If you don’t stop, you’re going to suffocate her,” House told him. “Unless you’re into necrophilia. In that case, continue.”
Casey loosened his grip and Cuddy quickly filled her lungs with air. “I want a ticket to Maine. And the money.”
“Maine?” House raised his eyebrows. “Why the hell do you want to go there? Wouldn’t you rather get a ticket to Mexico? Maui?” He switched into an Australian accent. “The Outback, mate?”
“My kid’s there,” Casey answered absently.
“You reproduced?” House couldn’t believe it.
“I need to see my kid,” Casey called towards the door.
“How about we get your kid on the phone, Casey?” Arnold tried. “Would you like to talk to your boy? Huh?”
“My ex-wife won’t let him talk to me,” Casey replied.
“Can’t imagine why.” House rolled his eyes.
“House, please, shut up,” Cuddy begged from the bed.
“Don’t talk to him!” Casey shouted.
“Casey, calm down,” Arnold spoke calmly through the door. “We’re calling Teresa right now.”
House stared at Casey. “So, did you start killing people before or after you started a family?”
“There was no answer,” Arnold said.
“She’s probably at work,” Casey replied. “Teresa was always good like that. Call the school. Call Mikey’s school and get him on the phone. I want my boy.”
“All right, hold on, Casey. We’re going to try Teresa’s work, okay?”
Casey shook his head violently and Cuddy flinched. “She won’t let me talk to him. Just call the school.”
“Give us a minute, all right?” Arnold asked. “Can you do that?”
“Yeah... sure,” Casey answered distractedly. “But, I want to talk to my son.”
“Okay, hold on.”
Casey waited a moment and then looked to House. “You got kids, Dr. House?”
“Hell no,” House replied.
“You?” Casey nudged Cuddy. “Dr. Cuddy, right?"
“Yes,” she answered. “And no. I don’t have kids.”
“Shame,” Casey told her. “Fucking best thing in the world havin’ a kid. I want to give him the money, you know? To get him through college. Maybe he could be a doctor like one of you.”
“He’d have to get addicted to Vicodin first,” House muttered.
Casey’s attention snapped to House. “You’re on drugs?”
“I don’t carry a cane and wince in pain for nothing,” House’s novelty sarcasm shone through.
“Give me a couple,” Casey demanded.
House shook his head slowly, his eyes narrowed. “I don’t like to share.”
“Casey, we have Teresa on the line.” Arnold jumped in. “She said she’ll let you talk to Mikey if you let the doctors go.”
“Dr. House can go after I talk to Mikey, but Dr. Cuddy stays with me until I get the money,” Casey instructed. “And the plane ticket. I still want to go and see my boy.”
Arnold was quiet for a moment, then spoke up. “We’ll work on one thing at a time, then. We’re calling the school now.”
“How old is your son?” Cuddy asked and then cleared her throat in an attempt to stave away her fear.
House raised his head. “Cuddy-”
“Shut up,” Casey cut House off and then looked down at Cuddy. “He’s ten.”
Cuddy stared across the room, her eyes locked with House’s, but her words directed to Casey. “Do you miss him?”
“Of course I miss him,” Casey answered. “Every damn day. He’s the only thing that keeps me from trying to kill myself.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.” House tore his eyes from Cuddy’s. “You’ve got life in prison. You’re never going to see him.”
“Maybe, but he’s still my son,” Casey said. “As long as he’s on this earth, I want to be, too.”
“Okay,” House dragged out the word. “However, I still think-”
“House, leave him alone,” Cuddy warned.
House looked to Cuddy. “Stockholm Syndrome already, Cuddy?”
“I said don’t talk to each other!” Casey exclaimed.
“What are we going to do?” House’s eyebrows drew together. “Plan an escape? I know you’re dense, but I’d think even you would notice that.”
“You should shut your fucking mouth,” Casey spat back.
“Casey?” Arnold asked. “Everything all right in there?”
“Yeah,” Casey answered, his eyes on House.
“We have your son on the line,” Arnold said. “We’re putting him through.”
The telephone in the hospital room rang loudly. Cuddy jumped and Casey leaned toward the side table, pulling Cuddy along with him. He picked up the receiver and held it to his ear.
“Hello?” Casey asked into the phone. “Mikey?”
Cuddy could hear the child’s voice coming through the line.
“Hi, Dad.”
“How’re things going, Mikey?” The excitement in Casey’s voice grew. “You doing well in baseball this year?”
“Yeah. I’m shortstop.”
“That’s my boy.” Casey beamed. “How are your grades? Keeping them up for your ol’ man?”
“Yeah, Dad.”
“That’s great, Mikey,” Casey replied.
“Dad, I was in science and I really want to go back.”
“Oh, right.” Cuddy sensed the disappointment in Casey’s voice. “Always loved science.”
“Yeah, so...”
“All right, Mikey,” Casey put on false happiness. “I’ll see you soon, okay? I love you.”
“‘Kay. Bye, Dad.”
The phone clicked and the boy hung up. Casey’s grip immediately tightened on Cuddy. He threw the receiver and it clattered to the floor. House’s eyes lifted from the phone to Cuddy, whose face indicated her fear.
“How was that, Casey?” Arnold asked.
“Mikey was scared of me!” Casey was outraged. “What did Teresa say to him?!”
“Nothing, Casey,” Arnold brightened his tone. “And Mikey wasn’t scared. He was in school, that’s all. Like you said, he loves science.”
“No.” Casey shook his head. “I want the plane ticket. Now!”
The volume of Casey’s voice made Cuddy squeeze her eyes shut. Casey was growing angry and she wasn’t worried as much for her life in this moment, but for House’s. She was well aware she was the ultimate leverage and House could simply serve as another casualty.
“Casey, please be reasonable,” Arnold’s voice softened a bit. “We have to find the right flight and get the ticket here. Not to mention figure out transportation.”
“Teresa has been messing up my boy’s mind.” Casey’s anger was fuming. “I bet she’s been telling him all kinds of lies.”
“Everybody lies,” House said.
Cuddy gave House a look that warned him not to even go there. House ignored it, of course, and stared simply at Casey.
“What?” Casey asked House.
“Everybody lies,” House repeated. “Your kid will learn that soon enough. Maybe he’ll even think you’re innocent.”
“Yeah, right,” Casey snarled. “Get out of here, Dr. House. I need to keep up my end of the agreement if I want to be taken seriously.”
“That’s right, Casey,” Arnold agreed. “Thank you.”
“I’m not leaving.” House shook his head lightly.
Casey’s eyebrows drew together. “What?”
Arnold’s voice came through. “Dr. House, you need-”
“I’m not leaving,” House interrupted coldly as he stared at Cuddy, “without her.”
Click for the Conclusion.
Pairings: House/Cuddy
Rating: R - language mostly and slight references to not so nice things.
Chapter: 1/2
Disclaimer: I don't own House M.D. nor the characters.
Summary: A prison inmate becomes a patient of House's and attempts an escape, taking hostages in the process.
Author's Note: I'm really uncertain about posting this... And I could probably have fleshed this out, but I'm not for various reasons that have to do with other fics I'm working on. Um. It's a two parter, which I regret and wish I could post as one whole one chapter fic, but the page length is kind of long, so... Two parter. Yep. That's it. Oh! And those was totally inspired by a news article a couple weeks/month ago.
House entered Cuddy’s office and offered himself grandly to her. “How can I service you today?”
Cuddy glanced up from her desk, unimpressed. “You’ve got a case coming in.”
“Right.” House gave her a nod.
Cuddy looked back up at him, eyebrows drawn. “You already know?”
“I always have a case coming in,” he said.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “His name is Casey Dawson. They’re bringing him over from the prison. I just wanted to warn you that he’ll have an officer with him at all times. Don’t do anything stupid.”
“Like provoke him?” House asked. “Or give him firearms?”
“Just behave,” she told him and directed herself back to her work.
“What did he do?” House raised an eyebrow curiously.
“Murdered a lot of people.” Cuddy flipped a chart closed.
House took a step closer to her desk. “And we’re giving him medical treatment?”
“Other doctors can’t figure it out,” she replied and pulled out a folder from the middle of a stack.
“I guess I can give it a go.” House gave a shrug.
Cuddy raised her eyes to him. “You will, you’ll make him better, and we’ll send him back.”
“Gotcha, boss.” House gave an affirmative nod. “Just make sure you don’t get too close. Being locked up without a woman for so long, he’ll probably jump the first thing with yabbos. And since yours are like a beacon, I could only assume-”
“Out!” Cuddy commanded, glaring, and watched as House left, a smirk on his face.
___________________________________
“Is this your brilliant idea?” Cuddy demanded, storming into the hospital room.
“I’m with a patient.” House indicated the man in ankle shackles.
“This is urgent.” Cuddy raised the document with her forged signature on it.
“I don’t even know what that is.” House milked his innocence. “Besides, you might want to leave now. Me and Robocop are going to get the convict to radiology.”
Cuddy looked from House to the wheelchair next to the hospital bed and then to the cop standing next to the wheelchair. She directed her eyes back to House and nodded before heading back to the door.
The sound of gunfire made Cuddy jump and she spun around quickly. The convict, Casey Dawson, had managed to retrieve the gun from the officer and shoot him. The injured officer was on the ground as blood began to ooze from his wound.
Casey knocked House to the floor and grabbed Cuddy quickly, almost tripping on his ankle shackles in the process. Two officers entered the room, guns drawn, and froze as Casey placed the gun in his hand against Cuddy’s head.
“Don’t.” Casey warned, clutching tighter onto Cuddy. “Or she dies.”
“Or you die,” one of the officers replied, his gun aimed.
“You think I’m joking?” Casey asked.
Casey moved the gun and shot at House, who was massaging his thigh which he landed hard on. The bullet narrowly missed him. Cuddy let out a cry and the gun was back against her head.
“I think I might’ve killed your partner, too.” Casey nodded toward the officer on the floor.
Both cops looked to the fallen police officer and the blood pooling around him. They looked back to Casey.
“If you get out of this room and meet my demands,” Casey began, sweat forming on his brow, “I’ll let the doctors go.”
“We’re not giving you hostages, Dawson,” the other officer told him.
“They’re going to be casualties soon,” Casey shot back. “You can take the cripple doctor with you. Leave us.” Casey gave a glance at the injured cop. “He seems to be bleeding out pretty well.” He looked back at Cuddy. “You’re a doctor, right? How long do you think he has left?”
Casey turned his body slightly, keeping his view on the police officers while allowing Cuddy to get a glimpse of the wounded officer. He jammed the gun harder against her head.
“How long?”
“I... I don’t know...” Cuddy stared down at the pale officer as he bled out. “He needs surgery. Without it, maybe... twenty minutes. Tops.”
“Twenty minutes,” Casey told the other two officers. “That’s all you get. After that, I’ll kill her.” Casey indicated Cuddy and then nodded towards House. “And him, too.”
“Allow us to take Gryziec from the room, Casey,” the first officer said.
“Fine.” Casey pulled Cuddy away from the injured officer.
The first officer took a few steps closer to the one on the floor. “I’ll take him while Officer Ide will stay-”
“No!” Casey exclaimed. “No one stays!”
“What if the doctor took him out?” the second officer suggested.
“No,” Casey answered.
“I’m not touching him.” House frowned, looking up at the officer from his place on the floor.
“House,” Cuddy warned.
“Ted Bundy tried to kill me,” House replied, now looking to Cuddy.
“Shut up!” Casey exclaimed. “Everyone. Get out. Now!”
Casey held on to Cuddy even tighter and shot again at House, missing for the second time. He also took another shot at the wounded officer.
Casey shook his head. “I swear to God, if you don’t leave-”
“We’re backing out, all right?” the second officer raised his palm and took a step backward. “Just... don’t hurt anyone else.”
“Take the cop with you.” Casey nodded to the man he shot. “I hate blood. And take that asshole too.”
Casey gave a nod to House. House shook his head as he sat on the floor with his back against the wall.
“I’m not going anywhere,” House said in response.
“Get out,” Casey told him. “Now.”
“No,” House replied.
Cuddy glared. “House.”
“Yeah, Dr. House,” Casey nodded. “Get the hell out of here.”
“Come on, Dr. House,” the second officer waved a hand to House. “Do as he says-”
“Or I’ll kill you,” Casey cut in.
House rolled his eyes. “Yeah, ‘cause I’ve never been shot before.”
“All right.” Casey straightened up. “The wise ass doc stays along with this one. Everyone else out. Now.”
The first officer dragged the injured officer out, leaving a trail of blood behind him. Casey demanded that all the blinds be shut and covering the door as well, leaving the remaining three in semi darkness.
Casey pulled Cuddy over to the hospital bed and pulled her down on top of him. He rested calmly against the pillows while Cuddy was awkwardly situated against him, the gun to her head.
“You’re gorgeous, you know.” Casey told her, getting a clear view down her shirt from behind her. “Nice tits.”
“Great ass,” House commented from his place on the floor.
“Yeah, man,” Casey agreed, smirking.
Casey reached down with his free hand and slid it along Cuddy’s side before sliding it underneath her and giving her buttocks a tight squeeze. Cuddy tensed, sucking in a harsh breath. House watched, making sure things didn’t go too far.
“God, I just wanna bang her.” Casey’s eyes were back on her breasts.
Casey’s hand moved around Cuddy’s body and down her thigh. Cuddy couldn’t hold back the whimper of fear as Casey’s hand skimmed back up, catching her skirt and raising it.
“Might not want to do that now,” House said.
“Why?” Casey stopped. “You gotta thing for her?”
“No, but the moment you’re on top of her, they’ll shoot your brains all over that wall,” House told him. “Pretty horrific experience for the both of you. Not so much for you because you’ll be dead. Her, on the other hand, will be covered in blood, brain matter, your dead body missing half or all of-.”
“Okay, I get it,” Casey cut him off.
The knock on the door caused Casey to remove his hand from Cuddy’s thigh and tighten his grip on her. He looked to House.
“Who the hell is it?” Casey whispered to House.
“Who the hell are you?” House called out to the covered door.
“My name is Arnold McAllister,” a deep voice spoke from the other side of the door. “I was hoping we could talk things over, Casey. Maybe get you to allow Dr. House and Dr. Cuddy to leave.”
“Tell him I want a plane ticket out of here,” Casey told House.
“He wants a plane to get out of here,” House called to the door and then looked back to Casey. “Yeah, like they’re going to let you on a plane.”
“And I want two hundred thousand dollars!” Casey called out, not speaking through House anymore.
“Where is it that you want to go, Casey?” Arnold asked.
“They’re not going to let you on a plane,” House repeated.
“Shut up, House,” Cuddy glared across the room.
“Hey!” Casey tightened his grip and Cuddy let out a cry before her air was cut off by Casey’s arm around her throat. “Don’t talk to him.”
“She can’t breathe,” House indicated Cuddy with a nod.
Casey shook his head. “I can’t think.”
“You all right in there, Casey?” Arnold spoke up.
“Shut up!” Casey called out to the door.
“If you don’t stop, you’re going to suffocate her,” House told him. “Unless you’re into necrophilia. In that case, continue.”
Casey loosened his grip and Cuddy quickly filled her lungs with air. “I want a ticket to Maine. And the money.”
“Maine?” House raised his eyebrows. “Why the hell do you want to go there? Wouldn’t you rather get a ticket to Mexico? Maui?” He switched into an Australian accent. “The Outback, mate?”
“My kid’s there,” Casey answered absently.
“You reproduced?” House couldn’t believe it.
“I need to see my kid,” Casey called towards the door.
“How about we get your kid on the phone, Casey?” Arnold tried. “Would you like to talk to your boy? Huh?”
“My ex-wife won’t let him talk to me,” Casey replied.
“Can’t imagine why.” House rolled his eyes.
“House, please, shut up,” Cuddy begged from the bed.
“Don’t talk to him!” Casey shouted.
“Casey, calm down,” Arnold spoke calmly through the door. “We’re calling Teresa right now.”
House stared at Casey. “So, did you start killing people before or after you started a family?”
“There was no answer,” Arnold said.
“She’s probably at work,” Casey replied. “Teresa was always good like that. Call the school. Call Mikey’s school and get him on the phone. I want my boy.”
“All right, hold on, Casey. We’re going to try Teresa’s work, okay?”
Casey shook his head violently and Cuddy flinched. “She won’t let me talk to him. Just call the school.”
“Give us a minute, all right?” Arnold asked. “Can you do that?”
“Yeah... sure,” Casey answered distractedly. “But, I want to talk to my son.”
“Okay, hold on.”
Casey waited a moment and then looked to House. “You got kids, Dr. House?”
“Hell no,” House replied.
“You?” Casey nudged Cuddy. “Dr. Cuddy, right?"
“Yes,” she answered. “And no. I don’t have kids.”
“Shame,” Casey told her. “Fucking best thing in the world havin’ a kid. I want to give him the money, you know? To get him through college. Maybe he could be a doctor like one of you.”
“He’d have to get addicted to Vicodin first,” House muttered.
Casey’s attention snapped to House. “You’re on drugs?”
“I don’t carry a cane and wince in pain for nothing,” House’s novelty sarcasm shone through.
“Give me a couple,” Casey demanded.
House shook his head slowly, his eyes narrowed. “I don’t like to share.”
“Casey, we have Teresa on the line.” Arnold jumped in. “She said she’ll let you talk to Mikey if you let the doctors go.”
“Dr. House can go after I talk to Mikey, but Dr. Cuddy stays with me until I get the money,” Casey instructed. “And the plane ticket. I still want to go and see my boy.”
Arnold was quiet for a moment, then spoke up. “We’ll work on one thing at a time, then. We’re calling the school now.”
“How old is your son?” Cuddy asked and then cleared her throat in an attempt to stave away her fear.
House raised his head. “Cuddy-”
“Shut up,” Casey cut House off and then looked down at Cuddy. “He’s ten.”
Cuddy stared across the room, her eyes locked with House’s, but her words directed to Casey. “Do you miss him?”
“Of course I miss him,” Casey answered. “Every damn day. He’s the only thing that keeps me from trying to kill myself.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.” House tore his eyes from Cuddy’s. “You’ve got life in prison. You’re never going to see him.”
“Maybe, but he’s still my son,” Casey said. “As long as he’s on this earth, I want to be, too.”
“Okay,” House dragged out the word. “However, I still think-”
“House, leave him alone,” Cuddy warned.
House looked to Cuddy. “Stockholm Syndrome already, Cuddy?”
“I said don’t talk to each other!” Casey exclaimed.
“What are we going to do?” House’s eyebrows drew together. “Plan an escape? I know you’re dense, but I’d think even you would notice that.”
“You should shut your fucking mouth,” Casey spat back.
“Casey?” Arnold asked. “Everything all right in there?”
“Yeah,” Casey answered, his eyes on House.
“We have your son on the line,” Arnold said. “We’re putting him through.”
The telephone in the hospital room rang loudly. Cuddy jumped and Casey leaned toward the side table, pulling Cuddy along with him. He picked up the receiver and held it to his ear.
“Hello?” Casey asked into the phone. “Mikey?”
Cuddy could hear the child’s voice coming through the line.
“Hi, Dad.”
“How’re things going, Mikey?” The excitement in Casey’s voice grew. “You doing well in baseball this year?”
“Yeah. I’m shortstop.”
“That’s my boy.” Casey beamed. “How are your grades? Keeping them up for your ol’ man?”
“Yeah, Dad.”
“That’s great, Mikey,” Casey replied.
“Dad, I was in science and I really want to go back.”
“Oh, right.” Cuddy sensed the disappointment in Casey’s voice. “Always loved science.”
“Yeah, so...”
“All right, Mikey,” Casey put on false happiness. “I’ll see you soon, okay? I love you.”
“‘Kay. Bye, Dad.”
The phone clicked and the boy hung up. Casey’s grip immediately tightened on Cuddy. He threw the receiver and it clattered to the floor. House’s eyes lifted from the phone to Cuddy, whose face indicated her fear.
“How was that, Casey?” Arnold asked.
“Mikey was scared of me!” Casey was outraged. “What did Teresa say to him?!”
“Nothing, Casey,” Arnold brightened his tone. “And Mikey wasn’t scared. He was in school, that’s all. Like you said, he loves science.”
“No.” Casey shook his head. “I want the plane ticket. Now!”
The volume of Casey’s voice made Cuddy squeeze her eyes shut. Casey was growing angry and she wasn’t worried as much for her life in this moment, but for House’s. She was well aware she was the ultimate leverage and House could simply serve as another casualty.
“Casey, please be reasonable,” Arnold’s voice softened a bit. “We have to find the right flight and get the ticket here. Not to mention figure out transportation.”
“Teresa has been messing up my boy’s mind.” Casey’s anger was fuming. “I bet she’s been telling him all kinds of lies.”
“Everybody lies,” House said.
Cuddy gave House a look that warned him not to even go there. House ignored it, of course, and stared simply at Casey.
“What?” Casey asked House.
“Everybody lies,” House repeated. “Your kid will learn that soon enough. Maybe he’ll even think you’re innocent.”
“Yeah, right,” Casey snarled. “Get out of here, Dr. House. I need to keep up my end of the agreement if I want to be taken seriously.”
“That’s right, Casey,” Arnold agreed. “Thank you.”
“I’m not leaving.” House shook his head lightly.
Casey’s eyebrows drew together. “What?”
Arnold’s voice came through. “Dr. House, you need-”
“I’m not leaving,” House interrupted coldly as he stared at Cuddy, “without her.”
Click for the Conclusion.