Chapter 9: Everybody Lies
Rating:
K
Note to Non-House-ers: If you do not watch House, M.D.,
please feel free to read my fanfic, but it may prove useful to read
some background info. Google House.
Chapter Summary: House and his Ducklings still don't know what's wrong with Tally! House comes across one of Tally's deepest darkest secrets! Plus, the usual Cameron/Chase tension! And over-use of exclamation marks!
Disclaimer:
I do not own ANY of the characters in this story (with the exception
of the patients). Nor do I own 'House, M.D.' the show or this website
(duh).
Author's Note: THE END IS NEAR! Now that I've
freaked you all out, thanks to reviewers. I really do take the good
advice from all of you.
"Neurosyphilis?" Foreman suggested.
It was the next day in House's office.
"That's sexually transmitted. Nice," House said, eyebrows raised.
"The test was negative." Cameron said.
"Tests are almost always wrong. Chase. Go ask her if she's gettin' some, and when she says she isn't, inject her brain with penicillin via lumbar puncture." House said.
"I really hate needles." Tally complained as Chase prepared for the lumbar puncture.
"Well, we need to do this twice a day for two weeks, so you'll probably get used to them." Chase explained. Tally groaned.
"What's it for, anyway?"
"Neurosyphilis. We also need to know if you're sexually active…"
"Oh that's just great. Do you know what people will say if they find out how neurosy-whatever that is, is sexually transmitted and I have it?"
"I'm sorry. But we do need to know."
"What do you think?"
Chase raised his eyebrows.
"Try not to move." he said, injecting the needle into her.
Tally winced in pain.
"All done."
"I have to do this twice a week? Wow, that's something to look forward to."
Chase began to pack up the equipment.
"What did you say?" Tally asked suddenly, "Stop it!"
"I didn't say anything?" Chase said rushing over to Tally, who was now putting her hands up to her ears and hyperventilating. "Tally…are you hearing voices?"
"Foreman was wrong!" House said smugly, writing 'hearing voices' on the board.
"What's the diagnosis for hearing voices?"
"Well, not neurosyphilis." Foreman said.
"Aw. Now it's not as interesting. Go get some…uh...brain tests."
"All right," Foreman said, getting up.
"Sit down. Cameron, Chase go do it." House said haughtily.
Chase sighed and got up.
"No." Cameron said firmly.
"Forgotten how to?"
"I refuse to go with him." she said stubbornly.
"Go do the tests," House said turning to Foreman, "Kids,"
In the clinic, House was "treating" a tired looking man by playing on his Nintendo.
"Should I go get another doctor?" the patient asked awkwardly.
"It's up to you." House replied, not looking up.
"I think I'm gonna go now…" the patient said.
"All right. But all the other doctors are busy."
"Uh…my eyes hurt…"
"Crying yourself to sleep?"
"Uh…no?"
"Wear glasses?"
"How did you know?"
"Because your optometrist screwed up. The lenses are too strong."
"Oh…okay…"
The patient went to the door then paused and went to say something, but thought better of it.
"What is it?" House sighed.
"What's what?" the patient asked, confused.
"You paused. You were about to say something."
"I…I didn't have my vaccinations, as a baby."
"…and you're wondering whether you're gonna die?"
"Well, yeah."
"The mother's breast milk protects the infant until they…" House began, but then thought of something and left, leaving the patient looking even more confused.
House barged into Tally's room.
"Where's your mother?" House demanded.
"Why? Are you fighting again?" Tally snapped back sarcastically.
"She isn't dead is she?"
"Oh my God! You might be right! Hey – let's all take a trip to the Cemetery and dig her up, just in case!"
"Sarcasm is unflattering."
"A high neck line is unflattering. Sarcasm usually means you don't like the person you're being sarcastic to."
"Wanna live? Then maybe you should tell me what you lied about."
"I didn't lie…"
"Oh okay. Makes sense, seeing as I checked the records, and she seems to have missed out on a Death Certificate. Very important, those are."
"W-why do you need to know this anyway! Or are you just trying to make me cry!"
"I need to know. Or you'll die." House said slowly, and seriously.
There was a pause for a moment, as Tally closed her eyes and swallowed.
"She nearly died during labour. But she didn't. She just abandoned me, right after I was born, like I was an unwanted puppy at Christmas. Do you know what that feels like? To know that you're just not wanted by the person who is supposed to care for you more than anyone?"
There was another pause.
"Thank-you." House said quietly, and with that, he left.
"Mommy's not dead." House announced to Chase, Cameron and Foreman, as well as Wilson, who apparently didn't have anything better to do.
They all went and sat at the table from their scattered areas in House's meeting room.
"But she said…?" Cameron was confused, but only mildly, as she was used to having House announce random things that didn't make sense at once.
"Everybody lies," House recited, "Including teenagers. Funny, that."
"So, how's that relevant?" Foreman asked.
"It's very relevant. I'm surprised you asked." House replied, limping around the room.
"He's gonna draw this out…" Foreman realised out loud.
"Yes I am," House began. "The mother's breast milk is the armed soldier that protects the baby, until it's six months and can get it's vaccinations."
"So? If her mother isn't dead, she probably was protected by her until her vaccinations." Chase piped up.
"Wrong." House said bluntly, "Mommy abandoned the little puppy after she was born."
"So she was susceptible to a lot of viruses." Cameron concluded.
"Yep," agreed House.
"But how is that related to her now? I mean, that was years ago."
"Baby gets the measles. Temperature, rash, et cetera, et cetera, and then gets better. But the virus is stored, it mutates like some ugly monster in the sewers. And then it takes a trip up to Tally's brain and hides. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Rare, but it fits." House explained.
"But…we can't get an infinitive diagnosis, what with all the drugs in her system!" Cameron said.
"Oh, crap." House muttered angrily.
"Although, there is another way…" Foreman said, thinking.
"Oh God…Oh God!" Tally rambled anxiously.
"Nothing to worry about, this won't hurt a bit." Chase soothed.
"Uh, there is a long, thin, silver metal thing…and it's now coming at my eye!"
"Don't worry, your eye's been paralysed, you won't feel anything." Cameron reassured.
"Dr. Cameron, can I have a word with you after this, please?" Chase asked Cameron casually.
"No," she said bluntly, "Okay, Tally, it's gonna go into your retina now and get a biopsy sample, just hold still and it won't hurt."
"Cameron, wait up!" Chase called after Cameron after leaving the room where Tally was.
"What." Cameron said bluntly, not phrasing this as a question and keeping on walking.
"Would you just stop for a moment, please!" Chase yelled, and Cameron spun around angrily.
"Leave me alone." she said coolly, and continued to walk.
"I don't care anymore, Allison. I really don't. Do me a favour and leave me alone." Chase yelled after her.
