Chapter 6

She heard a noise in the background, cracked her eyes open and sensed that it was her phone vibrating. She sighed, as she picked it up. Really! It was 3.30am! She listened to her colleague and said she would be there soon. She dressed quickly, grabbed her things and shut her front door. As she went to the main entrance, she noticed the soft glow of light coming from under the green door. Maybe he left the light on and had gone out. She knew he did odd hours like she did. She thought about the way that she had spoken to him earlier – yeah she needed to apologise.

Thump-slap, thump-slap, his bare feet made an odd sound as he put his foot down heavily on the dark wood floor, thump-slap it echoed in the small hours of the morning. Sweat beaded around his brow as it had his t-shirt which now stuck to him. He did another lap, desk, back of couch, piano and finally resting with both arms taking off the weight at the butchers table in the kitchen. What he wouldn't give for some morphine right now. He turned his head over his shoulder thinking of the tin green box on top of the book case. But if he took that now, there is no way he would get to work and see his patient. He tightened his grip on the table and looked up to a god he didn't believe in, hoping that just once one of the prayers he never said would be answered.

As night turned into day the pain ebbed away, it was on nights like this he was glad he was alone. His thoughts went back to the kiss he had recently with Cuddy, it was passionate and emotional and he had no idea why he had one it, accept at that moment he had had the courage to take what he thought he wanted. But now he was glad he had walked away, carried on as if nothing had happened. There was no way he would let anyone see him like this. He looked at the near empty bottle of Vicodin, shook 2 out, he had lost count of how many he had taken in the last 24hrs, got himself ready for work, as tired as he was, if he went to bed now he would stay there all day.

As he approached the entrance to the hospital, he stood as straight as he could, took a deep breath and walked as briskly as he could, the act of confidence a good show to get him through the foyer without any curious looks. Once in the lift on his own, he let his guard down and relaxed. It was early enough for there not to be many people around. He alighted the car at his floor and limped heavily to his office. To his surprise Kutner was already sitting at the table eating cereal. He put his bag down and went through the interlocking door. Kutner almost choked on his coffee when he realised House was in. Without letting him say anything House jumped straight in. "Have you been to see our patient, apparently he now walks funny"

"Nope" Said Kutner eyeing House over is coffee mug. "I just go there"

"Lets go!" Said House exiting the office to see the patient. Loosing no time, they entered Jonah's room, he was still asleep. He turned the lights on and slapped his cane across the roll table. Which woke Jonah up with a start "What the…." He exclaimed putting his arms across his eyes.

"Get up! We need to see you walk" Instructed House

"What?" replied a disorientated Jonah. Kutner moved over to the bed "Sorry" he said encouraging him to sit up "We need to see you walk" taking him under the elbow for support, helping him up. He looked over his head at House and rolled his eyes.

Very slowly Jonah got up, winced at the pain he was feeling and started to walk across the room. House and Kutner looked at each other they could see it straight away. "That's enough" Said House and left the room as quickly as he had entered, without looking back and without waiting for Kutner.

When he got back to the office 13, Foreman and Taub were there. He went up to the white board and wrote "Funny walk" on as a symptom.

"I think its Parkinson's" He said pacing around the room.

"He's 24yrs old, he's too young" Said 13

House glared "Ok, so Early Onset Parkinson's. He has at least 3 of the 5 early symptoms. Start him on levodopa" He instructed, heading to his office.

The minions sat around looking at each other for a moment. House turned to see what they were doing "NOW!" he bellowed.

"I don't agree" Challenged Foreman. "He doesn't have tremors in his hands"

"So maybe his is presenting differently. Load him up on levodopa and we'll see what happens" House said sternly. Waiting for them to move.

"I still….." Foreman got cut off by House "Just do it! The kid is getting worse so lets try something. Go! He said limping into his office. The minions all got up and went to start the treatment.

House sat at his desk. He didn't actually think it was Parkinson's, he was too young really, but maybe it would give them something else to go on. He got some medical journals out and started reading, hoping for something to stand out. The day turned into night, the hours seem to pass by inconsequentially, until 13 and Kutner came into his office. They were the designated 2 on duty tonight.

"Its not Parkinson's" Said 13 "He's bleeding out"

"Anything else?" Questioned House

"Nope, nothing else has changed. Although I thought his speech seemed a little slurred." Kutner suggested

"Ok. Stop treatment. When he's stopped bleeding get an MRI and look for MS" He ordered

Kutner and 13 looked at each other and nodded. It was going to be a long night.

House gathered his belongings, there was nothing else he could do tonight. They would call him if anything else happened.

He ran a hot bath, put some music on and relaxed as much as he was able. The hot water always made him feel better, at least while he was in it. Once he was shrivelled, he got out, put some sleep pants on and went in search of some food. Not a lot as usual. He found some peanut butter and the remains of a loaf of bread which he checked for mould. Deciding it was safe to eat made himself a sandwich, grabbed a bottle of beer and headed for the couch, put his leg up and his head back.

No sooner had he sat down he heard a soft knock at the door. He pulled his head up and looked at the door, hoping that a glare would make the noise stop. But it didn't, so he eventually got up to answer it. He opened the door, to see his neighbour standing there holding what looked like a casserole dish. Saying nothing he just stared.

She looked him in the eye, which wasn't difficult considering how gorgeous they were and held out the Lasagne to him "Peace Offering" She stated "I may have been a bit rude the other night"

He stood there still doing and saying nothing. She felt awkward. "That was the 1st time we had actually spoken and I didn't want us to get off on the wrong foot. So please take this as a peace offering and I'll leave you alone"

He was leaning on his cane and using the door for balance, letting go of either right now didn't seem like a good idea. "Don't have any hands free" He said attempting to joke his way out of it.

"Oh…uhh, I'll just put it in the kitchen for you then" She said bravely taking a step inside the door jamb.

House pushed the door with his left hand so it opened a little more in silent acceptance of her offer. As she made her way across to the kitchen, he managed to manoeuvre himself to the turn table to change the music. Professor Longhair "Going to New Orleans" blasted out.

She came up behind him, at which point he went to turn it down. "Don't do that on my account. I love Prof Longhair, haven't heard that in a long time." She said smiling "Live on the Queen Mary is my favourite album of his" She made her way passed, but stopped just before the door to have one last listen. "Nice" She said and left his apartment.

He had said nothing. But the food smelt good, better than a PB sandwich. He went to the kitchen filled up a plate and went to the reclaim his spot on the couch. He took a mouthful of food, while the music played, looked at the door and had a small grin on his face. He wasn't sure what had happened but the food tasted good.