Disclaimer: I don't own House or any of its characters, but I wish I did :)

A/N: A big thanks to ca choel for looking over my story and fixing my spelling and punctuation mistakes. You allowed me to finally post my story after such a long hiatus.

Chapter 7: Consent

Cameron's thin figure slipped through the double doors. In an instant she was aware of the two sets of eyes that were watching her. Nervously she flipped through the papers in her hands, trying to ignore the look of trepidation dotted with hope that filled the oncologist's solemn stare.

"Cameron, how is he?" The pair asked simultaneously.

"Right now he's stable. He was given Beta-blockers and Nitrates during transport to decrease his heart's workload, which as you know decreased the amount of oxygen needed and possibly saved some additional heart muscle. It also improved the blood flow, and relieved some of his chest pain. Dr. McIntire has finished his evaluation, and is recommending House for an immediate Angioplasty."

"What do you think Cameron?" Cuddy asked the younger woman.

"I have to agree with him" she answered, pulling a film from the folders in her hands. "This shows the severity of the blockage along the right coronary artery, and there's one here branching off the circumflex. Honestly I'm surprised that House hasn't showed any symptom's earlier than this. He should have had some kind of warning, aches, fatigue, something."

Cuddy nodded looking at the film in Wilson's hands. "I'm sure there were, but you know House."

"No!" Wilson protested "House is an ass, but he's not stupid. If anything the Vicodin may have concealed any minor discomfort he may have been feeling leading up to this.

Cameron agreed. "That's about as much of an explanation as I could come up with. Dr. McIntire thinks so too."

"So what do we do now?"

"We do nothing Dr. Cuddy. You on the other hand Dr. Wilson are listed as House's medical proxy, and since House is not conscious and able to make his own decisions Dr. McIntire is requesting you sign the consent forms to do the Angioplasty."

The young woman extended the papers towards the oncologist, watching as he hesitantly took them, studying them silently for a moment.

"Is there anything else I should know?" he asked looking up from the file.

"Just that without this procedure House is at risk of suffering another heart attack. Considering the severity of the first he…he's not likely to survive another." Her voice wavered slightly, and she averted her gaze. Her change in demeanor didn't go unnoticed by the older man, and he found himself gripping the pen in his hand tighter. He unconsciously signed his name across the consent forms, starring at the pages blankly a moment before handing them back to the younger woman.

"Thank you Dr. Wilson" she said softly, turning to walk away. She made it only a few steps before the Oncologists voice stopped her mid-step.

"Cameron, what's his prognosis, and I want the truth? I mean with the surgery, after the stents are in place."

"He'll have damage, but it's too soon to tell just how much." She admitted. "We will have to do several blood tests to see how much muscle death there is. Since we don't know how long he was in V-fib before you found him, we won't know whether there was any damage from the lack of circulation and oxygen."

"Oh God!" Cuddy gasped. "Do you think he could have brain damage?"

"I can't say for sure, and I know you know that. He's alive, and that in its self tells me that I believe Dr. Wilson made in it in time. As for now, we wait. I took the liberty to call Foreman, he's on his way and the first chance he gets he's going to perform the necessary tests. I personally choose to believe that he will be fine. We'll just have to keep him from doing anything extreme like going out to climb Mount Everest."

A small smile they really didn't feel tugged at both Wilson's and Cuddy's lips. "I don't think that will be a problem." Wilson commented.

Cameron nodded before disappearing behind the swing doors.

When she was gone Wilson let himself frown, his brow furrowing with worry. What happens if he hadn't been in time? What if his friend survives only to have damage to the one thing he valued the most…his mind?