Fantasies Come True, Chapter One
By GirlX2
--I believe whatever doesn't kill you makes you...stranger.The Joker--
"Wilson! Need a consult." House bellowed from outside the oncologist's office door.
"Not now House!" Wilson's cry sounded frantic.
'He didn't even open the door to kick me out. That's not going to stand.' House pulled a replica of Wilson's office key from his pocket and let himself in. "You didn't think that was actually going to work, did you?"
Wilson yelped in surprise and stumbled over something unseen. "How did you-"
"Not important." House shrugged. "I need you to…"
The diagnostician trailed off.
"House? Say something."
"…Why are there wings growing out of your back?"
"I don't have the slightest clue." Wilson hung his head.
Large bat-like wings were unfurled from his back. House limped slowly around his friend, and saw that they had torn right through the fabric of his lab coat. A long scaly tail was poking out as well. The color of all of these new appendages was a very dark green. Lizard-like.
"When did this start?"
"About an hour ago." Wilson's wings shifted slightly, creating a breeze. "And the damn things keep growing. They've got to have a six foot span already."
House thought this over for a few moments. "Cool."
"I'm turning into some kind of lizard man and all you can say is 'cool'?"
"Actually, I think you're turning into a dragon." House shifted some of the ripped fabric. "There are scales spreading all over your back."
Wilson groaned and sank down onto his couch. His tail curled around his legs, and the wings folded themselves against his back.
"Did you do that or was it unconscious?"
"I didn't do anything." Wilson buried his face in his hands. "They seem to have a mind of their own."
"Interesting." House stretched one wing out carefully.
"Don't touch them!"
"Can't help you if I can't touch you." House replied, inspecting the scaly skin.
"I'm turning into a mythological creature. I think this is beyond even your expertise." Wilson muttered as House toyed with his wing.
House sighed. "Don't be so sure."
Slowly, he lifted the edge of his pant leg. Not only was the appendage underneath it furrier than Wilson remembered, it now ended in a cloven black hoof.
"Holy hell."
"I'm either becoming a satyr or a faun, I'm not sure which. I've got the beginning of horns too." He indicated the top of his head, where Wilson could just see the tips of something pointy poking out of his hair. "And I'm not sure, but my fellows were looking a little strange."
"This is insane." The oncologist murmured, reaching out to touch House's horns. House shied away from him, hooves clicking on the floor.
"You piss off any ugly old ladies with roses lately?"
"Not me. You?"
"Probably, but it doesn't explain why you're turning." House shrugged.
"Have you talked to Cuddy? Maybe she'll know what's going on."
House's face split into a grin. "Cuddy. With any luck she's a nymph. Well, more of a nymph."
The oncologist groaned again as his wings grew a few more inches. And was it his imagination, or were his fingernails beginning to look claw-like?
"Go talk to her before this gets any worse. If these things get much bigger I'm not going to fit in my office."
"I'll be back in a bit. Don't go anywhere." House snickered.
Wilson rolled his eyes. "Like I could."
Wilson watched House walk (trot, actually) down the hall, his hooves clicking merrily.
'Well. May as well get some paperwork done while I wait.'
-
Before House had could get to Cuddy's office, Foreman accosted him in the hallway.
"House, I know this is going to sound crazy-"
"Your ears are pointy and your complexion is about ten times smoother." House smirked slightly. "Either means you're an elf or a vampire."
The dropping of Foreman's jaw revealed perfectly normal sized teeth. Elf it was.
"How did you-"
"You're not the only one who's going through changes." House clicked a hoof against the tiles.
"Holy shit." Foreman's eyes got huge.
"We'd better go check on Chase and Cameron. God only knows what's happening to them." House decided the Dean of Medicine could wait.
"My eyesight and my hearing are sharper. A lot sharper." Foreman said as they went into House's office. "At first I just thought you slipped me amphetamines."
"If I slipped you something there is no way it would be this cool." House replied, taking a look around the office. His other ducklings seemed to have gone missing. "Huh."
"House!" A quiet wail caught his ear. Slowly, he and Foreman focused their gaze on the glass tabletop.
Standing there, wrapped in a handkerchief, was a three inch tall Cameron. Gauzy wings poked out of her back. Her normal clothes were trailed across the floor and table.
"Oh my God." Foreman dropped down to inspect her, more out of habit than necessity. His newly-improved eyes could make out every detail just fine. "Are you alright?"
"No I'm not alright!" She stamped one tiny foot. "Right after you left the room I started shrinking! I barely had time to get on the table. And then these--these wings popped out!"
"Any idea where Chase is?" House asked.
"No." She said miserably. "He ran out a few minutes ago."
"Did he look…normal?" Foreman tried to be delicate.
"I think so." She stared up at them "House, are those horns?"
House nodded. "Yeah, and Wilson's looking none-to-human either. We'd better go find Chase before he turns into a were-kangaroo."
Cameron's expression changed from anger to worry. "I hope he's not tiny like me. He could get squished if he's on the floor somewhere."
"I'm sure Chase is fine." Foreman didn't look sure of this at all. "Do you want me to carry you?"
"What?"
"Unless you fly you won't be able to come. Foreman, pick her up." House ordered and left the office.
"I don't want to try flying." Cameron shuddered slightly. "You can carry me.
"Alright." Forman said quietly and laid his hand palm-up in front of her. Cameron hesitated for a moment before climbing on.
"Maybe I should put you in my pocket. So nobody sees you." He suggested.
"No! Just…just don't crush me." She sounded scared.
"Okay." He followed quickly behind House, Cameron nestled in his hand. "House, should we stop and get Wilson?"
"I don't think so. You and I can still pass for human, but he's too far gone. Leave it to Wilson to be the biggest martyr--no offense Cameron." House smirked.
Cameron just shook her head, causing a faint sound like the ringing of tiny bells. "Make all the short jokes you want House. I really don't care."
"That's good."
Foreman did his best to shield Cameron from the sight of the people he and House passed on their way down. A few did do a double-take with House's horns, but nobody said anything. They probably thought it was some kind of costume piece. One of Cameron's wings brushed his fingers, leaving a glittery trail.
"Fairy dust." Wonder filled her voice.
"Of course. What did you think you were?" House asked.
"I…I didn't think about it. This is all so weird--"
"Which is exactly why you should be thinking about it." House replied.
Foreman's beeper suddenly went off. He fumbled at it with his free hand, trying not to drop Cameron.
"It's Chase." He said, surprised. "He wants me to come to the physical therapy room."
"Cuddy can wait." House said. "This ought to be good."
-
To Be continued...
