The Knife and the Cane

Chapter 8- Longing Pt. 1

*⚠️TW⚠️*

Two weeks went by. Two unsteady, worrisome, nerve-wracking weeks. By the time the Monday of the third week rolled around, the entire Diagnostics team was practically walking on eggshells. House had changed. He wasn't as humorous as he once was, his sarcasm became more hurtful, and he was colder. He felt more like their boss than a part of the team.

Nora had changed as well. She was far quieter, and she seemed sad. She laughed and smiled in front of patients, but overall, she just felt...numb.

She was alone in the workroom, nothing but a cup of black coffee and her notes to keep her company. She didn't want company. Chase walked by the glass wall and paused, turning back and entering.

"Hey, Graves," Chase said, bringing Nora out of her thoughts. She looked up, her dull gray eyes unexcited. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Sure." She replied, quietly. He sat down in Taub's spot, next to her.

"Is something...going on?"

"No, why do you ask?" She fiddled with the cuffs of her white coat nervously.

"You've been acting differently. Even Foreman picked up on it and he doesn't care about the rest of us. We're worried about you."

"I'm okay." She smiled, but it looked forced to Chase. "You guys don't need to worry, I promise. I'm just tired. I'm gonna get some sleep soon and I'll be just fine."

"If you need anything..."

"I'll ask."

Nora stood and left without another word. House paused just before the door as she walked in the direction he came from, and it looked as if he was going to say something. He was frozen, the words yanked from his mouth by something unknown. He looked disappointed when he realized he missed his chance. Nora continued down the hallway and a hand grabbed her arm. She whirled around, intending to punch whoever had hold of her before she recognized the deep mahogany eyes scanning her face.

"It's just me." He said, loosening his grip on her arm.

"I'm sorry, I'm just a little tired right now." She lied, lowering her arm and massaging her forehead.

"Nora..."

"I'll be okay, Wilson. I promise. I just need to get some sleep, that's all."

"Right now, judging by your symptoms, one of two things is happening. One, you're depressed, two, you're pregnant."

"I'm not depressed, and I haven't had sex in six months."

"You and I both know that you need to be cautious. Things have happened in the past, I don't know if the team could take that." Wilson cautioned.

"I'm fine, Wilson." Nora spat, anger beginning to rise.

"You have tears in your eyes."

"What the hell do you want me to tell you?" She seethed quietly, the tears running down her cheeks. "I've thought about killing myself? I've relapsed recently? I'm numb?"

"That's exactly what I want you to tell me."

"It's not gonna matter in the end, James. I can do this myself, I've been doing it for fifteen years."

"Nora, you are not okay. You need to talk to a Psychologist."

"I am one. I know I'm not okay, but I can't let myself believe that. If I do, then I'll fall apart. What good am I then? I'm fine, Wilson. Don't worry about me."

Nora sighed before proceeding down the hallway to a patient's room. Thirteen gave her a friendly smile in the hallway, and she returned it, keeping it in place as she entered a seven year old girl's room.

"Alright, kiddo." She said, looking at the little girl. "You're gonna be okay."

House had seen Nora and Wilson begin arguing in the hallway and felt a glimmer of hope. He'd ducked into his office and started organizing his work as soon as he realized it wasn't his business. Heaven forbid he follow his natural instincts when it benefited him, no he had to listen to the angel on his shoulder when no one was looking. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, looking up at the ceiling. A thought struck him and House did the math in his head. He was fourteen years older than her. That meant that he was already in high school when she was born, that couldn't be right. He rechecked his math several times, even pulling a calculator out of his desk.

Like always, he was right.