BRACE YOURSELVES. And PARDON me in advance, #Huddies. This was really my original plan when I started this story. I am a Sadist at heart. You'll find out why. :(
Also, SALAMAT [THANK YOU] for the threats on the reviews I got from my previous chapter. Hehe, it means MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
In addition, I'm not a doctor nor do I intend to become one so in my own twisted logic, this is possible. Needless to say, this is still happening at the same time but on different time zones.
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING. Just borrowing these characters whom I LOBE to torture more. They were created by the evil madman David Shore and Company.
CHAPTER 8 – "LOSING" YOU
House suddenly finds himself in a secluded and dark unfamiliar building. He didn't know where he was but he can hear some strange noises coming from the door located at the far end of the hallway.
Slowly, approaching it, he felt his heart beat faster when out of nowhere from behind him, he saw Wilson almost running frantically towards that same door. His best friend didn't even seem to notice his presence when he passed by him and just immediately opened the said door. He heard him called out an all too familiar name as soon as the door burst open. "I'm coming, Cuddy. I'm coming. Just hold on."
Upon hearing her name, House took a faster stride towards that door, too. He needs to find out what's wrong with his woman. He needs to be by her side now. He didn't even have the time to think that Cuddy might not actually want to see him after all the horrible things he did to her. All he knew is that his beloved might be in danger. And he's the one who should be protecting and keeping her safe. Not his Oncologist best friend.
Now at the door, even through the dark, House was able to right away recognize Cuddy's petite frame. He saw her lying on the floor with blood all over her and crying for help. She was in tears now and her continued plea for help was piercing through his heart. He couldn't bear just watching his one true love suffer in agony. He needs to do something for her to soothe her pain. He knows pain above everyone else and he wouldn't want that for anyone to experience especially not his beloved Cuddy.
Moving towards her, without even fully realizing it, he saw Wilson kneeling in front of Cuddy as he tried to convince her to stand up on her feet. He was now also towering over them and it made him all the way more confused when they seem not to notice his presence at all. It's as if he was just a silent audience to a heart-breaking scene on a dramatic movie. He can almost touch them but his wandering mind is still working the mystery as to why they couldn't see him.
House was about to also kneel down in front of Cuddy to talk to her when he saw that finally Wilson was able to make her stand on her feet by actually dragging her up and supporting her weight by putting both his two arms around her. Giant tears can still be seen freely flowing down her glossy cheeks and he saw Cuddy's blank stare. This time around, House knows that the ever confident Dean is in total wreck.
The famous Diagnostician just continually watched the painful scene in front of him. He heard Wilson's soothing voice trying to engage Cuddy into a conversation because the blank expression on her face is truly now disturbing. It's apparent to the Oncologist that his friend was in a state of total shock and so, it's very urgent that he tried to engage her into responding to her environment. "Come on, Cuddy. Just hang on there. We'll get you to the hospital in no time."
No response can be heard from the crying woman. She just kept on staring on a space in front of her without even blinking at all. House could do nothing but to watch the scene unfold before him. He went to say something to at least get Wilson's attention but he was more than surprised when his voice seems not to be working at all during that precise moment when he needed it the most to work.
Still assisting Cuddy, Wilson guided her towards the door. But before Cuddy took her first step, the poor woman turned around and looked for a few seconds towards where House was stayed rooted on his spot. House saw that Cuddy was still just staring blankly but he felt like she somehow knew that he was there at exactly that moment. The Diagnostician felt Cuddy's stare passing through him and reaching his heart as if silently asking him to come and rescue her.
Looking directly through Cuddy's eyes, a silent message was delivered to House telling him that he was needed where his heart was longing him to be, and that is to be in the arms of this woman whose blank stare is now cutting a hole through every inch of his wounded soul.
It only lasted a few seconds when House once again heard the worried voice of his best friend telling Cuddy to take her first step already. "Come on, Cuddy. One step at a time. Let's get you to the hospital."
House finally saw Cuddy took her first step and as soon as both of his two friends reached the door, they also suddenly vanished into the thin air. House on auto-pilot called out Cuddy's name and he was more than shocked when he heard his own voice this time. "CUDDY!"
The world-renowned Diagnostician suddenly jolted awake and finds himself in one of the private rooms of St. Luke's Medical Center. It took a minute for him to realize that after lunch, he went to sneak in to Room 214 where his favorite patient was residing. He was his favorite because he doesn't bug him when he sneaks in into his room any moment he wants to. Of course, that was largely due to the fact that this patient is in comatose state.
House also realizes that he must once again have fallen asleep after playing one of his favorite video games on his game boy. His mind suddenly remembered the content of his latest dream about Lisa Cuddy.
Over the months that they were "separated", she was always in his dreams but never like this. This is the second time that day that her image came into his subconscious mind. The first one happened just over an hour ago when he finds himself in front of a crying but very pregnant Cuddy. Now, just a few minutes ago, Wilson was also there but this time around, Cuddy was covered in blood and seems to be sick. He doesn't know how to properly interpret these vivid dreams but somehow, he was deeply troubled of what could these possibly mean. Does this mean that something bad really happened to Cuddy? Is she alright? Is she going to be okay?
So many questions and possible horrible scenarios involving Cuddy are coming into his ever paranoid thoughts. He wanted to hear her voice just to be sure that she's doing okay. And yet, he couldn't find the courage to dial and call her number of which he knew by heart.
After all, House knows that Cuddy wouldn't welcome his call and probably will just ignore him if his old number will register on her caller ID after he'll finally have the will to turn on his old cellular phone after 4 months of not even touching it from the drawer in his room where he kept it hidden all this time. All he could do for now is to silently wish his woman to be safe and happy on the opposite side of this planet.
Uttering those words out loud into the four walls of this private room, he heard himself say, "Be safe, Cuddy." With that, he stood up from his sitting position and went to find another thing to occupy himself for now before he can finally go home to enjoy one of his Nana Sela's home-cooked meals.
Mean while, on a place where House was indeed needed, Wilson arrived 10 minutes at House's old apartment after he got a frantic call from a hysterical Cuddy at exactly 12 midnight. He doesn't really know what the real problem is. On the phone, he wasn't able to get a coherent sentence from the Dean. All he got were broken sentences of Cuddy's statements said in between louder sobs. But, he does for sure was able to know that it has something to do with House's baby because that's all Cuddy kept on saying to him over and over again on the phone.
While on his way over there, the Oncologist already called 911 and instructed them to send an ambulance for a medical emergency at Apartment 2B. Wilson does know from Cuddy's statements that the situation is serious and he doesn't want to waste more time waiting for them to arrive after he comes into the apartment if Cuddy is certainly in need of medical care.
Parking his car, Wilson practically run into the apartment building and immediately inserted his key into the lock as soon as he reached House's door. When the door burst open, he can right away hear Cuddy's voice and chant saying "NO, NO, NO" while also hearing her sobs.
Entering House's bedroom, his heart broke seeing one of the toughest women he knew cry her heart out while incessantly running her hands over her stomach and still chanting the words, "NO, NO, PLEASE NO." Cuddy didn't even seem to notice his presence already in the room because she just kept on staring down her tummy and still engaged into her own world of shock.
Wilson slowly approaches her while carefully examining the room. Even a few feet away from House's bed, he can already smell blood in the air. His heart was even beating faster now from the thought of his best friend's baby being in danger. He went to sit on the bed and with shaking hands tried to get Cuddy's attention by actually touching her left shoulder and called her name, "Cuddy… Hey, Cuddy, talk to me."
As soon as the woman felt someone's touch on her, she turned her head towards that person and with tears in her eyes, she looked directly at Wilson's eyes and said in a low voice, "My baby, Wilson. My baby." And then, she went back to staring down at her tummy with her chant.
Wilson was about to speak again when he heard the sirens sounds signaling that the paramedics had arrived. In less than a minute, they barged in into the room instantly accessing the situation at hand.
One of the Paramedics recognized the two doctors in the room. She immediately went into in-charge mode. For a few seconds, the Oncologist just observed the scene in front of him as the paramedics tried to ask some questions to the woman who is practically now in shock. No response can be heard from Cuddy as she continually rubs her belly.
Then, Wilson finds himself answering their questions instead while instructing them to take Cuddy to Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital.
In less than 10 minutes, Cuddy and Wilson were already enroute to the hospital. While in the ambulance, the paramedics took Cuddy's vitals along with other preliminary tests to access her health condition. Wilson took hold of Cuddy's right hand who is now very silent and just kept on staring blankly upwards as tears continuously roll down her cheeks. The ever caring Oncologist tried to say incoherent soothing words to her while silently praying for both her friend and her baby to be safe and fine.
After 10 minutes, they arrived at PPTH's emergency entrance door and was met by the best Gynecologist Surgeon on staff, Dr. Arlene Cheng. While enroute, Wilson already called the hospital informing them in advance about the medical situation of their Dean of Medicine.
All the staff were on their best prepared emergency mode and as soon as the ambulance door burst open, Dr. Arlene Cheng took in-charge of the situation. After carefully examining Cuddy, Wilson heard the Gynecologist instructed the staff to book OR 2 and prepare Cuddy for an Induced C-section surgery.
Seeing his friend being wheeled into the OR, the Oncologist went to follow her but was called out by Dr. Cheng. "Dr. Wilson, may I talk to you first?" The Gynecologist held a serious expression while she approaches him. Wilson was only able to nod to indicate his YES answer. And then, he heard her say, "It looks bad. It might be a case of still birth. The baby is in distress. We'll find out more as soon as I cut her open." With that, she went to follow everyone into OR 2.
Everyone was busy dealing with the Dean of Medicine while Wilson could do nothing but to observe the scene below him at the observation deck. Cuddy was put under anesthesia as soon as possible and then, Dr. Arlene Cheng cut her open. Cuddy's heart stopped on the operating table after 20 minutes but through the expert hands of the surgeon, she was brought back in less than a minute.
Now, they have to deal with the baby. When Cuddy was cut open, Dr. Cheng immediately found out the baby's umbilical cord was tangled around his neck and blood flow and oxygen supply to his brain were cut off. She went on to work on that situation as soon as possible knowing that any wasted time will not only put the baby's life into danger but also his mother as well.
After a few minutes, the baby was lifted out from Cuddy's body and another great doctor stepped in to access him. The Neo-Natal Surgeon, Dr. Arnold Smith went to work with the Dean's baby when he felt that the tiny person wasn't breathing at all. He injected some meds into the baby and went to check his airway again to check for any change. Still, no pulse.
The Oncologist watching all of these from the monitors set up at the observation room can do nothing but to just say his silent prayers and hope for a miracle to come. He knew how broken Cuddy will be if House's baby will not survive. This baby is the only reason why there was still some tiny light left within his friend's eyes. He knew that Cuddy might not actually recover from this heart-wrenching loss. So, Wilson said his prayers with all his might to the Supreme Being he truly believes in.
On the other side of the globe, across the Pacific Ocean, Dr. Gregory House couldn't find a logical reason as to why he was feeling agitated right that very moment. He finds himself pacing around his office while his team members were busy doing their clinic hours downstairs. He knows that something is bothering him but as to who and what, that he can't answer.
In addition, he can also feel his heart beating faster as if it can sense that something vital to him is happening somewhere out there. He tried to calm himself down but his thoughts kept wandering to the unwanted dreams he had of Cuddy a few hours ago. He couldn't explain the feeling but he somehow knew that this might be connected to that dream. As to how, he also doesn't know. Try as he might, the blood he saw on his dream all around Cuddy was the one thing that his active brain kept on replaying. He feels like that is relevant to whatever strange feeling he is experiencing right now.
Taking a deep breath, the famous Diagnostician went out to his balcony lobby and looked up at the sky. He can see the sun is about to set signaling the end of the afternoon that warm day. Turning to his left, he heard a weird sound coming from nowhere. The warm breeze made the hairs at his neck stand up to full attention. Somehow, he can feel that someone very familiar yet he can't recognized as of the moment was calling his name in a soft whisper that reached his longing heart.
Still recalling the dream he had of Cuddy and Wilson, even if Dr. Gregory House doesn't believe in something that is not tangible and can't be explained by Science through solid proofs, somehow he heard himself whispered back into the air what his heart was silently telling him all along, "May you be forever safe, Cuddy."
And then, as if a response to his whispered words, he felt that something warm touches his heart as he felt the wind blew right that very moment. Somehow, he felt reassured and that feeling of restlessness he was experiencing all afternoon seem to instantly vanish and was replaced by content knowledge that the person he cared the most is safe. Turning his gaze once more upon the dusky sky, he exhaled a sigh of relief and then turns his way around to gather his things and went home.
Lisa Cuddy felt like she was somehow floating into a peaceful place because she can't feel anything but contentedness right this very moment. It feels weird to be experiencing this solemn peace once again since she was living with the feeling of emptiness for months now following House's departure. She opened her eyes when she sense that someone was behind her and quietly observing her.
Turning her back, her heart immediately begins to flutter when she recognized the tall figure standing in front of her just a few feet away. Bright light can be seen surrounding House's image as if he was somehow a creature of a different universe. What is also very uncommon is that the man's expression also seems to be so content and his eyes were sparkling with joy while he just continuously stared back at her.
Cuddy went to approach him and when she was just inches away from him, her eyes darted towards his folded arms where he seems to be holding something so precious to him and she can tell this by the way he was holding it. His hold seems so light as if afraid of the fact that if he made it a bit harder, he might hurt that thing he was holding.
And then, he saw House extend his right hand towards her with a happy smile painted on his face. Without hesitation, Cuddy placed her hand on top of his and she felt him tug her nearer him as if inviting her to come closer. Without a word, his gaze went down to the tiny creature he was holding.
Cuddy followed his movement, too and she felt her heart beat faster when he saw a pair of blue eyes staring up at her that is a perfect image of the ocean blue eyes of the man in front of him. The innocent stare belongs to a baby boy who keeps on looking up at her as if he was in awe of her presence.
Somehow, Cuddy knew that this baby belongs to her and the man in front of her. She went to reach out to touch the baby's face and as soon as her skin felt the baby's smooth skin, the two figures in front of her suddenly vanished.
Wilson's eyes widened as soon as he heard a loud wail coming from below the operating room. The instant a baby's cry reached the ears of the people present inside the operating room from the corner, a loud beeping sound can also be heard from the center of the room. Cuddy's heart was accelerating and then, it suddenly flatlined. More frantic sounds can now be heard as the doctors kept on working on their Dean of Medicine. The Oncologist saw from the monitors how the Gynecologist Surgeon charged the paddles and pressed it over Cuddy's chest. And then, her orders were heard when she shouted, "Clear."
Now focusing on the beeping sounds, Wilson felt his heart beat faster and let out a sigh of relief when from down below, he saw Cuddy's heart monitor displayed a normal rhythm rate while a continued cry from the baby can be heard on the other side of the room.
Yay, hurray, both of them are safe. Or will it stay that way for long? Hehe, I guess I was just being a tease on my intro A/N, eh?
Actually, my originally plan was to actually kill the baby but then, I realized if Callie's baby on GREY'S ANATOMY survived, then the more #Huddy's baby should live, right?
Share me your thoughts on the reviews?
Thank you for reading,
Helen