Past in Present: Chapter 4
"So, why did you want to see me?"
House slumped down in the leather recliner before answering.
"I know you're still in touch with her. I need information."
The younger man shook his head in dismay.
"House, I stopped being your puppet years ago. Hell, I don't even work for you anymore. I have my own practice."
House leaned forward and took a swig of the beer that lay on the coffee table.
"I'm not asking for you to be my minion again, but I need...I need your help."
Chase moved to sit down on the sofa nearby.
"How did you even know I still talked with her?"
"You and Cameron were closer to her than any of the other ducklings. She always had a soft spot for you, especially."
Chase rolled his eyes but couldn't help but to smile.
"She's a friend to me, and I am one to her. Do you know what that means, House? It means that it would be wrong of me tell a violent ex-boyfriend her whereabouts."
"I already know her whereabouts. I need insider info on her."
"God, did Wilson let you know where she is?"
"No. I found that out through other means. Stop stalling. Tell me."
"What do you already know?"
House forgot how damn clever Chase could be when needed.
"She's divorcing Mr. Wonderful, who turned out to be not so wonderful, and she's going back to her maiden name. Also, she's staying in the home they bought together. What I need is details on how she's holding up."
Chase contemplated his old mentor wearily.
"I know what this is really about. You think this is your chance to make amends and maybe get her to love you again. Am I right?"
House rolled his eyes and stood up. He leaned heavily against his cane.
"Chase, leave the psychoanalysis to Wilson. Are you gonna help me or what?"
Chase leaned back against the sofa cushions and sighed.
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Cuddy awoke to find a slumbering Rachel curled up next to her. She must have crept her way in once Cuddy had fallen asleep. The little girl had been having a recurring nightmare lately, about a killer clown, ever since her older cousins allowed her to watch Stephen King's "It". She could strangle Julia's mischievous sons. Cuddy leaned over and brushed Rachel's forehead. The little girl slowly began to stir.
"Hi, Rach. You had another bad dream, didn't you?"
The little girl nodded and moved over to hold onto her mommy.
"What did the clown do this time?"
"No, Mama. I didn't see the clown. I had a dream that you disappeared. I had a dream that one day when I came home from school you were gone and no one, not grandma, auntie Julie, or Grant could find you. It was so scary."
"Oh, baby. I'm not going anywhere." Cuddy exclaimed as she held her daughter even tighter.
Any fears that Cuddy had that Rachel wasn't handling the divorce well, were confirmed in that instant. Obviously, the big changes in their daily life and not seeing Grant every day had caused Rachel to fear the loss of her mommy too. Cuddy hated how uncertain their life felt at this time and that her baby girl carried just as much anxiety about the future as she did. The 'normal' life they were used to was gone...once again. Cuddy felt like now was the moment to decide if future aspirations for love should be put on hold at least until Rachel was in college. It was crazy to consider ten years of being without a significant other but for Cuddy the thought of causing anymore damage to Rachel outweighed her own personal desires.
House slumped down in the leather recliner before answering.
"I know you're still in touch with her. I need information."
The younger man shook his head in dismay.
"House, I stopped being your puppet years ago. Hell, I don't even work for you anymore. I have my own practice."
House leaned forward and took a swig of the beer that lay on the coffee table.
"I'm not asking for you to be my minion again, but I need...I need your help."
Chase moved to sit down on the sofa nearby.
"How did you even know I still talked with her?"
"You and Cameron were closer to her than any of the other ducklings. She always had a soft spot for you, especially."
Chase rolled his eyes but couldn't help but to smile.
"She's a friend to me, and I am one to her. Do you know what that means, House? It means that it would be wrong of me tell a violent ex-boyfriend her whereabouts."
"I already know her whereabouts. I need insider info on her."
"God, did Wilson let you know where she is?"
"No. I found that out through other means. Stop stalling. Tell me."
"What do you already know?"
House forgot how damn clever Chase could be when needed.
"She's divorcing Mr. Wonderful, who turned out to be not so wonderful, and she's going back to her maiden name. Also, she's staying in the home they bought together. What I need is details on how she's holding up."
Chase contemplated his old mentor wearily.
"I know what this is really about. You think this is your chance to make amends and maybe get her to love you again. Am I right?"
House rolled his eyes and stood up. He leaned heavily against his cane.
"Chase, leave the psychoanalysis to Wilson. Are you gonna help me or what?"
Chase leaned back against the sofa cushions and sighed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cuddy awoke to find a slumbering Rachel curled up next to her. She must have crept her way in once Cuddy had fallen asleep. The little girl had been having a recurring nightmare lately, about a killer clown, ever since her older cousins allowed her to watch Stephen King's "It". She could strangle Julia's mischievous sons. Cuddy leaned over and brushed Rachel's forehead. The little girl slowly began to stir.
"Hi, Rach. You had another bad dream, didn't you?"
The little girl nodded and moved over to hold onto her mommy.
"What did the clown do this time?"
"No, Mama. I didn't see the clown. I had a dream that you disappeared. I had a dream that one day when I came home from school you were gone and no one, not grandma, auntie Julie, or Grant could find you. It was so scary."
"Oh, baby. I'm not going anywhere." Cuddy exclaimed as she held her daughter even tighter.
Any fears that Cuddy had that Rachel wasn't handling the divorce well, were confirmed in that instant. Obviously, the big changes in their daily life and not seeing Grant every day had caused Rachel to fear the loss of her mommy too. Cuddy hated how uncertain their life felt at this time and that her baby girl carried just as much anxiety about the future as she did. The 'normal' life they were used to was gone...once again. Cuddy felt like now was the moment to decide if future aspirations for love should be put on hold at least until Rachel was in college. It was crazy to consider ten years of being without a significant other but for Cuddy the thought of causing anymore damage to Rachel outweighed her own personal desires.