House and Jess are heading for the hospital to have her samples and her sister's analyzed. What will they find? What can be done for Nina? And what will it tell them about their kidnapping?

Thank you all again for your wonderful comments, and for making this story a favorite. Merry Christmas to those who celebrate that holiday, and a good week to everyone.

Chapter 93.

The lab was busy when we arrived, but I knew a tech who had a soft spot for me and got her to rush the analysis through. Jess and I waited in my office.

"Do you think we should call Julio? See if he's alright?" She twisted a piece of hair in her fingers as she paced between my desk and the door.

"Please sit down. You're making me nauseous now."

"Sorry." She dropped onto the Eames chair, but sat on the edge. "So, Julio. Should we call?"

"If he's sick, he'll call us." The young man wasn't my primary concern, although I did want to check out his story. "What did he say was the name of his cousin?"

"Huh? Oh, um, Francesca. But he didn't give the last name."

I grimaced. "That'll make it more difficult, but not impossible." I turned on my computer. I had Julio's name, Francesca's first name and the name Locarno. "Also, we know Julio and his cousin were from Sicily. Then there's your uncle and Bertoli."

"My sister may be dying and you're surfing the web?"

"We still need to know why the kid was kidnapped, and you with him. How else do you think we should spend our time?" I wasn't going to say I thought she needed the distraction, or that I did, too. "Hmm, this is interesting. Where did you say your family was from?"

"I don't think I ever did, but it wasn't Sicily. Bologna, our family lived in Bologna. Still does, or at least some of them do." Her eyes narrowed. "Why do you ask?"

"Because that's where Bertoli's from. But he and your uncle didn't seem to know each other." I turned back to the screen.

"Greg, Bologna's a big city. Besides, my uncle was born here, remember?"

"When did you and your father attempt to visit your family there?"

She stopped to think. "It was after Mom died." She closed her eyes tightly. When she opened them again, she said, "Six years ago. What are you getting at?"

"I'm not sure myself. I just don't believe in coincidences. They're as bad as anomalies."

My phone rang. I glanced at Jess before answering. "Do you have the results?"

"The analysis showed the presence of metabolites of ethylene glycol, Doctor." The voice was matter-of-fact, but I heard a hint of concern.

"Now that we know for certain, we can take the necessary steps. Thanks for getting the results to me so quickly."

"Any time, Dr. House. I...I hope they'll be alright."

I nodded, although she couldn't see it, and looked at Jess. She seemed none the worse for her exposure. It was Nina I was concerned about. "We'll let you know." I hung up and immediately called Wilson.

"House, any news?"

"It was ethylene glycol."

Wilson let out his breath. "A common ingredient in many household products not to mention antifreeze and brake fluid. But it can be toxic if ingested."

"There couldn't have been more than traces in the rags. Jess and Nina couldn't have been exposed to very much."

"Then why is Nina still sick?"

I swallowed. How could I reply? "Is she any better?" I prayed she wasn't seizing.

"After you left, she fell asleep for a little while and seemed to have a little more color when she woke."

"That's a good sign."

"House, I'm bringing her in to the hospital."

"That's a good idea. We can treat her with ethylene and fomepizole. I don't think she'll need hemodialysis, but in case she does, she's better off here." I kept my eyes on the phone, hesitant to look at Jess.

"We'll be there in half an hour."

"Bring her to the ER. I'll...we'll meet you there." I closed the connection and finally looked at Jess.

The stricken look on her face showed that she'd understand enough of what I was saying to know her sister's condition was still precarious.

"Wilson's bringing her in and she'll get all the care he needs." I stood and walked over to her, reaching out a hand. "We should make sure the ER is ready for her when she arrives."

She nodded and stood. She gripped my hand as we walked to the elevator. On the way down to the ER, she stood close to me and I could see her fighting her tears. We were alone in the car, so I put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. I kissed her forehead. "Nina will be OK."

She bit her lip, but nodded slowly.

We were in the ER when Wilson arrived with Nina. I'd alerted one of the better doctors about what we were dealing with and he had everything ready. As he took her off to a curtained cubicle to start the treatment, Jess and I waited with Wilson.

Jess looked at him with a frown that matched his own. "Greg says she's going to be fine."

"I think so. I probably should have brought her in sooner."

"And what would they have done?" I shook my head. "Until we knew what she'd been exposed to, they couldn't have done any more than we did. At least she was at home, more comfortable than she would have been here."

His eyes squinted. "How'd you get the results so fast?"

I chuckled. "Trade secret."

"Remind me to have you bring my samples to the lab in the future."

I smiled. "They'll admit Nina overnight for observation, see how the antidotes work," I told Jess. "Once she's settled and you've seen her, maybe we should go home."

She nodded. "They'll call us if there's any change, won't they?"

"They'd better."

Wilson motioned us to some chairs in the waiting area. "I've been thinking about how the ethylene glycol got on the cloth they gagged you with."

"The most likely source is antifreeze."

"But who uses that this time of year?" Wilson had a point.

"Good question. Brake fluid, then." Those were the two most likely, although not the only products that were based on ethylene glycol.

"A garage, maybe an auto dealership." Wilson was guessing. Still those were good places to start.

"Do we know anyone who owns either of those?"

"You mean anyone involved in the kidnapping? I don't think so." Jess rubbed her neck. "Do you know anyone?"

Wilson and I shook our heads. "We can check whether the Locarnos do," he said.

"I think we're missing something." I tapped my cane a few times.

"But what?"

"Ah, if I knew that we wouldn't be missing it."

A nurse came by to let us know they were taking Nina to a room. "It'll take a half hour to settle her in. You can see her then. Room 324."

Jess smiled at the nurse. "Thank you."

Through the glass of the waiting room we could see paramedics bringing someone in, a young man with his arm in a sling.

"Isn't that Julio?" Jess stood and went to the door just as Bertoli showed up. He was so intent on the gurney he didn't see her. "Mr. Bertoli, what happened to Julio?"

"He suddenly became very nauseous and dizzy."

"There's a lot of that going around," I muttered.

Jess nodded. "I had similar symptoms earlier and my sister was just admitted after they treated her. We think we were all exposed to something in the gags they used on us."

"But you're alright?"

"I guess my exposure was less severe. I hope Julio will be OK."

Bertoli nodded. They'd taken the young man to be examined and wouldn't let him go further.

"Come sit in here with us." I aimed my cane at an empty chair. Might as well use the opportunity to ask Bertoli some questions I had for him. "Have you been in this country long?"

His eyes studied my face. "Five, six years. Why?"

I shrugged. "Just curious. Your Engish is very good." I was silent for a full minute. "It's really good of you to be helping Julio the way you have been. Are you from the same town?"

He shook his head. "He's from Palermo, in Sicily. I'm from Bologna." At least he was being truthful.

Wilson and Jess were watching us, not saying a word. They both knew my methods.

"Really? Jess, isn't that where your family's from?"

She nodded.

"Did you know any of the Giordano family back there?" I asked Bertoli.

He shook his head. "Although it's a pretty common name. I might have."

"I guess it's a pretty big city."

"Yeah. Did you know there are two leaning towers in Bologna?"

I did, but feigned surprise. "Guess Pisa had a better PR person."

He laughed, then saw the doctor who'd taken Julio into a cubicle approaching the waiting room. He rose and met the doctor halfway. "How is he?"

"He was exposed to some kind of poison or toxin. We're running blood tests to find out what it is."

I'd joined them with Wilson and Jess close behind. "It's probably ethylene glycol. That's what Miss Giordano here was subjected to. Her sister's been admitted for ethylene glycol poisoning."

"Dr. House, isn't it?" The doctor nodded. "Thanks for the heads up."