Here's my first fic:
Title: Cripple
Themes: Disability, perspective
status: it might be done, I am not sure.
Summary: I don't know if this is giving too much away, but this fic was basically started when I asked myself: What if House met me, what if he was my doctor? So, everything in this fic is basically true (The CP parts, the examinations)..except of course for the House parts. But it is based on my life and who I am. House meets a young woman in the clinic and questions her acceptance of her disability.
Rating: T for some use of the "a" word
Disclaimer: House is not mine, no money, please don't sue me
House had kept the young girl waiting for an hour, but when House opened the door, she seemed unfazed.
“Where’s your mother?” House asked.
“She’s at home. I’m twenty-two.” The petite girl replied.
House looked at the chart and examined the girl’s face.
“I could show you ID, but I have never been carded at a doctor’s appointment before.” The young girl smiled.
“Right.” House said. “What seems to be the problem?”
“I have CP…” The patient began.
“Well, Melanie, if you looked for a cure, you have come to the wrong place.” House looked at the patient’s legs, from hip to foot. One scar on each hip, one above each knee, one on her right shin, and one on each side of her foot, from orthopedic surgery.
“Melissa.” The patient corrected. “I think I just need a little bit of PT to help me walk well again.”
“I think you seem to be a bit misinformed. I don’t think you’ll ever walk well.”
Melissa became uncomfortable and agitated, shifting in the chair.
“How do you know that?” she asked.
“I can tell, by your surgical scars that you have trouble accepting you are a cripple.”
“Don’t ever call me that.” Melissa replied angrily.
“Just because you think of yourself as one doesn’t mean I do.”
“Oh, is that it? That you think we should be buddies? Pals? Understanding of one another’s struggles?”
“No, I would never think of you as a friend. Because I think you’re an ass. Whatever. I’m out of here.” Melissa pushed up on the chair to a standing position and walked, awkwardly but unaided, out of the office with tears in her eyes, brushing past Cuddy on her way out.
Great. House thought.
“Dr. House! What did you do to the poor young lady!”
House shot Cuddy an annoyed glance. “ I treated her like I do everyone else and she got upset. For once I didn’t put kid gloves on and treat her like she is porcelain.”
Cuddy was not backing down. “That’s House speak for: I couldn’t keep my smartass mouth shut. What did you say?”
House mumbled something.
“What?”
“I said….House sighed. “I said that she couldn’t accept being a cripple.”
“What?” Cuddy replied. “Why would you say something like that?”
House thought back and it was true. The patient hadn’t said anything but that she needed PT. House hadn’t even examined her.
“House, You are a world renowned diagnostician that can diagnose someone from just seeing them walk across a hallway. And you know that CP is managed with orthopedic surgery. Why would you tell her that?”
House just looked down.
“Huh. Just like I thought. You don’t know. Give me her chart. I’m calling her and you WILL apologize tomorrow.”

House didn’t normally apologize, for the reason that, as much as he wasn’t good at it, his patients also never saw him again after he was rude to them, so he never had the chance.
But Melanie…er, Melissa was in exam room one at eleven o clock the next morning.
She heard House come in with his cane, he sat down on a stool, and they stared at one another for a moment, until Melissa nervously commented, looking at House’s cane.
“I had a PT once told me that she was glad I never used a cane because she was worried I’d impale myself.”
House smiled a little.
“Stand up” House directed.
Melissa carefully did so, House noticing her right heel was up in the air.
“You can’t put your heel down?”
She lowered the heel about half way.
“More?”
“No.”
“Okay, sit back down and put your foot up here.” House gestured with his hand, and House observed how her ankle moved in his hand . Melissa grimaced.
“That hurts?”
“Yes.”
“Can you get up and walk for me a little?’ House swiveled his chair so that he could see her from behind. She stood up, walked a few steps, heel still raised, until she lost her balance, falling forward until House instinctively reached over grabbed her arms from behind, standing her back up.
“You’re quick” Melissa said, startled.
“Did you think I’d let you fall?” House asked.
She shrugged. “You didn’t seem to care about me yesterday.”
Then, House heard Cuddy’s voice in his head telling him to apologize., because he had forgotten to do so.
“I was wrong. I’m sorry.” House said.
“I’m sorry, too…I don’t usually walk around calling people asses.”
“You called it as you saw it.” He said.
Melissa smiled.
“I want you to know why I thought it was wrong for you to say those things.” Melissa took a deep breath.
“Because I never even noticed your cane. I just wanted my leg fixed, I wanted help. You assumed I had trouble accepting the CP…”
House rolled his eyes. “Look I apologized, don’t analyze me, all right?”
Melissa’s eyes pleaded with him. “I’m not here to give you advice on how to deal with things. That’s your business. But maybe you really think that deep down, all people think I am is a cripple and that that’s the truth. But I don’t think so. And my truth is the one that matters.”
Melissa had just fed House his own philosophy; Don’t care about what other people say about you, don’t let it change how you feel about yourself.
“I need PT, right?” Melissa asked.
“Right. House said. “You have a tight heel cord. After two weeks, your heel should go down more and your gait should be back to…your normal.”
Melissa took the prescription and said “Thank you,” walking out of the office. House stared out after her for a moment, and then back to his cane. She did quite well for someone that had been through so much, and had he taken a few vicotin yesterday, he would have seen that. But it was how she saw herself that mattered, and Melissa already knew that.

I liked your story and it's confronting direct title. I really like the character Melissa, I do realise she is autobiographical so I guess that means I believe you are likeable person. I certainly believe you are a talented person. You will find a lot of support on this site from very experienced writers and it is an ideal place for you to work out of at the beginning of your writing career.

I hope this is the beginning of a series. because it is a very solid beginning with real freshness to it which allows for growth in the House character and forecasts growth in Melissa.

Now is the time to think of Melissa as a character and not as you. Then you can free her to be independent of you. This will allow you more freedom as a writer and Melissa will be able to do things you cannot, or would not want to, do. Also while Melissa and House know all about their respective conditions they do not know how the other feels or the background of either and your readers do not know about Melissa yet. But I think they will want to. Give us more let us understand.

I stupidly had to look up CP, this is just technical, but it is good to put the name in full before going to a short form or acronym . Therefore use Cerebral Palsy once then CP in the same paragraph and then continue through on CP. Just as you use Physio-Therapy once and segway into PT. Don't force the reader to encounter any obstacles to the flow of the story. Always remember the reader does not know what the writer knows.

This line jumped out at me

I would strike the LADY and the POOR. I think a professional woman of Cuddy's age would refer to Melissa as a young woman.

I love his surprise on finding Melissa has come back. This is a person who can win his respect.

Two points here. First, I loved that he was there for her and didn't let her fall. It was a wonderful moment the sort of moment that changes a character and expands a character. BUT second, I didn't know how he did it or how he was so quick. [Maybe this should be addressed. It is of course possible neither House or Melissa know the answer to this. House not knowing how he did it and either causing himself pain or not experiencing pain from this act of chivalry could be an interesting area to explore. But only if you wish to and only if it fits in with your story plan.]

Go girl!! Congratulations I think House has found a friend in Melissa. A real friend who can teach him a few things about living his life.

Yes Doctor House. You said it.

.

First fic and very nice fic *happy dance* -I really like the perspective :D

Really interesting contrast between two different takes on disability and the detail here lends a lot of realism. House dealing with Melissa and the similarities in injury/condition has a wealth of potential.

The 'strength vs weakness' idea here is a great touch and I am very much looking forward to finding out where you take this! :)

Cheers


Benj

Thank you so much! I now think I will continue this fic, or at least modify it, using suggestions. I am sorry that I didn't say that CP was Cerebral Palsy. Should I add more medical information as well? Making THIS Melissa different from myself should be interesting. Thanks for that tip. I am glad you both enjoyed it, as I was nervous writing using MYSELF as a character.
Here is how House could Have grabbed Melissa before she fell: I am rather petite, and House is a lot taller. The clinic rooms at PPTH are quite small, and Melissa really only had to go a few steps, so when she started to fall, House's upper body strength being uncompromised, he was able to grab her since she was only a few feet away. This may have caused him pain, but I like to think that he would not want Melissa to fall down after all that occured between them the day before. I'm guessing also that House knows what it is like to fall in front of people. This showed Melissa, too that she cannot always think she knows what people will do based on their previous actions

I am so glad you are going to keep going. Do not let me influence you in anyway but if something I say is useful use it. Use as much medical material as you think helps the characters or moves the story along.

The technique is to think of the storyline as the spine and anything that does not cling to the spine advancing the story or developing the characters has no place in this particular story. Never throw anything away though you might be writing a story in twenty years time and need that paragraph or those pages.

Nothing wrong with that. And Melissa was a richer character for that. 'They' say you should write about what you know and 'they' are often right. But it is easier for you if you think of Melissa as a character and not you. Don't change her name though unless you feel you have to
Melissa is such an attractive name. It is a gentle and mellifluous name whereas Greg and House are hard-edged.

Wow I love that what a lead in to the next chapter!

Wow doesn't that open up a heap of possibilities for flashback or character development with HOUSE and add to his interaction with Melissa.

Wow doesn't that open up a heap of possibilities for flashback or character development with MELISSA and add to her interaction with HOUSE.

I am really looking forward to the next part but do not feel any pressure to deliver after all, you are young and I am guessing, you do have a life.

MAGDALA and Benj have kind of cover it! Just let me add that I think this is a great start and I'm glad you've share it with us.

I like your train of thought in coming up with this story. It produced very original results and I hope you feel comfortable in continuing.

You have some nice House snark and a good OC. It's very much like the show in that I think House learns a little from some patients, even if it's just a brief clinic encounter. Melissa seems to be one of those characters that could nudge House. Get him to look a little deeper into the way he handles his disability. Whether that would change him or not is not necessarily the point but the provocation to think and examine is always an interesting journey.

That said, don't let my little train of thought and ideas change what you have in mind. Write the story the way you see it, keep that original train of thought going!

I'll add my two cents as a writer (very amateur writer mind you!! I just started with House too so don't put too much stock in my advice!!)

Don't force it. If it's not coming to you don't write just to put something out there. It's a trap I found myself falling into early and have learned to just let the story come as it will. When it's flowing, write it down, even if it isn't what you planned. I've written what I thnk is my best stuff that way, completely unintended.

Sweat, slave and agonize over your story but most of all enjoy yourself when you write! I believe it will show! And don't be afraid to ask a question. We have a great bunch of writers here. Some as inexperienced as myself and others that have done it professionally, but we all love the same thing and are willing to help out as we can.

Thank you once again for sharing your story with us and I hope the Muses prompt you into continuing!

This is a very good point from rtlemurs.

I hope you are having the best time working with House and Melissa.

rtlemurs also says you should ask if you have a question. Do you know I have a question ... I haven't a clue what any of you mean when you say OC. Maybe I am having a senior moment. But I am the person who had to find out what STAT meant when we were asked to 'Americanise' scripts on a medical show I worked on in Australia. It's one of those 'common language' problems.

Sorry, OC stand for 'original character'. I'll try to watch that in the future and be a little more clear on those.

I've fallen in with a bad lot here and they've influenced me terribly!!! ;) :lol:

Love you guys!!

Maybe we could post a little fanfic terminlogy/shorthand/abbreviation list for the new writers or anyone else that isn't familiar with that world. I know I'm still learning. What do you guys think?

Hmmm, probably should post this elsewhere. We'll see if we get a response here.

I like the fan fic glossary idea, another thing to keep me occupied this weekend so I don't run rampant around the campus...*looks around to make sure no one is watching* heh heh. I'm so bored right now. There is a mandatory 5 hours of study hall for athletes each week, and I'm bad and wait until the end of the week, and then cram them all in, and then I sit in here for hours with nothing to do. I know it's not a good plan, but I can't work when forced, and I love my computer so much better then the ones in here. Blahness. Ok, back on topic. Rt, if you are on right now, maybe we can make up a thread to start working on this. I'm stuck here for an hour I might as well make the best of it.

Taru

Cripple-chapter 2...I don't know if Melissa will make another appearance in this fic, but i thought I would add some House thoughts. The thing is, Cerebral Palsy, at least for me, isn't a condition with a lot of crises involved. Maybe for the character Melissa it could be. I don't know how to make Melissa come to the clinic again.
Anyway here it is:
Cripple: Part 2
Disclaimer: House isn't mine, please don't sue, I don't know if I have to write that again for this chapter but anyway there it is.


"I didn't even notice your cane" Melissa had said. House leaned back in his chair, feet up on his ottoman. Did she mean it? Could someone actually not notice his cane, when at times it was the first thing that people noticed about him? Patients lie. Maybe she was lying to be polite.
She seemed like a nice, sweet young woman. A paradox to House. House wondered if the sweetness was real, or was it all a trick to get people's mind off of her awkward gait, or to steer their eyes away from her surgical scars when she wore shorts?
She apologized to him, even after all that he had said to her. Was this to make him think she was a good person? Maybe she thought that if she apologized, he wouldn't be mean to her anymore.
No one with a disability could truly be as happy as she was. The pain of being separate, imperfect, House thought, ruined any chance of that. And yet. And yet she said she didn't consider herself a cripple.
But House knew too well that Melissa didn't need to show any vulnerability, any pain. Her gait did that for her. Without even opening her mouth, she exhibited weakness, sadness. You have to counteract that somehow, and Melissa did this with optimism and attitude.
Because House saw the pain and the embarassment in Her face as she almost fell in front of a complete stranger. He heard her rapid breathing from being startled, the deep breaths trying to calm herself. He was glad she didn't cry. Then he would have been forced to listen to her open up to him.
Pain radiated from his leg, and he reflexively dry swallowed two vicotin. The world blurred and then faded to darkness as House drifted off to sleep.

I thought of Chapter three as well!
Disclaimer: not mine, no money...
Melissa did not need a medical situation to intervene with her life right now. She just started graduate school, and had just moved from home. Her medical records were hours away. She knew, however, that a little bit of physical therapy, maybe two weeks, did not a major crisis make.
But thoughts of Physical therapy led to irrational thoughts of surgery. These thoughts led to anxieties about rehab after surgery, and the fact that her family was now hours away.
The very word "surgery" was enough for her to remember. Remember the nausea after surgery, the pain, the tears. If she concentrated. she could still feel them running down her face.
O ne thing she felt good about was actually standing up to Dr. House.
She did wonder why he used a cane, and whether he was born with his disability, but she never would ask him. She was careful not to seem that she felt sorry for him. After all, Melissa might have had CP, but House walked with a cane, and she didn't need to. She really didn't notice the cane at first. Maybe she just didn't look to that side, or maybe she was thinking about starting her internship in a few days, but she knew for sure that the thought "Why's he walk with a cane?" never entered her mind. "Oh he really understands me" never did either. His annoyed expression he wore prevented that.
Melissa wondered if it was harder to become disabled later in life. On one hand, He had the chance to play all the sports and run all the miles that he wanted. On the other, he had been to the "other side;" the side of the able bodied. He knew what it was like and felt the utter loss.
For Melissa, it was the opposite. After a few surgeries, she was able to walk independently, until her hip, knees, right tibia, and feet were out of alignment, and she once again needed surgery. She went from not walking at all to walking independently. But sometimes, when she experienced pain, when people looked even curiously, she felt a loss. Even though the life of one with a disability was what she knew. Either way, nobody won. It was all horrible, no matter when it happened or what the circumstances.
But Melissa saw herself as more than just a medical diagnosis. Someone's daughter, someone's sister, someone's friend. A student, a poet. Someone who cared about people. This was what made her accept her disability. Because she could do so much despite it all. Because she knew that people were fighting greater battles. Mostly because she had people in her life that loved her. Their love enabled her to have perspective. Melissa believed that without the ability to laugh and cry about life, there was no perspective. If you can't feel about your own life, you can't feel about someone else's
That was enough deep thinking for the night. Melissa turned off the light and went to bed.

mmmm, two more chapters. Before I go back and enjoy them nice and slowly, I wanted to offer a couple of formatting tips:

1. House's med is spelled Vicodin. (Keep the capital letter, it's a brand name.)

2. It will be much easier to physically read the work if you skip lines in between paragraphs. Go ahead and keep your intro information together, but when you get to the story, stick an extra space when you finish each paragraph. (And on the Web, short paragraphs good!)

For example:

Title
Author's notes

House did something. Something something something. He did that something for a couple of more sentences and then ended the paragraph.

Wilson skipped a line before he got started. "House," he said, "when you write fanfiction, how do you explain the medical stuff to your readers?"

House skipped a line and looked up. He set his coffee cup down and stared at Wilson.

"Fan fiction?" he asked, skipping a line to set off the dialogue.

"Yes," said Wilson, "fan fiction."

"Well, medical stuff is boring and distracting, so if I wrote fan fiction -- which I don't -- I wouldn't spell it out at all. Hang on, weren't we talking about skipping lines in between paragraphs?"

"Auditrix got carried away. But back to the medical stuff -- if you'd actually talk to people you'd know that the average reader doesn't think medical stuff boring and distracting. Look at how well those medical shows do on TV."

House just sniffed. "My point precisely. The only thing realistic about those shows is Dr Cox on Scrubs. That guy is a genius, he should have his own show. Maybe one where he's a department head and is romantically involved with three colleagues, plus a patient who's hot for him. That would be cool."

Wilson ignored him. "My theory is that when you're getting ready to proofread, you should think about what you're doing with 'the medical stuff.' Sometimes you're just using it to set the scene, like when we say 'get a pulse ox and ABG's.' I wouldn't bother explaining stuff like that.

"But if the medical stuff is information that's crucial to the plot, then I'd go into a bit more detail.

"For example:

House put down his paper. "Didn't Magdala say exactly the same thing?"

"Well, what can I say? I agree with her."

"You agree with everybody. I see you're following that Auditrix chick's advice about skipping lines in between lines of dialogue, too."

"So are you."

"She probably read the same stylebook I did. Now pipe down, this meta-digression has gone on long enough." He leaned over and switched on the TV.

Auditrix, what a generous and stunning teacher you are. Very funny too. :D Never thought I would be discussed by Wilson and House.

You made that all so accessable. Yes I am sure we both have read the same style book but it is clear from my work that I have not looked at one in a long while. I have stored this valuable lesson on my computor so I can refer to it often.

I think Melissa is doing well but with the sort of help you gave here she can do extremely well. I had a look around the net for a free style book Melissa can access instantly and found an old favourite. I am still a fan of Strunk.

Tell me please which style book you recommend.

Actually it was surreal to read your posting this evening. I was about to read your post when I heard the name Hugh Laurie spoken. The Australian Broadcasting Commission is running the Lenny Henry show and there was Hugh Laurie playing a particulary addled spokesman for the English Space programme.

They were about to launch the second mission to Mars with a space vehicle named Beagle. Lenny Henry as a CNN type anchor asked why the space thingee was called Beagle while America had heroic names like Apollo. Prof Laurie explained that the Beagle was a nice little dog that found things. 'Like foxes' put in the female co-anchor with shellacked hair and big earings.

"Yes" said Prof Laurie "but Mars is a million, trillion times bigger than a fox and should have been easy to find.

That first mission had ended rather badly when the Beagle plummeted into Shropshire at 1700 miles per hour. Laurie explained this time they were going to avoid the word 'mission' as it had been a PR nightmare after Shropshire. This time they were planning to call it 'an outing'. [see how I need the style book. Parenthesis, or inverted commas as we quaintly call them, worry me].

But the synchonicity does not end there. Yesterday afternoon I had to see a Vascular guy and have a full leg ultrasound. They had suspected a clot. And you guessed it. Right leg. This afternoon I was told it wasn't a clot, thank God.

Then I read your post and Doctors House and Wilson were talking about me.

Please tell me I am not going mad!

Thanks, Aud! Yes, I tried to indent, however I don't really know how. I tried spacing and everything but it still looked the same after I put the spaces in. The way you presented the info made me LOL. :) So, I should kind of explain a little bit when I write that Melissa has cerebral palsy, what it is?
For example something like this?
"I have Cerebral palsy..."
House knew that this was a nonprogressive motor dysfunction. It wouldn't get any worse, but the brain damage was done, and it affected how motor skills were controlled. Orthopedic surgery corrected alignment problems--problems caused by gait pattern and spasticity. But there was nothing he could do to make this girl walk perfectly.
or no?
-Melissa :)

It is a pain going from format to format and it is easier if you have writers software. Most writers software costs $100 to $500 dollars US this one costs nothing and I think it is as good as the expensive ones.

It will indent for you and all kinds of stuff. I am doing a stageplay on it now.

I had a particular worry as I had been using Word Perfect 5 for my early stuff including three plays ... I emailed the address provided on the website and Salisbury himself was back to me within two hours with the answer.

I don't get that kind of service from Bill Gates.

1. Magdala, you are not going mad.

2. It looks like Magdala has linked to several different editions of Strunk's classic The Elements of Style. You can't go wrong with that. I like the edition with E.B. White's introduction.

Formatting on the Web has its own challenges. The problem with posting writing to the Web is that different Web browsers show things differently. For example, as I write this, I'm writing straight into this message board's input box. If I had written it out on my own computer using software such as WordPerfect, and then copied-and-pasted my text into the input window, it might not display the same way. I might have to go back and edit it so that it would appear on the board correctly.

The "block" style works well for writing on the Web. Don't worry about indenting, just skip lines.

3. Explanations.

There's no one way to work explanations into a story. You want to give the reader just enough information, but not too much, and you want to give the info in a way that sounds natural.

So looking at this...

Looking at this, most readers know that cerebral palsy cannot be cured, but they probably need to be told about the surgical interventions. Big words like "nonprogressive motor dysfunction" aren't going to help the average reader.

So you've got the information that the reader needs to know; let's work on making it sound more natural. Let's also make it do double duty by using it to give the readers information about your characters.

While we're looking at this scene, let's also rethink some other things. It's important to make your dialogue consistent with what a character is like and what they already know. House knows what CP is, and he's going to know about corrective surgery. So I would rethink the line "I can see by your scars...."

Let's also rethink how you've set up the scene. Unless Melissa is wearing shorts (and if she is, you should make that clear) she's either been sitting in that paper gown for an hour or she needs to undress for the exam.

I mention this both because it's a detail that your readers are going to notice, and because it's a detail you can use to get more information across.

I am writing this as if Melissa is already wearing the gown and sitting on the exam table. You could also give information to the reader by having her walk from a chair to the exam table.

You see how you can kind of weave it in? Every piece of information you give the reader should be given in character, but it can also serve double duty by giving clues to the characters.

One thing that's going to help you a lot is reading other people's fic and looking closely at the way other authors handle things. Read a section, think about what that section has told you about the characters, and then examine how the author got that information to you.

Hope this helps!

Hi everyone!
I have written lots more of "Cripple." But thought I should post these revisions first. Thanks to Auditrix for the inspirational suggestions.

Setting up the scene

Melissa was waiting in the clinic exam room for one hour. She knew how to avoid being uncomfortable at an appointment: to dress in shorts to avoid changing into a gown, take off the socks and shoes before the doctor comes in, and bring magazines, because once up on the exam table she wasn't getting off to grab a magazine; there was no knowing whether she could hoist herself up again independently.

House/Melissa confrontation


"I have CP..." The patient began.

"Cerebral Palsy...Hmm..let me think...Nope, no cure yet, Melanie!"

"Melissa." The patient corrected. I'm not looking for a cure. I just need a little bit of Physical therapy to get me walking well again."

"You have Spastic dipligic cerebral palsy. By 'walk well' do you mean that people will stare at you a little less now than they did before? Maybe walk a little quieter this time?"

Melissa's expression changed from worried to horrified.
"No." She said quietly.

"Well, what did you want? Denial, as they say, ain't just a river." Dr. House said, a hint of a smirk on his face. "Look at all the work they did on you! Scars on your hips, knees, shin, feet, and still, a limp."

"Just write me the perscription." Melissa said, agitated, shifting in her seat.

"PT won't help your real probem. You need to accept that you will always have CP. You are a cripple, and always will be."

"Don't ever call me that." Melissa shouted. "Just because you consider yourself one doesn't mean I do."

I hope this is better. PS- Here's what really happened when a few weeks ago I did need PT: Me: I need PT. Dr. D: Okay. LOL . Thanks again, auditrix!!

Very harsh but I can really hear House coming back with that. Your House voice is spot on in this exchange and it flow nicely. The detail about their expressions helps a lot with building a picture.

Top stuff it was worth the effort because the smoothed edges make this a great place to start your story from.

Cheers! :)


Benj

glad I could be of assistance :)

I like this:

You've made this paragraph do triple duty: you've set the scene, you've shown us that Melissa is used to doctor's offices, and you've shown us that Melissa knows what she has trouble with and has figured out ways to manage it on her own terms. (You could have also had her toting a book, to show that she's a serious student and that she knows that sometimes the office selection of magazines is pretty poor.)

Looking forward to the next section :)

Benj and Auditrix have said all I would say so now I look forward to the next part.

You know that Wilson had to appear in this fic!
Chapter 4
Drs. House and Wilson were strolling through the hall to no apparent
destination. Sometimes House needed to “walk,” meaning talk out things with Wilson.
“So I get this 22 year old kid in the clinic the other day, with cerebral palsy, says she needs PT.”

“Let me guess, you gave her the prescription and it was the shortest visit ever and you’re a genius..No, I suppose you think I should already know you are a genius, so it must have been something else.” Wilson answered
.
House smirked. “Nice try.” He said. “I told her she was a cripple, she needed to accept that, she gets upset, Cuddy sees her walk out of the clinic practically crying, calls her back, and she actually comes back!”

Wilson had to stop for a minute when he hears this, turning to House.
“Wait a minute. You mean to tell me that you insulted her, and she subjected herself to you again! Brave woman!”

House rolled his eyes. “Brave. That’s your word. It’s not insulting to tell someone the truth.”

“House, she has been living with CP for twenty two years. I’m sure she already knows the truth.”

“No Way! Not with all her “battle scars” Osteotomies, rectus transfers, lengthenings. And she still has a limp. She thinks just a little bit of PT will make her walk better. Sure, her heel will go down, but she will still have CP.”

“House, She probably has been through Physical therapy plenty of times.”

“Yeah well I still think she’s lying. She told me it was all right if I think of myself as a cripple, but that she didn’t think of herself as one.”

Wilson looked up at the ceiling in thought. “Gee, a person with a disability with a good self concept. That can’t happen!” He said, sarcastically.
House glared at Wilson.

“No way she’s okay with all of it.”

Wilson nodded. “I’m sure that’s true.”

“She must wet her pillow with tears some nights.”
Wilson had enough. “House, she may have, but why do you care? It’s not like you would ever talk to her about it.!” Wilson shouted.

” “ I don’t care about her.” House insisted, looking away.


“I just think it’s bad for people to fake being that accepting of themselves.”
“What if she isn’t faking?” Wilson asked quietly. “Acceptance doesn’t mean total contentment. It’s a willingness to move on. She has. Maybe you should think about it.”

House just looked down, his eyes pained, and then away to some place far away.
“I’ve got a patient.” He said, and limped toward the elevator.
“Yeah, okay.” Wilson said, accepting the lie

That's a great line and very Wilson, you do a nice job with him here too- looking forward to more! :)


Cheers


Benj

I like this very much. The Melissa story has a lot of grunt and can go far. I like the way she has clearly got under his skin particularly since she does not fit the 'everybody lies' theory.

Melissa has kicked House right out of his comfort zone. She is becoming her own character as you progress and the relationship between House and Wilson is enhanced by her.

As this story contains your own understanding and life experience and as such is a special gift to the reader. Each segment of story gives us more. Thank you and please don't stop.

Chapter 5: Trust Falls

When House arrived at the clinic, Cuddy was waiting for him. “Melissa’s in room two. She asked to see you.”

“Right. I gave her a prescription for Physical Therapy. What could she need now?” House asked.

“I don’t know. Just go in there and find out.” Cuddy answered.
House shook his head in annoyance.


He walked in exam room two, without even looking at Melissa. “Accept reality yet?” He asked.

She said nothing, gave no response.

“I went to therapy today, and the therapist let me fall.” She said quietly, her voice quivering.

“She was testing my balance, I lost footing, and she didn’t grab me. I just fell backwards.” Melissa wouldn’t look at him.

“You didn’t hit your head or anything did you?” He asked.

She shook her head. “No, but it hurt."

“I want to examine you.” House said. “Put this gown on, and I’ll wait outside.”
Melissa looked at him nervously. “ Not knowing she would go to the clinic today, she wore sweatpants. "Um, I might need help putting the gown on.”

House softened his hard stare. “I’ll send a nurse in."

Melissa quietly said “Thank you.”

House directed a nurse to exam room 2, dreading going back in.

The nurse came out after a minute. “She’s ready, doctor.”
House nodded.
“This floor's not soft.” House said, closing the door. “ I want to look at your hip.”
Melissa nodded. He pulled up the gown, revealing her longest scar, and pressed on it gently.
Melissa whimpered and jerked her leg away.
House sighed.
“I’m sorry.” House replied. House looked at the multiple entry points of the scar.
“You’ve had a lot of surgery on this hip. Does it always hurt to touch it?”
Melissa looked embarrassed. “Yes. I’m sorry.” She sighed and a single tear fell. “I didn’t mean to pull away.”

I can’t believe I am crying in front of this man, she thought. I have to stop.
House looked away, searching for a tissue, handing it to Melissa.
“Just one more time, okay?” House asked.
House pressed gently as he could again, but was met by a scream.

Inside Melissa, anger had accumulated and broke the dam that held her tears. They streamed down her face and she sobbed, curling into a ball so that House wouldn’t see her face. Hip pain, for some reason, was the hardest to bear. Her feet would hurt and she’d limp, her knees could swell, but hip pain cut into her soul.

“How come you’re an ass and you caught me, and she’s supposed to understand and she didn’t?” Melissa asked.
"I don't know." House said. "Deep breaths."
House felt the urge to leave the room, the pain.

With ragged breaths she continued on. “She freakin blamed me. She said ‘I’m sorry but you should have been able to catch yourself’ Barely helped me up”
Bitch House thought.
“Do you need anything for the pain?”
Melissa shook her head “No, I’ll be all right. Thank you. I’m….sorry.”

House shrugged. “It’s all right.” He thought again, and wrote her a prescription. “Take this…just in case.”

Melissa took the prescription, her expression changing to one of graditude.

Melissa said “Sometimes I just need to leave.”

House nodded. “Yeah.” He said.

He watched her struggle to get down from the exam table and out of the door, but was careful to give a pitying look. As soon as she left, he knew he had to find that therapist.

Good one. I like House in these circumstances I long to see him fronting the person who let Melissa fall. I look forward to the aftermath of this with Wilson and Cuddy and the backlash from the PT people.

One nitpicking point. She cannot go out the door at the end of the scene because she is in the gown. House will have to be the one to leave. Then he would probably walk straight into Cuddy.

You know with each of your chapters you have several plot points. It is as though we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg. I suspect later as you go over this work you will see areas which are worth expanding and deepening.

You are doing very well though. Keep 'em coming.

Thanks! Actually, writing has been very theraputic lately, since I am in PT right now. It helps me get out the feelings and even distance myself from them.

Sometimes I just need to leave." Melissa said, starting to ease her way off the exam table.

Yeah." House said. "But why don't you put your pants back on first?" Hepointed to her sweatpants folded on the chair.
"Oh." Melissa said embarassed.

"I'll give you something for the pain...just in case." House handed her the perscription.
"Thank you." Melissa said, her embarassment fading, and grattitude taking its place.
"I'll leave you alone now," House said.

"Okay, I'll be all right." Melissa said, remembering she needed help into the gown. "Thank you again."

"Your welcome." House said. He knew he had to find that therapist.

He made a quick turn out the door and made eye contact with Cuddy. Noticing the urgency of his movement, Cuddy said "Where are you going?"

"Physical Therapy. About a patient." House said, in a hurry.

"Why?" Cuddy asked, confused.

" No reason. I just love the place so much." House said."I miss it, really."
He sighed.
Cuddy rolled her eyes.
"I need to talk to a therapist there." He said, hoping this would satisfy him.
"Be careful, House." Cuddy warned. "If I get a call from the rehab floor..."
"I'm not gonna do anything." He said. He needed to get there, his anger was mounting.
"You have that sound in your voice, that pissed off sound." Cuddy pointed out.
"Yeah, well when someone drops my patient how am I supposed to feel?" House said, raising his voice.
Cuddy looked confused but said. "Um, ok Just be careful." She said again, wanting to stress the point. She changed her mind.
"House, let me take care of this." She insisted, quickening her pace as they reached the elevator.

"I told you I'm not gonna do anything stupiid. I just want to talk to the therapist. Aren't you the one always wanting me to communicate with other departments?" House asked.
Cuddy thought for a moment. "Okay. But like I said..."

"Be careful. I got it. I can hear you, I just don't always listen." House smirked.

Cuddy hoped for the best as she watched House get in the elevator.

Forget my previous post. Darling, you are screenwriting! This is not strictly prose and that is not a bad thing.

You are giving us scenes not chapters and they are great scenes. You are writing terrific dialogue. With so much economy and getting volumes across to the reader.

You need to look at some screenplays. Transcripts of House won't help you although they are terrific to read. However they are not in the format used for Film or Television and they do not have scene headings or stage directions. The correct format is essential in professional screenwriting.

I once wanted to write a book but a book takes so long and a manuscript for the shortest book weighs in at about 600 pages double spaced and indended. A stage play is about 90 pages tops. A screenplay for a movie is about somewhere between 100 and 120 pages. A television hour which is only 43mins 30secs tops works out at about 60 pages to eighty pages depending on the number of scenes and the country of production.

For me it was no contest screenwriting was the way to go. But you are finding you voice right now and you must make your own decision.

Apart from the PT etc you are truly fortunate ... so young and so talented. Keep going you are doing great.

House took the elevator down to the rehab floor, his heart racing. Why was he doing this? He hated the rehab floor, he hated remembering his time there. The therapists were relentless. "Just a little more, Greg." they would say. But they were never satistied. It was always a little more, then a little more, then a little more....Until he was screaming. But he hated medical professionals who were careless slightly more than rehab.


He remembered Melissa’s question: How come you caught me, and you’re an ass, but she was supposed to understand, and she didn’t? The things “nice” people did amazed him sometimes. And people got on him for being cold. At least with House you knew where you stood. You knew he hated people. He didn’t mince words, he didn’t pretend.


House slid the door of the Physical therapy room open, House quickly scanned the room, seeing patients on bikes, sitting atop huge exercise balls, and lifting weights, praying that no one would think he was a patient. He looked to the left and saw the receptionist.
“Can I help you, Dr. House?” Asked the receptionist.

“Yes I need to know who my patient saw today for physical therapy today.”
“Name?” The receptionist asked.

“Melissa.” House surprised himself by remembering her name, having never said it out loud correctly before.

“Hmm….Okay. It looks like she saw Marcy, who is right over there” The receptionist said. She pointed to a lady with long red hair that was not working with a patient at that moment. “Marcy? Dr. House would like to speak with you.”

Marcy approached him, smiling, but her smile faded as she observed the blank stare that he gave her.

“You dropped my patient today.” He said, without greeting

Marcy shook her head, not understanding. “I’m sorry?” She said, not recalling dropping anyone.

“You let Melissa fall on the floor. That’s as good as dropping her.
”
“Now, Doctor, maybe you misunderstood. I remember her falling, but that’s because she couldn’t grab onto my hand, and lost her balance.”

“And you didn’t try to catch her at all?”

Marcy threw her hands up in the air. “I thought she had it. She fell, we moved on, she said she was fine.”

“She had severe hip pain.”

“She should have told me that. Anyway, PT won’t do it for her now. She needs a heel cord lengthening.” Marcy said
“You can’t diagnose.” House said.

“We’ll try it for a few more weeks. You won’t be seeing her anymore anyway. Apparently she needs a therapist with a little more experience in people with poor balance.” House sneered.

“Are you questioning my ability to do my job?” Marcy raised her voice.
“Yes.” House said, in a matter of fact way.

“Well I have a patient in a few minutes so you’ll have to excuse me.” Said Marcy, turning to leave. But then Marcy remembered what really had happened when Melissa fell.

As she went to get up, Marcy said “I’m sorry but you should have better balance than that.” After seeing her struggle a minute, Marcy offered a hand.
“C’mon, you’re fine, let’s finish up.” Marcy had said.

Marcy turned around to return to where she was working, and House walked to the exit. Marcy suddenly said “Doctor, she didn’t say that she was fine. I said she was.”


House turned his head around. “What?” He said, not knowing what Marcy was talking about.
“She didn’t lie to you. I thought she was fine.”
“Yeah well, she wasn’t.” House said, relieved that he was finally leaving. His soap was on soon.

Magdala, Thank you for the suggestions and your feedback. I know that I am truly fortunate, I suspect the other "Melissa" does as well. We'll see :)

This is really shaping up nicely and I like House's tone about letting Melissa fall- kind of reminds me of the way he was with 'Cameron' student in Three Stories over the 'brown' blood.


Format looks great too and I'm looking forward to more :)


Cheers


Benj

What a pleasant surprise I didn't realise there was another piece up. No need to thank me. Seeing each new scene is thanks enough.

I agree with Benj, having just had to dash to the transcript of Three Stories to read the relevant scene. I liked the way that House dealt with the therapist so she was compelled to remember the even and found it essential to admit the truth of what happened.

That question would stay in his mind and indeed the mind of anyone he repeated it to. It has certainly stayed in my mind.

I look forward to more and more and more.

How Come you caught me?[I]


The credits were rolling at the end of General Hospital. The hour gave him time to calm down after the confrontation. There weren't even any calls from Cuddy complaining about it, so he was able to enjoy his whole soap in peace. But now, that one question, and the look on her face stayed in his mind. A confused, fragile look.

At first he thought every doctor or medical professional would try to catch a falling patient if they could. It wouldn't occur to him that a trained professional standing right there would not try to help the patient.
Yet he was damaged. He used a cane. He had still tried to help her, when someone else, perfectly able bodied and, in fact, in the profession of helping those who were not, let her fall.

A memory fills his mind. He is in the hallway of the hospital, busy at the time. For some reason, those "wet floor" areas were unavoidable. One had to walk through them to get to where one was going. So he tried to be careful, gingerly walking through the area. But his cane was slipping. He gripped it firmly, but the tighter he held it the more the rubber went forward and suddenly, he fell, yelping on his way down.. In front of twenty five people in the hallway. He felt them staring and saying "Look at that poor, poor man with a cane." He couldn't exactly hear it, but he knew they were thinking it. Suddenly he wasn't himself anymore. He had been transformed into someone else.

Other people tried to help him but he pushed them away until James came out from the crowd and pulled him up. Their eyes met. House felt anger more than relief but managed to say. "Thanks."

No, House told himself,he was nothing like Melissa. He couldn't relate to her, they had nothing in common. He didn't help her because he felt her pain. He was just a doctor doing his job, when someone else didn't. He found that happened often.

Why did this twenty two year old kid make him think so much? This made her even more annoying.

Now I look for the follow through on this.

Is House hurt? Does he feel insecure with the cane, distrust it even? What is James attitude? Does Cuddy come in on this? Does Stacy? This was a work place accident coming under occupational health and safety [if you have that in America]. Does House have to have an examination and a doctor's clearance?

When Melissa returns to the clinic will she learn that House has fallen? Wow this is interesting keep them coming please.

Actually, the fall was supposed to be a flashback in italics but it didn't show that way. But I like your idea better, so I will toy with it.

The credits were rolling at the end of General Hospital.Th e hour gave him a vacation from thinking about Melissa . After the confrontation, there weren't even any calls from Cuddy complaining. But now, that one question, and the look on her face stayed in his mind. A confused, fragile look.

He was in the hallway of the hospital, busy at the time. For some reason, those "wet floor" areas were unavoidable. One had to walk through them to get to where one was going. So he tried to be careful, gingerly walking through the area. But his cane was slipping. He gripped it firmly, but the tighter he held it the more the rubber went forward and suddenly, he fell, yelping on his way down.. In front of twenty five people in the hallway.


He felt them staring and saying "Look at that poor, poor man with a cane." He couldn't exactly hear it, but he knew they were thinking it. Suddenly he wasn't himself anymore. He had been transformed into someone else.
People just stared at first, unsure of what to do, including doctors. When people finally offered help, James came out of the crowd.


"You okay? C'mon, up" He pulled him up and helped him walk to a drier part of the floor.

"Let go." House whispered. He was fine to be on his own now. But Wilson could see a marked change in his limp.


When House and Wilson were away from the crowd, they took the elevator.
"Your office." House said.

"No." Wilson said. "X-ray."
"No." House said. "I don't want to."

"Ice?" Wilson asked. "Reduce the swelling."
"I'm not hurt." House said.

"You are lying." Wilson said. "Anyway, Cuddy has to know about it. She hates it when things go wrong in her hospital, and she has to call OSHA."
"NO." House yelled. Realizing his tone, he looked down in shame. "I'm sorry." He mumbled
.
"It's fine." Wilson shrugged. "You have said worse things."

"Now I know how she felt." House said, regretting his words. He hated hinting that he had the capacity for empathy.
"Who?" Wilson asked

"My patient. Her PT let her fall. Those doctors just stared at me. I could save their patients one day. And they just stared at me." House popped a few Vicotin.

"I'm sorry." Wilson said.

"Don't!" House said. The elevator doors opened. "Don't say that."
Wison sighed.
'House, what do you want for me to say?" Wilson asked. But Wilson knew better. There was nothing he could say.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When Wilson had a chance, he stopped by Cuddy's office. "Maintenence should be more careful about how they dry the floor in high traffic areas." He said, peeking his head. "Someone could fall."

Cuddy looked up. "The way you said that, Wilson, it sounds like someone already did."

"Maybe." Wilson said.
" A patient ?" Cuddy asked.
"No." Wilson said, raising a telling eyebrow
Cuddy thought. "Oh no, House? Is he all right?" Damn that man. She was always concerned for him.
Wilson sighed. "I don't think so. Looks like a bruised knee at worst."
"I want you to examine him." Cuddy said.
"No, no and don't tell Stacy either. He says he's fine." Wilson said.
"Okay, fine." Cuddy reluctantly said.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A few days later, Melissa appeared in the clinic exam room, sitting in a chair. She noticed that House didn't move at even his usual pace. It was much more careful, and with less coordination.
"What do you want?" House asked.
"The new therapist said I should come back so that you could refer me to an orthopeidic surgeon." Melissa said, a sad look on her face. "She doesn't think PT is working. My heel cord won't budge."
"Okay." House said.
He sat down slowly on a stool, turning his back to Melissa, writing the referral. The pen slipped out of his hand, "Crap." he muttered as it rolled under the exam table.

Melissa stood up."I'll get it." Using the chair, she lowered herself to her knees, crawled under the exam table, back to the chair, and pushed up on the chair. She turned around and handed the pen to House.

"Thanks." He said, realizing the effort it took her to kneel down and get the pen.
Melissa shrugged. "It's hard sometimes." She said.
House could hear himself coming back with all sorts of sarcastic lines about how Melissa couldn't know how hard it was. but all he said was "Yeah."

That is good. You did that so well. The suggestions were only suggestions and you do not have to follow them but what you did was far beyond anything I expected.

Good drama is based on conflict. You have again through the character of Melissa confronted House pushed him into an area of vulnerability from which he has tried to quarantine himself. The last line perfect. That word 'yeah' says so much.

I am glad your Melissa is going to have surgery (but I hope you the real Melissa is not) because it will bring her into the hospital and I look forward to House following through with this. Choosing the orthopaedic surgeon he will want his patient in the hands of an artist and not a plumber. No doubt he will oversee throughout trying not to let it show.

I like the economy of description. It is all there, fully visualised, the reader can seen the geography of the situation and the action of the scene but it is completely and elegantly realised in very few words.

Have you ever read any novels by Fay Weldon? She does that and like you she can write action in a line. I won't explain 'action in a line' and don't think about it much because it is something so special. It is, I suspect an innate talent you have. A felicitous gift not to be questioned or even understood.

Just keep writing this is very good. :)

Melissa sat in the clinic exam room again, in a chair, waiting for House.

"You? Again?" He exclaimed. "I've never had a fan of me before."

Melissa smiled. "I had my consult with Dr. Anderson. We scheduled the surgery for next Monday at eight am."

"Okay." House said, leaving. I'm relieved. I thought, you know, you thought I cared, I'd want to be there, stuff like that."

"I don't care who's there. I just want it over." Melissa said, laughing. "I didn't even tell my parents."
"Why?" House asked. "Not involved with you? Not accepting?"

Melissa shook her head. "No, they're out of the country right now. They waited until I was out of undergraduate to go; they've been saving their whole lives."

"And they wouldn't come home even if their daughter had surgery?"
House asked incredulously.

"It's not that they wouldn’t. It’s that I don’t want them there."
"Ahh, you don't want to be a burden." House said
.
"Who does?" Melissa asked.

"Have they treated you like a burden?" House asked.

Melissa sighed. "Why are you asking me that?" She asked him, raising her voice. She raised it a few more notches. "Why are you making me feel things about this? I don't want to feel things. I just want it over." Melissa took deep breaths. "I'm sorry. I have to leave." Melissa got up from her chair and left, House staring behind her.

House walked right into Cuddy's office and said "I want my patient with another orthopedic surgeon.....And also who's her anesthesiologist?”Cause we have one or two around here that gave two much once or twice."

Cuddy looked up from her work, annoyed. "Why, good afternoon, Dr. House, How are you? Fine? Me too!" Her fake smile turned to a frown. "No."

"Look, I'm concerned for the patient!!" House exclaimed.

"Because if I'm right, you didn't ask the patient and I can't just go in and switch."
"Why not?" House asked. "If I know the other two are better....What's the difference? The patient just wants it to be over.
"
"What's the patient's name?" Cuddy asked.

"Melissa." House said, triumphantly

"You remember names now! Impressive!" Cuddy said, grinning. "Last name?"
House frowned. "Begins with a...I don't know." He admitted. I'll be back.
"
"Oh, can't wait." Cuddy said. She went back to her paperwork.


House went back to the clinic, found Melissa's chart in a pile, and appeared in front of her office door. Stacy was in there. House knocked. Cuddy shook her head. House waved the file he had in his hand. From the way House read Cuddy's lips she seemed to have been saying "It'll just be a minute."
House limped in and stood next to Stacy's chair. Cuddy turned and typed in her computer, searching for who was doing the surgery and who the team was. "Anderson and Riley." Cuddy said.

"No. Not Riley. And Anderson's mean." House said
.
"Mean? Isn't this the same young woman you called a cripple?" Cuddy asked, reading the chart, amazed.

House looked down and sighed. "Yeah but that was different."

"Greg, you called a patient a cripple?" Stacy asked, for some reason amazed at this behavior.
House just glared at Stacy.
"Why was that different? Because you have a cane, so it was okay?" Cuddy asked.

"Anderson makes the incision too big. And Riley...I just don't like the guy, quite honestly." House shrugged. House grabbed the chart.

"Give me that." Cuddy grabbed the chart back and read the patient's age. "Patient is twenty two years old. You cannot make decisions for her."

"She's only twenty two! That's the age where people make a lot of dumb decisions!" House was growing irritated, his leg was throbbing from standing, and He sat next to Stacy who glanced at him
.
"People make dumb decisions at any age. And your character analysis isn't enough for me to switch surgeons, given that you don't like anyone."

"Fine." House said. "But I am having Foreman in there just in case anything goes wrong."

"Okay." Cuddy said. She watched House leave, and realized what his action meant. He could never say this, but he actually cared about one of his patients from the clinic. And even though he was condescending about his patient’s choices, and judgmental about other doctors, the very rare fact he cared at all warmed her heart just a tad.


"I have to talk to you." House said, Beckoning Foreman to a corner when House arrived back at his office.
"Yes?" Foreman asked. "What's the bet on now?"
"No, I need you to observe an Achilles Tenotomy next Monday." House said.
"A heel cord lengthening? What's so fascinating about that?" Foreman asked.

"I'm not asking you to go because it's interesting. I'm telling you to go. Patient has Cerebral Palsy. Need you to keep an eye on her." House said
.
"Does patient have any history of hydrocephalus or epilepsy?" Asked Foreman.

House thought for a minute. "No."

Forman was annoyed, and for a moment House wished he'd asked Cameron, but she would pity Melissa too much.
"Then why do you need me in there?" Foreman asked
.
"Because I told you to." House said shortly. He walked back into his part of the office and flipped on the television.
Melissa did not tell her parents about the surgery. So far, she was fine with it. She would take two weeks off from graduate study and go back to classes in a wheelchair. Her internship was accessible. It was almost ideal.

Next Monday at 6:30, Dr. Foreman introduced himself to Melissa.
"Wait; is there something you didn't tell me?" Melissa asked. She felt strange enough in the gown and the "surgery hat."

Dr, Foreman smiled. "No, no, because you have cerebral palsy, Dr. House wanted me to observe the surgery."

Melissa was still confused. "But I don't have any other neurological disorders besides Cerebral palsy and I have had four other surgeries, none of which included a neurologist observing."

"We just want to make sure everything goes okay." Dr. Foreman said.
The anesthesiologist asked Melissa questions about drugs and alcohol, to which Melissa replied "no." Foreman couldn't help but think that House would think that Melissa was lying, due to her young age.


It was time to walk Melissa into the Operating room. With slow deep breaths she calmed herself. She had signed all the papers; there was no turning back now. She would be fine, she told herself. The nurse standing next to her was talking, but Melissa had no idea what she was saying.
The operating doors opened, revealing the team of doctors. Melissa started sobbing. "I'm sorry." she said. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Dr. Foreman said. The doctors assisted Melissa onto the table and she was blinded by the lights of the operating room.

Dr. Foreman looked at the young woman, alone and frightened. He reached out and squeezed her hand. She squeezed back, and then she was out.


The surgery went well. The tendon was lengthened, and a cast was put on her leg. She awoke from the surgery promptly, and talked to the nurses.

Later that day, House asked how the surgery went. "Very well. She was upset though. She cried." Foreman didn't know why he just told House that.

But House did not call her names. Suddenly he looked saddened. "Well you know, Foreman, the patients don't enjoy surgery as much as the surgeons. They don't get to use the cool tools."

"Um, okay." Foreman said, as he was walking back to do some research. He would remember that look on House's face for a while.

Melissa slept most of the day. Nurses came in, taking vital signs, giving her medications, and she would fall asleep right afterwards. When she was asleep, she could forget about the nausea, and the fact that her parents weren't there. She could forget the loneliness.


While she was sleeping, House walked by her room. He stopped for a moment, and looked in. Was that really the same vibrant Melissa as he had met before, fragile in that hospital bed? She looked pale, with her hair fanning out from her head onto her pillow. One leg casted, the other bare. How accepting would she be now? Would she experience anger and frustration? Or take it all in stride? I'm thinking about her too much again, House thought. And this time she hadn't even said anything.

At lunch, House sat with Wilson. "Melissa had her surgery today. I need you to check on her for me. My team's busy with another case right now." The team had just received a case an hour ago.

"Oh right, House, I, as the head of Oncology am not busy." Wilson said, smiling. "Anyway, why would I have to check on her? She's not my patient. A visit from an oncologist would scare the crap out of her." Wilson was amused. He thought for a second, then decided to say what was on his mind.


"You know, I have never seen you so facinated with a person and not a disease." Wilson observed.

"Facinated? me? Nahh." House dismissed the oberservation. "Your just nicer than I am."
"See? My point! Usually you don't care who is nice to your patient. She must be pretty special."
House shook his head. "No, I just don't want to hear from Cuddy about it again. And I wanna see how optimistic she is with a cast on her leg, in pain from muscle spasms."

Wilson wrinkled his brow. "Just like you wanted to see how brave Andie was when I told her she was going to die." Wilson shook his head. "My response to this is the same: "Go to hell."

House didn't flinch. "Room 312." He said.

Wilson was curious about Melissa. He had heard so much about her that he had to go see her for himself. Looking through her door, he could see that she looked lonely. He opened the door.

"Hi, Melissa? I'm Dr. Wilson, a friend of Dr. House."
Melissa smiled. "Oh? I didn't know he had friends." Her smile faded when Wilson came closer and she read "oncology." on his name badge.

"I have cancer?" she asked. "How did they find---"

"No, no. I'm just checking in, seeing if you need anything." Wilson said. [I]Great going, House, he thought.

"Oh, well, I'm fine. I should go home tommorow or the next day." Melissa smiled. "Tell Dr. House I don't bite."

"I'll try." Wilson said. "Why don't you rest now?"
Melissa's eyes were already closed when she said "Okay."

Wow what a line. That is just fabulous!!!

You worked it well with Foreman.

and with Wilson ... that was great. And the great diagnostition had not realised how someone accustomed to surgery would worry about additional specialists turning up. That is more than slightly revealing and gives Wilson a chance to make a point or two. Boy will House go him when Wilson admits he left his badge on. Then Wilson can have a go at House pointing out that Melissa said to tell him she doesn't bite.

What a clever way to bring in Stacy. House grows with every scene. I really like the way he is evolving here.

Keep going Melissa. BTW do you realise you have never described Melissa? You should if possible add a description of her in the first scene where House meets her. This might be fairly superficial and from his POV and he can amend his impressions of the girl as things go on.

I really like what you are doing with this. I like the fact House has introduced her to most of his world with the exception of Cameron and Chase who must be very interested in this mystery patient.

:) Keep going Real Melissa mt83. Your fictional character Melissa is really something and I am sure everyone on this site wants to know more about her.

WOW...
This is really good...
I'm really really impressed...
Much better than mine, though... :( (Envious jealousy..)

Keep up the good work :D

{{{{Pats Natalie on Back}}}}} There, there! Your fic is imaginative and wonderful! I like it a lot! Thank you, though! And keep up the good work with YOUR stuff!

:P :D

"She wanted you to know she doesn't bite." Wilson said, approaching House's desk. "But I was right, you know. My being an Oncologist did scare her."

"Yeah, well, Ace maybe you could have tucked your badge in your pocket or something." House replied.

"Hey it wouldn't be that painful for you to actually go see her. She seemed really nice. And tired! So the visit wouldn't be that long."
House looked down. "Hmmm."

"What?" Wilson asked. He studied the look on House's face. "You want to see her!" He exclaimed.

"No, it was about the other case. I thought of...something." House said.
Wilson shook his head, smiling. "You're lying." He said. "Go see her."

Time slipped away from House. Their main patient experienced several highs and lows within the next two days, so for the first time in a few weeks, House forgot about the young kid from the clinic that lived in his thoughts.

But eventually, their patient stabilized. House couldn't bring himself to go see her. He wasn't sure what he was afraid of. But something made him avoid that third floor. Finally, on his lunch hour, Wilson asked "So did you ever see her?"

"Nahh." House answered. "No time."

"Hmm."

"What?" House asked, noticing Wilson was staring at him
.
"You could go check her room." Wilson said "Or call the floor."

"I hate using the phone." House muttered, getting up from his chair slowly and leaving Wilson at the table.
"Where are you going?" Wilson asked, smiling.

"I gotta pee." House answered.