Parisian Holiday Part 3
Several weeks trudged on in ennui. Clinic had been obnoxiously simple for House on a level that was sickening. Another prescription written, another patient thinking they were happier, safer or better. It depressed him beyond evidence. He saw so much more which always needed fixing but then he was just a Dr.-a Dr. who should be able to save them all, even if it meant the patient got in the way of being cured. The turn in good weather toward mid spring improved no one's mood. Cameron was short with House. Chase and Foreman were diligent about running tests and scans, but held no real interest like usual. Wilson avoided House often giving him knowing painful glances which made House only want to pop another Vicodin or watch another soap opera.
Even Cuddy's constant hen pecking over charts undone and prescriptions miswritten by House couldn't snap House out of his silent slump. Sometimes he wouldn't respond when spoken to. Cameron had even at one point mentioned she was the Queen of England and that she was in love with Spam and House had said nothing. He would simply nod his head, look at another case which was long old and memorize its contents, mumbling to himself, and growing paler everyday. Cameron's concern ate at her insides. She would leave his favorite meals since he hardly went out for food anymore--even Reuben sandwhiches, which he loved, he would pick at and Cameron would find the food thrown out.
One morning she had found herself watching him stare at the ceiling, looking at nothing, in a sort of daze. She had broken down crying and she didn't quite understand why. She knew she would care about him and maybe there was always more in her heart, but it was passivity to the horrors he would let consume himself that she hated most gloriously. She had never hated him more at that moment. That moment when she saw him in a haze. She wanted to run into his office and shake, slap, or even stab him so he would say or do something. His heart had been broken and she never thought he would be weak enough to let it dull the light of his brilliance. Her faith in him was shaken and she was now shaken. Cameron rubbed away the tears and resolved to fight for him even if he was too self-loathing to fight for himself. Wilson had been here before she knew and she understood why he had been keeping his distance. But she didn't care anymore that she cared...she only knew how she felt when she saw him like this...and it was hell.
Wilson had gone to Cuddy for a lot of support to keep himself on track. Wilson had in spite of his best efforts to remain detached from the situation had checked on House a few evenings back. He spoke to about it to Cuddy one sunny afternoon in her office. She was wearing a snug low cut top and large pearl earrings. Wilson smiled often at Cuddy's attempts to always remain professional. He had been watching her lately in a different way which he was trying to ignore.
"Cuddy, he wouldn't even answer the door for me. I saw him in the window just playing his piano and ignoring the knocks on the door. Cameron says he's not even eating and what he does eat she brings to him. The poor girl looked like she was out of her mind with worry over him. She wanted to have a meeting about it. I don't know though. Maybe we should leave it alone. Maybe this is how things are supposed to play out." Cuddy was thoughtful. She held her chin a little higher.
"Employee morale at a hospital is important. It does affect how efficiently the doctors communicate. If Cameron thinks its a problem, maybe we should have a meeting and then we can take an action plan from there."
Wilson nodded his head and scratched his head.
"Well, maybe. But what action?"
"We can talk to him."
"Who?" Wilson asked slowly.
"I don't know. You, me, and maybe Cameron, or Chase..."
"Oh, he'll love that. He gets off on attention." Wilson put his hands in his lab coat and raised his eyebrows.
"Besides, there's also another surprise for him in store soon. It might cheer him up."
"What?" Wilson asked curious.
"You'll see," Cuddy said with a coy glance.
************************************************** *
Later that afternoon Cuddy had made the time to assemble Chase, Foreman and Cameron. She had kept Wilson along as well since he intially had come to her with the concern. Although he felt slightly awkward sitting at Cuddy's side. Yet, it was strangely satisfying for Wilson to know he and and Cuddy could handle this whole debacle rationally. Chase was a bit aloof it seemed to Wilson, Foreman was quiet and solemn as usual, while Cameron remained ever presently open in spite of her dealing probably with the worst House he could even remember. Wilson imagined Chase was benefitting the most out of the whole situation. Cameron and Chase had been spending more time with each other during lunch breaks he had noticed. When he looked at Cameron he seemed happier than he should be. The three doctors under House all sat in separate chairs maintaining what they thought was a serious demeanor. Cuddy saw how they were barely holding themselves together. She closed her notebook and took off her glasses.
"Relax," Cuddy said. "All of you. I'm sorry the last few weeks have been so rough."
"More like hell," Foreman said. Wilson's face softened as Cameron glared at Foreman in concern. Cuddy and Chase exhaled.
"We need to talk to him and we would like your help," Wison finally said.
"Aren't you his friend?" Chase asked dubious.
"Yes, but your his colleagues on a daily basis. I don't have to see him.
Foreman scoffed.
"And what are we supposed to do? This is obviously a personal matter for the man. Can't you just talk to him as a friend?"
"I've tried. He won't even answer his door for me." Wilson responded quietly. Chase dipped his head a little. Cameron opened her notebook and started writing a few little notes. She had her glasses on now and was still trying to keep a professional demeanor about the whole thing.
"Can't you just force a leave of absence for the man?" Chase asked with his hand hung forward limply. It seemed a simple solution. Cameron winced. Wilson smirked and nodded his head.
"His mind needs stimulation. If we were to force him to leave, it would be worse for him to leave. He might end up quitting work all together," Wilson said.
"Well then, maybe he should face that. Just because he's brilliant at this job doesn't mean he shouldn't be held responsible for acting like an buffoon!" Chase exclaimed. "I mean, what about us?"
"If we can't communicate, we can't work," Foreman said with open hands. "It's a hostile work environment." Cameron winced a bit and parted her lips in contempt. She looked like she wanted to spit.
"When is working with House not hostile?" Cameron asked plainly.
"You're defending him again. I told you before about your little problem. We don't have that problem," Foreman said wagging his finger between him and Chase and then added, "Well maybe Wilson does." Wilson gawked a little. Cameron rolled her eyes. Cuddy watched in concern.
"Lay off Foreman!" Chase said, seeing Cameron perturbed. Foreman gave Chase a forced smile and held up both his hands in the air in reassurance. He would back off. Cuddy knew this was bad. House's alienation was affecting them all which could easily be argued that it wasn't beneficial for the hospital for him to remain in his position of authority. Cuddy grabbed at Wilson's arm. Wilson was getting sucked into the emotion. She could see that clearly. He glanced at her and pressed his lips together.
"Listen, I don't want to see my friend lose his job. House may be difficult, but all of us have seen how many lives he can and will save if he's properly motivated and nurtured. If anything, House is hurting, he can't deal with it, and any support we might give, could wake him up out of his slump. Now we have to come up with something for the sake of our friend," Wilson said.
"Especially now," Cuddy added, "One of the foremost Dr.'s in diagnostic medicine will be in residence in your department for a month. And we need your team together and functioning."
"Who?" asked Dr. Cameron. "I thought House was top of this field." Wilson's face fell a little and he put his face into his hands and rubbed his eyes. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Oh God Cuddy. Not her. Please tell me its not her." Cuddy's trepidation creased in a small polite smile. She nodded her head to say yes.
"When is she due to arrive?" Wilson asked exasperated. Foreman and Chase looked at Cameron. She was clueless as to what they were alluding to.
"Dr. Marcia Cole doesn't work in diagnostic medicine anymore. She's in oncology but she was once House's mentor in medical school for his diagnostic theories," Wilson said.
"Why is she a problem?" Foreman asked. Cuddy and Wilson looked at each other a little speechless.
"Let me guess," Cameron said with resolve. "She's difficult, stubborn, and her and House are at odds with each other all the time."
"You could say that," Wilson said. "Although I don't know why the people on the board would have approved a visitation to your department at this time. I certainly knew nothing about it. If I had, I probably wouldn't have approved the measure."
"I had nothing to do with the final decision," Cuddy said. "The people on the board thought it would look good for the hospital."
"Yeah right," Chase said sarcastically. This was all they needed.
"What?" Cuddy cried. "Wilson wasn't there to vote against her coming too."
"Now it’s my fault for missing one silly board meeting," Wilson asked miffed. The conversation disentegrated into a blame war. Chase and Foreman added a negative comment here and there for good measure. Cameron watched in horror as the most innocuous mistakes of the last several weeks came to ahead as analysis for possible motives to bringing one another down. Foreman hadn't done that MRI correctly and Cuddy hadn't brought the charts in when she said she would. Chase hadn't done anything about the syringes which were improperly disposed of in clinic. Cameron was amazed she wasn't ciriticized for a thing. In fact, she might as well not have been there. She realized then at that moment what House really did for everyone in that room. He was a steady center...he remained constant for the doctors and when he didn't it was like some terrible shadow had fallen down upon them all. But she saw now why House needed a friend. He was always there and it was taken for granted in so many little ways since his manner was so difficult to understand. This is why she fought for her friend when no one else would. Foreman was right. It was her problem and she would deal with it, with or without anyone's help.
Dr. Allison Cameron closed her notebook, took off her glasses and placed them in her breast pocket, and walked out the door.
Even Cuddy's constant hen pecking over charts undone and prescriptions miswritten by House couldn't snap House out of his silent slump. Sometimes he wouldn't respond when spoken to. Cameron had even at one point mentioned she was the Queen of England and that she was in love with Spam and House had said nothing. He would simply nod his head, look at another case which was long old and memorize its contents, mumbling to himself, and growing paler everyday. Cameron's concern ate at her insides. She would leave his favorite meals since he hardly went out for food anymore--even Reuben sandwhiches, which he loved, he would pick at and Cameron would find the food thrown out.
One morning she had found herself watching him stare at the ceiling, looking at nothing, in a sort of daze. She had broken down crying and she didn't quite understand why. She knew she would care about him and maybe there was always more in her heart, but it was passivity to the horrors he would let consume himself that she hated most gloriously. She had never hated him more at that moment. That moment when she saw him in a haze. She wanted to run into his office and shake, slap, or even stab him so he would say or do something. His heart had been broken and she never thought he would be weak enough to let it dull the light of his brilliance. Her faith in him was shaken and she was now shaken. Cameron rubbed away the tears and resolved to fight for him even if he was too self-loathing to fight for himself. Wilson had been here before she knew and she understood why he had been keeping his distance. But she didn't care anymore that she cared...she only knew how she felt when she saw him like this...and it was hell.
Wilson had gone to Cuddy for a lot of support to keep himself on track. Wilson had in spite of his best efforts to remain detached from the situation had checked on House a few evenings back. He spoke to about it to Cuddy one sunny afternoon in her office. She was wearing a snug low cut top and large pearl earrings. Wilson smiled often at Cuddy's attempts to always remain professional. He had been watching her lately in a different way which he was trying to ignore.
"Cuddy, he wouldn't even answer the door for me. I saw him in the window just playing his piano and ignoring the knocks on the door. Cameron says he's not even eating and what he does eat she brings to him. The poor girl looked like she was out of her mind with worry over him. She wanted to have a meeting about it. I don't know though. Maybe we should leave it alone. Maybe this is how things are supposed to play out." Cuddy was thoughtful. She held her chin a little higher.
"Employee morale at a hospital is important. It does affect how efficiently the doctors communicate. If Cameron thinks its a problem, maybe we should have a meeting and then we can take an action plan from there."
Wilson nodded his head and scratched his head.
"Well, maybe. But what action?"
"We can talk to him."
"Who?" Wilson asked slowly.
"I don't know. You, me, and maybe Cameron, or Chase..."
"Oh, he'll love that. He gets off on attention." Wilson put his hands in his lab coat and raised his eyebrows.
"Besides, there's also another surprise for him in store soon. It might cheer him up."
"What?" Wilson asked curious.
"You'll see," Cuddy said with a coy glance.
************************************************** *
Later that afternoon Cuddy had made the time to assemble Chase, Foreman and Cameron. She had kept Wilson along as well since he intially had come to her with the concern. Although he felt slightly awkward sitting at Cuddy's side. Yet, it was strangely satisfying for Wilson to know he and and Cuddy could handle this whole debacle rationally. Chase was a bit aloof it seemed to Wilson, Foreman was quiet and solemn as usual, while Cameron remained ever presently open in spite of her dealing probably with the worst House he could even remember. Wilson imagined Chase was benefitting the most out of the whole situation. Cameron and Chase had been spending more time with each other during lunch breaks he had noticed. When he looked at Cameron he seemed happier than he should be. The three doctors under House all sat in separate chairs maintaining what they thought was a serious demeanor. Cuddy saw how they were barely holding themselves together. She closed her notebook and took off her glasses.
"Relax," Cuddy said. "All of you. I'm sorry the last few weeks have been so rough."
"More like hell," Foreman said. Wilson's face softened as Cameron glared at Foreman in concern. Cuddy and Chase exhaled.
"We need to talk to him and we would like your help," Wison finally said.
"Aren't you his friend?" Chase asked dubious.
"Yes, but your his colleagues on a daily basis. I don't have to see him.
Foreman scoffed.
"And what are we supposed to do? This is obviously a personal matter for the man. Can't you just talk to him as a friend?"
"I've tried. He won't even answer his door for me." Wilson responded quietly. Chase dipped his head a little. Cameron opened her notebook and started writing a few little notes. She had her glasses on now and was still trying to keep a professional demeanor about the whole thing.
"Can't you just force a leave of absence for the man?" Chase asked with his hand hung forward limply. It seemed a simple solution. Cameron winced. Wilson smirked and nodded his head.
"His mind needs stimulation. If we were to force him to leave, it would be worse for him to leave. He might end up quitting work all together," Wilson said.
"Well then, maybe he should face that. Just because he's brilliant at this job doesn't mean he shouldn't be held responsible for acting like an buffoon!" Chase exclaimed. "I mean, what about us?"
"If we can't communicate, we can't work," Foreman said with open hands. "It's a hostile work environment." Cameron winced a bit and parted her lips in contempt. She looked like she wanted to spit.
"When is working with House not hostile?" Cameron asked plainly.
"You're defending him again. I told you before about your little problem. We don't have that problem," Foreman said wagging his finger between him and Chase and then added, "Well maybe Wilson does." Wilson gawked a little. Cameron rolled her eyes. Cuddy watched in concern.
"Lay off Foreman!" Chase said, seeing Cameron perturbed. Foreman gave Chase a forced smile and held up both his hands in the air in reassurance. He would back off. Cuddy knew this was bad. House's alienation was affecting them all which could easily be argued that it wasn't beneficial for the hospital for him to remain in his position of authority. Cuddy grabbed at Wilson's arm. Wilson was getting sucked into the emotion. She could see that clearly. He glanced at her and pressed his lips together.
"Listen, I don't want to see my friend lose his job. House may be difficult, but all of us have seen how many lives he can and will save if he's properly motivated and nurtured. If anything, House is hurting, he can't deal with it, and any support we might give, could wake him up out of his slump. Now we have to come up with something for the sake of our friend," Wilson said.
"Especially now," Cuddy added, "One of the foremost Dr.'s in diagnostic medicine will be in residence in your department for a month. And we need your team together and functioning."
"Who?" asked Dr. Cameron. "I thought House was top of this field." Wilson's face fell a little and he put his face into his hands and rubbed his eyes. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Oh God Cuddy. Not her. Please tell me its not her." Cuddy's trepidation creased in a small polite smile. She nodded her head to say yes.
"When is she due to arrive?" Wilson asked exasperated. Foreman and Chase looked at Cameron. She was clueless as to what they were alluding to.
"Dr. Marcia Cole doesn't work in diagnostic medicine anymore. She's in oncology but she was once House's mentor in medical school for his diagnostic theories," Wilson said.
"Why is she a problem?" Foreman asked. Cuddy and Wilson looked at each other a little speechless.
"Let me guess," Cameron said with resolve. "She's difficult, stubborn, and her and House are at odds with each other all the time."
"You could say that," Wilson said. "Although I don't know why the people on the board would have approved a visitation to your department at this time. I certainly knew nothing about it. If I had, I probably wouldn't have approved the measure."
"I had nothing to do with the final decision," Cuddy said. "The people on the board thought it would look good for the hospital."
"Yeah right," Chase said sarcastically. This was all they needed.
"What?" Cuddy cried. "Wilson wasn't there to vote against her coming too."
"Now it’s my fault for missing one silly board meeting," Wilson asked miffed. The conversation disentegrated into a blame war. Chase and Foreman added a negative comment here and there for good measure. Cameron watched in horror as the most innocuous mistakes of the last several weeks came to ahead as analysis for possible motives to bringing one another down. Foreman hadn't done that MRI correctly and Cuddy hadn't brought the charts in when she said she would. Chase hadn't done anything about the syringes which were improperly disposed of in clinic. Cameron was amazed she wasn't ciriticized for a thing. In fact, she might as well not have been there. She realized then at that moment what House really did for everyone in that room. He was a steady center...he remained constant for the doctors and when he didn't it was like some terrible shadow had fallen down upon them all. But she saw now why House needed a friend. He was always there and it was taken for granted in so many little ways since his manner was so difficult to understand. This is why she fought for her friend when no one else would. Foreman was right. It was her problem and she would deal with it, with or without anyone's help.
Dr. Allison Cameron closed her notebook, took off her glasses and placed them in her breast pocket, and walked out the door.