Chapter four

Twenty minutes into the surgery, Cuddy joined House at the observation window. She looked at him steadily with concerned eyes, and then looked down at the surgery taking place. "How is he?" she asked quietly.

House kept his eyes on the operation. "So far, so good. Taub hasn't cracked up yet, so that's a plus."

"I'm surprised you let him participate."

"He needed something to do. The more he was left on the sidelines, the more he freaked out. 'Idle hands,' blah, blah, blah. Don't get nervous; I'm supervising. The minute he gets in Chase's way, he's out of there."

Both stood silently, watching. Waiting. Several minutes passed.

"Why three shots?" House said under his breath. He was really speaking to himself, but Cuddy heard and was puzzled. "What?" she asked.

"Why would a burglar shoot him three times?" House's mind was spinning now. "The intruder comes in, is surprised to find someone home, so he shoots out of panic. Of course, the idea of taking anything completely goes out the window, and he just wants to get away scot free. You'd think he'd make an escape after that shot, before the noise brought people running." His brain kept testing clues, as though he was bouncing his ideas off his team. "Two shots would even be understandable. The first shot hits Kutner in the shoulder, but doesn't take him out. He fights, or defends himself, or tries to run, or get to the phone, so the guy shoots again, hitting him in the chest. He's going to go down after a hit like that. So you'd think the intruder would make his escape then." House's fingers itched – he really wanted a marker and a whiteboard right now. Things were too scattered, unorganized in his head. "What was the third shot for?"

"House, I know you're upset," Cuddy said gently, "but only two people know what happened today – Kutner, and the shooter. And finding the one depends on the survival of the other. Please, just wait until Kutner is out of danger before obsessing about why it happened. You'll get your answers."

"Not if the police write this off as a failed home invasion."

Cuddy raised her eyebrows in surprise. "That's what it was, though. Foreman said -"

"Foreman doesn't know anything except my speculation. But the more I think about it, the more I think we're missing something. A burglar would watch a place for a couple of days before hitting it, learning the schedule of the tenants, their comings and goings. The perp wouldn't enter at a time when someone would logically be home if theft was the goal. Unless he was a complete idiot." House was getting excited. He went on. "And another thing. Who tries to rob an apartment on the fifth floor? First floor is easy access, second floor, ok, maybe. You climb up a fifth floor fire escape at 9 in the morning and think you're not going to be noticed, you're taking a big risk. Or you're an idiot. And I already mentioned my problem with the three shots-"

"House!" Cuddy had been trying to get a word in edgewise, which was tricky enough on a normal day, but damn near impossible when House was on a rant like this. "Would it make any difference if it had been one well-placed shot, instead of three? Would you honestly feel better about it?" House just stared at her. Cuddy brought her voice down. "Like I said, we don't know any details. We don't know what time this happened, what the circumstances were. Maybe… I don't know, maybe Kutner went for a run or something this morning, and that's when the intruder entered the apartment. Maybe he knew the person and let them inside voluntarily… I don't know. We're all just speculating at this point. Please, just focus your energy on getting Kutner through this." She gently put her hand on his arm, pleading, for the sake of everyone involved.

House looked at her, blue eyes meeting blue. She's right, House thought. It wouldn't be any easier to understand if it had been just one shot. I'm just trying to sort it out in my head. I can't stand not understanding. Kutner was just a kid, really – dorky, unusually clever, annoying, and overly-enthusiastic. For God's sake, he was basically the human equivalent of a golden retriever. He couldn't have done anything to warrant this. It had to be just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. House wasn't used to feeling so much for an employee. He was genuinely surprised at how upset he felt.

It was just a couple of weeks ago that they had playfully sparred over Kutner's superstitious nature. Kutner had proven to be a worthy adversary in the prank department, and House had respected him for it. Then he had allowed Taub to take credit for his diagnosis on the last case, and had stood up for him once he had gone. That had impressed him too. Not just the cleverness of the diagnostic idea, but also Kutner's willingness to stand up for a friend at his own expense. It was a nice thing to do. Sort of noble, in fact. That sort of naïve kindness was rare. While House would mock that sort of behavior openly, inwardly, he admired it. It was a quality that might not last forever, as the cynicism of age and hardship took its toll. It might get Kutner into trouble someday – In fact, it may have already, House thought as he watched the surgical ballet unfold below him.

Nearly three hours later, House wandered back to his office to find the rest of his team. Foreman and Hadley were talking in the office about their other patient, who was apparently experiencing liver problems. They both jumped to attention when House entered, nervously awaiting a report. "Oh for God's sake, unclench! This isn't the military," House rolled his eyes. "The surgery went okay, considering where the bullets hit. Heart and lungs are alright. He lost a kidney, though. Might take a day or so for the other one to start compensating. For right now, he's doing ok. Taub's with him." He looked around tiredly. "Are Kutner's parents on the way?"

Foreman, relieved to know his colleague was still in the land of the living for the moment, responded a bit hesitantly, "We haven't been able to get in touch with them yet."

"You've had three damn hours! What, you tried once, right after I told you to, and then forgot to duplicate the effort?" House was incredulous.

"House, there was only one number listed for them, and the answering machine picked up every single time. We finally left a message for them, but we are still trying. We don't have cell or work listings for them."

"It's possible they got your message already and just jumped in the car and are en route. They live in New Brunswick right? Might be stuck in traffic. Keep trying until you talk to a live human being or until they show up in person, whichever comes first." House turned and headed back out the door.

"Wait, where are you going?" asked Hadley.

"Day sucks. Need coffee. Or something stronger."

Taub settled into his chair. He was still in his scrubs, as he had to throw out his ruined suit. They had moved Kutner to an intensive care room following surgery and had started him on his third transfusion of the day. His skin was still pale, but he no longer looked gray. His hands were still chilled, but the monitors showed his temperature was only about a degree below normal, so there was nothing to be alarmed about there. Taub had remained with him every moment since the surgery ended. He knew that when Kutner eventually woke up, he would be in an incredible amount of pain, and he might not remember the reason why right away. Taub didn't want him to be alone, in case he panicked.

It was only a half past 4, but the sky was already dark from the inclement weather that had persisted all day. He rubbed his eyes. Worry was exhausting. He finally felt like he could breathe a little bit. The surgery had not had any major complications, though Kutner had lost a kidney. Taub had been professional and above reproach, but he had also held his breath the entire three hours. He still wouldn't feel completely at ease until Kutner opened his eyes and spoke to him, but at least he was out of immediate danger. It was much easier to believe he would eventually be okay, now that he wasn't gushing blood everywhere.

Taub looked up when the door to the room slid open. House shuffled in, with a big white bag in his hand. He limped over to the other chair and sat, then proceeded to silently open the bag and set out various cartons of Chinese food. Taub just stared in surprise. House returned the stare, mocking his incredulity. "Yeah, this is all for me," he said sarcastically. "I'm trying to bulk up. And I know you're not hungry at all after upchucking your breakfast and working nonstop through lunchtime." He opened his kung pao chicken and began to eat, as though dining in a critically injured patient's room was the most natural thing in the world. Then again, he does snack in the coma patient's rooms all the time, Taub thought as he resignedly picked out a carton for himself. Upon smelling the contents his stomach let out a rumble, and he realized just how hungry he was. "Thanks," he said quietly. This is weird. House has spent weeks torturing me, and now he's…what…keeping me company? Or else he's waiting for Kutner to wake up too, so he can pounce on him with questions. Yeah, that's probably more likely than hell actually freezing over. Taub felt a little guilty for not giving House the benefit of the doubt, but truthfully, it was hard not to suspect his motives.

"Don't know how long you were planning on staying, but Kutner's parents haven't arrived yet," House spoke up suddenly.

Taub mentally went over the past few days' conversations with Kutner. "Wait, I think he said something about their anniversary being this week. He said…what was it? He was going to have dinner with them one night, and then they were going on some sort of getaway, I think? Oh, crap, I'm too tired to remember what exactly he said about it, but they were having some big thing."

"Well, that'll sure put a damper on the romance. They come home from a second honeymoon and find out their son was almost killed while they were gone." House reached for a fork, finding the chopsticks to be rather unwieldy. "Well, at least we don't have to deal with hovering parents trying to smother him right away."

"They'll be concerned, and yes, they'll probably hover, but why would you think they'd be smothering him? Kutner has never said anything to indicate they're like that. I believe he said, and I'm quoting here they're 'cool'."

"Think about it. Kutner came to them a little kid who had just witnessed his parents' deaths. Not to mention he was of a different race, a different culture. You try and tell me he didn't have issues growing up."

"Well, he doesn't seem to have issues anymore. He loves his parents. I'm sure it took a while to get over what happened, but he's an adult -"

"He's an adult who only today became the victim of a second violent crime and nearly died," House interrupted. "If he didn't have issues before, he'll certainly have them now. Who in the world has that sort of bad luck anyway?" House gave a small grimace. "Yeesh, I'm actually rather wishing I hadn't made such a big deal with Death Cat."

Taub actually gave a small smile, recalling Kutner's odd fear of the gray cat that had roamed the office for several days. "I really don't think he minded all that much, to tell you the truth."

They were suddenly interrupted by Cuddy's appearance at the door. "House, I need you."

House waggled his eyebrows at Taub. "I've been waiting for her to admit that all day. That new Axe body spray works just like in the commercials!" Cuddy rolled her eyes. "Don't eat my fortune cookie."

Cuddy waited for the door to close and started walking briskly down the hallway. House had to adapt a bit of a skip to his limp to keep up with her. Cuddy could rarely outpace him, especially in her typical footwear. She spoke hurriedly. "Police are here, need to ask questions."

"Well, Kutner isn't exactly ready for that, seeing as how he's unconscious and all."

"I need you to promise me you will cooperate with them and not be an obnoxious ass."

"When am I ever anything but charming to our boys in blue?" She didn't crack a smile. House was a bit confused. Cuddy had dropped the caring demeanor she had shown in the operating theater. She was still moving and speaking in an uber-professional manner. Was she mad about something? Why was she being so abrupt? He racked his brain for what he could have possibly done to piss her off today, but he came up empty. He had been too preoccupied with Kutner to even look at her breasts.

She stopped just before they exited the ICU wing. "House, for the love of everything good and holy, I'm begging you, please, please, pleeeease, just work with the cops on this, for Kutner's sake?"

She went to open the heavy door to the central lobby, and House followed close behind, ready to call her on this 180-degree shift in her behavior. "Cuddy, I want answers even more than they do – I thought we established that earlier. Why are you so worried I'm not going to cooperate with the police?"

"Well, Dr. House, you can't blame her, given our history," a vaguely familiar voice spoke up just behind him, causing him to whirl around. It was a very rare moment when Gregory House was left utterly speechless.

Detective Tritter smirked at him and smacked his gum.