Mel Burke sat at the kitchen table at around noon with a nice cup of coffee. It was saturday, and Lennox and Ryder were off with friends,
which meant the house was still. Around 10 minutes later, Mel's "nanny", Joe, stumbled downstairs, looking terrible. Mel eyed him curiously. His face was pale, his brown eyes
which were weary and bloodshot, wernt sparkling with their usual amusement. He stumbled over to the fridge and got a glass of water. "Wow, Longo, you're up late.
Did you stay up past your bedtime?" Mel quipped "Mel, im not in the mood," Joe said irrtabibly. He leaned against the fridge for support. Mel's smile dropped
and her voice laced with concern. "Joe, you ok?" she asked. "Fine, Burke," Joe replied "Just feeling under the weather." As he said that, he leaned over the
sink, trying to catch his breath. Mel got up from the table and walked a little closer. "You are not fine, Longo! Look at you! You need to get your butt back
in be-" Mel was cut off by Joe dropping to the ground. Mel ran over to him and touched his forehead. "Joe, you're on fire! You need to go to the hospital!" Mel
exclaimed. "Mel, no. please, i hate hospitals," Joe protested weakly. "Joe, you need to go," Mel insisted softly, but firmly as she helped him sit on the couch.
"Now...stay here! I'll be right back, i'm just going to get you some ice," Mel ordered before she left the room. She came back five minutes later, only to find
Joe sleeping uncomfortably on the couch. The sight broke her heart. She deeply cared for Joe, even though she rarely admitted it, and regularly felt his pain.
"Oh, Joey," She whispered softly. She walked quietly over to him and shook him a little to wake him up. When she got no response, she began to panic. after
several minutes, she finally called for an ambulance and drove to the hospital after him. When she got there, she called Lennox and Ryder. Thankfully, they
were together, so it was easy to track them down. "Guys," Mel said hurridly when Ryder picked up the phone "Joe's sick, come to Toledo Medical Center pronto"
They said they would be there and hung up. Joe was unconcious and Mel worriedly paced back and forth in his room. Ten minutes later, the doctor walked in.
"I'm sorry Mrs Longo-" "Actually, it's Ms Burke. Joe's not my husband, he's just a friend," Mel interrupted. "Yes, well, Ms Burke, we ran a bunch of labs but
we dont know what's wrong with him," the doctor stated apologetically. "Well, find out! He means a lot to me!" Mel snapped, near tears. "We are doing all we
can, Ms Burke. We are going to transfer him to Princeton-Plansborough teaching hospital in New Jersey," the doctor explained gently. "New Jersey?" Mel
asked, confused. "Why New Jersey?" "Because that's where legendary doctor Gregory House is. He specializes in cases like these." The doctor explained.
"Well...ok," Mel said, still confused but understanding that this is the best way to find out what is wrong with Joe.