Chapter 13

When they came to the first body Wilson bit back a load of vomit.

It was a body of a young girl. The skin was waxen and her eyes bulged in terror. There was a single clean shot buried into her skull. Her limp body lay at angle on the stairs. Her school file still clasped in her arms was splattered with blood.

"No pulse" Wilson confirmed helplessly

"Fine. Let's move on"

Wilson knew better than to think the frostiness in House's tone was because he didn't care. House was hiding his real feelings because it was the only way he could do this. If he let himself get caught in the emotions the victim must have felt before she died then he wouldn't be able to continue. House needed to do his job and that meant remaining cold and callous.

"Here" Wilson pointed

A boy with red hair and blue eyes looked at them helplessly. His body breaking out in tremors and cold sweat was pouring down his forehead. Blood was caked in his hair. The bullet had torn right through the flesh of his thigh and blood was streaming from it.

"He's losing a lot of blood fast. Give me your lab coat" House lowered himself painfully

Wilson handed it over unquestioningly. House wrapped it around the boy's leg. He used the arms of the lab coat to fasten it tightly around his thigh. The boy continued to writhe in agony. Even the tightness of the lab coat was only lessening the blood flow slightly. The boy was already starting to lose consciousness.

"I think there's a medical kit in the canteen just in the next room. If I get it..."

House didn't like what Wilson was suggesting but their presence would be inconsequential if he didn't let Wilson try. This was Wilson's old medical school and he knew it better than House. He was also a much faster runner. House would have preferred to have taken Wilson's place but by the time he found it the boy would be dead.

"Ok but Wilson..."

What was he supposed to say? Be careful? Don't get yourself killed? If you get yourself shot I'll kill you myself? Whatever happens I love you? All of those statements were exactly what he was feeling but he didn't know how to say a single one of them without him sounding scared shitless.

"I know and you too"