016. Lies
In Sickness And Health
Wilson stood outside the isolation ward of the Infectious Diseases department and stared through the glass. House and his team lay in beds inside the ward and the entire hospital was closed down and under strict quarantine. He felt someone come up beside him and he glanced over to find a stressed and worried Lisa Cuddy.
"He always says everybody lies," Wilson said, returning his gaze to the unconscious people in the room.
Cuddy snorted. "You'd think a patient would tell the truth, especially about something like this."
Now it was Wilson's turn to snort. "You're assuming this was an accidental exposure."
"You think this was something to do with bioterrorism?" Cuddy asked with surprise.
"While Y. pestis can be found in America, it is not usually found in the Eastern states," Wilson replied bitterly. "New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Arizona certainly but not here."
"The CDC haven't said anything like that," Cuddy stated firmly. "It could have come from contact with an animal or a fleabite."
"But then it would have presented as bubonic plague, not pneumonic plague," Wilson replied flatly. "And why would he have hidden it? It's not like he can answer our questions, he's dead and he infected House and his team while he was at it."
Cuddy was silent for a while. "They were diagnosed and treatment was started within twenty-four hours of exposure," she said calmly. "They're being treated with a 2-drug regimen and they have the best of care. And considering how damn stubborn all four of them are, I have no doubts they will survive. Do you think any of them would rob us of the opportunity to experience how bad they are as patients?" She paused and gave Wilson a significant look. "Particularly House."
Wilson seemed to relax fractionally and he snorted softly. "You may have a point."
"They'll be fine," Cuddy said soothingly. "He'll be fine."
Wilson stared into the room silently for a long, long moment, his gaze fixed on one person. "Yes, he will."