DVD Extras - Part 1: Character Studies

[zeppomarx]

DVD Extras - Part 2
CHARACTER STUDIES
These Character Studies are a collaboration between priority, TrooperCam and zeppomarx. Links to the appropriate chapter are included, in case you need a refresher course, as well as links to priority and TrooperCam's stories.

In the cases where the character was created by troop or priority, zep's interpretation of the character will follow the creator's.

CHAPTER I:
Joe Roberts and George Matthews
(Created by TrooperCam for Lifeline; first names added by zeppomarx. To introduce these characters, TrooperCam is giving us a real treat-a reprint of the way she introduced them in Lifeline. Followed by zeppomarx’s biographical sketches of the characters as she perceived them.)

TrooperCam: Special Agent Fred Yeu glanced up at the man sitting across from him. Looking back down at the file on his desk, he made a small hmm sound as he appraised the man’s records.

“You were in the Army for ten years.” Fred looked up. “Where were you stationed?”

“Fort Campbell, Korea and Fort Lewis.”

“Then you got out, went to school-law school-made good grades-nothing spectacular. Graduated near the top at Quantico and spent ten years around the Richmond, Virginia, area-and now you asked to be transferred to New Jersey. Beltway get to be too much for you?”

“Not really, other than the traffic. Mostly, I wanted a change. After 9/11 everything was about terrorists. I wanted to get back to some more traditional crime solving and less…” the thought trailed off.

“Less CIA spy stuff.” A small nod confirmed Fred’s suspicions, “Well, we’re glad to have you here. If you head on down the hall, you’ll find your desk and your partner. Welcome to New Jersey, Agent Roberts.” Fred rose and extended his hand across the desk where the other man took it in a firm handshake.

Roberts made his way down the hall to the main FBI office. He quickly found his desk and placed his briefcase on top. Across from his desk, Agent Matthews sat engrossed in a file. He hadn’t even heard the other man approach. Roberts softly cleared his throat, hoping to get Matthews’ attention. It worked.

“You must be my new partner. Sorry about that. I just got an update on a case I have been working on for the past four months.” Matthews rose and extended his hand for a shake. “I’m George Matthews. You ever hear of Robert Thompson?”

“Joe Roberts. Robert Thompson-the president and CEO of Thompson Consolidated?”

“The one and the same. Sit down and I’ll fill you in.”

An hour later, Matthews had filled in his new partner on all the dealings of one Robert Thompson, CEO and president of one of the largest import export companies in the United States. Thompson was known for both his astute business mind and his philanthropy. Just that month he had donated two million dollars to the children’s wings of both Princeton General and Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital.

“So basically, this guy is working with the mob to get all these sweet business deals and manages to keep his name in the news for his good works to the community… all the while keeping attention off his less-than-stellar business dealings.” Joe gave a small whistle. “Got to hand it to him; that’s pretty ballsy.”

“We have been tracking his dealings for a few months. Got a tip from an insider that he was set to deal with the Marconi brothers. They work in Southeast Asia, mostly furniture and appliances with a nice side business of drugs and human trafficking.”

“So we put pressure on Thompson. Thompson leads us to the Marconis.”

“That’s the idea.”

An agent approached, “Excuse me, sirs, this just came in from Trenton. Captain says I needed to get it to you right away.”

“Thank you, Agent.” Matthews quickly perused the file, “Fuck Fuck Fuck! Son of a bitch!” Joe hadn’t known his partner for even a day but he suspected that an outburst like this was very much out of character for the man.

“Thompson’s dead. Agents were getting ready to move on a warrant-they found him in a carport in Princeton. One bullet to the back of his head. We got to go; HQ wants us to secure the scene before the locals move all over it. Grab your jacket. I’ll meet you in the garage. Space 32A.”

The drive to Thompson’s estate was tense. Matthews’ jaw was set firm as his hands clutched the wheel, his knuckles white. When the two agents got to the palatial estate, they were met by a swarm of reporters and local police. The two men flashed their badges and were allowed inside. The Thompson family was on vacation in the Grecian islands, and for this Joe was glad. He hated going to a crime scene, but even more, he hated having to deal with the family. Victim or criminal, the fallout of a crime always affected those it didn’t need to, and even knowing what he did about Thompson’s dirty dealings, Joe couldn’t help but feel a little bad for the Thompson widow and children.

The house was huge; easily more than 10 thousand square feet. Joe found himself in the command center, directing agents and officers to different parts of the house. All through the day, boxes of evidence were removed from the office. He was so engrossed in his work that Joe didn’t realize that an agent he had sent to check Thompson’s entertainment center had not returned with her findings.

He set out to find her himself. When he did, he found the agent sitting on one of the deep leather chairs in the theater. Her makeup was streaked and tears were freely falling from her eyes. She raised a shaky hand and pointed at the screen, Joe looked. There in hi-definition video was a man being beaten with a rubber truncheon. Suddenly the video changed and showed the same man being sprayed with fire hoses, his screams drowned out as the water hit him in the face and chest.

It was almost like a sick music video as the images would change every few minutes to show the same man being beaten in every way imaginable and a few Joe had never thought possible. He felt the bile come to his throat and choked it back down before finding his voice. “Turn it off.” The agent rose on rubber legs and made her way to the DVD player, shutting the images off.

“That was just the latest video.” The agent pointed to a shelf near the door, “There are hours of videos like this. Some of them go back three years. He was letting them do this for over three years.” The agent strangled a cry as her emotions got the better of her.

“What do you mean let them? Who would let someone do this to them?”

“It’s all here.” The agent lifted her hand. It was then that Joe realized she had been holding a pile of papers in her fist. “He signed a contract saying they could do it. Thompson has been doing this to him for years, and he let him do it. The man’s name is House-Gregory House. He was a doctor who got sent up for murdering a fellow doctor. He’s at the state penitentiary in Trenton. He let them do that to him.”

Joe’s mind spun. If Thompson was controlling what was happening to House in prison, then the man was in danger with Thompson dead. Joe grabbed his cell phone from his hip and quickly punched in his partner’s number. “Matthews, it’s Roberts. We need every available agent in Trenton and an ambulance to get to the state penitentiary in Trenton. We need to secure and remove a prisoner by the name of Gregory House. He is in grave danger.” Joe quickly filled in his partner as George barked orders to the other agents.

The ride to Trenton was quiet, both men wrapped up in their own thoughts. It was typical, Joe thought, typical that he would get a big case like this on his first day. Most people at least get to know their new partners for a while before being thrust on a case like this. Joe and George hadn’t even made it to lunch. The thought was enough to make Joe laugh but he stifled the urge. As they approached the prison Joe gave out a small prayer to the god he called on only in dire emergencies. He prayed that he would find this Gregory House not only alive but in good shape.

“What do you have, Agent?” George had barely pulled the car into a stop before Joe was out the door grilling the agents on the scene.

“We secured the wards, infirmary, all the work areas and placed all of the staff including the warden under arrest. None of them are talking. Agents are doing a full sweep starting with the cell areas through Death Row and down to solitary. If he is here, we will find him.”

“He’s here and we need to find him.” Joe’s cell phone began chirping. “Agent Roberts.”

“Sir, we think we found him. One of the inmates told us about a guy he knew of in solitary. Sounds like it could be our man.”

“We will be right there. Do not move until we get there. If it is House, we will need to be very careful. Have medical units standing by.”

“Yes, sir.”

Joe and George ran to the solitary confinement wing in the prison’s basement-a dark damp place. Joe couldn’t imagine anyone being made to stay here. He found the other agents standing outside a cell. A three-man medical team was down the hall with a gurney and medical equipment. Joe nodded to the agent nearest the cell. She took a set of keys and opened the heavy steel door.

The first thing that hit Roberts was the smell. Joe had grown up in Iowa on a pig farm but that was nothing compared to the smell that assaulted his nostrils. Feces, urine, sweat, vomit, dirt and blood all mingled together. Joe’s eyes watered as he fought to keep from vomiting, his eyes adjusting to the dark interior. Next to him Matthews was having less luck controlling his stomach and had to duck out of the cell.

Roberts sensed rather than saw the man in the corner. Joe crouched down, trying to make himself as unassuming and non-threatening as a man six-four could get. With every step, he realized the man in the corner was trying desperately to make himself become more and more a part of the wall. Joe stopped and sat back on his heels.

“Dr. House, I’m FBI Agent Joseph Roberts. We’re here to get you out of here.”

Roberts noticed the way the man flinched when his name was spoken. House was visibly trembling, terrified of what was going to happen next. He uncurled enough for Joe to get a good look at him. Immediately he thought of photos his grandfather had shown him of Auschwitz prisoners liberated after the war.

House was beyond gaunt; he was skeletal, bruises around each of his eyes and along his jaw line. His hands were clutched under his armpits but Joe could see where the chain from his handcuff attached to the wall. He was barefoot, his toes misshapen and dirty. Actually, Joe quickly realized, there wasn’t a part of House that wasn’t dirty. The man was panicking, scrambling, trying to stand, but falling down repeatedly. Joe knew he had to get the situation under control or the man could seriously hurt himself.

“Dr. House, Dr. House… It’s okay. Don’t move. I’m here to help you. Try to relax and stay where you are.” Joe made a small move closer, speaking softly to House the way a person would to a trapped dog. “That’s it… just relax… I’m not going to hurt you. Dr. House, I need to take these chains off and put these handcuffs on you. Can you put your arms out for me?” Joe couldn’t help but notice the way House reacted every time he called him doctor. Still, he did it, figuring that if he kept referring to the man as his former title, then somehow House would know he meant him no harm. So far it seemed to work, as House extended two shaky arms forward. Joe uncuffed him from the wall and then handcuffed and wrapped the chains around what was left of his waist. My God, there really isn’t anything left, Joe thought. The chains hung loose, almost falling off, supported only by the handcuffs around House’s wrists.

“Can you stand?”

“I think so.” The voice was a ragged whisper. With Joe’s help, House got to his feet. He began swaying, and Joe felt him go slack against his arms.

“I need help in here!” Joe yelled for the gurney. The next few minutes passed in a blur as medical personnel fought to stabilize House, administering IV fluids and checking his vital signs. Finally, they loaded him up for the ride to the hospital. The whole time, Joe was an arm’s length away, keeping watch.

CHAPTER I:
Joe Roberts

zep: A thoughtful, genial man of 47, Joe Roberts is 6’3” and weighs 240 lbs. He’s got a round face, receding hairline. His hair and eyes are brown. In many ways, he’s too sensitive to be dealing with a case as vile as the House case. It made him physically ill, kept him from sleeping for nights on end and destroyed his marriage.

About three years ago, just after Thompson was killed, he went through a very ugly divorce. Charity, his wife of 23 years couldn’t handle his unpredictable hours. Accused him of adultery, which he denied. During divorce proceedings, he had a short fling with an FBI researcher in another department. Got caught by wife’s detective-wife took him for everything he had, including his two kids, a boy and a girl. Not only did it upset him that this led to the dissolution of his marriage, he was embarrassed that, as an FBI agent-and a good one-he had allowed himself to get caught so easily.

He sees his children as often as he can. His daughter, Melissa, is now 20. His son, David, is 17. He’s a good father, although the interactions with his ex-wife are unpleasant and sometimes affect how his children behave around him. He’s looking forward to the time when his son is out of the house.

After eight years as a high school history teacher, he joined the FBI, romanced by the image of the FBI in old movies and novels. Degree in history, specializing in American history of the 20th Century. Had an idealistic notion that he would be chasing the bad guys. Instead, most of the time, he’s been doing a lot of administrative work plus occasional fieldwork that happens once someone else in the Bureau has chased the bad guys. He’s bogged down in paperwork. In order to rise up the ranks, he got a secondary degree in forensic science.

He finds the occasional detective work aspect of his job-solving the mystery-the most interesting, along with interacting with people. He’s extremely good at dealing with people, and as a result, he’s often brought in to handle sensitive cases. He’s considered to be the go-to person when there’s a problem or a crisis.

For example, when Robert Thompson was murdered and his dirty little secret about torturing House was exposed, Roberts was brought in to deal with the aftermath, and to do it in a way that would help turn around some very bad publicity about the Bureau’s previous handling of the case.

Most of his cases don’t involve him emotionally the way the House/Adler case has. In fact, as a result of how disturbing he’s found this case and how involved he’s been, he’s considered retiring from the Bureau, but so far hasn’t done anything constructive about it.

After the situation with House seemed to be resolved, his boss, Jared Eaton (see below), had considered the Thompson case closed. But Thompson kept looking, spending another year going through Thompson’s papers, which ultimately led to his finding out about Rainie Adler. He’s been promoted as a result of his diligence.

Although he’s got what is essentially a desk job, he does train rigorously to keep in shape so that he’s ready in case he needs to be. He works out daily-jogging, strength training, etc.

Roberts and Lisa Cuddy have been dating since just after the “Cuddy the Wonder Klutz” episode in Chapter 25. The two of them are well suited. They’re both career-driven, neither has much free time, and they both like sex. Plus, they’ve both been on the sidelines watching House try to recover, rooting for him, which gives them an immediate bond. Physically, they seem a little mismatched - he’s tall and large, and she’s short and slim. Sometimes, when they have time, they jog together before work. They’re actually quite amused that neither House nor Wilson, the inveterate gossips, have figured out their relationship yet. They know it’s going to happen one of these days, but in the meantime, they are enjoying the delightful feeling of pulling the wool over someone’s eyes.

NOTE from zep: I gave Roberts his first name, Joe. I named him after an obscure silent film comedian, who was the foil for Buster Keaton in his early films. Big Joe Roberts was a vaudevillian who knew Keaton when he was a child. Here is his picture. I did not imagine the character looking like the actor-I just lifted his name.

CHAPTER I:
George Matthews
(created by troopercam for Lifeline; first name added by zeppomarx)

zep: George Matthews, Joe Roberts’s partner, is a career man. Been with the FBI for 40 years and is due to retire next year. For him, there’s nothing better than working for the Bureau. Hasn’t really given much thought about what he’ll do once he retires. Been married for 38 years to high school sweetheart. Not particular bothered by the House case. Sleeps well at night. Pleasant, but not all that bright.

CHAPTER I:
Jared Eaton

zep: Until the DVDs of Rainie Adler were found, Jared Eaton, 37, was Joe Roberts’ and George Matthews’ boss at the FBI. Has a hair-trigger temper and extremely poor professional judgment. The House case was a severe professional embarrassment to him-his team had been investigating Robert Thompson for close to two years, but he had pulled them off the case just before Thompson was mysteriously murdered in a parking lot. Even after, he had not connected the murder with his own team’s investigation. His superiors were not happy with him when the situation was made public about what Thompson was doing to House. Several major newspapers wrote editorials criticizing the Bureau’s handling of the case. As a result of the pressure, he brought Roberts and Matthews back in to handle the case.

In the intervening two years, he has tried repeatedly to pull Joe Roberts off the case, telling him it was already wrapped up and that looking through a bunch of paperwork wasn’t going to solve anything. Roberts was insubordinate, refusing Eaton’s orders to quit the case. He even sent a memo to Eaton’s superiors, stating his belief that it was important to keep looking until all the loose ends were tied up, until he’d looked at every piece of paper and every item that Thompson had touched. Then, of course, he found the DVDs and paperwork about Rainie Adler.

When the information about Rainie Adler surfaced, Eaton was under fire from his superiors once again for his bad judgment. Since then, he has been transferred to another department, and Joe Roberts has been promoted into his position.

CHAPTER I:
Jeff Adler

zep: Jeffrey Scott Adler was Rainie’s husband. They met in college and became close friends as the two of them pursued their respective careers. A soft-spoken, tall, blond Southerner from Savannah, Georgia, he was a gentle husband and a kind and loving father.

Jeff studied photography, eventually getting a job as a cameraman for television commercials. His affable personality and uniquely artistic eye got him work on a couple of independent film projects, and from there he moved to big-budget films. If he and Rainie had been willing to leave the East Coast, it’s probably that he would have been even busier with work in Hollywood, but both of them liked the energy in New York, and so he stayed. Staying in New York meant that he had to be willing to travel a lot, which is why he was gone for most of the time after Thompson’s men began torturing Rainie.

As her injuries increased, it became harder and harder to hide them, and he began talking to co-workers about his concern over her physical and mental state, even going so far as to call her friend Evan Schuster for advice. At that point, Thompson decided that it was necessary to repeat the same scenario he had used with House and Cameron.

For several days before Jeff’s murder, Rainie’s torture increased. She was covered in deep, dark bruises caused by fists punching her in the arms, on the back, in the stomach and on the face. In retrospect, she realized the fresh injuries were intended to reinforce the notion that her beloved Jeff had beaten her.

One evening, when Rainie came home from work, having picked up Evie on the way, she found Thompson’s men in their living room, holding a struggling, terrified Jeff. After explaining to Rainie exactly what needed to happen afterward, they shot Jeff pointblank several times, and forced the gun into her hands. As Rainie sobbed, cradling his head as the life seeped out of him, he died in her arms. Little Evie watched her daddy die, screaming and screaming, a sound that has stayed with Rainie ever since.

CHAPTER I:
Evan Françoise Adler

zep: Evie Adler was a precocious toddler who laughed easily and responded happily to play and to physical affection. When the trouble started for Rainie, Evie had just reached the age where she began to notice things about other people. Naturally empathetic, she would sit in her mother’s lap, aware that she was crying, and try to help with kisses. When her mama had a boo-boo, Evie would bring her stuffed animals to play with, thinking that would make it all better. After a while, she learned to reach up to the door of the refrigerator and push the button for ice cubes, gathering them in a big plastic cup and carrying it to her mother, along with a damp washcloth. Sometimes that helped.

CHAPTER I:
Devi Rajghatta
(created by priority for Exigencies)

priority: Dr. Devyani Kaur Dharam Rajghatta is 32 years old, about 5'5". Her hair is black, she has large, dark eyes and a hint of an accent.

She was born in Punjab. Her family moved to Uttar Pradesh when she was 10. She came to the U.S. for college and med school. Graduated from Johns Hopkins, top of her class. Specialized in cardiology and worked at a hospital on the west coast for at time. She applied for and won the diagnostic medicine fellowship position at PPTH under Dr. Frank Evans, working with attendings Foreman and Chase.

She is from a Sikh family. Her parents still live in Uttar Pradesh; her father is a businessman, her mother a politician. Her fiancé, another expat Sikh who lives in Boston, is getting a master's degree in East Asian history.

Devi is highly intelligent, curious, assertive when she needs to be and generally unafraid to speak her mind or act when she sees the need to act. Foreman and Chase had told her hundreds of stories of House when they had been his fellows.

Despite all that has happened to House, no one denies he was good at his job. She has heard and researched and found out a lot about House's gift for diagnostics. Finding herself suddenly in a position of being able to work for House, Devi is torn between joy at her good luck, anxiety over what the future holds and a genuine sorrow for the ruin of House's health and life.

zep: Devi Rajghatta (called Raja by House and referred to as Devi throughout the story) is House’s new fellow, replacing Allison Cameron, who was killed during DIYSheep’s story The Contract. Devi was originally hired by Frank Evans, who had been brought in by Cuddy to replace House when he was arrested and sent to prison for Cameron’s murder. When House was exonerated and Evans chose to leave, House got his job back, which made him Devi’s boss.

Although initially very nervous about her new boss, Devi has grown to both respect and like him. She knew she would respect him, because both Chase and Foreman respected him and she respects them. The fact that she likes him came as a surprise not only to her, but also to Chase and Foreman, who had trouble seeing the man as he had become, their views tainted by their knowledge of who had once been.

At the beginning of the story Devi is engaged to Frank Durante, an attorney she met while studying at New York University Medical Center. Although they have kept separate apartments-hers in Princeton and his in Manhattan-they have been essentially living together for five years, and have been engaged for nearly three. Her family put pressure on her not to marry someone whose family background is so different from hers, but by the end of the story, the couple has gotten married.

Devi got her medical degree at NYU Medical Center, but earlier in her life, before she decided what to do for a career, she studied Asian poetry and got a B.A. in English. Sensitive and perceptive, she works well with House, giving him space when he needs it and not fussing over him. She’s not easily offended, although she does occasionally worry that she’s not good enough to have a fellowship with the renowned Gregory House.

She wasn’t at the top of her class, and every so often she feels lost when he suddenly comes up with the right diagnosis seemingly out of thin air. But she’s learned an enormous amount in her two years with House, and knows she should be able to use that experience (and his name) to help her move up.

As for the wedding presents House gave her and Frank… Because they couldn’t decide what to spend it on, she and Frank have decided to invest the $10,000 and let it accumulate interest while they take their time figuring out the best way to use it.

The silver jigsaw puzzle sits on her desk at home, where she often fingers the pieces, taking it apart and putting it back together again. She ponders the nine words etched into it, sometimes wondering what they mean and why House would say them… and sometimes catching a glimmering of meaning. “Do the right thing.” “This is not simply a test.” What is the right thing? What isn’t simply a test? Life? The puzzle, she finds, is a puzzle. And she suspects that House planned it that way, creating a gift that doesn’t have any easy answers, one that would force her to really think about what matters to her in life and how to get it.

CHAPTER I:
Linda McAllister
(created by priority for Exigencies)

priority: Linda McAllister, RN, is 39 years old. She stands 6'2" and weighs more than 200 pounds-but not much of it is fat. Linda is a big, strong gal. Besides being a top-notch nurse, she's gotten many home-nursing clients because she's big enough to lift, transfer and carry her adult patients.

Linda is of Scottish descent, with a broad face prone to smiles, reddish auburn hair, ivory skin with high color and expressive blue eyes. She is a widow with two children, one in high school, the other starting college. She's had no trouble supporting her family because she's so successful in her nursing vocation.

When Wilson hired her to replace Clarence, who had to move away, she came with the highest recommendations, and he had to pay a premium salary to hire her to tend to House, since she had to give up her other clients to devote full days to a semi-catatonic patient. Wilson, appointed as House's guardian, had access to a fund of monies set aside for House's care, and Linda's salary was paid out of that.

Her heart went out to House when she met him (doubtless because he was semi-catatonic and not his usual snarky self). When he came out of the dissociative state, she was second only to Wilson in helping him adjust and find himself again. As a result of spending so much time talking with her, he knows a fair amount about her-enough to ask about her kids and know a little about the "dramas" in her life.

But House being House, he doesn't pull punches with her. Linda has also had the opportunity to learn from Wilson about her patient-his brilliance, his moodiness, his snarkiness, sharp tongue and mean streak. Linda doesn't back down from him when it comes to his health. She's learned how to handle him verbally. Plus, she outweighs him and, in his current train-wreck condition, she knows she can take him down.

Her relationship with him is similar to Wilson’s-sometimes they laugh and talk and schmooze like lifelong friends. When House’s mood turns dark, he snipes and bitches at her. Linda understands what pain can do, and she’s come to understand House’s psyche, so to speak. She’s usually able to give as good as she gets, which earns House’s respect… and his frustration and exasperation when he can’t get his way.

Once House was legally “sane” again, Wilson gave up his legal guardianship status and the control of the medical funds transferred to House, who became her employer at that point. But because Wilson is House’s physician (by House’s choice), she tends to consider Wilson as her co-conspirator and partner in House’s health care. To her, House is pretty much just “the patient.” And a friend, and someone she cares about.

Now that House is attempting to go back to work, he’s still paying a lot to keep her on retainer, so she can be there on short notice for him if he needs it.

zep: Linda McAllister is House’s part-time nurse. She’s tall and strong-able to pick House up and carry him, if need be-and has a sardonic sense of humor. Over time, she has come to care deeply about her patient. Linda is divorced with two college-aged children. She has a strong fondness for her cantankerous patient, and they banter endlessly, which she sees as a good sign that he trusts her and is beginning to recover from his experiences.

When Pevey attacks House, Linda is not only shocked and upset, she feels guilty-perhaps if she hadn’t taken a few extra minutes getting ready to drive to House’s place she might have gotten there in time to stop the attack.

Once Rainie enters the picture, Linda realizes that there’s even more to House than she suspected. She watches amazed from the sidelines as House opens up to Rainie and as their relationship deepens.

All in all, Linda is a big-hearted, intelligent woman, who is perfectly suited to be the nurse for someone like House.

Character Studies: Part 3