Author's Notes
Ignoring the pleading of animals waiting to be fed, laundry reaching to the ceiling and school work from beyond, I cast all things aside to write this chapter for you. I hope you enjoy it. I would also like to take a moment and thank everyone for your reviews. I would have thrown in the towel on the first chapter without your encouragement. CBB.
The Rescue
In the interval between the raise of the alarm and House entering clinic, Allison Cameron had a moment to regain her breath, so to speak. The crack on her head had severely addled her, not to mention it being immediately followed by her being half choked to death. He looked small, but the Idiot Patient, as she had renamed him, had managed to lift her off her feet when he pinned her to the wall. Cameron had little recollection of being yanked to her feet by her pony tail or receiving the narrow cut in her neck which was now soaking the collar of her lab coat in blood. Her head was killing her, feeling as if it were about to split open. It didn't matter she had lost her glasses as she was seeing five and six sets of everything around her. Through the think fog which was rapidly enveloping her mind, Cameron became aware House was near.
The Idiot Patient had yanked her back into the exam room when the other patients had fled from the clinic. Now, as Cameron leaned against the wall trying to regain some focus, the Idiot Patient watched from the half-opened door as House entered the clinic.
House stood for a moment taking in the empty clinic. He assumed there might be patients in the examining rooms, but he was really uncertain and unconcerned as to if there were or not. He was here for Cameron.
Propping himself up heavily on his cane, giving it his best "I'm a harmless cripple" routine, House drug himself to the reception desk and leaned heavily upon it. Pulling his Vicodin from his pocket, he set it on the counter top.
'You can come out.'
Laying his cane down on the counter top next to the Vicodin, House turned slightly to face exam room four acting as if the movement caused him great pain.
'I can see you're nose sticking out, so why don't you just open the door. As you can plainly see, I am in no shape to jump you or anything.'
The Idiot Patient watched House for a moment, before deciding he was just some old freak the hospital had sent to try to reason with him. Glancing at Cameron, he pushed the door open a little wider with his foot.
'What do you want?'
House smiled to himself, this kid was an idiot.
'Where's Dr. Cameron?' House asked wishing he had a better advantage point of seeing into the exam room.
The Idiot Patient didn't answer.
'Listen,' said House, 'I can help get you out of here, but only if you release the nice doctor you have in there with you.'
'Who are you?'
'Dr. Gregory House. Who are you?'
'You don't need my name, grandpa'
If it had not been for Cameron, House would have picked up his cane and thrashed the kid within an inch of his life, but with great difficulty House managed to control himself.
Giving a little snort of amusement, House shook his head and looked to the floor as if his shoes were one of the most fascinating things he had ever seen. Without moving his head, he looked up at the half-opened door.
'You are sssooo going to get it.'
A snort could be heard from the room as the door opened completely.
'Yeah, right, you and what army, GRAMPS.'
While the Idiot Patient and House played whatever game they were currently engaged in, Cameron's fog was beginning to lessen. Now rather than six Idiot Patients, there were only three or four of them, which she found encouraging. Tentatively feeling her neck she decided the blade had not gone too deeply; it was just a cut with lots of blood as a result of the idiot's nervousness. Her mind was clearing enough for her to think through the haze she may need a stitch or two in her neck. Running her hand into her hair line, Cameron winced in pain as her fingers felt along a large, wet, spongy knot on her head. There was another sensation Allison Cameron was slowly becoming aware of, she was getting completely and truly pissed off. She was angry with herself for her stupidity with a patient in withdrawal, and she was getting peeved at House and the idiot's game of name calling and idle threats.
Ideally, House picked up his bottle of Vicodin and shook it.
'Tell you what, you come out and I'll give you some magic little pills here. How does that sound? And sonny, you better speak up, at my age I don't hear so well anymore.'
Grabbing Cameron by the shoulder and shoving her out the door in front of him, the Idiot Patient eyed House, his focus on the bottle of Vicodin. One hand made certain to hold Cameron between him and House, while the other, once again placed the knife close to Cameron's throat.
'Hand it here.'
House let his eyes scan over Cameron's body and relief jumped to his heart. Her throat was already swelling and turning a nasty shade of dark purple which concerned him. The blood on her face and neck were secondary to the huge knot visible at her hairline. House had not doubt Cameron had a concussion, yet he felt as if he could have danced a jig when his eyes met hers. He knew that look. He had experienced that look. He had been in pain for days because of that look. And, it was that look in her eyes which told him Cameron was going to be fine. Without even being aware he had done it aloud, House laughed.
'Dude, you're really in some deep shit here,' laughed House before a glance from Cameron cut him short. 'Let the lady go before you get hurt.'
The Idiot Patient looked at House as if he were insane. 'Pills' demanded the idiot.
Still chucking to himself, House opened his bottle of Vicodin and dry swallowed two.
'Uhhhh,' House thought for a moment, 'No.' He smiled wickedly at the boy, 'they're mine, and you can't have them.'
House ignored the shocked look on the Idiot's face and winked at Cameron. From the hallway he could hear Cuddy calling him a moron, loudly followed by a stream of not-so-nice words and extreme profanity. Even Wilson could be heard yelling at him to stop whatever stupidity he thought he was doing.
The Idiot was so consumed in House and his Vicodin that he forgot Cameron, letting his arm with the knife drop slightly. It was all Cameron needed. Bringing down one of her heeled shoes hard on to the top of the Idiot's foot, Cameron pivoted, drew back her fist and hit the idiot squarely in the nose. Blood erupted across his face, as Cameron brought her knee up, burying it in the boy's groin. With a moan, the Idiot Patient hit the floor.
Reaching out, House pulled Cameron to him and held her close as the room erupted in a flood of people. Wilson was instantly at their side.
'My Gawd,' he exclaimed, excitement burning in his eyes, 'what was THAT?'
'Kick boxing and Tao-Bo classes twice a week' murmured Cameron into House's shoulder. Her head was hurting again, and the room was growing darker.
House felt her pass out. Assisted by Cuddy and Wilson, they gently lifted Cameron on to a stretcher. While Cuddy and Wilson pushed their way through the crowd gathering around the clinic with Cameron in tow, House picked up his cane and watched as the Idiot Patient was being handcuffed and pulled to his feet.
Glancing at the examining room doors, which were beginning to open, House watched in amazement as Robert Chase's head popped out of one of the doors.
'You were in there this entire time?' asked House coldly.
'Yeah,' answered the Australian sheepishly. 'I had to protect my patient you know.'
'But not Cameron?' House said it as a flat statement.
Chase looked away from House in embarrassment. "What happened to him?' he mumbled in the direction of the Idiot Patient.
'Cameron kicked his ass, which is what I should do to you.'
Chase knew better than to respond.
'Go Chase,' nodded House pointing to the Idiot with his cane. 'Check him out, make certain Cameron didn't break too much, and then send his ass to jail.'
Without another word, House turned and made his way from the clinic, his thoughts turning to Cameron.
Another Author's Note
OK. I am really curious as to what you are going to think of this. Please, let me know. I have an idea or two on what should come next, or we can stop here. It is up to you, but to be honest, I am having fun, so….?