CHAPTER 12

A short chapter, to set the scene.

Disclaimer: Really wish I did own House, but definitely couldn't execute it better than David Shore.

Thanks again to JackslovesHilson

Enjoy!

Cuddy blurted out the truth. She needed to get House somewhere private to be able to go through this.

"No, it can't be. That's ... that's not possible." House stuttered, overwhelmed. He felt dizzy as a wave of shock took over him.

"Lets go to my office, okay?" Wilson gently but firmly took hold of Houses arm. He felt helpless. Every thought and process was scrambled. As though they were coded. His logic was in disarray.

Wilson unlocked the door and ushered them both inside. House's body seamed to give in as he dropped himself onto the couch. Cuddy sat beside him and Wilson opposite. Wilson yearned to be sat next to his best friend right now. But he also knew he needed to be Doctor James Evan Wilson, Head of Oncology, and not Wilson, Houses best friend and Godfather to Danny.

"Right now, I'm not 100% certain if it is cancer. We need to biopsy to confirm. But the cause of the break to his right femur was a tumour. It caused pressure making it break. I don't want to cast Dans leg because I need access to the area. I need to consult with orthopaedics to figure out the best way to do this. For now I'm going to brace it. The best course of action right now would be to get Daniel set up on the Paediatric Oncology ward. I need to biopsy now and confirm before we do any sort of surgery. It's not normal protocol but that's what I want to do." Wilson finished, face strong and composed throughout.

"I'll make sure Dan gets a private room. I'll get some orderlies to transfer him." House weakly nodded and Wilson thanked Cuddy. Cuddy stood to leave, sensing that she should leave the two solemn men too it.

When the door closed, Wilson moved to sit next to House.

"Life is a bag of shit, Wilson. It never gives you a break." House muttered. His thoughts finally starting to decode.

"It might be benign for all we know." Wilson was grasping at straws. He knew deep down though that it was something else.

"Show me the X-ray, Wilson." House said in a low monotone. Wilson looked over to House staring at the light box. Wilson nodded and grabbed the X-ray from the file. House accepted and clipped it to the light box. What he saw made him weak at the knees.

"Stop kidding me Wilson! Look at it!its got to be bone cancer!" House angry pointed at the X-ray. He nearly threw himself on the couch as he tried sit to down with a grunt.

Wilson walked back over and sat close to House. Shoulder touching shoulder. "We'll get through this House. If it is Cancer, I'll take a leave of absence and I'll transfer the case. It will be best ..." But he couldn't finish. House interrupted, in a fit of rage and honesty.

"No! You're one of the best Oncologists in this country and I'm not letting some shitty wannabe get their hands on my son! They'll want to, want to ..." House trailed off, stuttering. Memories flashed in front of his eyes. He did not want a repeat of what happened nearly 15 years ago.

Wilson put his hand carefully on Houses shoulder. "If it's not spread, we can perform limb salvaging surgery, with the help of a specialist orthopaedic surgeon. I'll talk to Cuddy, transfer all my other cases if needed and focuss on Dan. But Cuddy will not be happy."

Cuddy walked up to the Wilson's office. She'd arranged for Daniel to have a private room and sorted the paperwork. But a sense of dread fell upon her knowing what House might have to face. Wilson shouted from the other side and Cuddy let herself in.

"Talk of the devil ..." House muttered.

"Daniel is set up. He's still happily asleep. We've left the temporary brace on."

"I'm going to head down to set up the biopsy and sort the brace." Wilson stood to leave and Cuddy was about to join him.

"Cuddy, I need to talk to you. I'll be down in a minute, Wilson ." House added as he stopped Cuddy. Wilson nodded and left House and Cuddy to talk. When the door had closed, House turned.

"If the biopsy comes back positive, I'm going to need time off." House stated

"Of course. Despite what you think I' do have a heart."

"I also want Wilson in charge of Dans case." Hands went flying down to rest on Cuddy's hips.

"House, it's a conflict of interest. It goes against hospital protocol. I can't do that. We could lose our licences." Cuddy protested.

"Not if he's listed as consult. You could be 'listed' as attending physician. You have no relation or personal interest in Danny according to the board." House reasoned.

"House, no! I can't do this!" Cuddy was sweating, completely flustered.

"Please Cuddy?! He's the only person I can trust!" House shouted, fear and compassion allowed in all its glory. Cuddy felt squeezed into a tight corner. To get out, she needed to admit defeat.

"Okay, okay. I'll do it." Cuddy conceded.

"I knew it, there is a soft side under that hard, she-devil exterior. " House smirked. Cuddy smirked back. She let him have his temporary relief. Even if it was at her own expense.

—

The elevator opened onto the paediatric ward and House limped out. He heard whispers and turned to see the nurses gossiping. In a fit of uncontrollable rage, he stomped over and slammed his cane on the desk.

"YES, DANIEL HOUSE IS MY SON AND IF YOU GO SPREADING GOSIP, OR MOST OF ALL, SAY OR DO ANYTHING TO HURT HIM, I WILL PERSONALLY MAKE SURE YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET A JOB ANYWHERE AGAIN, NOT TO MENTION HIPPA!" House growled, his body slightly shaking that they found his son to be the latest bit of juicy gossip. The nurses scampered, going to do their respective duties. The nurse manning the station told House what procedure room Danny was in.

He limped towards the room. He scrubbed his arms and geared up. He entered to find his sleeping boy and Wilson was setting up the biopsy.

"He can sleep through hurricanes this kid." Wilson lightly joked.

"He's got the morph running through him, dog, he's out of it." House made some confusing hand gestures that Wilson was so obviously too uncool to understand.

He picked up the chart and read the notes. He noticed that Wilson had instructed for a prescription of Demerol. He nodded in approval and plonked himself down and sat with Danny's hand in his own. A nurse came in, stared slightly bewildered at the sight and then continued to help Wilson.

As they started, House had to look away. He couldn't see what Wilson was doing to his son. He felt his stomach turn as Wilson described every exact action to the nurse on what to do.

"It's done House, I'll get this tested, get Dan braced up and moved back to his room." Wilson turned and sadly smiled.

—

About an hour and a half later, Dan was in his private room and was starting to stir. House heard the uneven breathing and Dans body twitching slightly. He put down his game boy and took Dans hand again and squeezed.

Dans eyes flashed open and he smiled at the sight of his dad.

"Hey bud, thought you would keep your old man company?" House whispered.

"My leg hurttts daddy." Dan grunted.

"That's because you've broken it kiddo. They had to cut your pants off. That means me going to get some more you know." House said in mock grumpiness. But Danny missed the humour in his voice.

"Sowwy." He mumbled lazily. House leaned over and kissed Dans forehead.

"I was joking bud, I'd rather you be okay than your pants be in one peace." House chuckled

Wilson was hovering outside, debating how to break the news to House and eventually Daniel. Dan had been through enough already. If he could swap places with him, he would in a heart beat. All he wanted to do was take the pain away that this was going to cause. That was his job as Houses friend after all. He opened the glass door and walked in.

"Uncy, Daddy said i have broken my leg and they had to cut my pants off." Danny informed Wilson.

"I know, we took a really cool picture of your bones as well." Wilson smiled. He turned to look at House, still maintaining his cheeriness for Dan.

"House, can I talk to you outside." House nodded to Wilson and turned to squeeze Dans hand.

"I'll be back in a bit kid. Uncle James and Daddy need to chat."

"Okay." Dan said sadly. He didn't want his daddy to leave him but he knew that Uncle James and his Dad needed to talk adult stuff.

House followed Wilson to his office. He was now starting to resent this small, claustrophobic space.

Wilson's smile slid off his face and he looked at House.

"Cuddy has told me about your arrangement and I agreed. I also got Cuddy to agree to let me transfer most of my cases. I have a few patients I still want to supervise but Danny's my priority." Wilson finished

"So I guess that means that he has, he has Cancer." House stared straight down at his feet, unable to meet Wilson's sympathetic gaze.

"Osteosarcoma, high grade. It's spread to the tissue surrounding and is close to spreading to the blood vessels." Wilson finished, a lump developing in his throat.

House felt he was going to pass out. Everything was spinning. He buried his head in his hands, hoping it would stop. Hoping that everything would stop.

"I'm so sorry House." Wilson whispered. But the apology fell on death ears.

For the next 30 minutes, they both sat in near silence, the occasional sniffle could be heard if you listened carefully. The two men shared the pain, in their own, emotionally repressed way.

"So, what do we do next?"