Chapter 7. Stormy Weather.
It wasn't long before House was back. "No endoscope?" he asked Cameron.
"It's in the top drawer next to the sink," she replied.
He left again and when he returned, he walked over to Pam first. "Say 'ah'," he told the girl.
She opened her mouth as wide as she could, but Cameron objected. "You're not going to put that thing down her throat without any anesthetic, are you?" She walked quickly to a cabinet and took out a spray bottle, handing it to him.
He sprayed Pam's throat, waited a short time for the anesthetic to take affect, and inserted the scope. Although she gagged a little, she turned out to be a good patient. "The bronchi look OK," he declared.
"That's a good thing, right?" Janet asked.
"Yes, it is," Cameron reassured her.
Kelly returned from the bathroom, and House practically pounced on her. "You're next." He repeated the procedure with her, careful to spray the anesthetic first, and to clean the probe before inserting it.
"No sign of infection and the airway's clear, but there's still evidence of the recent bronchitis."
He examined the two men, as well. In fact, he was just finishing when the bell rang again and they heard Linda call out, "I've brought you some lunch, Doc!"
"Bring it back here," Cameron called back.
Dripping rain, Linda did as asked. "Oh!" she gasped as she looked around the room and frowned. "I didn't know there were so many people here. I...I hope there's enough." She placed the two bags she carried on a table.
"If you brought as much as you sent for breakfast, there'll be plenty," Cameron told her.
But Linda wasn't through with being surprised. "I thought you'd be long gone by now," she told House.
House didn't know how to explain his continued presence, but Cameron didn't have a problem. "There are too many patients for me to handle alone, so I'm happy to have Dr. House's help."
"You're a doctor?" Linda asked him. Would the surprises never end?
That he could answer. "Yes." He began to pull food out of the bags just as a load clap of thunder shook the building and the lights flickered, then came back on full power. "You don't happen to have a generator hiding in one of these cabinets or drawers, do you?" he asked Cameron.
She shook her head. "That's why I'm glad you brought the lantern and flashlights."
"Why don't you move everyone over to the motel?" Linda suggested. "Zach's got a big generator there, and a smaller one for the diner."
"That's a good idea," House said. "If you're sure Zach won't mind."
"I can't think of why he would," Linda said. She pulled out her phone and called him. When she finished she said, "He's all for it. He'll meet us over there."
"I should stay here in case any one else shows up," Cameron said, frowning.
House knew he couldn't get her to change her mind, so he didn't try. "Then we'll just take some of the patients. We can use my car," House suggested.
"Who'll take care of them over there?" Cameron asked.
"I will," he replied, and she smiled and nodded.
It seemed like a sensible solution, and she was pleased he'd want to do that. "Take some of the supplies you bought," she said. Then she looked around at the four patients. "If I keep Kelly here, Ralph can help me with her and Buddy's cousin. Take Pam and Pete, and see if Chrissy can give you a hand."
"Chrissy?"
"Mo and Zach's daughter."
"I know who she is, but she's just a high school kid," House said.
"She's helped at the clinic when she didn't have softball practice after school and wasn't needed at the diner. My nurse takes frequent trips, just as she's doing this week, and I can always rely on Chrissy to step in," Cameron explained. "She'll be a big help."
"OK, if you say so," House said, starting to put the old raincoat back on.
"You'll take good care of Pam?" Janet asked.
"Don't worry about her," Cameron said. "Dr. House is the best doctor I know."
Janet nodded, hugged her daughter, and left.
Linda helped House move the patients. It took some doing, but fifteen minutes later they were in House's car, along with a couple of bags of supplies. Before he left, House went back in for a last word with Cameron.
"Call if you come up with something," he told her.
She put a hand on his wet shoulder. "You do the same. And, House, thanks! You've already been a godsend."
"I thought you were an atheist," he replied.
She smirked and impulsively kissed his cheek. "I'll talk to you later."
The feel of that kiss lingered as he got into the car and drove back across the alley to the motel, parking in front of the room he'd slept in. Had it just been the night before? he wondered.
Zach came out of the office with an umbrella, but, with the wind, it didn't do much good to keep anyone dry. He helped House get Pete into one of the beds in Room 12, and then they took Pam next door.
"Is Chrissy home?" House asked, as they settled Pam in one of the two double beds.
"Yep. She's over at the diner, but they haven't had too many customers tonight," Zach said.
House wasn't surprised. "Tell her that I can use her help. Maybe she can stay the night in this room with Pam."
Ten minutes later there was a knock at the door. House smiled when he saw Chrissy, enveloped in a slicker with a matching yellow hat protecting her head, and carrying a bag that turned out to be more food.
"Pam's resting comfortably. I just gave her a dose of antibiotic, her antihistamine and a decongestant," House told her. "She should be good for several hours. I'll be next door with Pete."
The teen nodded with each statement. "Dr. House, isn't it? I'll call you if there are any problems, but you can trust me with her."
"That's what Cameron told me," House said. "I'll leave you a flashlight, just in case..."
"Dad's got a back-up generator, but thanks," Chrissy said. "This storm's getting worse and there've been power outages in other parts of town already."
Cameron had been right about her, House thought as he left. The overhang of the motel did little to protect him from the driving rain. The wind had picked up considerably and seemed to be blowing right at him as he walked to the next room.
"Who're you?" Pete asked in a raspy voice, squinting at House as he entered.
"I'm a friend of Dr. Cameron's," House said. "I'm a doctor, too, and I'm helping her out."
"You're the young fella what helped Mo 'n' Linda get me to the clinic, ain'cha? And you put that tube down my throat. Then you brought me here. This the motel?" He looked around the room.
"Yes," House replied. "You feeling better?"
"Well, there's no truck sittin' on my chest any more," Pete said clutching his chest. "Breathin's better."
"Good. We still don't know what happened to you and the others, but at least the treatment is working," House said.
"That Dr. Cameron, she's a pretty one, ain't she?" Pete said with a weak leer.
"Yes," House said, chuckling.
"That all ya gonna say? So, ya here to visit her?"
House had to think about that before he answered. Certainly, he hadn't planned it. "Just passing through town," he said. "It was just a coincidence running into her." Or had it been? What had really brought him here? He didn't believe in fate or anything like that. He didn't believe in much at all, just his own ability, and sometimes, lately, he'd even questioned that.
He handed Pete one of the sandwiches from the diner, and they ate in silence for a while. "Maybe we should get some sleep while we can," he told Pete when they were done.
"Nah. Turn on the TV for a bit," Pete requested. "Where's my pants? I want a cigarette."
"I don't think that's a good idea, not until you're quite a bit better," House told him, but another mystery was solved. Pete's lungs were compromised too, in his case from years of smoking. House found the remote and turned on the TV. The set only got four channels, and on all of them, the storm took center stage.
"This is gonna be a humdinger!" Pete said with a smile. "Ain't seen one like this since ought six."
"Enjoy being safe and dry here," House advised.
"Yup. I jest hope my boat's OK," Pete said, his mood suddenly changing. "And my house."
"They evacuated all the homes on the shore," House told him.
Pete nodded. "They do that ev'ry time there's a storm. Guess they're not showin' wrestling tonight."
House turned off the TV, then the light. "Get some rest," he told Pete. He was going to try to do the same. Who knew what the night and the next day would bring.