"Hello, Mr. Casey. I'm Dr. Cooper. How are you feeling?"
Casey could only turn eyes from one strange man to another. At least with the first one he felt some kind of deja-vu, this second one, doctor, wasn't familiar at all.
"Do you have any problems with your speech? Because if so you can simply blink as an answer." The doctor continued much to House' annoyance.
It was so obvious for him what exactly was wrong and all he needed from that fool was to do scans but no, he had to say all the bullshit completely ignoring the fact that he confused his patient even more.
"Shut up" He stopped the next suggestion abruptly. "I already told you he had no problems talking. His only problem is you."
"I'd ask you not to interfere for the sake of the patient." Dr. Cooper turned to House angrily.
"And I'd ask you to actually do something for the sake of the patient." House mimicked him sarcastically
They glared at each other too busy to pay attention to the patient they had been arguing about. So it was a surprise to both of them to find him curled up on the bed while mumbling quietly to himself. Getting closer they managed to understand the words.
"Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city, linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty. How can you lose? ... You can forget all your troubles, all your cares and go…"
"Now you see my point?!" House growled. He would think about the young man reaction later.
"Mr. Casey." Dr. Cooper ignored him completely touching Casey's arm and trying to get his attention. "Can you stop for a second?"
"What?!"
The change was so quick House wouldn't notice one if he wasn't watching the boy so carefully. One moment his fully attention was on the song and the next he stuttered not sure what to do and those confused expression was back.
"You're in the hospital. Do you remember being hurt?" This time doctor tried to talk much more slowly.
"I" Casey looked through his memories for the last thing he remembered but it wasn't an easy task. It wasn't like there was nothing on contrary there were too much and he couldn't categorize all the information.
"I don't know. I…" He knew it wasn't right and he should have been able to think more clearly but he couldn't and it scared him.
"Okay. It's okay. It'll all come back." House assured him feeling his distress. "But we need to do some more tests for you to get better, yes?"
"Yes" Casey didn't sound confident at all but obviously that was the answer the man expected from him.
"Wonderful. Now, Doctor." House glared at the man daring him to argue.
"Of course"
"Remind me again, why are you here?" The man was obviously annoyed with House presence or more probably with him being right about the whole situation.
"Because I think you're an awful doctor and because I have rights to be here as Mr. Casey representative. Choose what suits you better."
The man could only gape at such bluntness. But House had already forgotten about him all his attention on the scans. With swelling subside considerably he could see scarring on the prefrontal lobe more freely. There was enough damage but House expected that already with the way Casey reacted. The only hope he had now was them managing to decrease the effects of the trauma by working up the affected area. Those two occasions when Casey reacted automatically proved that there still was the chance for him to function normally. However it would need a a lot of effort from him to make his brain work that way not as an instinctive reaction but all the time. Hh House didn't think through the whole process but the thing that was obvious to him right now was that the music should be a main element in all this. Still there was one more unresolved matter.
"When are you going to operate his leg?"
It was obvious the doctor was torn between yelling at him and maintaining his professionalism. Eventually he decided against yelling.
"I still have to check on Mr. Casey if only to make sure there is no other damage. In that case he will go into surgery tomorrow."
"Don't waste your time then." House nodded.
No matter what he thought about all those stupid questions neurologists loved to ask. It wouldn't help Casey to spend more time arguing and the sooner he could get the boy to start working up his brain the better. In the meantime he had some preparation to do and a call to make.
"House? I didn't expect for you to actually call." Antonio sounded surprised. "How is Casey?"
"Is that your way of saying 'thank you for calling'? Because…"
"Yes, it is." Antonio interrupted him quickly. "What I meant was that I hoped there would be no reason for you to call. Now how is he?"
"He's awake."
"That's great." Antonio sighed with relief. He didn't know what would be if the truck lieutenant didn't wake from his sleep.
"Well, yes and no."
"What are you trying to say?" Antonio waited patiently for the rest of explanations.
"He's alive and functioning which is good. But his head trauma had some consequences." House didn't like to discuss patient's health with someone else but Antonio had an important role in the whole mess.
"How bad?"
"Could have been better. But that's not the point." House sighed. "I hope you have strong enough case against that bastard even without Matt testifying because he wouldn't be able to do that for quite some time."
"I see." Antonio paused pondering the situation. "I can tie those attacks to Voight but I'll need his medical files to prove all the consequences."
"Do you need my help? Or would you prefer to deal with doctors yourself?"
"On the second thought it'd be better for you to step away from this. If you aren't intending to testify I mean."
"Do your best then."
"What about visitors?" Antonio knew he couldn't keep his sister away for long.
"Even without the investigation he's too confused right now to have more than two people around him."
"And now you're going to say that those two are you and his doctor."
"How I love when you use your brain."
"Thanks I think." Antonio answered before ending the call. He still felt strange around the man.
Luckily the doctor was finished with his checking when House returned. He announced the time the surgery would start tomorrow and then left them to be. However House didn't hurry to start speaking seeing the exhausted look on Casey's face. If he was right then thinking and formulating answers not only took a lot of energy from the boy but also cost him a massive headache.
"What's going on?" Casey asked very slowly concentrating on each word. He was tired but he had to know.
"What do you mean?" House reacted almost automatically but then stopped himself. It wasn't time for his games and jokes.
"Sorry. I'll answer all your questions but not now. You're too tired for that. You should sleep." House tried his best to be reassuring.
With all the changes in Casey life he somehow forgot about ones in his own. If he was going to be there for him he had to improve his bedside manners. Things that shouldn't be a problem for a doctor.Wilson's voice was full of sarcasm.
"I promise." He added seeing doubts in Casey's eyes.
House didn't know whether he managed to convince him or the blonde was simply too tired but the fact was it only took him a minute to fall asleep. It was now the time to some more differential. Music was obviously a large part of his life. Now that he thought about it probably all those times he overheard the boy singing to himself it was an instinctive reaction on his part, something to make him feel comfortable and at easy. That of course didn't mean House could be reckless with his choices. House recalled all of Casey's reactions. He could sleep through a lot of noise around him with only some loud song being able to wake him and it looked like he felt okay with that. On the other hand the one he started mumbling… Downtown if House got it right. It was more than just a song but some kind of mantra. Maybe there were some more of such meaningful songs in his life or House could expand the list himself.
He scrolled through his own playlist categorizing the songs. Some of them were simply relaxing and helping with sleep, some on contrary should have made him more awaken and concentrated. And then there were the last ones where lyrics were much more important. House wasn't sure in those but only practice could help him choose better. For now he decided on a piano piece, quiet enough not to disturb the younger man sleep but still giving his subconscious something to hold onto.
A/N: I know Casey has a lot of injuries and it will be a very long road for him no matter what but I hope you'll excuse me for paying much more attention to his mental state, feelings, memories and all instead of his physical condition. It doesn't mean he will he suddenly lealthy again just that I'm not good in that and that I'm more interesting in House solving his puzzle while curing him. That's all I wanted to say. Enjoy the story and don't forget to leave me a review.
tzswei, thank you. It's good you finally came back.
Me, you can't be more right, Casey is even more of a puzzle now, plus there is a lot more at stake. Surely House would prefer to do everything himself but unfortunately he has Dr. Shmooper to deal with.
