Current mood:

discontent

Coupling: Flawed Diagnosis Part 5
Sorry this took so long. I've been having some RL issues. Also the editing is a bit raw so sorry for any glaring mistakes.






The silence echoed through her living room as stood silently in the middle of the empty room

He ran his hand through his hair.

Fuck. He swore to himself. There were times when House even made himself feel like a supreme ass, and this was definitely one of them.

Fuck.

The worst part was that part of him really wanted to make a beeline for the door, and just get as far away from this apartment as possible. He knew he couldn’t do that, though.

Considering how sensitive she obviously was about this, if he left now he knew it was unlikely he’d ever be invited back.

For God’s sake, lying about the scar? On her father’s suggestion? What the fuck was that?

He put his cane out in front of him and limped his way to her bedroom door. It was shut, but he grabbed the knob and shoved it open without bothering to knock.

She was sitting on the edge of her bed stiffly. As he approached she turned hear head away from him.

“Just go,” she said softly.

He continued over until he was standing right next to her.

She kept her head firmly turned away hiding behind her hair. He propped his cane against the edge of the bed, and sat down next to her.

He watched her hands tightly gripped the covers, and decided that was quite enough. He reached over around her shoulders. She started to flinch away, but he held her shoulders tightly and pulled her to him.

She sucked in a breath through her teeth, and clutched at his shirt. He swore to himself as the first chocked sob came. This was exactly why he didn’t do “comforting.”

Some hallmark worthy line about challenges shaping character wouldn’t sound at all sincere coming from him. As a matter of fact, if he did do that, he’d want her to make him proud and snark at him for it.

He couldn’t even tell her that the lump was probably nothing because they both knew that ovarian cancer patients were at high risk for developing breast cancer.

He was brought out of his thoughts when he felt her lips brush against his neck. When he looked down at her, she pressed her lips against his forcing him into a tear flavored kiss.

As she shoved him backwards he knew that this wasn’t a sign that she forgave him. More like she figured her pain in the ass boyfriend might as well be useful for something….and he knew using sex as an escape all too well.

This was the part in the movies when he’d make her stop, and tell her this wasn’t what she really wanted then soothe her while she cried some more. That wasn’t the kind of guy he was, though. He didn’t know what to say to soothe her, but he could help distract her.

After all, she didn’t have his advantages. Or at least he sincerely doubted she had a stash of Vicodin, and the number of a local professional.

******

Afterward, she sat up with her knees to her chest.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured.

“Did you really think I slept with Wilson?” she asked. He didn’t respond.

She sighed tiredly, “Well I didn’t.”

“I figured.”

“Look whatever you’re thinking about this-” she began.

“I’m thinking the same thing everyone else would. That you’re extremely fucking unlucky, and that I’m glad I’m not you.”

She turned to look at him, and he cursed himself again. Way to be sensitive.

“Well admittedly you’re a better doctor, but I don’t think you need to worry about getting ovarian cancer,” she said dryly.

He sighed and sat up, “Look….it sucks and you don’t need me to tell you it sucks because you already know.”

She bit her lip, “I’m scared.”

“Yeah I know.”

“What do I do now?”

“Wait until your results come back. Then take it from there,” he answered.

“Yeah,” she nodded and another tear fell down her cheek, “And if it’s bad news? Like…worst case scenario bad.”

“Start a new diet,” he answered.

“What?” she asked.

“Scotch and whatever girly food you like. Chocolate, I guess. Then spend half your money on that cruise you wanted, and the other half of setting up the Allison Cameron Wives for Dying People Foundation. First ever dating service for men with cancer. It’ll be one of a kind.”

She looked at him incredulously and then chuckled, “After what I told you, you’re still going with that ‘diagnosis’?”

“Nah, you aren’t getting off that easy.”

She rolled her eyes, and laid down next to him. He slipped an arm around her, and pulled her closer.

“Why are you being so nice about this?” she asked.

She considered that nice? Maybe Wilson was right. She was indeed one of a kind.

“I find it a lot easier to be nice after finding out that-”

She tensed, afraid he was going to say the same thing most people would. ‘After finding out you had cancer.’

“After finding out you didn’t sleep with Wilson,” he finished.

“Well there was that one time….” she trailed off.

“Hm?”

She looked at him and shrugged, “I didn’t have any ideas for your birthday present…and he had his own video camera.”

House rolled his eyes, and grumbled about the fact that she was becoming just a bit too much like him for comfort. He didn’t say anything outloud, however, because it was the first time she’d laughed in a long time.