"HOUSE! You miserable son-of-a-bitch! What did you do that for! Do you think I'm just going to take this lying down!" Cuddy stormed into the lounge where house and his team were having a coffee break. She was obviously furious.
"Did I miss something here?" House played innocent.
"You told the whole hospital that I'm a lesbian! I am not a lesbian!" she shouted sending a pointed glare at Chase, Cameron and Foreman.
"Now, Dr Cuddy. You shouldn't be so narrow-minded. There is nothing wrong with lesbians. Besides, you implied that you were during our little chat yesterday, " House said seriously. But he couldn't hold back the smirk. Cuddy growled deep in her throat.
"You'll pay for that. Just you wait," Cuddy stormed out, red-faced with anger.
"She's in V.Fib! Shock again!" they were back in Caitlin Marsh's room and it wasn't looking good.
"Clear!" Foreman was defibrillating this time.
"It's not working!" Chase cried out desperately.
"Twice more Foreman," House ordered quietly.
"What about Epinephrine?" Cameron suggested. "It worked last time."
"We already tried that just before you came in, no effect," Chase told her.
"Clear!" Foreman shocked again.
"We're going to lose her. House we have to do something!" Cameron whispered in utter desperation.
"Clear!" Foreman shocked one final time. There was no effect. The little girl went into cardiac arrest. They kept bagging her but nothing helped. House removed the bag mask and looked at his watch.
"Time of death 3.30pm Friday May 13th 2005," he pronounced quietly.
"NO! Caitie, no," Leanne screamed from just outside the room. Cameron could hear her wailing mixed with her husband Darren's quiet sobs. She felt a lump rise in her throat and she turned and left the room. As she passed the distraught couple Leanne pulled her into a tight hug.
"I'm sorry Leanne. We tried everything," she whispered. Leanne just released her and hugged her husband again. Cameron took the chance and took off as quick as she could. She was so upset that she didn't see Cuddy until she slammed right into her as she stepped out of her office.
"Whoa-" Cuddy was about to berate Cameron when she saw her face. "What happened?" she asked, gently pulling Cameron into the office.
"We lost her," Cameron held back tears.
"Who?" Cuddy held one of Cameron's hands in both of hers.
"Caitlin Marsh," Cameron couldn't hold back the tears now, they slid down her cheeks accompanied by a quiet sob.
"Come here," Cuddy pulled Cameron into her arms and gave her a big hug. She knew she shouldn't encourage Cameron to get upset over patients but she'd seen so many doctors burn out because they never dealt with their emotions. Cuddy ran her hands up and down Cameron's back to comfort her.
House stared at the little girl lying on the bed for a few moments after Cameron left. Then he couldn't look any more and left the room. He popped two vicodin into his mouth as he limped down the hallway. Cuddy. He needed to see Cuddy to report the death. House hobbled down the hallway feeling really, really low. An 18-month-old child had died on his watch. They hadn't figured it out in time and they had lost her. As he reached Cuddy's office he saw something he really didn't expect. Cuddy had her arms wrapped around an obviously upset Cameron and was rubbing her back soothingly. She looked up and saw him. 'Five minutes' she mouthed at him. He nodded.
"Ok. Allison, go home. Have something to eat, and have a really good sleep. Don't come in tomorrow. Just…relax. Get on top of this. It always hurts that much more when it's a child and you need to let it all out. But you still need to be professional. Come in on Friday and feel better ok?" Cuddy pulled back and put her hands on Cameron's shoulders.
"Yeah. Thanks, Dr Cuddy," Allison said quietly.
"Lisa," Cuddy smiled.
"Lisa," Cameron repeated.
"Good. Now off you go. Home. Rest," Cuddy gave Cameron a little push towards the door.
"I'm going," Cameron muttered.
Cuddy walked into House's office and sat down heavily on the chair in front of House's desk.
"How're you doing?" she asked knowing she'd only get sarcasm in response.
"Great. Better than great. You know there's nothing better to boost your mood than death. Well, maybe cancer but…" House replied. Cuddy could see in his eyes that he was really, really gutted about Caitlin Marsh.
"Better give the lowdown then," she knew better than to press him. House sighed heavily and recounted the events that led up to the little girls' death.
"Then she went into asistole and we just couldn't get her back," her finished.
"Well you did everything right. I guess I'd better go report this then," Cuddy got up and made to leave his office. "Do me a favour House. Quit being an enormous jackass for ten minutes and go check on Allison Cameron on your way home," Cuddy dropped a piece of paper on his desk. It had an address written on it in Cuddy's neat handwriting. She winked deviously at him as she left the room.
Once again House limped along the corridor cussing Cuddy out in his head. This time though he was way too tired to spread some stupid rumour about her sexuality. So he stuck to the internal cussing. 'Stupid Cuddy. Send me to Cameron's house to check up on her. She'll probably cry. I don't do crying. Crying women are scary and awkward. Stupid Cuddy. This is all part of her master plan to make my life more miserable than it already is,' House growled quietly and pulled out his bottle of vicodin, popping two of the little pills. When he reached his car he eased himself inside and re-read the piece of paper clutched in his fist. Then he took a deep breath and started his car. This was going to be a long night…