GREGORY HOUSE, MD (An Alternate Story)

Chapter XVII

A few hours after the diagnosis, Wilson informed Malayna as soon as she woke up. He went out of the room to give Malayna some time. She was speechless for a good hour. I was there sitting beside her the whole time. I didn't say a word, I gave her time to absorb the news. I'm sure she didn't expect this. She has a lot of plans for her future. She is very excited about her project and helping the children. Then she breaks the silence.

"I'm hungry"

She looked at me then smiled. She asked for a burger and some fries. I happily obliged. We were eating our burgers and fries but no one is talking. I looked at Malayna and she looks like she's not heard the news about her leukemia. She seems --- I don't know. I can't see any emotions. She's not angry, she's not sad nor lost. She's still Malayna. Then out of the blue, she asked.

"So, what happened with Cuddy?"

"Oh. Uhm--- nothing"

I almost forgot what happened earlier. But why is she asking about this, isn't she concerned of what's going to happen.

"Malayna---"

"I'm okay Greg"

She cut me off then smiled.

"What? No, you're not okay May. You have leukemia. You have cancer. And it's advanced. How are you still okay?"

"Greg"

That's the only thing she was able to say. I couldn't help it. I burst. I couldn't just sit there and do nothing or tell her nothing. She's dying and she's not doing anything and so am I. I have helped a lot of people and patients and my own best friend here laying in a hospital bed with a life deadline. She has to do something. I have to do something.

"Greg. I have leukemia and we all know it's an advanced stage. Even if I take all the medicine in the world and have chemotherapy it will not guarantee a fix"

"But at least we did something. I can't stand seeing you in a hospital bed helpless"

"I am not helpless. I have survived death before Greg. I have lost everything and I am still here. I am already very grateful for the second chance I had. I can't complain. I've had my chance at life"

"But what about me? I had a chance at life because of you. You saved me from being a complete trash May. You have been there for me and I can't stand just sitting here and do nothing to help you the way you helped me. I still need you May."

I can't help it. I know it sounds selfish but I just can't help it. I can't lose her. She's the reason why I am able to change and clean my act.

"No Greg. It wasn't me who saved you. It was YOU. You saved yourself. You gave yourself another chance at life. It wasn't me. It was you."

And with what she said, my tears started to roll down. She then asked to be discharged and just continue with her project for the remaining months of her life. She asked me to drop her by her apartment and told me to pick her up daily starting tomorrow, so we can have more time together. That night, I went home tired and my leg pain is intolerable but instead of drinking Vicodin, I chose to sleep as tears still fall from my eyes. The next day, I woke up early to prepare breakfast for Malayna and me. I made toasted and eggs. I also made smoothie. I had a hard time since this is the first time in a long time I've prepared a proper breakfast. I drove by her apartment and ate breakfast with her.

The road to the hospital was different. She was very talkative all of a sudden. She had a lot of energy that you would never think she was just hospitalized the day before. When we arrived, she immediately went to the board to finish the details of her project. While I was walking towards the elevator, somebody grabbed my arm and I was startled because I was so deep in my thoughts.

"Hey!" Cuddy said. It was her. She was also very concerned yesterday. She visited Malayna after Malayna knew her diagnosis. She offered assistance in her project, promised her to give her the best doctors of the hospital.

"How are she?" she continued

"She's fine. Well, at least, she's trying to be fine"

"So, what's her plan now?"

"She said she's going to continue with the project. She's not going to have any medications whatsoever"

"What? But why?"

"She said she's had a good life and she's just going to accept what going to come since taking medication will not guarantee a fix"

She paused for a while then said

"Uhmm, can we talk in my office. I just need to talk to you about something personal. I mean if that's fine with you. Do you have any patients?"

"No. Uhm—yeah. Sure"

We walked to her office and there I saw Malayna waiting in her office. What is she doing here?

"Hey Dr. Cuddy!"

"Dr. Smith! Do you have any concerns?"

"Yeah but if you two need some time, we can talk later. It's not that urgent"

Malayna said with a smirk on her face. There she is again playing matchmaker. She's going through this battle with her mind and body and she still here trying to connect me to Cuddy.

"Uhmm. Yeah. Can you just give us a few minutes?" Cuddy asked

"Yeah sure. Take all the time you need. I'll just come back later"

With that Malayna walked but I noticed that she's becoming paler. Before going, she pulled me for a short moment and told me not screw thing up with Cuddy. She then smiled with her pale lips and walked away.

We went inside her office. The air felt weird. We are both trying to take the right moment. She talked first.

"House, I am sorry this is happening. And I am sorry Lucas involved you in our fight last time"

"It's fine"

"Uhmm---"

She was trying to say something but she can't seem to find the right words. I was looking at her trying to encourage her to go on.

"Uhmmm—how are you then?"

"To be honest, I really don't know. I haven't seen her looked this sick in my entire life."

"I'm going to be nosy here and it's fine if you don't answer but you two seemed to be really close. I know that you are friends but I uhmm are you guys---"

"Malayna is my childhood friend. We are very close actually to the point where both us thought we'd be a couple. But it didn't happen"

"What?"

"We were both children of an army and we attended camp together. I was a lone wolf since then but instead of being like the other kids, Malayna didn't went away. She was there all the time. She was talkative that sometimes she's the only one talking during our "conversations". It's really funny how fun and bubbly she is and how opposite I am. But we are friends. We connected through our love of music. She taught me my first piano piece. She believed in me before I even believed in myself. But her dad was assigned to another place so her whole family moved. Since then we were not able to communicate with each other."

"Wow. You guys really do have a long history, huh." Cuddy said this remark with a sad tone in her voice. I don't know if I'm hallucinating but I can also see sadness in her eyes.

"Yeah. I really love her. I consider her my person. She even said that she wants to be my best friend until we grow old. But apparently, I will grow old without her"

I bowed my head with tears trying to escape from my eyes. My heart is aching. I am truly devastated. Nobody spoke. It was silent but you can hear my cries. Then Cuddy suddenly spoke.

"You are not going to grow old alone. You'll have Wilson"

"Yeah. I know but Wilson will soon have his family and start his own life. It would be unfair to demand his presence all the time and you know---"

"You'll have me"