It’s been five months since House’s kiss encounter with Stacy. He didn’t bother telling Cuddy since her pregnancy had been proven to be risky after she fainted during a board meeting one day. Yah, the board already knew who the father is but even if they don’t like the idea having a Huddy baby around, they know stepping on their personal life is something outside their business. They were even the one who requested the dean of medicine to take a leave off which Cuddy gratefully accepted after House urged her to do so for two weeks.
Within those months, the diagnostician still tried to spend time with Casey even though having Stacy around was as awkward as he could imagine. He tried to move on and forget about the action the lawyer did months ago but she always end up acting like she desperately wanted him to sleep with her. Until one night, he couldn’t take it anymore and, he thought, dragging down a few scotches on their bar stand might help ease out the thoughts he have in mind.
“How many scotches do you really need before passing out to bed?” a female voice sounded from behind. He smiled knowing who it was before turning to face the seven months pregnant Cuddy who was standing by their kitchen doorway. “Not more than you I suppose,” he joked as she made her way to stand next to him. He reached down and caress her swollen belly as she look at his averting eyes.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
He shook his head and replied, “No,” before taking his hands off from the baby bump and gulped straight the glass full of scotch he just poured earlier. Cuddy widened his eyes, stunned by his action, as he decided not to meet her gaze after placing the empty glass back on the table.
“You know if I’m not heavily pregnant I would have slap you hard enough to make you spit all the scotch you just drank,” she said. Her voice sounded like she’s joking but he knew she really would have done that. “Sorry,” he mumbled, still trying not to meet her stare and it was followed by a deafening silence between them.
“House,” she broke the motionless moment, “I know you long enough to know if there’s something’s wrong with you. What is it?” He wasn’t still saying anything as he pours another round of scotch into his glass. He’s full of hesitation but when she took the empty bar stool next to him, he knew she’s there with him to listen no matter what the thing he’ll be saying is.
“I’m doubtful,” he finally said when his blue eyes that were now blood shot red met her grey ones. She was struck with fear but asked, “About what?”
“My fatherhood.” Cuddy’s jaw dropped but no words were coming out. House looked at her and said, “Not with our child for heaven sake.”
“You mean,” she tried to speak up, quite relief with his admission that it’s not their child he’s doubtful about, “with Casey?”
“Unless I have another child you know about that I don’t,” he said and was forcing a smile. Cuddy, on the other hand, was still processing why on earth did he came up with this idea. He’s been going around in Jersey with his daughter so she’s assuming House really knew Casey’s his, a truth even her had learned to accept.
“You’ve been going out with Cassandra every other day, House. How could you still be holding doubts?” she asked while wearing that confused look. He drank a little scotch before saying, “30% of the world’s dad doesn’t know they’re raising someone else’s kid, Cuddy.”
“But it doesn’t mean you belong on that 30%,” she tried to convinced him.
“But it also could mean that I do,” he said with a stern eyes before he looked away. “I know Stacy,” he said with eyes straight to the bottles in the shelf in front of him, “I know how she plays things. She’s using this little girl to get through me. I scheduled a paternity test tomorrow morning.”
“So, you’re going to have our child be tested too the moment he/she saw the first light of the earth? Think maybe I’m also using this baby to get to you?” He made a quick head turn to look at her. He doesn’t want Cuddy to think that way because he believe the unborn child in her womb is his but with Casey… it’s a different story.
“What the hell, no,” he tried to calm her down but failed to when she stood up.
“House, you don’t have to do anything. You’re fine with Casey, she’s fine with you. Things are working out. Maybe it’s not, between you and Stacy but it will,” she placed a hand on his back, “Cassandra had given her trust to you as her father and I see you’ve done the same. Please, for me, don’t do the paternity test.” He looked at her and closed his eyes when she leaned to kiss him good night. He was told to follow her to bed and he nodded but he stayed in the bar stand for a few minutes still thinking and doubting his fatherhood on Casey.
“You’re always here with your patients, daddy?” the little girl asked him the next morning. House let her sat down on one of the exam room tables as he tore a syringe pack on the table next to him. “Yah,” he said trying to avoid a long conversation this time. He turned and sat down in front of his daughter and took one arm and swabbed it with cotton ball dipped in alcohol. Casey eyed what he’s doing and little as she is, she knew what this is all about.
“Why do I always have to be tested?” he tried to ignore the little voice coming in front of him, “why do I always have to be proven somebody’s?” This time, the word caught him. A guilt feeling began running through his veins so he decided not to meet the little girl’s eyes.
“You had this test before?” he asked. Casey nodded. He dropped the cotton ball and the empty syringe and sighed. “I had one a year ago to prove daddy’s really my dad,” she stated trying to ignore the tears that were about to fall, “but it turns out he wasn’t. So if it turns out you’re not my dad, guess I was living in fantasy world for the past months.”
The grip of guilt was causing his heart to feel more painful as he look at the little girl who was now sobbing in front of him. He stood up and hugged her with palm rolling up and down her back, “Casey,” he said, “no matter what the result says keep this in mind that I enjoyed the days I had with you. But don’t think this test shows that I don’t love you as my daughter. You… you are my daughter Cass.”
“Will you still love me even if I’m not?” Casey asked the moment they pulled out from the tight hug. House kissed her forehead and said, “yes,” that made the little girl gave out a forced smile at the end.
Meanwhile, Cuddy tried to stand up from the bed she had been part of for the last two hours. Since House went out for work that morning, she was ordered not to move out and stand up knowing cramps had been her wake up call for the day. Both of them feared the baby’s condition but she was left with no choice but to open the door herself knowing Tammy was giving Rachel a bath when the door bell started ringing. She stood froze the moment she was face to face with the person who was once behind her home door but the other seemed to be as confident as before.
“Hey,” Cuddy greeted and was trying to smile, “come on in.” She gave way to her unwanted and uninvited visitor and let her led the way to the living room after closing the door. She offered the couch which was gladly taken but juice or water wasn’t as eyes were wandering around every corner of the area.
“If it’s House you’re looking for,” Cuddy started with palms calming the kicking fetus inside her, “he’s at work.” Guess, judging by Cuddy’s word, you now knew who the visitor was, yah, Stacy.
“Oh, that’s good then,” the lawyer answered with eyes finally landing on the dean, “I actually didn’t come here to see him.” Her words struck Cuddy with fear. She knew where this might be heading but she’s trying her best not to lose some character for her and her baby’s sake. “I came here to see and talk to you,” she added, finally admitting her objectives.
“If you’re here to talk about House’s days with Casey, I think ---“
“No, not about that,” Stacy cut her off, “Greg’s time with Cassandra is something I’m thankful with but you know it isn’t healthy for her to see her mother and father have some mess up things lately.” Cuddy’s silence was a cue for her to continue so, “But I’m willing to do anything for us to fix this ---“
“Go talk to him then,” the dean returned, starting to be stern.
“He won’t listen but he will… with you.” Cuddy looked away from Stacy. “I said I’m willing to do anything and talking you out of your relationship with him isn’t spared from that.” The dean’s eyes met the brave ones of the lawyer in front of her. “Lisa, he doesn’t need ---“
“Get out,” Cuddy uttered with a I’m-trying-to-be-calm voice after standing up. Her eyes weren’t meeting Stacy’s but the lawyer seemed to be fond of her couch since she wasn’t going anywhere…yet.
“I know this is hard, Lise, but I know Greg enough to know where your relationship with him is heading. Trust me, I’m doing this for you,” Stacy added trying to convince her. Her words is something Cuddy couldn’t take so she freed herself from the nice Cuddy Stacy knew and the brave one was the one she will be using in this seemingly long confrontation.
“How could you come up with this dam idea?!” her voice was beginning to sound like horn, “to come in my house and tell me these bullshits?!” Stacy stood up and faced her and matched her voice too.
“Bullshits?” she mocked, “So truths are bullshits now? Lisa, both of us knew House so long to know this isn’t going to work.”
“It doesn’t mean it didn’t with you, it won’t with me too!”
“Yah, he obviously thinks it will and so do you! You’re ---“
“Get the hell out of my house or I’ll be calling the cops in less than a minute!” Stacy’s eyes were drawn to Rachel who was now standing by the living room doorway, with eyes filled with tears. Cuddy looked at her daughter and saw fear in her eyes to see her mother arguing like never been before. “Tammy! Bring Rachel back in her room now!” she cried out and was repeated when the nanny wasn’t showing up to take the toddler away, “Tammy! Get her back I said!” Also afraid of seeing Cuddy like that, the nanny pulled Rachel down the hallway and when they disappeared the dean returned her eyes to look at Stacy who did the same. “Greg wouldn’t love that,” the lawyer said annoying her, “he may be happy for a few months but trust me, it’ll be fire off after a year or two and the last he’ll know is that he doesn’t need you…”
“Again, get out or I’ll have to drag you out without even thinking of opening the door,” Cuddy fired back. Stacy sighed in a more insulting way than a relief. She got her purse and began to walk out but stop in midway to say, “don’t tell me that I didn’t warned you when everything falls apart at the end, Lisa. ‘Cause in this game, first love never dies.” She left another insulting chuckle before walking to hold the doorknob and was about to leave.
“Dr. Cuddy!” Tammy shouted before Stacy could put her first foot out. She saw the nanny hurriedly walked to the living room and that’s when fear also struck her. She went back in and blood was drained from her head when her eyes landed on the living room and Rachel’s cry of ‘mommy’ wasn’t helping to calm things down.
Cuddy was clutching her baby bump at its bottom, trying to hold the baby from going down. But blood had been flowing between her thighs and some even made their way to the honey wood floor. Stacy couldn’t move but her eyes were locked at Tammy who was holding Cuddy’s arms to stable her as one of the dean’s hands was on the nearest furniture she could find.
“Ma’am, could you please help me!” Tammy cried for help to Stacy but she doesn’t know what to do.
Oh god, no Stacy hissed to herself while watching Cuddy slowly falling unconsciously to her daughter’s nanny.
Chapter 12 Sneak Peek…
“I’m sorry,” Wilson said, almost whispering, as he pat House’s back.
Guys, thanks for reading!
Within those months, the diagnostician still tried to spend time with Casey even though having Stacy around was as awkward as he could imagine. He tried to move on and forget about the action the lawyer did months ago but she always end up acting like she desperately wanted him to sleep with her. Until one night, he couldn’t take it anymore and, he thought, dragging down a few scotches on their bar stand might help ease out the thoughts he have in mind.
“How many scotches do you really need before passing out to bed?” a female voice sounded from behind. He smiled knowing who it was before turning to face the seven months pregnant Cuddy who was standing by their kitchen doorway. “Not more than you I suppose,” he joked as she made her way to stand next to him. He reached down and caress her swollen belly as she look at his averting eyes.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
He shook his head and replied, “No,” before taking his hands off from the baby bump and gulped straight the glass full of scotch he just poured earlier. Cuddy widened his eyes, stunned by his action, as he decided not to meet her gaze after placing the empty glass back on the table.
“You know if I’m not heavily pregnant I would have slap you hard enough to make you spit all the scotch you just drank,” she said. Her voice sounded like she’s joking but he knew she really would have done that. “Sorry,” he mumbled, still trying not to meet her stare and it was followed by a deafening silence between them.
“House,” she broke the motionless moment, “I know you long enough to know if there’s something’s wrong with you. What is it?” He wasn’t still saying anything as he pours another round of scotch into his glass. He’s full of hesitation but when she took the empty bar stool next to him, he knew she’s there with him to listen no matter what the thing he’ll be saying is.
“I’m doubtful,” he finally said when his blue eyes that were now blood shot red met her grey ones. She was struck with fear but asked, “About what?”
“My fatherhood.” Cuddy’s jaw dropped but no words were coming out. House looked at her and said, “Not with our child for heaven sake.”
“You mean,” she tried to speak up, quite relief with his admission that it’s not their child he’s doubtful about, “with Casey?”
“Unless I have another child you know about that I don’t,” he said and was forcing a smile. Cuddy, on the other hand, was still processing why on earth did he came up with this idea. He’s been going around in Jersey with his daughter so she’s assuming House really knew Casey’s his, a truth even her had learned to accept.
“You’ve been going out with Cassandra every other day, House. How could you still be holding doubts?” she asked while wearing that confused look. He drank a little scotch before saying, “30% of the world’s dad doesn’t know they’re raising someone else’s kid, Cuddy.”
“But it doesn’t mean you belong on that 30%,” she tried to convinced him.
“But it also could mean that I do,” he said with a stern eyes before he looked away. “I know Stacy,” he said with eyes straight to the bottles in the shelf in front of him, “I know how she plays things. She’s using this little girl to get through me. I scheduled a paternity test tomorrow morning.”
“So, you’re going to have our child be tested too the moment he/she saw the first light of the earth? Think maybe I’m also using this baby to get to you?” He made a quick head turn to look at her. He doesn’t want Cuddy to think that way because he believe the unborn child in her womb is his but with Casey… it’s a different story.
“What the hell, no,” he tried to calm her down but failed to when she stood up.
“House, you don’t have to do anything. You’re fine with Casey, she’s fine with you. Things are working out. Maybe it’s not, between you and Stacy but it will,” she placed a hand on his back, “Cassandra had given her trust to you as her father and I see you’ve done the same. Please, for me, don’t do the paternity test.” He looked at her and closed his eyes when she leaned to kiss him good night. He was told to follow her to bed and he nodded but he stayed in the bar stand for a few minutes still thinking and doubting his fatherhood on Casey.
“You’re always here with your patients, daddy?” the little girl asked him the next morning. House let her sat down on one of the exam room tables as he tore a syringe pack on the table next to him. “Yah,” he said trying to avoid a long conversation this time. He turned and sat down in front of his daughter and took one arm and swabbed it with cotton ball dipped in alcohol. Casey eyed what he’s doing and little as she is, she knew what this is all about.
“Why do I always have to be tested?” he tried to ignore the little voice coming in front of him, “why do I always have to be proven somebody’s?” This time, the word caught him. A guilt feeling began running through his veins so he decided not to meet the little girl’s eyes.
“You had this test before?” he asked. Casey nodded. He dropped the cotton ball and the empty syringe and sighed. “I had one a year ago to prove daddy’s really my dad,” she stated trying to ignore the tears that were about to fall, “but it turns out he wasn’t. So if it turns out you’re not my dad, guess I was living in fantasy world for the past months.”
The grip of guilt was causing his heart to feel more painful as he look at the little girl who was now sobbing in front of him. He stood up and hugged her with palm rolling up and down her back, “Casey,” he said, “no matter what the result says keep this in mind that I enjoyed the days I had with you. But don’t think this test shows that I don’t love you as my daughter. You… you are my daughter Cass.”
“Will you still love me even if I’m not?” Casey asked the moment they pulled out from the tight hug. House kissed her forehead and said, “yes,” that made the little girl gave out a forced smile at the end.
Meanwhile, Cuddy tried to stand up from the bed she had been part of for the last two hours. Since House went out for work that morning, she was ordered not to move out and stand up knowing cramps had been her wake up call for the day. Both of them feared the baby’s condition but she was left with no choice but to open the door herself knowing Tammy was giving Rachel a bath when the door bell started ringing. She stood froze the moment she was face to face with the person who was once behind her home door but the other seemed to be as confident as before.
“Hey,” Cuddy greeted and was trying to smile, “come on in.” She gave way to her unwanted and uninvited visitor and let her led the way to the living room after closing the door. She offered the couch which was gladly taken but juice or water wasn’t as eyes were wandering around every corner of the area.
“If it’s House you’re looking for,” Cuddy started with palms calming the kicking fetus inside her, “he’s at work.” Guess, judging by Cuddy’s word, you now knew who the visitor was, yah, Stacy.
“Oh, that’s good then,” the lawyer answered with eyes finally landing on the dean, “I actually didn’t come here to see him.” Her words struck Cuddy with fear. She knew where this might be heading but she’s trying her best not to lose some character for her and her baby’s sake. “I came here to see and talk to you,” she added, finally admitting her objectives.
“If you’re here to talk about House’s days with Casey, I think ---“
“No, not about that,” Stacy cut her off, “Greg’s time with Cassandra is something I’m thankful with but you know it isn’t healthy for her to see her mother and father have some mess up things lately.” Cuddy’s silence was a cue for her to continue so, “But I’m willing to do anything for us to fix this ---“
“Go talk to him then,” the dean returned, starting to be stern.
“He won’t listen but he will… with you.” Cuddy looked away from Stacy. “I said I’m willing to do anything and talking you out of your relationship with him isn’t spared from that.” The dean’s eyes met the brave ones of the lawyer in front of her. “Lisa, he doesn’t need ---“
“Get out,” Cuddy uttered with a I’m-trying-to-be-calm voice after standing up. Her eyes weren’t meeting Stacy’s but the lawyer seemed to be fond of her couch since she wasn’t going anywhere…yet.
“I know this is hard, Lise, but I know Greg enough to know where your relationship with him is heading. Trust me, I’m doing this for you,” Stacy added trying to convince her. Her words is something Cuddy couldn’t take so she freed herself from the nice Cuddy Stacy knew and the brave one was the one she will be using in this seemingly long confrontation.
“How could you come up with this dam idea?!” her voice was beginning to sound like horn, “to come in my house and tell me these bullshits?!” Stacy stood up and faced her and matched her voice too.
“Bullshits?” she mocked, “So truths are bullshits now? Lisa, both of us knew House so long to know this isn’t going to work.”
“It doesn’t mean it didn’t with you, it won’t with me too!”
“Yah, he obviously thinks it will and so do you! You’re ---“
“Get the hell out of my house or I’ll be calling the cops in less than a minute!” Stacy’s eyes were drawn to Rachel who was now standing by the living room doorway, with eyes filled with tears. Cuddy looked at her daughter and saw fear in her eyes to see her mother arguing like never been before. “Tammy! Bring Rachel back in her room now!” she cried out and was repeated when the nanny wasn’t showing up to take the toddler away, “Tammy! Get her back I said!” Also afraid of seeing Cuddy like that, the nanny pulled Rachel down the hallway and when they disappeared the dean returned her eyes to look at Stacy who did the same. “Greg wouldn’t love that,” the lawyer said annoying her, “he may be happy for a few months but trust me, it’ll be fire off after a year or two and the last he’ll know is that he doesn’t need you…”
“Again, get out or I’ll have to drag you out without even thinking of opening the door,” Cuddy fired back. Stacy sighed in a more insulting way than a relief. She got her purse and began to walk out but stop in midway to say, “don’t tell me that I didn’t warned you when everything falls apart at the end, Lisa. ‘Cause in this game, first love never dies.” She left another insulting chuckle before walking to hold the doorknob and was about to leave.
“Dr. Cuddy!” Tammy shouted before Stacy could put her first foot out. She saw the nanny hurriedly walked to the living room and that’s when fear also struck her. She went back in and blood was drained from her head when her eyes landed on the living room and Rachel’s cry of ‘mommy’ wasn’t helping to calm things down.
Cuddy was clutching her baby bump at its bottom, trying to hold the baby from going down. But blood had been flowing between her thighs and some even made their way to the honey wood floor. Stacy couldn’t move but her eyes were locked at Tammy who was holding Cuddy’s arms to stable her as one of the dean’s hands was on the nearest furniture she could find.
“Ma’am, could you please help me!” Tammy cried for help to Stacy but she doesn’t know what to do.
Oh god, no Stacy hissed to herself while watching Cuddy slowly falling unconsciously to her daughter’s nanny.
Chapter 12 Sneak Peek…
“I’m sorry,” Wilson said, almost whispering, as he pat House’s back.
Guys, thanks for reading!
