A/N: Thanks for all the great reviews! Just a reminder, there are a few more chapters after this one.

Ch 29 Discharge

At least on the polio front, Eliza did seem to be pulling through. As the medicine was tapered off, the only complication she suffered was a falling white cell count. Throughout the rest of the week, the ducklings continued to see House in Eliza's room, attending to her or sometimes just talking. They were dumbfounded. They knew it was too much to hope that one patient would make House change his ways. Indeed, outside Eliza's room, House was the same blunt, sarcastic, devil-may-care boss they had always known. What then, they wondered, was so special about her? Fortunately, they were used to unexplained mysteries from House and didn't worry about it too much.

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On the next Tuesday, Eliza was ready to be discharged. It had been more than 3 weeks since she had arrived at PPTH, and they had been quite a roller coaster. But she had survived. What lay ahead, no one knew for sure, least of all Eliza. But she knew that this experience would be one she remembered for a long time.

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A few minutes before Eliza was going to leave, Wilson headed for House's office. He was planning on trying to convince House to come and bid farewell to their patient. He had a feeling House would reject the idea, but asking him to come was part of his role as House's friend, and it made him feel better. When Wilson reached House's door, he found the office empty. Figuring he was hiding out somewhere playing his PSP, Wilson went down to the lobby. To his surprise, House was already there, standing off to the side, popping a Vicodin. Wilson was thrown by this behavior, but tried not to show it, and joined the group gathered around the elevator. Cameron, Foreman, Chase, Cuddy, and Wolfe were there, and Eliza's physical therapist had turned out for the occasion as well. A few minutes later, the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. Mary carefully pushed Eliza in a wheelchair out of the elevator. Once they were out of the elevator, Eliza stood up.

"Careful, honey," warned Mary.

"Mom, I can do this," insisted Eliza. She carefully walked down the row of doctors, hugging each one and thanking them. She had made each one of them a clip with beads to attach their hospital ID tags to their clothes. Chase, Foreman, and Cameron presented her with a book called Brain Surgery for Beginners.

"So you'll be ready when you get a job here next summer," Chase joked.

"Wow, cool," was all Eliza could say. Dr. Wolfe presented her with a stuffed doll shaped like a red blood cell.

"Let me know when you finish that thesis on your diagnosis," he reminded her with a wink. After hugging Wilson and Cuddy, she looked expectantly over at House, who, looking rather put out at having to come to her, ambled over and produced a knit Red Sox hat which he carefully placed on her head, saying,

"So that on those cold New England winter days you can remember that the Red Sox need starting pitchers in the lineup." Eliza laughed, hugged him, and rebutted, "Mark my words, they will acquire new relievers for next season. You'll be eating your words, Dr House," she smiled. "Thank you for saving my life" she added in a whisper.

"Don't thank me," replied House.

"-it's your job," Eliza finished, giving him another squeeze.

"Thank you all for everything," Mary said, getting emotional. "Words really aren't enough."

"You're welcome," responded Cuddy.

And with that, Eliza and her mother vanished out the front door and into the summer afternoon.