First, let me thank everyone for their wonderful reviews. You touched my heart. The long awaited Seventh Chapter is finally up. This chapter is going a little off subject, but it will come full circle. Kylie's medical situation IS real and based on my recent medical problems. See if you can figure out what is wrong before the ducklings. Once again, I do not own House or Cameron. This chapter is longer than most. Enjoy. Please feel free to leave a review.
Monday morning found Cameron the first arrival to the Diagnostics Office. Standing beside the counter, she waited for the coffee to brew and let her thoughts wander.
Sunday had been a photocopy of the day before, except Steve was a bit more cooperative taking his medicine. Cameron hadn't brought lunch this time around, but House had surprised her by ordering pizza. Munching on the treat, House tried to get her to reveal the upcoming General Hospital episodes. Standing firm, Cameron maintained her silence. The afternoon ended with an episode of The OC and an uncomfortable silence that spoke volumes. Driving home that evening, Cameron tried to fit the puzzle called House together, but always, she came up a few pieces short. And once again, her dreams were tormented.
The smell of coffee slowly brought her back to reality. Opening the cupboard she retrieved the creamer and her gaze fell on House's red coffee cup. Setting aside the container, she touched the cup. Remembering the lightening like sensation that burned her finger tips when she accidentally brushed against House's hand when giving Steve his meds, Cameron took the cup down and held it.
This is the side he drinks from, she thought and then immediately chided herself. Good grief, I'm acting like a teenager with a crush. What am I doing? I can't believe I'm thinking about him. This is ridiculous. Put the cup back now Cameron before someone sees---
"Morning Cameron," Foreman greeted, pulling her out of her reverie. "Coffee done?" He walked over and opened the cupboard to retrieve his cup. Glancing down at Cameron's hands, he raised his eyebrow in mock surprise. "Don't tell me you plan on using the boss's cup for your morning coffee."
"What?" Glancing down, she realized she was still holding the red mug. She shook her head clear. "I'm sorry. Guess I grabbed the wrong cup. I didn't sleep well last night. " Giving a short laugh she replaced the mug and grabbed her own.
Foreman studied her face closely. "You do look a little peaked. You feeling alright?"
"Neighbors were having a party that went on into the hours. Guess they wanted to make us all feel as though we were there one way or another." Cameron tried to steady her hand as she poured coffee into the mugs. "I think I'd better start on another pot."
"Okay." Foreman added creamer to his hot liquid and walked back to the table. Sitting down he opened the paper and began reading.
Cameron started scooping coffee grounds into another filter.
"How's the rat?"
Caught off guard, Cameron missed the filter. "Rat?" Coffee grounds landed on the counter. Letting out a heavy sigh, she grabbed a paper towel and ran it under the tap. She tried to make her tone nonchalant as she swept the fallen grounds into her cupped palm, but her heart was racing. "You mean Steve McQueen?"
"No, I mean Gregory House." Foreman waited for her reaction. Not getting one, he chuckled. "Of course I meant Steve. Rumour going around that you are treating him." He turned the news page and shook it straight.
Depositing the grounds in the trash bin, Cameron turned around to face Foreman. "Didn't your mother tell you believe half of what you see and some of none of what you hear?"
"Actually, Marvin Gaye said that, but when it comes to House, I tend to believe there is truth to most anything and everything that involves him."
"And if I said I wasn't?"
"I'll lose fifty bucks."
Cameron blinked hard. "You bet on me?"
Foreman snorted and took a sip of his coffee. "Don't get all defensive; I'm just trying to win back the fifty I lost last week."
"What is Chase's take?"
"He thinks the only rat you would treat is House."
"And you?"
Foreman sighed. "Although I am not keen on rodents, I have a soft spot for him. That rat helped save my life."
Cameron tone softened. "I doubt Steve had anything to do with that."
"Hey, if he had gotten sick, I would have been misdiagnosed…." his voice trailed off. "But he didn't and it forced House to go back to the cop's apartment."
For a brief moment silence permeated the small space. Cameron felt the need to reach out to Foreman, but stopped. Throwing a look over the edge of her mug, she flashed a small smile. "Tell Chase he owes you fifty bucks."
Foreman raised his eyebrow, chuckled, and went back to his crossword puzzle. Cameron went back to making the coffee and arranging the counter.
House arrived a few minutes later.
"Unless I failed math, there should be three of you."
"Chase hasn't arrived."
At that moment Chase raced thru the door. "Sorry. Busted water line detoured traffic."
"Take a seat." House handed out the file folders. "36 year old woman with no history of medical problems was admitted last night with severely swollen feet." Turning to the white board, he started listing symptoms. "Diagnosis?"
"Diabetes," Chase threw out.
"The blood work came back normal," Foreman stated matter of fact.
"He said 'diagnose'," Chase retorted, "Any history of cardio problems?"
All three perused their files.
"Nope. Except for gall bladder surgery a few years back, a complete bill of health until a few days ago." House wrote as he spoke. "Swollen feet, migraines, double vision in each eye, light sensitivity…"
"Any history of trauma?"
"There was a car accident around the same time as the gall bladder surgery. Some brain trauma. The result was a TIA. No lasting effects," Cameron offered, never taking her eyes off the folder.
"A TIA would explain the light sensitivity and double vision," Chase offered.
"But a TIA wouldn't explain the swollen feet," Foreman countered.
House snapped the lid back on the marker. "Cameron, go talk to the patient. Find out more about what is happening. See if you can get her to divulge her daily routine." Cameron closed her folder. "Chase, I need you to start blood work. Foreman, come with me." Everyone got up from the table. "Any questions?"
Foreman turned to Chase. "Can I have my fifty?" Chase threw a look at Cameron and then House before he extracted a bill from his wallet. Handing it over, he sighed and left the room. Foreman gave a wink to Cameron and followed Chase.
Walking together to the office entrance, House looked at his protégé.
"What was that all about?"
"Chase found out the rat I'm working on is named Steve not Greg."
House stopped walking. Cameron continued on her way.
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Cameron noticed the patient had a pillow over her face as she walked into the room.
"Are you okay?" Concern was in Cameron's tone.
"Not really," the voice greeted from beneath the pillow.
"Anything I can do?"
"Could you close the blinds? I rang for a nurse over an hour ago and they said they would be right in. I guess they got busy."
Cameron pulled the blinds closed. Instantly the room went dark. "Is that better?"
"Thanks." The patient removed the pillow and attempted to place it behind her back. Cameron helped. "That's much better."
Pulling up a chair, Cameron poised her pen, ready to write. "Miss Braken--"
"Kylie."
"Kylie. When was the first time you noticed something was wrong?"
"About three weeks ago I stubbed my toe on a shopping cart. It hurt for a couple days, and then it began to bruise."
"Did you see a doctor?" Cameron began writing in the patient's folder.
"I just got laid off. I thought maybe it had something to do with stress, or that I had been on my feet none stop for eleven days in a row."
Cameron smiled gently. "Couldn't have helped. What is your diet like?"
"I had been hoping to find another job, but with my feet the way they are, well, money is tight and Ramen Noodles are cheap," Kylie tried to make light of the situation.
"All that salt isn't good."
"I know. I drink plenty of water. It's weird, but when I drink, I swear I can feel the water rush to my feet. Is that normal? I also can't stand or sit for long periods of time, so I'm lying down with my feet propped up. I'd say I am prone 20 hours out of the day. I can barely walk to the bathroom."
"Anything else?"
"My feet go numb, and it takes about ninety minutes to get the blood flowing. When it does, it hurts. A lot. I can't explain the pain. If you hang around you might get to see it."
"On a level of one to ten, how would you describe it?"
"I think I have managed twenty hours of sleep over three weeks. Does that count?"
Cameron looked Kylie in the eye and nodded. "Could I see your feet?" Cameron placed the folder on the nightstand.
"Sure."
Cameron pulled the sheet down to reveal very swollen feet. The middle toe was a bright red. The first toe had a discolored nail. Cameron squeezed the digit. "Does it hurt?"
"Does what hurt?"
"Your big toe. When I do this, does it hurt?"
"I don't feel you doing anything."
"I'm squeezing it."
"Nothing. Is that right? Am I supposed to feel nothing?" Fear laced Kylie's tone.
Cameron placed the sheet back over Kylie's feet. "I need to consult with Dr. House. I wouldn't worry about it." She flashed her patient a comforting smile. "Try to get some rest. I'll be back."
Kylie sighed. "Okay. Take your time, I'm not going anywhere." Grabbing the remote, she turned on the TV.
Cameron grabbed the folder and departed the room.
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"She couldn't feel me squeezing her toe. I think there is something seriously wrong."
"Broken toe. Could have lead to some nerve damage," Chase offered.
"You feel a broken toe for days. It doesn't go numb. It also shouldn't take forty five minutes to get blood flowing back into one's extremities."
"She eats a ton of salt."
Cameron flashed a look at Foreman. "She eats Ramen Noodles and drinks water. She can barely walk so she keeps her feet elevated. I don't think this is caused by salt."
"Well, it can't help."
"She's unemployed and can't get benefits if she's incapacitated. What do you suggest she eat?"
Chase made a snorting sound. "It's obvious she isn't taking care of herself. Have you seen her? She must weigh 250."
"I don't think her diet is the culprit." Cameron buried her face in her hands for a moment and ran her fingers thru her hair. "There has to be an underlying cause."
House paused while writing on the board. "Hmm, it could be Lupus."
"It's not Lupus," Cameron shot back.
House raised an eyebrow. "Really? What is your diagnosis then?"
"Vasculitis. It explains almost everything."
"But not everything. Okay, Chase, get me the reports back from the blood work. Foreman and Cameron, I want you to do an MRI of her brain to make sure that theTIA didn't affect anything else. Also, do an ultrasound of her feet, and an Echo of her heart. After that, start her on Heparin and a no salt diet."
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"No cancer. No STDs. Diabetes, Echo, MRI, and Behcette's, are all negative. Her hormones are a little high, but a negative on pregnancy." Chase closed the file.
"Doesn't mean she wasn't pregnant," House replied.
"Are you saying that she was pregnant and lied about it?" Cameron sputtered.
"She could have had a miscarriage and put it out of her mind."
"She would have told me," Cameron said, and faced Chase. At that moment all three beepers went off. Glancing down, they closed their folders and rushed out of the office to Kylie's room.
Upon entering they noticed two nurses trying to hold the woman down.
"Make it stop!" Kylie screamed. "God it hurts so much! Make it stop!"
Cameron stood beside the bed. "Kylie, what is wrong?"
"My feet. Please. The pain. Oh God!" And then she screamed. Chase and Foreman stood back in shock. Instantly Cameron grabbed the hypodermic from the nurse and injected it into Kylie's arm. Almost immediately the screaming stopped and the woman slowly lapsed into unconsciousness.
Straightening up, Cameron deposited the hypodermic into the sharps bin. Turning around, she caught sight of House in the doorway.
"The three of you. In my office. Now." Turning, House limped down the hallway. The ducklings trailed behind. Cameron flashed a look at Chase and Foreman but the walk was completed in silence.
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Cameron took Steve and held him to her ear. "Your breathing is still good. It looks like the medicine is finally kicking in." Placing him in the cage, Steve ran over to his wheel. Within seconds a soft squeaking noise filled the quiet room.
Taking off her gloves, Cameron walked to the kitchen, deposited them in the waste can, and began washing her hands.
"He's taking the medicine easier than Saturday." House's voice startled Cameron. Keeping the water on, she shook the excess off her hands and reached for a towel. House moved to the sink.
"I think he's realized that it's a losing battle and it's better to surrender than to put up a fight." House finished washing and turned off the spigot.
"Smart rat." Cameron handed him a towel.
"You're angry." House prided himself in being observant.
"No I'm not."
"I think I can tell when you're angry."
"I don't want to talk about it. I'm off duty." Cameron walked into the living room. House followed, his cane making a soft thump on the polished wood floor.
"What do you think is wrong with her?"
Cameron paused putting the items back in her medical bag. "Honestly?" Taking a deep breath she let it out in a huge sigh. "I don't know. What I do know is that what I saw today is not normal. I have racked my brain for hours trying to figure out what could be wrong, but nothing seems to fit."
"Her problems could be stress related."
"I've thought about that, but it doesn't fit."
"You realise that if we can't find anything by Wednesday, we will have to release her."
"I know." Cameron's shoulders slumped.
"You're not happy about that."
"My feelings are neither here nor there. My concern is my patient." Cameron reached for her purse.
"I know," House replied softly.
Tugging the strap over her shoulder, Cameron grabbed her medical bag. "I have to go."
"I was ordering Chinese tonight. I usually have an extra spring roll left over. You can help yourself to it." That was the closest House could let himself get to saying, Please don't go. I need you to stay. You need to stay.
"Thanks, but I don't have much of an appetite." Opening the door, Cameron paused. "I'll see you tomorrow morning." The door clicked closed behind her.
Walking over to the piano, House sat down and began playing. He played all night.