Sorry it took so long for me to update, I've been busy. Thank you, reviewers! …and lurkers!

Sara: You, watch who you're telling off! That's a twenty-one year old drunk with violent tendencies, a drug problem, and a job at a hardware store. :D

Jonathan: Oh, really? Does McCall know you said that about thirteen? *Aunt Peggy impersonation* huh does she does she does she come on tell me I must know EVERYTHING about you're life FJJKLHFJKHJK

And I forgot to mention- NO Foreman/Thirteen. I'm sorry, I just don't why the show paired these people together.

Chapter 4

Thirteen led the way as Foreman trailed behind, grumbling under his breath. If she was honest with herself, Thirteen wasn't too thrilled right now, either- well, that was an understatement, she was scared as hell that someone was going to wind up getting killed. But having Foreman constantly complaining about House wasn't helping.

Cuddy and Wilson met up with them in the foyer of the hospital, both of them looking as worried as Thirteen felt. "Hey, you two, get over here," Wilson called, beckoning them over to the front desk. "SWAT team's gonna be here in about ten minutes, and we have House on line one right here. Cuddy and I are going to wait for the police out front, can you two-"

"-stay here and work with House? Done," Thirteen said as she slipped behind the desk and went to put the phone on speaker.

"Wait! Cuddy!" Foreman called, making the mistake of reaching out to stop her.

The moment Cuddy saw his hand coming, she jerked back, raising her hands defensively as she screamed, "No! No, don't touch me!" Foreman and Thirteen both stared at her in shock while Wilson hesitated behind her, waiting to see if he should intercede. After a few seconds, Cuddy shook her head and took another step, interrupting Foreman asking if she was okay to say, "I, um... I'm sorry, I... just talk to House. Now."

Foreman and Thirteen stared after her in shock as she stalked off. Wilson offered an apologetic shrug before he hurried after her, leaving the two stunned doctors behind. They turned to look at each other, surprised, then Thirteen just shook her head and hurried back behind the desk again.

HOUSE HOUSE HOUSE

The hostage taker- who's name was Jason- pointed his gun at House again as he snapped, "Hurry the hell up! I don't care if your friend bleeds to death, but you should. And the only way to save his life is to get me a diagnosis!"

House glared at him, shaking his head. "I can't get you your damn diagnosis because the tests take longer then Chase has left! I'm sure a gun to my head would be pretty of incentive to solve your case, there's no damn reason to let him die."

Cameron looked up from her spot on the floor next to Chase and gasped, "House! House, Chase is going into hypovolemic shock- do something! please!"

"I can't do anything!" House shouted back. "How the hell can I do anything with a cane, a coffee pot, and a maniac's gun? He needs to get down to the ER- which is what I just finished saying!"

Jason exclaimed, "No, I already said that-"

"House!" Everybody's attention was directed to the voice emanating from the phone in the middle of the room. "House, it's Thirteen and Foreman."

House waved for everyone else in the room to shut up as he said, "All right, you two, we need a diagnosis within half an hour unless we want to find a new blond model for a doctor. Chase is going into shock and unless we treat it immediately..." There was no need for House to finish his sentence- they all knew Chase's fate if they didn't replace the lost blood.

Thirteen's voice replied, "Well then tell us the damn symptoms!"

House just shook his head with a groan. "Why waste time when you can see the file? He said he came here for a diagnosis last month, his file will be in the computer records. Cuddy's password is 'Kira's girl'. All caps."

House heard Foreman say faintly, "I'm on it." ...which left them all in the same place as they had before.

HOUSE HOSUE HOUSE

Cuddy was pacing frantically back and forth, trying to focus only on the situation at hand. If she didn't think about before then it couldn't distract her- of course, Wilson and his intrusive questions weren't helping anything.

"Cuddy, are you absolutely sure you want to be doing this right now?" he asked again worriedly. "If you want, I'll tell the SWAT team that you're home sick, or that you're out of town, or- anything, really. I can handle this, you don't have to-"

"Wilson, just how many times are you going to ask me if I'm ready for this? I told you, I'm fine. I'm needed here right now, anyway. And what would I do at home, Wilson, just keep calling you for updates? No. I'm staying here," she stated firmly, shaking her head again.

Wilson hesitated, then said doubtfully, "All right, I'll give you that one, but you don't need to be running this situation. I've got it under control. You have more important things to focus on." At Cuddy's fierce glare, Wilson stepped forward and said softly, "Cuddy, you were just raped. It's okay if it takes some time to-"

"No!" Cuddy snapped, shaking her head. "No, I'm fine! For the last time, Wilson!"

"Look, at least because it's your boyfriend being held hostage," he practically pleaded with her. "Its personal for you. And you really shouldn't-"

"Oh yeah?" she retorted as she started pacing again, clearly on the edge of a breakdown. "And what about you? House is your best friend! You've known Chase and Cameron for years! You're not one to be talking about this being personal for me, Wilson!" Her voice cracked slightly, but she continued, trying desperately to hold it together. "And if you try and even suggest for me to go home again, I swear to god, I'll-"

"You'll what, exactly?" Wilson asked, grabbing her wrist and pulling her towards him, ignoring the flash of fear in her eyes. "Cuddy, all I'm trying to get you to do is take a day off for once. You never do, and now, you deserve it more than ever. You're a rape victim, and you need to deal with it before-"

"No! Shut up, Wilson, shut up!" she practically screamed, wrenching out of his grasp and shoving him back. "I am not a victim, Wilson! Don't you ever say that!" There was a moment's silence, then she just shook her head and leaned against the wall of the hospital, covering her face with her hands as her shoulders started to shake.

"Hey," Wilson said softly with a quiet sigh, walking over to her. He didn't say anything more, just wrapped his arms around her and let her sob softly into his chest. For once, she didn't pull away, and he was glad she wasn't shutting him out... at least, for now.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, almost inaudibly. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

HOUSE HOUSE HOUSE

Foreman beckoned at Thirteen for him to come and read the computer screen. "Jason came in because he vomited blood. When the doctor talked to him, he said he had some stiffness, ataxia, muscle spasms, jaundice, some speech problems, and fatigue- his roommate came with him, and he said that Jason had been acting weird lately- based off this file, confusion, personality changes, dementia..." he paraphrased. "Based off that, since most of the symptoms seem neurological... brain tumor?"

Thirteen scoffed and rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "Yep, because a brain tumor can cause coughing up blood... infection?"

It was Foreman's time to laugh, and he would of if the situation hadn't been so severe. "Oh, yes, he's had an infection for three months- he came here first in January, Thirteen."

They were all silent, then, trying to figure out how to connect the blood to the rest of the symptoms. House said from over the phone, "Ignore the blood. Its not related to the symptoms- some other condition."

"House!" They heard Cameron shout. "You can't just ignore the most serious symptom! And get down here and help me help Chase!" Thirteen and Foreman shared an uneasy glance at the desperation in Cameron's voice, but said nothing.

"Fine!" House called. "A Mallory-Weiss tear, a bad car crash- hell, maybe he had a nosebleed and accidentally swallowed some of the blood- but if you get distracted by the blood, you won't be able to diagnose him. Get Wilson and ask him about cancer, and- oh my god. Cameron- Cameron, help!"

There was some rustling over the phone, and Thirteen and Foreman heard Cameron gasp, then exclaim, "Chase! Chase, no!"

"Start CPR, I'll keep pressure on the wound," House called, barely loud enough to be heard over the phone. "Cameron!" he shouted a second later. "Cameron, snap out of it! Chase needs you right now- Cameron"

HOUSE HOUSE HOUSE

House watched as the younger doctor continued to beat Chase's heart for him, biting his lip so hard the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. Cameron felt his pulse for what seemed like the hundredth time. For the first time, she looked up in excitement and gasped, "I've got a pulse!"

House leaned back in exhaustion, breathing hard. Thank god. Cameron leaned down and kissed Chase's cheek and murmured in his ear, "Don't you dare try and leave me again!"

Jason called from the corner, "Yeah, yeah, life saved, crisis averted, sentimental moment and all, I don't care. I'm not here to watch you save his life. Get the hint?"

House glared at him, then pulled the file off the table and started looking through it again. After a moment, he glanced back at Chase and Cameron and said, "Cameron... if that happens again, I can't guarantee I'll be able to bring him back. I'm sorry..."

Cameron stared at him in horror, then clutched Chase's bloody hand to her chest as she snapped, "I know, House. And I'm not going to let him die."

House just shook his head and went back to the file. He didn't bother saying that it really had nothing to do with Cameron- Chase's time was running out, and no matter how much Cameron loved him, love couldn't replace blood. Love couldn't keep him alive. Nothing could guarantee his survival right now. A normal man would pray- House would just have to settle with solving this case as fast as possible and relying on man's science to save Chase.

Cookies to anyone who can diagnose Jason before I reveal what he has! And, Jonathan... look around for you black duck tape sword... see it anywhere? Review please