CHAPTER 3
"I need more time, which means he needs a kidney," House told Cuddy, walking into her office and flopping into a chair. She looked up from her desk.
"That's not gonna happen," she replied. "A kidney for a man on death row?"
"Couldn't we frame it like he's just renting it?" he suggested. "We could get it back as soon as he's fried," House joked.
"House, it'll never happen," she told him. "Plus, the kidney would be damaged no matter how they execute him."
"I know, woman," he agreed. "Just giving you an update. He still has one functioning, so if we can figure out what it is in the next few hours, it might not matter. And if that fails, I guess they'll just give him dialysis until it's time. Ironic."
Cuddy's phone rang. "Yes?" she said into the receiver. She looked at House and her eyes got wide. She stood up. "I understand. I'll take care of it. Just stay where you are," she said hurriedly into the receiver. She hung up and starting shaking. House had never seen her like this. He stood up and looked at her expectantly. She immediately dialed the phone. "The hospital is in lockdown. This is a code orange. I need the head of security in my office 5 minutes ago," she hissed.
"Cuddy?" House asked, taking off his hat and throwing it on the chair.
"House," she said her eyes still wide, the pupils dilated. "He's gone."
"Rains?" he asked. She nodded, almost in a trance. "Cuddy, what the fuck?" he said. They heard the PA system go off and a voice calmly announced the code orange. Though it wouldn't be obvious to patients, Cuddy knew the staff would all know immediately what would happen. She feared mass panic, on top of the obvious.
"A nurse just went in and saw his two guards stabbed in the throats, House. He's gone!" Cuddy cried out, getting a little hysterical.
There was a loud knock on Cuddy's door and they both jumped. It was the head of security. Cuddy explained the situation and he communicated procedures for a complete lockdown over the radio. Everyone needed to stay where they were while security spread across the building and manned the entrances. State and county police were dispatched and scheduled to arrive in minutes. "You both need to stay here until you hear from me," he told them, handing Cuddy a radio and his card. She nodded and he left.
They were silent at first, trying to wrap their minds around what had just transpired. "He's sick, Cuddy. I mean, he's really sick. He can't get around well as it is, and with every hour he's going to deteriorate."
"But, House, what's his plan? He knows he's sick, why would he try to escape?" she asked.
"He's on death row, Cuddy. That's a sure thing. At least this way he probably figures he's got a fighting chance…" Then House got that look on his face – his epiphany look. "Unless, this was his plan the whole time! He got himself sick to try to escape."
Cuddy stared at him. "House, he'd only do that if he knew he'd get better, don't you think? He knows what he's doing."
"Maybe," House agreed, "But it was a prison. He couldn't have been measuring out doses of anything – It must have been imprecise, whatever it is. He doesn't know for sure he'll get better. But I have to figure out what it is. I need the lab and MRI results."
"House you can't leave the office!" she cried. "Please don't leave me," she added, more quietly.
He looked at her, "Cuddy," he said, "I'd never leave you… You're coming with me." She looked terrified. "I'm gonna call the team and see where they are." He paused a moment. "I don't want to scare you more, Cuddy, but you should call and get Rachel out of your house… Who knows what this guy knows." Cuddy's face blanched and she fumbled with her phone as he dialed Foreman. When they each hung up, House explained that Taub and Foreman were in the team room. He wanted to get up there or get them down to Cuddy's office. "Which do you think is safer?" House asked her.
"Your office has two exits," she said, "so we couldn't get cornered."
"But you've been in yours, so we know Rains hasn't," House countered.
Simultaneously they both asked, "Where's Wilson?" House dialed his number.
"Wilson?" House was saying into the phone. "Is that you? Where are you?... Jesus, Wilson, stop whispering. He isn't in your fucking office… Okay, stay there. We're coming… Just shut up before I kill you," he instructed. He hung up and turned to Cuddy. "So, Wilson's hiding under his desk. He's not moving. We need to go up." Cuddy nodded.
