Prologue 4: The Plan

"I think you should be checked for skull injuries. Are you sure you didn't hit your head?" Cuddy asked, leaning back on her desk as she looked at Cameron, before staring past her to the closed door, which she half-believed House would walk through even though the man was lying on a hospital bed sleeping at this moment. "You can't seriously think this plan is going to work."

"But it could, I mean, look at this," Cameron slapped a copy of Newsweek with her hand. "There's a precedent."

"Yes," Cuddy retorted, "One with a lot of ethical gray-area, I thought you of all people would realize that! You are not seriously suggesting that House have a child for the sole purpose of hopefully getting a donor match!"

"Well, what are his other chances? The registry? The chances of a match here are so much more likely," Cameron argued. "The child could give a marrow transplant at six months old, and they'd never have to know. The risks are minimal and…"

"Excuse me, who are you and what have you done with Allison Cameron?" Cuddy snapped in disbelief. "And do you think House would ever go for this? I mean, seriously?"

"If we explained the risks and benefits…" Cameron cut in, "The fact that with a transplant we could… we could cure him, Cuddy, or at least close to it." Cuddy looked back at Cameron and sighed, throwing up her hands.

"Okay then – who?" she asked. "Who would carry House's child if this crazy plan actually got underway?" Cameron shrugged.

"I could do it," she replied, trying to sound matter-of-fact. Cuddy's jaw dropped.

"You're a complete idiot," she blurted, before she could stop herself. "Even if House agreed, do you realize what you'd be signing up for? And what he'd be signing up for? You're not seriously still carrying some misguided torch for him." One hand moved to her hip and she narrowed her eyes. "This is some attempt to get Chase jealous, isn't it?" she accused.

"No, it isn't!" Cameron shot back, throwing her hands up in part-real, part-feigned outrage. "This is an attempt to save House's life. Why don't we ask him and he can make his own decision?"

"Well, you'll have some trouble with that," Cuddy responded, "Given that he hasn't talked at all to any of us since he arrived. I'm sure bursting in and announcing you want to have his baby will change that though, Dr. Cameron. Just go right along with that." Cameron turned and walked towards the door, but for once Cuddy couldn't quite figure the expression in her step. "You can propose it to him," she said finally, with a sigh. "I can't guarantee that he'll agree. Or even that he should agree. But House is always one for exploring every option so… go for it."

"Thank you," Cameron said, but she didn't turn around and still kept her eyes on the door. Cuddy wished she knew what the former fellow was thinking, but it was impossible. Could she seriously be considering this, or was this some power play to try to reinsert herself back into PPTH after her long absence? What did she really stand to gain from this? "Where is he?"

"In Oncology," Cuddy replied. "Wilson's looking after him. Oh and Cameron?" Cameron turned.

"Yes?"

"You might want to renew your homeowner's insurance."

Cameron had seen House at lows before. The Tritter debacle came to mind, first – that haggard look he'd had as he'd tried desperately to fight against withdrawal and the fact that his friends were letting him withdrawal and suffer until he took a deal he didn't want to take. That look of betrayal in his eyes.

She'd seen him like this, more recently, when he'd had that mental breakdown - right before she had married Chase, exactly. He'd been driven to a mental hospital by Wilson while she was involved in what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. Maybe it should have been an omen. Then, House's eyes had been haunted, as if they were plagued with secrets that he couldn't bring himself to reveal, or that he was afraid to reveal.

His eyes looked different now than either of those times, than any time. She'd seen House hurt, angry, bitter and suspiciously close to actually happy, but she'd never looked in his eyes and seen… nothing, before.

He was awake, but he might as well have not been. He was lying back in the hospital bed and his eyes were focused on the ceiling. He hadn't moved an inch when Cameron walked in and, as Cuddy had mentioned, hadn't said a word.

"House?" Cameron called softly, walking around the side of the bed. "You in there?" She tried desperately to keep her voice playful, unconcerned, and with just a hint of playful mocking. "I came to see you 'cause I might have… an idea. Something you can do about your… condition." He didn't budge, and she reached out and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. Other than a very slight flinch, there was no response. "House… I could…" She was losing her nerve now, now the plan seemed just as stupid as she'd thought it was when it had first entered her mind. But she couldn't go back now. "If you had a child, they could be a bone marrow match, and you could have a transplant." House's eyes drifted over to her and looked at her. That was, at least, a good sign. "But you'd need someone to do that," she continued, "And… I could do that. If you'd be okay with it. I mean… it's a crazy idea, I know, but it's one that just might work, and it's more… reliable, I guess, then waiting on the registry for a match because it's so unlikely and we don't have a lot of time and I… don't want you to die." Cameron's voice started to break. House's blue eyes narrowed and a look of surprised went over his face, seemingly breaking into his daze.

"Would this be a turkey baster deal?" House inquired quietly, "Or would we actually fuck?" Cameron swallowed before she shrugged in surprise.

"Um," she replied, "We could fuck… I have no problem with that."