New Fic: What You Need: The First One

[namaste]

Title: What You Need
Author: Namaste
Summary: "So where do you buy these things? Do they have cane stores?" -- John Henry Giles, "DNR" Short stories of how House came by his canes over the years, told through a series of flash fics. PG. This one is about 400 words. Part one of thirteen.



The first one is standard issue hospital drab, a dull gray that's supposed to blend into the background along with IV stands and bed rails. There's a hard black plastic grip and House feels sweat under his palm the first time he wraps his fingers around it. It's everything he hates: utilitarian, boring, another sign of how his life has changed.

"It's progress," Wilson points out. "First the wheelchair, then crutches, now the cane, and then ..."

"Then nothing." House holds the cane between his fingers, the metal cool beneath his skin. The crutches are on the floor still within reach if he wants them. "You've seen the same scans I have. It's not going to get any better than this."

"You don't know that. Maybe if you ..."

House stares at Wilson, cuts off whatever useless bit of advice he was about to give. Wilson doesn't say anything else, just stands there with his hands on his hips, shaking his head as he looks down at House.

House waits until Wilson leaves -- until there's no one there to watch -- before he places the cane on the floor, to push down on it and feel it take his weight. He stands there, in front of the couch, hating the way his body angles to one side, the way it depends on this piece of aluminum and plastic. It doesn't feel right, doesn't feel normal, but then normal doesn't mean anything anymore.

He takes a half-step out away from the couch, and thinks for a moment that he's going to fall, that his leg will betray him again. He tries another, feels the weakness on his right side. He feels exposed, like some old fort on a coastline whose defenses have crumbled into the sea. He's vulnerable. Open to attack from one side.

He ignores the therapist's instructions and moves the cane over to his right hand, braces himself against it, and takes another step.

The second one is polished mahogany ...

Comments

[hibernia1.livejournal.com]

What a great idea, to tell the story behind the canes! I love this one, and the explanation as to why House chose to use the cane in his right hand. *purrs* and also the matter-of-factly observation that 'normal doesn't mean anything anymore'. No need to fix anything, and as for the posting, I'd say bring it on, no need to wait until you've got them all written!

And hard plastic grips are the worst - not only do they hurt your hands, they make your hands go sweaty so they slip and you either fall and get hurt or make a weird movement so as not to fall and get hurt, too.

[namasteyoga.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I've gone ahead and posted it. (First was the physical challenge for me this week with the triathlon/duathlon and now I'm starting the fic challenge.) Hope you like them.

[3kelvin.livejournal.com]

Oh, like it very much. I think the title is great. And I can actually see Wilson standing there, wanting to say more.
Very nice new idea as to why House uses the cane on the right. It makes a lot of sense.

Thanks for sharing. One new ficlet every day would be very nice!

[namasteyoga.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'm hoping the ficlets behave, now that I've put the plan in motion.

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

Ooh, this is very nice. I love how House feels "open to attack from one side." His body has already attacked him once, and it makes perfect sense that he's literally defending that side by using the cane in that hand.

An elderly man I knew (he was a member of our church and a retired doctor who'd founded the town's first hospital) had to walk with a cane in the last few years of his life. He told me once, "You know, a lot of people think this a sign of getting feeble, but they're really very handy." Which he demonstrated by whipping it out and pulling a hassock to his feet. I often think of him when I see House doing his cane tricks. :)

[namasteyoga.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I suddenly had the thought as a defense mechanism, and started playing with the idea. And they are handy for more than their intended purpose, aren't they?

[angelcat2865.livejournal.com]

This is perfect the way it is. I really like the reason you gave for why House uses his cane on his right side.

[namasteyoga.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I figure some of the reason for House using the cane on the "wrong" side is pure stubbornness, but he had to have a reason to start.

[cindy-lou-who8.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. This is going to be very interesting and I can't wait to read all of them!

[namasteyoga.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I hope the fics behave themselves now.

[lydia-00.livejournal.com]

Great plot, you write really good! :) Looking forward to read the rest of them.

[namasteyoga.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I hope you like the rest of them too.

[perspi.livejournal.com]

Wonderful--I love that House is counting his canes, I love Wilson's reaction, and I love House's reasoning for switching sides. Looking forward to the rest!

[namasteyoga.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I've had the idea rumbling through my head for a while, and finally figured out how to play with it.

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

Lovely.
(I'm with House, I /hate/ the hospital issue canes. they're just - augh. *flail*) <3

[namasteyoga.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I guess hospital canes are easy to clean, but beyond that?

[makeitstopjamie.livejournal.com]

Very interesting. I like.

[namasteyoga.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[merlynnod.livejournal.com]

We've actually played with the canes (and the crutches, and we're really hoping to get some wheelchairs in... ;) at work, and I still don't entirely understand why having the support on the injured side is deemed "incorrect". *shrug* :)

Great little bit, loved the mention of him being "open to attack" and Wilson's hovering. Well played! :)

Looking forward to more soon! :)

Though I am still sad that the flame cane was apparently lost in the bus accident... :(

[namasteyoga.livejournal.com]

I agree with you (and House), but I'm sure some therapist can give five very good reasons. Not that he'd care.

[joe-pike-junior.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is an awesome idea. I'm really looking forward to more. :D

"Then nothing." House holds the cane between his fingers, the metal cool beneath his skin. The crutches are on the floor still within reach if he wants them. "You've seen the same scans I have. It's not going to get any better than this."
I loved this line. House, always the realist.

[namasteyoga.livejournal.com]

Realist, pessimist ... I'm sure it depends on your point of view. I hope the rest of the fics behave themselves in the writing.

[poeia.livejournal.com]

Gray, utilitarian, easy to clean (fewer germs), harder to saw in half...

Are there going to be any canes between this one and the one House was using when we met him? It had been five years at that point. He must have tried a few.

This is going to be a great series.

[namasteyoga.livejournal.com]

Thanks, and I think you'll recognize a few canes as we go along. At least I hope you will.

[bmax67.livejournal.com]

Loved this first one.
That vulnerability he felt on the right side is such a nice touch. Great explanation on House's reasoning to switch the cane to his right hand.

And so painful when he was talking with WIlson about his progression, or lack thereof.

On to the next one...

[namasteyoga.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I hadn't intended to approach the right/left issue, but once I had him standing there, taking a few steps, it just seemed to call out for an answer.

[ranrata.livejournal.com]

I impatiently await the rest of this series =)

[namasteyoga.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I hope you like what's coming up.

[inez-gard.livejournal.com]

Great fic!
I love the idea of this series!