Title: Just What the Doctor Ordered (Thanx T)

Author: Chan

Rating: PG-13 to R

Spoilers: anything up to "Three Stories"

Disclaimer: All together now Fox and David Shore own everything. I'm just borrowing.

Feedback: Any and all advice appreciated

From the moment that she hit the floor everything seemed to go in slow motion. The wind had been knocked out of her and as she struggled to sit up Forman appeared at her side, putting an arm around her for support. "Cameron! What the hell is going on?"

"House," she gasped, pointing in their boss's direction, "Help House!"

And that's when it happened.

As Cameron watched in horror, House bellowed in pure rage and leaped at the guy with the knife only to be hampered by his damn leg.

"HOUSE!" Cameron screamed. But it was too late. Neither she nor Forman could do anything but watch as he lost his balance and literally fell onto the blade.

Somehow Cameron reached him first and supported his body as he slid to the floor. She immediately put her hand over the spreading red stain on his abdomen, applying as much pressure as possible.

"Someone call 911!"

She never took he eyes off of the man cradled in her arms. His eyes were shut and his face had a gray pallor to it. Despite the pressure she was applying to the wound, his blood continued to spill through her fingers.

"House, look at me!" Cameron commanded, her voice catching in her throat. "House! Ho…GREG, LOOK AT ME!" At the sound of his first name his eyes slowly fluttered open and met her frightened gaze.

"I think someone made a mistake. Shouldn't I be surrounded by fire and brimstone not beautiful heavenly angels?" His voice was so soft that she had to lean in close to hear him.

"House, you're going to be fine. You're not going to die. I won't let you." Cameron promised, the tears falling from her cheeks onto his.

"You women… always trying to…save me," he whispered just before loosing consciousness.

"Cameron." Forman pushed his way through the gathered crowed of onlookers and knelt down beside his prostrate boss. "The ambulance will be here any minute. How is he?"

"There is so much blood, Eric," was all Cameron could say. The shock of seeing the man she had feelings for, in this position, out weighed her medical skill.

"Probably got the spleen. Just keep on the pressure," Forman said, grabbing Houses wrist. "Pulse is weak and thready. Where the hell are the EMTs!"

"Coming through! Out of the way! What do we have here?" said a burly EMT as he and his partner pushed their stretcher through the wave of people.

Forman, all business, rattled off the stats, "Male, mid-40's. Stab wound to upper left quadrant. Massive blood loss. Knife probably hit the spleen. Pulse is weak. Victim is probably drunk and is definitely stoned of Vicodin." The EMT cocked an eyebrow at him but didn't say anything as he joined his partner beside the fallen victim.

As the two men busied themselves stabilizing him Cameron looked down at his pallid face and refused to leave his side.

You can't leave me House.

"Pressure is 50/40 and falling."

I already held a man I loved while he died. I won't do it again.

"He's bleeding out"

I know you said you didn't like me but I don't believe you.

"Breath sounds are weak and shallow. Bag him."

Everybody lies, right.

"Start a saline IV."

Lie to me all you want but you have to live.

"Okay, lets get him on the stretcher. Miss you'll have to move."

Let me be your reason to live.

"Miss."

"Come on Cam." Forman gently put his hands on her shoulders and lifted her to her feet.

"I'm not leaving him." Cameron cried, snapping out of her reverie. "He's my…" everything "…boss."

"Sorry Miss, no room on the bus. Where taking him to Princeton Plainsboro," he said as they wheeled House past her toward the entrance.

Before she could argue Forman's hands were once again on her shoulder. "Come on Cam I'll drive. Don't worry, he's going to be fine."

Dr. Cuddy was waiting for them when Cameron came racing through the emergency doors of PPTH with Forman fast on her heels.

"Dr. Cuddy! House, how is he. Is he alright?" she asked, out of breath.

"They just took him up to surgery a moment ago," she said as she led them towards the elevators. . "How are you? Are you injured?" She glanced down at Cameron's blood soaked clothing with concern.

"No I'm unhurt." Cameron glanced down at herself and noticed the blood for the first time. "Oh God," All of a sudden the room started to spin and darkness seemed to close in on her field of vision.

Forman, who had been her constant source of strength all night, quickly reached out to steady her. "It's ok Cam. You're just in shock. Take some deep breaths. It's all right, I've got you."

"Here Allison, drink this." Cuddy offered her a plastic cup of water she had gotten from the nearby water cooler.

She accepted the water gratefully and after some fortifying breaths, she was able to get her equilibrium back.

"Better?" Forman asked.

Cameron nodded and gave him a weak smile.

Just then the elevator arrived and Cuddy ushered the two young doctors in, away from prying eyes. "Allison why don't you go to your office and get cleaned up. Put on a pair of scrubs. House will be in surgery for a while so there is nothing you can do right now."

Cameron opened her mouth to argue but, Cuddy cut her off gently, "I called Wilson, he's on his way here. You don't want him to see you covered in House's blood."

"Oh Wilson," Cameron cried, alarmed, "I should have called him."

"It's all right Allison, I took care of it." Cuddy smiled at her reassuringly.

"Thank you Dr. Cuddy," she couldn't hide the hitch in her voice, "and your right this will be hard enough for Wilson, he shouldn't have to see me…" gazing at her dry blood caked hands, "…like this."

They all knew that House and Wilson were close friends but only Cuddy knew how deep that friendship ran. She had witnessed him during the weeks after House's infarction. He had been there day and night, taking time off work so he could be there for him. Even after Stacy left, Wilson had been there, supplying House with an outlet for his anger and abuse. He'd placed a heavy burden on himself, doing everything in his power to make things a little easier and help alleviate his friend's constant pain and anguish.

During one of the brief periods that he had actually left House's bedside, Cuddy had found him in an empty clinic room, crying. She had held the younger man while he grieved, not saying a word, and when he was finished she had left as quietly as she had entered. They never spoke of it.

"Do you need me to come with you Allison?" she asked.

"No, go check on him. I'll meet you there after I change."

"Ok then. He's in Surgery Bay 1 with Dr. Smyth," and looking Cameron right in the eye she added, "He's going to be fine."

Nodding but unable to speak past the lump in her throat Cameron turned and walked toward the staff locker room.

Forman and Cuddy watched her walk away.

"She really cares about him," Cuddy remarked, half question, half statement.

"Yeah, more than I think even she realized until tonight," Forman answered. Shaking his head, he followed after Cuddy to check on his boss's progress in surgery.