28

(3 months later)

Maddy was sitting at home watching TV, as both children were in bed, when the phone rang. It was Kutner. He relayed the details of House's bus crash to her, and assured her that everything was fine. She finished watching her TV show then headed to bed, unaware of the chaos her father was causing in PPTH. She awoke the next morning, and called House's apartment, and on no one answering, dressed the twins and headed to the hospital. After trying House's cell phone, she called Wilson.

House answered, "Wilson's cell."

"House? Where are you?"

"With Wilson."

"I gathered that, I'm at Princeton Plainsboro - where you should be from what I've been hearing!"

"Can't talk, just arrived at General." And he hung up his phone, leaving Maddy frustrated.

"He has a death wish, right?" She fumed to Kutner, "When he gets back, call my cell. I'm going to register Hannah and Jamie at day care." Kutner saluted, Maddy certainly was a force to be reckoned with, much like her father.

She was just walking back from daycare when she saw her father and Wilson pushing a gurney toward the Intensive Care Unit.



"Wilson! I thought you had more sense than him! He should be at home!"

"Maddy. Not now." House sighed, making her glance at the gurney.

She took a step back in shock, "Amber?" She whispered, one look at Wilson's tear stained face told her she was right and it was serious. "I-I'll be in your office."

House nodded, and continued on his way to ICU. Maddy headed back to House's office, where his team was gathered, awaiting news.

"What the hell happened?" She asked Kutner. "House was on a bus? Amber is seriously ill? What did I miss?"

Kutner filled her in on the day's events, House's cardiac arrest, the discovery that Amber was involved. She sat at his desk, with her head in her hands until House appeared.

"How is she?"

"I don't know what's wrong." He admitted, "It's in my head, somewhere but I just can't get at it."

"You will." Maddy smiled over at him, and walked over to sit beside him. "Maybe it'll come to you in your sleep." She added, hinting that he should be resting.

"Who has the twins?" He asked, changing the subject.

"Registered them at daycare for when I'm back at work. Today is a trial run. How's Wilson?"



"Beside himself with worry about Amber." Maddy nodded in understanding.

"I should go and see how the kids are, let you guys work on your differentials. Call me if you need anything, ok?" House nodded, and she left. She stayed in daycare for a few hours, chatting and getting to know the staff, ensuring that the twins would be ok there when she went back to work in the next month. All of a sudden, her cell phone rang.

"Maddy, it's Kutner. Listen, House is in a coma. He tried some procedure to remember what happened with Amber."

"A coma? Will he be ok?"

"You should go to ICU, we won't know the extent of damage until he wakes up."

"I'm on my way." She hung up, grabbed the twins and headed for House's room. "Oh my God." She whispered, walking over to the bed and taking his hand. "Can he hear me?" She asked Cuddy who was sat opposite her.

"I think so." She answered.

"What happened?"

"He underwent a procedure to help him remember what's killing Amber." She started to explain.

"Killing Amber? She'll be ok, I mean he didn't do this for nothing?"

"There's nothing that can be done for her, unfortunately." Maddy could see the tears in Cuddy's eyes. "Wilson is going to wake her up so that he can say goodbye."

"This is-I just- How is he? Should I go and see him?"

"It's up to you. He's devastated. I don't know if anything would make him feel better just now."

"I think I'll go and see him." Maddy stood up and pushed the stroller out of the room and headed towards Amber's, where Wilson stood outside, gathering the courage to go in. "Hey." She said quietly, he turned around, "I-I just wanted to let you know that we're here for you." He nodded, "I know that I probably wasn't her favourite person,but I liked her and these guys did too." She nodded down at the twins, both sleeping peacefully. Wilson smiled lightly at his children. "I'm going back to sit with House." Wilson didn't react to House's name, but she assumed he knew about the coma. She gave Wilson a hug, and walked away.

She sat by House's bedside for another hour until the twins started to fuss.

"You should go home, there's nothing you can do here. These two need to be in their own beds." Maddy looked unsure, "I'll call as soon as I know anything." Cuddy assured her.

"Thank you. I'll be back tomorrow." Maddy said, more to House than Cuddy and squeezed his hand.

She met Kutner as she walked out of House's room. "Any change?" She shook her head, "C'mon, I'll drive you guys home. You have your car?" She nodded.

"Amber?"

Kutner tried to hide the tears welling in his eyes. "Gone about 15 minutes ago, Wilson came and told us." They walked out to Maddy's car, Kutner strapped the twins in, then sat in the driver's seat. "I'll drop you off, then get a cab back to mines."



"You're sure?" Maddy asked, unsure if going home alone was best for anyone given the days events. Kutner nodded.

They drove back to Maddy's in silence, Kutner helped Maddy get the twins fed, changed and down to sleep, then as promised got a cab back to his apartment, where he sat and mulled over the days events. She was just changing into her pajamas when the doorbell went.

"Changed your mind?" She asked, expecting Kutner to be stood there. A tear stained Wilson, with a rucksack over his shoulder stood before her. "Wilson?"

"I couldn't stay in the apartment without her." Maddy opened the door to let him in. "I didn't want to be alone tonight."