thanks for your reviews, honestly, you have no idea how much they help :). and thanks also to the numerous websites that helped me find causes for heart attacks, and websites about anaemia. at least now i can say that i know SOMETHING about what i've written.

DISCLAIMER: (throws hands up) no! dont sue! theyre not mine, and i dont want credit for them!

WARNINGS/SPOILERS: none.

yeah, im kinda unsure about where im taking this. ive got the plot figured out and everything, i just dont know how im going to approach it. ive got the next chapter planned out though - it should be up soon. bye for now!

"Don't you ever… ever do that again." House whispered to Cameron's unconscious form.

Her body had been working too hard. Just getting oxygen to her brain had been a struggle for her heart. Severe anaemia, caused by severe blood loss. There weren't enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to her body, and basically, this had her working overtime to make up for it. Why they didn't have her on a respirator before, he would never understand. Sure she had been breathing on her own, but it was obvious how difficult it was. Wasn't it? In any case, it took a brush with death for them to get off their asses and do something. Kinda like him.

"Wow… you look like crap." Cuddy walked in, closing the door behind her.

"Love you too, sweetheart" House retorted. But it was true. He could feel it. He hadn't slept in almost two days, and he'd run out of Vicodin. The stress was really getting to him. He had taken his last pill an hour ago (before Cameron crashed) but he was beginning to feel his leg already.

"Why don't you go home and get some rest? Doctors Foreman and Chase can keep an eye on her. When they're not making up for lost time in the clinic, that is."

House rolled his eyes, expecting a snide comment to follow. When none came, he looked up. Cuddy's face showed genuine concern. He turned back to Cameron, who was still deathly pale, looking as if she was teetering on the fine line between life and death. That tube shoved down her throat didn't help, either. No way was he leaving.

"No." he said defiantly. Cuddy groaned in frustration – a noise House had become quite accustomed to.

"House, you need sleep. Go home. I will keep an eye on Dr Cameron."

House pulled himself out of the chair he had been living in. "What I need, is some more drugs and a good coffee." He limped to the door.

"And a shower." Cuddy couldn't resist adding as he passed her.

"…Nice." House growled, somewhat impressed. He left, glancing once more at Cameron's still form. Cuddy made herself comfortable inthe chair, and inspected the young doctor's chart, her face grim. House sighed and headed towards Oncology.

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Cameron felt him leave, and a sense of panic overwhelmed her. No, don't leave me. As childish, insecure and utterly damaged as he was, she still felt safe when she was near him. There was a strength emanating from him that no one could match. She clung to him like a lifeline. That's what he was to her – a lifeline.

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Cameron's 'lifeline' was now approaching Dr James Wilson's office. He pulled the door open, strode (or did his best 'striding' impression) in and dropped himself in one of the chairs facing Wilson's desk.

"Good morning House, sure, you can come in. Why don't you make yourself comfortable?" Wilsonoffered sarcastically.

House ignored his friend's comment.

Wilson, a little taken aback by the diagnostician's lack of response, put down his pen and looked up at him, his voice kindly. "How's Dr Cameron doing? I'm sorry I haven't been able to visit her yet."

House rubbed his eyes and, while blinking to refocus them, replied, "She crashed earlier. The anaemia caused a heart attack."

"But she's stable now?"

"Yeah, no thanks to me. The monitor went off, and I froze. I called for help, but then I just watched while they revived her."

"House," Wilson's tone was stern, and his deep brown eyes were locked on his friend's intense blue ones. "Its better that you stayed back. You know that personal attachments make you all the more vulnerable and open to mistakes."

House opened his mouth to object, but the oncologist interrupted before he could get a word in.

"Yes, you heard me. Personal attachments."

House was now feeling very exposed. Am I in my underwear? He wondered. But seriously, how much did Wilson know? Or was he still going on about that joke he made about putting the moves on Cameron? Surely that hadn't completely given House away.

Wilson was now staring intently at House, noting his somewhat trapped expression.

"She's your employee, House. I'm sure you'd feel the same if it were Foreman or Chase."

House's head snapped up in shock and relief. He recovered quickly. "Oh yeah. Definitely. Maybe not Chase…" He said dismissively.

But it was too late. Even without that extremely suspicious reaction Wilson knew there was something going on.

"What's gotten into you? You're not… yourself. Normally I wouldn't complain, but given the circumstances…" Wilson trailed off, still watching him.

House debated whether to tell his best friend about the dream or not. He chose not. "Well, considering that I found Dr Cameron lying in a pool of blood, nearly stabbed to death on her kitchen floor, watched her crash three times, haven't slept in two days, run out of Vicodin and stink, it could be anything. Just one of those days, I guess." He said, resorting to sarcasm and a mock shrug – always a safe bet.

Unfortunately Wilson saw right through it. But instead of drilling House further, he decided to let it slide…for now. When hunting a rabbit you don't stick your head down its hole and yell for it to come out, you wait until its good and ready. Then you shoot it in the head. He thought to himself with an inward smirk.

"Well then… lets get you some Vicodin."

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A few Vicodin, a change of clothes and a vile coffee later, House was back in Cameron's room, dozing off in what he now affectionately referred to as 'his' chair. His head had just fallen back and hit the back of the chair when Cuddy came in, folded her arms and tapped her foot impatiently on the tiled floor.

"Elma Fudd! What brings you here?" House exclaimed, his eyes still closed.

Cuddy fought back a smile. "Come on House, now you're being ridiculous. Dr Cameron isn't going anywhere. She's stable for now, but if anything happens, you will be the first to know"

House opened his eyes and looked at the hospital administrator sleepily. "What? You gonna force me to go home?"

"No, the clinic." Cuddy grinned as House's eyes widened. "Well, I figured if you won't go home, then you can make yourself useful here. Foreman and Chase have their own hours to do, on top of other duties. They can't juggle yours too. Give me a couple of hours, at least."

House was staring vacantly at the foot of Cameron's bed. That's what you said yesterday. If I hadn't been in the clinic, this wouldn't have happened to Cameron. But even House knew that was going a little overboard. He still couldn't help thinking it.

"…House?" Cuddy was now staring at him as if he was growing an extra ear.

He snapped out of it, and sighed. "Sure". Truth be told, he was actually a little grateful for something to distract him. Even clinic duty. He still felt bad for leaving Cameron's side. Perhaps she needed him?

Nevertheless, he followed Cuddy down to the clinic.

Next chapter... a big lead on cameron's case... house just doesnt realise it. i was gonna squeeze it in here, but it would fit better in the next chapter. that, and the next chapter would only be like 500 words long if i put that extra bit in here. anyways, review! it really, really helps me. cheers :)