ALD

1

"I'm sorry, but there's," he sighed, "there's nothing more I can do." He placed a hand on the lady's shoulder and apologetically smiled. "I'll give you a few minutes." He stood up and slowly walked out of his office, looking for his best friend. He hated giving out bad news but being an oncologist, it came with the territory.

He could already hear his friend from half way down the corridor. "Well if it was just an infection, do you really think I would have taken it on?! There's something more…just need to look a little harder…I'm off to clinic til you three figure out what's happening!" And with that, his friend hobbled out of the office. "Hey! Wonder boy, walk with me, talk with me." House greeted his best friend Wilson with a smile and walked uninterrupted toward the walk-in clinic.

"Do you ever get days when you wish you'd picked a different job?" House looked at Wilson quizzically in response to his question. "Just had to tell one of my patients that she's going to die no matter what I do."

"Not your fault, no need to feel bad. Life's a bitch, suck it up and get on with it." House said, as he opened his pill bottle and swallowed two vicodin.

"Like you do, obviously." Wilson started. "She's been my patient for 10 years, gotten to 

know her and her daughter quite well, feel more like friends than patient - doctor. But now, I just…" He sighed "The cancer kept coming back, and now it's just spreading and she's fought so hard-I just, God I dunno…wish that somehow. It's hopeless."

"Need coffee?" House interrupts.

"But I thought you were on your way to the clinic?"

"Yeah, but you have more drama, besides, it's crotch rot day today and just eugh."

"Love to, but I've left them sitting in my office and I have another patient in 10 minutes, I'm gonna have to go."

"OK, well you know where I'll be-but not between 1-2, General Hospital, major pioneering brain surgery this week. Should be true to life and educational." And with that he hobbled away.

As Wilson approached his office, he could hear sniffs and waited outside another few seconds before entering.

"So, do you have anything you want to ask me?"

"Umm, do you have a rough time scale?" The mother, Jane, asked.

Wilson shook his head slowly. "I'd say perhaps three months at most, I – I can have a nurse 

come and talk to you about care options."

"Thank you Dr Wilson. Mom? We should go, Dr Wilson will have other people to see." Maddy, the daughter, sniffed and stood up. And without a word, just a sad smile in Wilson's direction, they left the office. Dr Wilson went and sat at his desk, head in his hands, and started reading the file on his next patient.

"Hey, who was that that just left your office?" Wilson was surprised to see House pop his head around his office door. "That wasn't that case was it?""Jane Brandt, and yes, it was that case. Shouldn't you be in the clinic? Or your case get more interesting?"

"Cuddy relieved me, told her my case needed me…how olds she?"

"Cuddy or case?"

"Case. 12/5/63?"

Wilson grabbed his open file. "You've been in my office? Reading my files?!The word 'confidential' really doesn't mean much to you does it?"

"Relax, I knew her when I was at med school, name was Young then though, who was the girl?"

"Her daughter, Maddy. Known her since she was 14. God knows how she's going to cope, as far as I know it's just been her and her mom since the stepfather left. No other family. Put her 

studying on hold a few years back when her mom got sick again, now-"

"I gotta get back to my team. Page me if she comes back in, I'd like to talk to her." House said, and walked quietly and thoughtfully out the door.

Later that day, Wilson was sitting in his office when House appeared at his office door holding two cups of coffee on top of each other. "So, tell me more, what's Jane been up to in the past-ooh-25 years?"

"Besides having Maddy? Worked as a nurse, moved into co-ordinating clinical trials at Mercy. Got sick, so gave it up. Married, but divorced 12 years ago. Maddy, from what I gather was studying law. "

"Interesting…" House trailed off, unsure as to whether or not to say anything.

"House?"

"Ever mentioned Maddy's dad?"

"No, it's not really relevant to her case and I'm not as persistent as some."

"What's Maddy's date of birth?"

Wilson sighed "I dunno, early 83 I guess. She's not my patient."



"No, guess not. Still be nice to catch up with Jane in person. Like I say, page me." Wilson sighed in defeat.

"She's probably going to be in day after tomorrow, nurse appointment. I'll page, if it'll get you out of my office."

And with that, House purposely hobbled out of the office, leaving Wilson curious as to his interest in his case.