House's Pain

Greg laid on the gurney slightly embarrassed by the fact that he was overexposed. In the company of folks he knew, he wasn't ashamed of his nudity. He had a nice physique and wasn't afraid to use it - even as a weapon of surprise to the unsuspecting. It was a whole different story when he was feeling vulnerable.

Cindy picked up on his tension, doing everything in her power to minimalize his self-consciousness. He skill with the cast saw made quick work of the task, and for that Greg was thankful. But no matter how hard she tried, the woman could not help but stimulate a few erogenous zones. She brushed the arch of his foot sending a tingle up his spine. The flaccid ant hill Gregory became excited as it worked its way up to mole hill. Cindy pretended not to pay attention.

Greg experienced more than he bargained for when she brushed her hand against his manhood while clipping away at the padding. At half mast, he was nearly mortified.

She saw the look on his face but didn't have to look further for the explanation. "Sorry. That's a normal reaction. You're not the first, you won't be the last."

Greg cleared his throat. "Who knew that a cast could be so erotic?"

Cindy laughed. "There's a whole community out there of recreational casters who subject themselves to this process just to get a sexual charge."

"That's sick."

"It's a fetish. Medical bondage."

She was so matter-of-fact about it Greg began to wonder. His thoughts drifted off as she finished her work.

Cindy made a quick call to page another member of the Team to assist with the test. House didn't particularly pay attention to his name, just that he was a Physician's Assistant. Greg's initial thought was that Cindy could handle the test by herself, but should he need any real medical attention, she'd need to call for help. A possible delay could result in something really bad happening, so he kept his mouth shut.

A brief explanation of what they intended to do was given, but Greg let it go in one ear and out the other. He had ordered his minions to give countless versions of the test to patients. He was very aware of what it involved. It didn't put him at ease; it just prepared him for the moment when every regular patient went into panic mode. What they said there were going to do first made his stomach muscles clench.

"Let us roll you onto your stomach. Don't try to help."

Greg envisioned himself rolling right onto the floor. "Try not to kill me." DAMN! He hadn't meant for that to slip out.

In two precision movements he was face down. A distinct cool breeze wafted across his backside. He was about to make another wise remark when something was draped over the parts they didn't need to get at.

"Ready?" Cindy leaned over to be face-to-face with him.

"Just stick it in and get it over with."

"I've never met anyone so in a hurry to get jabbed in the-" She inserted the first wired needle into his lower flank, "back." Cindy nodded for the RPA to send the jolt of electricity. The needle bobbed a few times.

"That feels weird," House mumbled.

"More to come." Cindy removed the needle and inserted it into his ass. This happened several more times as she worked the needle into his glutes.

By the time she reached his periformis, Greg felt like he had sat on a cactus. Just when he thought she had finished, she pushed the pin slightly northwest of his hip.

"Aah ow, what did you shove in there, a steak knife?"

"Found it!"

Her exclamation of delight annoyed him. "Good for you, now get it out."

The needle bounced furiously. "No can do."

"It hurts like hell," he whined.

"Gotta catch this spasm on paper." She tapped the pin to make it go in a little deeper. The muscle responded by relaxing. "Sorry about that."

"Sure you are." His voice was no longer playful.

"We'll take a brief break as we turn you back over."

He exhaled slowly and evenly. Within moments he was face up with his right thigh exposed. Greg was not looking forward to what was about to come. He'd be able to see this round of needles as they were inserted.

Cindy watched him carefully. If the scowl on his face was any indication of the storm brewing behind his eyes… "Greg, relax, you're white knuckling the sheets."

He glared at her, jaw clenched.

"The more you tense up, the worse it will be."

"Just get it over with." His normally inviting blue eyes pierced her like icicles.

Cindy frowned. She hated having to inflict pain, but it was a necessary test. Before she inserted a pin, she ran her hand over his thigh. He flinched causing some of the muscles to pull taut.

"Less groping, more poking. Let's not delay the inevitable."

She took a deep breath and inserted the first needle. The electrical impulse was sent. It bobbed for about five seconds then subsided. She repeated the procedure several times with similar results. The amount of tension emanating from his body was palpable throughout the room. The look on his face told her the pain was back. And this was only the beginning.

The next insertion caused him to yelp. The needed started bouncing uncontrollably. Greg's breathing became irregular.

"Try to relax," Cindy coached him.

He grunted and groaned, sitting up to see what was happening.

"Make the needle stop moving."

His eyes searched her wildly. "How am I supposed to do that?"

"Concentrate. Feel the muscle and relax it."

"Fuck you! You make it stop. Pull it out!"

"Work with me, Greg."

He tried to access it, but all he felt was a gnawing ache as if someone was trying to comb a metal fork through his thigh. "I can't do it."

"Try."

"I'm trying," he screamed.

"Try harder," she coaxed.

Greg half laughed, half cried. "Stop torturing me," he pleaded.

Cindy looked over to her colleague, who nodded. She pulled out the needle.

Greg felt a little relief and tried to get his breathing under control.

"I'm sorry," Cindy said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

Greg heard it, but thought she was sorry for previous pain. The howl that tore from his lips surprised even himself as she inserted the tiny rod into the partially amputated muscle.

A nurse appeared at the doorway. The Physician's Assistant shouted for Atavan.

Cindy stared at him in dumbfounded horror. She had never seen anyone react this severely before.

"Get it out!" House screamed between ragged breaths until his voice became hoarse. He couldn't understand why Cindy just stared at him.

"Please stop," he begged.

She could do nothing. The needle had already been removed.

The nurse returned, and for the first time Greg saw her. His eyes widened in fear. The blonde hair, those pouty ruby red lips.

"Eighty milligrams of Vicodin."

AMBER!

"Hi, House," she smiled and winked, giving him a little wave.

"Get away from me!" A new sense of urgency overcame him - one of emotional survival. The physical pain was nothing compared to the thought of losing his mind.

"Greg, you need to calm down," Cindy stood over him, trying to restrain him so they could administer the sedative.

"Get away from me," his fear morphed into anger as he looked beyond the hand holding him down. Amber waived from over Cindy's shoulder.

The look on his face was enough to make Cindy turn her head to see what he saw, and eased up just enough to allow Greg to sit up and overpower her. They struggled for a few moments, his physical position an advantage over her short stature. Greg managed to throw his elbow in her face, causing her to stagger, yet she kept her hands on him for support.

Amber continued to taunt him. He had to get at her, to push her away before she could give him the Vicodin. He was standing. Almost there. But the syringe pierced his deltoid and he was falling. The hole was impossibly deep. He fell and fell and fell until the light at the top was no longer visible.

Cindy fell backwards onto the floor carrying Greg's full weight on top of her. They both landed in a heap of splayed arms and legs.

"Ow," Cindy mumbled from somewhere under Greg House.