2012

Cameron watched as the ambulance backed up to the doors of the emergency room. It was eerily silent. She rushed forward and threw open the doors. Inside, the heart monitor emitted a long steady tone. A young black man lay over the woman in the stokes on the gurney. House and Reilly sat stone faced. Two orderlies came forward and looked at Cameron.

"Wait here," she told them. She leaned into the back of the ambulance. "House?"

"She had a fat embolism," he said quietly. "It hit her lung."

"Is that her husband?" she asked looking at the man crying into the woman's chest.

House nodded. "Name's Charlie."

House watched as Cameron spoke softly to Charlie and then helped him out of the ambulance. The orderlies moved forward and lifted the stokes up. They carried it between them into the hospital with Cameron and Charlie following.

"I killed her," Reilly murmured.

"No you didn't," House told her. "We didn't kill her. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"I want to go home," she told him. "Take me home, Greg."

"I think we should go in and let Cameron take a look at you. You need that scalp wound looked at." He gently wiped the blood off her face.

"No, take me home!" she cried.

House took her face in his hands. "No," he told her. "You're hurt. You could have a skull fracture, bleeding or swelling in your brain. You're going in to let Cameron take care of you," he told her.

"I didn't get to say The Prayer For The Dead," she sobbed. "She said she didn't believe in God but asked me to pray with her. Now she's dead."

House pulled her into his arms.

"If I'd amputated sooner-"

"Stop," House told her. "She refused. You're the one who always follows the patient's wishes. Don't torture yourself."

She pushed away from him. "I need to check on the girls. Let them know I'm okay. Will you call them?" she asked.

"Yeah," he told her as he helped her out of the ambulance

She staggered and nearly fell as they walked through the doors to the emergency room "I'm so dizzy," she told him.

Her eyes rolled up into her head and House caught her before she hit the ground. He half-carried her half-dragged her to an empty bed. He got her up on it and then yelled for Cameron. Cameron ran over along with two nurses. After examining her, Cameron sent her for an MRI. In the adjacent room, House and Cameron sat watching the images of Reilly's brain and skull on the computer screen. Cuddy stood behind them.

"She has a skull fracture which is causing swelling," Cameron told him. "She's going to need surgery to relieve the pressure. Sarah will have to authorize it."

"I have her medical proxy," House informed her. "Do the surgery."

Cameron nodded and left. House watched the nurses transfer Reilly from the MRI to a gurney then roll her out of the room. He stood and started to follow them. Cuddy touched his arm.

"She's going to be okay," she assured him.

"You don't know that," he growled and left.

On the way to OR, he called Sarah and told her what was going on with her mother. Sarah told him she and Jenny would be there as soon as possible. House went up to the observation deck. Below him, the surgeon and OR staff were preparing Reilly for surgery. The door opened and Cameron, Wilson, Volakis, Kutner, Cuddy, Sarah and Jenny walked in and crowded around the window. Jenny crowded close to House and he put his arm around her. He held out his other arm to Sarah and she rushed over and leaned into him. Both wrapped their arms around his waist and held on tightly.

"What happened?" Jenny asked shakily.

"Debris fell on her at the accident site. She's got some brain swelling that they need to relieve," House told her.

"I begged her not to go," Sarah said dully.

"How long will she be here?" Jenny asked looking at House.

"I'm not sure," he told her honestly.

They released him and hugged each other. House put his hand on the glass and leaned forward. In the OR, the surgeon started to drill. Once the nurses wheeled Reilly to the recovery room, he pushed past the others and limped as fast as he could down the stairs. He entered the recovery room just as she was brought in. Her entire head was wrapped in sterile gauze and she was hooked up to a ventilator. He pulled a stool over and sat down next to her bed. Picking up her hand, he kissed the back of it. Cuddy watched from the doorway. Slowly, she turned and left them alone. Wilson was waiting for her in the hallway.

"He's in love with her," he said to Cuddy as she passed him.

"You don't know that," Cuddy replied as she stopped a few feet from him. "They're friends. He'd do the same for you."

"He wouldn't kiss my hand," Wilson responded. "He's in love with her and she's in love with him. Just...let him go."

She turned to face him. "Has he told you that? Has she?"

Wilson shook his head. "He hasn't said the words but I know him. He's been in love with her for a long time. As for Reilly, she probably wouldn't tell me."

"Well, until he says he's in love with her, I still have a chance," she informed him before turning and walking away.

Reilly awoke slowly. She could hear the beep and hum of machines. The sharp, astringent smell of the hospital stung her nose. Lifting her hand, she ran her fingertips over the gauze covering her head. Then she touched the nasal cannula before dropping her hand onto the bed. She turned and saw her mother sitting in the chair next to her bed. She was knitting.

"Mom?" Reilly rasped.

Meara's head shot up and she jumped out of the chair. Carefully she cupped Reilly's cheek and gently held her hand.

"You're finally awake," her mother sighed. "I'm goin' to get the nurse." She went to the door and called for a nurse.

After the nurse took Reilly's vitals, Meara pulled the chair close to the bed and sat down. She gave Reilly a few ice chips to suck on.

"Yer dad is with the girls," Meara told her. "Greg went home to shower. He'll be back. He's barely left yer side."

"How long have I been out?"

"Well, Greg said ya woke briefly after yer surgery and you've been asleep about fifteen hours now."

"How are the girls?" Reilly asked softly.

"They're fine. They'll be here later.. Jenny's madder than a wet hen about her dad, though."

"What's he done now?"

"Doug sent Jenny a new car. It arrived this mornin'. She sent it back," Meara laughed.

"She has a car," Reilly smiled. "One she bought herself with money from her tutoring jobs. He's an idiot."

"Oh, and to think I encouraged ya to marry him."

"Yes, you did," House said from the doorway.

Reilly smiled when she saw him. Meara stood up.

"Well, I best be gettin' back to yer place and make sure Gil hasn't spoiled those girls," she said as she leaned down and kissed her daughter's cheek.

Once she was gone, the neurologist came in and checked on Reilly. House hovered over her during the exam. She scribbled some instructions on Reilly's chart and left. House sat down in the chair and took Reilly's hand in his.

"They shaved your head," he told her.

"It'll grow back."

"The day of the accident I was looking for you," he told her. "I wanted to ask you out."

He looked at her intently.

"Like on a date?" she asked.

He nodded never taking his eyes from hers.

"I wish you'd found me," she told him. "I don't think I have any scarves to cover up my head."

"Does that mean you want to date?" he asked.

She smiled. "Yeah. But, I want to take things slow."

"Oh, Jesus," House groaned. "We've been friends forever. Why take things slow?"

"To make sure things will work out," Reilly told him.

"What about sex?" he asked. "How long will you make me wait?"

"Can I get released from the hospital before we start discussing that?"

"Fine."

"You could go ahead and kiss me, if you wanted to," Reilly told him with a smile.

House leaned over her and smiled. "Normally I wouldn't kiss a woman who just had a tube down her throat and hasn't brushed her teeth recently. I'll make an exception for you, though."

"Wow," she smiled. "How generous of you."

Slowly, he lowered his head and gently touched his mouth to hers. She parted her lips and slid her tongue into his mouth. He intensified the kiss and her hands slid up his arms, her nails digging into his skin. He pushed down the blankets covering her and slipped his hand beneath her hospital gown. She gasped into his mouth when his hand cupped her breast. He pulled back when her monitor began to beep shrilly. Her skin was flushed and her pupils were dilated. A slow, satisfied smile curved her lips.

A nurse appeared at the door. "Everything okay?" she asked House.

He nodded. "She's fine. Just a little glitch."

The nurse left.

"Damn, you are a good kisser," Reilly breathed.

"I know," he grinned as he sat down in the chair and took her hand. "I'm also good at other stuff."

"Yes," she replied with a saucy grin. "I remember a few girls shouting your name when we were roommates. Of course, they might have been faking."

"Doubt it," he told her. "I know what I'm doing."

Reilly started to laugh and then grimaced. "Okay," she sighed. "No laughing and no kissing until my head heals."

House smiled at her and stroked her cheek.