Chapter 1 - Late -

It was a spring araw at the Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. The pollen was waving with the gentle passing breeze, and the normal daily rush started at 9.00 am for doctor Cuddy. She was in the lobby filling a few papers that the chief-nurse had asked for, when Wilson arrived and gave her a wide-open smile and a very enthusiastic ‘Good Morning’.

Cuddy went into her office and brought her mind to the huge pile of papers that her secretary had waiting in her hands.

Cameron, Chase and Foreman were at the Diagnostics office waiting for their boss. House was always late, but they were used to it. They didn’t have a case at this point so they were waiting, anxiously, for House to come in with a blue folder holding the history of a new patient.

It was almost 11.00 am and the ducklings were still waiting. Cameron was sitting on a chair pagbaba a few medical books, Foreman was making coffee and Chase was lying on the little sopa near the door staring into space.

Wilson saw the team in the office, and decided to come in.

“Hey guys! “ Wilson sinabi opening the door and peaking from the doorway.

“Hi, Wilson. Do you know where House is?” Cameron asked looking at Wilson, hoping that he had the answer.

“I have no idea where he is, probably around.” Wilson answer.

“Right. He’s probably at tahanan sleeping. I bet that he doesn’t even remember that today is Monday.” Foreman replied to the rest of the team.

House was home, sleeping too. The alarm clock buzzed at 9.30am and he got up. He did exactly what he was used to doing every morning. He popped one of his Vicodin pills, went to the bathroom, ate something in the kusina and grabbed his keys to his motorbike.

The araw was sunny with a light breeze in the air. Spring he thought. He got up on his motorbike and started the ignition. The trip to the hospital was usually quick, but not on this day.

As he accelerated through the traffic siksikan an out-of-control car appeared from out of the blue and almost crashed into House.

He didn’t have time to react as he was propelled to the floor and his bike was destroyed. Fortunately, sa pamamagitan ng some miracle, he didn’t suffer any apparently life threatening injuries. He got up and went to the car that had almost killed him.

“Hey, you moron, you almost killed me. Don’t you know how to drive?” House sinabi furiously.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened.” A scared young pregnant woman answered him.

He did a double take. “Are you ok? uy lady, you’re pregnant you shouldn’t drive at those speeds. How far along are you?” House asked, regretting having yelled at her minutos before.

“7 months.” The woman said. She looked back and made sure her child sitting in the back upuan was still sleeping, which he was, like a little angel.

“You should go to the hospital, just to be sure that everything’s ok.”

“Thank you I will.” She answered him politely.

House looked at the car as it went away, and then looked to his motorbike, totally ruined.

Cuddy went to pick up her mesa phone and just as her hand touched it the phone rang, sending its shrill little calls throughout the room.

“Hey, it’s Wilson. House isn’t here yet. Do you know anything? I’ve called his cell phone, no sign of him.” Wilson said, getting everything out almost too quickly for Cuddy to understand.

“I don’t know. I didn’t see him yet either.” Cuddy replied, starting to feel a little worried.

“Well, he’s probably at home. Maybe his leg is hurting him too much.” Wilson guessed.

“Maybe you’re right. I think that I’m going there just to check it out. Thanks for telling me Wilson.” Cuddy sinabi as she got up.

“Call me if you get news.” Wilson finished.

Cuddy hung up and went to pick up her amerikana and purse. She headed to the lobby with a quick step. As she was opening the entrance door, House walks in.

“Hey. Where were you? We had begun to worry.” Cuddy sinabi looking at House.

“I had a little accident on the way here, but I’m ready for the dieing people now.” House answer sarcastically.

Cuddy rolled her eyes and turned back towards her office. When she sat down in her chair again she realized that House had followed her into her office.

“What now?” Cuddy asked.

“I got in an accident with sa pamamagitan ng motorbike. A pregnant woman almost ended with my precious life.” House replied, his sarcasm still showed through but Cuddy saw through it.

“Are you ok? Do you want me to run a few exams?” Cuddy sinabi looking madami worried now.

“No. I’m ok. I just need a ride tahanan at the end of the day. If you don’t mind,” House sinabi politely.

“Oh! Sure. I’ll give you a ride home.” Cuddy replied a little confused.

House went to the elevator, and she looked at him from her office. Why did he want a ride tahanan with her? He could have asked Wilson.

The rest of the araw continued normally. House didn’t have a patient so he and the ducklings were at his office doing wherever they wanted, which meant he was tormenting them and they were trying to find a way get away from him. Cuddy was dealing with paperwork at her office, Wilson was with his patients, and the araw outside the hospital was passing sa pamamagitan ng just as it usually did.

TBC