Be warned, this chapter is a little intense. Hope it doesn't put you off.

House slept for the rest of the day and through the night. The next day he woke up late in the morning. The sound of the television made him stir. He slowly opened his eyes and looked for the sound that had disturbed his sleep. His eyes traveled over the small room, something about it was familiar but House couldn't decide what. He began to feel anxious. Where was he? Why did he hurt so much? He tried to suppress the panic that rose in his chest. He lay back on his pillow and closed is eyes trying to control his breathing. Pain marred his peace. His head throbbed dully, making thoughts difficult. Pain from his thigh radiated the length of the right side of his body. He found it difficult to draw in a deep breath, and when he did he ribs ached in protest. He felt something uncomfortable in his nose, when he swallowed he found he could feel it in his throat. He brought a hand up to investigate and found a tube inserted in his right nostril, tape held it in place.

What was this? He thought to himself in mild panic. What were these people doing to him, putting tubes in him while he slept? How many of these other injuries had these people caused him? He slowly removed the tape and began to pull at the tube. He gagged as it tickled the back of his throat. Horrified he watched as the tube just kept coming. Finally it was free. He let it clatter to the floor. He felt exhausted by this small effort and again lay his head back on the pillow.

At the sound a nurse entered the room to investigate. "Dr House, it's good to finally see you awake. How are you feeling today?"

He regarded her warily.

Then she noticed the discarded NG tube. "Dr House, you of all people should know better than to remove medical equipment like that." She tutted as she rounded the bed to pick up the tube. House tried not to flinch as she neared the bed.

"I will have to page Dr Wilson and ask him to put it back." With that she left the room. He instantly felt the tension leave his body, he was alone again. He went back to checking himself over, mentally noting every ache and pain.

HHHHHHHHHHHHH

Wilson hurriedly prepared the equipment he needed. He didn't relish the idea of forcing a tube into the stomach of a conscious House, but he felt hopeful as well. If House was being difficult, he reasoned, then surely he was feeling better, more like his old self.

Minutes later Wilson entered the room pushing a small trolley in front of him. He paused just beyond the doorway, hands deliberately placed on his hips in a parody of himself. He regarded the man in the bed.

Once again House tensed up. He watched the other man like a hawk. Wilson forced himself to sigh, still under the impression that his friend was on the road to recovery, before he spoke. "You know that was a mistake, your body isn't ready for solid food yet. You are going to need this tube for at least a few more days…" His voice trailed off as he saw the expression on his friends face. His optimism faded. He saw the distrust and wariness. "House, are you ok? Do you know who I am? I'm your friend, James Wilson. Remember?" His voice was full of worry. The look on House's face didn't change. As Wilson stepped towards the bed he saw his friend stiffen up. He halted his progress.

"What are you doing here?" House growled, inching up the bed, so that he sat upright. Wilson could see the pain this small movement caused House. His instincts told him to

go to his friend, to prevent him from doing any damage by moving suddenly. He knew that at the moment there was no way he could do that.

House repeated the question, venom dripping from every word. Wilson was unnerved by this change in his friend's personality. He was obviously confused, agitated and, Wilson tried not to notice, scared.

Wilson had to try to make him calm down. "It's okay. I just came in to see if you were okay. I'm not going to do anything." He held his hands out in front of him to show his friend that he wouldn't try anything. House began to inch his way to the edge of his bed, preparing to climb down. His eyes dropped to the trolley in front of him. Wilson inwardly groaned. The sterile drape concealed a new NG tube, numbing spray and a fresh round of food supplements. Their bulky form could have looked like anything if you didn't know they were harmless.

Wilson couldn't prevent himself from taking a minute step forward. House spotted this and sprang down from the bed, ready to tackle his supposed attacker. His right foot landed first, and something House had not expected happened. It collapsed beneath him, pain shot through his mangled thigh. He tried to grab for the bed but the cast on his wrist got in the way. His left side collided with the metal railings. Pain exploded from his battered ribs, he could feel his recently repaired side rending. This time he didn't make an effort to catch himself. He crumpled to the floor.

Wilson rushed forward. His friend lay gasping on the floor, barely conscious. "I need some help in here." His voice betraying his composed outer exterior. House looked up at sound. Wilson saw hatred in his friend's eyes. He had never seen that look directed at him before. He fought back a wave of nausea as he realised something was very wrong with his friend.

Two nurses ran into the room and took in the scene before them. They rushed forwards to help Wilson lift House back into his bed. House stiffened as he felt hands on him. He summoned up the last of his strength and lashed out. His balled fist caught Wilson on the chin. The struck man crouched there with his hands on his friend. Stunned. For someone so sick he sure packed a punch. House began to struggle as the two nurses tried to restrain him. Rage spurred him on when Wilson called out for more help. Another nurse entered the room, Wilson ordered her to get a sedative and to page Foreman.

Pain tore through House's head causing him to gasp. Red spots erupted in his vision, his head swam. He had to hold on. He couldn't let these people win. Who knows what they had already done to him. He blindly kicked out with his left leg, pushing a nurse away, his right leg twisted underneath him painfully. He tore his left had free from a restraining grip and hit out at the man in front of him. Cast made contact with cartilage. Wilson cried out in pain, blood running down his face, onto his crisp white lab coat.

Finally the young nurse returned with a full syringe. House spotted it. He bellowed with anger, his lips pulled back in a snarl. The three people on the floor tangled up with House fought against his waning strength. Between them they were able to still all of his flailing limbs long enough for the scared young nurse to jab the needle into his arm, not bothering to swab.

Suddenly House's body no longer obeyed him. His arms felt like they had lead weights strapped to them. More red spots marred his sight. Darkness began to creep into the corners of his swimming vision. The last thing he saw before fell forward, lifeless, was the concern in the bloodied face before him, and the tears in the man's eyes.

Wilson detangled himself from his friend's lifeless limbs. He used the bed to lever himself to his feet. Wordlessly he turned and left the room, feeling the eyes of the three nurses he abandoned boring into his back.

He felt in his breast pocket for the handkerchief he had placed there the previous morning and clamped it to his pouring nose.

He reached the lift and pushed the button to summon it. His only thought was to reach his room before he broke. He fixed his eyes on a spot of his blood, marking the clean white floor tile ahead of him. He could feel tears threatening to spill down his cheeks, his throat was tightening. His breath was beginning to hitch in his chest. Hold it together! He told himself. The lift dinged and the doors slid smoothly open. He was about to step in when he bumped into someone, he looked up and saw Foreman, looking shocked and concerned. Wilson merely pushed past him, stepped into the lift and pressed the door close button. Leaving Foreman stunned in the corridor. He didn't stay there long as he heard calls for help from House's room.