The next morning his leg pain wakes him up and he gets out of the bed to look for the bottle of vicodin. Cuddy wakes up and looks at him in silence from the bed. He can’t find it and is looking for it everywhere when she finally speaks.
‘What are you looking for?’
‘Vicodin... you know where is it?’
‘I gave you the bottle yesterday.’
‘Well I don't have it now!! Can you help me to look for it?’
‘Sure...’ She stands up to help him but they don’t succeed. ‘Maybe I have any in my purse. Wait a minute.’
‘Right...’ He wait for her sat on the edge of the bed.
‘I just have one pill.’
‘Well... you can get some more...’ Says him while taking the bottle.
‘Yes, I can... But Greg, I don't want you to depend on vicodin.’
‘You're a bit late, don't you think?’
She looks at him serious. ‘You know what I want you to do.’
‘Oh come on!! I told you I'm not going to rehab.’
‘But why not?’
‘I'm fine as I am. Rehab will make me suffer.’
‘You’re not fine. Look what happened yesterday... If you go to rehab you may be pain free.’
‘But not in a short period of time. At first I wish I could be dead, I know...’
‘You'd rather to have cramps?’
‘I'd rather have enough vicodin so I don't have cramps.’
‘I’d rather you don’t take drugs and do rehab so you don't have cramps...’ She stares at him. ‘Greg, please. Do it for me...’
He feels nervous and didn’t expect that. ‘I didn't know you had become a blackmailer...’
‘I’ve spent too much time learning of the best one.’ She keeps staring. ‘So...’
He looks around in silence and remains thinking for some seconds. ‘Alright.’
Cuddy is a bit surprised with his answer ‘cause she didn’t know she meant so much to him or that she has such influence, but she’s happy and approaches to hug him. ‘Thank you.’
Greg hugs her back. He knows this experience won’t be easy and he will suffer, but he’s willing to make this effort ‘cause he doesn’t wanna lose her.
‘I know this is gonna be really difficult for you, but I want you to know I'll be with you, and as well as Wilson..’
He nods, but he knows that it’s him who’s going to feel all the physical pain.
‘So, I suppose I can't take this pill...’
‘That will be a good start...’ Says Cuddy, and looks at him while he decides what he’s gonna do with the pill. House stares at the bottle in his hand, he doesn’t know what to do, but finally gives it to her.
‘I’m proud of you.’ She smiles. He sighs and rubs his leg.
‘It already hurts...’
‘If there's something I can do, just tell me. You're no going to go through this alone.’
‘You can cut my leg...’
‘Yeah, I’m sure that way it wouldn’t hurt... I meant if you need a massage or something to calm the pain, just ask for it, anytime.’
He looks at her and says sarcasticaly. ‘Oh yeah... I'm sure it will work... I'm... sorry... I'm just a bit nervous... I don't knnow how I'm gonna feel in two hours... I know it won't be nice. It might be better for you not to be with me... I mean... perhaps I should be in the hospital or something... I don't know...’
‘I’m not gonna leave you alone. If you think you’d be better in the hospital than here, we’ll go to the hospital. And don’t worry, you can be the biggest jerk on the Earth but I’m with you in this.’
‘I don't know if I'll be able to control myself... I'm just worried about you... but I don't want you to be in the hospital during all this process. You've been almost living there for two months... What should I do?’
‘As you’ve told me many times, you need help from someone who really knows you, not a nurse. Wilson and I know you better than anybody else, and I don’t wanna be away from you. You wanna try to stay here tonight?’ He nods.
Some time goes by and he’s starting to feel the pain increasing. ‘I think I'll have a warm bath...’ He goes to the bathroom, fills the bathtub with warm water and gets in.
Cuddy stays in the living room. She thinks about how difficult this is gonna be, and she has doubts about him trying to cheat, but she also knows that he is strong, and really thinks that he can do it.
House gets out of the bathtub and gets dressed. This is just the begining. He goes to their room, limping a little more than usual, and sits next to her on the bed. ‘A bit more relaxed?’
‘Not really.’
‘You wanna lie down? Maybe it will hurt less.’ He nods and lies on his back, breathes deeply, and tries to calm down. Lisa lies next to him and holds his hand, he turns and hugs her. They stay thus for a while.
‘Greg, we both know that this will hurt, but if you cheat it won't work.’
‘I know... the faster this goes the better for me...’
‘Just try to distract yourself from pain, don’t think about it.’
‘I can't...’
‘Of course you can...’ She looks at him worried. ‘I don't know, tell me about what you remembered...’ She holds his hand stronger.
‘I-I remembered when we met for the first time... it was my last year in Michigan and... there you were... in the hallway, with your books. You seemed to be the most serious person in the world...’ He chuckles a bit. It’s hurting a lot and he’s starting to sweat. She dries the sweat of his forehead and tries to keep distracting him.
‘Yes, and all the women had the hots for you...’
‘Well, that's not so hard to believe...’ He chuckles and feels chilly.
‘You were so sexy.’ She winks at him. ‘Oh, are you cold?’
He nods and she takes a blanket and covers them with it, then rubs his arm to warm him. ‘Don’t stop talking.’
‘I don't really feel like talking... my stomach doesn't feel very well... I'd rather listen to you...’
‘Okay... I am very happy that you're doing this, Greg, I'm glad you're doing it for me. I know how hard it's for you to say what you feel, but this means a lot.’
He closes his eyes and tries to get focused on her words while she talks.
Some minutes later she asks again. ‘How do you feel now?’
‘I'm... not very sure... I wish I could fall asleep right now.’
‘Try it. I’ll be here.’ She kisses his forehead and he’s burning up but the rest of his body is cold. She looks at him. ‘Close your eyes and imagine that you’re... in the beach. We both are in the beach on holidays. Relaxed... lying on the sand. There’s no pain, just you and I and the wind blowing.’
‘And no swimming costume... I mean... yeah... I mean that... no swimming costume...’
She chuckles. ‘Okay, there’s no swimming costume.’
‘Great...’
‘Does this help?’
He whispers. ‘Maybe...’
‘Okay... The sun warms your body, you're not cold anymore. You feel very relaxed...’
‘If only it was true...’
‘Just try to imagine, feel it like if it were true.’ Says Lisa. He closes his eyes and holds her hand strongly. ‘You can do it, I know you can.’
‘Lisa, I can't do this... I just can't, I've been taking vicodin for years...’
‘But now it’s different, now you want to stop taking vicodin.’
‘But I can't... I need it to make the pain stop...please...’
‘Greg, no. You've to get over it...’ He breathes deeply and she holds his hand stronger. ‘Try to sleep.’
After a long time, he falls asleep. Cuddy spends the night watching him sleeping. The pain comes and goes but, fortunately, he continues sleeping. Sometimes he moans in pain with bated breath, but he’s still sleeping.
She gets up of the bed to drink some coffee, and leaves him sleeping in the room. Cuddy goes back to the room and lies next to him again. He doesn’t open his eyes, but talks.
‘Don't feel very good...’
‘You’re doing it great.’ Says her staring at him.
‘I... have to go to the bathroom...’ She goes with him there and waits for him outside. After vomiting, he brushes his teeth and washes his face with cool water. When he goes out of the bathroom she’s still waiting for him.
‘Better?’
‘A little... I just felt sick...’
‘You want some water?’
‘Yeah....’ They go to the kitchen and Cuddy gives him a glass of cold water, he drinks slowly. His hands shake and then he leaves the glass in the sink. She holds his hands, which are really cold, and tries to give him some warm.
House can barely stand on his feet and sits down on the floor. ‘I can't go on with this anymore... just give me one vicodin... I'm not asking for two... just one....’
Lisa looks at him dissapointed and sad. ‘Greg...’ He puts his face between his hands. ‘You really want to do this...?’
‘I don't know...’ He starts weeping because of the pain.
‘Oh come on.’ She dries his tears and hugs him strongly. ‘If you really need them I'll give one to you.’
House breathes deeply and stands up in silence, then goes to the bedroom and closes the door. Cuddy looks at him proudly and sighs. He lies on bed and tries not to think about the pain, but it hurts so much. Greg covers himself with blankets and closes his eyes, finally he falls asleep.
To be continued...
Irene3691 ~ SandraCH91 ~ diego27rg
‘What are you looking for?’
‘Vicodin... you know where is it?’
‘I gave you the bottle yesterday.’
‘Well I don't have it now!! Can you help me to look for it?’
‘Sure...’ She stands up to help him but they don’t succeed. ‘Maybe I have any in my purse. Wait a minute.’
‘Right...’ He wait for her sat on the edge of the bed.
‘I just have one pill.’
‘Well... you can get some more...’ Says him while taking the bottle.
‘Yes, I can... But Greg, I don't want you to depend on vicodin.’
‘You're a bit late, don't you think?’
She looks at him serious. ‘You know what I want you to do.’
‘Oh come on!! I told you I'm not going to rehab.’
‘But why not?’
‘I'm fine as I am. Rehab will make me suffer.’
‘You’re not fine. Look what happened yesterday... If you go to rehab you may be pain free.’
‘But not in a short period of time. At first I wish I could be dead, I know...’
‘You'd rather to have cramps?’
‘I'd rather have enough vicodin so I don't have cramps.’
‘I’d rather you don’t take drugs and do rehab so you don't have cramps...’ She stares at him. ‘Greg, please. Do it for me...’
He feels nervous and didn’t expect that. ‘I didn't know you had become a blackmailer...’
‘I’ve spent too much time learning of the best one.’ She keeps staring. ‘So...’
He looks around in silence and remains thinking for some seconds. ‘Alright.’
Cuddy is a bit surprised with his answer ‘cause she didn’t know she meant so much to him or that she has such influence, but she’s happy and approaches to hug him. ‘Thank you.’
Greg hugs her back. He knows this experience won’t be easy and he will suffer, but he’s willing to make this effort ‘cause he doesn’t wanna lose her.
‘I know this is gonna be really difficult for you, but I want you to know I'll be with you, and as well as Wilson..’
He nods, but he knows that it’s him who’s going to feel all the physical pain.
‘So, I suppose I can't take this pill...’
‘That will be a good start...’ Says Cuddy, and looks at him while he decides what he’s gonna do with the pill. House stares at the bottle in his hand, he doesn’t know what to do, but finally gives it to her.
‘I’m proud of you.’ She smiles. He sighs and rubs his leg.
‘It already hurts...’
‘If there's something I can do, just tell me. You're no going to go through this alone.’
‘You can cut my leg...’
‘Yeah, I’m sure that way it wouldn’t hurt... I meant if you need a massage or something to calm the pain, just ask for it, anytime.’
He looks at her and says sarcasticaly. ‘Oh yeah... I'm sure it will work... I'm... sorry... I'm just a bit nervous... I don't knnow how I'm gonna feel in two hours... I know it won't be nice. It might be better for you not to be with me... I mean... perhaps I should be in the hospital or something... I don't know...’
‘I’m not gonna leave you alone. If you think you’d be better in the hospital than here, we’ll go to the hospital. And don’t worry, you can be the biggest jerk on the Earth but I’m with you in this.’
‘I don't know if I'll be able to control myself... I'm just worried about you... but I don't want you to be in the hospital during all this process. You've been almost living there for two months... What should I do?’
‘As you’ve told me many times, you need help from someone who really knows you, not a nurse. Wilson and I know you better than anybody else, and I don’t wanna be away from you. You wanna try to stay here tonight?’ He nods.
Some time goes by and he’s starting to feel the pain increasing. ‘I think I'll have a warm bath...’ He goes to the bathroom, fills the bathtub with warm water and gets in.
Cuddy stays in the living room. She thinks about how difficult this is gonna be, and she has doubts about him trying to cheat, but she also knows that he is strong, and really thinks that he can do it.
House gets out of the bathtub and gets dressed. This is just the begining. He goes to their room, limping a little more than usual, and sits next to her on the bed. ‘A bit more relaxed?’
‘Not really.’
‘You wanna lie down? Maybe it will hurt less.’ He nods and lies on his back, breathes deeply, and tries to calm down. Lisa lies next to him and holds his hand, he turns and hugs her. They stay thus for a while.
‘Greg, we both know that this will hurt, but if you cheat it won't work.’
‘I know... the faster this goes the better for me...’
‘Just try to distract yourself from pain, don’t think about it.’
‘I can't...’
‘Of course you can...’ She looks at him worried. ‘I don't know, tell me about what you remembered...’ She holds his hand stronger.
‘I-I remembered when we met for the first time... it was my last year in Michigan and... there you were... in the hallway, with your books. You seemed to be the most serious person in the world...’ He chuckles a bit. It’s hurting a lot and he’s starting to sweat. She dries the sweat of his forehead and tries to keep distracting him.
‘Yes, and all the women had the hots for you...’
‘Well, that's not so hard to believe...’ He chuckles and feels chilly.
‘You were so sexy.’ She winks at him. ‘Oh, are you cold?’
He nods and she takes a blanket and covers them with it, then rubs his arm to warm him. ‘Don’t stop talking.’
‘I don't really feel like talking... my stomach doesn't feel very well... I'd rather listen to you...’
‘Okay... I am very happy that you're doing this, Greg, I'm glad you're doing it for me. I know how hard it's for you to say what you feel, but this means a lot.’
He closes his eyes and tries to get focused on her words while she talks.
Some minutes later she asks again. ‘How do you feel now?’
‘I'm... not very sure... I wish I could fall asleep right now.’
‘Try it. I’ll be here.’ She kisses his forehead and he’s burning up but the rest of his body is cold. She looks at him. ‘Close your eyes and imagine that you’re... in the beach. We both are in the beach on holidays. Relaxed... lying on the sand. There’s no pain, just you and I and the wind blowing.’
‘And no swimming costume... I mean... yeah... I mean that... no swimming costume...’
She chuckles. ‘Okay, there’s no swimming costume.’
‘Great...’
‘Does this help?’
He whispers. ‘Maybe...’
‘Okay... The sun warms your body, you're not cold anymore. You feel very relaxed...’
‘If only it was true...’
‘Just try to imagine, feel it like if it were true.’ Says Lisa. He closes his eyes and holds her hand strongly. ‘You can do it, I know you can.’
‘Lisa, I can't do this... I just can't, I've been taking vicodin for years...’
‘But now it’s different, now you want to stop taking vicodin.’
‘But I can't... I need it to make the pain stop...please...’
‘Greg, no. You've to get over it...’ He breathes deeply and she holds his hand stronger. ‘Try to sleep.’
After a long time, he falls asleep. Cuddy spends the night watching him sleeping. The pain comes and goes but, fortunately, he continues sleeping. Sometimes he moans in pain with bated breath, but he’s still sleeping.
She gets up of the bed to drink some coffee, and leaves him sleeping in the room. Cuddy goes back to the room and lies next to him again. He doesn’t open his eyes, but talks.
‘Don't feel very good...’
‘You’re doing it great.’ Says her staring at him.
‘I... have to go to the bathroom...’ She goes with him there and waits for him outside. After vomiting, he brushes his teeth and washes his face with cool water. When he goes out of the bathroom she’s still waiting for him.
‘Better?’
‘A little... I just felt sick...’
‘You want some water?’
‘Yeah....’ They go to the kitchen and Cuddy gives him a glass of cold water, he drinks slowly. His hands shake and then he leaves the glass in the sink. She holds his hands, which are really cold, and tries to give him some warm.
House can barely stand on his feet and sits down on the floor. ‘I can't go on with this anymore... just give me one vicodin... I'm not asking for two... just one....’
Lisa looks at him dissapointed and sad. ‘Greg...’ He puts his face between his hands. ‘You really want to do this...?’
‘I don't know...’ He starts weeping because of the pain.
‘Oh come on.’ She dries his tears and hugs him strongly. ‘If you really need them I'll give one to you.’
House breathes deeply and stands up in silence, then goes to the bedroom and closes the door. Cuddy looks at him proudly and sighs. He lies on bed and tries not to think about the pain, but it hurts so much. Greg covers himself with blankets and closes his eyes, finally he falls asleep.
To be continued...
Irene3691 ~ SandraCH91 ~ diego27rg
