I'll Give My Life for Her
By Rondabunny
Remi opened the door of her apartment. She put her luggage on the floor and switched on the answering machine. She walked about the room undressing. Her thoughts were far away in Thailand. Remi thought about last night in the hotel with Mia, a gorgeous brunette, whom she met on the beach. Her month in Thailand was the most wonderful time she ever had. She could stay there forever but asthma made her turn back home.
"Remi, It's Mike," – told a voice from answering machine, - "It's Mike Klimann, your dad's friend. Listen, he died today. Doctor said it was a heart-attack... I'm so sorry. I thought maybe you'd come to the funeral. Call me… Bye."
She didn't believe as she heard the message the first time. She listened to it once, then twice…Then Remi sat down to understand the words. It was impossible for her father to die. He was so strong and healthy, and optimistic. She has never seen him complain or cry, or whatever other humans do. This couldn't be true. She looked at the date of the message. This happened two weeks ago. She put on a pair of jeans, a sweater, grabbed a coat and went out.
An hour later she parked her car near a building. Dr. Hadley went upstairs, took the keys and opened the door to her father's apartment. It was dark and calm. She switched on the lights and went from room to room. Remi took a picture from the table. Her father and her happy face smiled from the photo. She touched gently her dad's face and tears started to fall down her cheeks. She realized he's gone forever.
Remi sat in a bar with a drink in her hand. It was her third glass of vodka. She visited Mike and found out what had happened. She felt so lost. She nearly jumped as she heard a familiar voice coming from behind her.
"Vodka instead of tea at five o'clock? I see you had a great time in Thailand," – Cuddy said sitting on the opposite side of the table.
"Yeah... my father died two weeks ago…" – young doctor answered sipping the drink till the end.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Dr. Hadley…" – Cuddy apologized.
"This is not a problem," – she replied ordering another drink.
"Of course not, you obviously were enemies. Don't behave like House, you're not him!" – Cuddy used her sarcastic tone.
"I have a little sister. She's ten. Her mother died from cancer when she was only two year-old. They put her into an orphanage and automatically she jumped into the Foster Parent Program. A couple from Florida wants to adopt her," – Remi sipped from her glass again.
"What are you going to do?" – Lisa asked.
"I don't know. I can't take her. I don't have a job. If I'm working I come home late. I'm a party-slutty with a death sentence. I don't want her to suffer with me. Maybe those people will make her life happy," – she looked at Dr. Cuddy.
"Do you love her?"
"What?"
"Do you really love your sister?
"When my step-mother died I took care of Roxie. It was a hard time for my dad. I brought her up till she was 6, then I moved," – Dr. Hadley confessed.
"Remi, you have to choose. Either you adopt her or you leave her to the total strangers. If you want a job I can help you. Dr. Cameron left the Diagnostics Department. Her place is vacant. House is the head of the department, Foreman failed. Now it is up to you what do you want from the time that is left. Want to suffer – great, sex, drugs and rock-n-roll are for you, want to make something useful – come at my office at 9 o'clock tomorrow," – she stood up and left the bar.
Remi came to adopt her sister.
"Dr. Hadley, do you understand that it is a child, you can't leave her and spend holidays in Thailand or whatever place you've been," - said an old lady in glasses. "She is been waiting for you since the day social workers brought her here. Please, don't disappoint this girl. She went on a hunger strike just to make us understand that she needs only one person – you. Roxie hasn't been eating for two days. I hope you'll make her eat something," – strict lady signed the papers.
"I'll try to do my best," – Remi replied.
Remi came into the room and saw Roxie lying in the hospital bed. She was sleeping. Remi touched her face gently. She stirred in her sleep and opened her eyes.
"Remi?!" – the child asked softly.
"Hey, sleepy-head."
"Where have you been?"
"I'm sorry, Roxie. I won't leave you again I promise. We're going home," – she answered hugging her sister.
"Don't leave me ever," – the kid said.
"Let's get dressed."
The end