Occam's Razor - House M.D.

Part 40- Wicked Games

The next morning, and for the next seven mornings that followed, House insisted Madelyn stay at his apartment. He insisted that the apartment felt more like home with her in it, which was certainly not a lie. However, House's main motive was to keep tabs on her and observe every bit of her daily routine. 

So far, House noticed that she only took her prenatal vitamins at work when she thought he wasn't paying attention, and she spent a lot of time in the bathroom in the early mornings before sunrise. When he was thought to be sleeping, Madelyn would tip-toe out of bed and into his bathroom for about a fifteen to twenty minute vomit session. This was made all the more obvious when she'd come back to bed with freshly brushed teeth that he could taste when she kissed him. And of course, she didn't tend to eat much before they went to work together. House, who was by no means a cook, played chef these last few mornings in an attempt to trigger her nausea; he'd make bacon or sausage knowing Madelyn's recently developed sensitivity and that she couldn't consume it while pregnant. 

On this particular morning, House baked them both eggs which he was eager to get her reaction from. He pulled them out of the oven, and onto a plate with unpasteurized cheese for garnish–which she also could not consume. He knew she'd refuse. 

"For you, good morning." House greeted Madelyn who'd just finished getting ready and pushed the plate in her direction. 

She was now about six and half weeks pregnant, and her first-trimester symptoms were in full swing. Madelyn's eyes squinted sourly when she caught whiff of the smell that would have otherwise been appetizing if not for her morning sickness and developing food aversions. 

"Thank you, I'll save them for later." She responded, quickly swallowing some water to keep her vomit down. 

"Oh? You're not hungry?" House asked slyly, tickled-pink with himself. 

"Not any more hungry than I've been the last few mornings. Greg, I don't want you to waste your efforts cooking for me when I'm not much of a breakfast person to begin with." 

House nodded and remained silent, but was laughing inside knowing she was a terrible liar. Her first two weeks at Princeton-Plainsboro, she would constantly complain about the cafeteria not offering employee breakfast on the majority of days. 

"Certainly not a waste of time," House replied confidently, "I just thought I'd try out some new recipes Wilson suggested." 

"Since when do you ever take Wilson's advice on anything?" Madelyn redacted his comment. 

"Since he told me that the farmer's market aesthetic has changed his life." House mocked with a chuckle. "No need to apologize, I appreciate your honesty."

The tone of House's voice when he commented on her honesty, made Madelyn's stomach knot up a bit–he sounded so grateful. What she wasn't picking up on, however, was House's scheming  and his plan to drive the truth out of her with enough manipulation. 

Later that day at work, House had made plans to bring in a guest speaker from the hospital to talk with the team:

"Team, meet Dr. Satori from OBGYN." 

"We know Dr. Satori?" Chase remarked wearing a confused expression on his face. 

"Well, Dr. Satori doesn't know you guys."

"I've literally done several projects with her in the last year..." Thirteen said not understanding where House's head was at. 

"Enough chattering," House dismissed, "Dr. Satori, have you met my newest team member?" 

With his hand extended to Madelyn, she felt her face flush and her hands felt sweaty. Madelyn stood up anyways, and introduced herself politely. 

"It's nice to meet you, Dr. Satori. I'm Dr. Madelyn Gilmore."