Swimming In Your Stomach (PG-13)

[deelaundry]

Title: Swimming in Your Stomach
Author: Dee Laundry
Pairing: Gen
Rating: PG-13
Words: 194
Summary: House has always known how to draw an effective parallel.
Notes: SPOILERS for episode 7-15, "Bombshells." Written for flywoman's "Jagged Little Pill" challenge, which is described under the cut. Title is from "You Learn" by Alanis Morissette. Thank you to nightdog_barks for beta.

The challenge: Where did House get the Vicodin and how long had he been using it?

Foreman picked up his phone on the second ring. "House?"

"So it's better to be there than not be there, no matter what?"

"I didn't say --"

"It's better to be there."

Foreman sighed silently and switched the phone to his other ear. "Yeah, it's better to be there."

"My leg hurts. I need Vicodin."

"If your leg pain's increased, we need to do a full neurological workup, including an MRI so we can see what's causing it. I'll get you in tomorrow morning."

"It hurts now. I need it tonight."

"At least let me give you a physical, look at your leg."

"You know the fuck-up of your relationship with Thirteen was all your fault, don't you?"

"Hey, I --"

"You couldn't get over yourself for even one goddamn minute, and it drove her away."

Foreman's anger at House's jab dropped away.

"I need Vicodin," House repeated.

"Yeah."

"Bring it by my place. And if you feel like telling Wilson, remember that I know where your bodies are buried. I helped shovel the goddamn dirt."

Foreman clicked his phone shut and went to find his shoes so he could go back to PPTH.

Comments

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

This is GREAT! House using Dibala as blackmail! It would fit, too. You need to be writing for this show.

[blackmare.livejournal.com]

Still my favorite of the "Where House got the Vicodin" fics.

The depth of history you got in such a short space is remarkable.

[damigella-314.livejournal.com]

That was amazing. Totally IC. Canon, practically.

[hibernia1.livejournal.com]

YES.

[hannahrorlove.livejournal.com]

Until shown otherwise, I'll use this as the official explanation.

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

oh, he so would do that.

[poeia.livejournal.com]

Are you suggesting that Foreman has things in his past that he doesn't want people to know about? I'm shocked.

Loved this.

[spotandpunk.livejournal.com]

Gosh, House is MEAN when he wants something badly isn't he? This is very dark and pretty scary - when you're beholden to your boss like that the lines between right and wrong are all sorts of backwards aren't they?! Great idea!

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. House knows where Foreman's pressure points are for sure.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

What an apt icon. Thanks for reading. (The show has gotten more interesting in the last ep, but it still is unrealistic about House's physical pain. Unfortunately.)

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Thanks. The Foreman scene in the ep really seemed to be pointing this direction.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

You know he would! Thanks.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Helping to cover up the murder of a dictator is a pretty big deal. Though you notice House only brought the threats out when it came to keeping this from Wilson.

Thanks.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Yep, and sometimes he's mean for no reason at all. But I think here Foreman in the end judges House's zing about Thirteen to be part of the guy code: "You've seen what happens, so help me out, bro, to do right by my girlfriend." Thanks.

[hibernia1.livejournal.com]

I have no inention to watch the show ever again, but I still like (good) fan fic like yours. It's the only thing still tying me to the House Fandom.

[(Anonymous)]

He also falsified a drug trial which could ruin his career.

There's not much blackmail ammunition with the fact that he slept with a patient. Everyone knows. No one seems to care because it was Thirteen.

[poeia.livejournal.com]

Ooops. That was me.

[waylandsmithy.livejournal.com]

I can see this playing out exactly as you wrote it. House's threat was him to a 't'.