I thank Taruia for so kindly offering to edit my work. You will see how much a good editor gives to a writer's work without imposing their own words or attitudes on the text. Taruia is a fine editor and she is also the person who provides us with those invaluable transcripts of HOUSE MD at http/malaquent. . I also thank MacNMolly for her invaluable information on microdiscectomy spine surgery.

This story is a continuation of my previous fic "Breakfast with an Orang Utan" therefore the characters behave in character with their shared experiences in that fiction as well as their shared experiences at PPTH as seen on HOUSE MD. All characters from the series HOUSE MD are the property of the producers.

LEGACIES AND LOLLIPOPS - Part Nine

Written by Magdala

Editor/Beta Taruia

PART NINE

I held onto Greg as Wilson administered the painkiller through the cannula and Steigler gave Greg a rundown of the microsurgery.

"I shaved the back of the disc and removed a small portion of the inside facet joint. I also removed a Synnovial Cyst. It's clean as a whistle in there now but it'll take a couple of weeks to a month minimum for the damage to the nerve root to heal."

"There's no more pain from the sciatic nerve," offered Greg.

"I think the gating mechanism is taking care of that. There may be some pain and numbness or weakness. They'll try getting you up later," Steigler put his hand in his pocket and fished out some tickets. "Foreman said these would help your recovery."

"Yankee tickets. Hell yes." He was obviously pleased with the gift but unable to hide the pain that still plagued him. As the words came out he gasped his eyes shutting. The drug had not taken effect.

"It is one of the perks of my profession." A renowned expert in sports medicine, Steigler was famous for saving and prolonging the careers of many athletes. "Your team already has theirs. Call me when you are coming and I'll make sure you get the VIP treatment."

He touched Greg's arm. Indicating it was time for him to leave.

"Thank you," Greg said quietly and sincerely. He was still waiting for the drug to take effect.

"Look after yourself and stop being such a damn hero, okay? If you don't let them know what's going on they can't fix it."

Greg nodded, giving the appearance of complying, because he knew that was the reaction the microsurgeon wanted.

"Steigler," Greg paused. Steigler moved to the bed bending over Greg who then continued. "Tell Wilson denial is not a river running through Egypt."

Steigler nodded his agreement and turned to me. I stood up to say goodbye to him. He realized Greg's last words had worried me.

"Don't let him worry you he's tougher than he looks" Steigler said putting a hand on each of my arms he continued, "Lovely meeting you, Stacy" He kissed me on my unbruised cheek, then he turned to Wilson who was looking pale and upset.

"Righto, Wilson can you lead me to Cuddy's office she wanted a word before I went back to New York."

"Sure," Wilson said and looked at me. "He should be asleep in a few minutes."

Then he and Steigler headed out of the room.

"Come closer," said Greg unable to manage more than a whisper. As I moved towards him, he again pulled me as close as possible while I remained seated in the chair. My arm was around his chest and my hand on the far side of his face. His eyes were getting heavy and I was exhausted. I don't know which one of us fell asleep first.

When I woke the room was full. Greg's team was there; together with Wilson, Cuddy and the white board. Written at the top of the board were the words osteoblastomas, osteoid osteomas and vertebral hemangioma

Greg was wide-awake, but seemed pain free. Realizing I had woken up he turned his head so he was facing me. "Hey."

"Hey," I answered.

"You're exhausted. You need proper sleep in a proper bed. Dr Cuddy has everything arranged for you." He said lovingly his eyes sweeping my face like a caress.

Cuddy stepped forward. "You are going to my house. You will be safe there and I will fill you in on what has been happening on the way there," she said.

"But shouldn't I stay?" I really didn't want to leave Greg. I looked at Wilson. I had never seen Wilson so pale or so obviously worried. I thought of what Greg had said to Steigler "Tell Wilson denial is not a river running through Egypt." So that was what the breakthrough pain was. It was cancer.

"Oh my, God," I said out loud.

Greg spoke to me gently "We have a lot of work to do here. This time you can't help. I need you to be with me when you are fully rested, because I want you to go through that legal stuff from England with me."

I nodded. "Cancer cancer cancer" echoed through my brain. I couldn't speak and didn't even dare to kiss Greg in case I lost it. I let Cuddy lead me out into the hall; scared to even look again at Wilson's face. Cuddy got an assistant to collect the luggage I had moved out of our rented place in Princeton and the large envelope from the Solicitors in London.

I wandered silently to her car and it was not until we were on the highway that I opened my mouth.

"It's cancer. Isn't it?" I asked dully.

"It's one thing that must be ruled out," Cuddy answered carefully.

"Wilson thinks it is. He looks terrible. He looks frightened," Wilson by the look of him thought his friend was dying and that he would be able to do nothing to save him or help lesson the agony.

"Wilson is really too close to Greg to be treating him, of course he is frightened. I am bringing in a consult. Cancer is just one of the things that has to be ruled out. You must believe me, Stacy. There are hundreds of things that could have caused the breakthrough pain and we have the best diagnostic team in the country. Led by the best diagnostician." I had heard her give medical news before and this time it just washed over me. Now I knew this was because she needed to assure herself even more than me.

"Yes, one of the most brilliant minds in the republic, but Lisa, when the pain gets too bad Greg can't even think. Last night he had to beg the team to do his thinking for him." I knew my voice had an edge to it. I could feel myself getting upset.

"I know. Dr. Cameron told me." Of course Lisa knew everything that happened in the hospital.

My eyes filled with tears and my brain traveled five years back in time. They took more than dead muscle away when they operated on Greg for the second time. They cut away his trust, his freedom and his optimism. They took his strength, courage and humor leaving only pain behind. Maybe it was the middle ground surgically but I knew they had cut to the very boundaries of his ability or desire to survive.

I thought I was saving his life. I was told by Lisa that I had saved his life. For Greg it wasn't living. It was a life sentence imprisoned by chronic pain shackled permanently by his mutilated leg.

"Do you know what he said about Steigler?" I asked Cuddy.

"No" she said nervously.

"Greg said 'at least this time they had the good sense to bring in an artist and not a plumber'. We both failed him five years ago. Didn't we? "

"Yes" she admitted. "But we will not fail him now."

"If it isn't too late," I said bleakly.