December, Late Autumn: Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, Princeton, New Jersey
House headed to the cafeteria as soon as he entered the front door of the hospital. He needed a cup of coffee. He turned and told both Thirteen and Sullivan to go up to the office to check to see if there was a case. No doubt that Thirteen would still try to council Sullivan, but it was too late. The kid was his. He found Wilson and Foreman in the cafeteria when he entered. They were having lunch with Cameron and Chase. He saw Foreman and all he did was smile at him. "It's done." Foreman said to House with a smile. Cameron and Chase added their clapping hands to the scene while Foreman slapped House's shoulder and Chase and Cameron smiled proudly at the triumphant return of their boss. Cameron gave him a quick hug, another one he did not see coming. House reveled in triumph, like the day he had gotten the rug, which he had bled on, reinstalled in his office. The original team returned to their seats while Wilson began to get up from his table. House stalked past him, not waiting for anything he had to say. House made his way over to the coffee stand while Wilson followed after him. House stopped to get his coffee and a bite to eat while he was at it. Wilson walked up to House.
"You owe me." Wilson said.
"For?" House inquired.
"Calling Stacy, I don't think my left ear will ever be the same, but she did agree to come in and help. As a favor to me of course." Wilson said with some pride.
"Good, then she's in. Good! What's been going on since I've been gone?" House asked.
"Well, Stacy said she would drop by in a few weeks, she's busy with a case of a legal nature. It will be finishing up in two or three weeks time, Foreman is officially on 'sabbatical,' but I don't think he will stay away long and Sullivan was sued. How convenient since you've returned to the head of diagnostics." Wilson replied. House took a sip of coffee and smiled a mad grin at Wilson.
"All is right with the world again." He said, walking past him. Wilson quickly followed after him.
"You're sure about what you're doing now, right? Wilson asked concerned.
"If you are referring to the stress of the job and my past with seeing people who are not really there, then you have nothing to worry about. I haven't seen anything for months. Detox is finally over. I'm better." House replied.
"You'll be sure to keep me posted."
House stopped and looked at Wilson annoyed, "Will you stop being a Mother Hubbard. I haven't seen any delusions in months. I've only been taking regular pain meds, which don't do anything, for my leg and I've been getting through this. You were right about the pills. But, I'm better now."
"Alright. Plus, Cuddy told me you guys have a case, so you might want to get up there." Wilson replied.
"On my way to do what I do best." House replied as he walked away from Wilson to go to the elevators to finally return to his office.
"House." Wilson called. House turned around annoyed.
"What?" House asked, annoyed that he was being delayed.
"You'll need this." Wilson replied, tossing something into the air. House caught it with his right hand, his cane over his wrist. It was his beeper. House gave Wilson a reassuring nod and entered the elevators to take him to his floor, his kingdom. House couldn't help but smile. He was back, not as good as he was, but he could return there and he would. The elevator hummed and finally came to his floor. He would soon stroll into his office like days of old. It truly was a triumph, he felt like one of the returning conquering generals to Rome. The doors opened and House made his way to his office. An imaginative triumph in his mind took place before him, seeing patients past and present cheering and throwing confetti, both teams leading the march in. He could even imagine either Cuddy or Wilson saying to him Remember you are mortal. Actually it was more Wilson he could see saying that. Cuddy would be the Pièce de résistance, in bed of course.
"Dr. House." A quick voice suddenly spoke. House turned, broken from his reverie, in the direction of the voice, belonging to Sebastian Mason. House had never really taken a long look at him, he did however loath his entire existence. The man had his dark hair slicked back, it seemed to show off his blue eyes. His face was dashing, handsome with dimples. He was clean shaven, his clothes all pressed and topped off with his pressed lab coat. His frame was thin but muscular. He did not look too much older than Cuddy. He did however have an annoying school boy look, like Rob Lowe.
"Yes, Dr. Gigolo?" House said sarcastically.
Mason gave a mock laugh, crossing his arms in front of him. "Very funny, Dr. House. I just wanted to stop you very quickly, I would like to get better acquainted with you and I don't believe we've had the chance to. I'm Dr. Sebastian Mason."
"Let's cut to the chase here, you're not introducing yourself to get better acquainted."
"Dr. House I assure you, that's all I'm doing, I'm not trying to engage you in any kind of verbal…"
"You're such a liar." House practically yelled out. He already could not stand this guy, he even talked too fast like Rob Lowe, especially in that deep voice kind of way from the "West Wing." It was annoying just to stand there with him. House immediately began to move again, breaking up the conversation between him and Mason.
"Very well, Dr. House, I do want to confront you on a matter very important to me." Mason said. House turned with a knowing grin, already deducing what Mason wanted to talk about. House slowly moved back toward him, advancing slowly. Mason watched House undaunted and undeterred in his speech, "It is about the relationship you have with Dr. Cuddy." Mason continued, " I know you two have some history together, but I'm here to warn you to leave her alone. She's engaged to me now, I love her and she loves me."
"You don't know the first thing about Lisa." House said deeply and confidently.
"I know enough, now leave her alone. She's mine now. I know what you've been trying to do for the last couple of months. You had your chance, Greg and…-"
"You think she's yours?" House said interrupting.
House eyed Mason narrowly with anger and contempt. It was a look that caused Mason to stop talking as House approached. Was House going to punch him? House held him dead center in his eye, "Listen, I'm sure you are use to getting whatever you want and that you were probably the immature jock leader of your high school baseball, football, basketball, whatever team. The fact is, I'm not so easily intimidated by your immature, jock strutting. It may have won over all those cheer leaders, but I am not so easily swayed." House moved away, angry and annoyed heading back to his office, each step with increased pain. Mason watched him walk away, a pleased look crossing his features. The encounter with House was necessary, now he knew his measure. He would not let Cuddy get away that easily. Now things would start to get interesting around here, Mason thought with a smile. He stalked down the hallway.
House would not allow his encounter with Mason to throw him off. He entered his office and looked around. Everything was in its place, exactly as he had left it. He looked to his left and saw Taub, Thirteen and Sullivan in the adjoining office, talking, drinking coffee, some of them taking notes. House walked to his desk and placed his coffee down. He picked up a file folder and looked over the contents of the file. He popped a few pain meds in his mouth and sat down in his chair while he swallowed the pills. He felt like a returning king sitting down at his throne once more. He took a moment to savor the moment and the feeling. "I'm back." House said to himself.
He smiled and as quickly as it came, it left his mouth. He got up, picked up the rest of the files about the patient's condition, walked to the door, connecting his office with the team's, and walked in. "Patient experiences difficulty breathing and staying conscious for long periods of time. Nose bleeds are frequent. Diagnosis, go!" He said as he threw the files on the table and headed to the white board. Sullivan passed the files to Thirteen and Taub. House began to write on the board and listened to the chorus of the team. First it began with Thirteen, then Taub and finally Sullivan. House wrote down the ideas as they came. God, it was good to be back House thought happily, an unstoppable smile on his face. The team could not see this because his back was to them, thankfully.
*
Three weeks Later: Christmas Eve
Cuddy had been having trouble getting another babysitter since her usual one had been gone. She did not want to, but she had begun to take Rachel with her to work. Not that she really mind, she just rather keep her at home. There was an unfortunate image of a strong Dean of Medicine she had to display. She wondered what it would take to get a day care center put in the hospital, something new to campaign for among the donors she thought. Rachel had been getting bigger, she was already starting to walk around, and she was beginning to enjoy moving all on her own power. Cuddy made sure to bring plenty of coloring books for her. Watching her coloring kept distracting her and Cameron, a meeting which should have been about ten minutes had gone on to taking thirty minutes because they were both distracted by Rachel.
Cuddy and Cameron looked up at the sound of hearing Cuddy's office door opening, both half expecting it to be House.
"Hi, Stacy." Cameron said with a smile. Cuddy gave her a kind smile. Stacy put her bag down and sat down on the side of one of Cuddy's chairs.
"Hello, Cameron. Lisa." She said some what tiredly. She looked over Rachel's work and sat quietly with her until Lisa was done with Cameron. Cuddy and Cameron finished talking about the needs for the ER and Cameron informed Cuddy what else could be done with the community outreach program. Extending it to helping the poor of the community to find free medical care. Cuddy wrote down her suggestions and complimented Cameron's abilities on making the ER one of the best departments in the hospital. Cameron and Cuddy concluded their meeting and Cameron collected her things, got up, gave Stacy another smile and told her she would see her around later and left. Stacy advanced to Cuddy's desk and took up the seat Cameron had vacated. Cuddy continued to scribble notes to herself as well as sign some other documents. She had forgotten that Stacy was in her office.
"You ever take a break?" Stacy asked. Cuddy immediately looked up embarrassed.
"Can't at this moment." Cuddy replied. Rachel quickly rushed over to Cuddy to show her a picture she had just finished coloring. This broke her concentration as she looked over at her. "What have you got there?' Cuddy asked with a smile as she brought the young girl into her lap to get a better look at the picture.
"She compliments you immensely." Stacy said with a smile, so happy to see Lisa happy. Cuddy looked back up at with a smile that was ear to ear. She wanted to stay on happy things, but Stacy was here, and where Stacy was, no doubt a conversation involving House was not too far away.
"So how did your deposition of Sullivan go?"
"Very well, the kid has a sharp memory not all unlike a certain someone." Stacy said with an angry glance.
"I know all about him. Be thankful you haven't heard many of the nick names he's been called. You didn't run into Greg did you?"
"No, thankfully. He was in his office with Chase and his other fellows. I was able to depose Sullivan right there in the differential room. House raced out of the office. Haven't seen him all day since hearing his voice."
"Then maybe you can stay here awhile, shield me from him. He might not be too inclined to come in here if you're here." Cuddy replied.
"Consider me your human shield." Stacy said with a smile.
"I've missed you." Lisa said to Stacy with a smile as she allowed Rachel to color her picture on her desk.
"And I you, Lisa. You know you really should take me up on taking a break more often. It would allow you to stop and make a phone call from time to time." Stacy jokingly scolded.
"I've been meaning to for a long time now, I'm sorry. It's just business here at the hospital and trying to control House and everything he pulls, especially with what's happened to him recently." Cuddy watched a surprised, confused and interesting look cross over Stacy's features.
"Many people have been saying that. Wilson, you, Chase. Each of them wiggled out of it and changed the subject. What new thing did he do this time?"
"I thought you knew? Cuddy said in amazement.
"No, I haven't kept in contact with him. What happened?" Stacy asked.
"He…Well, I don't know where to begin with this."
"Oh, this must have been classic for him." Stacy said, changing her seated position.
"It's not anything like that. He…experienced hallucinations and delusions. He spent the summer in a psychiatric hospital down in Pennsylvania."
Cuddy watched Stacy's features drop, the bemused look on her face gone and her eyes opened wide in surprise. "What?" She asked in amazement.
**
Wilson felt tired, very tired some what close to burn out. He always felt this way this time of year. The patients, the work load, schedules, some of the antics with House were all very wearing on one's personal health. In any case, he looked forward to the hospital's Christmas parties which would be the start of the holiday vacations. And how he was looking forward to it. Wilson starched in his chair, throwing his arms back and yawning. He looked at his half full coffee cup, which did not seem to be doing the trick. He got up, picked up his coat and walked to his balcony door. Perhaps the cold air would shock him awake. He threw the coat on and opened the door, the cold air instantly hitting his face as he walked out. He almost double backed when he saw someone lying on the divider that separated the balconies between his office and House's.
Wilson stepped forward, investigating who was lying there. "Sullivan?" He said surprised. The kid was lying there only in his New Jersey Devils hoodie sweater, the hood pulled up over his head of course. Thin streams of air raced out of his nose, his hands linked together, like if he were praying, with his index fingers pushing against one another. Sullivan opened his eyes to find Wilson looking at him.
"Hello Dr. Wilson." Sullivan said sitting up.
"What are you doing?" Wilson asked weirdly.
Sullivan smiled at the look Wilson gave him, "I know it looks weird, but I came out here to clear my head. The current case has dried me up, plus it felt stuffy in there."
"How long have you been out here." Wilson asked.
"About an hour I guess. I'll probably catch something, it'll be my own fault."
"You don't think that something like the cold would do that would you?" Wilson mentally chided himself, he usually talked that way to House.
Sullivan smiled, "I already told you it would be my own fault. Why are you out here?"
"To wake up." Wilson replied.
"They make caffeinated beverages for that." Sullivan informed.
"Then maybe we should be standing out here with hot coffee and talking instead." Wilson replied.
"We'll have to try that next time." Sullivan replied as he pulled his legs under him and sat on them. He crossed his arms so his hands could warm up. Wilson invited him into his office. Sullivan jumped down and walked in with him.
"So, how are things going?" Wilson asks hanging up his coat.
"Well, the current case that we're working on right now is driving me crazy. House keeps getting surgical consults from Chase. We've been prepared to operate like three or four times now, and every time we keep finding a new symptom that prevents us. It's the main reason I was out side, trying to think. I haven't left the hospital in almost four days now." Sullivan said exasperated.
"You might want to start bringing an over night bag." Wilson informed him.
"Dr. Foreman use to let us go home around midnight. But, House, he's driving all of us pretty hard. He goes home, we stay."
"He's always done that. Get use to it." Wilson replied, glad that there was another change House hadn't made. "What about your recent legal woes?" Wilson asked.
"Well, I was concerned before, until I met the attorney who was hired to defend me. She seems very knowledgeable, I think she's going to help me a lot."
"Stacy is like that." Wilson said.
"You know her?"
"Yes, we're old friends. She uh, actually used to date your mentor." Wilson smiled at himself for using that word. He also took note that Sullivan did not even try to separate himself from House being called his mentor. He just accepted it. For months, Sullivan had been called "House's Apprentice" or the "young House." He had just heard a recent one calling him "House's son." Sullivan had only been here a short time and Wilson was already impressed by the aura that permeated from him. While under Forman's tenure he was able to solve five cases on his own, and even managed to diagnosis a few patients before performing an exam. Word traveled fast about this kid and apparently a lack of a social life followed him.
Sullivan turned this piece of information over in his head, "That would probably explain why he was in such a rush to finish the differential with Taub, Thirteen and Chase in his office. I take it things did not end well?" Sullivan asked.
"That's an understatement." Wilson replied dryly.
"That would explain the expedience he took to escape his office right before she came in. You know he saw her coming? If the man could still run I think he would have been in New York." Sullivan caused Wilson to laugh.
"House is lucky that he hasn't been hunted down yet and his head cut off." Wilson said with a smile.
"I haven't seen him since she interviewed me and deposed me earlier in the day. Kept thinking about the case but wasn't paged about it."
"I think you're going to be surprised about that." Wilson replied.
"What makes you think that?" Sullivan asked.
"HEY WILSON!" House yelled and then the door to Wilson's office opened and House barged in. "Have you seen… oh how convenient." House said stepping into the office.
"Speak of the Devil. I was wondering when you were going to drop by." Wilson said.
"I've been looking for this one. Did you get my pages?" House demanded to know from Sullivan while throwing him his pager.
"I was trying to think…"
"Thinking is not enough! Separating yourself from your pager was a bad idea. A life is on the line! Don't you know that?" House said cutting him off.
"I…"
"Don't apologize, it's worthless. Now come on, we have a patient to go save." Sullivan got up and walked past House and out into the hallway.
"A little harsh?" Wilson asked. House turned to him with his eyes narrowed.
"Be back later." House replied as he stalked out of Wilson's office and slammed the door.
"God help the kid." Wilson said to himself.
House and Sullivan reached the elevators while House was annoyingly informing him of all the steps that were being taken by the team to save the patient's life. Sullivan threw out some ideas, but House kept knocking them down. Sullivan knew he would have to do better. House clicked the elevator button and waited for the elevator to come. He kept talking to Sullivan and noticed down the hallway, where his office is, he could see Mason walking through the double doors leading to another wing of the hospital. House kept loathing the very sight of him. His office must be on this floor, he theorized. The elevator doors opened. Sullivan had to repeat an idea to House, due to his earlier distraction. Both of them climbed onto the elevator while Sullivan spoke. House clicked a button for another floor. "Let's go test it out." He told Sullivan as the doors closed.
***
Cuddy, Rachel and Stacy had gotten a late lunch. They had been so enthralled with catching up that Cuddy had cancelled her schedule for the rest of the afternoon. They had been eating when Sebastian showed up and joined their meal. Stacy was thrilled to meet him, seeing as how Lisa asked her if she would be her maid of honor. How could she refuse Lisa? Their conversation continued from Stacy learning how they met to what kind of ceremony it would be to the present. While during this lively conversation between the three; Cuddy suddenly realized that she had kept Rachel locked up in the hospital all day. The kid was going to need some time to run around. Cuddy checked her watch and saw that it was three in the afternoon which meant it wouldn't be dark for another hour and a half. She suggested that they go outside where they could stretch their legs. Mason left to get his coat from his office while Cuddy and Stacy returned to her office so that she could get Rachel dressed up in her snow suit. This took a few minutes longer then expected to get Rachel dressed, but she managed and then picked up her coat and scarf. Cuddy and Stacy walked out, Rachel being the center of attention by the nurses who practically melted over how cute she looked. Stacy held the door while Cuddy held Rachel's hand, walking her out. The child practically waved to everyone on the way out of the clinic.
As Cuddy left the clinic, she quickly looked to her right to see House and his team rush past the elevators to another wing of the hospital. In addition to House's regulars, he had also pulled Chase and Cameron along as well, probably as consults no doubt or he was trying to drive them mad. Cuddy didn't care; she just wanted to get her daughter outside. They decided to meet up with Mason outside, who called to inform them that he had a quick call he had to make. Cuddy and Stacy soon reached the main doors and were met by the cold afternoon chill as they went outside.
House paced back and forth in the MRI room, thinking and pondering. Taub, Thirteen and Sullivan sounded off different parts of the patient's internals that looked normal and clear. House realized that something was still not adding up, he couldn't put the pieces together yet. He also quickly took note that his leg was not bothering him as much as it had the last couple of months. It was allowing him to think more clearly. But, there would be time to dwell on that later.
****
"Nothing." Thirteen concluded.
"There must be something there." House said.
"Then we're looking in the wrong places." Taub said looking up from the computer. House would not accept the diagnosis of nothing. He would find the answer, he had to. House looked up to see the patient being extricated from the MRI machine. He thought over all the different possible answers in his mind. He ordered Thirteen to do a CAT scan. She got up to get the patient and take her back to her room so that she could prep her for the CAT scan. Taub and Sullivan remained, discussing other ideas with House. House turned to Taub and ordered him to perform a lumbar puncture on the patient. Taub got up and left the room. That left House and Sullivan alone in the computer room. Sullivan studied all the MRI scans carefully, going over every square inch. He looked up, took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. He then realized he was the only one left in the room with House. House was leaning against the wall, running through possible scenarios in his head.
"What do you need me to do?" Sullivan asked. House ran through more possibilities, but nothing seemed right. He looked down at his watch: 3:30 PM. He needed to clear his head and get a fresh perspective. He opened the door to exit the room.
"Grab your coat, you're coming with me." House said. Sullivan saved the results of the MRI scan and loaded them on to the diagnostic server. He then sent copies to the rest of the team.
"Didn't you hear me?" House said poking his head back in, "Get your coat, we still have business to discuss before I go home." Sullivan sighed and got up so that he could head back to the differential room to get his coat and gloves.
*****
Cuddy and Stacy had been catching up with each other and Lisa had learned the depths of which Stacy and her husband Mark had gone to heal the rift in their marriage. A rift purposely ripped open by House and then when he had enough, he left. It was something that neither of them could forgive him for. It had been rough for Stacy, but she decided that she wanted to remain married to Mark and still wanted to be his wife. With Mark's own physical therapy, he was starting to be able to walk again with leg braces and crutches. They were soon joined by Mason and they walked along together, keeping an eye on Rachel, allowing her to play in the park near the hospital. Cuddy's pager had gone off a couple of times, allowing Stacy and Mason to get better acquainted. She called the hospital to check on her patients and to make other arrangements. She looked across the walk way and on another end of the park; she saw House and Sullivan walking together, most likely talking about their current case.
Cuddy immediately felt upset, noting that House had won yet again. Sullivan had truly become his protégé, his apprentice. She noticed that he had more frequently come into the hospital dressed in jeans and sneakers and that there were times he had gone unshaven. For months she and House, in a way, had a proverbial battle for the new doctor's future and career. She had gotten involved all the way back when she first saw the two playing the piano. Again, she realized, mentally kicking herself, House had won the battle. And again Cuddy was left with an icy feeling in her stomach, a feeling she had come to identify as her own jealousy. Jealous that House had won another victory in their private war. Like so many times before, she had been jealous of House for his inexplicable powers of deduction to solve so many cases. It was those reasoning capabilities that in a way always drew her to him. She really could not begin to explain her relationship with him. To many they appeared to be enemies, but she did not consider House her enemy. She remembered how she corrected Cameron that one time when she joined a case. For all that Lisa Cuddy was, she never could bring herself to hate him. She respected him too much. And, as she could tell from the few times that House admitted it, she knew he respected her as well. She need only think back to the Sloan case and the time when he asked her who he thought should be hired for the new diagnostic team.
She then thought back on his most recent revelation as to why he would annoy her. Had it been part of a much larger game or was he telling the truth? He was off the opiates for the second time in his life now and she couldn't help but think back to that original three month period when he was clean. Was it because of the drugs that she didn't trust his full opinion? She concluded again that he had no medical reasoning. And then she stood back in silence as he relapsed and went back to the drugs. Again, she felt responsible in some ways for him. She and Stacy had set him on this path and it was something that always saddened her. But, she felt secure that she would make the same choice again if she had to do it all over again.
And what of her recent history with House? Her feelings all those months after he kissed her and her own attempts to try and bring him along went no where and only continued the tension and bitterness between them. The debacle over Rachel's Simchat bat which resulted, no doubt to her, to him going more and more into himself and his own seclusion and misery. Then not to mention how he acted before he went to Mayfield over the summer. Such a complicated man created such a complicated relationship. But, she could see small changes in the man, he did apologize to her. And then made an ass…no, made fun of himself when he told the hospital that everything he had said was not true.
She snapped out of her reverie when the nurse on the phone asked her for her advice again. She noticed now that House and Sullivan had rounded a corner and where now on the walk way where the park met the street. She turned around again to look at the small playground and saw that Mason and Stacy were still deeply engaged in their conversation. She looked to the top of the slide, to the jungle bars to the see saws. Where was Rachel? Cuddy wondered as her eyes slowly made their way around the play ground, her instructions over the phone began to trail off as she searched the area more thoroughly. Then Cuddy spotted her little girl. Immediately she felt herself unable to speak or move, fear and panic gripping her entire body. "RACHEL!!!" Cuddy suddenly screamed across the park, dropping the phone, finally finding the will to run as fast as she could as she felt her high heels fall off her feet.
*****
House and Sullivan had been very engaged in their conversation. The fresh air seemed to be doing them some good. They had already come up with another set of testing possibilities for the patient to diagnosis them. House concluded that Sullivan had done his penance for the day. House looked over to the park's playground and saw Cuddy, Stacy and Mason. He immediately averted his eyes from Cuddy and the thought of Mason. If he began thinking about either one of them, it would break his concentration and thought process.
"I think we have a new path to go along now." Sullivan said confidently.
"Yeah." Was House's response. The two talked about other considerations and what else could be gleamed from Thirteen and Taub. House would keep this little excursion private from the other two. He did not need to show favoritism in front of them. The team still had to work well together so that he could take the credit and reject their opinions. House continued on about other possible treatments as he and Sullivan rounded a bend in the path. House was conversing about the patient's condition but could tell Sullivan's attention was else where.
"Hey isn't that Dr. Cuddy's daughter?" Sullivan suddenly asked in a panic. House, broken from his differential reverie, looked in the same direction as Sullivan, remembering that Cuddy had been bringing the child to work a lot lately. House recognized the small child right away. His own eyes opened in panic as well.
"RACHEL!!!" House suddenly heard Cuddy's voice and rushing feet. In an instant, House realized that Sullivan was no longer beside him but running, running faster then he had ever seen another man run across the park's concrete surface and into the street. Rachel was playing in the street, chasing a squirrel and a lone on coming car, driving thirty miles above the speed limit, was heading straight toward her. House picked up his pace, but his leg wouldn't let him go any faster. He watched Sullivan's receding form as he ran faster and faster toward the little girl. House didn't think he would make it.
As soon as Sullivan had finished his question to House he had begun to run, run faster then he ever did during his entire time when he was at Fordham Prep. He couldn't even hear Dr. Cuddy scream. He was focused and determined. He fought the cold air entering his lungs and a sudden pain in his side. All he knew was that he had to run. This was where he had to prove he was worthy of that gold metal. Everything seemed to move in slow motion. He felt his feet leave the park's macadam and touch down hard on the black and white streets of Princeton. He could feel warm saliva and mucus in his mouth. He clentched his teeth as he felt his thigh and calf muscles burn with atrophy after not moving at this speed for so long. He watched the kid stop as the squirrel turned and began to run the other way. The little girl turned to follow as well and he saw the driver of the car begin to break too late. Come on, Sullivan, he said to himself, here's where you earn that metal. In a slow instant, Sullivan reached the girl, picked her up by her arm pits, spun in a circle, caught a quick glimpse of a near by snow pile, prayed it was deep enough and launched the little girl toward it as hard as he could. He then prayed to God that she make it.
House watched in stunned amazement at what he was seeing. The kid had run faster then anyone he had ever seen. In that moment he was jealous of his young fellow. Not only had Sullivan made it to the kid, but he threw her out of the way of the on coming car. Throwing her directly into a snow pile. House realized in that split second that the girl was now out of harms way. Then House looked up at the on coming, still braking car. "SULLIVAN!!" House yelled.
Cuddy had been running across the play ground, making a bee line for the street, she left Stacy and Mason behind her. She then saw out of no where, Sullivan race onto the street, running faster then any man she had seen before, run up to Rachel, pick her up and then throw her into the air. This almost caused Cuddy to have a heart attack as she watched the little girl fly into the air and land in a snow bank. She collapsed to her knees, she had slipped due to the snow, and then got back to her feet. She then slipped again, practically, almost, falling on to her face. She prayed the snow bank was deep and soft enough. "SULLIVAN!!" She heard House yell. Cuddy pushed herself up onto all fours, hearing the unearthly sound of breaks screeching to a halt. She looked up and then saw Sullivan flying through the air and landing ten feet away from the car, hitting his head on the pavement first.
"Oh my God!" She screamed as she made it back onto her feet and raced to the snow bank. Other people began to stop, witnessing what was happening. She reached the snow bank and picked up her child into her arms. Rachel was screaming and in tears. Cuddy pulled her to her, tears of relief running down her face as she crushed her to her. She did a quick inspection of the baby and saw no blood or cuts or bruises. She then looked over at the car and saw a drunken man stagger out of it. A police officer immediately ran up to him, taking hold of him. Cuddy looked from the car to seeing House in the street looking over and examining Sullivan. She rushed over and saw that a small pool of blood had begun to collect under Sullivan's head. His body looked twisted. She saw House check his airways and eyes. Cuddy was in shock, she didn't know what to do. House looked over the boy's body, checking his vitals and kept saying his name. In the back, she could hear sirens. She thanked God for saving Rachel and now she prayed that He would be sending an ambulance from her hospital to come and save one of her doctors. Cuddy didn't know what to do, all she could do was hold Rachel close and cry. House had begun to yell Sullivan's name as an EMT worker suddenly appeared next to him. "Get the paddles!" House ordered.
______________________________________________________________________________
To be continued in part VIII.
