Two-and-half hours later

Cameron

She was trying desperately not to cry, but was failing rather miserably.

Not that she had became the total waterfall of tears that she wanted to be, but every few minutes, despite that her eyes were tightly clenched shut, tears would make their way down her cheeks.

Stupid life. Why does it suck so badly?

Her head was bowed, arms wrapped tightly around her midsection as if warding off a chill.

But the coldness she felt came from inside her, and she had no way of fighting it off.

Why do people get cancer? Infarctions? Why do good people get in car wrecks?

Some people, a lot of people, probably would've argued about the opinion of Dr. Gregory House being a good person. Most people believed him to be a rude, sarcastic, arrogant, condescending jerk. And that was putting it politely.

But Allison Cameron, since the day she had started working for him, admired and respected the man. Despite what everyone thought, he genuinely cared about people.

Later, that admiration turned into something more.

Something like love...

Even after their disastrous date which had left Cameron's pride wounded and her heart in pieces.

Cameron clasped her icy hands together, fighting off another wave of tears.

If you die on me House, I'll never forgive you...

Four Hours Later

Wilson

He was still sitting on the damn waiting room chairs... he had never realized how uncomfortable they were until now when he suddenly sat up straight.

Cuddy who had been sitting next to him, glanced around, apparently thinking that he had seen the doctor.

Wilson shook his head. "No. I was just thinking... should I have had a nurse inform Stacy?"

He didn't miss the tightening of expression from Cameron, nor the way she immediately turned her head away.

But Cuddy had gasped. "Oh, I didn't- do you think I should?"

Wilson frowned. House and Stacy's relationship was long and complex, filled with emotion. She was married, but she still loved him. He was still angry at her for what happened five years ago. But he still loved her, too.

While he was debating, he was surprised however, to hear Cameron speak.

"Why does she need to come? It's not like they're involved anymore, and everytime she's around, all she does is upset him."

Foreman looked pensive. "I don't think it'll make any difference, Cameron. He'll be unconscious when he comes out of surgery anyway. You know that."

Cameron didn't look too happy about that, but Wilson was grateful for Foreman's attitude. No if he comes out of surgery, but when.

Guessing that they had come to a decision, Cuddy stood. "I'll go get her."

Cuddy

She walked quickly down halls, avoiding any eye contact that would make her stop and talk.

She didn't have time. She needed to find Stacy; tell her what happened, and get back to the waiting room.

Cuddy found Stacy in her office.

The attractive brunette flashed her a smile. "Hey Lisa. Hold on just one sec-" she gazed at Cuddy's face for a moment, then asked quietly. "What's wrong?"

Cuddy went to close the door.

Stacy erupted in a fountain of panic. "Goddammit Lisa! Just tell me what's wrong? What's wrong with Mark?"

Mark...? Cuddy shook her head. "It's not Mark. He's fine."

Stacy looked confused. "Well, if it's not Mark, then who..." her face, formerly flushed, drained of color. "Greg?"

Tears stinging her eyes once again, Cuddy nodded.

"What?" Stacy whispered.

Swiping at her eyes, Cuddy said slowly. "He-he was in a multi-car accident on his way into work this morning."

"How bad?"

Cuddy eyed Stacy, who appeared to be falling apart. Should she...?

She sighed. She'd find out anyway. Hell, she worked here for god's sakes.

She cleared her throat, as the tears made her throat froggy. "It didn't... look good. But we've had worse, and I made sure that he's got the best surgeon-"

'"Lisa? Please just tell, what were his injuries?" Stacy was practically begging.

Cuddy closed her eyes. Then after a moment, she said. "He had head trauma; they don't know how severe yet. But he was unconscious at the scene, still was when he arrived. There was also internal bleeding, his abdomen was rigid and swelling... blood pressure was down to seventy and dropping. Compound fracture of the left ulna."

Tears began to run down Stacy's face; though she made no effort to wipe them off. She seemed not to be aware of them.

"Do you want to come sit up in the waiting room with us?" Cuddy asked gently.

Numbly, Stacy nodded.

Wilson

He wasn't surprised when Cuddy returned shortly with a quietly crying Stacy in tow, who immediately sought his embrace.

"He's gonna be okay, Stace." Wilson murmured. That's when he realized she was saying assurances to him.

"He's going to fine, James. He's too damn stubborn to quit now."

Wilson laughed shakily. "I thought I was comforting you."

Her dark eyes were serious, but she managed to give a small smile. "You're his best friend. You've known him... and put up with him longer than any of us. I know how much he means to you. And how much you mean to him. I don't think he would've made it past the..." she hesitated. "The infarction if it hadn't been for you."

Cameron

Sitting there; she couldn't help but overhear Wilson and Stacy's conversation.

And it made her ill.

Not Wilson, but Stacy. Yes, apparently Wilson had helped House immensely after the infarction which had drastically changed his life, and had left him crippled and riddled with pain for the rest of his life. But Stacy should've been there as well.

She had seen the look in House's eyes whenever he was near his ex, or even talked about her. He had desperately loved Stacy Warner; she had repaid him by betraying his trust, then leaving him.

Only to waltz back into his life five years later to mess it up again.

It wasn't in her nature to hate, but Stacy Warner was an exception.

Chase

"Do you think he's going to be all right?" he asked softly.

Chase hadn't really spoken much since the news of Dr. House's accident. He had been worrying, yet, albeit silently.

Foreman, who was sitting next to him, answered. "Depends on the severity of the head trauma and if they were able to stop the internal bleeding."

Chase cast a sideways glance at him. "Do you think you could check on their progress? With the head trauma, I mean? As, you are the neurologist."

Foreman frowned. "I doubt they'll let me. They'll say I'm emotionally involved..." he trailed off. "But I'll try anyway. See if we can get an update, at least."

Chase nodded.

After Foreman left, he was free to do something that he wanted to do, but still felt slightly embarrassed, at least in front of his colleagues.

He began to pray.

Foreman

Of course, the nurses argued with him, but he'd worked with House long enough that some of his personality has rubbed off. Or at least, he could do a hell of a impersonation.

He eventually bullied his way in, after he had scrubbed and suited up.

Gillian Reardon, a sweet, middle-aged woman, was one of the nurses. Foreman liked her immensely; she was one of his favorite nurses to work with. Not only because of her warm personality; she was one of the most talented. He was grateful that she was in on House's surgery.

His shoulders stiffened though, at the look on her face.

Usually, Gillian's default expression was caring, a soft smile on her slender face. It was not evident today.

He grabbed her hand. "House... he's- he's not?"

Gillian shook her head. "No, he's not dead, Eric."

"Then what's wrong Gillian? How severe were his injuries?" Foreman didn't pause for breath.

House had to be all right. Had to be. Man was too damn stubborn to let something like a common car accident take him out.

Gillian sighed. "Okay. The main cause of the internal bleeding turned out to be a kidney... a main artery had been severed. They repaired that, directed the blood flow back the kidney... so no damage. His liver was bruised, but it'll repair itself."

She was silent for a moment.

He waited.

She sighed again. "Okay, the head trauma was more troublesome. You're a neurologist, so you know that head wounds are damn tricky. He suffered a subdural hematoma, which of course, required drainage to relieve the pressure to his brain..."

Feeling a chill going down his spine, Foreman asked. "And?"

Gillian sighed. "He's in a coma, Eric. We don't know when he'll wake up."

Foreman bit his tongue hard as he heard her unsaid words.

Or if he'll wake up at all...

Wilson

He knew from the moment Foreman stepped back into the waiting room that the news was either ambiguous or...

Not good at all.

Foreman's spine stiffened, but his eyes revealed his suffering.

Wilson lurched to his feet. "What is it Foreman?"

The neurologist swallowed hard and couldn't meet Wilson's eyes.

Terrified, on the verge of panicking, he grabbed Foreman by the lapels and yanked him close; ignoring the gasps from their colleagues.

"He's not dead."

Foreman looked at him calmly. "No, he's not."

At those words, Wilson actually became aware that he was gripping the neurologist, and a flush of shame warmed his face.

He let go.

Bypassing the fact that he had just been throttled by the hospital's star oncologist, Foreman finally spoke.

"They stopped the internal bleeding. It was a severed artery to a kidney-"

Stacy gasped.

Foreman waited until she calmed down to continue. "But they restored the blood flow to it without any damage to the organ. His liver was bruised, but it will heal by itself."

Cameron asked quietly. "What about the head injury?"

Stacy

Foreman had fallen silent after Dr. Cameron's question, and Stacy felt herself gripped by a quiet terror. Ever since she had came back here, she had told herself; repeatedly, that she still did not love Greg. She married, for God sakes, happily married, to Mark.

She was surprised that her nose wasn't ten feet long by now.

Dizzily, she flashed back five years ago, to Greg's infarction. She had been terrified then, too.

But back then, she had been in his life, by his side. Able to have some degree of control...

She looked at Foreman and attempting to keep desperation out of her voice, repeated Cameron's question. "What about his head injury?"

Dr. Foreman sighed heavily. "He suffered an acute traumatic subdural hematoma. Basically, it's a collection of blood on the surface of the brain. Tiny veins between the surface of the brain to stretch and tear, therefore causing the collection of blood. They performed surgery to reduce the pressure, and drained the blood, but..."

"But what?" Stacy asked, realizing that her voice had risen with fear, but was unable to lower it.

"But..." Foreman's voice, in direct contrast to hers, had softened. "He's in a coma. They're not sure when, or if he'll wake up."