Ch 46: How to Save a Life

Wilson was once again utterly horrified as House and the team ran another full workup on Thirteen. Paranoia, extreme bruising, pain, and syncope were the symptoms that had piled on top of her and the team that she was a part of worked for three days nonstop to try and find some cause for the illness. House sat in his office, head in his hands while Wilson sniffled in the corner holding Evan in his arms. "You should put that damned thing down," House told his friend cruelly when the sound of Wilson's weeping and kisses on the baby's head became more maddening than House could bear.

The oncologist looked over at his friend, shocked. "He's my son, House," Wilson pointed out.

"He might not be much longer if you wool him to death." House replied. He sighed deeply. "Sorry…I'm just trying to think." He rubbed his leg anxiously, stress making it throb more than usual. Wilson watched him carefully for a while, simply holding Evan close to him.

"I can't believe that on top of everything else, she's going to miss seeing her child grow up…as if Huntington's isn't bad enough," Wilson lamented.

House looked up, an idea forming in his head. "Get in here!" he yelled to Foreman, who was sitting in the differential room.

"What is it?" Wilson demanded. "What's going on?"

"Test Thirteen for Huntington's again," House ordered, ignoring Wilson.

"She's got it," Foreman said tiredly. "There really isn't any reason to test her for something we know she has."

"Unless she doesn't have it…" Wilson's eyes were as large as saucers.

"Exactly. Now go." House stood and Wilson followed him down to the patient room where Thirteen was being taken care of. "If she's not positive for Huntington's we've been searching for the wrong thing. Either we need one of the machines is broken or she's got something else…and the sooner we find out what that something else is the better."

House was informed a few hours later that the test proving Thirteen had Huntington's was completely wrong. The machine that had performed her test was thrown out and he worked for hours with Foreman and Sundai to come up with more explanations as to why Thirteen was sick. "Come on people," he ordered. "Huntinton's is off the table…we're left with pain, bruising, paranoia, and syncope. THINK!"

"Paranoia is possible with bad blood," Sundai put in. Sense of forboding and all of that. The rest could be explained by the unexpected stress put on her as a result of her argument with Foreman."

"Blood disorder is more likely," Foreman replied, obviously not appreciating her thoughts on the matter since they involved him.

"Sundai can check for tainted blood. You've already run several blood panels and nothing's come up," House said firmly.

"We could check her marrow for Leukemia," Foreman suggested.

"Let's not jump the gun," House replied. "Tainted blood is a bit easier on the patient."

"Since when are you easier on the patient?" Foreman asked resentfully.

"Since I think that tainted blood is a better diagnosis."

"Are you just putting it out there because you want to throw it in my face or because you're doing something outside your relationship with this new hire?"

"Don't question my personal life and I won't kick your ass," House replied. "Go," he instructed the girl who had been caught in the crossfire.

"Why is this always about what you want? What you think is best?" Foreman asked.

"I'm head of the department," House said simply. "Why does everyone around here think I'm going to fuck up my relationship?"

"It's happened before," Foreman threw back at him as he walked out.

"If you quit this time, that's it!" House yelled after him. He knew however that the neurologist would be back as he always came back. He occupied himself in his office while things were worked out with Thirteen. Bad blood was designated the cause of her illness within the next few hours and House, tired and cranky, allowed Cuddy to take him home.