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One Day at a Time- Chapter 5
Previously: Then he heard something. It was a slight noise, but he still noticed it. It was coming from the hallway. House threw back his covers and grabbed his cane. If Wilson was the cause of him waking up there would be hell to pay.
He threw open his bedroom door and poked his head out into the hallway.
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"Jesus, Lizzie." House almost dropped his can as he ran forward to the girl. She was slumped against the hallway wall, head lolling to one side face white and damp. House carefully maneuvered himself next to his daughter to better reach her. He pulled her into a sitting position and put two fingers to her neck.
Pulse was a bit fast but strong and steady.
"Wilson," House hollered. The sleeping form on the couch only grunted in response. "Wilson," he yelled again only louder this time.
"House," a confused man sat up groggily on the couch. "What's going on?" Wilson couldn't see much, just a large shadow in the hallway.
"Help me. Something is wrong with Liz." That was all House needed to say. Wilson was off the couch in second and at House's side. He too placed two finger's at the girls neck.
"Liz, come on Liz." House gently tapped her face. She wasn't unconscious but she was barely coherent, her eyes only half open. "Turn a light on," House ordered Wilson. The light flooded the hallway and better allowed to the two doctors to examine Lizzie.
There were no obvious injuries that either man could find, which meant that she was sick. House placed a tender hand to her forehead. It was warmer than normal. Fever.
Damn.
"Come on Liz," House shook the girl a little harder. She groaned and rolled her head to the other side. She blinked her eyes to the haze from them and saw two sets of concerned eyes looking down at her.
"What happened Lizzie?"
"Dad, I…I. I don't really remember. I got out of bed to get a glass of water from the kitchen. I got really dizzy and everything felt really heavy and that's about it." She leaned her head back heavily against the wall.
"Do you think you can get up?" House questioned.
"Yeah..I think so." Both House and Wilson each grabbed one of Lizzie's arms as she attempted to stand. She was up for about 5 seconds when she started swaying dangerously. Both men tightened their hold on her which was good seeing as her legs gave out moments later.
House cursed his stupid leg, which was preventing him from grabbing his daughter in his arms and holding her. He gave Wilson a nod.
Wilson scooped up the weak girl in his arms and walked swiftly to Liz's room placing her on her bed. He grabbed a blanket and covered her with it. House appeared in the room seconds later with a large glass of water, a thermometer and a bottle of aspirin. He sat down on the bed next to his daughter and pinched her skin watching its painfully slow return to its original form.
"You're dehydrated which would cause the dizziness and in your cause the fainting. How do you feel? And please, be honest with me."
Lizzie sighed. It was time to fess up. "I feel horrible." And it was true. She felt ten times worse since she went to bed. Her entire neck felt swollen and her throat was in agony. For the past few hours her body had been alternating between freezing chills and a boiling heat that cause her to wake up soaked.
"My throat is sore, I've had a headache for days and my neck is now beginning to hurt." She stopped there. She didn't want he dad to become overly concerned.
House gently probed Liz's neck area. "Geez! You're lymph nodes are huge. No wonder your entire neck is swollen." House grabbed the thermometer and put it in Liz's mouth. "Under the tongue."
It beeped and House grabbed it. "You're definitely sick. 103.0 nice and high. I think it might be best if we just brought you to Princeton Plainsboro. We could get you some fluids, run some labs and get you running like new in no time."
"No. No way am I going to a hospital. Not as a patient. Mom went in and never came out. I'm not going."
"Alright, alright." House relented. He shook out three aspirin. "Then for now take these and drink all that water. You need to drink, you're dehydrated and if it gets any worse, we're going to the hospital. Whether you like it or not."
"Fine." Liz put on a brave face and swallowed the three pills.
"And," House continued. "You must promise me to let me or Wilson know if you start feeling any worse."
"Deal." House tucked the covers around Liz's shoulders and got up, beckoning Wilson to follow. They both exited the room and Wilson shut the door behind them.
"Damn it Wilson. I should have seen this. How does a father, who happens to be a doctor, not realize his own daughter is sick? I'm not a good dad. I should have noticed."
"House, don't beat yourself up over this. She probably has the flu. And she did a damn good job of hiding it from everyone. You're not the only one she has fooled. Don't worry about it. You're here for her now, that's all that matters. Let me stay with you the next couple of days until this thing clears up. If something like tonight happens again, or if she gets any worse you're going to need my help."
House thought about it for a few minutes. "I guess you're right."
"Good, then it's settled. I'll call Cuddy in a few hours and explain the situation. For now, I'll go pick up some of my things. Call me if you need me."
House took a deep breath and paused. "Thanks Wilson."
Wilson quickly changed into his clothing from the previous day and peered out the window. "At least it stopped snowing. I should be able to drive home easily enough." He was out the door without another word.
House sank down onto the couch with exhaustion. He really should have seen this coming.
No use crying over spilt milk.
He got up and made his way into the kitchen to make some coffee. By the time it was brewed and House was sitting down at the table with his cup Wilson was back carrying a large duffel. "Nice timing." House remarked.
Wilson dropped his bag, poured himself a cup of coffee and joined House at the table. Just the smell of the coffee alone began to wake Wilson up. He looked at his watch. 8am. Wow, the hours had flown by. He picked up his cell phone and speed-dialed Cuddy.
"Hey Lisa, it's James. I'm at Greg's…yeah he's fine. Listen, Elizabeth is pretty sick. We found her collapsed in the hallway this morning…yeah it's nothing too serious. House wanted to bring her in, but she was pretty adamant about not going. So yeah…yeah, I think it would be wise if I stayed to help House, especially if another emergency should arise. Thanks…yeah…call me if you need either of us. Ok, thanks Lisa. Bye.
House was watching Wilson. "She said to call her if she can do anything to help and not to worry about work until this is taken care of."
House breathed a sigh of relief. Not that he thought Cuddy was going to make him come in; he knew she could be understanding.
Sounds of coughing pulled House from his thoughts. He made his way into Liz's room. He was happy to see that all of the water was gone.
"You ok there kiddo?"
"Yeah dad, just a little cough. Can happen with the flu." She held back a moan, speaking left her in agonizing pain.
House moved deeper into the room and felt her forehead. He frowned. "You're still really warm. Lets get you some more aspirin." House shook out two more pills and gave them to Liz.
Lizzie stared at the two little pills sitting in the palm of her hand. They were taunting her. She couldn't do it anymore. She had gotten to the point where the pain was not worth her pride. She burst out into tears.
"DadIcantdoitnomorepillsswallowingthemhurtsmythroattomuchimsorry please don't make me."
"Whoa there. Calm down. He cradled Liz in his arms and brushed her forehead. "The pills hurt too much hm?" Let me send Wilson out for a liquid pain reliever. That'll be easier. Don't worry, it'll be ok."
House placed Liz back down on her pillows and went to go talk to Wilson.
"Could you do me a favor and run to the drugstore to get some liquid pain reliever? Lizzie can't handle the pills anymore."
Wilson nodded. "Of course. Be right back."
House sighed. This was really going to test him.
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