Chapter 21
Cuddy sat beside him, holding his hand. She had been watching him for hours, waiting. Waiting for anything. Movement, breathing. A sign of life. A tear fell from her eyes, followed by more. She couldn't stop them. She didn't have the strength to wipe them. They fell from her eyes and onto her lap, even onto to the hand that she was grasping. She stared at his lifeless body, praying for something to change. Where was House? Why the hell wasn't he here? She was furious with him. She leaned back in her chair, still refusing to lose grip of his hand. Suddenly, she saw him shift his weight slightly to his left side. She jumped up.
"James? James? Can you hear me? Hello?"
He slowly opened his eyes, and looked her way.
"Lisa?" he struggled to whisper.
She smiled. She put her finger over his mouth.
"Shh, don't say anything," she said to him.
Joy overwhelmed her. Her happiness couldn't be contained.
"I'm so happy, Wilson," she said, as she kissed his forehead. "I really am."
He squeezed her hand.
"What happened?" he questioned.
Cuddy sighed. How could she tell him that his best friend interrupted their date and made him run out into traffic? How could she tell him that when she called his name, he turned around and got hit by a taxi? He was so absorbed in her; he didn't even think to look around him. She couldn't. Not yet.
"I'll tell you later. Just relax," she said.
"How long have I been out?" he asked.
"18 hours," Cuddy told him.
Wilson thought about what could've happened. He remembered the restaurant. He even remembered his Shrimp Scampi. Of course he remembered kissing Cuddy. It was only a little kiss. He wasn't even sure what it meant. He doubted she actually liked him. He didn't think the kiss was out of affection or love, but more like a thank you for being there. They were friends, and that was probably it. He wanted it to be more than that; but after all, Cuddy had been waiting by his bedside for 18 hours. She obviously cared about him in some way. He remembered House. He remembered running outside, and he remembered Cuddy calling after him. What happened next? Wait, where was House?
Cameron, Chase, and Foreman all walked by the room and stuck their heads in.
"He's up," Cuddy told him.
With smiles on all of their faces, they walked in.
"How're you feeling Wilson?" Cameron asked.
"I'm so glad you're up," Chase said.
"I knew you'd do it," said Foreman.
The three of them pulled up chairs around his bed, and they all talked. Nurses came in to check on him; even some of his patients were there. The only person missing was House. Everyone secretly wondered where he was, but no one dared to say a word.