What had Wilson said? Oh yeah -- it was his conscience. Damn Wilson and his stupid metaphors. Almost as bad as that "wings will melt" bullshit. He was tired of Wilson. He'd get through this Tritter mess without him. Better, really. Only had to look out for himself now.
Some of the nurses and other doctors were giving him odd, almost frightened looks. Fuck 'em, he thought. Take a picture, it'll last longer.
He made his way to the Diagnostics conference room, glancing, through force of habit, at Wilson's office on the way. Almost eleven in the morning and it didn't look like Wilson was in. Must've missed the bus, House thought, and smirked at his own joke.
Foreman was the only one in the conference room, his attention focused on the new issue of The Lancet. House set his backpack on the table and looked around.
"Where's Cameron? Chase?"
Foreman turned the page in the journal. "ICU," he said, not looking up.
"I see you, too. Now where are Chase and Cameron?"
Now Foreman did look up, and House was startled at the expression on his face. Anger and defiance were clearly visible, as was something else -- sadness?
"Very funny," Foreman said. "They're down in Intensive Care, waiting to see if Wilson dies."
The conference room floor seemed to sway under House's feet. Foreman watched him closely.
"You didn't know, did you?"
House couldn't seem to draw in enough breath. "What?" he tried, and then "How?"
"This morning. Mugged at a bus stop by a guy with a gun." Foreman's voice was soft, as if speaking to a child. "Wilson gave up his wallet; only problem was it didn't have enough cash or cards in it for the thief. Guy got mad, emptied part of his clip into Wilson and the rest into an innocent stop sign."
He tossed the medical journal onto the table and stood up.
"And now, unless you've got some objection, I'm going to join Cameron and Chase."
He brushed past House, who was still standing in frozen shock.
Got to go with Foreman. His mind was racing, his heart pounding in his chest. Got to get to the ICU .. see Wilson ... Wilson ...
He couldn't seem to move.
His shoulder was screaming at him.
fin