A/N: Yes, I am finally picking up this story and I have a big, well somewhat big, update for you. Enjoy chapters 2 through 9 and hopefully I'll be back with an update before another year passes this story by.
If you haven't read the three other stories in this set, I suggest you look at them, although they are not necessary to follow the plot of this story. They start with E is for Erythrocytes, then Team Wilson and third is Senseless Acts.
As always, I don't own anything.
Enjoy!
Chapter 2: Riddle Me This.
The hospital was quiet as House sat alone, in the darkness of his office. The evening was wearing on in a very different fashion than he had initially anticipated. Chase and Cicciliano had rode in the ambulance back to the hospital with the fallen diva, working with the paramedics to keep her alive, while Cuddy, Wilson and House made there way through the crowds of people at the opera house toward the familiar domain that they called their own. Cuddy was thrown into damage control mode, Wilson was ready to assist Chase and Victoria any way he could and House sulked off, practically unobserved, to his office to mull over the puzzle that had presented itself. He had seen it, the one little twitch, even from where he had sat, it was visible. The Diva had falter, her face changed colour even with all of her make up, and her trachea deviated. He saw it from a mile away. The questions remain however, why would a singer with assumedly healthy lungs suddenly fall into failure? It was a puzzle alright, and House had been witness to the very first symptom.
Chase and Cicciliano walked into the shared office space and fell into their seats across from each other at the conference table. They had been working on the young diva from the moment they had reached her on the stage. She didn't regain consciousness until she was in the PPTH emergency department and even then she went into failure a second time. Her heart beat was irregular and her lungs weakened to the point that she needed assistance. Everything happened so quickly, but Chase and Cicciliano were unable to find any clear diagnosis or reason for the sudden onset of symptoms, and she wasn't responding to the usual courses of treatment.
"Well, Mussolini, what has happened to our diva, is she dead or alive?" House asked as he hobbled into the room adjacent to his office and sat down at the head of the table.
"She alive…"
"But barely," Chase interrupted.
"Well did you cut her open, have a good look inside, fondle her youthful breasts?" House asked jokingly as he eyed Chase with suspicion.
"I was a little preoccupied with getting her to breathe and to regulate her heart beat," Chase said with a sigh, "sorry to disappoint. I'll make sure to cup a feel next time I'm in her presence."
"How does a woman with extensive training in breathing and vocal health fall into failure without even noticing a symptom?" Cicciliano asked as she looked at the two men before her.
"Who says she didn't notice any symptoms?" House asked. "The show must go on you know. Did you get a history?"
"No, she's barely alive," Chase stated. "She's on a respirator to keep her lungs inflating!"
"She's also sedated to allow for her heart to be regulated as well," Cicciliano added.
"What about her medical files? Tell me you have got that!" House stated.
"Cuddy's working on it," Chase said.
"Was she coherent at all during transport?"
"No," Victoria answered.
"Did you manage to get her stabilized before transport?"
"No," Chase answered.
"Did you draw blood?"
"Standard procedure," They answered together.
"Just checking to see if you were awake," House stated.
Chase leaned back in his chair and sighed, loosening his tie and rolling his eyes.
"Was it an allergic reaction to something?" House asked.
"Nothing indicated it was," Cicciliano answered, "we gave her epinephrine but it didn't do anything. It just stressed her heart even more," she sighed and rubbed her eyes.
"Then what the hell is wrong with her? She made it through the first act without a problem so it must have been something she did during intermission." House stated.
"We won't know until we can talk to her," Chase said.
"That is if she makes it through the night." Cicciliano added.
"Well you two are useless," House stated as he stood and walked out of the office.
"Where is he going?" Victoria asked looking across the table at Chase.
"I really don't care," he answered as he put his head down on his arms and sighed, "I just want to sleep now."
"I so wished that tonight wouldn't be another one of these nights!" Victoria sighed as she pulled the heavy earrings out of her lobes and placed them on the table before rubbing her temples.
"We should have known better." Chase said looking up at her.
"Are you saying that House had to have had a medical interest in this woman before he even saw her tonight?" Victoria asked.
"The man's a lunatic. I wouldn't put it past him." Chase said as he stood.
"Where are you going?"
"Come on lets sneak out while his back is turned. Forman and Taub can be berated with his questions and insults until morning." Chase said.
"Good plan," Victoria stated as she jumped up, scooped her earrings off the table and followed Chase out of the office.