More blood was taken for tests, but in the meantime, the treatment had begun. Arlene had called Julia and Rachel to come back in case they were wrong. The little girl sidled up to House immediately, following him around and he had to constantly bring her back to Arlene. In the waiting room once again, Rachel sat beside him on the couch, her small legs tucked beneath her as she had slowly gotten closer and closer to him. Staring off in thought, House hadn't noticed her closeness until she laid her head on his shoulder. He blinked his way out of his mind and looked down at Rachel thoughtfully, "If only your mother shared your affection for me." He told her quietly, brushing her hair back affectionately.

"I like you 'cause you're quiet." She told him, which made him smile, "Grandma and Aunt Julia fight too much."

"I think that's my fault too." House told her, unwilling to pander and sugarcoat things for a child.

"'Cause they don't like you?" She asked, innocently.

"Right."

"I like you."

"I think you're the only one."

"I'm not." Rachel said, "Mommy likes you."

House's heart leapt at Rachel's words but he didn't allow himself to think she was right.

After a few hours on the medication, it became extremely obvious that they had chosen wrong. Cuddy had grown so weak that she could barely move, her heart was frail, and they were no closer to finding out what was wrong.

"It's not an autoimmune disease." Foreman concluded, "We've taken her off the medication."

"But the damage has been done." Chase said, soberly, "Her heart won't be able to hold up much longer and her liver has been damaged. The heart is more concerning, however. It won't last another day."

House said nothing. They had failed and he didn't trust his voice at the moment.

"Her best bet is a heart transplant." Chase said.

"But the odds of her getting one with an undiagnosed illness are none." Foreman pointed out.

"Tell the family." House said, quietly, still not looking at either doctor. He knew that Julia, Arlene, and Rachel were in the cafeteria getting lunch and that Cuddy was asleep. He stood and limped toward her room, hanging in the doorway for a time.

"Cuddy."

Her eyes fluttered open and her eyes became worried at the look on his face.

"You need a heart." He said simply, sitting in the chair by her bed.

It was all he needed to say. Cuddy knew the rest of the story. The Donor Board would never give a healthy heart to an unhealthy person when so many people needed transplants. They would elect to give it to the person with the best odds of surviving, "I'm dying."

"Probably." House said, his voice smaller than she had ever heard it.

Her blue eyes filled with tears and House had to look away.

"I'm sorry." He said, sincerely. Bending over, he put his head in his hands and rubbed his tired eyes. Rachel came bounding in then, House guessed she had been sent into the room so that Foreman and Chase could talk to Julia and Arlene. Rachel made her way into his lap and, seeing the photo in his pocket, pulled it out.

"Look, Mommy." He showed it to Cuddy before House to take it from her.

Cuddy gave House a curious look. She knew he had probably entered her home in order to help the diagnosis along, but taking the picture confused her.

House swallowed, unable to explain himself, "I just saw it and thought…" He cleared his throat, "I have always wanted a re-do, but not like this. I thought if I could just have faced it without needing a crutch... I also thought if I was there with Wilson, I might be able to make up for it which is stupid and irrational. I wish I knew then what Wilson finally got through to me."

"What's that?"

"That I was a selfish jerk."

"Was?" Cuddy smirked.

"Was." He confirmed, "If you want, I'll stay until…" These words brought them both back to the reality that she would be dead in twenty four hours, if her heart even held up that long.

Cuddy nodded and House accepted it with a nod of his own. Rachel, sensing that their conversation was serious and not to be interrupted, had sat silently in House's lap. House picked her up gently and stood her on the floor so that he could get up.

"I'm going to kiss you." He warned, "And there isn't much you can do about it." He leaned over and placed the gentlest of kisses on her cheek.

Warmth washed over Cuddy in waves and when House moved away, she found herself wanting more. She watched as House walked out the door and invited her daughter to lie beside her on the bed. Rachel crawled up, but Cuddy couldn't hold her and it broke her heart.