As Amber had expected the hour they waited didn't bring about any change in House's condition. Dr White came and went but other than that they just waited. They did talk some. Chase went through the procedure with Foreman and Cameron, Cuddy and Wilson talked about House's sick leave – he would need a few days to recover from the operation no matter how well it went.

"James," Amber said quietly placing her hand on his shoulder again. "There is no change."

Wilson sighed. "Right. Chase, it's time. We need to operate."

"Ok," Chase had been expecting this. "Come on Cameron, Foreman. Let's get scrubbed and ready for House." Chase left the room and Foreman followed him immediately. Cameron hesitated for a moment, giving House a long look, but then she followed Chase, too.

"I'll go tell the nurses to get the bath ready," Amber squeezed Wilson's shoulder and left.

Everything was ready in the treatment room near the OR so Amber didn't need to do more than tell the nurse to get the ice into the tub and leave. She and Wilson would see to the rest. It didn't take full ten minutes before she was back in House's room. Wilson had apparently told Cuddy that House wanted privacy since she too, was gone.

"You can't do this in your tux," Amber pointed out to Wilson. She had already tried to get him go and change before, but he hadn't wanted to leave House. "I can wheel him into the treatment room alone or I'll ask one of the nurses to help. Go, change into scrubs."

"Yeah, ok," Wilson agreed unhappily, but he took the bundle Amber handed him and disappeared towards the locker rooms.

"He worries too much," House muttered. He had been drifting in and out of sleep the whole time, but even awake he had clearly been exhausted.

"I think he would disagree with you on that," Amber said. "It's not like the situation doesn't merit quite a lot of worrying."

"Yeah, I suppose," House grimaced. "Am I correct in assuming that it's bath time?"

"I'm sorry, yes," Amber responded simply. "Chase has gone to the OR and James will meet us in the treatment room. I wish there was some other way to bring your fever down."

"You and me both," House gave her a strange half-smile. "But if wishes were horses, beggars would ride."

"Thank you for comparing me to a nag," Amber huffed humorously as she pushed House's bed towards the door. "But despite the insults you are going for a ride now."

"Next stop the Antarctic?" House sighed.

"Yeah, next stop the Antarctic," Amber agreed. "Though I can't promise you any penguins."

----------------------------

Wilson had been quick in his change. He arrived in the treatment room pretty much at the same time as Amber and House. The nurse left the room and they were alone. Amber wheeled the bed as close to the tub as was sensible.

"Take his feet will you James," Amber instructed as she moved to the head of House's bed. "House, we need some help from you, too. Are you with us?"

"Yeah," House sighed.

They got House out of the bed to stand next to the tub and then they manoeuvred him into the tub. He went in quietly.

"Sorry," Amber muttered as they lowered him into the water and ice. "We need to get your head in as well. I'll have my hand at the back of your head and I will make sure your face doesn't go under." Suiting actions to words Amber gently lowered House's head down.

"He is very quiet," Wilson almost whispered. "I expected more cursing from him."

"I'm sure he is cursing up a storm in his mind," Amber responded. "Do you have the thermometer handy?"

"Yeah, right here," Wilson positioned himself opposite to Amber, next to House's head and brought the thermometer with him. "How soon do you think this will take?"

"Hard to say, but we'll take his temperature in five minutes and we'll see how it works," Amber pondered. "House, I'm lifting your head up now; try to move up so that I can guide it to rest on the edge. There is a towel, so it shouldn't be too hard."

Apparently House heard her just fine as he did as Amber suggested. Even though his head was now free of the water he was still up to his neck in the bath. In five minutes Wilson took his temperature and it was down to 104. Five minutes later is was 103 and after twenty minutes in the bath House's fever was down to 99.5.

"That's low enough," Amber decided and she and Wilson helped House out of the bath as quickly as they could. They wrapped him in the towels the nurse had left for them and wheeled him quickly into the preparation room where they got help from the OR nurses in getting House ready for the operation. Dr White was waiting for them there, too. Having done that, Amber and Wilson found that there was nothing they could do for House anymore; it was all up to Chase now, so they made their way to the observation room over the OR. Cuddy was there already – as were Kutner, Hadley and Taub.

They all nodded to each other in greeting but nobody talked. Wilson went to stand next to Cuddy but when Amber hesitated, feeling that she maybe should join the rest of House's fellows, Wilson briefly took her hand and pulled him with her. He did let go of her as soon as he was sure that she was following, but he made quite clear that he wanted Amber next to him.

In silence they followed the operation. House had been right, it took less than fifteen minutes for Chase to get to the gallbladder and get it out. It was clearly inflamed but fortunately whole and not gangrenous. Chase gave it to a nurse for later examination – they did need to know what kind of gallstones had caused the problem. After that he carefully checked the area for possible other problems but found nothing. He gave a quick thumbs-up to the gallery and then he started to close the cut. Everyone sighed in relief.

--------------------------

Amber stopped in her office to change back into her party dress and shoes before she went to the recovery room to check on House. She figured that with all the other doctors there she could afford the delay, especially since her scrubs were damp from the ice bath. She had told Wilson to do the same, but she didn't really expect him to obey, so she was pleasantly surprised when he got to the recovery room and found Wilson back in his tux. Cuddy was there as well.

"I sent the others to get something to eat and drink," Cuddy told Amber as soon as she got in. "You should go, too, both of you. I promise to page you if anything happens."

"How is his fever?" Amber wanted to know first.

"Still down," Cuddy said. "About 100 now, but he doesn't need the cool packs, nor is he getting anything for the fever; just the painkillers and antibiotics. I do have other meds here in readiness if he needs them, but it seems that he was right again. Once the infected member was removed the antibiotics are taking care of the residual problems just fine."

"Did Dr White give you any estimate of how long it will take before he wakes?" Wilson asked.

"Half an hour now," Cuddy replied. "She kept the anaesthesia as light as she could. After all the operation didn't last that long."

"Ok, we'll be back then," Amber decided for both her self and Wilson. "Come on James. I suspect that you two could use a cup of coffee at least if nothing else."

"Yeah, I suppose it's ok," Wilson conceded though not happily.

"I'll take good care of him," Cuddy told him. "I promise."

"She is a doctor, remember?" Amber prompted. "Besides, if I know Chase – and I do – he will soon check in on House too."

"Fine, let's find some coffee," Wilson finally agreed. "You were right; I could kill for a cup of good, strong coffee."

---------------------

The party was winding down, but not over yet when Wilson and Amber wandered in, in search of coffee and something to eat. They found both quite easily and settled to a table at a quiet corner.

"Thank you," Wilson said suddenly.

"For what?" Amber wondered.

"For realising that he was sick," Wilson shrugged. "For taking over and making sure he stayed here in the hospital; for being there... for everything."

"I didn't really do anything that remarkable," Amber denied. "I'm bossy by nature and I like him, too. Even if I don't know why!"

"Who does," Wilson smiled ruefully. "I guess he just grows on you and you're stuck."

"He won't be happy with us, though," Amber predicted. "Any of us. He hates being weak in front of witnesses."

"True," Wilson nodded. "But I don't think any of us really likes showing weakness, so it's hardly surprising. Though I don't think I would have taken to that bath as stoically as he did."

"Yeah, he didn't really even react," Amber concurred thoughtfully. "But I don't think we should talk about it to him. He clearly hated it all, even if he was able to deal with it."

"I suppose," Wilson yawned. "Anyway, it's not such a fun subject that I would want to talk about it either. So if he doesn't want to bring it up, I'm fine with it."

"You're also tired," Amber noted. "You better head home once we've made sure House is ok."

"I can't imagine sleeping, though," Wilson sighed. "I do feel tired, but I'm also strangely wired up. I'm sure you know the feeling. Too much adrenaline and worry."

"I would have expected that as House's friend you would be used to that particular combination," Amber smiled.

"Apparently not," Wilson laughed a little. "Though I have to say, it's been a while since he has given me this kind of scare. At least a year, I'm sure."

"Ok, finish your coffee and let's go and see how he is doing," Amber suggested. "You won't rest until you're sure he is out of danger."

"I'm not sure I'm in any fit state to go home," Wilson mused as they made their way back to House. "It might be safer if I just slept in my office and didn't try to drive tonight."

"Are you trying to come off as sad and pitiful?" Amber mocked him gently.

"No, why would I do that?" Wilson was confused.

"I don't know," Amber shrugged but there was a bit of mischief in her eyes. "Maybe you are trying to trick me into inviting you over to my place."

"Oh, no," Wilson was full of earnest explanations. "No, I wouldn't dream of doing that. No, I'm..."

"What? You're trying to make me respect you?" Amber teased. "You are forgetting that you allowed me to pick you up at a bar after the briefest of conversations. Way too late to try and convince me that you are a respectable doctor."

"Yeah, fine," Wilson smiled sheepishly. "I admit. I'm easy. Anything in a skirt and six inch heels can bowl me over without even trying."

"Good," Amber stated. "I'm too tired to put up much of an effort, so it's a good thing you're easy."

"Pardon?" Wilson stopped and made Amber stop too. "Are you... I mean... I was..."

"Yeah, I know you thought I was just kidding to lighten your mood and you decided to play along," Amber smiled at him. "But this has been an eventful night. If you want company, you're welcome to stay with me. Up to you. Now let's go and see how House is doing." With that Amber marched into House's room leaving Wilson no other option but to follow.

House was awake, but tired. His vitals were good, fever was down and Cuddy had arranged for him to be moved into a regular hospital room within half an hour. Chase had been in to see House and had declared himself happy with the situation for now. There was really nothing they could do anymore. House was out of danger and they were dead on their feet. Cuddy seemed to have everything in hand so they said goodnight to her and House. They got their coats and walked out of the hospital.

"So?" Amber asked simply.

"I would love to," Wilson replied with equal simplicity.