Chapter 4

House stood there in utter disbelief. The remaining pile of scaffold collapsed in on itself. All across the building site an eerie hush descended. Everything seemed to be caught in slow motion. Suddenly everyone seemed to jump back into normal time and several of the medical team and fire department ran for the collapsed structure. House was a second behind them. Of course he couldn't run, and with the rough terrain to navigate he couldn't even limp as fast as he normally could.

All he could think of was finding Cameron. Surely she hadn't been inside the wreckage when it had collapsed? Had she? House's heart seemed to skip a beat. What would he tell Cuddy, Foreman, Wilson. "Oh my God - what will I tell the wombat?" House thought and then stopped himself. He didn't even know if Cameron was underneath all that metal yet.

By the time House reached the other emergency service personnel at the wreckage it looked like absolute chaos. There were people moving all over the surface of the wreckage, others were desperately pulling pieces of metal, wood and other items off the top of the pile and hurling them as far away as possible. It was obvious to House that someone was still trapped underneath, but who? He searched the crowd desperately for Cameron. He saw someone who looked like her from behind - she was roughly the right height and build, she was wearing the same over sized overalls and helmet. House grabbed her by the arm and span her round.

"Hey!" said one of the junior doctors from the ER "House, what are you doing?" Most of the staff in the ER knew House. He could often be found hanging around, annoying Cameron. Many of the staff often wondered whether there was more to the relationship between the two doctors but most dismissed this when they saw Cameron and Chase together. They were obviously close and very much in love. No-one could imagine Cameron cheating on Chase - and certainly not with someone like House.

Cameron was very popular within her department. She took a keen and genuine interest in both her staff and her patients. She gave praise where praise was due but was also tough enough to deal with the errors that were inevitably made. That was the toughness she had learnt from House.

"Where's Cameron?" House asked still holding the other woman by the arm. He looked at her as her face changed from one of annoyance to one of concern.

"You haven't heard, have you?" the woman said in a gentle voice which seemed very out of place in such chaotic surroundings "House, she was still in there when that thing collapsed. She'd found another casualty but wouldn't leave him. Everyone else in accounted for. House, are you listening to me?"

House was looking past the junior doctor to the twisted wreckage behind her. He vaguely heard her talking but had faded out after she had confirmed his worse fears. He let go of the junior and tried to make his way toward the centre of the commotion. He suddenly became aware of the Fire Chief shouting through a loudhailer.

"HEY!! Listen up people!! I need everyone to stop where they are right now!" Everyone seemed to hear him at the same time and stopped dead in their tracks "Look, I know one of your own is under here but I need you all to get out of here. My men have it under control. We're trying to get back down there now. When I need some medical assistance I'll shout up but right now its too dangerous for you all to be up here. Now get back!" the Chief finished his little speech and everyone dutifully started to move back - everyone, that is, apart from House.

"Hey you!! Are you deaf? I said get down" the Chief yelled again. House moved but in the direction of the Chief rather than away from him. He careful maneuvered his way over the twisted metal. The Chief started down the pile and met House halfway. "I said are you deaf?"

"Deaf and crippled? Man, that would be some bad luck" House replied "Now, why don't you get out of my way so I can get up there and we can avoid an incident."

"Are you crazy? We have two people at least trapped under this thing, I have no idea who you are and you just expect me to let you up there? Yeah right - let's go." With that the Chief grabbed hold of House's arm and started to lead him away. House snatched his arm back and grabbed the Chief collar with his free hand.

"I seriously suggest not touching me again otherwise you may be introduced to my cane here via an orifice you really don't want it to see" House leaned in closer and almost whispered "Especially in front of your men." House straightened up ancd continued "Now, how do I get up there without crippling my other leg?" House held the Chief's stare.

"Who the hell are you?" the Chief asked.

"You mean you don't know? I'm crushed" House said sarcastically holding a dramamtic hand to his chest "I used to be Dr Cameron's boss and I'm gonna be the one who looks after her when your idiots get her out."

"Hey, your doctor was the one who stayed down there when my man told her to get out - now, if you wanna talk stupid..." the Chief didn't get chance to finish what he was going to say before House dropped his cane and grabbed him again but this time with both hands.

"For your own health and safety do not finish that sentence." House spat at the man through clenched teeth "Get me up there right now."

"Let me go and we'll see what I can do" the chief replied. House obliged and the Chief straightened out his tunic. House struggled to bend down and retrieve his cane. The Chief lead him to the top of the wreckage "Stand there and don't move unless I tell you to." For once House did as he was told.

He took a moment to look around at the madness that he found himself in the middle of. There were medical personnel retreating down the pile, leaving him, the pompous Fire Chief and four of his men at the top. To give him his dues, the Chief was organising his men and getting them moving.

"You two - I want you to start from the top and starting assessing what we can move and what needs to stay put. You" he said pointing to another man "I want you to go back down and start collecting ropes and whatever you can lay your hands on to start securing this stuff before it starts shifting again." This man scuttled off and the Chief rounded on the last man "You - I want you on the radio - see if you can get a reply. It might not work through this much debris but it's worth a try."

At this, House started forward "What radio? And before you say it I know I wasn't supposed to move but what can I say? I'm a regular pain in the ass."

The Chief already looked like he was tired of fighting House and simply replied "Cameron was given a flashlight and a radio before she was allowed down there. Not sure if it will work but ..."

House again interrupted the Chief's sentence "Gimme" he said snatching the other handset of the fireman "Show me what to do. Hey, at least if I've got something to play with it'll keep me out of your hair. Assuming you have some under that helmet."

The Chief looked at House in disgust "Just show him how to use it, I've got more important things to do." With this he scrambled away and started barking out more orders.

"Just press this button here and it should transmit. Once you've finished speaking let go again and wait for the reply. Simple really" the fireman said.

"Yeah, if a dumb jerk fireman can use it I'm sure I can." Before the fireman had a chance to reply House was speaking into the handset. "Cameron? Cameron, can you hear me? I know you're down there - you can't ignore me. If you can hear me, let me know" House almost pleaded over the radio. He waited for a reply but all he got was static.

Somewhere below House's current location ...

Cameron lay there in the pitch black about 2 feet away from Sam, the other casualty she had found.

Sam had already suffered internal injuries from the original accident and these had been aggravated by the newest collapse. Both of his legs were trapped under twisted metal and, whilst he was still conscious, he hadn't been able to feel them from the knee down. His right arm had also been crushed and was most definitely broken in several places. He was suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration from the intense heat under the wreckage. The period of unconsciousness had brought some much needed relief.

Cameron had also been knocked unconcious by the collapse. This had been instantaneous and she wasn't yet aware of her injuries. She was also pinned at the legs by twisted metal. One jagged piece had entered the underside of her left calf and come all the way through. She was bleeding heavily from the wound. She had suffered head trauma despite the heavy helmet she had been wearing.

In the dark, the radio which had been sending out nothing but static suddenly blared into life

"Cameron? Cameron, can you hear me? I know you're down there - you can't ignore me. If you can hear me, let me know"

Cameron was in no position to reply.