Part 32- Charades at the Palace pt 4.

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The very next morning, at about nine, Madelyn stood before the research abroad committee seemingly rejuvenated from yesterday's events. 

The committee was made up of three women, and two men; a nice change compared to House's team. Of course, as she expected, they appeared wildly professional with suits, shoes, and jewelry that must've cost at least thousands of dollars. However, Madelyn was not intimidated, but rather motivated and excited to finally talk with them. She'd been preparing for this meeting for months now, and she was not about to let anything make it less than perfect. 

As the committee were turning to leave down one of the escalators, Madelyn waved goodbye and thanked them again for their considerations and kindness. Looking forward to studying with them this summer, in Amsterdam, was an understatement for her. 

Fortunate for Madelyn, however, was her ability to successfully conceal the fact that she was extremely hungover at the moment. Taking a deep breath of relief, Madelyn was grateful she was able to hold it together for the long-awaited meeting. It'd been a long time since she last felt this hungover; her stomach was flipping like pancakes, but couldn't keep anything down, and her balance was disturbed to say the least. Madelyn, who would die in a pair of tall heels, was wearing tiny-heeled booties to the final day of the NMA conference this morning as a precaution to help her keep steady. And it was right then, when she remembered how horrible she felt that she also remembered Wilson was giving a presentation on new breakthrough in oncological research at 9:15. 

When she arrived at the ballroom, she immediately detected Wilson who was sitting with his laptop at the podium. 

"Hey!" a shrill voice from behind said, "we just got here too, we were looking for you." It was Taub. His voice was normally not something she would describe as 'shrill', but everything sounded out of sorts this morning. 

"Me too. Sorry, I meant to find you guys earlier." she replied, slowly following him to some seats beside the rest of the team who was joined by Cameron, and of course, House. 

"Here, I'll go in first, so you can sit by House." Taub offered. 

By now, everyone had caught on to the fact that they were dating. But this morning, Madelyn wasn't sure if that was the case anymore, nonetheless, she chose to go along with it instead of making things more awkward and dramatic at such an early hour. 

Madelyn smoothed her black, pencil skirt against the back of her thighs, so it wouldn't ride up when she next stood up. Crossing her legs, she began nervously shaking her foot slightly. In her peripheral vision, Madelyn saw House move his hand, guiding it to rest upon her knee. She didn't refuse it. 

"Are you okay?" House asked quietly, his gaze staring ahead at the stage. 

Madelyn didn't move to look at him either, "No, I'm hungover. I feel like shit." 

"You don't really seem hungover," House responded honestly. He looked at her eyes, studied her body posture and language--she didn't seem that hungover, but rather exhausted. On the other hand, House was disgustingly hungover, but he'd learned to hide it well. 

He kept his hand on Madelyn's knee, feeling some sort of relief she wasn't brushing him off. 

As Wilson began his presentation, the room's volume dropped... almost completely. 

House leaned over in his seat just a little, and moved his lips almost directly upon Madelyn's ear to continue talking to her. 

"Sorry you don't feel good." he said. 

"Yeah you have a lot to be sorry about..." Madelyn scoffed, finally pushing House's hand off of her knee. 

In her mind, she tried to let the drama go, hoping things might've just gotten heated yesterday. She decided that it was serious, and that things still felt seriously wrong between them. 

House didn't fight her on it, "I want you to know that I am proud of your achievements. And that...I feel bad about yesterday." 

Madelyn turned to look at House, feeling her heart twist and tug when she saw his baby blue eyes, 

"Greg, I think you feel bad because you got caught. You don't do anything that you don't fully believe is justified." 

"Not when it comes to you." He admitted, almost talking over her. Both he and Madelyn kept quiet the rest of Wilson's presentation. 

--

After Wilson was finished, House and Madelyn were the very first to file out of the room. They stayed close by, though, as they knew the team had a few things planned for the final day of the conference. 

"Can you stop pacing, and just talk to me for a second?" House pleaded. Madelyn took a deep breath and walked to House who sat on a bench outside the ballroom. She was hardly taller than him even when he was sitting. He reached his hand out for hers to hold, and he helped her down beside him on the bench. "It's not a game."

Madelyn scrunched her face a little, not knowing where his comment came from, 

"What isn't?"

"This. Us." 

"I never said it was."

"Yeah, but I'm pretty sure you're thinking it." House worried, remembering Wilson's very true words that day he found out about them. 

Madelyn was silent for a moment before saying, "I think that the relationship I have built with you hurts right now. I am hurting. A lot. I feel like the months of trust and respect we've built, has just toppled." 

"I know." House exhaled. "I'm sorry." 

"You're sorry you got caught, House." 

"No, I'm sorry because I love you!" House raised his voice. Taking a few deep breaths, House regained his composure and told Madelyn, "And I know you love me too, sweetheart." 

"Of course I love you, but what does that say about me? How can I say or be okay with being in love with someone who has so much disregard for me when things get hard? When things don't go exactly how you expect them too? What the hell does that say about me, huh?" Madelyn wailed. 

House normally would be feeling angry right now because he wasn't winning his argument. Instead, he felt like a boulder was crushing him. This was not an argument to him anymore: it was his relationship. And so, House was out of words, and began to feel as if he was doing more harm than good to a person--a woman-- he only wanted happiness for. 

House stood up off the bench, gathered his cane, and turned his back towards Madelyn. 

"Where are you going?" she asked, sounding slightly calmer. He shook his head, and looked to the floor, 

"I'll see you at work tomorrow. I can't do this right now." He lamented. 

Before Madelyn had a chance to really hear his words, he was completely out of sight, but far from out of mind. Alone on the bench, she couldn't contain herself and her fear that whatever just happened between them was indicative of something bigger. 

"Madelyn?" Thirteen called out from a slight distance. Accompanied by Cameron, they got closer to their friend who was crying into her hands. "Oh my god, Madelyn!" 

Thirteen and Cameron helped Madelyn off the bench, and swooped her into their arms. Thirteen rubbed Madelyn's back, while Cameron adjusted her hair and lightly brushed her fingers through it consolingly. 

"What happened?" Thirteen asked, cupping Madelyn's puffy, wet face in her hands. 

"House." Madelyn sobbed, bellowing back into Thirteen's shoulders. 

Cameron looked at Thirteen sympathetically, and Thirteen looked back disappointed, knowing House had really hurt their friend. 

"It's going to be okay." Cameron shushed gently. Madelyn had one of her arms around Cameron's waist and held her tightly. She couldn't have appreciated their timing more. 

"I think I just lost one of the most important people in my life! How is that okay?" Madelyn continued crying, stifling her sobs in their embrace. Cameron and Thirteen remained quiet, and just allowed Madelyn to cry and speak if she wanted. 

A minute later, Thirteen courageously asked, "I thought you were in love with him?" 

"I am," Madelyn sniffled, "I don't want to love him right now, but I do." 


And that's the final chapter for "Charades at the Palace"! The NMA conference is over, and things are only going to get more dramatic at Princeton-Plainsboro come Monday morning. 

I really hope you guys liked these 4 longer parts, please let me know what your favorite part was of the events that went down at the conference! And let me know your thoughts on the Houdelyn drama lol



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