-1DISCLAIMER: In no way, shape or form do I condone nor intend to glamourize
the use of Ketamine in this and possibly the following chapter. I have done research on the use and side effects of Ketamine, but I do NOT encourage its use to anyone! I, therefore, wish to remain not liable for any demented person out there who even thinks about doing it. Thank you and have a nice day. :o)

Oh, and this is kinda like KidsNurse's story with Cuddy being at House's side while he gets his own little 'experimented pain reliever dosage thingie', but not really. I'm just not dwelling into it as deeply and expertly as she did.

Oh, and a special shout out to Hildanmum (again, bad spelling) and ALC, who are in this and the next maybe few chapter as Hildie and Alice (ALCAlice--get it? Lol). As I promised!

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN - Age of Aquarius

Shortly after midnight Cuddy sneaks into House's room hoping he is asleep, but is not at all surprised when she finds him awake and sitting up in bed, doing a Sudoku puzzle.

"God, I HATE that game! I always mess them up and have put holes through more than one piece of paper erasing the wrong answers!" House turns his head to see her walk in wearing jeans, sneakers and a tight turtle neck that is a little too tight around the 'Funbags' area.

His eyes flutter wider. "Wow! LOVE the sweater!" he says with an evil, playful grin.

She ignores him and asks, "Having trouble sleeping?" She pulls up a chair and sits down beside the bed.

"Little."

"I can understand that. It would have been so much easier if Zhang had just given it to you when I told him."

"Yeah."

The room is filled with silence except for the soft breathing of Wilson in the bed behind the curtains. House had wanted them open so he could mess with him but Wilson had won the nurse over and he won the 'close the curtain' battle.

Cuddy knows it's not the worry about the procedure that is keeping him awake but his leg is probably hurting a great deal. "Need something for the pain?" Cuddy asks and House nods his head.

"Ok." She stands, places a clipboard on the bed by House's right foot and inserts a needle into his I.V. which is needed because he is still mildly dehydrated. "The Ketalar will take care of the effects later, so it's safe to give you morphine, although not at a full dose."

"Thanks...wait, Ketalar?" he mutters and turns his head to look at her.

"Easier to trace Ketamine than it is Ketalar." She empties the syringe of Morphine into the I.V. tube. "Don't get too comfortable and fall asleep. We have some rules to go over."

"I don't need no schtinkin' rules!" he retorts, doing a very good impression of Al Pacino.

Cuddy smiles at him then says, "Yes, you do." She throws the needle in the trash then sits back down at his side. "They're not really rules, just some stuff to go over before the procedure in the morning."

House turns his head to the window and pretends not to listen, but Cuddy knows he is; he has no other choice, really.

"Okay, Ketalar, Ketamine's brand name, will reverse the effects of the morphine so you are covered there. I wouldn't want you to be on both that and the Morphine. In the morning, around 5:30, you'll be moved to another room, private. I'll be here the whole weekend and so will Hildie Smithers and Alice Chancellor. No one else will know.

"We'll try a low dose, first, and if the side effects are too severe I'll up it by 10mg per kg then wait to see how it affects you. Of course, at a higher dose there are only a bit more serious side effects. What I'm more worried about is your pulse and oxygen levels. And I'll have everything you'll need for the weekend in the 'Hospitality Suite' because you'll need to be monitored very closely."

"Yeah, yeah, I know the procedure and the risks," House snips as he waves his right hand. "Give me the damned paper. I'll sign it."

"Not so fast, Mr. Impatient Much. Legally I have to explain everything to you or it doesn't happen. Understand?" House grunts under his breath. "Good, thought so."

"I'm sure you're quite familiar with the effects of Ketalar since you dropped that acid to prove you are an ass," she continues with a heavy tone of sarcasm in her voice but can't help but crack a little grin. But I want you…need you to talk to me during the whole time. Do you think you can do that for me?"

House turns his head and finally looks at her. "Sure, but you have to know I'm not responsible for my actions."

"Oh, not a problem. If you misbehave I can always slap you. You won't remember it anyway," she says with a genuine smile.

"Okay, so, you know it'll be a good 48 hours before you are up and completely off the Ketalar and if all is well you'll be back in your room, er, yours and Wilson's room, by Monday afternoon. If all is well then, you can be home Wednesday."

House's eyes slowly begin to lose focus on Cuddy and she knows he's had enough.

"You need to sign this," she tells him and hands him the clipboard with the paper on it. He signs it quickly and hands it back to her.

"You should be a doctor. Your handwriting stinks," she teases him.

"So does your beside manner," he shoots back but smiles at her weakly.

"Get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning," she tells him and quietly leaves the room.

"No fair. You get the good drugs," Wilson quietly mumbles.

"Yeah, great, huh?"

"Good luck tomorrow," Wilson says.

"Thanks," House answers back. "Still miss me?"

There's no answer and he is too exhausted to really mess with his best friend anymore. He closes his eyes and drifts off to sleep.

HOUSE MD HOUSE MD HOUSE MD

As promised, Cuddy takes House to the private room down the hall, on the same floor as he already is. That is a condition Cuddy relented on because House still wants to be on the same floor as Wilson. Friendships can indeed generate that need for closeness, even in it's literal form.

He gets into the bed and asks Cuddy to close the curtain because he knows the faint glow of the rising sun will give way to a blinding light as the drug gets into his system. She then puts a small duffle bag on a chair and hooks him up with pads on his chest for possible heart problems, oxygen level detector and a few other necessary items.

"You aren't impressed?" House asks as she places the gown together and snaps them closed.

She frowns and asks him, "Impressed with what?"

"My manly chest."

"Oh, that. Well, show me one and I'll let you know what I think," she ribs him and they both smile. "Are you ready?" She stands waiting for his answer.

After a brief pause he nods his head. "Let's do it."

She takes the vial of Ketalar, inserts the needle into the top and withdraws just enough for the required dose. "Okay, this will knock you out for about an hour but I'll see you after that." She pauses and minute. "But there's no telling what you'll see."

Hildie Smithers and Alice Chancellor silently walk into the room and prepare themselves for whatever the next 48 hours will bring.

Cuddy inserts the needle into the I.V. tube and slowly pushes the medicine in. She is a little unnerved at the look in his eyes - they're wary, nervous, scared but trusting, too. That is the only thing that settles her own nerves. His eyes slowly become unfocused and his eyelids are fighting to stay up.

As the last drop is emptied from the needle she withdraws it and puts her hand on his own.

"You'll be fine, Greg. You'll be fine," she tells him reassuringly.

His eyes finally flutter closed and his breathing becomes steady, telling her he is out now.

"God, please let him be fine. Please let this work," she pleads.