DISCLAIMER: Not mine. Fox's.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is for my friend Cheryl, a premed major who has
unexplainable medical maladies like the one upon which this story is based.
Also it's for erudaughter, who has read and given me
advice on how to make this story readable.
RATED: PG
ARCHIIVES: House LJ fic Community
THE APPLE AND THE TREE – PROLOGUE
Nicole awoke with an awful headache. Owshe thought, trying to trace its origin. Most definitely not sinus-related, and more definitely not alcohol-related. She never got headaches. This was weird.
"Hey, Nicole?" It was her roommate, Clarisse. "You all right?"
"I have a really nasty headache," Nicole moaned.
"You want some ibuprofen?" Clarisse offered.
"Uh-huh," Nicole grunted, raising herself off the bed. She fell backwards with a sharp cry.
"Nicole?" Clarisse asked.
"Ow." Nicole buried her face in her pillow. "Clarisse, call an ambulance."
"Why?" Clarisse's voice was high-pitched with fear.
"Cause riding around with the lights flashing and the sirens blaring looks like fun," Nicole snapped. "Because my head hurts!"
"That bad?"
"Call the ambulance!" Nicole ordered.
"O-OK."
Nicole curled into a ball on her side. Ow. Ow…