Chapter 2

Wilson parked the car and ran, he sprinted full pelt with his heart in his throat. He almost smacked into the hospital doors but as he rounded the corner of the ICU he stopped in his tracks. He realised that he didn't know what to say, the nurses started to look concerned as he just stood there with his mouth gaping like a fish.

The nurse nearest to him asked. "Sir are you okay?"

He paused, a couple of seconds passed during which a thousand thoughts passed through his head, none of which he could articulate. He mentally shook himself and managed to utter a few words. "I got a phone call about my friend and..."

His voice cracked and he thought he might lose it right there and then, just let all his worries and fears spill all over the floor like marbles but he had to get to House before it was too late.

Wilson faltingly said. "Greg House... I erm came to see him, please..."

The nurse looked at him with clinical sympathy and said. "Just hold on one moment sir, I will get Dr. Rogers to talk with you"

The nurse ushered him down a corridor and in to a room, he turned around and a man in a lab coat stepped into the room behind him. The man introduced himself as Dr. Rogers and attempted to shake Wilson's hand. Wilson felt like his chest was being compressed and it took a couple of moments to realise that the doctor was trying to talk with him.

"Dr. Wilson, Dr. House has internal bleeding and a severe head injury. We had to sedate him as he was extremely combative we believe due to the head injury, we also had to put Dr. House on a ventilator due to his lack of respiratory effort"

Wilson had to ask. "Please tell me honestly, doctor to doctor. What are his chances?"

the doctor visibly stiffened, knowing it would be harder to give platitudes to another doctor and then answered. "I will be candid with you sir, he is not doing well. We have stopped the bleeding and he is out of surgery but the head injury is severe"

Wilson added. "You don't think he has a chance do you?"

The doctor realised there was very little of comfort he could offer.

Wilson just wanted to see House and asked. "Can I just see him please?"

The doctor replied. "Certainly but can we just ask, does Dr. House have any family?"

Wilson answered. "Yes, his parents... I'll give you their details"

Wilson was taken into a side room, the sun was starting to pour in through the blinds and it bathed the room with a golden glow. He looked over to the bed and a sob escaped his lips before he could stop it. House was lying, eyes closed, tubes and wires were everywhere. He's seen this exact scene a million times, everyday but he's never really seen it until now. He walked slowly over to the bed like he might wake House. Looking down at his friends face he thought of all the times that House has annoyed him. Does he love House? He knows the answer is yes and he has never realised just how much until this moment. He ran his finger gently down House's stubbled cheek. He laughed because if House could see him, he'd be calling him a girl and making him blush but Wilson needs to feel Houses warmth.

Wilson whispered. "Stay with me Greg"

Of course there was no response but just being by House's bedside made him feel like his friend knew he was there. Wilson wondered why Houses wallet was empty aside from the document the nurse had used to call him. What had happened? He looked over again at House, the sun on his face made him look angelic. The silence was shattered by the monitors alarm. Oh God No, please don't do this, I'll do anything.

Wilson looked at the monitor and shouted for help. "He's crashing, he's having a cardiac arrest"

People came running and Wilson was shoved aside, he argued. "Let me help, defibrillator quickly"

One of the nurses said firmly. "Let us do our job. Are you Dr. House's next of kin?"

Wilson was very quickly becoming hysterical. The thought of having to leave now made his anxiety reach new heights.

The nurse spoke again. "You can't stay sir, you are not family"

Wilson lied. "I'm his partner, we live together"

He thought maybe if House pulled through this, he would find Wilson's lies amusing but he would do whatever it took to stay in that room. House was diagnosed as having a tension pneumothorax which compressed his heart and caused the cardiac arrest. After a chest tube had been inserted the machines stopped bleeping and House's cardiac rhythm returned to normal. Medical personnel were starting to leave

Dr. Rogers remained and said. "Dr. Wilson. Dr. House is stable for the time being but we are keeping him on constant obs. Why don't you get a quick coffee or something, we'll come and get you if his condition changes."

Wilson reluctantly argreed, he needed to call Cuddy. Wilson walked outside and turned on his phone, he dialled the hospitals number and spoke to Cuddy.

"Wilson, how is he doing? The hospital told me he's stable"

Wilson let out a sigh and said. "He's not good... I'm afraid I'm gonna lose him"

Cuddy could hear the emotion in Wilsons voice and replied. "Take as much time as you need"

Wilson went back to House's bedside and did not leave for a week. He lost weight and felt like he'd aged a couple of decades.

He was watching General Hospital and eating a Snickers when House moved. Wilson's head whipped round and the TV was instantly forgotten.

Wilson tried to calm House. "House It's okay, you had an accident, you have a tube down your throat, don't try to talk"

House rolled his eyes. Even at death's door he could manage sarcasm.

Wilson offered. "Yes I know you're a doctor and I'm an idiot but God I was so scared"

Wilson put his hand to House's face and looked into his intense blue eyes and said. "I swear to god if you ever do anything like this to me again I will kill you"

Wilson leant down and using the gentlest of gentle pressures, brushed his lips over the Houses forehead and sobbed.