Love Hurts
Chapter 4 – Manipulation At It's Finest
"Where are we going?" Christine asked House as she followed him through the crowded hallways. "We're going to hell…also known as Dr. Cuddy's office" House said stopping in the middle of the corridor. "Dr. House, I'm sorry but I will not have any part in manipulating Dr. Cuddy" Christine said to him. "Don't worry…you're still too new for manipulating anyone, just pay attention to the pro" House said as he barged his way into Dr. Cuddy's office. "House, what do you want now?" Cuddy asked him. "It's not about what I want…it's about what my patient needs in order to live to see her Senior Prom" House said. "What does she need?" Cuddy asked him. "Dr. Massina and I believe that the patient needs a spinal nerve biopsy in order to fully rule out any Neurological defects" House said. "Isn't Foreman a Neurologist?" Cuddy asked him. "Yes he is…he's also a stubborn Taurus who enjoys basketball and long walks on the beach" House said. Cuddy just glared at House. "Foreman doesn't want to do it…and neither does Chase…that's why you're here and asking me" Cuddy said. "No, really? I thought it was protocol to run any decisions that MY Diagnostic Team comes up with by you first for prior approval" House said. "That's the way it should be" Cuddy said to him. "Look, she doesn't have much time left…can we do the biopsy or not?" House asked Cuddy. "Did you get her parents approval?" Cuddy asked him. "Foreman is working on it" House answered her. "Fine…do your biopsy…but if you paralyze her…you will be held accountable" Cuddy said.
House left Cuddy's office with a sense of accomplishment. "That was unbelievable" Christine said as her and House headed towards the patients room. "Oh stop, you'll make me blush" House said as they stopped in front of the patients empty room. "Maybe Foreman and Chase are running other tests" Christine said. "I doubt it…we're probably too late" House said as he made his way towards the OR with Christine right behind him. They got to the OR's observation room and sure enough there was their patient being operated on. "What did you do?" House asked Chase as he pressed the intercom. "I did nothing…she went into cardiac arrest" Chase answered him as he continued operating. "So much for our nerve biopsy" Christine said to House. House just looked at her and then it hit him. "I'll be right back, keep your eye on Dr. Chase" he said as he hurried out of the room. Christine just stood there in shock as she saw Dr. House barge his way into the operating room.
"House, what are you doing?" Chase asked as House pushed him out of the way. "I'm calling security" a Nurse said. "We don't have to do a nerve biopsy" House said as he started feeling around inside her open stomach. "We weren't going to do the biopsy anyway" Chase answered him. "Cuddy gave the okay so we were going to do it but…there's really no use in doing it now" House said as he pulled a 25 foot tapeworm from out of her intestines.
Later on that night, House watched as Christine spoke to their patient. "She's going to be fine" Christine said as she came out of the room and handed House the patients report. "I know" House said as he dismissed the report. "How did you figure it out?" Christine asked him as they started to walk down the hallway. "A true Magician never reveals his secrets" House said. "You're not a Magician…you're a Doctor" Christine said. "Technically it's the same thing" House said. Christine just laughed. "Why did you do that?" House asked her. "Do what?" Christine asked him. "You laughed…no one ever laughs at me" House said. "Dr. House…I know all about you…I know what you like and what you don't like…I know what scares you and I know that deep down inside you do care about your patients and that is what makes you an amazing Doctor" Christine explained to him. House just stared at her and then down at the ring on her hand. "Why don't you go home to your fiancée…I'll see you tomorrow" House said as he went to go into his office but she stopped him. "You need to let people in…you're not a very trusting person" Christine said. House just stared blankly at her. "If you wanted to be a Psychologist, you're on the wrong floor" House said to her. "Goodnight Dr. House" Christine said to him with a smile. "Goodnight" House said as he disappeared behind his office door.
