Normalscaresme: yeah, I really don't like Huddy either. The only pairings I REALLY like for the show are Wamber and Chase/13. If Cameron wasn't such a damn saint I'd like her for Chase too. But... well, my House fic still ended up being Huddy :(
Frostspirit: Nope- but the blood is connected to everything else. But that symptom wasn't because of the lungs. Big shock, House was wrong- happens every episode, and the patient's gonna die in five minutes. Ten seconds later- oops, you have some rare complication of the flu or a disease with a really long name no one's every heard of, and you're going to be fine.
And Jonathan... if you don't update, I can still call upon Aunt Peggy and mention McCall... :D By the way- people at school read Casey's Pastries. 0.0 They want to know what inspired people/food sex. And food/food sex.
Sara- don't worry! Your stalker WILL come back, I promise. Let me take care of Jason first, though.
Chapter 5
"Yeah, three doctors- one was shot, but we don't know anything recent on his condition."
The SWAT commander nodded before inquiring more about the situation, Wilson off to the side, watching Cuddy closely as she answered. Despite his warnings, Cuddy had still taken over when the SWAT team had arrived, which worried him greatly. She was already stretched too thin, the addition of the police was simply pushing things too far- as if she wasn't already past her limit...
Wilson continued to watch, concerned, as Cuddy gave an absentminded nod. It was clear- too him, at least- that she was focusing far more on the SWAT team's proximity to her and how much bigger they were than she was rather than the commander's questions. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath. I knew I shouldn't of let her do this... She's dealing with too much already. If she keeps going, she's going to end up passing out from the stress of it all. I wouldn't be surprised if she fainted right now.
Suddenly, his cell phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, then answered it and asked, "What is it, Thirteen? I'm out here with the SWAT team, and-"
"Two things," she interrupted in an urgent voice, panting voice. "First, House wants to ask you about cancer for Jason. Second, tell the SWAT guys that Chase went into cardiac arrest a few minutes ago. House and Cameron brought him back, but he's not going to last much longer."
Wilson froze in horror, then hurried over to Cuddy and the SWAT team. "Um, you guys?" he started hesitantly. "I just got a call from Thirteen, one of House's team- she said that our wounded hostage isn't going to last much longer. I've gotta get in there, but unless you SWAT people end this and end it now, Chase won't make it out alive." Cuddy stared at him, horrified, and Wilson nodded grimly before hurrying back inside.
Thirteen and Foreman were both arguing back and forth about whatever the hell Jason could have, but Wilson was far more interested in Chase's welfare than the psycho maniac's. Especially when said psycho maniac had a gun and was threatening to kill people unless he got his damn diagnosis.
HOUSE HOUSE HOUSE
House glanced back from his whiteboard at Chase and Cameron. The only proof that was alive was the blood gushing from the gunshot wound- and that wasn't exactly comforting to look at it. Cameron had taken over his job of keeping Chase alive, leaving the diagnosing to House.
Unfortunately, if he left out the blood, then every single one of Jason's symptoms could be neurological besides the jaundice- and that was because of liver failure caused by a car crash. Hardly related to the current symptoms.
Unless... what if it was? If Jason had come in with liver failure after escaping a car crash, the doctors would naturally connect the two. He would do it himself. But if it was only a coincidence that he happened to get in a car crash, that the liver failure had nothing to do with it, then he could put it back in with the symptoms, which made it that much easier to diagnose.
But he still had to find a way to explain why his liver didn't just fail again- something the hospital had done after the liver transplant must have temporarily treated Jason's condition. House hesitated, looking up and down the symptoms again. Hospitals gave liver transplant patients Interferon and immunosuppresants. Interferon... no, that would only protect against infection, and if he had had an infection this serious for all these months, Jason would have died long time ago. Immunosuppresants... that would treat an auto immune disease. He headed back to the phone and explained his new theory to Foreman and Thirteen, then said, "Foreman, you're the neurologist. Give me autoimmune diseases that cause neurological symptoms."
"Doesn't matter!" Foreman explained furiously. "The tests all take longer than Chase has left! He's running out of blood and soon it won't matter what Jason has, because Chase'll be dead!"
House turned to Jason, who was watching the unfolding situation apathetically. "He's right!" he exclaimed, when the psycho did not react to Foreman's words. "You can't use Chase as a threat anymore; we can't diagnose you in time!"
"You know what?" Jason asked slowly, looking down at Chase then back at House. "I think you're lying. I think your colleague has alot more time left than you're saying. I think you're lying to get him out of here, to safety. Does sound about right, Dr. House?"
House turned desperately back to Chase and Cameron, for once, unable to face the reality in front of him. That was when Cameron gave Chase the slim possibility at life. "House!" she cried, pressing her hands down harder on Chase's wound. "House, Chase is dying because he's running out of blood- well, Chase and I are the same type!" When House continued to stare at her in shock, Cameron practically shouted, "I can give him blood, House! I can at least buy him some time!"
House didn't respond, too stunned to remember how to speak. Eventually, it was Foreman who shouted, "Cameron, no! You can't risk it! Chase has already lost too much blood! If you-"
"I have to try!" Cameron snapped, beyond determined. It took only look at her face for House to know that talking Cameron out of this would be an impossibility. She was too damn stubborn. She was going to risk her life on the miniscule chance that it might save Chase's.
"Some old guy from the clinic gave blood in my office yesterday. The equipment's still in here. It's not ideal, but we're not working under the best of circumstances anyway," he said, looking hesitantly at Cameron.
She nodded grimly. "Set it up."
House hesitated again, looking to Jason. He shrugged. "I really don't care what you do, so long as you get around to diagnosing me. I've got time. Your Dr. Chase doesn't, though." House glared at him, then hurried over to get the necessary equipment.
HOUSE HOUSE HOUSE
Thirteen and Foreman stared at the phone in shock, then Thirteen said quickly, "Okay, now that Cameron's going to give blood, she might pass out, which means its just us and House. We have-"
"Don't forget me," Wilson said as he jogged up, panting slightly. "I'm your friendly neighborhood oncologist."
Foreman shook his head, biting his lip. "No, House changed his mind. He thinks it autoimmune now- of course, its just our luck that none of us is a rheumatologist."
Wilson shrugged as he sat down on the receptionist's desk, shoving some clipboards out of the way. "Well, there's no harm in covering all your bases. Especially in the current situation. Now, let me see that file."
Thirteen complied, swiveling the computer screen around for Wilson to see. "And, just so you know," she said, "Cameron is giving blood to Chase to keep him alive. She'll be able to keep him stable for about... an hour, maybe? But that's if we're lucky. Most likely scenario, they both... die."
Wilson stared at her in horror, then exclaimed, "And who the hell thought up that stupid idea? That is the most-"
"It was Cameron! She suggested it, and House is just going along with it."
Shaking his head, Wilson turned back to the computer and looked over the symptoms list again, this time with a new urgency. Knowing Cameron, she would try and give Chase more than the safe amount of blood and end up going into hypovolemic shock herself.
HOUSE HOUSE HOUSE
When all the equipment was finally set up, House looked up at Cameron and asked, "Are you sure about this, Cameron? You know the risks involved. If you give even-"
"House!" she cried, desperate. "Yes I'm sure! Now, you're wasting time- time that Chase doesn't have! Hurry!"
House grimaced, then pushed the IV tube into Cameron's wrist, one end already in Chase, and tied the turquinet around Cameron's arm. The still conscious doctor elevated her arm and just let gravity do its work. House got off the ground and took a step back, watching as blood from Cameron slowly made its way into Chase. "That's sixteen minutes on the clock," he said, setting the timer on the table. "After that, I can't afford to let you give anymore, Cameron. You'd be at too much risk."
Cameron glared at him, but kept silent, already feeling slightly dizzy from the blood loss. She glanced blearily back up at the two men as Jason called, "Hello, guy with a gun over here, requesting a doctor?"
With a groan, House turned back to him, but knew time was still running out. Cameron hadn't bought them enough time to do nearly any tests. The situation hadn't changed- well, actually, it had. Now there two doctors losing blood instead of one.
Sorry that was so short, but it was either that or make it really long. Diagnosis for Jason is coming up next chapter. Also, before you get on my case- EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN THIS CHAPTER IS MEDICALLY SOUND! I promise. Just ask Modest Jonathan about me and my medical knowledge and prepare to get bored to death by a long rant full of annoyingly long words that he doesn't understand and has no idea how to pronounce. Also, Jonathan, a note to you.. I have two words to say: SACROIDOSIS. BENOVAK.
Thank you. Please review!