Title: Against Time

Summary: While visiting a patient, a raging mad man with a gun enters the hospital and everyone evacuates, but one doctor doesn't get the news fast enough.

Disclaimer: Me no own House!

A/N: This takes place during season 2.

Chapter 1

In Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, the doctors see the worst case scenarios come in. Abused children and young adults suffering leukemia are just a few groups that get admitted to this hospital. Sometimes these cases get difficult to handle, even if the patient is a spawn from Satan. But the worst cases, the ones that are difficult to solve, land in the hands of a diagnostic team who see the worst. Led by Dr. Gregory House, this team sees the worst. But today…today was one of those slow days. They had just finished up on a case and were now just waiting to go home. House sat in his office, throwing his ball up in the air and catching it with his cane. As he threw it up once more, the door opened to reveal Dr. James Wilson, an oncologist and the only person who was able to stand House and his logic. "I see you're hard at work."

House caught the ball and turned to look at his friend. "I take it you're here about Tumor girl."

"If by Tumor girl, you mean 8 year old Emily, then yes."

"The surgeons completely removed the tumor from her brain. She's in post-op now and my magic work is now finished."

"I can see that. I can also see that you are making Cameron and Foreman do your paperwork," stated Wilson, referring to the African-American man and brown-haired woman in the other room.

"Wow, you're good! The little Aussie is in the pediatric ICU checking on Tumor girl."

"And since you have everything covered, you're in here amusing yourself."

"Yeah. It's good to be the king. I solve the cases and my ducklings do all the work."

House took out his prescription bottle of Vicodin and popped a couple pills into his mouth as Wilson said, "You do know it was Chase that found the tumor."

"Yeah, but I told him to do the MRI."

"Whatever you say, House."

Wilson began to walk out, leaving House to continue juggling his ball. Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the hospital, the blonde hair Dr. Robert Chase tucked the blanket around the young girl in the bed. "There you go. Feeling better?" he asked in his Australian accent.

The girl smiled and nodded, allowing Chase to smile back. "That's good to hear. You want to know a secret?"

Again, she nodded. Chased looked around and whispered, "You were much braver than some of the boys I've treated."

"Really?"

"You bet. You're one brave little girl, Emily."

The girl named Emily smiled at the blonde doctor. As Chase looked at her, he felt a kind of warmth inside him. It always made him happy when they were able to save small children such as her. "Hey, you want something? I'm sure you want something to eat."

"My daddy already went to get some ice cream."

"Oh lucky girl. You know what, I'm just going to check something very quick and I'll…" but he was cut off by his beeper. Taking the beeper from his belt, he saw one message that no one ever wants to read: CODE SILVER. "What is it?" asked Emily.

Chase had to get Emily out, but he knew moving someone who just had surgery was delicate. He thought up a quick excuse and replied, "It's just a little drill."

"Like a fire drill!?"

"Exactly," replied Chase as he put the IV bag on the bed post and undid the breaks. "You ready?'

Emily nodded and Chase began to wheel Emily out of the room. He had to be careful. One slip and if Emily had any sudden jerks with her head, they were looking at brain damage. The elevator was nearing when two nurses ran at him. "Is this the last?"

"I'm not sure. Be careful, she just had brain surgery."

Once they reached the elevator, Chase took Emily's hand and said, "These nice ladies are going to take care of you. I promise I'll be right back. I'm going to make sure everyone else is out."

The last part was directed to the nurses as he ran back through the hall. He just rounded another corner when he saw what set off the Code Silver. There was a dirty many stumbling through the halls with a gun. Chase hid behind the wall and peered around a corner to keep an eye on the man. The man continued to stumble down the hall towards Chase. Chase looked around and saw a small boy fast asleep. There was no way Chase could leave the boy behind. Quietly, he ran across the hall and slipped into the room unnoticed. The boy remained asleep as Chase readied him for transport and was just about to wheel him out when the man came into view in front of the door. The man spotted Chase and brought his gun up. "Don't move or I'll shoot!"

Chase froze as the man walked into the room. "Are you a doctor?"

"I'm an intensivist…"

"I don't know what that is! Are you a doctor?!"

Clearly this guy wasn't the brightest man, but Chase didn't want to anger him, so he replied, "Yes, I am a doctor."

"You're coming with me. No yelling for help, no running. You're coming peacefully."

This guy was high on something. "Look, let's work something out…"

The man pointed the gun at the wall behind Chase and fired. The bullet nearly missed him as he ducked to one side. "Hey! Take it easy!"

"YOU'RE COMING WITH ME!"

The boy began to wake up, which worried Chase. He had to think of something, fast. "Look, there is no way you can just walk out of here. Everyone is outside and they will all recognize…"

But before Chase could finish, the man stuck Chase in the neck with a syringe and injected a clear serum into his blood stream. Chase's eyelids grew heavy and he soon went out cold. The man removed Chase's white coat, put it on and carried Chase's unconscious body out of the room just as the boy began to open his eyes. After finding an empty gurney, he laid Chase out on it, covered him in a white sheet and headed out. To everyone else, he looked like a normal doctor evacuating a patient. But he left behind a loose end. The kid had heard everything and saw the man leave.

TBC…

Please R&R! A/N: I have no clue what a code red in a hospital really means, so don't sue me! A/N: I found the right code and changed it!