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Chapter Five: Is this caring?
House frowned at the whiteboard, glaring at the symptoms. There wasn't many to begin with. It sounded like simple Influenza, but he could be erroneous. Usually he wouldn't care and just make his ducklings give the patient the meds for Influenza. But, Kara was something more. She was his daughter, his flesh and blood, the fruit of his loins. He wanted to make sure he had this right. The worst thing that could happen is killing his daughter for a hypothetical illness that she didn't have. He let out a big sigh, plopping down in the closest chair. He closed his eyes and rubbed them, making his brain think.
Abruptly, the door opened. He turned his head, surprised to see Cuddy stand in the doorway. She usually came to see him to snap at him for trying to ditch clinic duty, or protest at him for being "mean" to a patient or their loved one, but this time it was different. "Have you found out anything yet?" She asked civilly, strolling in unceremoniously.
"No. She hasn't had enough symptoms to diagnose her with some illness. Honestly, the fatigue seems like Influenza to me." House said jadedly, getting up and staring hard at the board. The word 'fatigue' stared back at him, mocking him for his feeble attempts of trying to come up with a diagnosis.
"Oh." Was Cuddy's reply. House knew that Cuddy probably wanted Kara in a healthy condition. She was their daughter, didn't every parent want their child to be healthy? She pulled a strained smile on her face and looked him in the eyes. "I saw her through the window. She looked relatively happy at the moment. I guess she refused to eat the hospital food since she's eating a cheeseburger at the moment." Cuddy added for some reason. House guessed it was just something to converse about.
"Okay." House complied. It wasn't that he didn't want to talk to Cuddy. He was just...tired at the moment. It was all really too much for one day. "Well, I'm going to go, uh, bother Wilson." He muttered, passing Cuddy quickly. Cuddy watched him baffled. What was wrong with him?
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Kara chomped down on her cheeseburger. She hadn't had one of those in about five years. Usually, it was either macaroni and cheese, chicken noodle soup, or some kind of cheap lunch for everyone at the orphanage. She grabbed her drink voraciously, slurping it down. "You could say that you appreciate me for bringing this to you." Skyler told Kara, frowning at her friend's lack of manners.
Kara looked at her as if she was crazy. "Me? Appreciate? Never." She scoffed, shaking her head. She brought the cup back to her lips. Unexpectedly, her hand twitched, causing the drink to spill all over the bed. Skyler couldn't help but laugh. It served Kara right to be uncomfortable and not having a drink. Kara, on the other hand, stared at her hand in terror. It was twitching again! The next twitch made her leg move. And then her shoulder as well.
Skyler, realizing something was wrong, stopped laughing. "Kara?" She asked guardedly. Maybe it was just a prank to make Skyler feel awful? "That isn't funny."
Kara turned her eyes on Skyler. "I'm not being funny. I can't control it! I don't know what's happening!" She shrieked, her voice getting higher with anxiety. Skyler's eyes widened. Perspiration was forming on Kara's skin and she was already trembling with the uncontrollable twitching. Her hands flew to her chest. "My chest hurts! I think, I think I'm having a heart attack!" She cried, beginning to hyperventilate.
Skyler's eyebrows shot up and she looked desperately out the door. "Somebody help!" She screamed. She looked back frenetically at Kara. The door open and about three nurses rushed in, followed by Dr. Foreman.
"She's having a panic attack!" He said, rushing over to Kara's side. He grabbed Kara's hands from her chest and sat on her bed, forcing Kara to look straight at him. "Kara, listen to me. You're going to be okay." He began steadfastly and slowly.
"I'm dying!" She managed to sputter out. Now she was reaching for her throat, sounding as if she was choking.
"Aren't you going to do anything?" Skyler asked piercingly.
Dr. Foreman looked at her skeptically. "Her body is going through a panic attack. Nothing really is happening to her. If she calms down, she'll be fine." He answered, looking up as the door opened yet again. House stood in the doorway, looking very apprehensive, which made Foreman do a double take.
He limped towards the bed, turning Kara's head to him. "We just injected you with something that is going to calm you down, you hear that? We just fixed you." House lied. Skyler watched Kara look at him before slowly began to calm down. Her heart monitor turned to normal, her breathing regulated, and she collapsed back on her bed, her eyelids drooping down before they were completely closed. House straightened, watching Kara attentively for only a moment more before glancing at Foreman, who was staring at him mystified.
Skyler watched the two men before breaking the uncanny silence. "What does the panic attacks mean?" She asked raucously, looking anxiously at the now passed out Kara.
House turned his head and stared at Skyler. "It means she has another symptom." He sighed, looking down at her affectionately. Foreman quirked an eyebrow at House. He was acting very outlandish. House noticed this and scowled at Foreman before turning swiftly out of the room.
Foreman smiled at Skyler reassuringly before heading out after House. Skyler scooted her chair even closer to Kara's bed, patting her friend's hand. "It'll be okay, Kara. They'll figure out what's wrong with you. I know it." Skyler said to her. But, Kara wasn't the one that needed reassuring at the moment. Skyler was the one.
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Kara's eyes fluttered open gradually, her eyes dilating quickly in the dark room. The light from the hallway was coming in from the door but other than that, there was nothing else. Skyler was gone. Kara didn't expect Ms. Charles to let her stay all night. Kara would have closed her eyes again but something on the chair seemed to catch her eye. It was a coat. Not just any coat, but a black blazer. The same black blazer that Dr. House was wearing earlier that day when she had kicked his cane. Kara frowned slightly. Regardless of her telling them to act professional, they sat with her when she was passed out?
The frown slowly slid off of her face. Something else was happening. A warm, vivacious feeling was washing over her and making her feel actually giddy. The feeling was kind of familiar. She closed her eyes, letting the feeling warm up all her body. She didn't get far with falling asleep because as soon as she closed her eyes the door opened.
"I feel guilty leaving her all alone." Cuddy's voice echoed in the empty room. There was movement beside Kara's bed. Kara decided on her only two options, which were glaring at them for barging in or pretending to still be asleep, before deciding on the latter of the options.
"She doesn't want to find us in her room being 'parental' remember?" House reminded Cuddy, grabbing his jacket and slipping it on. He popped in two Vicodins before staring down at Kara. She look quite peaceful. Her brown hair was splayed around her face like some sort of natural halo and her face displayed serenity.
"She's more beautiful then I remember." Cuddy murmured quietly, also watching Kara with an affectionate expression. Kara was very aware that they were staring at her. She was use to pretending to be asleep so she knew she wouldn't cause any suspicion. Cuddy reached down and curled one loose strand of Kara's brown hair around her ear. Kara fought to contain herself. At first, Kara wanted to recoil from the unfamiliar touch. But it was full of affection and care.
"Careful." House warned. If Kara woke up, there was no idea of what she might do. Cuddy slowly withdrew her hair, stepping a step back to refrain herself from doing something else. "Let's go." House touched Cuddy's shoulder tenderly. Cuddy nodded and turned to walk out but turned back after a moment's hesitation. In one swift motion, Cuddy kissed Kara's forehead very lightly. She straightened and quickly left the room. House knew it was so she didn't start crying again.
House stood in the room awkwardly, unsure of exactly how he should leave. "Night, kiddo." He whispered, putting his arms on either side of Kara for support before also kissing her forehead. Then he took his leave. Kara's eyes snapped open and she sat up, feeling her forehead. The two spots seem to stand out then any other spot on her forehead. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Whatever feeling this was, whatever had just happened, Kara liked it.
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"So far, so good." House muttered to himself as he surreptitiously made his way towards his office. So far it seemed as if no one had noticed him come into the hospital. At first, it annoyed him slightly because he couldn't do his daily morning remarks but then it was better this way. They might actually believe that he was gone all day and then that might lead to no clinic duty. But, as soon as he turned the corner, his thoughts were outlived. Cuddy was hiding behind a pillar, spying in on Kara. Normally, he really wouldn't have cared what Cuddy was doing. He'd just make his sarcastic remark and then go on about his business. But this was about Kara. He sighed and went the long way, coming up behind Cuddy. "Stalker." He whispered.
She turned around and frowned at him. "And you're always a pervert." She retorted quickly.
He sucked in air. "Good one." He said, looking into Kara' room as well. Kara was laughing while Skyler was grinning like mad. Both of them were vividly animated, which was a good thing. At least she didn't seem like she was suffering. "She's scheduled for an MRI in about fifteen minutes."
"Have you any idea what's wrong with her?" She asked, turning to look up at him.
He puffed out his cheeks. "Well, panic attacks could be contained in a Panic Disorder. We have diazepam at the ready for her..." He began, remembering what they had put her on last.
"But that could lead to an abuse!" Cuddy started vehemently.
"We took that in to consideration. If worse comes to worse, we'll put her on for CBT." House reassured her.
Cuddy's eyebrows shot up. "Congnitive Behavioral Therapy? (a/n: It's spelled right!) You think it could be that bad? Sorry, what else have you come up with." She said, scolding herself for interrupting. She should listen to everything before putting her two cents in.
"Well, we looked into the muscle twitching and all we could think of is Benign Fasciculation Syndrome. It explains the exhaustion, the muscle twitching, and the panic attacks since it increases a person's anxiety level. We also thought about a Magnesium deficiency so we have her on a special diet that increases the magnesium in her body." House finished pompously, watching as she picked up a banana that had been on the hospital tray. That was rich in magnesium. The corners of his lips tugged upwards.
Cuddy nodded. They seemed to have everything under control. The MRI was to check her brain. There was that small factor that the muscle twitching was could be a neurological problem. "I have to say, you're doing quite well." She said, leaning against the pillar.
House quirked an eyebrow at her. "What do you mean, I'm doing quite well?" He asked puzzled. A slight scowl graced his lips. He suddenly became very conscious of exactly how close House and Cuddy were.
"You know, what I mean. You're being careful and covering all of your bases...the safe way." She answered bashfully, also aware of how close they were. House made a face and she laughed. House realized how much he missed that laugh. It brought back memories. Suddenly, a cough brought them out of their dream state. House turned his glare on the intruder.
The nurse took a step back and pointed towards Kara's room. They both looked over and gasped. Kara was screaming in pain and holding her left calf. Cuddy dashed into the room, followed by House. "My leg! It's on fire! Make it stop!" She shrieked, tears streaking down her face.
House glanced over at Cuddy. She was already calling in for some Methadone. "What about your big toe? How's it like?" House asked.
Cuddy turned to him. "Why are you asking her that pointless question?" She asked hysterically.
"It's numb." Kara yelled at him, raising an eyebrow.
He sighed and looked up at Cuddy and the arriving nurses with the Methadone. "She has a L5 radiculitis." He sighed. Cuddy looked down at Kara before looking up at House. She nodded to the nurse with the Methadone and sighed forcefully. "There goes magnesium deficiency and BFS." He added.
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Kara woke up again the next night. Her leg wasn't hurting at all, which was a good thing. It felt as if it was on fire. She sighed and sat up, going towards the food in front of her. A snort made her abruptly aware of someone else in her room. She turned to her right and blinked quietly. House was sprawled out on the chair, his feet propped up on her bed, his cane leaned against the side of the chair. Kara suddenly lost her appetite. What was he doing sitting in her hospital room with her? Why did he care so much? He was her father but he didn't need to spend the night with her. He shifted slightly in his sleep. Tears began to well up in her eyes. Very slowly and very carefully, she crawled onto his lap, making sure she didn't knee him in the groin or put too much pressure on his bum leg. To tell the truth, all this hospital stuff scared her. She didn't like to be alone. She pressed her face against his chest, getting a good whiff of him. It wasn't a horrible smell. It was a nice smell. She bit her lip but a small sob escaped. Tears streamed down her face again, but this time it wasn't in pain. She wasn't really sure what they were. They were just tears but she knew they were good tears. She closed her eyes and fell asleep peacefully.
Okay, there's an awww moment for ya'll! Please review and I love the three C's!