No Pain No Gain

"Dr. Nolan finally called back. I've got some good news and some bad news." Dr. Radcliffe tried to remain positive.

"I'm ready," House steeled himself for whatever news as a nurse entered with a tray of medical apparatus.

"Based on your history, we're kind of limited with pain medication. We're even prohibited with some muscle relaxers and sedatives due to side effects. We risk respiratory and cardiac issues as well as potential blood clots. Wouldn't be a good idea to sacrifice leg pain for death.

"We'll monitor your heart and lungs closely."

The nursed placed sticky patches on Greg's chest, then plugged the leads into the cardiac monitor. The sound of House's heart beat steadily, if not a bit fast. Mostly likely it was due to the pain he was experiencing. She affixed a pulse ox to his finger as well.

When the nurse headed towards his nether region, he got nervous. "What are you doing?" He asked even though he knew what she was about to do.

"I have to get this rubber tube into your bladder," she said while making a show of lubing the catheter. "Then we won't have to change you and the sheets ever five minutes."

Greg looked over to the doctor. "What would be the bad news," he grimaced while the rubber tubing snaked it's way up his urethra.

"Once we get you sedated, we'll take you down to radiology and go from there."

Greg watched as the nurse started his I.V., then injected what he assumed was a muscle relaxant. He couldn't wait for something to happen.

"See you after I get the films," Radcliffe promised as his patient's eyes sagged.

The next time he opened his eyes, Greg was exactly where he had started.

"How was it? We didn't torture you too badly, I hope." Radcliffe was charting and looking at other various papers in the file.

"Huh?"

"Good, you were out for most of it. So there's no concussion. Your brain is intact. Your hip and knee are starting to show signs of wear and tear; but hey, you're fifty-something. That's relatively normal."

"That sounds like good news. So while am I feeling next to nothings You had better lay the bad news on me."

"You broke your fibula in two places. Opposite ends, as a matter of fact. That must have been one hell of a wipeout."

"You gonna do surgery?" Greg was feeling less content.

"I'm going to try a closed reduction first. The fractures aren't through any joints, so we should be able to pull it back together."

House groaned. "That sounds unpleasant. Can we get it over with now?"

"Cindy's down in the casting room getting everything ready. Once reinforcements arrive, we'll take you down and start inflicting the torture."

Dr. Radcliffe exited as two large orderlies came to roll House and the equipment away. As they wheeled him down the corridor Greg felt a little woozy. Time and movement seemed to warp forward and back until the group burst into a room with a bit of pomp and circumstance.

"Finally, you're here." Cindy was gloved up and wearing an apron. "Hope you've got a nice little buzz going on."

Greg didn't like the way that sounded. Before he could realize it, he was transferred to a cold, metal table. His hands instinctively reached for his leg, something that already had multiple hands supporting it.

"Okay, let's get this party started," Radcliffe announced.

The two orderlies took opposite sides of the table. One lay across House's upper body, pinning his arms and torso. The other used his upper strength to pin his left leg. Cindy had him near the right knee, the doctor was at his foot. Greg took purchase on whatever his hands could grab.

Two almost imperceptible nods preceded the white hot searing pain that blinding him. He was screaming, the monitors were screeching, and yet no one stopped.

The goon on his chest eased up. "Take a breath man."

"Almost there," Cindy called out. She knew one more yank and the other end and his fibula would pop into place.

For Greg it was more like a grind and a snap. He was gasping for air by the time it was all done.

"Sorry we had to do that to you." Dr. Radcliffe approached him once the orderlies left. He checked the monitors, resetting the alarms. "The worst is over. Take a couple of deep breaths."

House did as instructed. His breaths were shaky as his heart pounded like it was trying to beat its way out of his chest. Sweat trickled down his brow as he tried to regulate his vitals. Cindy approached his head and he made as if to shrug away.

"Let me do this," she pleaded softly while patting away the perspiration around his face and neck, switching it out for a colder cloth before draping it across his brow. His breathing evened out, pulse dropping to an acceptable rate.

"Onward then," Radcliffe announced. "Greg, before we start, I've got a couple of questions. When your thigh goes into spasm, is your knee straight or bent?"

Greg had to think about it. When he woke up with a spasm, his knee was almost always at a natural angle. He'd rub at the muscles in order to straighten it out. "Slightly bent."

"We're going to stabilize your leg a little differently than we normally would. Hopefully we can cut down on some of the spasms."

House sighed deeply. Had his ears deceived him? Someone was actually going to try something to alleviate some of the pain? A contented smile settled on his face as a stream of tears left the corners of his eyes.