CHAPTER THIRTY SIX: HEED HIS WARNING

House brought the young woman into an empty exam room while Cuddy passed outside, waiting to let Harry and Murphy in.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Harry nearly knocked her over when she let them in. She quickly locked the door behind them. It was late, and the hospital was officially closed.

"I have a girl here, she was bitten by a vampire, but I think there's still time to save her."

"I don't know," Harry sounded doubtful.

"Donatien said there was still time, that a wizard could save her."

"Donatien?" Harry didn't know the name. Cuddy had never really told him about her run ins with the dangerous man. She knew Harry, he would have worried too much.

"Long story..."

"Vampire boyfriend," House blurted out.

"Why do you assume every man I know was an old boyfriend?"

"Because, well, look at you! What man who knows you isn't going to try to get in your pants?"

"Oh, that's charming."

"Can you two focus?" Harry called out. "Where is she?"

"Follow me." House led them all to the exam room. He'd bandaged the girls neck and fixed up the few scrapes and bruises she had. "Names Lily. She's pretty bad."

"Hi Lily. I'm Harry Dresden, I'm here to help you."

"Great," she said unenthusiastically.

Harry pulled out an old scull and placed it on the table. "Bob? Are you at home Bob? I need you."

Suddenly a puff of gold smoke floated out of the skull and formed into the elegant image of the old sorcerer. "You never call just to chat. It's always Bob I need you, Bob do this, Bob do that."

"Bob!" Harry didn't have time for one of Bob's little rants.

"What?" Bob snapped.

"What do you know about curing vampirism?"

"First it's what do I know about curing werewolves, now it's what do I know about curing vampires. What's next? What do I know about curing ghosts? Well, if I knew anything about that I wouldn't be trapped in that damned scull. That's for sure."

"Bob?"

"You can't cure vampires Harry. If you could, there wouldn't be any terrorizing the masses anymore."

"She was bitten less than an hour ago. Are you sure there's nothing you can do?" Cuddy looked up at him with her big blue eyes.

"Oh, well you didn't say that Harry." Bob rolled his eyes verbally. "She's not actually a vampire yet. All you have to do is a basic resuscitation spell."

"Huh?" Harry felt he should probably know that one.

"Resusci...I'll walk you through it." Bob sighed and started listing off ingredients for a spell. Then he took Harry through the steps slowly.

Lily gladly gulped down the disgustingly thick concoction. Everyone stood around staring down at her. "Stop looking at me!" She pulled the covers over her head.

"Let's give her some space." Cuddy ushered everyone out of the room.

"Thank you Bob." Cuddy blew him a cheek kiss.

"I did all the work," Harry protested.

"Thank you Harry." Cuddy kissed his cheek.

"I'm the one who rescued the girl," House protested.

"Oh for Christ's sake." Cuddy gave him a shove. Harry laughed under his breath.

A scream came out of Lily's room and sent them all running in. "What happened?"

Donatien was leaning against one wall. "You cured her." He was pouting.

"Get out of my hospital!" Cuddy yelled.

"Make me." Donatien walked over to the girls bed. He ran a finger along her cheek. "I hope you understand it was nothing personal."

"Get away from me." Lily tried to burrow into her pillow.

"I will. If I can have a word with the Chosen One." He looked at Cuddy.

"Fine." She grabbed his arm and pulled him into the hallway. "What the hell do you want?"

"Just to warn you."

"About what?" She was hesitant, but Donatien had given her useful information in the past.

"Someone close to you is in grave danger."

"You're going to be in grave danger if you don't tell me what's going on."

He laughed in amusement. "You would make a lovely vampire my darling."

"Not gonna happen, ever." She pulled away from him.

"Not even to save your beloved?"

She didn't answer. She couldn't. Who the hell was he talking about?

"No need to answer now. I have a feeling in time you will be able to make your decision." He bend down and kissed her hand.

"What is that supposed to mean?" It was a pointless question. He was gone.

House came out from the other room. "What did he want?"

Cuddy stood dumbfounded for a moment. "Nothing." She shook off the very bad feeling that was creeping into her head. "How is Lily?"

"Shaky, but human."

"Another successful night I suppose."

"You did good." House let her fall into his arms. She looked exhausted, and in desperate need of some kind of human contact. He held her for a while and thought she was crying, but didn't dare ask. If she was, she had earned it. If not, well, he didn't want her to yell at him again.