Chapter 10

House spent the next 24hrs in and out of sleep. Wilson came and went, lunch came and went. His first Dialysis was started and finished. Dinner came and went and so did Stacy. Night turned into day again, not that he really noticed, minutes could have been hours and hours could have been days for all he knew.

House was still asleep when she arrived and she didn't want to wake him up, so she just sat beside him reading and holding his hand. When she felt him stirring, she leant forward and held his hand with both of hers. "heeey" she said quietly

"Hey" House blinked awake "what time is it?"

"It's a little after 2pm" She said softly

"How long have you been here" He enquired, not really knowing how to respond to Stacy, he didn't take his hand away as the closeness and the comfort felt quite good, but he didn't squeeze it either. In the space of 7 days his world had been turned upside down and he had no idea how to deal with it.

"All day" She responded

"Did you call my Boss at General"

"Yes I did, I explained the situation, he asked me to ring again when we have an idea how long you to be out of action" She said softly

"well then I guess you better ring him back and say I won't be coming back then" He said turning his head away from her.

"Greg, we don't know that, with physio and rehab, you could be back up on your feet in no time"

"What? Are you a doctor now too? Did I miss something?" He retorted.

"No you didn't" she sighed "I am trying to see the positive side"

"Positive?" He shot at her

"Look, I was selfish I understand that and I'm sorry I wanted you to live whether you are whole or not, I wanted you still in my life, the fact that you are still alive and part of my life is a positive to me" She said sadly with tears in her eyes, but she wouldn't let them fall.

Logically he knew that what she was saying was true, but it didn't stop the anger towards her that was building up in him every time he saw her. He knew she had been in the day before but he stayed asleep. He craved the love and support that she had to give, cos he could definitely do with it, but those feelings were soon taken over by the bubbling anger.

There was an awkward silence left in the room, he drifted off to sleep again. You could cut the atmosphere with a knife. Stacy sat for a while reading her book again, but not really concentrating on it, she had to tell him aswell that she was going to DC for a week, not that that would probably bother him right now, maybe it would even do them a favor. Had she done the right thing? To her she had, but it didn't feel like it was now. But that would pass when he got over the shock of what was going on, wouldn't it?

House spent most of the day in and out of sleep, the air in the room when he was awake was too stifling, he felt like he couldn't breathe. Then Dr Stein appeared to take out the Epidural so Stacy left to go get a coffee and take a break. She sat outside in the hall way, thumbing around with the coffee, looking deep into the cup as if it was going to give her some answers. It had only been a few days, but those few days had been hell, she seemed to have lost the man she loved overnight and he hadn't gone anywhere.

"Stacy? Do you think it will give you some answers?" Said Cuddy quietly

"I wish it would" Said Stacey "How long is this going to last, I mean, you know...no I don't know, god what is happening to me?" She said as a few tears escaped her eyes.

"Hey, regardless of what he said, you did the right thing, he will see that in the end, you saved his life"

"It's a shame he doesn't see it that way, he hates me, he will never forgive me, I can tell" She said turning her head to Cuddy

Cuddy got up and gave Stacy a half hearted hug, she wasn't very good at comforting people. "Maybe when he gets back on his feet, he will see things differently"

"Don't you mean if?" Questioned Stacy

"No I mean when, he is a very strong, young, athletic man and stubborn to boot, he will get back on his feet come hell or high water, I can tell"

"Hmm being stubborn won't make up for not having the physical ability to do it" Argued Stacy

"True, but sometimes it can just as powerful" She patted Stacy on the arm and got up "I'm going in to give him the once over, you coming?"

"Yeah I guess" She said standing slowly and following Cuddy back into House's room

"So the your Oxygen levels are back to normal, the Epidural is out, you having any pain yet?"

"No, but I'm not sure about the catheter, I think it should've probably come out by now" He stated.

"Have the nurses not done that yet? God what do I have to do to get them to do their jobs properly. I'll get someone on it" She said hurrying out to the nurses station to give someone hell. Promptly returning "I'll do it myself, they seem to have an emergency somewhere else." Cuddy said rather annoyed at her staff "Ok, I think you may have an infection now"

"Really? That's a surprise"

"I'll get you some antibiotics in that iv. We will be moving you tomorrow morning first thing providing nothing else happens overnight, aside from the kidneys and now the infection the rest of your stats seem to have stabled, there is no need for you to be in here anymore. You will also get a visit from the Physio Therapist and the Occupational Therapist, I believe they will try and start with you tomorrow."

"Oh goody, let's start learning how to look after the cripple" House snarked.

"Greg!"

"What? Will you be here, so you can learn too?"

"It's not learning to look after the cripple, it's about getting you back on your feet so no one has to look after you, you should be able to look after yourself" Said Cuddy in a softer tone

"Yeah well I can look after myself! I don't want anyone coming in here and telling me how to wipe my fucking arse!" He grunted he had already subconsciously tried to move his leg but couldn't

"I think you can do that on your own" Cuddy sniped.

"Really? Considering I haven't moved out of this bed yet, I haven't tried wiping my own arse and as I can't move my leg, the chances of succeeding at wiping my own arse right now are pretty slim, oh wait I need a dump, shall we see what happens!" He shouted

"Greg! That's enough! You're behaving like a 12yr old! "

"Yep, because that's exactly how I feel or rather a 3yr old who can't do anything for himself and has to learn how to go potty!" He was really frustrated with the situation, having had to have bed baths already, the urinal catheter had been taken out, he could use a bottle for that, but he was worried about pooping, not that he had eaten anything in days.

"I didn't realise self pitty was your style" Said Stacy dryly

"Branching out!"

"Ok, Antibiotics are in, I am going to leave you alone now. If you have any pain, call the nurse she knows what to do, by the time I see you again tomorrow you will be in your own room"

Cuddy left Stacy and House to each other. "I know this is probably bad timing, but I have to go to DC on Friday for a few days, maybe a week"

House turned and glared at her. Although he was unsure why that pissed him off. "You're going now! Thanks!"

"You know what, I can't do right for wrong can I? I stay and you keep sniping at me and now I am going to give us a bit of space – that's wrong too!"

House hung his head slightly "I'm sorry, please don't go, not yet" He said taking a deep breath and looking at her so that their eyes met.

"I have to now, I told them I would, I thought under the circumstances you would cherish the fact that I will be out of your hair for a week!"

House reached out and took hold of her hand, he held it up to his lips and kissed it "I don't know what the fuck I'm doing, maybe it will be a good thing" He sighed.

Stacy sat very still and relished that small amount of closeness they were having, maybe it would be ok after all. They sat in comparative silence for a while, House drifted off to sleep and Stacy sat reading her material for the next trial. Not that she could concentrate, she kept thinking about how things would change now, would he be able to walk again, would they need to adapt their living accommodation, would he be able to work again. Was she going to have to look after him? So many questions left unanswered and ones that no one could answer yet either. She packed her stuff away and sat looking at him What had she done, she had saved his life that's what she had done. Was it worth it, to her it was, always would be She took hold of his hand and kissed it, then got up and leant over to him and gently kissed him on the forehead. He stirred "Hey I'm going to go now" She said quietly "See ya later" Said House "Not if I see you first" Said Stacy and left the room.