Lone Wolf

Cindy crept into the semi-private room not wanting to disturb it's current occupant. He seemed to be sleeping, but it wasn't easy to tell until she was close enough to watch the rise and fall of his chest and the monitors. She was about to leave when he opened his eyes and cleared his throat.

"Oh, hey. How ya feeling?"

"Crappy." Greg inhaled deeply, trying to wake up.

"How's the leg feel?" Cindy squeezed his toes to check capillary refill.

"Lower leg is throbbing."

"Expected. How about your toes. Cold? Numb?"

He wiggled them. "Still attached."

"That's good. Your thigh?"

"Not bad. Not good either, but tolerable." He watched Cindy chart notes. "What time is it?"

She checked her watch. "A little after eleven thirty."

"Hmm. I suppose it's too late to get food." He rubbed his stomach, acknowledging his hunger pangs.

"I just happened to be on lunch myself. Thought you might be hungry, so I went in search of something edible."

"Something out of a vending machine?"

"You eat anything of that and you'll end up in ICU." Cindy rummaged through her little lunch cooler. "I had to get a little inventive." She put her bag on the tray table and rolled it over to the bed. "I got some strained peas, pureed carrots, mashed 'taters, applesauce and…tada! Chocolate pudding."

"Don't suppose you've got a bottle of bourbon in there?"

She smirked. "Milk. It does a body good." The last thing she pulled out was two half pints of moo juice.

"Not much for that stuff."

"Come on," she said enticingly, "it's good for ya."

"Nothing solid here." House didn't think any of the appetizers or desserts were going to sate his hunger.

"Not a good idea. Swallowing, digestion, all that good stuff surrounding eating are also slowed down by the muscled relaxants." Cindy opened the veggies first, placing a spoon on the table.

House found his coordination a little off. He was instantly frustrated by his inability to get the spoon into the food. Getting it out and to his mouth was going to be near impossible. He gave up the minute the first spoonful splattered on his chest.

"Here, let me help."

"Forget it."

"Jeez, are you always so stubborn?" Cindy began cleaning him up.

He pushed her hands away. "Don't."

"I'm just trying to help."

"I don't need your help," he snapped.

"Uh, yeah, you do, so get over yourself." She scooped up some mush and headed for his mouth.

"I'm not an invalid."

"Never said you were."

"Then why are you treating me like one?"

"I'm treating you like a patient who is currently on medication that practically paralyzes him. Are you, or are you not hungry?"

She was tough. And she made sense. "Yes," he opened his mouth begrudgingly.

Once they finished, Cindy left the room briefly and returned with a fresh gown.

"I'm okay with this one. It's just a few spots." In reality Greg didn't want to be fully exposed.

"Don't be so shy." She went to pull back the blanket but he tried to resist. "For goodness sakes, I've already seen you naked."

Greg conceded. He was shocked when Cindy only pulled the blanket down to his waist. She removed the gown, pulling the IV bag off the pole and through the sleeve. She reversed the process to get the clean gown on.

Cindy reached under the blanket for the bottom of the gown at his waist, pulling it down without ever exposing him. "Happy?"

"Ecstatic." Greg was grateful for her modesty. He hated being in such a vulnerable state.

"Are you sure I can't call anyone for you or get you anything?"

"No. I'm a lone wolf. I fend for myself."

"Sometimes a lone wolf has to take any scraps offered. My pack's pretty generous. Our alpha likes to keep us growing and strong."

"I'll make some calls in the morning."

"Okay. Then you should probably get some rest. I'll check in before my shift ends."

Greg nodded and closed his eyes.