Chapter Text
12:00 a.m
It was the middle of the night, House's team had just wrapped the end of a test. They were now cleaning up the office after wishing their last patient farewell.
It was calm, with only the moonlight used to aid them as they reorganized their patients' chart papers. At last Foreman sighs as he picks up the eraser and wipes down the white board.
CRASH, the door opens, breaking the quiet barrier as a man limps in. Through the darkness they can't see the man, but the team's breaths halt however when they hear the familiar voice call out such foreign words. “She can't breathe! I need a needle!" The panic was so out of place the team were still frozen with disbelief as House turned to meet their eyes through the glass. He gestures with his chin to the girl in his arms. "Are you deaf?!" he demands.
Chase is the one who reacts first, rummaging around the drawers he just organized. But Foreman and Cameron are still frozen when House kicks through the office door and sets down your body as you wheezes dryly. Hair splayed across the table as you squirm. Foreman snaps out of it, grabbing a pair of nearby scissors to cut a neat line up your shirt.
Cameron eyes dart up at the sound of Houses breath hitching. "that was her favorite shirt" he murmurs sadly under his breath, Only to realize he said that out load. With eyes that quickly change to bored he adds on snarky to Cameron. “it was also pretty ugly, I mean hello kitty? More like goodbye doggy.”
Cameron shakes her head out of the daze as House takes the needle from Chase "House, who is the woman?" She demands
House doesn't respond immediately, instead carefully sticking the needle into your sternum, slowly pulling out liquid from your lungs. Relief spills across your face as your lungs finally grow to their normal size "how's that feeling y/n?"
You flutter your eyes in relief , only offering a thumbs up.
House sighs in relief before extending his hand to Chase. "Bandied."
Cameron studies his careful hands as he places the band aid with a tenderness she didn't think was possible. "House, it's the middle of the night"
He nods, his tone sarcastic "I'm aware"
Foreman chuckles "Is she one of your hookups?"
House doesn't miss the way your shoulder tense uncomfortably. His eyes leaving to stare daggers into Foreman. "hey," he responds firmly before shaking his head. "don't joke about that."
Foreman falters, not expecting that response. He changes the topic quickly "u-um, y/n was it? How bout we get you into a room?"
House shrugs off his jacket and drapes it over your body. You hold the jacket to yourself before taking the hand Foreman offers you.
As Chase and Foreman lead you to a new room Cameron rummages around in House's personal office until she finds one of his extra canes.
"There ya go" Chase helps you into the bed as Foreman presses the cold Stethoscope to your chest. "How are you feeling now?"
"A-alright," Everyone around you jumps in surprise, your voice a deep hoarse sound that doesn't match your face. "could I go home now?"
Chase shakes his head. House and Cameron now enter the room. "Afraid not, we still don't know what caused fluid in the lungs."
You suddenly smile hazy, your head tilting to the side while House takes a seat beside your bed. You feel him fiddle with the ends of your blanket as you speak, "hey...could you say, crikey mate?"
As Chase brows furrow as House groans into his hands already knowing where this is going "Crikey mate?"
You laugh in triumph. "You must be Dr Chase! Greg talks about you a lot." you offer him a hand to shake "it's nice to meet you, and are you two Dr Foreman and Dr Cameron?'
Foreman smirks at the recognition while Cameron's nose scrunches. "He talks about us?" Foreman asks
You wave your hand "all good things...mostly. Anyways it's late. I won't make you all stay here with pillow talk"
House's gaze is still still as he stares off into the distance. He eventually shakes out of it "No, no. "he mutters before turning to the three, "What causes Pleural Effusion?"
You sigh and set a hand on his "Greg, look at them, they're tired and I'm fine."
his eyes dart to yours, and you can't help but grin at the expression of him thinking. Its dareing, as if begging for someone to defy his judgment. You could practically hear the gears of his mind turning. "You could get worse"
"Through the night?"
House shrugs nonchalant "You never know"
"Come on, Greg"
"Fluid doesn't just appear like that, y/n!!!"
You jerk back at the abrupt yell, before slowly exhaling through your nose. "Fine"
House turns. "You three, order a Gallium and MRI scan for the morning. In the meantime test for TB, Pneumonia and get—" His breath catches, eyes hesitating. "I will get blood-work"
Cameron crosses her arms, "You never do the nurse work. I can just do it."
If House was able to throw daggers from his eyes Cameron's head would be the first thing they would hit. "You three order the tests, find another cane too."
"whats wrong with the one I gave you?"
he makes a tch sound as as he twirls the cane. "its not the right color…"
"they're all brown."
"then its not the right shade of brown, I'm more of a raw umber kinda guy. Go"
House doesn't allow any room for arguing. Its clear he just wants Cameron to leave. The first to leave is Foreman. Quickly followed by Chase. Cameron gives House one last glare before taking her time to leave the room, not bothering to shut the door behind her.
House sighs in relief. Luckily he was sitting on the side where drawers were. So he reaches to open the drawers and pulls out the necessary equipment
You tense as he ties the tourniquet around your elbow. "Y-You gotta call Wilson if he's going to have to stay for longer. Call the sitter too, since Wilson has work today."
House shrugs with a smug smile "Wilson can handle the House for a bit"
"House, I'm serious. He probably has appointments!"
He rolls his eyes but nods as he cleans your arm and inspects for veins. "You gotta relax, y/n. This is gonna be like a vacation for us! Hes teething" He reminds y/n.
You cringe at the way he says your name and try, you know he can't hold your hand when doing this. You shut your eyes and lay your head down against the pillow. "th-thank you for being here." you shiver at the feeling of gloved hands, "p-please talk"
Though the hands feel unfamiliar, the sound of House's voice makes you relax slightly. "De-tense for me, If you pass out, I'm billing you for the paperwork"
you giggle more than that, only to be interrupted by a small cough. Your breath hitches as he inserts the needle but continues to talk like it was nothing. "The shows here are really crap. But you can borrow my e-reader"
"you mean mine?"
"Well my name is on it. So it's mine!"
you stifle another giggle to prevent coughing. "What books did you get on there? How is it working by the way? Any bugs I should fix?"
"Great, actually. I got mostly medical media but a few Sci-fi I think you'd like"
"That sounds great, Greg." You sigh in relief at the feeling of the needle leaving your skin and the band-aid being placed on your arm. But you don't open your eyes until House tells you to. when you finally do the blood is no where to be seen.