My Brother's Keeper

A House Fan Fic

Disclaimer: I own no names of House. Only the story is mine.

Chapter Four

House's Promise

The next twenty four hours took its toll on Georgia. She couldn't concentrate on work. She barely slept or ate. Wilson worried about her.

"She can't keep going like this, House."

"Jimmy?"

Wilson turned his head to look at Georgia. He winced when he heard the raspiness of her voice. He knew it was from her nightmares.

"What do you need, Georgie?"

"I'm sorry you and Greg are putting your lives on hold because of me."

"Georgie. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Now, what are you working on?"

"Oh, setting up a tonsillectomy for a fourteen year old. Her tonsills are swollen and enlarged."

House's phone chirped.

"Yeah?"

He looked at Georgia. "That's great news. I'll tell her."

He snapped his phone shut. "Cuddy aproved the clinical trial for your seven year old. She starts treatment tomorrow."

Georgia gave a half hearted smile. It was the first one since Eddy's call.

House looked at his watch. "Anyone hungry? I can whip something up "

Georgia looked up at House.

"You cook?"

"After my stint in Mayfield, I took to it like a duck to water. Wilson's eaten my cooking and he's not dead yet."

"He's quite skilled."

Georgia was getting what most people would call cabin fever.

"Look, why don't I get a couple of pizzas. I need to clear my head."

"Georgie..."

"Jimmy, please let me do this. If I stay here any longer, I might snap."

Wilson sighed. "Okay. Just be careful."

Georgia grabbed her purse and left.

Twenty minutes later, there was a knock at the door.

"James? It's Georgia. Can you open the door? I've got my hands full."

House opened the door. Georgia stood there in tears. House looked behind her and saw the source of her tears.

Eddy. He had a gun to her head.

"Greg, I'm sorry."

Eddy sneered. "Let us in, Dr. House or I blow her ass away."

House sighed and stepped aside.

Wilson felt physically ill when he saw Eddy holding his sister hostage.

"Eddy," He said in his calmest voice. "Put the gun down and let Georgia go. You don't have to do this."

"Shut up!" Eddy yelled. He grabbed his right side and groaned.

House picked up on it. "Pain on your right side. Are you nauseated?"

"Yeah. How did you know?"

"You need surgery. It's serious"

"Ha! I'm supposed to believe you?"

Georgia spoke up. "He's right. This could be life threatening."

Eddy looked from House to Wilson.

"How...how do I know you're not jerking me around?"

House replied, "Would you like us to show you our diplomas? You need to get to a hospital."

Wilson was tired of trying to reason with Eddy. He pulled Georgia away from Eddy and grabbed at the gun. The gun went off.

Wilson turned his head to see where the bullet went. He was shocked to see blood dripping from Georgia's stomach.

Wilson grabbed Georgia before she hit the ground.

"Georgie?"

"Jimmy, I don't feel so well."

In the confusion, Eddy never saw House behind him. House used his cane, hitting Eddy on the back of the head.

The gun went off again. This time hitting Wilson in the leg.

House hit Eddy again, this time using enough force to break his cane in two. Eddy was finally unconscious.

House dialed 911.

"You okay, Wilson?"

"For someone being shot, yeah."

"And Georgia?"

"House, I can't tell where the bullet went. She needs surgery."

~•~

Six grueling hours later, Wilson was sitting in the surgery waiting room. House was seated beside him as they awaited news about Georgia.

A nurse walked up and said, "Dr. House?"

"Yeah?"

"There's a problem with your patient."

House sighed. He placed a hand on Wilson's shoulder. "Let me know the moment you hear anything."

Wilson numbly shook his head.

~•~

In the patient's room, House was looking at the medical chart.

He looked at Eddy. He wished he had never heard of the Hippocratic oath. He wished he could inject a large amount of potassium into his heart.

House banged the metal clipboard against the bedside table, jerking Eddy awake.

"I hear you're giving the nurses a fit."

"They won't give me any pain meds."

"That's because you're going to prison, or didn't you notice the pretty shiny bracelet attached to your wrist. I am not required to give pain meds to a prisoner. Besides I gave explicit instructions not give you any pain relievers. If were up to me, I'd have done your surgery without anesthesia."

"Wait a second. You can't withhold pain meds. You're a doctor."

"And you're an idiot."

"Wait..did you say surgery?"

"Unless I'm speaking Japanese, yes I did. Remember that promise I made to you ten years ago in regards to Georgia? Let's just say I got to deliver on it."

"What the hell did you do to me?"

"I removed your appendix, Moron. You had appendicitis. It would have busted and killed you."

Before Eddy could respond, Wilson stormed into the room.

"You fucking cold hearted bastard!"

House gave Wilson a questioning look.

Eddy looked from House to Wilson and then back to House.

"Can you get him out of here?! I'm in pain!"

Wilson looked at Eddy. "I hope it hurts like hell! Because of you, my sister never made it off the operating table!"

House looked deflated. He sensed a volcano starting to erupt here.

"C'mon, Wilson. Let's get out of here. You don't want to do something stupid and have your medical license yanked. I'm starved. Let's gets some lunch."

Wilson knew what House was doing. He was trying to steer Wilson away from the idea of climbing in the bed with Eddy and beating him senseless.

House walked Wilson to his office.

"So. What happened?"

"She lost too much blood. Chase said that they revived her three times. After the fourth time, She didn't come back. The bullet tore up her lung and nicked her heart."

"This is my fault."

Wilson looked at House. He wasn't used to hearing House taking responsibility for his actions.

"How do you mean?"

"I called Georgia, telling her to come home because I needed to make amends."

"Yes. But your motives weren't selfish. You also called her because of me."

"Like I said in the chapel, Jimmy. You're my brother. I had a part in Amber's death. I feel like I played a part in Georgia's."

"No, House. You can let yourself off the hook. You had my best interest at heart."

Wilson did something that was out of character for him. He hugged House.

"She's gone, House. My sister is gone."

Wilson wept. He wept for Amber. For Ariella. For Georgia.

House felt tears streaming down his face. Georgia was more than a drunken one night stand. She was his friend and in his eyes, his sister.