8/23/2008
Disclaimer: I don't own House or Cuddy. David Shore does.
Rated M Please R&R.
A/N: This is dedicated to drgemini86 for the plot line suggestion and momsboys for encouragement to continue. The song title is sung by Keith Urban, from his CD "Be Here".
A/N 2: House centric. This deals with the issue of drinking/other dark issues, read at own risk. There is also the use of bad words in this story, read at own risk. AU.
A/N 3: I've done research on alcohol poisoning.
A/N 4: The Ducklings make a few appearances.
Nobody Drinks Alone Chapter 2
House being unconscious as he was, didn't hear Wilson banging on his apartment door to be let in. Wilson knew that it wasn't like House to not answer the door. Well, actually it was like House to not answer the door, but Wilson knew that after almost 10 minutes of knocking, something was amiss. Wilson let himself into House's apartment with the key he had with him. The oncologist wasn't surprised at what he saw. His best friend was lying, unconscious on the couch, his mouth slightly ajar.
The brown haired doctor knew from the stench of alcohol coming off of House that he was passed out drunk. Wilson wasn't shocked to see this he has seen House this way many times in the past. The brown haired oncologist, however, did get concerned when he couldn't get a response at all from his best friend. House usually moaned and groaned when Wilson began shaking him and calling his name, but this time, nothing happened.
Wilson's concern spiked even higher when Wilson checked House's respiration and found out that it was slow which wasn't good. Wilson also took note of the feel of House's skin; it was cold, clammy and pale. All of these signs: the slow respiration, the cold, clammy and pale skin as well as the unconsciousness all told Wilson that House had the signs of alcohol poisoning.
Wilson knew that it was imperative that House get to PPTH ASAP. Wilson quickly took out his phone; dialed Cuddy's number and then dialed PPTH, alerting them to House's current state and tell them to be ready when they came in. It was no more then five minutes that Cuddy showed up at House's apartment and together her and Wilson lifted an unconscious House to her car and made their way quickly to PPTH. No more than five minutes later they were at the doors of PPTH and the staff had whisked House away for treatment.
Wilson and Cuddy sat in the hard plastic chairs in the waiting area for what seemed like forever. A doctor finally came out to see them and they were shocked to hear of the amount of alcohol that House had consumed. This very large amount made House at greater than usual risk for dehydration. Because of the large amount of alcohol that House had consumed, the doctor told them, the team of doctors and nurses had to put in more IV's than usual to keep House hydrated. It scared both Wilson and Cuddy to think that their friend and colleague had drunken so much alcohol to put himself into a state of getting alcohol poisoning and whether it was intentional or not was another matter altogether. Cuddy and Wilson thanked the doctor for telling them and the doctor told them they would be able to see House in a few moments when a nurse came out and got them.
Cuddy and Wilson were in shock to think of House like this, they were also very angry at him for doing what he did. They knew that getting angry at House right now wouldn't be the best option. The only thing they could do right now was the help House on the road back to recovery.
'Maybe this will shock House into realizing that he needs to get help, not just for his drinking, but for his drug use too' Cuddy thought as she sat next to Wilson.
Cuddy sighed deeply and looked at Wilson who looked about as bad as she did: emotionally and physically tired, stressed out, angry and many other emotions. Cuddy leaned over and gave Wilson a side hug which he returned. He sighed too and got up and took a short walk down the hallway to stretch his legs. It wasn't until Cuddy called his name, that he turned around and saw a nurse standing next to Cuddy. Wilson quickly walked back down the hallway and joined the two women and together the three of them walked down to House's room. Cuddy and Wilson weren't prepared for what they saw.
Inside House's room, they saw the shell of the man they once knew. As he slept off the alcohol, both were shocked to see House's gaunt face. The thin material of the hospital dressing gown did little to cover the outline of the older man's ribs. They both mentally cursed themselves for not noticing their friends thinning appearance and health decline.
Wilson could see the concern and sadness in her eyes. She spoke, "I'll call Chase, Foreman, Cameron, Thirteen, Taub and Kutner. We're going to need all the help we can get."
Cuddy quickly left the room and made the appropriate phone calls. Cuddy went back into the room where Wilson sat with House and closed her eyes and for the first time in many years, she prayed that they would be able to save House.
If the alcohol poisoning didn't scare House into getting help for his drinking and drug issues, something else more drastic and life threatening would.
