Cuddy was sat behind her desk completing paper work and reading emails, trying to ignore House who was stood opposite her leaning on her desk looking down at her working hard.
House: Well can I do it?
Cuddy: House, I have told you already the answer is no, there is no way you can do it.
House: Cuddy you know I'm good at what I do, and you also know when I do something dangerous it always turns out to be the right thing to do. I can fix this Cuddy, I know I can because I know exactly what is wrong with him.
Cuddy: House, you think you know exactly what is wrong, you cant do it just because you think you know. Look, I know you are the best diagnostician but this is going a little too far. He has already signed a DNR. If you give him this and his heart stops you can not do anything.
House: There was no reason for him to sign a DNR. I know his pain is really bad and he has a really irregular heart rate and slight chest pains but I'm looking after him so nothing will happen to him.
Cuddy: No You're not your stood arguing with me.
House: As your boyfriend, I really don't wanna argue with you, but as your employee, I need you to trust me and let me do this. I know we can do this. Can I do it if I talk to the patient first.
Cuddy exhaled.
Cuddy: You have to promise me you will explain every detail of what you are about to do. You need to tell him the side affects of the treatment and anything else that he needs to know about this.
House: Why don't you just come down to his room with me when I tell him?
Cuddy: Okay. But house if the patient refuses this treatment, you will have to come up with another way to cure him.
House: Chase, Foreman and Taub are already coming up with other possibilities.
Cuddy: Good, let's go see the patient.
House lent down and kissed her twice on the lips.
House: Thank you.
Cuddy: Wow, a kiss at work from you, never thought that would happen.
House: Well I've had thoughts of doing other things with you at work but I know full well you will never go for it.
Cuddy: That's right.
House: All this talking is not saving my patient, so can we get going please.
Cuddy: Come on then.
They left Cuddy's office and walked to the elevator so that they could get up to the patients room.
Cuddy: So is making out in the elevator at work one of your thoughts of things you wanna do with me at work.
House: No, but it is now.
Cuddy: Awww too bad, we are already on our floor.
House: Your quite a tease aint ya.
Cuddy: Only towards you.
They reached the patients room. House introduced Cuddy to Matthew the patient and he started explaining what he wanted to do.
Chase, Foreman and Taub were sat around the glass table.
Chase: We need to start from the beginning.
Foreman: Yeah. What do we have? Taub write these down on the board.
Taub: Your gonna ask the short guy?
Foreman: Fine I will write.
Chase: If House walks in you know what he's gonna say right?
Taub: What?
Foreman: Probably something along the lines of. It's called a white board for a reason.
Chase: Look let me write, this aint saving our patient.
He stood up and walked to the white board and started to write.
Chase: We have Paralysis.
Taub: Chest Pains, Irregular heartbeat and Temperature.
Foreman: Dizziness, Fever.
Chase: What if the dizziness is connected to the temperature and fever.
Taub: But what if the dizziness is a neurological problem? Foreman, you're the Neurologist. Is it possible?
Foreman: Dizziness on it's own I would go with Chase about it being connected to the fever. Although the Paralysis could be a drug problem.
Chase: It doesn't say in the patient history about drugs.
Foreman: Like House always says. Everybody lies.
Taub: What if the Paralysis was caused by a trauma?
Chase: Nope, there's no other signs of injury. something is attacking his nervous system we just don't know what. Stroke?
Foreman: It's a possibility.
Taub: I think House would have came up with that already if he thought it was that.
House was still explaining the treatment to the patient, taking Cuddy by surprise as he had told Matthew everything just like she asked him to.
House: Look, I know this is hard for you, but you need to trust me. If I didn't think it will work, I wouldn't have suggested it to my boss. This surgery could help you walk again and pain free. I have had many patients just like you. I have taken some big risks with helping to cure them and I have always been right.
Cuddy: Dr House is right. He is amazing at what he does. It's why I gave him his own department.
Matthew: What department is that?
House: I'm the head of Diagnostics. Kiddo it sounds complicated, let me break it down. People come in to the hospital with loads of different complaints. At times doctors cant come up with an answer for why they are sick and they don't know what to do to make them better. That's where Dr Cuddy comes in. you see she gives me cases that she thinks I can do. I take these cases to my team and together we brainstorm ideas on what we could do.
Matthew: Wow, that's actually pretty awesome.
House: I know. Matthew your 19, you're still really young and have a load of things you want to do. You want to play sports, you want to hang out with friends on the weekends just like every other kid your age.
Matthew: I really do want to do all that.
House: Exactly. Now if you let me do this, you can do all of that. If you cancel out the DNR you signed, Dr Cuddy here will allow me to do this. Now as I said there is side affects. There's an 80% survival rate.
Matthew: Wait so theres like a 20% chance I will die?
House: You remember Dr Chase, Dr Foreman and the really short one?
The patient smiled Yeah I remember.
House: Right, they will be there watching the monitors for any change in your heart rate, temperature and blood pressure. If something goes wrong with your heart, there will be enough of them there to bring you back.
Matthew: Will you be there?
House: I don't normally go in to the procedures. But for you I will be.
Cuddy: So, do you want to trust Dr House and his team?
Matthew: Yes please.
House reached out his hand and shook the kids.
House: Great choice kiddo. Me and my team will be back down shortly and we will prep you for this surgery okay.
Matthew: Okay Dr House. Thank you..
House: It's fine. Now do me a favour and get some rest before I come back.
Matthew: Okay I will try.
House winked at the kid and him and Cuddy left the room and walked towards House's office.
Cuddy: House are you okay?
House: I'm fine why?
Cuddy: I've never seen you interact with a patient before like that. It was erm…
House: What?
Cuddy: Sweet.
House stopped walking and turned to her.
House: I see a lot of myself in that kid. When I had muscle death, I was so scared of being paralysed for life. I didn't want it to happen at all. I thought I wouldn't be able to be a doctor and live a normal life. It's the same as that kid. He's only 19 he has so much he can do in life that he deserves. I want to do everything I can to help that kid and not have him go through his life in as much pain as I have. I don't want to see a great kid like him be put on addictive medication and turn out the way I have. I made myself the way I am. The pain made me angry at the world and everybody else around me including you. Nobody deserves that and especially not at that age.
Cuddy: Sorry I didn't know you felt like that. I understand, I should have let you do this instead of arguing with you about it and saying no with out allowing you to give an explanation.
House: Don't worry, im doing it now aint I. C'mere.
House pulled her in close to him and gave her a hug not caring about the other nurses and doctors around them who were looking.
House: I love you, and thank you.
Cuddy: I love you too.
House: You wanna come in and tell the team?
Cuddy: I have loads of paper work to do.
House: Okay.
They had reached House's office, he kissed her quickly again, winked at her and walked inside to the others. She spun around on the spot and walked towards Wilson's office.
Foreman: Did you just kiss Cuddy?
House: Haven't you ever kissed one of your girlfriends before? You should try it sometime, it's pretty awesome.
Foreman: That's not what I meant. We've just never seen you like this with her that's all.
Chase: Can we get on with this, we have a kids life in danger here.
House: Thank you. I've spoken with the kid, and I have managed to get him to remove the DNR. Now before you mock me about being with a patient I need you to hear me out.
They all sat down and House began talking.
House: Taub you wont know as much about this as these two, but I think you will catch on pretty quick. Remember how I got this problem with my leg?
Foreman: Yeah.
Chase: Muscle death and blood clot.
House: Correct, now remember when I decided how to get rid of it?
Taub: Wait, you came up with what to do.
House: Yeah, I was laying in that bed just like that kid is, with the thought of being paralysed for life and not knowing what my life will be like running through my head. It was then that I decided if we cut out the dead part of muscle, I would survive it.
Taub: Wow.
House: Anyway. Foreman, what does pain cause to the body and the head?
Foreman: It can cause fever, increased temperature and dizziness.
Chase: That's all answered but House, We still have the irregular heart rate to deal with.
Taub: What if he had an irregular heart rate because of the situation he was put in. think about it he's only 19, he's surrounded by all doctors and nurses, he's alone and he has all the stress on him with what ever is wrong with him.
House: You see that is why I hired you. Well done tiny. Chase, do you want to do this surgery or should we bring someone else in to do it?
Chase: I'll do it, it isn't that complicated.
House: Great, Taub I need you to watch any changes on the monitors, heart rate, temperature and blood pressure.
Taub: Got it.
House: Foreman, I have relaxed the kid and calmed him down perfectly enough to be able to see if his heart rate is irregular. Before we do the procedure, can you go and do a Coronary Calcium Scan?
Foreman: Sure, I will go do it now.
House: Thanks. I've promised the kid I will be there with him, so I can help Taub. Now remember there's a 20% chance we could lose him. I know you are all seeing a different side of me right now but I need you three ready to do what ever it takes to bring this kid back if something happens okay?
They all nodded in agreement. Foreman went to do the scan leaving the others still sat down.
Taub: When do we have the OR booked?
Chase: Yeah.
House: We don't yet but Cuddy is really on board with this. I just have to go see her and ask when we can get it. Hopefully as soon as possible.
Taub: I hope I'm not out of place here. But do you see a lot of yourself in this kid.
House: I do indeed, I mean I was nowhere as young as that kid is when it happened to me. Don't you think he deserves attention from us to give him the opportunities we have been given. He's a good kid, he can do whatever he wants in life.
Chase: He does. I just don't get why he's here alone.
Taub: Me neither.
House: I've made quite a good connection with this kid. He trusts me. I think I can get him to talk about why he's here alone. There's gotta be a good reason right? What do you think it could be?
Taub: He's a teenager, he could have ran away from home a while ago.
House: That's a good possibility. Chase?
Chase: What if he just left to go to college. You said he's a bright kid. He could just focus more on his study's instead of having friends.
Taub: That sounds more likely.
House: What if we're looking at this the wrong way?
Chase: What do you mean?
House: What if his parents died and he was left alone with no one to care for him? I will find out. Right I need to find Cuddy and ask for an OR. You two wanna clean up all these books? After we have solved this, you three can go home and I will look after him during recovery.
Taub: Okay.
Chase: Should we let you know about the results of the scan?
House: I will be back by then. That is of course if Cuddy can resist me.
He winked and left.
Cuddy was still talking to Wilson in his office.
Wilson: I couldn't believe what I was hearing when I walked past that room.
Cuddy: How do you think I felt I was sat right there, listening to the words coming out of his mouth. I've never seen him be that sweet towards a patient since I've hired him.
Wilson: He sees a lot of himself in that kid don't he?
Cuddy: he told me the kid reminds him of when he had the muscle death in his leg and how he was sat there thinking his life would never be the same if he was paralysed and he doesn't want the kid to be put on addictive medication like he was.
Wilson: Wow. What have you done with my best friend?
Cuddy: I didn't do anything. Another thing, he hugged me in the middle of the corridor in front of all the nurses and then before I left to come here he kissed me in front of his team.
Wilson: He loves you.
Cuddy: He told me that in the corridor. But why the sudden change?
Wilson: He wants to make you happy, so he is changing himself so he can do that. Don't say that you don't want him to change, just let him do it. It will help with his therapy anyway. It's taken us years and we have finally done it.
Cuddy: Done what?
Wilson: We have him off of drugs, he's becoming a better person and he's finally found someone he loves and who loves him back.
Just then there was a knock at the door.
Wilson: Come in.
House: Hey Wilson, have you seen … oh your there.
Cuddy: What's up?
House: I've explained everything to the team, I gave them each there job I need them to do. Chase is gonna do the surgery and me, Taub and Foreman will be watching changes in monitors and ready in case something happens to my kid.
Wilson looked at Cuddy with an odd look on his face.
Cuddy: Great, thank you for what you done earlier.
House: Just doing what I need to do so I can cure him. I came here to ask when I can get an O.R so we can start.
Cuddy: About ten minutes it will be prepped for you.
House: Thank you.
He walked to cuddy and gave her a lingering kiss. He then started to walk out the door before stopping to look back at Wilson.
House: Hey Wilson, you wanna get something to eat after all this?
Wilson: Okay sounds good. Do you need me in the O.R?
House: Nah it's okay I have everything covered. I'll see you in a couple of hours. But if I do need you will you be available?
Wilson: Absolutely, good luck House.
House: Thanks, bye Cuddy.
Cuddy: Cya.
He made his way back to his office, moments later Cuddy left Wilson's office to organize the O.R.
Foreman was back with the results when he walked in.
House: Good your back, how did it go?
Foreman: Taub was right, his heart is just fine. He was asking for you when I left him by the way.
House: Okay we will head down in a minute I just need a coffee.
Taub: I will do it, you two want one?
Foreman: Nah im okay.
Chase: There any energy drinks in here?
Taub passed him one and began making coffee for House.
House: Foreman, was he asleep when you got in there?
Foreman: Yeah I had to wake him up. He said something about you telling him to get some rest until you got back to him.
House: Great.
Foreman: Why?
House: It's a trust thing. Us three were trying to work out why he is here alone. Now that I know he trusts me more, I think I can get him to talk about it.
Foreman: I never thought about that.
House's phone started ringing.
House: It's Cuddy. Hello?
Cuddy: The O.R is ready for you.
House: Okay thanks, we will be there in a few minutes.
Cuddy: Okay bye.
House: Bye, I love you.
Cuddy: I love you too.
They both hung up.
They left the room and started making there way to the patients room to prep him for the surgery.
House: Is it weird that I say I love you to Cuddy?
Foreman: No, it's a good thing.
House: Really? You don't think I sound like a complete idiot.
Chase: Nope.
House: I guess this is me changing huh. Can you believe I finally have Cuddy. I mean I had her twenty years ago but that was only for one night before I was thrown out of med school.
Chase: You were with Cuddy before?
House: You know maybe we can all have a chat later since I'm a changed man I guess we can all have a catch up once in a while. Foreman, sound good to you?
Foreman: Sounds great.
House: Awesome.
They walked in to the patients room, he had fallen back to sleep. House sat on his bed and tried to wake him up.
House: Hey kiddo.
Matthew: It's time?
House: It sure is. Dr Chase is gonna be carrying out your surgery and us three will be doing other stuff to look after you okay?
Matthew: I trust you, so okay.
Chase: Okay let's get you going.
Foreman: We can push you through in this bed or you can get in to a wheel chair.
Matthew: Can I get in a wheel chair? I've been in this bed for ages, it gets uncomfortable after a while.
House: Sure you can, Taub can you go get one?
Taub: Sure.
Matthew: After my surgery can I have something to eat please.
Chase: Of course you can, what do you want?
Matthew: I'm not sure.
House: I tell you what. I'm meeting my friend Dr Wilson down stairs in the canteen after the surgery. If we wait a while you can join us.
Matthew: Wow, being here is better than when I was at home with my parents.
Chase looked straight as House who shook his head telling Chase not to ask questions just yet.
Chase: Dr Taub is back, you ready?
Matthew: Yup.
Foreman: Me and Dr Chase will lift you into the chair.
Matthew: Erm okay.
Several minutes later the patient was on the operating table, he had been put out to sleep and Chase was ready.
Chase: House I'm ready when ever you want to get this started.
House: Okay, heart rate looks good.
Foreman: Temperature is good also.
Taub: So is blood pressure.
House: Chase begin.
Chase cut open the part of the leg where the clot was with the scalpel.
Chase: Clamp.
He was handed it by a nurse and he started to make an incision in the area of Matthew's leg that needed to be operated on .
House: There's too much blood.
Chase: Suction.
House: That's better continue
Forman: Monitors still look good.
House: Great keep watching.
Chase began to cut out the dead muscle which instantly started the blood clot to break down. He pulled out the dead muscle and placed it in the tin beside him.
House: Good.
Chase continued to finish what was left to cure Matthew as the others kept checking the monitors.
Chase: Im done here House.
House: Really it was a bit quick. Did you get all the muscle out and thin down the clot?
Chase: It's all okay I promise.
House: Okay close him up.
House looked up at saw that Cuddy and Wilson had been watching the whole procedure. Wilson nodded his head at him. With in minutes the patient was back in his room sleeping in his bed with House in the chair next to him. Wilson walked in.
Wilson: Hey.
House: Shhh
Wilson: Sorry, how was it?
House: It went well. Kind of quick. Im just waiting for him to wake so I can test the movement and reflex's in his leg. I hope we were successful.
Wilson: Yeah same.
House: I'm also waiting to do one other thing.
Wilson: What?
House: None of us gave it a thought. Why is here alone? He has no family here and no friends, it's a bit unusual that's all.
Wilson: That's a good point.
House: He trusts me, so im hoping he will open up to me even if it is just a little bit.
Wilson: You really like this kid don't ya.
House: Yeah I do, he's a good kid. Before we took him in for surgery he said he was hungry so I told him he can come with us downstairs. Can you wait a couple of hours more?
Wilson: Sure we can let him recover first then we can go.
House: Thanks.
Wilson: How you doing with this Cuddy thing?
House: Better than I thought. I mean it's only been three and a half weeks but I think I've done alright.
Wilson: You definitely have. You've told her you love her and you've been affectionate at work, that just shows you want this to work out and you want other people to see you have changed.
House: Yeah. I wanna stay like this. I mean this is like a new me. I even like being with my team. I said that I will hang out with them one time and have a good catch up.
Wilson: Wow that's awesome.
House: Wilson don't let me slip back to my old ways please.
Wilson: I promise I will keep you the way you are. Drug free, anger freeand sane.
House: Thank you.