Hallowed Lies
A House MD fanfic
Rating: T
Pairings: N/A
Warnings: Spoilers for "Family"
Disclaimer: I don't own House, I do, however, own Black Adder the five seasons dvd and a few episodes of Jeeves and Wooster, so I can see Hugh Laurie whenever I want.
Matty screamed as the faceless black specter stabbed a long needle deep into his pelvic bone. The tip seemed to be on fire as it pierced his bones, never-ending pain ripping his will to save his brother from him, leaving him broken and unshielded. He screamed for it to stop, for relief from this ungodly agony raging throughout his already tortured body.
"Matty! MATTY!"
A voice broke through the fog of anguish; hands grasped his shoulders and shook him violently. Matty's eyes snapped open, unseeing, as he thrashed in his bed, slowly coming out of yet another nightmare.
Nick's worried face peered at him, ghostly in the thin beams of moonlight that trickled in through the blinds. He had regained some of his former looks, but the gauntness, the hollow, fearful eyes remained, evidence of his uphill struggle with leukemia. It was his brother's face that really brought Matty back to reality. A nearly equally painful one, but nonetheless real.
"Don't worry, Nick, I'm fine."
His brother shook his head, determined not to let this excuse slid again.
"Bro, you've been these nightmares almost we came back from the hospital. Why won't you tell us what happened? Dude, it's been nearly three years!"
How could he tell him? How could Matty say in good conscious that the miraculous "cure" had been his own torture? How do you tell someone you sacrificed a piece of your life for theirs?
Let's backtrack a little over three years.
Nick had been diagnosed with leukemia, and after 3 supposed remissions, it reached true crisis level. Matty was the only perfect match available, but he had an infection. The famed Dr. House himself had stepped in to help Matty help Nick. Many wrong diagnoses and a failed marrow transplant later, they were back to square one.
It turns out their house was built on old farmland, and he had been infected by old chicken droppings in the soil. They would be able to cure him, but not Nick. He'd lose his brother because he had built a pitcher's mound for them to play together.
It wasn't fair.
However, the treatment worked quickly, but not quickly enough. His marrow wasn't healthy enough for a safe transplant, the infection had attacked his marrow, leaving barely enough for him to survive with himself. Dr. Foreman had an idea to save Nick. He asked Matty if he wanted to save his brother.
It was the best and worst decision he ever made.
Imagine what the ten year old felt, his brother's life depended on the choice. He was strapped to the table, given no anesthesia, and had his already scarce bone marrow pulled from various bones as he screamed for it to stop.
Back to the future:
"Matty. Please, I'm begging you, man."
He shook his head, his brother could never know, it'd kill him.
"Go back to sleep, please let this go."
His brother resiliently stuck by his bedside, shaking his head. That fighting spirit was a curse and a blessing.
"Just a nightmare, Nick, nothing to worry about."
That stopped him. The hurt, confusion, and helplessness that slid across Nick's face made Matty's heart ache, and he almost was going to tell him.
"Matty, you can tell me anything. You know that, right?"
A bittersweet smile played on his features, he'd never tell, and his brother would never stop asking. A never-ending circle of mystery, infinite. His love for his brother was more important to him then his own peace of mind.
"Good night, Nick."
"Good night, Matty. Love you."
"Love you too."