Chapter 3 - Overtime
House was sat in his office; the others had left hours ago. He was listening. His leg propped up on the table, eyes closed, music blaring into his ears and his right hand playing air piano on the desk top. He felt his pocket vibrate. He ignored it. At this time in the evening it would only be bad news and it was just getting to the good bit.
"House!" Some one was screaming at him. He opened his eyes and found Cuddy staring at him.
"Yes?" he said pushing his headphones off his head and around his neck.
"Please come down into ER, there's been a 6 car wreck and everyone is caught up in the traffic," he looked at her in disgust like a teenager looking at his Mom after being told he wasn't allowed out. He moved his leg onto the floor and stood up. She sighed. "I'll let you off clinic duty tomorrow if you help".
House hobbled towards Cuddy and stared at her breasts. "Your mummy is silly, thinking I would rather deal with boring cuts and brakes, than trying to figure out why little Johnny keeps sneezing".
Cuddy grinned. "2 days off clinic, if you come and help." She was almost pleading.
House was enjoying this. He picked up his cane and walked towards the door.
"As long as I can pick who I treat." Cuddy looked at him incredulously as he left the room, knowing full well that was exactly what he would do.
The ER was crowded. Seemed like everyone had decided to get sick or injured on the same night. The nurses and doctors that were rushing around looked slightly harassed. House walked slowly to the nurse's station, lent across the counter and picked up the pile of files. He glanced at each one briefly then threw it back at the nurse who was scowling at him.
House was enjoying irritating the nurse and with each file he threw at her he changed the force he used. She didn't say anything, just glared at him and struggled to catch each file.
House found one that looked interesting and stopped to read more, when he heard someone shout. Turning round he saw a gurney surrounded by staff being rushed towards them. He took out the little orange bottle from his jacket, popped off the lid and swallowed one as he watched the urgency on the doctors and paramedics face as they struggled to attend to the woman as they were running through the hospital. As the gurney got closer his stomach lurched, and the all knowing smile fell from his face, it was Cameron they were treating.
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Cameron opened her eyes, this time she was being pushed though the hospital, the bland white lights flashing over her. She closed her eyes again it was better just to concentrate on breathing. Suddenly she had stopped moving, she could hear people rushing around her, hooking her up to machines. She could hear the beeping of her heart monitor. It was rather fast, to be expected she thought, considering the amount of blood loss. Someone was asking her to open her eyes, to tell them where it hurt. She knew she should answer but the pain in her left side was getting worse her breathing was fast and slow regardless of the oxygen. She could hear her heart monitor beeping frantically. She felt cold metal against her leg and knew someone was cutting away her pants to get a better look at her leg. She couldn't even feel the pain in her legs. This is really bad she thought as someone forced open her eye and shone a bright light into it.
"Allison, do you know where you are?" a voice asked.
What a silly question she thought. "At work," she replied sleepy without opening her eyes. The pain was reaching a peak.
"Where does it hurt?" the voice asked again, this time she didn't reply all the came from her lips was a groan.
Someone was pressing gently at her chest and stomach. The fingers touched just below her left rib and it felt like someone had reached inside her and ripped out her insides, she didn't have room in her lungs to scream out properly. Her face contorted in pain and she opened her eyes to see a doctor being pushed heavily out of the way by a limping House.
"Move!" the very familiar voice shouted. Why was House in ER she thought, but still she didn't open her eyes. It hurt more with her eyes open. She was sure. She could feel hands moving over her body pressure being applied to her legs and her head. Her heart rate was still too fast, her breathing too shallow. Why wasn't the oxygen working?
"Cameron" House shouted. He was right on top of her. She forced her eyes open, House looked down at her, concern etched deep into his face. He said something to her but he said it so fast each word blurred into the next. They didn't make any sense to Cameron. She looked into his sharp blue eyes and shook her head., "Where does it hurt most" he tried again, slower. This time she caught the meaning but before she could decide on an answer and say, she could suddenly taste blood. She coughed and she felt it spray out of her mouth. "Fuck" she heard House yell before there was nothing else.
