Disclaimer: I still sadly do not own House or any other characters in House MD.

Authors Note: Part two is up, yaaay! I meant to have it up sooner, but was sadly struck down by an evil cold, but I showed it who was boss lol. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this next chapter :-)

The words spoken aloud sounded even worse than he could have thought. It had been one thing to simply think them, keeping the idea locked in his own mind, but saying them to Greg made them real; made the possibility real. This couldn't be happening, no, it wasn't possible. He was James Wilson, boy wonder oncologist, Mr. Well Adjusted. He was the one who's life had been nothing but normal. This wasn't supposed to happen, shouldn't have happened!

He hadn't even noticed when he had started to hyperventilate. His breath was coming in sharp, almost painful gasps. Still, amongst all of his panic he still had House's voice tying him to reality. "James…," it called to him, the tone uncommonly soft. "It's alright, just calm down for me alright? You need to breathe slow or you're going to pass out, do you hear me? It's going to be alright."

"Okay…," he answered softly before letting his hand fall to his lap, tired from holding the phone up for so long. As he started to calm down, concentrating on keeping his breaths slow and even, he took a second to put the phone on speaker as realized that he probably wouldn't be able to lift it back up.

Minutes passed like agonizing hours, silent aside from House's voice cutting through the static of his connection. He knew that he should be trying to keep up a conversation, stimulate his mind to try and keep his body from giving into the approaching darkness, but his throat was dry and it hurt to breathe. Instead, he allowed Greg's words to wash over him, from telling him that they were almost there to the bickering he was doing with someone else, a distant voice he could not be bothered to recognize. He smiled faintly though, having the feeling that it was something he was used to witnessing, hoping that he'd live to see it again, to see House again.

James hadn't meant for his eyes to close, nor did he know how long he had been asleep again, but awareness came in the form of flickering lights. When he finally pried them open completely he couldn't help but laugh. Red and blue flashed from behind him, the cavalry had arrived, though how long they had been working he couldn't tell. His mind was fuzzy and he knew he wouldn't be able to yell. He could barely move his head anymore, the stiffness in his neck having taken over and the slightest movement sent jolts of pain through his broken body.

The second thing he noticed was the disrupted silence. The creaking of machines came from behind him and voices melded together, leaving his jumbled mind unable to pick out words. However, his eyes narrowed slightly as something picked at the back of his mind, something he was missing. And then came in the form of a distant sob. It was quiet, reserved, but unmistakably present. The obvious answer was that the sounds were his own, and given the situation that seemed to fit quiet well. Yet, there was something else, something missing, and then it hit him.

The cell phone which was still clutched tightly in his hand was still on, the line still in tact. Guilt washed over him like a tidal wave crashing into a cove as he realized Greg must still be on the other end, completely clueless as to what was happening to him. He knew he had to say something, anything to let the other know he was still there, still fighting for him. Moistening his chapped lips, he tried to speak, just a simple hello, but his voice would not work. Frowning, he narrowed his eyes, annoyed with himself for such a weak attempt and took a deep breath before slowly lifting the phone to his lips, wanting to make sure even the quietest words would be heard.

"Hey…d-don't let them s-see you…w-wouldn't want someone k-knowing you have a h-heart…" he said softly, his voice nothing but a hoarse whisper. He couldn't help but smile at the sudden pause coming from the other side, followed by a sob of relief.

"Don't worry…I'm not going spread the word," came a quick reply, though the emotion behind the words was blaringly obvious. "Might have to bribe the little duckling I convinced to get me here though. Can't let them have the upper hand." A pause. "Jimmy…think you can stay awake for me now? I'll be right back."

He could still hear House in the background, his tone laced with annoyance as he argued with an unknown assailant. Everything around him started to blur again and he knew that his eyelids were starting to droop, and yet never fully closed. The voice that had once before eased him into unconsciousness now acted as a rope, tethering him to reality. "Be nice…," he said, deciding that talking, even if no one was there, would help to keep him from falling asleep. "I n-need these guys to like m-me…s-stuck in a car r-remember?"

It was a small but pleasant surprise when his words didn't go unheard. "You know me…I'm always nice…," House answered, his voice quiet. "They're almost done setting up your big rescue…You'll be out soon." Somehow though, the words seemed to come out unresolved, as if House had been trying to convince not only Wilson but himself as well.

But he didn't have it in him to disagree. "Yeah…I just w-want to be home…you know? I b-bet you look g-great all dressed up f-for dinner." He could almost picture his lover, not in a full suit, but still in a nice pair of tan pants and a suit jacket, maybe even the cerulean shirt that he secretly loved. Hopes weren't too high for a tie, but there was also the possibility of the one he had gotten him to impress the judge at his trial.

"Yeah…I even wore that stupid tie," House replied, followed by a sad chuckle. "Not sure how it looks now though…I may have had a brief, destructive outburst…"

As he tapered off, Wilson picked up on a second voice, the same familiar one he was unable to identify earlier. It was still very fuzzy, though he was at least able to tell it wasn't female, which really only left two people who would have possibly driven House all the way here. Each option was equally surprising, though if he really thought about it he knew deep down that House had formed at least some sort of bond with his fellows. "Chase…?" he questioned, unaware that it had been asked aloud until he received an unexpected reply.

"Sharp senses still there I see." He could almost hear the smirk behind the words. "But yes, that was Chase. He just informed me that they're about to send people down."

Part of him was simply overjoyed at the news that he would finally be able to escape the place that had become his prison. But somehow that wasn't enough, and almost on cue the car began to creak and his eyes slammed shut. "Greg…," he pleaded as he twisted his body, ignoring the pain shooting through every inch of him. He could hear the voices coming from above him but nothing was really getting through to him. Panic coursed through his very soul he latched his free arm around the headrest, pulling himself as far back as he could. Away from the open windshield which let through a light breeze. Away from freefall that awaited him if the car continued to tilt forward. "I…I'm not gonna make it out of here…a-am I?"

"Yes you are," the gruff voice on the other line snapped. "Just…just be really careful alright? No sudden movements…" As he continued on the gruff exterior began to melt away. "They're on their way right now…they'll secure the car so it won't move anymore and then they'll get you out, safe and sound."

"Hope so…," he replied softly, glancing out of the cracked window. "God Greg…what if…w-what if I really am p-paralyzed? I…What w-will I-"

"Don't worry about that right now, okay?" House interrupted, his voice steady and firm. "We don't even know if that's true…and if, and only if, that's the case…We'll deal with it as it comes right? Let's just get you up and out of there first…One step at a time. Just think of all the sympathy you'll get, heh. The whole hospital staff will bring you stuff."

"O-only if you d-don't scare them off..." He tapered off as the last of his strength started to fade. The adrenaline that pumped through his veins was finally warring off, leaving him barely able to keep his eyes open. "So tired…" He didn't want to leave Greg alone on the phone again, but he seemed to be fighting a losing battle against the rest of his body.

"I know you are James…but you've got stay awake for me," Greg insisted. "Just a little while longer okay? Tell you what…you do this for me and I'll even try my hand at being the sympathetic one, the whole time you're in the hospital…or most of it at least."

He couldn't help but laugh at that, though it quickly turned into a fit of coughing, followed by a few deep breathes. "Tempting offer…Hey….I t-think my r-rescue is here…"

Though his eyes had started to close and he was barely squinting, Wilson could just barely make out the shapes of people secured to lines that kept them from falling. For the most part he felt relief flooding through him, though at this point feelings in general were a bit unclear. Voices started calling his name, both from the phone and just outside, but he could respond to neither. When the car shuttered his mind completely shut down, too terrified to continue thinking of anything else.

All that was left were feelings. He could tell when his body was being moved from the car and taken to safety. He could tell when he was placed on the gurney, dimly conscious of the lights that were constantly flashing around the area. Voices were all melded together, but he could still clearly make out one, the one belonging to House. That single voice put him at ease, sending most of his worried to the back of his mind. And that single voice was the last thing he heard before slipping into unconsciousness, along with the feeling of a warm hand on his own.