This will start to take more form after a couple more chapters. I don't look for it to be any more than ten.
Disclaimer: Not mine…
The three stared in disbelief at the screen, rendered speechless at the sight before them.
"Iron accumulation in globus pallidus and substantia nigra." Foreman finally sighed as Chase ran his fingers through his curly blonde locks.
"He's so young." Cameron sputtered.
"Well this type of brain degeneration usually occurs in infants and children, beginning at childbirth." Foreman offered. "He's held off for a while." He comforted her, pressing a button and saying to the patient. "Alright Scott we got what we needed, we'll have you out there in a minute."
"Thanks. It's a little stuffy in here." He replied as Foreman brought the machine to life and the patient slowly began rolling out of the machine.
"This is extremely odd in a 20 year old." Chase finally offered. "I'll get the X-rays so we can go talk to House." Leaving the room Foreman and Cameron made their way to their patient as a nurse came to assist him into a wheelchair.
"Is a wheelchair really necessary?" Scott asked as he spotted the doctors through squinted eyes in the dark room.
"Afraid so." Cameron nodded, trying her damnedest to hold back the tears that were forming in her eyes.
"We're going to go consult with Dr. House and be in your room a little later." Foreman offered. "Should be no more than twenty minutes."
'You have to consult another doctor, is it that bad?"
"Dr. House is in charge of your case, we assist him."
"You didn't answer my last question." He replied, squinting to Cameron who immediately looked away so that he could avoid seeing her tears.
"We'll consult with House and be with you in a little bit. Rest ok?" Foreman offered, taking Cameron's arm and pulling her from the room. "You ok?" He asked as they headed toward the elevator where they met Chase.
"What's wrong with you?" The Aussie immediately asked.
"Nothing." She replied, wiping furiously at her eyes as the elevator door opened and they stepped on.
"I know its sad." Foreman offered. "But you need to suck it up, House…"
"Screw House." She interrupted, his name automatically ceasing her tears. "I'll be fine."
The elevator came to a halt on their floor and the three stepped off, walking into the conference room where House now was, staring again at the whiteboard. "Iron accumulation?" He asked automatically, seeing Cameron's dazed expression. Foreman solemnly nodded as they all took a seat around the doctor. "Diagnosis?" He asked, bringing his bum leg up to rest on the table.
"Could be a number of things." Chase replied, sliding the patient's scans to House. "Seitelberger disease, Parkinson disease, Huntington's disease, Joseph's disease… they all would explain his inability to control his movements, night blindness-" House stood to his feet and limped, cane-free over to the wall where he placed the scans. Eyeing them closely he stated all that three had seen immediately before dropping his head.
"Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome." He stated simply, his back remaining turned from them. "Did you check his eyes?" He asked, turning to them.
"Yes." Cameron stated simply. "Eye of the tiger."
"On your game today Doctor Cameron." House approved, limping to take his seat at the head of the table, staring down them.
"Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome?" Chase asked, confused as to where the name came from.
"Well if you want to get technical its Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation Type 1." House sighed. "They changed the name after World War II when the goons treated mentally ill patients like shit….blah…blah…blah… Retina degeneration?" He asked, eyeing a withdrawn Cameron.
"No, just the night blindness." Foreman replied. "Which is highly unusual since two-thirds of these patients have it."
"Indeed." House smirked. "You are looking at the one in every three million ducklings. His history shows that he was misdiagnosed three times: cerebral palsy, ADHD, go figure, and Joseph's disease."
"It could have just as easily been that." Chase defended.
"Yes it could have." House replied. "But due to his numerous health problems all signs point to HSS. Treatments?"
"We have to focus on his individual symptoms." Cameron stated. "Pallidotomy and thalamotomy can help control his dystonia."
"Those are both investigational." Foreman replied, looking to Cameron.
"It would give him some sort of relief." She argued.
"What for a year?" Foreman sniggered. "He probably wouldn't go through with the surgery anyway."
"How the hell would you know, are you his brain now?"
"No."
"Then tell me something better."
"We could give him Supplemental Pantothenate, he has low levels of Vitamin B5, it could help control it." Foreman replied.
"Chase?" House asked, cocking his head amusingly at the doctor. "Any ideas."
"He's prone to seizures." Chase offered weakly. "Before we give him anything he needs to be started on anti-convulsive drugs."
"Oh Chase, you've made me proud." House replied sarcastically as if to say duh. "Well Foreman you and Cameron go argue with the patient over what he should do while Chase here gets his drugs to prevent seizures."
"Are you serious?" Foreman replied, eyeing Cameron.
"Don't I look serious?" He replied.
"Don't you have an opinion?" Cameron asked.
"Yes I do." House replied, picking up a ball with his cane and tossing it up into the air before catching it. "Go talk to your patient and once you convince him of what he needs to do I'll go talk him into doing what I want him to do." The three stood and readied themselves for the door. "Cameron, stay back a minute." Looking skeptically at him and then Foreman. "Foreman wait for Cameron before you go in, give him a chance to hear both options before deciding. Happy?" He asked, turning to Cameron as Chase and Foreman exited the office.
She stood watching him continue with the ball in silence for a long moment. "You needed something?" She asked impatiently. He looked up at her as if just noticing her and let the ball drop to the floor.
"Shit, I was on a role. Sit down." He ordered, pulling a seat out to the right of him. Sighing she walked over and sat in the seat he had moved closer to him. Peering at her with his intense blue eyes he watched as she shifted nervously beneath his gaze. "Something on your mind?" He asked, taking out a bottle of Vicodin and dry swallowing two as he brought his elbows to his knees.
"No." She replied simply, ignoring his gaze.
"Look at me." He barked. Silently she obeyed, a questioning look on her face. He stared at her for another long moment, peering into her eyes as if he could read her thoughts. Her gaze wavered soon after and he bobbed his head down to again catch her gaze until she lifted her head, his stare following her. "You're hurting for this kid." Her only response was a nod. "You don't need to."
"And why the hell not?" She asked defensively.
"Why did you decide to be a doctor Allison?" He asked, watching as her facial expression changed from anger to something he couldn't identify.
"Because I care."
"You care too much."
"Is it so bad that I care about the well-being of patients?"
"There's nothing wrong with it at all."
"Then what the hell is this about?" Her voice was becoming angrier.
"You care too much." He stated again.
"You don't care enough." She retorted, her anger now reaching her eyes.
"Maybe." He replied, leaning back in his chair, keeping her gaze.
"Maybe? House you don't-" She was halted when he came forward again, his chair inching towards her.
"What Cameron? Just because I don't let the fact that most of my patients are dying get to me I don't care? I care about my patients, that's why I help them, I wouldn't be in this profession if I didn't somewhat care. You care too much." He barked.
"What is with this bullshit? Is that the only argument that you have against me? I care too much?"
"My argument is that you need to separate yourself from it. People die everyday Cameron, everyone has to die."
"Thanks for telling met something I didn't already know." She said standing and moving towards the door. With one movement he rolled his chair in front of her with his good leg, her legs coming to rest between his as she glares down at him.
"My point Cameron," He starts as he stands, ignoring the gasp she takes at their proximity. "is that people are going to die. Treat one as best as you know how and if that's no good then move on to the next person. There's always someone out there needing help and if you're still upset about the last one then how the hell are you going to save a new one?" He can feel her breath on his neck as she finally allows herself to breathe and he closes his eyes in response, but only for a moment. Stepping back at her silence he allows her to sweep past him out the door. Sighing he drops back down into his chair where he pulls out a bottle and pops two more Vicodin.
A/N: Review please…I'm not above begging.