080. Negative
Holding on to Hope
Foreman walked into the Diagnostic Medicine conference room with a piece of paper in his hand and a grim expression on his face.
"Negative," he announced to no one in particular.
Cameron and Chase, who had suddenly pulled themselves upright with expectant, hopeful looks on their faces when Foreman had walked into the room, slumped in their chairs and Chase let his forehead fall onto the table with a thump.
"But…how can it be negative?" Cameron asked, sounding utterly bewildered. "All the symptoms fit."
"Maybe but the test was negative," Foreman said impatiently. "Doesn't matter if the symptoms fit. The test found nothing."
Chase raised his head, looking weary and a little lost. "So what do we do now?"
Cameron shrugged and looked as lost as Chase. Foreman scowled and stared down at the floor then he suddenly raised his head, a determined look on his face.
"We take the House approach. Test for everything that might be even a remote possibility," he said firmly.
"Isn't that a bit…random?" Chase asked with a frown.
"You have a better idea?" Foreman replied.
Chase sighed. "No, not really."
Foreman headed for the door and Chase and Cameron hurried after him. They walked down the corridor and came to a halt outside one of the rooms. They looked in through the glass and winced at the sight.
House was lying in the bed, unconscious and unmoving, with his stubble accentuating his pallor. He was hooked up to more machines than any of them were entirely comfortable with and Wilson was sitting next to the bed, one hand clutching House's and looking exhausted and more than a little frightened.
Foreman, Cameron and Chase paused to compose themselves then they walked into the room. Wilson looked up when they walked in, his expression one of hope. That was dashed when Foreman shook his head and Wilson let out s shuddering breath.
"What now?" he asked, his voice shaking.
"We try House's usual approach," Foreman said with more confidence than he was feeling. "Scattergun. Test for everything and anything."
Wilson smiled weakly. "Why not? Right now I'll try anything. Do it."
Foreman nodded and the three doctors gathered around House, drawing blood. Once they were finished Foreman gave Wilson and awkward smile before they hurried out of the room. Wilson didn't bother watching them go, he simply sat down next to House again and took the man's hand. They had been trained by House and in spite of the usual attitude House took, Wilson knew his friend was pleased with their progress. He had to trust them to know what they were doing since House was no longer able to help himself. He just had to hope.