AN: Sorry for the long wait you guys! I've been sick and had trouble writing down what was in my head. But it's here now! Hope I don't disappoint you with this chapter! Let me remind you I'm not a doctor so I don't know anything about medicine and if whatever medicine in this fic is wrong, please forgive me! That's also part of the reason why I don't try to bring to much medicine into this fic! For those who asked if Rachel will be okay, well what do you think? :) I love that little girl, of course she'll be okay! And no Marina has nothing to do with this! Someone however is responsible for Rachel's condition and is going to get their ass kicked! Stay tuned if you want to find out who it is.
Reviews are appreciated and I'd like to thank anyone who reviewed on the previous chapter(s). Also a big thanks for the alerts!
Okay, Enjoy!
Cuddy was holding Rachel as House was holding the bag as they walked to the car. House pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and walked to the drivers side.
He glanced at Cuddy as she installed into the passenger seat with Rachel still in her lap. Cuddy gave him a questioning look but he said nothing, he just dialed a number and started the car.
'Chase.' House heard. Without a warning he said 'Hospital NOW.' and disconnected the call before Chase could reply.
Cuddy turned towards House. 'Should we call Wilson?' she asked. House glanced at her and the sleeping toddler in her lap.
'We'll call him when we're at the hospital.' House replied. 'I need to get my team there first.'
Cuddy nodded and focused her attention on Rachel.
House dialed another number then started the car while he waited for the person to pick up.
'Taub.' Taub replied. 'You on-call?' House asked. 'Yes.' Taub replied. 'What's…' he continued but was cut off by House. 'Good, stay there!' and the call was disconnected.
House pulled out of the driveway before dialing the last member of his team.
'Ello?' he heard Foreman ask. 'Hospital NOW.' was all he said again and slid his phone shut before putting it back into his pocket.
As he was driving he looked over at Cuddy who was silently crying again. He put his right hand over her left one that was resting on her knee and gently squeezed it. She looked up at him, and squeezed back.
His team was waiting for him when they walked into the ER. Cuddy was carrying Rachel while House was limping behind her carrying the bag.
When he saw the looks from his team he started talking. 'Our patient is a two and a half year old toddler. She has a fever of 102.2 ℉, extensive bruising on her back and her leg, and had two severe nose bleeds the last half hour. Go!'
Taub, Foreman and Chase looked at each other as a nurse quickly wheeled a gurney over to Cuddy. Cuddy gently put Rachel down and was worried when the little girl didn't move or wake up.
'House!' she yelled. He limped over to her. 'She's not moving!' Cuddy panicked. House checked her pulse and felt her forehead. 'Get her up to a room and give her some broad spectrum antibiotics!' He yelled. 'And check her vital signs.'
His team went with the nurse to get Rachel up to a room and get her installed. Cuddy started following after them but was stopped by House who gently grabbed her wrist. He took hold of both her hands and looked at her.
'I'll do anything I can! You know that right?' House asked.
Cuddy looked him straight into his baby blue eyes. After a few minutes she nodded. House leaned in and gently kissed her lips.
'Go be with her. She'll need you there when she wakes up. I'll call Wilson and let him know.' House said and pulled away from her and walked away to the elevators.
'House?' Wilson answered his phone sleepily.
'It's Rachel.' House said while he limped towards his office.
Wilson was wide awake after he heard what House said. He sat up straight in his bed and rubbed a hand over his eyes.
'House?' He asked. 'What's wrong with her?'
'I don't know yet. My team's going to run some tests. But you need to be here for Cuddy.' House told him walking into his office and towards his whiteboard.
'What?' Wison asked. 'House that's not my …'
'Look Wilson, I can't be her doctor and her mother's boyfriend. I need to be a doctor now!' House persisted.
'I'll be there in 20 minutes.' Wilson said then hung up the phone.
House sighed and put his phone into the pocket of his jeans. He rubbed his hands over his face and started writing the symptoms on his whiteboard. As he finished writing Taub and Foreman came into the office.
House turned to face his minions. 'Where's Chase?'
'He's doing the blood work.' Foreman answered.
House nodded. 'Okay. Now start diagnosing.' he ordered.
Cuddy settled in a chair near the bed and held Rachel's hand in her own as Chase just finished getting blood from the little girl. Chase looked from the girl to Cuddy and back to the girl.
'What?' Cuddy asked.
Chase quickly shook his head as if to clear his mind, but Cuddy gave him a look that made him speak.
'Your nanny …' he started but stopped as he saw a look of anger quickly appear on her face.
'Don't you dare insinuate that my nanny did this to her!' Cuddy practically yelled. 'My nanny is a wonderful woman who would never do anything to Rachel!'
Chase quickly put his hands up. 'Sorry Dr. Cuddy. I didn't mean to … '
'Yes you did!' Cuddy stopped him.
'I'm …' Chase started again, but was stopped when he heard the door open. He turned around and saw Wilson standing there.
'I'll just go.' Chase said and took off.
Wilson watched him leave, then turned to Cuddy. Without saying anything he sat down next to her and held her close. Cuddy immediately started crying.
'What was that all about?' Wilson asked her as he was gently stroking her back.
'He …' Cuddy started but couldn't get the words out.
'Shh, it's okay!' Wilson tried to sooth her.
'He insinuated that Marina …' Cuddy started again, but stopped as she let out a loud sob.
Wilson, who didn't know what to say, just let her cry and prayed for the little girl lying in the bed.
Chase walked back into the office after dropping off Rachel's blood works at the lab. He looked slightly stressed. House studied him as he said down in his chair and rubbed his hands over his face.
House tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eyes.
'What did you do?' he asked Chase.
Taub and Foreman both turned to Chase.
'I didn't do anything!' Chase replied.
House walked towards the table.
'Yes you did. You did something! I can tell it from the look you have on your face. It's the I-feel-guilty-for-doing-that look.' House pushed.
'I didn't do anything.' Chase told them again. 'I just asked Cuddy if maybe the babysitter …'
House slammed his fist on the table.
'You idiot!' He told Chase. 'That woman has been taking care of Rachel since day one! You really think Cuddy would be stupid enough to hire just anyone? No! She was screened better than some idiots who work at this hospital. Like you!' House pointed at him.
'Look guys,' Foreman cut in. 'Fighting is not going to help us find out what's going on with Cuddy's kid okay.'
'Well thank you captain-obvious!' House retorted and pinched the bridge of his nose. 'Taub, you go to the lab, check out the blood works. Foreman and Chase you go to Cuddy's house and search the place.'
'You think we'll find anything?' Foreman asked.
'No.' House replied.
'Then why do we …' Chase started only to be cut of by House. 'Because I say so! Now go!'
As he saw his minions walk out of his office he sighed. This was going to be a long night.
Wilson looked up as he heard the door to Rachel's room open.
'Hi.' Wilson whispered.
'Hey.' House replied.
'So any news yet?' Wilson asked as he stood up from the chair. House shook his head as he looked at the little girl lying in the hospital bed and his girlfriend who was sleeping in the chair next to it.
He sighed. 'Taub's checking her blood and Foreman and Chase are at Cuddy's place.'
'You think they'll find anything?' Wilson asked.
'No.' House replied. He was quiet for a minute before he spoke. ' I don't know what happened Wilson. This morning she was perfectly fine and this afternoon …'
'Look maybe it's nothing.' Wilson said and House gave him a look. 'Okay, so something's wrong. You'll figure it out.' He tried to reassure his friend.
'What if I can't?' House quietly asked. 'What if I fail that little girl. She relies on me. And what about Cuddy?' House asked. 'She'll never forgive me if I can't save her daughter.'
'Wow, House!' Wilson was shocked. 'Where is this coming coming from? Look she's been fine for the past hour. The antibiotics are working. I don't think you have to worry to much.'
'I …' House started but stopped when he saw Rachel move. He walked towards the bed and just as he reached it Rachel sat up and was gasping for air.
'Mommy, mommy!' she cried out, panicked.
Cuddy's head shot up. 'Rachel. What is it?' She asked a look of total panic on her face.
'Hows!' Rachel cried again, but couldn't say anything more as she was struggling to breath.
House pushed the alarm button.
'We need to intubate!' He yelled. 'Wilson!'
Wilson shook his head and started helping House as nurses started rushing into the room. Meanwhile Cuddy just stood there, watching, as they intubated her little girl.
When Rachel's condition was stable again, the nurses started leaving the room again. House stopped one of them and asked if they could bring another bed in the room so Cuddy could get at least be comfortable if she should fall asleep. The nurse made no problem of it and went to get a bed.
Wilson looked from Cuddy to House.
'Will you be okay?' He asked House.
House eyed Cuddy for a minute. She hadn't said anything since Rachel went into respiratory distress and looked like she was about to break down again. He couldn't blame her though. He had to admit that seeing the otherwise so lively toddler lying there did something to him. But he had to stay strong. Not only for the toddler, but also for Cuddy. She needed him right now. They both did.
'House?' Wilson asked, pulling him out of his thoughts.
'I'll be fine.' House dismissed Wilson.
'Look, it's not like I'll be getting anymore sleep tonight, so I'll be in my office if you need me.' Wilson told him and gave him a quick pat on the shoulder to show his support.
House watched Wilson leave just as two nurses came in the room with a bed. They put the bed next to Rachel's and left their boss and the diagnostician alone. He walked over to the large windows and closed the blinds, giving them some privacy from everyone else in the hospital.
He walked towards Cuddy, quietly stood behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. Cuddy put one hand over his but they both remained silent. After a few minutes House finally spoke.
'You need to get some rest.' He told her.
She turned her head and looked up at him. 'I won't be able to sleep.' She told him and turned back towards her baby girl.
House gently squeezed her shoulders. 'I know.' He whispered. 'But … even if you don't sleep I want you to lie down.'
Cuddy sighed. 'I'll stay with you all night!' House gently tried. 'I'll stay up and watch her. You need your rest more than I do.'
A tiny smile appeared on Cuddy's lips. 'Will you lie with me?' She asked him.
'Sure.' House replied.
They both moved towards the bed and got on it. Cuddy lay facing Rachel with House spooned behind her, his arm around her waist, his face buried in her hair.
'Try to sleep.' He whispered into her ear before kissing the top her her head.
Cuddy put her arm over his, that was around her waist, and intertwined their fingers. With one last look at her daughter she let exhaustion overtake her and fell into a light sleep.
House just lay there, listening to her breathing and did as he promised. He just watched Rachel.