Woo, chapter 5 is here! Things are really starting to get tense at HCTH, but this is only the calm before the storm...things will get much worse. You know...this is a longer chapter than usual...hmm...wow did I have a lot to fit in. And thanks once more to my faithful reviewers!
---- She sat there eating a fresh garden salad with low fat dressing. She took a hand and stroked a stray hair away from her face. Her eyes brightly watched tv. The glass door slid open and she looked at the doctor and smiled, "Good morning."
Chase pulled out her file and took a quick glance over it. He looked up at her, "How do you feel today, Keira?"
"Better than ever. You're Dr. Chase, right?" Keira asked.
"Yes, that's me. We need a quick blood sample." Chase held up the syringe. "Is that alright with you?"
Keira nodded. "If it will help, then ok."
Chase took the cap off the needle and pushed it into her forearm. He pulled the compressor back, which drew the blood. He quickly pulled the needle out. Chase and Keira didn't notice, but Cameron was silently standing in the doorway. Chase took a band-aid out of the wrapping and placed it on her arm. "Alright. All done."
Keira stared at Chase, "I'm sorry, but I must admit...you are extremely cute."
Chase's face was flushed after she said that. He smiled slightly, "Umm...thanks you, I think. I have to run a blood test. If you'll excuse me..." Chase made a quick turn out of the room and Cameron ran up to his side.
"So...she thinks that you're cute?" Cameron questioned.
"I guess you heard. Yeah. At least someone thinks that."
Cameron jealously mumbled under her breath, "I think that you're cute, too."
But it seemed as though she mumbled just loud enough for Chase to catch what she said. His head quickly turned to her, "What?" Chase's voice displayed disbelief.
Cameron shook her head, "Nothing...it was nothing. Just talking to myself." Cameron sighed heavily and thought to herself, "Not like you'll ever notice me Chase. I've tried to get you ever since the first time we met. Yet, you seem pretty damn satisfied with being flattered by Keira. If only there was a way to capture your attention..." Cameron looked up at Chase, "Let's go run this blood test."
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----Foreman spotted Jak in the lobby. Jak was sitting alone. His head was in his hands, which was no surprise, because all of this was starting to take a toll on him. The stress, worry, and just plain being tired. Foreman sat beside him and tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. Jak looked up. "Sorry to bother you, Jak. But I just need a quick blood sample."
Jak stared at Foreman. He had "confusion" written all over his face, "Why? Do you think that I could have what Keira has, too?"
Foreman sighed, "I really don't know why House wants me to get a blood sample from you. But I'm sure that he's just trying to cover all the bases."
Jak hesitated, but agreed. "Alright." Foreman quickly drew the blood and thanked Jak for his time and patience before leaving. Foreman hustled off to the lab to start testing.
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------ He is silent. He is stealth. He is...Daxter. He had little black gloves on and a tiny knit black shirt with black glasses. Daxter was living the dream...he was a spy. Excitement seemed to flood through his veins as he craftily navigated the halls, keeping out of plain sight. Doctors and nurses bustled around the halls and among the chaos, Daxter was nothing more that a streak of orange and black lightning.
He crouched low to the ground and slipped into an office on the fifth floor of Haven City Teaching Hospital. The door read: "Chairman of the Board". The lights were off, so Daxter pulled out his mini flashlight. He scanned the dark room. There didn't appear to be anything of importance there. He climbed onto a chair, then the desk. He pointed the flashlight at a file that was at his feet. The cover read:
"Patient: Salicia (note: pronounced-- sa-leesh-a) Praxis. Case manager: Dr. Gregory House. Preceeding Case manager: Dr. Lisa Cuddy"
Daxter grabbed the file. "This looks interesting." Daxter paused. "Now, how to get out of here without being noticed with this file..." Daxter looked around and spotted an open window. "You've got to be kidding me."
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----- As usual Cameron, Chase, and Foreman were seated in the conference room, while House stood at the white board. Foreman looked at House, "Why did you ask me to get a blood sample from Jak?"
House rolled his eyes. "Why do you question me all the time?"
Foreman hissed, "Could you answer my question just this once, then you can go back to being a typical ass."
House sighed heavily in annoyance. "The baron had a survivor from that 'dark warrior program'. And it seems that Jak is it. At any time a spark of that eco could have hit Keira and entered the blood stream. That could be what is making her sick and killing her. Happy now, Foreman?"
"That makes a lot of sense." Cameron agreed. Chase nodded in agreement.
Foreman stood and walked up to the white board. "It makes too much sense. And is extremely unlikely." Foreman went ot grab a marker but was stopped by House.
"Sorry Foreman, but this is the white board." House sarcastically remarked.
Foreman was just as fast to fire back. "Then can I have the black marker."
"Touche." House handed him the marker. "Someone go check on our patient."
Chase stood, "I'll go."
As he left, Cameron sourly hissed, "I'll go, too." Before House could object...she was gone.
"I'll get the test results." And Foreman was gone, too. House just shrugged his shoulders. He took out his pill bottle filled with Vicodin and he took one, then he made his way to his office.
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---- House was taking a nap. He was tired and this case kept him thinking twenty-four/ seven. In addition, his leg had been in even more pain recently and it was making it hard for him to sleep. His head was lying on the desk, and almost as if on cue, Cuddy came into his office.
"Wake up, House." She said.
"What?" he mumbled.
Cuddy tapped him on the shoulder, prompting him to raise his head up. "Ashelin wants to have a meeting about you. I think she wants to sway us to get rid of you."
House tiredly raised his head slightly from the desk. "Do you want to fire me?"
"I...I don't know, House."
House's voice grew slightly angry, "You don't know? You have had all of this time to fire me, Cuddy and you haven't. You have put up with all of my bullshit and now you're going to let Ashelin fire me!" Cuddy felt as if she was betraying House, she couldn't meet his gaze. "Why have you kept me around then?"
"You are the best doctor we have. You have saved may lives, even if you are miserable, mean, and a total jerk most of the time." That little voice in Cuddy's head began to tell her, "Tell him the other reason, tell him the truth...you know that you want him to know what you feel for him..."
House must have been tired. His head was back on the desk and he seemed to have fallen asleep while Cuddy was in mid-sentence. He probally wasn't listening. Cuddy just sighed. Lately, she had noted House's recent tire. His leg pain had to be bad, she had seen him "pill popping" more Vicodin that ever in the past few days. Even though she shouldn't, she was going to let him sleep. Cuddy grabbed one of his hands and gently squeezed it. She whispered, "I won't let her fire you, House." Cuddy left, leaving House to sleep.
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----"Still doing well, Keira?" Chase asked.
Keira smiled, "Yup."
Cameron stared through the glass. She watched as they seemed to small talk. She stared at the floor and shuffled her feet around. Cameron took a glance at the clock, it was time for her to report to clinic duty. Cameron stared emptily at them and left for the clinic.
You're a kind doctor, too." Keira complimented Chase. "Where is Jak at?"
"He left five minutes ago."
"oh..." Keira stared downward sadly.
"Don't worry," Chase reassured. "Everything will be alright."
"Thanks." Although Chase was enjoying his chat with Keira, he did find it odd, it seemed as if her symptoms recessed...again. And when she became asymptomatic for a time, her illness would come back ten times as worse. Chase thought it would be a good idea to alert House about what was going on. "I better go catch up with House. If you feel even the slightest change, let one of the nurses know right away."
"Ok." Keira nodded.
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---- Cameron was dealing with the typical clinic patient. It was a patient that she had grown very familiar with. Although Kathy (the patient) was an addict, she was very kind and enjoyed listening to and helping Cameron with her problems. Cameron had taken the time to explain her situation with Chase to Kathy. Kathy lowered her voice and spoke very quietly, "I have an idea, but you may not like it. Take this," Kathy pulled something out of her pocket and handed it to Cameron. It was crystasl meth. "Use this and invite him over for a drink at your house. You'll be able to get what ever you want from him."
Cameron stared guiltily at the drug, "Kathy, that's wrong and---"
"It'll work and you do want him, right?"
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----His tiny, black shirt was caught on a pole outside and had left him dangling hugh up for quite sometime now. His paws clung tight to the file even still. "This wouldn't have happened if I just had pants. No shirt, just pants. Curse you pants! You have eluded me again! Now, just how to get down."
Chase stared out of the windows as he walked by and spotted Daxter hanging outside of the window. He ran to the window and opened it. "Daxter, what are you doing!" Chase exclaimed.
"Oh, you know, just hangin' out." Chase made a face at the bad joke. "No, literally. I am hangin' out...outside that is. I really could use a hand. Please?"
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----Cuddy just had to say it. She couldn't let this go on any further. But hse had to stop and wonder...was she really letting her feeling get in the way? It didn't matter now, she couldn't turn back. Cuddy stood firmly in front of Ashelin's desk. "Ashelin, you can fire House."
"Tell me, Dr. Cuddy. Give me a reason why." Ashelin hissed.
"That son of a bitch is the best doctor we've got." Cuddy said matter of factly. "We can't fire him."
Ashelin stood, "Or is there another reason that you can't fire him...you have feelings for him, don't you?" Cuddy was silent and her eyes stared at the floor. "Admit it. You are in love with him."
"I...I'm..."
Another evil cliffhanger. There isn't going to be much Keira in chapter 6. There is only so much you can do with a sick person...oh well, but you'll see a lot more of her in chapter 7. Anyhow in chapter 6, emotions are starting to run high at Haven City Teaching Hospital. Chase's infatuation with Keira is taking Cameron to extremes to get Chase back. But her methods may prove to be addicting and possiably deadly. And Ashelin is pressuring Cuddy to reveal her true feelings for House, but will her confession bring her and House closer together or further apart. Jak goes on the search for Samos, while Daxter gives Chase and Foreman a hand in investigation. Things are really starting to get tight at HCTH.
Thanks for reading and please read and review. I'm always grateful for the reviews and input. And please do try to give my Jak, M.D. forum a quick look. I will read any responces posted there and consider adding any good ideas found there to the mix of the story.