TISSUE WARNING: character death within this chapter
Chapter 5 – Goodbyes
Alison Cameron paced nervously in the hall way outside Chase's room at the hospital. Cuddy, Wilson and Foreman all sat, watching her, in chairs that lined the wall of the corridor. House was in the room with Chase, although whether he was aiding or abetting the team working on saving the life of his duckling was debatable.
"Cameron, sit down, they'll tell us if there is any news" Dr. Wilson told her. Cameron shook her head and continued to pace. Wilson rolled his eyes towards Cuddy.
"Well, I tried" he whispered. Cuddy shook her head sadly, and was about to say something when the door to Chase's room opened and House stepped out. Cameron stepped close to him, her eyes filled with tears.
"How is he?" she franticly asked. House's blue eyes betrayed him as he looked sadly at Cameron.
"He, he's on life support. I'm sorry, Cameron, but he was without oxygen for too long. He's in a coma, and from the testing we conducted, he's not going to come out of it. Cameron, I'm so sorry, he's brain dead." Cameron's' shock was evident on her face, and her legs gave way as she burst into tears again. Wilson caught her as she fell to the ground, cradling her close to him, rocking her, trying to sooth her. The other watched as Cameron screamed her disbelief to anyone that could hear.
"He can't be gone, please, he can't be gone. You're lying" she cried. House nervously cleared his throat, looking guiltily around their little group.
"If anyone wants to say, um, goodbye, then they might want to do so now" House said, awkwardly shuffling his feet and leaning on his cane. Cameron didn't make a move to be the first, so Cuddy spoke up.
"I'll go first" she said, entering the room. She emerged about fifteen minutes later, wiping her eyes, trying to hide the obvious signs that she had been crying from her colleagues. She had worked hard for her reputation as a hard shelled, stubborn woman, and it would not do to have that reputation shattered. By that time, Cameron was sitting in one of the chairs, with House on one side, and Wilson on the other. In a moment of kindness, House was letting Cameron sob into his shoulder, while Wilson tenderly patted her on the back. Seeing as both of his collogues were preoccupied with Cameron, Foreman entered the room, emerging two minutes later. Cuddy swapped places with Wilson, who strode into Chases room and closed the door behind him. He was in the room for longer, perhaps for twenty minutes, until he emerged, looking pale. House took a deep breath and rose unsteadily to his feet, leaning heavily on his cane, a sudden weariness washing over him in waves. He limped into the room his wombat was in and closed the door. Half and hour later, he emerged.
"Your turn, Cameron" he told her, holding the door open for her. Cameron sniffed and walked into the room, letting House close the door behind her. Her eyes were fixed on Chase's pale body, lying underneath the clean, white hospital sheets. She was instantly struck at how small, young, weak and child like he looked, just lying there. She sank into the seat beside his bed, listening to the sound of the various heart monitors, life support machines and other medical equipment. She was not normally affected by those sounds, as she heard them every day, but that day, they frightened her for the first time. Seeking comfort, Cameron reached out for chase's cold, lifeless hand, grasping it tightly in her own.
"Oh Chase" she whispered, wincing at how melodramatic she sounded. She gently stroked his arm, drawing her face close to his. She gently kissed his cheek, avoiding the various tubes and hoses that surrounded her lover. She sobbed as she recalled the previous Saturday night, where their love had consumed them, when they had, once again, felt the passion that they felt towards one another. She remembered, with a shudder, the vicious argument that had broken out the following morning, when she had, consumed by anger, stated that she had never loved him. She remembered the look of betrayal and hurt that had crossed his face. Cameron let out a wail of grief as a new realization dawned on her. It was her fault.
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault, please forgive me, Chase. I'm so sorry, Robbie, I never meant it, I love you, I swear. I'll never hurt you again, I promise. Please come back, just come back, that's all I ask" she begged. Chase remained motionless in the room, the silence only broken by the steady beeping of the machines keeping him alive. Cameron sobbed, and lovingly kissed Chase's hand. Cameron sighed and gently rubbed Chase's hand, trying to avoid looking at the bandages wrapped securely around his wrists. Instead, she gazed at Chase's pale face, trying to absorb its every detail in her memory.
"Oh Chase" she sobbed, bowing her head. She leant forward and kissed his face once more, before breaking down and crying one again, her head resting on Chase's bed, one hand still wrapped around his.
House, Cuddy and the others gave Cameron half an hour with Chase before deciding to check on her. Wilson tentatively knocked on the door, pushing it open. Cameron was sitting at Chase's bedside, gazing up at his face, and rubbing his hand gently. House was struck at how angelic; Chase looked, before shaking his head and clearing his throat.
"Cameron, it's time for him to go" he told her. Cameron bowed her head.
"I know" she whispered, her nose sounding blocked. Cuddy stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on Cameron's shoulder while the ICU staff, many of whom Chase had worked with many times before, entered the room and prepared to switch off the life support. Cameron stood and got out of the way, joining the others as they stood on the other side of the room. Once everything was prepared, the head ICU doctor looked at the group. House nodded, and the doctor's gaze switched to Cuddy, who also nodded, then Cameron, taking a deep breath, also nodded. The doctor nodded, and flicked the off switch on the machines. Cameron sobbed and buries her face into House's chest, and he, awkwardly patted her on the back, as the monitor showing Chase's heart rate showed a flat, green line, and emitted a high pitched, continuous beep.
A.N. A thousand apologies about the amount of time between updates, as I was caught up with school stuff, such as exams, and many important assignments. Hopefully, as I am now on holidays, I can work on my stories a bit more. As always, please review. Your support so far has been great.