(no subject)
another update, yo!
Title: Cold Hearted Pt. 6/?
Author: zeppogrl7
Disclaimer: Characters are not mine, except Elizabeth.
Pairings: Cameron, House/Cameron
Spoilers: None I think
Ratings: Pt: PG-13; Fic: R
Summary: Historical fic. In their small town, House is the new doctor with a mysterious past.
AN: (under cut)
AN: I really like this chapter. I feel like some of this information might be given too soon in the story, and even though I haven’t given 100% of it, it’s still most of it. I dunno; please let me know what you think!
The tavern was predictably crowded the next night. James and House had taken up their table in the far left corner and were talking over their beers.
House glanced around the room and turned back to talk to James. “That girl brought me food last night.”
“What girl?” James asked, setting his beer glass down.
“You know the one… Long dark hair…” he paused as he tried to think of a better way to describe her. “She brought our beers over a few nights ago.”
“Allison?”
House nodded.
“Why’d she bring you food?” James asked, but immediately remembered the conversation from the day before. “Oh, as payment for looking in on Elizabeth?”
House nodded again. “She was saying the people here want to get to know me.”
“Of course they do. Everyone knows everyone here.”
“How am I supposed to let them get to know me? What about… everything?”
James took a moment to think as he sipped his beer. “Don’t do anything stupid. Try not to draw too much attention to yourself.”
“You know I don’t want any attention.” House grumbled.
“Well obviously that’s not going the way you want it to. You already have Allison’s attention.” There was a hint of warning in James’ voice when he said that and it was not lost on House.
“I don’t want her attention.” He replied, glancing around again.
“If you say so.” James said before he finished his beer.
House didn’t reply. He had known James Wilson for years and they could read each other like open books. He hated when James reminded him of that fact.
“All I’m saying is, be careful.” James said again.
“I got it.” House finished his beer and used the table and his cane to help him stand up. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
House continued to think about what James had said long after he had left the tavern. Even as he prepared for sleep, his mind kept rolling.
Of course he wasn’t going to try to draw attention to himself. That would be like painting a sign in big red letters, saying ‘Here I am!’ He didn’t want people to get to know him and, frankly, he didn’t care if he got to know them. The ideal thing would be for him to come out when someone was ill, and then fade back out when his job was done.
The bed he’d acquired was usually so lumpy that it made it difficult to sleep, but he was so exhausted tonight that it hardly mattered. Drifting off to sleep, he kept repeating to himself one of the last things James had said to him.
‘Just be careful.’
*****************
It had been two days since Allison had brought the food to Dr. House and it was safe to say that she had spent the whole time thinking about him. Since then, she had been to town twice and visited with Lisa once; it seemed Dr. House was still secluding himself from the town.
Assuming that he was too shy or uncomfortable being in a new town, Allison decided to take matters into her own hands. Earlier that day, she had asked Robert if she could use the tavern for a welcoming party for the town’s new doctor.
Robert had been a little curious as to why Allison would want to be involved that much - she was rarely interested in town events - but he agreed none the less. Lisa agreed to help cook for the party and Elizabeth had been more than excited to ‘help.’
When the night of the party came, Allison was feeling nervous again. She knew that, thanks to James, Dr. House would show up, but she was anxious to see how he would react. She hoped he would enjoy himself.
Elizabeth was wound up from being able to stay up late and she was hurrying from table to table to say hello to everyone she recognized.
James and Dr. House arrived a bit later and Allison watched as people began to introduce themselves to Dr. House and welcome him to the town. House looked quite shocked from being rushed by so many people, but Allison felt that now he could possibly begin to enjoy living in this town.
“He seems surprised.” Lisa said, coming over to stand next to Allison.
“Wouldn’t you be?” She replied. “I know most everyone here but I would still be surprised if they all came up to me like that.”
Lisa was silent for a moment before she spoke again. “Aren’t you going to say hello to him?”
Allison shrugged. “In a bit. He’s already met me.”
“Mhm.” Lisa replied, but she could tell by the way the younger girl was looking at the new doctor that she wanted his attention all to herself.
When everyone was settled down more and the tavern was back to its normal level of chatter, House and James found their usual table and ordered beers.
“It’s not too difficult to tell who set this up.” House said, eyeing Elizabeth apprehensively as she sat next to the empty fireplace, fast asleep.
“And?”
“I just wish they would all leave me alone.” He grumbled.
“You can’t hide forever.” James shook his head. “Even though I’m sure you would like to.”
“First you tell me to keep my head down and now you want me to become more social?” House asked, confusion and annoyance clear across his face.
“You don’t have to isolate yourself. Just think before you speak. And act.”
House grumbled to himself and took a long swig of his beer. When he put his glass down, he saw Allison heading their way. “I’m leaving.” He faked a yawn. “Pretty tired.”
James rolled his eyes as House stood up and left as quickly as he could.
“Hello James.” Allison said, stopping next to his chair. Her smile faltered a bit when she saw the empty chair at the other side of the table. “Where’s Dr. House?”
“You just missed him. He said he was getting tired.” James knew House had been lying, but he didn’t want to make Allison feel bad.
“Oh.” She replied, her smile disappearing all together. Sighing, she took up the chair House had been sitting in just moments earlier. “He hates it here, doesn’t he?”
“What? No.” James shook his head. “He doesn’t hate it.”
“I must be bothering him to death with all of this.” She swept her hand through the air, motioning at the party but really meaning much more.
“I think it’s good that you’re trying to get him to open up a bit.” He said gently. “Greg is just… complicated.”
“So I’ve noticed.” She smirked.
That was when she spotted Elizabeth, asleep next to the fireplace. Allison laughed quietly. “Looks as though Dr. House isn’t the only one who’s sleepy.” She stood up. “Thank you for coming tonight, James. Have a good night.”
“Goodnight Allison.” He nodded to her and watched as she gathered up Elizabeth and headed for home.
*****************
It was almost completely dark outside at this time of night. It would have been silent too if it weren’t for the shouting coming from the main road of town. He could see the men spread out with their lanterns, calling out and searching every corner and gap between houses. Soon they’d be close and he’d be done for.
Trying not to cry out from the pain in his leg, he snuck behind house after house. When he and the other men were almost near each other, he dropped down and hid behind a bush that grew right up to the side of the house.
The men passed without discovering him, so he dragged himself out from behind the bush and limped the rest of the way to his destination.
He looked around cautiously as he knocked on the side door and waited. The light was on inside and then it was spilling out into the darkness around him.
“Dear God.”
“I need your help.” He said, feeling out of breath even though he hadn’t been running.
“I’ll say.” James replied and allowed him to come inside.
After the doors were locked and the curtains were drawn, James spoke again. “So it’s true then.”
Greg had fallen into a chair at James’ kitchen table. “Depends on what ‘it’ is.”
“You know perfectly well what ‘it’ is.” He paused. “They were just here looking for you.”
“I need your help.” Greg repeated hoarsely, holding his right thigh tightly.
James looked to Greg’s hand clenching his thigh. His hands and pants were covered in blood.
“Bastard got me good.” He commented, trying to make it seem less painful than it really was.
“At least you’re still alive.” James said, rushing to fetch the small amount of medical supplies he had.
About five minutes later, James had most of the wound cleaned up. Greg was lucky; the artery wasn’t cut so he wasn’t going to bleed to death. James began to sew up the wound.
“I suppose you’re not going to tell me what happened.” He said as he concentrated on his suturing.
“You suppose right.” Greg replied through clenched teeth.
“You know I’m not going to tell them.” James said, referring to everyone else in town.
Greg remained silent.
When James finally finished suturing Greg’s leg, he cleaned his supplies up and washed his hands. “So what’re you going to do now?” He asked. James didn’t know the details of what had happened earlier that night.
All he knew was that a man was dead and Greg was now a hunted man.
“I’ve got to get out of here.” Greg said quietly, trying to think of what he should do and where he should go.
“You sure do.”
Greg looked up at the one friend he had left; the one person who he knew would stick by him through anything… even this.
He couldn’t say that much for her.
“I know you want to tell me what happened.” James said, almost pleading for a reasonable explanation. As if there was a reasonable explanation for what had happened.
After a few moments’ hesitation, Greg opened his mouth to speak.
The loud banging on the front door began before he got even a word out.
House’s eyes shot open and he sat up quickly, trying to catch his breath. He was covered in sweat, but he was glad to be awake.
No matter how much he tried to forget everything while he was awake, it always came back at night in his dreams.
Shaken by the memory, he laid back down in bed, keeping his eyes open for as long as he possibly could.
Eventually, sleep claimed him again, trapping him in his own personal hell.
[end pt. 6]
Title: Cold Hearted Pt. 6/?
Author: zeppogrl7
Disclaimer: Characters are not mine, except Elizabeth.
Pairings: Cameron, House/Cameron
Spoilers: None I think
Ratings: Pt: PG-13; Fic: R
Summary: Historical fic. In their small town, House is the new doctor with a mysterious past.
AN: (under cut)
AN: I really like this chapter. I feel like some of this information might be given too soon in the story, and even though I haven’t given 100% of it, it’s still most of it. I dunno; please let me know what you think!
The tavern was predictably crowded the next night. James and House had taken up their table in the far left corner and were talking over their beers.
House glanced around the room and turned back to talk to James. “That girl brought me food last night.”
“What girl?” James asked, setting his beer glass down.
“You know the one… Long dark hair…” he paused as he tried to think of a better way to describe her. “She brought our beers over a few nights ago.”
“Allison?”
House nodded.
“Why’d she bring you food?” James asked, but immediately remembered the conversation from the day before. “Oh, as payment for looking in on Elizabeth?”
House nodded again. “She was saying the people here want to get to know me.”
“Of course they do. Everyone knows everyone here.”
“How am I supposed to let them get to know me? What about… everything?”
James took a moment to think as he sipped his beer. “Don’t do anything stupid. Try not to draw too much attention to yourself.”
“You know I don’t want any attention.” House grumbled.
“Well obviously that’s not going the way you want it to. You already have Allison’s attention.” There was a hint of warning in James’ voice when he said that and it was not lost on House.
“I don’t want her attention.” He replied, glancing around again.
“If you say so.” James said before he finished his beer.
House didn’t reply. He had known James Wilson for years and they could read each other like open books. He hated when James reminded him of that fact.
“All I’m saying is, be careful.” James said again.
“I got it.” House finished his beer and used the table and his cane to help him stand up. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
House continued to think about what James had said long after he had left the tavern. Even as he prepared for sleep, his mind kept rolling.
Of course he wasn’t going to try to draw attention to himself. That would be like painting a sign in big red letters, saying ‘Here I am!’ He didn’t want people to get to know him and, frankly, he didn’t care if he got to know them. The ideal thing would be for him to come out when someone was ill, and then fade back out when his job was done.
The bed he’d acquired was usually so lumpy that it made it difficult to sleep, but he was so exhausted tonight that it hardly mattered. Drifting off to sleep, he kept repeating to himself one of the last things James had said to him.
‘Just be careful.’
*****************
It had been two days since Allison had brought the food to Dr. House and it was safe to say that she had spent the whole time thinking about him. Since then, she had been to town twice and visited with Lisa once; it seemed Dr. House was still secluding himself from the town.
Assuming that he was too shy or uncomfortable being in a new town, Allison decided to take matters into her own hands. Earlier that day, she had asked Robert if she could use the tavern for a welcoming party for the town’s new doctor.
Robert had been a little curious as to why Allison would want to be involved that much - she was rarely interested in town events - but he agreed none the less. Lisa agreed to help cook for the party and Elizabeth had been more than excited to ‘help.’
When the night of the party came, Allison was feeling nervous again. She knew that, thanks to James, Dr. House would show up, but she was anxious to see how he would react. She hoped he would enjoy himself.
Elizabeth was wound up from being able to stay up late and she was hurrying from table to table to say hello to everyone she recognized.
James and Dr. House arrived a bit later and Allison watched as people began to introduce themselves to Dr. House and welcome him to the town. House looked quite shocked from being rushed by so many people, but Allison felt that now he could possibly begin to enjoy living in this town.
“He seems surprised.” Lisa said, coming over to stand next to Allison.
“Wouldn’t you be?” She replied. “I know most everyone here but I would still be surprised if they all came up to me like that.”
Lisa was silent for a moment before she spoke again. “Aren’t you going to say hello to him?”
Allison shrugged. “In a bit. He’s already met me.”
“Mhm.” Lisa replied, but she could tell by the way the younger girl was looking at the new doctor that she wanted his attention all to herself.
When everyone was settled down more and the tavern was back to its normal level of chatter, House and James found their usual table and ordered beers.
“It’s not too difficult to tell who set this up.” House said, eyeing Elizabeth apprehensively as she sat next to the empty fireplace, fast asleep.
“And?”
“I just wish they would all leave me alone.” He grumbled.
“You can’t hide forever.” James shook his head. “Even though I’m sure you would like to.”
“First you tell me to keep my head down and now you want me to become more social?” House asked, confusion and annoyance clear across his face.
“You don’t have to isolate yourself. Just think before you speak. And act.”
House grumbled to himself and took a long swig of his beer. When he put his glass down, he saw Allison heading their way. “I’m leaving.” He faked a yawn. “Pretty tired.”
James rolled his eyes as House stood up and left as quickly as he could.
“Hello James.” Allison said, stopping next to his chair. Her smile faltered a bit when she saw the empty chair at the other side of the table. “Where’s Dr. House?”
“You just missed him. He said he was getting tired.” James knew House had been lying, but he didn’t want to make Allison feel bad.
“Oh.” She replied, her smile disappearing all together. Sighing, she took up the chair House had been sitting in just moments earlier. “He hates it here, doesn’t he?”
“What? No.” James shook his head. “He doesn’t hate it.”
“I must be bothering him to death with all of this.” She swept her hand through the air, motioning at the party but really meaning much more.
“I think it’s good that you’re trying to get him to open up a bit.” He said gently. “Greg is just… complicated.”
“So I’ve noticed.” She smirked.
That was when she spotted Elizabeth, asleep next to the fireplace. Allison laughed quietly. “Looks as though Dr. House isn’t the only one who’s sleepy.” She stood up. “Thank you for coming tonight, James. Have a good night.”
“Goodnight Allison.” He nodded to her and watched as she gathered up Elizabeth and headed for home.
*****************
It was almost completely dark outside at this time of night. It would have been silent too if it weren’t for the shouting coming from the main road of town. He could see the men spread out with their lanterns, calling out and searching every corner and gap between houses. Soon they’d be close and he’d be done for.
Trying not to cry out from the pain in his leg, he snuck behind house after house. When he and the other men were almost near each other, he dropped down and hid behind a bush that grew right up to the side of the house.
The men passed without discovering him, so he dragged himself out from behind the bush and limped the rest of the way to his destination.
He looked around cautiously as he knocked on the side door and waited. The light was on inside and then it was spilling out into the darkness around him.
“Dear God.”
“I need your help.” He said, feeling out of breath even though he hadn’t been running.
“I’ll say.” James replied and allowed him to come inside.
After the doors were locked and the curtains were drawn, James spoke again. “So it’s true then.”
Greg had fallen into a chair at James’ kitchen table. “Depends on what ‘it’ is.”
“You know perfectly well what ‘it’ is.” He paused. “They were just here looking for you.”
“I need your help.” Greg repeated hoarsely, holding his right thigh tightly.
James looked to Greg’s hand clenching his thigh. His hands and pants were covered in blood.
“Bastard got me good.” He commented, trying to make it seem less painful than it really was.
“At least you’re still alive.” James said, rushing to fetch the small amount of medical supplies he had.
About five minutes later, James had most of the wound cleaned up. Greg was lucky; the artery wasn’t cut so he wasn’t going to bleed to death. James began to sew up the wound.
“I suppose you’re not going to tell me what happened.” He said as he concentrated on his suturing.
“You suppose right.” Greg replied through clenched teeth.
“You know I’m not going to tell them.” James said, referring to everyone else in town.
Greg remained silent.
When James finally finished suturing Greg’s leg, he cleaned his supplies up and washed his hands. “So what’re you going to do now?” He asked. James didn’t know the details of what had happened earlier that night.
All he knew was that a man was dead and Greg was now a hunted man.
“I’ve got to get out of here.” Greg said quietly, trying to think of what he should do and where he should go.
“You sure do.”
Greg looked up at the one friend he had left; the one person who he knew would stick by him through anything… even this.
He couldn’t say that much for her.
“I know you want to tell me what happened.” James said, almost pleading for a reasonable explanation. As if there was a reasonable explanation for what had happened.
After a few moments’ hesitation, Greg opened his mouth to speak.
The loud banging on the front door began before he got even a word out.
House’s eyes shot open and he sat up quickly, trying to catch his breath. He was covered in sweat, but he was glad to be awake.
No matter how much he tried to forget everything while he was awake, it always came back at night in his dreams.
Shaken by the memory, he laid back down in bed, keeping his eyes open for as long as he possibly could.
Eventually, sleep claimed him again, trapping him in his own personal hell.
[end pt. 6]