"Wait." Amber and Kutner looked at him with confused expressions. The pair quickly grew concerned when they saw House grasping his leg.
"You're in pain," Amber said quietly. "We're taking too long. You need to remember what you left behind on Earth before the pain becomes more pronounced… maybe even permanent."
"What would happen if it became permanent?" House gave her a stern look, but on the inside, he was extremely worried.
"You would look like that forever," Kutner chimed in, pointing to House's dark garb. "And you would not be allowed to stay here… because of your unfinished business. So we'll leave you alone to think." And in an instant, Kutner and Amber disappeared from House's sight, leaving him alone with the eternal whiteness.
Another jolt of pain coursed through his leg, and House knew that he didn't have much time. Closing his eyes, he focused on his memory of the woman who watched him die.
She has piercing blue eyes, House thought as the image of her became easier to distinguish. And long brown hair… The image of her when he died was complete in his mind, but he still lacked the memory of something important. Her name… is…
Like the time when he remembered his final moments, the memory of her returned to him immediately.
"House," her voice tried to reassure him, "We did everything we could."
House tried to ignore her, but when he turned to look at her, a small, grateful smile spread across his face. She mimicked him, smiling a little in spite of the fact that they lost their patient that day.
"Will you be all right?"There was concern in her eyes.
He thought for a moment and nodded. "Yeah. Thanks." He gave her a small pat on the shoulder and left his office.
A few minutes later, the accident happened. House was laying on the asphalt, bleeding and fading away. She must have left right after I did, he thought. Now she has to see me die. Neither one of us… expected this… Her final words were clear as his eyes closed slowly, her hand firmly holding his.
"Oh no! House, no! Don't go! Please, I…"
But he didn't hear the end of her sentence, because he was already gone.
"Remy…" House said, almost in a whisper. He had returned from his memory but he did not notice the figures sitting across from him until it was too late.
"Remy? You never called Thirteen by her real name before." Kutner looked puzzled. "Is she the reason why you have to go back?"
House stood up suddenly and looked down at them. "Yeah…" The sharp pain that coursed through his leg once again reminded him that he had to hurry. "I have to go now." He headed for the front of the bus as if he was being pulled by some immense force. House reached for the door when he heard Amber's calm voice.
"Good luck, House. We'll be watching."
Looking back at them, House realized that both Amber and Kutner had knowing expressions on their faces. Damn it! What do they know that I don't?
He slowly turned away from the two figures in the aisle to face the door at the front of the bus. Staring at the exit for what seemed hours, House collected his thoughts and pushed the door open, descending into a white abyss, hoping that it would lead him to her.