THE THINGS THAT ONE TAMES - CHAPTER 29/39
A Forever Knight/House, M.D. Crossover
AUTHOR: A.S. NightBird
WRITTEN: April 2006
PAIRINGS: House/Cameron, Nick/Natalie, Strong Wilson/House Friendship
RATING: FOR MATURE ADULTS - This story contains profanity and adult sexual situations.
SUMMARY: A Forever Knight/House, M.D. Crossover - House meets the ultimate medical challenge. For Steve McQueen fans, he plays a prominent role in this story.
See Disclaimers, Author's Notes, etc. in Part 1.
CHAPTER 29
The harvesting of Cameron's bone marrow was set for 11:00 p.m. on Friday. She had donated a unit of blood over a week ago in case it was needed for transfusion afterward. They ran a CBC with differential on her on Thursday to be sure she was still healthy to donate. The test results were normal.
Cuddy had arranged for an anesthesiologist and a blood bank nurse to process the bone marrow after harvest. Only the anesthesiologist would know who the donor was. He was told she was donating to a private party out of state. Lisa would deliver the marrow herself to the blood bank, labeled with a false name, the same one under which the O.R. had been reserved and Cameron's autologous blood donation had been stored.
Everyone was excited about this, but none more so than Nick. If this worked, he could be with Natalie again. He was too nervous to eat anything. His pneumonia was gone. He'd been on the anti-retrovirals for four days. It was time to test their theory.
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All three doctors arrived after dinner, Cameron of course, not having eaten due to the impending surgery. Cuddy had spent the day with Nick. House had been avoiding Allison since their date. She had given him his space, knowing it was important for him to work things through and come to terms with his feelings in his own time.
They all met in the office. "So, are you ready?" Cuddy asked.
Cameron smiled. "Yes. I'm not expecting any problems, and I can't wait to see what happens with Nick. He's made so much progress. This has to work."
House was sitting quietly at his desk, just listening.
"Everything's set up in the room next to Nick's, and the O.R. will be ready for us at eleven. Sure you trust me to do this, Allison?" Wilson winked at her.
"Of course I do. You certainly do enough of them."
"Yeah. Unfortunately, I get plenty of practice."
Cuddy said, "I think we should get you settled in your room."
Before they could move, House stood up and said, "I'll take care of it."
Wilson and Cuddy's eyebrows rose. He'd been so quiet, they'd forgotten he was there. They turned their attention to Cameron.
She smiled. "Thank you, Dr. House." Allison got up and left with him.
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They entered the room together. House picked up a gown and handed it to Cameron. "I'll wait outside, then I'll start an IV."
"Thanks." She took the gown from him, purposely brushing her hand against his. His eyebrows rose and he cocked his head. She just smiled. He walked out.
A few minutes later, she poked her head out the door. "You can come back in."
Wilson had already put an IV kit and liter of normal saline on the bedside table. Hopping into bed, Cameron asked, "Where do you want to put it?"
"Your choice. Where would you like it?" He was at the sink washing his hands.
"Left wrist should be fine."
House dried his hands then limped over to her left side with the supplies, hanging the bag and his cane on the pole. Picking up her hand, he examined her wrist. "Right here would be good." He indicated a spot on the vein running along the side of her wrist. "Just behind your wrist. You'll still be able to bend it."
"Fine."
He spread a small chuck under her hand, wrapped a tourniquet around her forearm, put on gloves, opened the kit and swabbed the area. Taking the catheter, he palpated the vein. "Okay. Stick." She grimaced slightly. "Sorry."
She shook her head. "It's okay."
He finished the insertion, removed the tourniquet, started the flow, taped the tubing in place, then cleaned up. "All set."
"Thanks." They gazed into each other's eyes. He looked like he wanted to say something, but remained silent. She decided to take a chance, since he seemed to want to be with her now. "Would you be with me and assist Wilson?"
He studied her face. "Nervous?"
"Yeah. A little. I don't really like the idea of general anesthesia."
"Well, uh ... you know you're going to be a bit, uh ... exposed."
"I know. I can separate personal from professional." She suspected he could, too.
"All right. If Wilson agrees to it."
"I'll ask him."
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At 10:30 p.m., House administered some light IV sedation and waited for her to get groggy. He then sat at her bedside holding her hand.
Cuddy left instructions with Nick to page her if he needed anything, then went to Cameron's room. Upon entering, she saw House with Cameron's hand in his, staring intently at her. She seemed to be asleep. He started when he suddenly realized he was no longer alone, quickly retrieving his hand.
Cuddy chuckled. "Give it up, House. It's not a secret any longer."
He gave her one of those looks that said he had no idea what she was talking about. "Just comforting a nervous patient."
"Uh huh. And my mother ran off and joined the circus."
"Really? Must make for interesting conversation around the dinner table."
Cuddy turned serious. "It's time. Wilson's already down there scrubbing up."
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Cameron was wheeled into the O.R. and Wilson came in after her. Groggily she looked at him, still recognizing him by his friendly eyes smiling at her from above his mask. "Where's House?" she managed to mumble.
"Outside, why?"
"Want him ... here ... assist you." Her eyes were somewhat glazed.
"Uh, I don't think that's such a good idea."
"Want ... House," she slurred in a stronger, more insistent voice. She tried to glare at him, but just came off looking goofy.
"All right, all right." House was looking in the O.R. door window. Wilson signaled to him to scrub up. He saw House hurriedly down a Vicodin and disappear.
A few minutes later, a gowned and gloved House limped heavily in without his cane. Wilson glared at him. "Behave yourself."
He smiled sweetly. "Don't I always?" Wilson rolled his eyes.
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The harvesting went well. Wilson got a little over one liter of marrow with just twelve punctures in two sites, one on each iliac crest. House only occasionally warned him to be careful. Each time James told him to shut up. The first time it happened, the anesthesiologist began to chuckle. House shot him such a withering glare, he stopped in mid-laugh and remained silent the rest of the hour-long procedure, except to periodically report on Cameron's status.
Cuddy took the marrow to the blood bank for processing, and House wheeled Cameron into recovery. Wilson had warned the nurses on duty there to stay out of House's way unless he requested their help, so they gave him a wide berth.
He took her vitals, and satisfied, carefully extubated her, then sat down, took her hand and waited for her to wake up.
When she began to come around, he stood up and leaned over her. "Cameron? Can you hear me? Cameron?" A slight nod. "It's all over. You're in recovery. I'm here with you." He felt her weakly squeeze his hand. He squeezed back.
Wilson came over. "How's she doing?"
"Fine. She's starting to come around."
Wilson picked up her chart and checked over her vitals. "Looks good." He grinned. "I'm going to go check on Nick. You okay here?"
"Yeah. Go ahead." He sat down next to the gurney, never having let go of her hand. A faint smile appeared on her face.
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