A/N: Yes, another chapter in the same day! I felt generous. Please review, and please enjoy :)
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"She has lupus. That's certain because the treatment for it is working."
"And she has diverticulitis. Chase removed the diseased part of her colon, and she's getting better." House bounced his ball against the wall of Eve's room. "And yet she's getting worse."
"Do you want me to call in your team?" Wilson asked.
"No. I can figure this out…" House stared out the window.
"An infection during surgery is possible."
"The lupus is going away but the fever and weight loss isn't."
Eve started coughing heavily, congestion evident in her cough. House sighed.
"Start her on some antibiotics for pneumonia. The symptoms match, and every person who gets fed the hospital food is bound to lose weight. The congestion caused her to start suffocating."
Wilson nodded and left the room. Eve sighed weakly.
"Dr. House?"
House turned around and walked up to her bed.
"Am I going to be okay?" She asked quietly.
House nodded. Eve reached out and grabbed House's hand. She smiled at him.
"Thank you," she whispered. House silently stared at her. Wilson came in with the antibiotics.
"Don't give that to her."
Wilson looked confused.
"Her eyes are red. And her lymph nodes are swollen," House explained. "Has your throat been aching?"
"I thought it was from all the coughing," she replied.
"More symptoms mean-" Wilson started.
"A new disease," House finished. "I hate it when these things can't be solved with one explanation."
--
House sat silently at his desk. Wilson paced back and forth.
"If we don't figure this out soon…" Wilson drifted off.
"This unknown disease could kill her," House finished again. Wilson shook his head.
"I can't let this happen to her…" he whispered.
"Go home for the night. I'll watch her and give you any updates in the morning."
Wilson nodded slowly, and left House's office. House got up and left, making his way down to Eve's room.
"Where's James?" she asked softly as he entered.
"He doesn't want to see you ever again."
Eve just stared at him. House sighed. "Kidding."
"So why did you offer to stay instead?" she asked. House pulled up a chair and sat down.
"He didn't take kindly to your new disease. I sent him home."
"I have another disease?" Eve sighed and closed her eyes. "I didn't think I would die this way."
House leaned on her bed. "No one said you were going to die. The lupus and diverticulitis are clearing up. Now we have to figure out these new symptoms."
Eve looked at him. "Why aren't you giving up?"
House paused. "You're my patient."
"For now." Eve smirked at him and closed her eyes. House glanced at his feet and faintly smiled.
"Get some sleep. Wilson won't be happy if I keep you up all night."
"Aye, aye, Captain," Eve replied. She shifted in her bed and laid still.
After a few moments, House started to get up. Eve grabbed his hand.
"Please stay," she whispered.
House paused, but sat back down.
Eve opened her eyes to look at him. "You and I aren't that different."
"If you're suggesting we're both asses, I agree."
Eve chuckled. "Pull up my hospital gown."
House raised his eyebrows. "I know how much I must turn you on."
Eve rolled her eyes. She reached down, and pulled up her gown to show her left thigh. House glanced, but then double-taked. He stood up and stared at her thigh.
Her left thigh had some non-existent muscle and a dark scar diagonally across it. House touched his right leg while he stared.
"I was in a motorcycle accident," Eve explained softly. She watched him stare at it. "Every time I see you, I feel sorry for you."
House looked up at her. "Don't feel sorry me," he said quietly.
"My pain hasn't come back since I had my surgery. Then I see you, and I think, 'Why couldn't he have the chance I had?'"
"I did have the chance," he replied and sat down again. He opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated. Eve held his hand again.
"You don't have to tell me. I know how you feel-"
"No you don't," House interrupted rather loudly. He looked down but didn't take his hand back. Eve sighed.
"You want to be normal, but you don't want to be. You want to fit in, be like everyone else, and have no limitations. But you want to stand out, to show that you're just as good as everyone else, even though you're different."
House remained silent.
"I see how you act towards people. You're afraid to show your feelings, to take a chance at any form of relationship. You think that human feelings are weak and therefore make you look vulnerable in the eyes of those that care about you. You want to show that just because you're different you can be stronger than anyone else. You avoid you're emotions." Eve paused to rub his hand. "You think that just because you're damaged, that makes you weak. But it doesn't."
"Now that you've figured me all out, are you going to tell me how I should change?" House finally looked at her.
"I didn't say you need to change."
House took his hand out of hers and sat back in his chair. He took out his Vicodin bottle and swallowed a few. Eve stared at the ceiling and remained silent.
After a few moments, House spoke up. "Now you're giving me the silent treatment?"
Eve remained quiet. House rolled his eyes.
"I'm tired," she finally said.
"So I am, but I have to play babysitter for the rest of the night." House fiddled with his cane. He suddenly shivered. He frowned. "Is it cold in here to you?" he asked.
Eve opened her mouth but House interrupted. "What am I thinking? I'm asking a patient with a fever." House stared at the ground.
"Goodnight, House," Eve said. She turned over and grunted with pain. House frowned. He stood up and pushed her onto her back.
"What are you doing?" she asked, frowning. He opened her gown to see her right side. He stood still.
"What is it?" Eve questioned.
"A rash, which will turn into pustules." House headed for the door.
"Where are you going?"
"To get you some cidofovir. You have smallpox."
Worry was evident of Eve's face. House stared at her and had another chill. He rubbed his head.
"I may have it, too."