Surprise, Surprise - a 13+m3 fanfic
Apr. 19th, 2011 10:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
damigellaTitle: Surprise, Surprise
Summary: This is Remy's return to work in my own AU; it is the last part of a trilogy, following Valentine's Date and Coming And Going. No slash, some humor, some h/w hints.
Spoilers: for 7x18. I haven't seen 7x19 yet.
Word Count: 2000 approx.
Rating: everybody.
Warnings: un-beta'ed.
Acknowledgements:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lit_luminary kindly wrote an extra verse in her series Wicked Girls of PPTH for my Martha, which actually fits very well with this final installment of my 13+M3 series (although she hadn't read it yet). She also allowed me to include it in this fic as epigraph. For both these gifts I'm deeply grateful.
In lines of equations, Martha saw Edenic glory—
But Eden always sinks to grief at the end of the story.
So she studied art, and she’s learning to heal,
And she’s searching for beauty, for truth, for what’s real.
If you ask her, she’ll say she was refused mathematic grace—
But she’s brilliant and cunning, and someday she’ll find her own place.
April 11, 2011.
It's 9.30 when Dr Remy Hadley finishes the paperwork in Cuddy's office and heads for the lifts, ready to start her job again. There's a banner hanging across the diagnostics room: "Welcome back Remy". The room is full of colored balloons, all with the number 13 on them. It's comforting, on her first day back, to find so many known faces.
Foreman is the first to come and congratulate her, kissing her on both cheeks, followed by Chase and then Taub. Wilson must have heard the noise, since he shows up, and she ends up kissing him on both cheeks too, smiling at the faint blush that she causes.
They brew coffee and exchange recollections, Remy discussing the new therapy she's on, the others reporting the long and complicated tale of the House/Cuddy romance, its tragic ending, and a short summary of House's subsequent antics. They're about to start discussing her replacement, a smirk on all their faces, when House shows up.
"Good morning." He limps fast beyond her and into his own office, disregarding her offered hand. She looks slightly disappointed, but then she meets Foreman's eyes: that's House for you. She had kind of forgotten.
Minutes later Cuddy walks in, in her hands the file of their next case. Remy smiles: it's good to be back at work.
*****
After three rounds of suggestions, House has decided for a modified version of something Remy said. He has sent Taub to test the patient's blood for mono and toxo, and Chase and Foreman for a toxin search at his workplace and home. He gestures for her to join him in his office.
"Welcome back. I heard the new protocol at Penn seems to work."
Remy smiled. Martha wasn't the only one able to use a computer. "Yes. I've actually improved. I might have ten more good years."
House smiled, too. Or at least it seemed like it for an instant. "Ten years of extra time for research to make progress. Good for you."
There was an awkward pause. Remy realized this wasn't the main topic of the conversation. "I heard about your brother. 'Accidental painkillers overdose'. I'm not sure condolences are appropriate."
"What do you mean?" Remy almost stands up, ready to physically confront a man who's probably twice her weight and strength.
"That I should give you your congratulations, in helping him so well without getting caught." He sighs. "I hope it won't be needed, but when the time comes, if I'm still around you can count on me. I'll make sure not to be caught, either."
Remy's inside feels like in a roller coaster. She knew House cared for her. She didn't know how much yet. She feels compelled to tell him the truth. "Don't worry. I think my girlfriend will be able to take care of it."
House looks genuinely interested. "A girlfriend? And a serious thing, if you're discussing ten years into the future. Foreman lost his chance, apparently. Do we get to meet her?"
Now Remy smiles. "I'm meeting the others for drinks this evening at Billy's downtown. Want to join us? Eight thirty. I'll make sure she shows up."
*****
It's eight forty pm. Remy, Taub, Chase and Foreman are sitting around a table at Billy's, the beer pitcher between them already half empty. Chase's just finished ordering another one when House shows up, hanging his cane to his barstool.
"Hi, kids. So, Remy, where's your girlfriend?"
Foreman's eyes become larger than usual, strange as this may seem. "Girlfriend? You…you didn't tell me."
Chase smirks. "She didn't tell me, either. How about you, Taub?"
"No, I didn't know. But I don't find it surprising that after sharing Eric's flat for a while she'd sworn off men forever."
Foreman doesn't give up. "So…you told him, but not me?"
Remy laughs. "He's way better than you at finding what I'm up to. Which probably shows he actually cares more. She'll be here in about ten minutes."
She drinks a bit more, then pats Foreman friendly on the back. "Don't be offended, Eric, I would have told you soon. Besides, it's no big deal. You all already know her."
"Is she someone from the hospital?" Foreman asks immediately.
Taub suggests "The cute red-hair in dentistry?" but House immediately quips "No, she's already taken by the fat brunette at HR. How about…"
A well-known but unexpected voice interrupts him. "How about you stop gossiping? She'll show up and we'll see. Hi, everybody!"
"Wilson? What are you doing here?"
"In case you forgot, my office is next to yours, you like to keep the balcony door ajar on sunny spring days, so do I, and I'm not deaf. Welcome back again, Remy."
She smiles, and is happy to kiss him again, while House looks on with an expression difficult to define. Then she looks at her watch. Martha's usually very punctual. And… there she is!
"Guys, meet my fiancée. Martha M. Masters. Oh, wait, you met her before, didn't you?"
Five male faces stare at what, at first sight, could be a dapper young man. Short dark hair, white button down shirt, blue knit sweater with v-neck, simple grey slacks, brown leather moccasins. And then it clicks. This is Masters. She looks shorter than usual because they have never seen her without heels. She's changed her haircut, hair color, clothing style, and wears no make up. House suddenly realizes that Martha must have been wearing a wig. He smirks: that would explain the ridiculous bangs.
"Hi! Good for you that you now only have half a lesbian in the team!"
The voice leaves no doubts. This is Masters.
"I think we have an announcement to make. Actually, two." Martha has taken Remy's hand, encouraging her to go on. They both look at House, who has recovered faster than the others, and is now smiling happily at the wonderful prank the two women have pulled on them all.
Chase splutters "So you…you really had a date on Valentine's Day!"
Martha smiles, and Taub and Foreman also do, while Chase silently opens his wallet and pulls out two fifty-dollars bills.
Remy keeps her attention on House. "We're going to have a civil union sometime in the summer, and you're all invited. Let us know any existing commitment and we'll try to find a date which fits all."
And now Martha steps forward. "I'm putting med school on hold, and going back to mathematical research. Hopefully permanently."
Now even House is puzzled. It is Wilson, who has a natural sense of empathy and manners, who finds his voice first. "Congratulations. I can see from your face that this is very much a way to fulfill your wishes. So how did you get your come back?"
Martha beams. "It's all Remy's merit. There are good sides to having a gorgeous girlfriend."
House's eyes are really wide now. Thirteen helping her sick brother find a painless way out, it's easy. But finding a postdoctoral fellowship in mathematics for her girlfriend? How did she do that? He almost wishes he could stop her from talking, so that he could gnaw on the problem calmly and taking his time. But of course the others all ask, and Remy obliges.
"It's actually very easy. I just went to coffee at Fine Hall. You know, the Maths Department. It's a short walk from the hospital."
"And how did you get into it? Brought your old calculus books along?"
Remy laughs. "Calculus is something mathematicians teach themselves in their teens. No, I just walked in, and followed the arrows to the Common Room. And I sat down at 4pm and, you know, had coffee. People came up and chatted with me. And I explained the situation again and again, until there was a small crowd. And then we arranged to all go for drinks that evening, and Martha joined us."
"You mean you can just walk in and have coffee?"
"Sure. Although I think being nerdy-looking and, well, ugly and male might help in getting in unobserved." Remy and Martha both laugh out loud now.
Martha finally recovers from the laughter and goes on. "We talked a lot that evening. Poor Remy must have been horribly bored. They figured out I'm just not good with numbers. Or computers."
"How can you be a mathematician in that case?" Taub is the one who asked, but the same thought can be read in the others' faces.
Except House. "I read some articles about new results in Geometry recently. A weird Russian guy getting the equivalent of a Nobel prize and a million dollar prize and refusing both. Seems like the kind of people you would fit well with."
Martha smiles. "Indeed. They suggested I should go for mathematical research that doesn't have numbers in it. They found me a nice gay Algebraic Topology professor at the Courant Institute who's willing to help me get started again. It will be a good excuse for spending some time in New York for both of us."
Remy turns to Wilson. "If you ever, you know, are interested, I can introduce you to him. He's single and really good looking. You would fit well together, he's about your age and has beautiful grey-green eyes."
Wilson looks like he doesn't know what hit him. "I…uh…how would I be interested in a good-looking gay professor?"
But Remy isn't looking at him anymore. She's looking at House, whose eyes have widened. He's looking at Wilson, then at Remy again. "You think Wilson is bisexual?"
"Well, if gay men have a gaydar, then I should have a bi-dar, right? Mind you, I'm not sure he's fully out to himself yet. And now I hope you'll excuse us, but we have to go. Now. Martha has a very early train tomorrow."
Remy and Martha wave goodbye and leave.
Four pairs of eyes stare at Wilson, who has turned quite red in the face. He looks at his watch. "I think I have to leave now, too. It's getting late."
House smirks. "Do you also want to catch an early train to New York, and meet this interesting guy in person?"
Taub, Foreman and Chase all pretend to look elsewhere but it's clear they're drinking every syllable.
"Look, House, if - and I say if - this were true, I wouldn't need to go all the way to New York to find a good-looking guy I want to be with!" Wilson lowers his voice and whispers the next sentence directly in House's left ear. "The guy I'm thinking of has beautiful blue eyes, although he's not single right now. At least technically." And with that, he's gone, leaving enough money on the table to pay for all their drinks.
Soon they all go home; it's getting late indeed, and tomorrow is Tuesday and everybody has to show up early to work. Not that House ever does.
When he gets home, House doesn't switch on the television as he normally would, nor does he open a book or listen to or play music. He just sits on the couch, alone and in silence (Dominika is in Atlantic City with her boyfriend) with a glass of whiskey. And he thinks.
*****
Author's Note. I've never visited Courant Institute and I know no gay professor of Algebraic Topology. I do hate computers and explicit numerical computations.
The beautiful grey-green eyes are my husband's.
Summary: This is Remy's return to work in my own AU; it is the last part of a trilogy, following Valentine's Date and Coming And Going. No slash, some humor, some h/w hints.
Spoilers: for 7x18. I haven't seen 7x19 yet.
Word Count: 2000 approx.
Rating: everybody.
Warnings: un-beta'ed.
Acknowledgements:
lit_luminary kindly wrote an extra verse in her series Wicked Girls of PPTH for my Martha, which actually fits very well with this final installment of my 13+M3 series (although she hadn't read it yet). She also allowed me to include it in this fic as epigraph. For both these gifts I'm deeply grateful.In lines of equations, Martha saw Edenic glory—
But Eden always sinks to grief at the end of the story.
So she studied art, and she’s learning to heal,
And she’s searching for beauty, for truth, for what’s real.
If you ask her, she’ll say she was refused mathematic grace—
But she’s brilliant and cunning, and someday she’ll find her own place.
April 11, 2011.
It's 9.30 when Dr Remy Hadley finishes the paperwork in Cuddy's office and heads for the lifts, ready to start her job again. There's a banner hanging across the diagnostics room: "Welcome back Remy". The room is full of colored balloons, all with the number 13 on them. It's comforting, on her first day back, to find so many known faces.
Foreman is the first to come and congratulate her, kissing her on both cheeks, followed by Chase and then Taub. Wilson must have heard the noise, since he shows up, and she ends up kissing him on both cheeks too, smiling at the faint blush that she causes.
They brew coffee and exchange recollections, Remy discussing the new therapy she's on, the others reporting the long and complicated tale of the House/Cuddy romance, its tragic ending, and a short summary of House's subsequent antics. They're about to start discussing her replacement, a smirk on all their faces, when House shows up.
"Good morning." He limps fast beyond her and into his own office, disregarding her offered hand. She looks slightly disappointed, but then she meets Foreman's eyes: that's House for you. She had kind of forgotten.
Minutes later Cuddy walks in, in her hands the file of their next case. Remy smiles: it's good to be back at work.
*****
After three rounds of suggestions, House has decided for a modified version of something Remy said. He has sent Taub to test the patient's blood for mono and toxo, and Chase and Foreman for a toxin search at his workplace and home. He gestures for her to join him in his office.
"Welcome back. I heard the new protocol at Penn seems to work."
Remy smiled. Martha wasn't the only one able to use a computer. "Yes. I've actually improved. I might have ten more good years."
House smiled, too. Or at least it seemed like it for an instant. "Ten years of extra time for research to make progress. Good for you."
There was an awkward pause. Remy realized this wasn't the main topic of the conversation. "I heard about your brother. 'Accidental painkillers overdose'. I'm not sure condolences are appropriate."
"What do you mean?" Remy almost stands up, ready to physically confront a man who's probably twice her weight and strength.
"That I should give you your congratulations, in helping him so well without getting caught." He sighs. "I hope it won't be needed, but when the time comes, if I'm still around you can count on me. I'll make sure not to be caught, either."
Remy's inside feels like in a roller coaster. She knew House cared for her. She didn't know how much yet. She feels compelled to tell him the truth. "Don't worry. I think my girlfriend will be able to take care of it."
House looks genuinely interested. "A girlfriend? And a serious thing, if you're discussing ten years into the future. Foreman lost his chance, apparently. Do we get to meet her?"
Now Remy smiles. "I'm meeting the others for drinks this evening at Billy's downtown. Want to join us? Eight thirty. I'll make sure she shows up."
*****
It's eight forty pm. Remy, Taub, Chase and Foreman are sitting around a table at Billy's, the beer pitcher between them already half empty. Chase's just finished ordering another one when House shows up, hanging his cane to his barstool.
"Hi, kids. So, Remy, where's your girlfriend?"
Foreman's eyes become larger than usual, strange as this may seem. "Girlfriend? You…you didn't tell me."
Chase smirks. "She didn't tell me, either. How about you, Taub?"
"No, I didn't know. But I don't find it surprising that after sharing Eric's flat for a while she'd sworn off men forever."
Foreman doesn't give up. "So…you told him, but not me?"
Remy laughs. "He's way better than you at finding what I'm up to. Which probably shows he actually cares more. She'll be here in about ten minutes."
She drinks a bit more, then pats Foreman friendly on the back. "Don't be offended, Eric, I would have told you soon. Besides, it's no big deal. You all already know her."
"Is she someone from the hospital?" Foreman asks immediately.
Taub suggests "The cute red-hair in dentistry?" but House immediately quips "No, she's already taken by the fat brunette at HR. How about…"
A well-known but unexpected voice interrupts him. "How about you stop gossiping? She'll show up and we'll see. Hi, everybody!"
"Wilson? What are you doing here?"
"In case you forgot, my office is next to yours, you like to keep the balcony door ajar on sunny spring days, so do I, and I'm not deaf. Welcome back again, Remy."
She smiles, and is happy to kiss him again, while House looks on with an expression difficult to define. Then she looks at her watch. Martha's usually very punctual. And… there she is!
"Guys, meet my fiancée. Martha M. Masters. Oh, wait, you met her before, didn't you?"
Five male faces stare at what, at first sight, could be a dapper young man. Short dark hair, white button down shirt, blue knit sweater with v-neck, simple grey slacks, brown leather moccasins. And then it clicks. This is Masters. She looks shorter than usual because they have never seen her without heels. She's changed her haircut, hair color, clothing style, and wears no make up. House suddenly realizes that Martha must have been wearing a wig. He smirks: that would explain the ridiculous bangs.
"Hi! Good for you that you now only have half a lesbian in the team!"
The voice leaves no doubts. This is Masters.
"I think we have an announcement to make. Actually, two." Martha has taken Remy's hand, encouraging her to go on. They both look at House, who has recovered faster than the others, and is now smiling happily at the wonderful prank the two women have pulled on them all.
Chase splutters "So you…you really had a date on Valentine's Day!"
Martha smiles, and Taub and Foreman also do, while Chase silently opens his wallet and pulls out two fifty-dollars bills.
Remy keeps her attention on House. "We're going to have a civil union sometime in the summer, and you're all invited. Let us know any existing commitment and we'll try to find a date which fits all."
And now Martha steps forward. "I'm putting med school on hold, and going back to mathematical research. Hopefully permanently."
Now even House is puzzled. It is Wilson, who has a natural sense of empathy and manners, who finds his voice first. "Congratulations. I can see from your face that this is very much a way to fulfill your wishes. So how did you get your come back?"
Martha beams. "It's all Remy's merit. There are good sides to having a gorgeous girlfriend."
House's eyes are really wide now. Thirteen helping her sick brother find a painless way out, it's easy. But finding a postdoctoral fellowship in mathematics for her girlfriend? How did she do that? He almost wishes he could stop her from talking, so that he could gnaw on the problem calmly and taking his time. But of course the others all ask, and Remy obliges.
"It's actually very easy. I just went to coffee at Fine Hall. You know, the Maths Department. It's a short walk from the hospital."
"And how did you get into it? Brought your old calculus books along?"
Remy laughs. "Calculus is something mathematicians teach themselves in their teens. No, I just walked in, and followed the arrows to the Common Room. And I sat down at 4pm and, you know, had coffee. People came up and chatted with me. And I explained the situation again and again, until there was a small crowd. And then we arranged to all go for drinks that evening, and Martha joined us."
"You mean you can just walk in and have coffee?"
"Sure. Although I think being nerdy-looking and, well, ugly and male might help in getting in unobserved." Remy and Martha both laugh out loud now.
Martha finally recovers from the laughter and goes on. "We talked a lot that evening. Poor Remy must have been horribly bored. They figured out I'm just not good with numbers. Or computers."
"How can you be a mathematician in that case?" Taub is the one who asked, but the same thought can be read in the others' faces.
Except House. "I read some articles about new results in Geometry recently. A weird Russian guy getting the equivalent of a Nobel prize and a million dollar prize and refusing both. Seems like the kind of people you would fit well with."
Martha smiles. "Indeed. They suggested I should go for mathematical research that doesn't have numbers in it. They found me a nice gay Algebraic Topology professor at the Courant Institute who's willing to help me get started again. It will be a good excuse for spending some time in New York for both of us."
Remy turns to Wilson. "If you ever, you know, are interested, I can introduce you to him. He's single and really good looking. You would fit well together, he's about your age and has beautiful grey-green eyes."
Wilson looks like he doesn't know what hit him. "I…uh…how would I be interested in a good-looking gay professor?"
But Remy isn't looking at him anymore. She's looking at House, whose eyes have widened. He's looking at Wilson, then at Remy again. "You think Wilson is bisexual?"
"Well, if gay men have a gaydar, then I should have a bi-dar, right? Mind you, I'm not sure he's fully out to himself yet. And now I hope you'll excuse us, but we have to go. Now. Martha has a very early train tomorrow."
Remy and Martha wave goodbye and leave.
Four pairs of eyes stare at Wilson, who has turned quite red in the face. He looks at his watch. "I think I have to leave now, too. It's getting late."
House smirks. "Do you also want to catch an early train to New York, and meet this interesting guy in person?"
Taub, Foreman and Chase all pretend to look elsewhere but it's clear they're drinking every syllable.
"Look, House, if - and I say if - this were true, I wouldn't need to go all the way to New York to find a good-looking guy I want to be with!" Wilson lowers his voice and whispers the next sentence directly in House's left ear. "The guy I'm thinking of has beautiful blue eyes, although he's not single right now. At least technically." And with that, he's gone, leaving enough money on the table to pay for all their drinks.
Soon they all go home; it's getting late indeed, and tomorrow is Tuesday and everybody has to show up early to work. Not that House ever does.
When he gets home, House doesn't switch on the television as he normally would, nor does he open a book or listen to or play music. He just sits on the couch, alone and in silence (Dominika is in Atlantic City with her boyfriend) with a glass of whiskey. And he thinks.
*****
Author's Note. I've never visited Courant Institute and I know no gay professor of Algebraic Topology. I do hate computers and explicit numerical computations.
The beautiful grey-green eyes are my husband's.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-04-19 05:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-19 05:50 pm (UTC)Thanks for reading, I know how much you dislike the 13 we're usually served (I decided not to see 7x18 and 7x19, so as to be able to imagine her my own way).
no subject
Date: 2011-04-20 05:07 am (UTC)I enjoyed the conclusion of the trilogy, and it made for a satisfying finish: Martha will find a place in the world she loves, and even with a woman she loves in her life--and I want a happy ending for her, which is an impressive feat (given my hatred of canon Martha, who's nothing short of farcical). Mathematics is a much more natural fit for her than medicine: ideally, she'll go back to it after leaving PPTH. (Since canon is silent on the matter, that's what I've decided she did.)
Well done. And I liked the potential for future House/Wilson, too; it made a nice touch.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-20 07:43 am (UTC)"your Martha (unlike the canonical model)"
There's an (I suspect) unintended pun in what you wrote: the search for and classification of canonical models is one of the big, consistent themes of the last century of research in algebraic geometry, with first results going back to the Italian School in the 1920s, and the most recent results...well, ongoing.
If I had sent her to do Algebraic Geometry instead of Algebraic Topology, Martha may well be studying canonical models now :-).