Hidden Bond: Dr. House and His Secret Daughter"

1 Hidden Bond: Dr. House and His Secret Daughter"

Ginny Howey woke up to the blaring of her alarm clock, groggily rolling over to hit the snooze button. She sat up and yawned, running a hand through her tousled hair. After a few moments, she dragged herself out of bed and made her way to the bathroom to freshen up.

As she brushed her teeth, Ginny's mind wandered to the day ahead. Today was her first day at Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, a place she had worked hard to get into.

Ginny finished her morning routine, admiring her reflection in the mirror. Her brown hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, and her makeup accentuated her natural beauty, bringing out the bright blue of her eyes. She smiled at her reflection, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement for the day ahead.

Ginny padded to the kitchen and poured herself a bowl of cereal, her stomach growling with hunger. As she ate, she mentally went over her plan for the day. She would take the bus to work and arrive at Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, where she would undergo orientation and meet her new coworkers. Ginny finished her breakfast and quickly washed the bowl, checking the time on her phone. She realized she needed to hurry if she didn't want to be late. She grabbed her coat and bag, pausing briefly to take a deep breath before heading out the door to start her first day at the hospital. As she stepped outdoors, Ginny felt a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. She walked briskly to the bus stop, her heart beating a little faster with each step. The hospital was only a 20-minute bus ride away, but every minute seemed to pass slowly, as if the universe was prolonging her nervousness. Ginny checked her phone and smiled at the text from her best friend, Lexi Joy Potter. It was a small gesture, but it provided just the reassurance Ginny needed. She quickly typed a reply, sending a nervous thank you emoji before stuffing the phone back into her purse. The bus arrived, and Ginny climbed on, finding a seat near the window. The ride felt even longer than before, her thoughts swirling with anticipation. She tried to focus on the passing scenery, but her mind kept wandering back to the hospital and the new challenges awaiting her. Finally, the bus reached Ginny's stop, and she stepped off, her heart racing as she walked towards the imposing structure of Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. This was it; the beginning of her new chapter. Ginny took a deep breath and stepped through the hospital doors, the cool air conditioning welcoming her. She made her way to the reception area, where a kind yet efficient receptionist greeted her and guided her through the check-in process. Ginny felt a mix of relief and excitement as she received her badge and was escorted to the orientation room. As she settled into her seat, she scanned the room, taking in the faces of her new colleagues. Some looked just as fresh and nervous as she did, while others exuded years of experience and confidence. The orientation began, and Ginny paid close attention to each presentation. The hospital policies and procedures, the medical protocols, and the patient care standards were discussed in detail, leaving Ginny both overwhelmed and fascinated by the sheer amount of information. As the orientation concluded, Ginny was introduced to her mentor, Dr. Sarah Thompson, a seasoned nurse who would oversee her first few weeks at the hospital. Dr. Thompson was warm and welcoming, instilling a sense of comfort in Ginny. As Ginny stood next to Dr. Thompson, she couldn't help but notice a familiar pair of eyes on her. She glanced discreetly in that direction and met the gaze of Dr. Gregory House. He was studying her intently, a look of familiarity in his eyes that intrigued Ginny. Dr. Thompson followed Ginny's gaze and noticed Dr. House staring at her. She chuckled softly and leaned over to Ginny, whispering, "Don't mind him. He's our brilliant but eccentric diagnostics genius."Ginny nodded, trying to hide her surprise at being the object of Dr. House's intense scrutiny. She couldn't shake the feeling that he had seen something in her that reminded him of someone else. Dr. House continued to look at Ginny, his thoughts racing through his mind. Ginny's facial features, her mannerisms, and her presence seemed to strike a chord in him, bringing back memories he didn't want to think about. Ginny tried to focus on Dr. Thompson's instructions, but the weight of Dr. House's gaze made it difficult to concentrate. She caught him stealing glances at her throughout the orientation, his expression unreadable as he studied her closely. Finally, the orientation came to an end, and Dr. House abruptly excused himself, leaving without a word. Ginny couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind and why he seemed so captivated by her. Ginny followed Dr. Thompson to her station, feeling both excited and a little anxious. She put her things down and introduced herself to the rest of the nursing staff on the floor. They immediately began welcoming her and showing her the ropes. For the first few hours, Ginny observed the other nurses, taking notes and asking questions. She learned the ins and outs of the floor and how to manage the various tasks assigned to her. The work was challenging, but Ginny relished the opportunity to prove herself in this new environment. Just as Ginny started to become more comfortable in her new surroundings, she heard a familiar voice behind her. "So, the new nurse is making herself at home already, huh?"Ginny turned around to find Dr. House standing behind her, watching her with a smirk on his face. She tried to hide her surprise at his sudden appearance and responded coolly, "Just learning the ropes, sir."Dr. House leaned against the counter, his gaze never leaving Ginny's face. "Oh, call me House. 'Sir' makes me feel old." He paused, studying her more closely. "You know, you remind me of someone..."House's eyes darkened as memories of his past relationship flooded his mind. Brianne Howey, his girlfriend back in 1999, shared an uncanny resemblance with Ginny. The way Ginny tilted her head slightly when listening, the way her blue eyes seemed to sparkle when she spoke – it was all so similar to Brianne. He pushed the thoughts away, masking his inner turmoil with a casual smile. "No, must be my imagination," he said, trying to convince himself as much as Ginny. Ginny noticed the shift in House's demeanor and the tension in his eyes. She was about to say something, but Dr. Thompson interrupted them, drawing Ginny's attention to a patient requiring her assistance. House watched as Ginny excused herself to attend to the patient, his mind still preoccupied with the memory of Brianne. He silently cursed himself for letting Ginny's resemblance dredge up those ancient memories. For the remainder of the shift, House tried to focus on his work, but his eyes kept wandering back to Ginny. Every time he saw her, he was reminded of Brianne, and it stirred up a mix of emotions he had thought long buried. Ginny, on the other hand, was blissfully unaware of House's inner turmoil or the uncanny resemblance she had to his former girlfriend. She was busy tending to her patients and getting acquainted with the fast-paced environment of the hospital. As the shift neared its end, House found himself lingering at the nurses' station, waiting for Ginny to finish up her duties. He tried to convince himself that he was just being friendly and checking in on the new nurse, but deep down, he knew there was a different reason he was drawn to her. Ginny was finishing up her charting when House approached her again, this time with a more casual demeanor. He leaned against the counter and asked, "Hey, I don't think I ever caught your name."Ginny blinked, surprised that House didn't already know her name. She quickly gathered her composure and replied with a small smile, "Oh, right. I'm Ginny Howey."House's eyes widened at the revelation of Ginny's name. "Howey? As in your last name is Howey?" he repeated, his tone betraying his surprise. Ginny nodded, slightly puzzled by House's reaction. "Yes, my last name is Howey. Is there a problem?" she asked, her expression curious. House's mind was racing as he tried to process this new information. The coincidence was too much to dismiss. Ginny's resemblance to Brianne, and now this... It was as if fate was playing a cruel joke on him. "No, no problem," he managed to say, trying to keep his voice steady. "It's just an interesting coincidence, that's all." He gave Ginny a weak smile, hoping she didn't notice his inner turmoil. Ginny regarded him for a moment, her intuition telling her that there was something more to his reaction than he was letting on. But she didn't press the issue, not wanting to overstep boundaries on her first day. Ginny resumed her tasks, moving between patients and taking care of their needs. Despite House's unexpected presence, she remained focused on her duties, slowly getting the hang of the demanding hospital routine. As Ginny went about her work, she began to notice the presence of a group of doctors who seemed to be closely associated with Dr. House. They would appear now and then, discussing medical cases and bouncing ideas off each other. Ginny didn't know their names, but she could sense a certain camaraderie among them. One afternoon, Ginny found herself in the break room with the group. They were all taking a break, and Ginny felt a little intimidated by their collective expertise and confidence. However, she was surprised when one of them, Dr. James Wilson, struck up a conversation with her. "Hi there," Dr. Wilson said with a friendly smile. "You're the new nurse, right? Ginny, isn't it?"Dr. Wilson gestured to the empty chair beside him. "Mind if I join you? I wanted to introduce myself properly."Ginny smiled warmly, feeling a bit more at ease. "Of course, Dr. Wilson. Please, have a seat."Ginny says your Hannah's dad right Dr. Wilson chuckled, slightly taken by surprise by Ginny's perceptive question. "Yes, I am. How did you know?"Ginny says Hannah is one of my friends Dr. Wilson was pleasantly surprised and impressed by Ginny's connection to his daughter. "Oh, really? Small world indeed. Please tell Hannah I said hello next time you see her."The other doctors in the room chimed in, expressing their own disbelief at this unexpected connection. There was a momentary pause, and then Dr. Chase spoke up, a hint of mischief in his voice. "Wait a second," Dr. Chase interjected, a smirk forming on his face. "Are you telling me that this brilliant and beautiful new nurse is friends with Hannah?"Dr. Wilson chuckled at Chase's playful comment, while Foreman and House remained mostly silent. House was listening intently, his eyes flickering towards Ginny curiously. Ginny blushed slightly at the unexpected compliment, but managed to respond with a playful shrug. "I'm just a nurse, not some genius like you all Chase raised an eyebrow at Ginny's modesty, his smirk widening. "Oh, come on now. You're underselling yourself. I'm sure there's more to you than just the scrubs." Dr. Foreman, ever the stoic one, chimed in, his tone neutral. "Ignore Chase. He's always on the hunt for his next flirting victim."House had been quietly observing the exchange, his eyes studying Ginny carefully. He didn't say anything, but his silence added a hint of tension to the conversation.