Fic: I Will Buy You A New Life: Chapter Twelve
Title: I Will Buy You A New Life. SEQUEL to Where Your Flowers Can Bloom, which is a sequel to I Will Buy You A Garden.
Pairings: House/Cuddy
Rating: I'm pretty sure PG-13 will work.
Chapter: Twelve of ?
Disclaimer: I don't own House M.D. nor the characters. I don't make any money from this.
Summary: After House and Cuddy decided to give their relationship a try and raise their daughter, Sarah, together, we catch up with them seven years later. Sarah is a teenager, House has an emerging medical problem, and Cuddy's trying to keep her eye on both of them.
(Start from the beginning.)
Sarah opened the front door and stepped inside her home. She readjusted her backpack strap on her shoulder as she shut the door behind her.
“Hey, I’m home!” Sarah called out, wondering where in the house her parents were.
“Hi, hun!” Cuddy’s voice came from the direction of the kitchen.
“Hi, Mom,” Sarah replied and made her way down the hall. She stopped at the living room and peeked inside. “Hey, Dad.”
House looked to the doorway from his spot on the couch. He gave a small smile. “Hey, Mick.”
Sarah let her backpack drop to the floor as she crossed to the couch and plopped down on the end. “How are you feeling?”
“All right,” House answered with a shrug. “Tired.”
“Still have a fever?” she asked.
“No, it’s gone down.” House nodded toward the television. “Want to watch Buffy?”
Sarah shifted. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
House gave her a look. “If it’s about a transplant, you-”
“No,” Sarah cut him off. “It’s not. I don’t want to interview Grandma anymore.”
House’s eyebrows drew together. “Why?”
“I’m changing my topic,” Sarah told him. “To organ donation.”
House shook his head slightly. “Mick-”
“And I can interview you,” Sarah quickly jumped in. “Please, Dad.”
“I don’t think I’m the best interviewee,” House said. “Especially with the whole drug tie in.”
“But, that’s part of my project,” Sarah replied. “Medications that damage the body, which leads to the need for new organs. I’m going to cover people whose organs were damaged from toxins and those who need organs simply because theirs weren’t good enough. Please, Dad, please?”
“I guess,” House gave in, finding it difficult to say no.
“Thanks!” A smile brightened Sarah’s face. “Want to start now?”
“How about tomorrow after school?” House suggested, not feeling up to it today.
Sarah frowned. “I have to play for Pediatrics tomorrow.”
“Wednesday?” House tried.
“Okay,” Sarah agreed, her smile spreading again.
Cuddy entered the room, a glass of water in her hand. She gave a smile to Sarah as she crossed to House.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Cuddy greeted. “How was school?” Cuddy handed the glass of water to House. “Here.”
“Thanks.” House took the glass and sipped from it.
“School was fine,” Sarah told her mother. “Dad said he’ll let me interview him for my English project.”
Cuddy’s eyebrows drew together, confused since she thought Sarah was doing her project on Alzheimer’s. “What topic are you doing?”
“Organ donation,” Sarah answered.
“Oh.” Cuddy nodded. “That’s great.”
“Yeah.” Sarah stood to her feet. “I’m gonna go practice my music for tomorrow.” She turned to her father. “Buffy later, Dad?”
“Sure.” House gave her a tight smile.
Sarah returned the smile and headed out of the living room, taking her backpack with her. Cuddy sat where Sarah had previously been and gave a pat on House’s legs.
“How are you feeling?”
“Shitty,” House answered.
“Want me to help you to bed?” Cuddy asked him.
“No.” House nodded toward the television. “I’m just going to watch some TV.”
Cuddy raised her eyebrows. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
“Lisa.” House brought his eyes to her. “Don’t worry so much. You’re making the both of us crazy.”
“Sorry.” Cuddy gave another pat to his legs. “I’m just worried about you.”
House placed his hand on Cuddy’s and gave a gentle squeeze. “I know.”
Sarah approached the dining room table and took the seat next to her mother. She looked down at her plate before bringing her eyes to Cuddy and frowning.
“Is Dad eating?” Sarah asked.
Cuddy shook her head. “No. He’s in bed, but he said he still wants to watch Buffy with you later.”
Sarah looked down at her plate, but she wasn’t feeling very hungry. She brought her attention back to Cuddy. “Mom?”
Cuddy set her glass down. “Yeah, hun?”
“I can make him better,” Sarah said.
“You don’t know that,” Cuddy replied in a softened tone.
“My liver might make him better,” Sarah insisted. “You could at least test me.”
“Sarah, it’s not easy to make this kind of decision,” Cuddy told her, reaching over and brushing some of her daughter’s hair back. “It’s not black and white.”
Sarah’s eyebrows drew together. “I know. I want to do this.” Tears began to fall from Sarah’s eyes. “I can’t live thinking that he died when I could have saved him. I don’t want to lose my dad, Mom.”
Cuddy reached over and pulled her daughter into a hug. Sarah cried against her mother’s shoulder and Cuddy tried to hold back her own tears.
“You’re not going to lose your dad, okay?” Cuddy stroked Sarah’s hair.
“You can’t promise me that,” Sarah mumbled against Cuddy.
Cuddy held tighter onto her daughter, knowing that Sarah was right and she couldn’t promise her that she wouldn’t lose her father.
House turned slightly in bed, watching as Cuddy pulled back the covers on her side of the bed.
“What are you doing?” House asked.
“Getting in bed,” Cuddy answered as she climbed in beside him.
House raised his eyebrows. “It’s a little early for you, don’t you think?”
“I,” Cuddy hesitated slightly, “want to be near you.”
“You think I’m going to die,” House said.
“Maybe,” Cuddy replied.
House shook his head slightly. “I’m not going to die.”
“You could,” Cuddy pointed out and turned in to face him. “You might. You need a liver.” She paused, biting her bottom lip for a moment. “I want to take Sarah to get the tests done.”
“No.” House rested on his back.
“Dr. Meyers hinted he’d do it if it was critical and we had no other options,” Cuddy told him.
“No,” House said again.
“Greg...” Cuddy tried to blink back her tears.
House looked to Cuddy. “I won’t let her. She could die having surgery.”
“I know.” Cuddy swiped her tears away. “But, she has a really good chance of making a quick recovery.”
“And if something goes wrong?” House asked.
“Then, she dies,” Cuddy harshly answered. “And you’ll die. And I will be all alone. I know the risks, Greg. And I also know what Sarah thinks about this. If you die, she’ll blame herself.”
“No, she won’t,” House replied. “She’ll blame us.”
“And every day you’re not here, she’ll wonder if she could have helped you,” Cuddy spat back.
“Let her wonder,” House snapped.
“God damn it, Greg!”
Cuddy flopped onto her back, too angry for tears now. House let out a sigh and sat up, wincing against the soreness and pain he felt in his body.
“All right, fine.” House looked to Cuddy. “Say she doesn't die, but my body rejects her liver. How about that guilt?”
“But, at least she’ll know she tried.” Cuddy sat up as well. “We’ll take her to Meyers and see what he says.”
“I can’t, Lisa,” House told her. “I can’t make her go through that.”
“So, you’ll have her go through the mourning process over your death instead?” Cuddy asked.
House raised his eyebrows. “Are you trying to guilt me?”
“I’m trying to talk about this,” Cuddy clarified.
House shook his head and rested back down. He turned slightly away from Cuddy, but not enough to put pressure on his right thigh. Cuddy stared down at him and took a deep breath.
“We’ll take her to Meyers,” House grumbled, not looking at Cuddy. “But, I don’t want her liver unless I’m nearly dead.”
“Okay,” Cuddy agreed.
House turned onto his back, his eyes locking with Cuddy’s. “Promise me you’ll hold off as long as possible.”
“I promise you,” Cuddy said. “She’s my daughter, too. I don’t want her to go through this either.”
“You’re giving her permission,” House pointed out.
“If she was an adult, you’d already have her liver,” Cuddy replied.
“But, she’s not an adult.” House paused, a sigh passing over his lips. “What if she dies and I live, Lisa? I wouldn’t want to live knowing I caused my daughter’s death.”
“Fine.” Cuddy shrugged. “We won’t let her.”
Cuddy reached over and turned off the lamp. She rested down beside House. After a few minutes passed, Cuddy looked over at House.
“I just don’t want her to go through life thinking she could have saved your life if only we let her.”
House turned his head in her direction. “We still have time.”
He found Cuddy’s hand under the blanket and linked his fingers within hers. Cuddy felt tears prick her eyes again and she directed them to the ceiling.
“Yeah,” Cuddy whispered, almost too quite for House to hear. “But, not much.”
Chapter Thirteen.
Pairings: House/Cuddy
Rating: I'm pretty sure PG-13 will work.
Chapter: Twelve of ?
Disclaimer: I don't own House M.D. nor the characters. I don't make any money from this.
Summary: After House and Cuddy decided to give their relationship a try and raise their daughter, Sarah, together, we catch up with them seven years later. Sarah is a teenager, House has an emerging medical problem, and Cuddy's trying to keep her eye on both of them.
(Start from the beginning.)
Sarah opened the front door and stepped inside her home. She readjusted her backpack strap on her shoulder as she shut the door behind her.
“Hey, I’m home!” Sarah called out, wondering where in the house her parents were.
“Hi, hun!” Cuddy’s voice came from the direction of the kitchen.
“Hi, Mom,” Sarah replied and made her way down the hall. She stopped at the living room and peeked inside. “Hey, Dad.”
House looked to the doorway from his spot on the couch. He gave a small smile. “Hey, Mick.”
Sarah let her backpack drop to the floor as she crossed to the couch and plopped down on the end. “How are you feeling?”
“All right,” House answered with a shrug. “Tired.”
“Still have a fever?” she asked.
“No, it’s gone down.” House nodded toward the television. “Want to watch Buffy?”
Sarah shifted. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
House gave her a look. “If it’s about a transplant, you-”
“No,” Sarah cut him off. “It’s not. I don’t want to interview Grandma anymore.”
House’s eyebrows drew together. “Why?”
“I’m changing my topic,” Sarah told him. “To organ donation.”
House shook his head slightly. “Mick-”
“And I can interview you,” Sarah quickly jumped in. “Please, Dad.”
“I don’t think I’m the best interviewee,” House said. “Especially with the whole drug tie in.”
“But, that’s part of my project,” Sarah replied. “Medications that damage the body, which leads to the need for new organs. I’m going to cover people whose organs were damaged from toxins and those who need organs simply because theirs weren’t good enough. Please, Dad, please?”
“I guess,” House gave in, finding it difficult to say no.
“Thanks!” A smile brightened Sarah’s face. “Want to start now?”
“How about tomorrow after school?” House suggested, not feeling up to it today.
Sarah frowned. “I have to play for Pediatrics tomorrow.”
“Wednesday?” House tried.
“Okay,” Sarah agreed, her smile spreading again.
Cuddy entered the room, a glass of water in her hand. She gave a smile to Sarah as she crossed to House.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Cuddy greeted. “How was school?” Cuddy handed the glass of water to House. “Here.”
“Thanks.” House took the glass and sipped from it.
“School was fine,” Sarah told her mother. “Dad said he’ll let me interview him for my English project.”
Cuddy’s eyebrows drew together, confused since she thought Sarah was doing her project on Alzheimer’s. “What topic are you doing?”
“Organ donation,” Sarah answered.
“Oh.” Cuddy nodded. “That’s great.”
“Yeah.” Sarah stood to her feet. “I’m gonna go practice my music for tomorrow.” She turned to her father. “Buffy later, Dad?”
“Sure.” House gave her a tight smile.
Sarah returned the smile and headed out of the living room, taking her backpack with her. Cuddy sat where Sarah had previously been and gave a pat on House’s legs.
“How are you feeling?”
“Shitty,” House answered.
“Want me to help you to bed?” Cuddy asked him.
“No.” House nodded toward the television. “I’m just going to watch some TV.”
Cuddy raised her eyebrows. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
“Lisa.” House brought his eyes to her. “Don’t worry so much. You’re making the both of us crazy.”
“Sorry.” Cuddy gave another pat to his legs. “I’m just worried about you.”
House placed his hand on Cuddy’s and gave a gentle squeeze. “I know.”
Sarah approached the dining room table and took the seat next to her mother. She looked down at her plate before bringing her eyes to Cuddy and frowning.
“Is Dad eating?” Sarah asked.
Cuddy shook her head. “No. He’s in bed, but he said he still wants to watch Buffy with you later.”
Sarah looked down at her plate, but she wasn’t feeling very hungry. She brought her attention back to Cuddy. “Mom?”
Cuddy set her glass down. “Yeah, hun?”
“I can make him better,” Sarah said.
“You don’t know that,” Cuddy replied in a softened tone.
“My liver might make him better,” Sarah insisted. “You could at least test me.”
“Sarah, it’s not easy to make this kind of decision,” Cuddy told her, reaching over and brushing some of her daughter’s hair back. “It’s not black and white.”
Sarah’s eyebrows drew together. “I know. I want to do this.” Tears began to fall from Sarah’s eyes. “I can’t live thinking that he died when I could have saved him. I don’t want to lose my dad, Mom.”
Cuddy reached over and pulled her daughter into a hug. Sarah cried against her mother’s shoulder and Cuddy tried to hold back her own tears.
“You’re not going to lose your dad, okay?” Cuddy stroked Sarah’s hair.
“You can’t promise me that,” Sarah mumbled against Cuddy.
Cuddy held tighter onto her daughter, knowing that Sarah was right and she couldn’t promise her that she wouldn’t lose her father.
House turned slightly in bed, watching as Cuddy pulled back the covers on her side of the bed.
“What are you doing?” House asked.
“Getting in bed,” Cuddy answered as she climbed in beside him.
House raised his eyebrows. “It’s a little early for you, don’t you think?”
“I,” Cuddy hesitated slightly, “want to be near you.”
“You think I’m going to die,” House said.
“Maybe,” Cuddy replied.
House shook his head slightly. “I’m not going to die.”
“You could,” Cuddy pointed out and turned in to face him. “You might. You need a liver.” She paused, biting her bottom lip for a moment. “I want to take Sarah to get the tests done.”
“No.” House rested on his back.
“Dr. Meyers hinted he’d do it if it was critical and we had no other options,” Cuddy told him.
“No,” House said again.
“Greg...” Cuddy tried to blink back her tears.
House looked to Cuddy. “I won’t let her. She could die having surgery.”
“I know.” Cuddy swiped her tears away. “But, she has a really good chance of making a quick recovery.”
“And if something goes wrong?” House asked.
“Then, she dies,” Cuddy harshly answered. “And you’ll die. And I will be all alone. I know the risks, Greg. And I also know what Sarah thinks about this. If you die, she’ll blame herself.”
“No, she won’t,” House replied. “She’ll blame us.”
“And every day you’re not here, she’ll wonder if she could have helped you,” Cuddy spat back.
“Let her wonder,” House snapped.
“God damn it, Greg!”
Cuddy flopped onto her back, too angry for tears now. House let out a sigh and sat up, wincing against the soreness and pain he felt in his body.
“All right, fine.” House looked to Cuddy. “Say she doesn't die, but my body rejects her liver. How about that guilt?”
“But, at least she’ll know she tried.” Cuddy sat up as well. “We’ll take her to Meyers and see what he says.”
“I can’t, Lisa,” House told her. “I can’t make her go through that.”
“So, you’ll have her go through the mourning process over your death instead?” Cuddy asked.
House raised his eyebrows. “Are you trying to guilt me?”
“I’m trying to talk about this,” Cuddy clarified.
House shook his head and rested back down. He turned slightly away from Cuddy, but not enough to put pressure on his right thigh. Cuddy stared down at him and took a deep breath.
“We’ll take her to Meyers,” House grumbled, not looking at Cuddy. “But, I don’t want her liver unless I’m nearly dead.”
“Okay,” Cuddy agreed.
House turned onto his back, his eyes locking with Cuddy’s. “Promise me you’ll hold off as long as possible.”
“I promise you,” Cuddy said. “She’s my daughter, too. I don’t want her to go through this either.”
“You’re giving her permission,” House pointed out.
“If she was an adult, you’d already have her liver,” Cuddy replied.
“But, she’s not an adult.” House paused, a sigh passing over his lips. “What if she dies and I live, Lisa? I wouldn’t want to live knowing I caused my daughter’s death.”
“Fine.” Cuddy shrugged. “We won’t let her.”
Cuddy reached over and turned off the lamp. She rested down beside House. After a few minutes passed, Cuddy looked over at House.
“I just don’t want her to go through life thinking she could have saved your life if only we let her.”
House turned his head in her direction. “We still have time.”
He found Cuddy’s hand under the blanket and linked his fingers within hers. Cuddy felt tears prick her eyes again and she directed them to the ceiling.
“Yeah,” Cuddy whispered, almost too quite for House to hear. “But, not much.”
Chapter Thirteen.