OKAY, SLIGHT CORRECTION: Kathi was not shot---she was stabbed. Since I didn't specify what happened I could change her from being shot to stab. Cuz, with stabbing there sooo much more blood…but I digress. :o) ENJOY

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE – Awakenings

Early the next morning Cuddy sat beside House's bed in ICU eagerly waiting for him to come around. A groan, a moan, heck, even being cursed out is something she'd be happy to hear from him. She sat next to his bed with her arm on the mattress, head cradled at the elbow only inches from his hand and she wanted to sleep. But it eluded her. She just stared at his hand; she hadn't held his hand, although she wanted to, but she didn't. She knew he didn't like to be touched, even if he was out, but she respected that about him.

The room was quiet…too quiet. 'Damned power must have gone off—I don't hear my alarm. Guess I better get up and go to work…wait, something isn't right.' House groaned softly as he tried to figure out where he was. 'I don't remember drinking last night…wait, I was with…'

"Ka…theeee…," he croaked.

Cuddy's head shot up when she heard his voice. "House?"

He tried to open his eyes but they felt glued shut. His chest felt tight, something was in his nose, his head hurt, his throat hurt, but his head hurt worse. He couldn't turn his head to look at her because of the neck brace he had on, though he had no idea why it was there.

"Hou…Greg, take it easy. You're in ICU."

With his eyes closed he frowned at hearing 'ICU.' He parted his lips again and only mumbled Kathi's name again.

"She's fine," she lied, swallowing hard at lying to him. She hated lying, but most of the time when she lied to House there was a good reason for it. Now, there didn't seem to be a good reason for it.

He finally opened his eyes and let them slowly focus on Cuddy's face. "You look like hell."

"Thanks," she said with a smile.

"What happened?"

She didn't answer but stood and flashed a small pen light into his eyes but he didn't follow the light. "How's your head feeling?"

"Oh, is it still attached? And why the brace?"

She snickered softly and smiled. "Yes, you're head is connected but the brace is to keep it there," she said with a small laugh. "You have a severe concussion. Do you remember what happened?" she asked again. He thought hard for a minute but didn't answer her. "You do know to follow the light, don't you?"

"No, I have memory loss," he said as he did follow the light, although it was painful.

"Good, then we can reprogram you. We can make you bettah. But you're going to be here until we can determine if there are any long lasting effects. And even when you go home you're going to need to have someone at home with you for two days. I'll get you a nurse…"

"No…no, you won't. I'll go home now. I feel fiii…," he muttered as he tried to sit up, but vertigo and nausea hit him severely and he crashed back down on the pillow.

"You are going to have to take it easy, even if we have to keep you sedated until you go home. Hey, that's a good idea after all," she said with a smile as she put the pen away. "Any nausea?"

House tried to shake his head but groaned as the pain shot down the back of his neck into his spine. Without a word Cuddy unlocked the I.V. box and upped his morphine. "This should help."

"How's Kathi?" he moaned and he became sleepy from the morphine.

Cuddy avoided his question because she knew he wasn't ready to hear how badly she was injured. She also knew he wouldn't let it go unanswered but she tried anyway. "Get some rest, Greg."

"No, how is she?" he demanded more forcibly.

"She spent 3-1/2 hours in surgery with Dr. Pike trying to repair the damage…"

"WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?" he yelled at her. The look in his eyes frightened her.

"Greg, she was stabbed. The blade severed her liver." He looked at her blankly. She tried to read his thoughts but she couldn't, even if most times she could. All she knew was that it scared her. "And you need to calm down. You're not doing yourself any good getting all riled up."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Is she going to be alright?"

Cuddy hesitated a moment but kept her voice soft and calm. "We won't know for a day or so, same as you. You need to get worry about yourself first."

House sighed deeply. No, he would worry about her first, which just wasn't like him. His thoughts drifted off as the morphine did its job. Cuddy was relieved; it had gone better than she'd thought. She was tired and hungry but she had to get someone to watch him, not that the nurses couldn't. But she wanted someone to keep her constantly notified of his condition.

Before she left she gently unhooked the brace and slid her hand behind his head. The bandage was still dry so that was a good thing. But what worried her was the fact that he winced when she applied a little bit of pressure to the wound. That could mean blood was building up at the site.

"God, I hope not."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ok, my faithful readers…………who shall watch House for 48 hours when he is released in a later chapter? Here are your options:

Cuddy, Wilson, or any of the 3 ducklings???????