The small screen illuminated a very detailed scan of Woody's brain and while Wilson and the on-duty oncologist, Dr. Sorenson, were studying it intently, House's was holding the microphone. His eyes were looking through the window at Woody, who was lying silently in the tube with a gown, slippers, and loose scrub pants covering his body, "Woody, how are you doing?" House asked through the mike.

"I'm tired," Woody's voice replied in a faint tone. "I just want to find out what's wrong with me."

House nodded and set the microphone down, "House, look at this," Wilson spoke anxiously.

"What?" House asked as he looked at the screen and immediately frowned. "That can't be right."

Dr. Sorenson scowled, "MRI's don't lie, Doctor House," he replied in an annoyed tone. "It's late…"

"Now that you know what it is, what are you going to do about it?" Wilson asked worriedly.

Dr. Sorenson sighed and tiredly rubbed his eyes, "There are several options with which to treat a meningioma," he replied in a tired voice. "I think, though, it's better to discuss them tomorrow…"

House growled, grabbed his cane, and limped into the scan room. Wilson watched with a mystified expression on his face as House lingered next to the tube and then he clicked the button that would allow the tube to slide out. As the tube slid out, Wilson watched House say a few things to Woody.

"If you two can make sure the patient gets back to his room, I'm going to call it a night," Dr. Sorenson replied in a tired voice as he looked at Wilson. "I've been on for 48 hours without many breaks…"

Wilson sighed as quiet, but audible sobbing suddenly filled the scan chamber, "I'll take Woody's case," he offered as he watched House help Woody sit up and get off the table. "Let me be his doctor."

"You're kidding, right?" Dr. Sorenson replied in a cynical voice. "Are you even licensed in this state?"

Wilson shrugged, "Let me be Woody's doctor or else I'll make sure he's transferred to New Jersey by this time tomorrow," he said in a commanding voice. "You're not being much help to any of us right now."

"Fine!" Dr. Sorenson yelled in a tired voice as he thrust the chart at Wilson. "Risk losing your medical license!"

As Dr. Sorenson left, Wilson watched House help Woody into a wheelchair and wheel him into the smaller room, "It's way past Woody's bedtime," House said in a fatherly tone. "Tomorrow."

Wilson nodded, "Tomorrow," he replied, agreeing that they would talk about the cancer tomorrow.

"Dad, can you see if Annie went to my place?" Woody asked in a tired voice as he fought off a yawn.

House looked briefly taken aback at being called 'Dad', but nodded and quickly got his cellular phone out of his pants pocket, "I don't know if cellphones are allowed in here," Wilson commented in a concerned voice as Woody rubbed his eyes tiredly. "House, why don't I take Woody back to his room?"

"Great," House replied as he dialed Woody's number and held the cell-phone up to his hearing ear.

Woody looked like he was going to protest, but House shot him a look, "Don't turn into a stubborn brat all of a sudden, Woody," House said in a sharp tone. "Go to bed like a good boy and after I phone your sister to make sure she's not sleeping in some alley, I'll come tuck you in and maybe tell you a story."

"Sure," Woody replied in a voice that was stifled by a yawn. "Thanks for coming to see me."

Dial tones filled House's hearing ear as Wilson wheeled the tired Woody out of Radiology.


"How do you plan on getting inside?" Nigel asked curiously as he stood outside of Woody's apartment with Annie and Daniel and their suitcases. "If Woody's in the hospital, he'll have his keys with him."

There was a moment of silence as Annie wondered if Nigel thought her stupid; she had initially wanted to go to the hospital, but she had changed her mind because it was late and Daniel needed to get ready for bed. She had then, after an argument, convinced Nigel to bring her to Woody's empty apartment.

Yet, further aggravating her, Nigel had come up with them instead of leaving them to their devices.

Annie scoffed, reached into her pocket, and pulled out a key, "Woody made me a key in case I ever needed inside," she replied as she unlocked the door and heard the phone ringing. "Excuse me."

Nigel watched as Annie pushed open the door and walked Daniel into the apartment before walking over to the phone on the wall, "Hello?" she asked after picking the receiver up. "Oh, hey Dad."

Eager to be of help, Nigel rolled Annie's suitcases into the apartment, "…I used a key Woody gave me to get in and I'll stay here with Daniel for as long as I can," Annie said in a calm voice, frowning at seeing Nigel in the apartment when he hadn't been invited. "…Dad, I've got to go deal with something…"

"I don't recall inviting you in," Annie commented as she hung up the receiver. "You can leave."

Daniel quickly looked at Nigel and darted behind Annie for protection, "You left your suitcases in the hallway and I figured you needed them," Nigel replied nervously. "Do you want help unpacking?"

Annie shook her head, "No, please just get out," she replied in a nervous voice. "We are just fine."

"Are you sure?" Nigel asked gently. "Maybe I could take you and Daniel out for dinner…"

Swallowing hard, Annie reached into her pocket and pulled out a container of mace, "You have until I reach the count of five to leave the apartment before I use this," she replied in a commanding voice.

"All right!" Nigel replied anxiously, raising his hands in the air. "Nice knowing you, ma'am."

Annie scowled as Nigel fled the apartment, slamming the door behind him, "Daniel, go take your suitcase into Uncle Woody's guest bedroom and get ready for bed," she said in an anxious voice as she tried to calm herself down. "Mommy is just going to get settled and then she'll come tuck you in."

"I love you, Mommy," Daniel called out as he grabbed his suitcase and dragged it into the spare room.

Annie sighed, swallowed hard, and quickly picked up the receiver again. She needed to talk to Woody.


Jordan walked down the hallway and stopped in front of the room she had been told belonged to Woody, "…Wilson, I didn't know this side of you existed," she heard an unfamiliar voice say.

"It's not like I maimed Doctor Sorenson, House," another voice replied in a concerned tone. "As a skilled oncologist, I just figure that you and Woody would be more comfortable if I was his doctor…"

Woody has cancer? Jordan thought in a worried voice as two pairs of eyes suddenly focused on her.

"I'm here to visit Woody," Jordan explained as she entered the room and saw two men standing beside an empty bed and that a wheelchair and a chair holding Woody's things were in a corner of the room.

House narrowed his eyes as the bathroom door suddenly opened and Woody came out with one hand on Wilson's arm and one clinging to an IV pole, "Jordan?" Woody asked in a tired voice. "What are…?"

"I heard you were sick," Jordan replied softly as Calvin suddenly entered the room. "Calvin, what…?"

Calvin sneered at Jordan as he moved past her, but House quickly got in front of Woody, "Don't you DARE take a step closer, you narcissistic little puke," House snapped, giving Calvin a death glare.

"I just need a couple of bucks from Woody," Calvin said in a slurred voice. "Then I'll go home…"

Woody's eyes widened in anger, "Calvin, you're such a selfish moron!" he yelled at the top of his lungs as he gripped his IV pole tighter. "I just got told I have cancer and all you want is money from me?!"

"It's not like you need it if you're sick," Calvin slurred as he took a step back from House. "Hey…"

House growled and lifted his cane to Calvin's chest, "Get out of here now before I commit a murder on someone who's been slowly killing himself for years," he hissed in a tone that dared Calvin to offer a smart alecky reply. "Do not come near Woody, myself, or this hospital again or I will kill you."

"Ooh, the old man has got some nerve!" Calvin hooted, quickly screaming as House lunged forward, grabbed him by the ear, and marched him from the hospital room. "OUCH! Stop pulling my ear!"

It was at that moment that Woody's cellphone suddenly started vibrating and Jordan silently walked over to the chair and picked it up without thinking, "Jordan, what are you doing here?" Woody asked in a less than impressed voice. "You said you came because I'm sick; is that the only reason you came?"

"I was worried," Jordan replied in a concerned voice as she offered the phone to him. "It's Annie."

Woody's eyes narrowed, "How do you know Annie?" he asked in a suspicious voice. "I haven't…"

"We met on the street," Jordan replied as the cell-phone vibrated again. "Do you want this?"

Swallowing hard, Woody took the phone, "Thanks," he replied softly. "Now, please leave."

Jordan was speechless and didn't move, "Now that you know I have cancer, I don't want you in here just because you feel sorry for me," Woody said in a cross voice as the cell-phone stopped vibrating.

"I thought we were dating," Jordan replied in a frustrated voice. "I came because I care about you…"

Woody scoffed and turned away from her, "Jordan, I'm too tired to discuss this right now," he replied in an agitated voice as he slowly walked back to his bed and sat down. "Please, just leave right now."

Unsure of what she could say to make Woody change his mind, Jordan silently left the room and a moment later, House came walking back into the room with his cane. Woody sighed, set his phone on the portable table, and silently forced himself back on to the uncomfortable hospital bed.

"I'm tired," Woody commented in a tired voice as he lay back against the pillow. "What now?"

Wilson sighed, "I'll review the scans tonight and we'll discuss treatment options tomorrow," he replied in a professional voice. "Doctor Sorenson allowed me to take over your care and I'll do my best."

Woody's phone vibrated again and House grabbed it off the portable tray, "Why is your number coming up?" he asked in a suspicious voice as he looked at the exhausted Woody. "Do you have a stalker?"

"I gave Annie a key when I visited Maine," Woody replied tiredly. "She must have gotten there."

House nodded and clicked the 'talk' button, "Hello," he said in a toneless voice. "Yes, it's ME."

There was rapid talking on the phone and House sighed, "I'm coming over there and we'll have a good talk after Daniel is in bed and asleep," House replied in a firm voice. "What do you mean no?"

Woody frowned, "Does she want to talk to me?" he asked in a tired voice as he held his hand out.

Rolling his eyes, House handed the phone to Woody, "Hey," Woody said tiredly into the phone as he slowly brought it to his ear. "Yup, I'm definitely very tired, but how are you? Are you all right, sis?"

There was more talking on the other end and Woody sighed, "Just get some sleep if you can and then get checked if you're still not sure," he replied in a tired voice as he struggled to keep his eyes open.

"Okay, bedtime," House said as he snatched the phone from Woody's hand. "Go to sleep."

Woody sighed and allowed himself to fall into a deep slumber just as House heard a dial tone.


Jordan sighed as she stepped up to Woody's apartment door and got a small bobby pin out of her pocket to pick the lock. If she couldn't be there for Woody, she could at least make sure that his house and possessions were taken care of while he was sick. She suddenly heard voices inside and frowned.

"Hello?" Jordan called out in a concerned voice as she knocked on the door. "Is anyone in there?"

There was silence, footsteps, and then the door slowly opened and Daniel stood there in faded pajamas and a grin on his face, "Hi Jordan!" he said in an excited voice. "Mommy, Jordan from the diner's here!"

"Daniel, I told you not to answer the door," Annie's voice called out from the door. "Dear child…"

Jordan sighed, "Are you a doctor, Jordan?" Daniel asked in a quiet voice. "My mommy needs one."

"Why does your mommy need a doctor, Daniel?" Jordan asked in a worried voice. "Is she sick?"

Daniel shrugged, "She hurts," he replied as he moved back into the apartment. "I'm hungry."

Jordan frowned and entered the apartment, "Annie?" she called out, hearing noise in the bathroom.

"Jordan?" Annie asked as she came out of the bathroom in yoga pants and a tank top with bruises on her neck, face, collarbone, and arms while her hair in a loose ponytail. "What are you doing here?"

Jordan studied Annie for a minute, "What happened to you, Annie?" she asked in a worried voice.

"Daniel, honey, why don't you look in Uncle Woody's fridge and see if there's anything in there you want to eat?" Annie suggested in a gentle voice as she walked over to the door, closed, and locked it.

Daniel nodded and walked over to the fridge, "Here, let me open it for you," Annie said in an anxious voice, seeing that the handle was too high for Daniel to reach. "Jordan, do you want anything?"

"I had dinner before I went to the hospital," Jordan replied softly as Annie opened the fridge door.

Annie nodded and pulled out a large Tupperware bowl that was filled with spaghetti and meatballs, "I guess this can be dinner tonight," she said in a tired voice. "Now, where does Woody keep plates?"

"Let me help," Jordan offered softly as she moved over to a cupboard. "Woody's plates are in here."


Lily's back ached as she entered her small apartment after Henry was kind enough to take her to dinner and drive her home while telling her all about what his parents had planned to help him become accustomed to the life that should have been his. Henry, of course, had invited her to accompany him.

As Lily closed the door and walked through her living room, she noticed the message light on her answering machine was blinking. Even though she was tired, Lily patiently pressed the 'play' button.

"Lily, it's Garrett," Garrett's voice spoke through the machine. "I don't know where you are or when you'll get home, but call me when you get home. Woody's in the hospital and Bug ended up getting taken away by Homeland Security while trying to keep him company. Long story short, I don't know where Bug is and I need some help trying to find him. I'm at the office tonight if you want to call."

Lily's eyes widened as the answering machine turned off; Woody was in the hospital and Bug was taken away by Homeland Security? Swallowing hard to keep from crying because two of her good friends were currently in bad situations, Lily picked up her phone and quickly dialed Garrett's office number.


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