Merry giáng sinh and a Happy New năm Huddies. :) Okay belated New năm and Christmas. Haha.
Part One
"I can't do this anymore," he đã đưa ý kiến to her softly.
"In your eyes--I'll only be so much as một giây best. And if I can't have all of you--well. Then you're obviously not mine to have. I've accepted that, but will you?"
She slowly fell into tears as these words slipped from his mouth, and with a quick peck to the cheek accompanied bởi a fleeting exit she broke down completely.
December 20th - These Days before Eve
The hospital met it's silence for the following days leading up to Christmas. The clinic, the ER, even House's department had been slowed. So to preoccupy himself with all the free time, House ran around the hospital, festive in every possible way, even down to his cane. Passing children had mistaken him for a kẹo striper sometimes even a Santa Claus. He didn't bother to correct them, they came and gone so he just let it slide--for once.
Wilson had sometime joined after dealing with all his depressing cancer patients--he needed the holiday high, strangely enough from House, to lift his spirits. So they pranced around as evidently Santa Claus and a Jewish elf.
But today, House was stripped from his festiveness to just a Santa hat, and his cane. He sat in his lowly office, looking towards the floor when Wilson came strolling bởi in his suit and into the office.
"No giáng sinh cheer this morning?" he asked walking up to the desk.
"Hat and cane." his eyes still hadn't lifted from the floor.
"Oh right..Right, right." There was a pause between them before he spoke again.
"I don't...."
"You don't what?"
"I don't know what to do with her." he spoke in the most serious tone, in the most vulnerable state Wilson had seen him in, in a long while.
"Why what--"
"He's going to ask her."
"What? Wh--a? Ho-w? How do bạn know?"
"Asked me three things: if I could help him pick out a ring, help him pay, and if I could help him come up with an idea on how to ask her." Wilson just stood there, not knowing what to say, dumbfounded and motionless.
"I scrape off enough money to pay at least two thirds if I wanted, but I paid one--" he tossed the red velvet box at Wilson and juggled it a little before attaining a grasp. He opened it and viewed the ring.
"Why on earth--did he ask you?" House stood up and began to walk out.
"Apparently, out of everyone, I know her most, at worst and best. Of course, I'm speaking verbatim."
"Of course bạn are," Wilson started skeptically. "but it can't be just that. bạn wouldn't..Where we going?"
"If bạn are staring at a fawn, and a ranger tries to protect it, do bạn waste your time trying to shoot down the ranger?"
"Oh how did I know that was coming."
"Metaphor, hoặc this?"
"Metaphor, because bạn can never admit anything plainly. Plainly, for lack of better word."
"I'm sorry a conversation with me requires bạn to think. Of course, so do several other things, so I'm not that sorry."
"What are bạn going to do?" Wilson sighed.
"I'm going to shoot the fawn." the doors of the elevator then opened and they walked into the lobby, going towards the clinic doors. Pushing through without a care in the world, people were shoved aside bởi House and then apologized to bởi Wilson before they reached Cuddy's set of doors. Her paperwork was literally a stack about a fair foot high. Of course House didn't care--it was House.
Bursting in, words were the first thing to attack Cuddy, while House in his absent sane mind just sat back as these words flowed out. Wilson stood in what was supposed to be Cuddy's secretariats office to be kept an toàn, két an toàn from the due bloodbath.
"If bạn marry him you're a wimp, if bạn don't you're a masochist. And possibly a sadist..."
"Wh-what do bạn want House?"
"What is that insane buttload of paperwork for? It's called the holidays."
"It's called maybe a few dozen papers that are in irrelevance to bạn and the other ninety percent in relevance. Insurance, a few good lawsuits, which God forbid we manage to squeeze our way out of--"
"Ah-pap-ap-ap. Stop changing the subject."
"What are bạn talking about."
"You've moved in with him."
"And you're asking?"
"If you're going to hoặc wanting to marry him."
"You left us alone for a while House, why all of the sudden is my relationship with Lucas the hàng đầu, đầu trang of your agenda?" he just looked at her, pretending like he didn't hear a word, and just threw up simply everything..
"If bạn marry him, bạn surrender yourself to him. He ties bạn down, bạn tie him down. It all symbolizes that bạn felt completely helpless and felt the girl needed a healthy and caring father figure which means you're a wimp. bạn don't marry him, bạn are alone; Like bạn have been, like bạn always seemed to be. bạn take upon that misery for yourself and for your daughter, not giving her a choice and tie bạn two down to misery. To pain. And we're back to the masochist."
"So--either way it's a lose-lose situation. I think I'm going to take the risk."
"You're not looking for happiness. Far from it."
"Really," she sighed. "I thought that feeling was feeling out of place.."
"You--"
"I have protection, House. I have security with Lucas. He's everything, and exactly what I need. If you're pushing this because bạn think I need you? Then. Well." she looked back down and scribbled on each paper and she flipped over and back into her 'finished' stack. House came closer to the desk, a distance where Wilson--who had been grimacing several different faces in between statements--could still hear him, but close enough to get Cuddy's temperature to rise.
"You need, perfection. bạn can have what bạn need. Maybe that will provide. Maybe that will satisfy. Maybe he is good enough. But he knows. He knows his place. He knows right where he stands. Your, safety net. một giây rate, at best. At least in your eyes--" she looked up at him in the coldest glare she could convey her anger through. His expression loosened.
"He's exactly, what bạn need. Right down to every inch. I'm not saying bạn don't want Lucas. bạn could. With all the tình yêu bạn could muster; but who's to say it's not forced, hoặc guilt; How I see it? It's not that bạn don't want him, why not? He's what bạn need. But it'll never be full. bạn don't have a choice, but you'll be tied down. You'll never want for him in entirety, because there will be a single string attached. That cannot be cut," slightly red and wet faced she whispered angrily under her breath.
"Get. Out." without hesitation, he turned away and flew out the doors dragging Wilson along.
"She didn't stop you.." Wilson spoke softly beginning a constant back and forth.
"She never had the intention."
"She was civil. It was admirable."
"Civil? She only shut up because she knew I was right."
"Which how many times has she done? That makes her civil."
"Fine fine."
"You hurt her back there."
"Which wouldn't be the first. I know that and she knows that."
"It's no excuse."
"I know."
"She feels guilty now."
"I know," they stepped into the elevator heading back to Wilson's.
"that was the point." House finished.
"You're a manipulative bastard bạn know that?"
"You got that?"
"Oh, your plan? No I was just stating the facts."
"Do bạn know the plan?"
"Figure it out." they stepped out and they began to walk towards Wilson's office.
"I shot a leg," House began. "the hươu con, nâu vàng, fawn will begin to weaken, to wobble. Even fall. If she's strong, she'll get back up, like I know she will. Then I'll shoot another leg. She'll be vulnerable. When she goes and tells on me to the ranger--"
"Like I said, manipulative bastard." and they both walked into his office to slack off until lunch.
╬╬╬
December 22 - Torn bởi you, Torn bởi Two
Ten O'clock A.M.
"Where did bạn find these?" Cuddy asked Nurse Brenda. She pointed out and gestured to the front of the clinic. Cuddy gave a curt nod and thank bạn as he rested her eyes on the three presents addressed to her. All separate sizes, different wrapping papers--only the square shape remained the same.
The first she opened was the tallest of them all. First untying the bows, then ripping apart the papers she opened the box and lifted out a beautiful miniature giáng sinh tree. Decorated like no other, as it was personalized. There was a mini "Michigan" ornament, reflected her graduates at the university, her name etched in the ribbons wrapped around the tree, and the ngôi sao with a small picture of Rachel. She smiled, set it down and flipped a button to light up the tree.
Moving onto her tiếp theo present, she removed the packaging fairly easy and faster this time around. The excitement had reached her hands, like children on giáng sinh morning. But what excited her most was the thought that Lucas had done all of this.
The tiếp theo present was a pair of crystal white doves, linking up together. They were beautiful glimmering in the light. She smiled and set it down tiếp theo to her cây and opened the last gift.
The smallest gift, held a silver necklace, a glimmering chain with three red hoa hồng dangling one after the other. She put it on, then touched it lightly and smiled. But looking back towards the box, was a note. It read:
Cuddy
- There will be nine thêm gifts to come your way. Four tomorrow, four the tiếp theo and finally one come Christmas. I hope bạn enjoyed these three presents.
your regret,
Anonymous.
This note beheld several strange things. All contradicting the 'fact' that Lucas had sent these things. The possibility even. Lucas would not have to hide this..
And "your regret," didn't sound like a guessing game hint he would give. Sliding everything off her bàn into the garbage, she set the first two gifts accordingly to her desk. She tried going back to work but her suspicions were already on the rise. She would never know the time but she eagerly waited for tomorrow where four thêm gifts would arrive.
The following gifts consisted of what seemed to be, inspired gifts from "The Twelve Days of Christmas" carol. Gift four was an old edition of The Rolling Stones, four members, four "calling birds". Gift five was a "gold" watch consisting of "rings" for the chain hoặc band of the watch. The sixth gift was a beautiful geese painting, very beautifully done.
The tiếp theo four included a "swan" bracelet, with "seven" charms around, a snow globe, containing a musical number of "nine ladies" and gents "dancing", and two âm nhạc boxes. One, from a Michael Flatley collection, where riveting âm nhạc of river dancing would occur, at least "ten" different melodies would sound off, and the other a folk âm nhạc box, consisting of a "maid" twirling round, this box including only "eight" different melodies.
Cuddy still hadn't made a decision on who had được trao these to her, but she would find out eventually with just one gift left. Hoping that the giver would come phía trước, chuyển tiếp this last time.
╬╬╬
Part One
"I can't do this anymore," he đã đưa ý kiến to her softly.
"In your eyes--I'll only be so much as một giây best. And if I can't have all of you--well. Then you're obviously not mine to have. I've accepted that, but will you?"
She slowly fell into tears as these words slipped from his mouth, and with a quick peck to the cheek accompanied bởi a fleeting exit she broke down completely.
December 20th - These Days before Eve
The hospital met it's silence for the following days leading up to Christmas. The clinic, the ER, even House's department had been slowed. So to preoccupy himself with all the free time, House ran around the hospital, festive in every possible way, even down to his cane. Passing children had mistaken him for a kẹo striper sometimes even a Santa Claus. He didn't bother to correct them, they came and gone so he just let it slide--for once.
Wilson had sometime joined after dealing with all his depressing cancer patients--he needed the holiday high, strangely enough from House, to lift his spirits. So they pranced around as evidently Santa Claus and a Jewish elf.
But today, House was stripped from his festiveness to just a Santa hat, and his cane. He sat in his lowly office, looking towards the floor when Wilson came strolling bởi in his suit and into the office.
"No giáng sinh cheer this morning?" he asked walking up to the desk.
"Hat and cane." his eyes still hadn't lifted from the floor.
"Oh right..Right, right." There was a pause between them before he spoke again.
"I don't...."
"You don't what?"
"I don't know what to do with her." he spoke in the most serious tone, in the most vulnerable state Wilson had seen him in, in a long while.
"Why what--"
"He's going to ask her."
"What? Wh--a? Ho-w? How do bạn know?"
"Asked me three things: if I could help him pick out a ring, help him pay, and if I could help him come up with an idea on how to ask her." Wilson just stood there, not knowing what to say, dumbfounded and motionless.
"I scrape off enough money to pay at least two thirds if I wanted, but I paid one--" he tossed the red velvet box at Wilson and juggled it a little before attaining a grasp. He opened it and viewed the ring.
"Why on earth--did he ask you?" House stood up and began to walk out.
"Apparently, out of everyone, I know her most, at worst and best. Of course, I'm speaking verbatim."
"Of course bạn are," Wilson started skeptically. "but it can't be just that. bạn wouldn't..Where we going?"
"If bạn are staring at a fawn, and a ranger tries to protect it, do bạn waste your time trying to shoot down the ranger?"
"Oh how did I know that was coming."
"Metaphor, hoặc this?"
"Metaphor, because bạn can never admit anything plainly. Plainly, for lack of better word."
"I'm sorry a conversation with me requires bạn to think. Of course, so do several other things, so I'm not that sorry."
"What are bạn going to do?" Wilson sighed.
"I'm going to shoot the fawn." the doors of the elevator then opened and they walked into the lobby, going towards the clinic doors. Pushing through without a care in the world, people were shoved aside bởi House and then apologized to bởi Wilson before they reached Cuddy's set of doors. Her paperwork was literally a stack about a fair foot high. Of course House didn't care--it was House.
Bursting in, words were the first thing to attack Cuddy, while House in his absent sane mind just sat back as these words flowed out. Wilson stood in what was supposed to be Cuddy's secretariats office to be kept an toàn, két an toàn from the due bloodbath.
"If bạn marry him you're a wimp, if bạn don't you're a masochist. And possibly a sadist..."
"Wh-what do bạn want House?"
"What is that insane buttload of paperwork for? It's called the holidays."
"It's called maybe a few dozen papers that are in irrelevance to bạn and the other ninety percent in relevance. Insurance, a few good lawsuits, which God forbid we manage to squeeze our way out of--"
"Ah-pap-ap-ap. Stop changing the subject."
"What are bạn talking about."
"You've moved in with him."
"And you're asking?"
"If you're going to hoặc wanting to marry him."
"You left us alone for a while House, why all of the sudden is my relationship with Lucas the hàng đầu, đầu trang of your agenda?" he just looked at her, pretending like he didn't hear a word, and just threw up simply everything..
"If bạn marry him, bạn surrender yourself to him. He ties bạn down, bạn tie him down. It all symbolizes that bạn felt completely helpless and felt the girl needed a healthy and caring father figure which means you're a wimp. bạn don't marry him, bạn are alone; Like bạn have been, like bạn always seemed to be. bạn take upon that misery for yourself and for your daughter, not giving her a choice and tie bạn two down to misery. To pain. And we're back to the masochist."
"So--either way it's a lose-lose situation. I think I'm going to take the risk."
"You're not looking for happiness. Far from it."
"Really," she sighed. "I thought that feeling was feeling out of place.."
"You--"
"I have protection, House. I have security with Lucas. He's everything, and exactly what I need. If you're pushing this because bạn think I need you? Then. Well." she looked back down and scribbled on each paper and she flipped over and back into her 'finished' stack. House came closer to the desk, a distance where Wilson--who had been grimacing several different faces in between statements--could still hear him, but close enough to get Cuddy's temperature to rise.
"You need, perfection. bạn can have what bạn need. Maybe that will provide. Maybe that will satisfy. Maybe he is good enough. But he knows. He knows his place. He knows right where he stands. Your, safety net. một giây rate, at best. At least in your eyes--" she looked up at him in the coldest glare she could convey her anger through. His expression loosened.
"He's exactly, what bạn need. Right down to every inch. I'm not saying bạn don't want Lucas. bạn could. With all the tình yêu bạn could muster; but who's to say it's not forced, hoặc guilt; How I see it? It's not that bạn don't want him, why not? He's what bạn need. But it'll never be full. bạn don't have a choice, but you'll be tied down. You'll never want for him in entirety, because there will be a single string attached. That cannot be cut," slightly red and wet faced she whispered angrily under her breath.
"Get. Out." without hesitation, he turned away and flew out the doors dragging Wilson along.
"She didn't stop you.." Wilson spoke softly beginning a constant back and forth.
"She never had the intention."
"She was civil. It was admirable."
"Civil? She only shut up because she knew I was right."
"Which how many times has she done? That makes her civil."
"Fine fine."
"You hurt her back there."
"Which wouldn't be the first. I know that and she knows that."
"It's no excuse."
"I know."
"She feels guilty now."
"I know," they stepped into the elevator heading back to Wilson's.
"that was the point." House finished.
"You're a manipulative bastard bạn know that?"
"You got that?"
"Oh, your plan? No I was just stating the facts."
"Do bạn know the plan?"
"Figure it out." they stepped out and they began to walk towards Wilson's office.
"I shot a leg," House began. "the hươu con, nâu vàng, fawn will begin to weaken, to wobble. Even fall. If she's strong, she'll get back up, like I know she will. Then I'll shoot another leg. She'll be vulnerable. When she goes and tells on me to the ranger--"
"Like I said, manipulative bastard." and they both walked into his office to slack off until lunch.
╬╬╬
December 22 - Torn bởi you, Torn bởi Two
Ten O'clock A.M.
"Where did bạn find these?" Cuddy asked Nurse Brenda. She pointed out and gestured to the front of the clinic. Cuddy gave a curt nod and thank bạn as he rested her eyes on the three presents addressed to her. All separate sizes, different wrapping papers--only the square shape remained the same.
The first she opened was the tallest of them all. First untying the bows, then ripping apart the papers she opened the box and lifted out a beautiful miniature giáng sinh tree. Decorated like no other, as it was personalized. There was a mini "Michigan" ornament, reflected her graduates at the university, her name etched in the ribbons wrapped around the tree, and the ngôi sao with a small picture of Rachel. She smiled, set it down and flipped a button to light up the tree.
Moving onto her tiếp theo present, she removed the packaging fairly easy and faster this time around. The excitement had reached her hands, like children on giáng sinh morning. But what excited her most was the thought that Lucas had done all of this.
The tiếp theo present was a pair of crystal white doves, linking up together. They were beautiful glimmering in the light. She smiled and set it down tiếp theo to her cây and opened the last gift.
The smallest gift, held a silver necklace, a glimmering chain with three red hoa hồng dangling one after the other. She put it on, then touched it lightly and smiled. But looking back towards the box, was a note. It read:
Cuddy
- There will be nine thêm gifts to come your way. Four tomorrow, four the tiếp theo and finally one come Christmas. I hope bạn enjoyed these three presents.
your regret,
Anonymous.
This note beheld several strange things. All contradicting the 'fact' that Lucas had sent these things. The possibility even. Lucas would not have to hide this..
And "your regret," didn't sound like a guessing game hint he would give. Sliding everything off her bàn into the garbage, she set the first two gifts accordingly to her desk. She tried going back to work but her suspicions were already on the rise. She would never know the time but she eagerly waited for tomorrow where four thêm gifts would arrive.
The following gifts consisted of what seemed to be, inspired gifts from "The Twelve Days of Christmas" carol. Gift four was an old edition of The Rolling Stones, four members, four "calling birds". Gift five was a "gold" watch consisting of "rings" for the chain hoặc band of the watch. The sixth gift was a beautiful geese painting, very beautifully done.
The tiếp theo four included a "swan" bracelet, with "seven" charms around, a snow globe, containing a musical number of "nine ladies" and gents "dancing", and two âm nhạc boxes. One, from a Michael Flatley collection, where riveting âm nhạc of river dancing would occur, at least "ten" different melodies would sound off, and the other a folk âm nhạc box, consisting of a "maid" twirling round, this box including only "eight" different melodies.
Cuddy still hadn't made a decision on who had được trao these to her, but she would find out eventually with just one gift left. Hoping that the giver would come phía trước, chuyển tiếp this last time.
╬╬╬