harder to breathe ch 10
[Feelin’| 
relaxed]
Catch up on Chapters 1-9 here.
Chapter 10
“Hey there, good lookin’.”
Cameron started and met her brother’s smiling eyes.
“Jack! How are you feeling? You certainly had a long rest.”
“I’m feeling… well, rested actually. My chest is kind of tight feeling, but not too bad.”
Cameron nodded, “Dr. Wilson is personally overseeing your case. He’s the oncologist I told you about. He wanted to do x-rays but didn’t want to wake you. I should go let him know that you’re up.”
She rose to her feet but stopped when her brother took her by the arm. “Allison, don’t rush off just yet. Can we talk for a few minutes first?”
Cameron smiled apologetically, “Of course.”
Jack smiled back, “Good. Now you can tell me all about what it’s like working here. We haven’t talked much since you started. Have you been enjoying it?”
Cameron laughed softly as she considered how to answer that question. “It’s certainly… interesting. Although sometimes I wish I was somewhere else, somewhere I could be making a bigger difference. The job is emotionally and physically exhausting, extremely frustrating, a lot of hard work, and not a lot of sleep. I even quit once, but was convinced to come back. The truth is that I do enjoy it. It’s challenging but exhilarating. Even House, who’s a major pain in the ass, can be a good boss. I have to admit that he’s taught me a lot.”
“So this House guy? What’s so bad about him?” Jack asked.
“God forbid you actually meet him. It would be instantly apparent why he’s difficult to work with.”
“Is he the reason you quit?” Jack asked, sensing there was something she was leaving out of the story.
Cameron offered her brother a look of surprise. It was always a shock how well Jack could read her. She was relieved the necessity of answering him when House entered the room.
He addressed the patient directly. “Sorry to interrupt the best part of the story. I’m Dr. Gregory House. Allison, I believe Dr. Wilson is looking for you.”
Cameron was so startled to hear him speak her first name, she had to ask him to repeat himself.
“I said, Dr. Wilson is looking for you.” Cameron didn’t move. “I think it’s urgent. Don’t worry I’ll keep your brother company while you’re gone.” That was precisely what worried her.
“He’s not your patient,” she added fruitlessly.
Jack added, “Allison, it’s ok. I’ll be fine. I have a few questions for Dr. House anyway.”
Cameron simply stared at Jack and then at House. Knowing she had no say in this inevitable meeting, she left the room. She looked for Wilson first in his office and found him there, but he was on the phone. She waited patiently outside until he finished, at which point he beckoned her in and waited for her to sit down.
“Sorry about that. Divorce lawyer. Anyway, how’s Jack?”
Cameron stored that information for later. So he was getting a divorce. “Good. He’s awake now and said his chest felt tight, but otherwise he’s looking good.”
“I’m glad to hear it. We can go ahead and do those x-rays whenever you both are ready.”
“Sounds like a plan. Was there something else you wanted to tell me?” Cameron hinted.
Wilson looked confused, “What do you mean?”
“House said you were looking for me,” she said, but was just realizing that House had clearly made it up.
“I think it would be useless to say ‘everybody lies,’” Wilson responded calmly, awaiting the anger brimming on the surface.
Cameron looked away and snapped, “This is getting ridiculous.” With that, she stormed off. When she returned to her brother’s room, House was gone.
-------------------------------------------------
Cameron sat outside Jack’s room while she waited for Dr. Wilson to return with him and the x-rays. Foreman stopped by to check on her although he claimed he couldn’t stay long; House had him and Chase on a new case and had told them not to bother Cameron. This was, as Foreman noted, hypocritical considering House was bothering people all the time and because Foreman had just noticed him lingering discretely at the nearby nurse’s station. When House saw Foreman and Cameron look in his direction, he picked up a patient’s file and pretended to examine it.
“He’s acting weird,” Foreman muttered.
“He’s always weird,” Cameron replied, rolling her eyes.
“You’re telling me. But I mean different weird. Why is he so interested in your brother's case? And more importantly, why is he trying to act like he’s not interested?”
Cameron scoffed, “You’re starting to sound like House.” Cameron thought for a moment as she glanced again at House, who was still staring resolutely at the file. Foreman was right. If House was interested, he’d want to know more; if he wanted to know more, he’d be upfront and direct. He was acting different, almost sneaky.
House looked up from the file and, acting like he had only just noticed the two of them, glared at Foreman with a clear “get back to work” expression. Foreman took the hint and left Cameron after encouraging her to page him if she needed anything.
It wasn’t long before Wilson arrived with the x-rays. After they made sure Jack was comfortable again in his room, they stepped outside to examine how Jack’s lungs looked.
Holding the x-raysup to the light, Wilson offered, “The tumor has not grown much since Jack’s last x-ray, which is good. That means it’s operable. However, I’m not completely satisfied that his problems will disappear with treatment. Cancer is, as you know, tricky to deal with. I want to be sure that the respiratory distress he experienced last night was caused by the cancer. At this point, it’s the only reason I can see. But let’s keep an eye out for other symptoms.”
Cameron looked only more worried than when Wilson had begun talking. “This is good news,” Wilson reassured her. “We’re going to get him better.”
Cameron smiled. Poor Wilson, she thought. He didn’t understand that regardless of what he said, she’d still be worried. “Thank you,” was all that she could reply.
Wilson grasped herarm lightly as he continued, “I know you’ve been through this before, but that doesn’t make you immune to grief or harm... or anything.” Wilson sighed. He was troubled by the many burdens she had to bear. “I don’t want to see you get hurt. It’s simply too much for one person to handle, to have to deal with cancer in two loved ones. You can’t do this alone.”
Wilson looked like he wanted to say more, but he was rudely interrupted by the weight of a cane on his foot. “Ow! Damn it, House!”
“Oops, didn’t see you there, Jimmy,” House responded unsympathetically as he grabbed the x-rays from Wilson’s hand.
Holding them up to the light again, House frowned as he viewed the condition of Jack’s lungs. “A tumor this size doesn’t explain respiratory distress,” he claimed while looking at Wilson.
Wilson was already annoyed at House for his insensitivity earlier that morning and for the cane injury, but now he was getting angry. “If his condition was exacerbated by traveling, then it would explain his current problems. I think I know what I’m doing here.”
“Hmm. Or maybe you’re afraid his problem could be worse than cancer.” House softened his look as he gazed at Cameron. What was it that she saw there? Determination? Maybe even sympathy? “If you want a second opinion, you know where to find me.” With that, House hobbled back to his office.
relaxed]
Catch up on Chapters 1-9 here.
Chapter 10
“Hey there, good lookin’.”
Cameron started and met her brother’s smiling eyes.
“Jack! How are you feeling? You certainly had a long rest.”
“I’m feeling… well, rested actually. My chest is kind of tight feeling, but not too bad.”
Cameron nodded, “Dr. Wilson is personally overseeing your case. He’s the oncologist I told you about. He wanted to do x-rays but didn’t want to wake you. I should go let him know that you’re up.”
She rose to her feet but stopped when her brother took her by the arm. “Allison, don’t rush off just yet. Can we talk for a few minutes first?”
Cameron smiled apologetically, “Of course.”
Jack smiled back, “Good. Now you can tell me all about what it’s like working here. We haven’t talked much since you started. Have you been enjoying it?”
Cameron laughed softly as she considered how to answer that question. “It’s certainly… interesting. Although sometimes I wish I was somewhere else, somewhere I could be making a bigger difference. The job is emotionally and physically exhausting, extremely frustrating, a lot of hard work, and not a lot of sleep. I even quit once, but was convinced to come back. The truth is that I do enjoy it. It’s challenging but exhilarating. Even House, who’s a major pain in the ass, can be a good boss. I have to admit that he’s taught me a lot.”
“So this House guy? What’s so bad about him?” Jack asked.
“God forbid you actually meet him. It would be instantly apparent why he’s difficult to work with.”
“Is he the reason you quit?” Jack asked, sensing there was something she was leaving out of the story.
Cameron offered her brother a look of surprise. It was always a shock how well Jack could read her. She was relieved the necessity of answering him when House entered the room.
He addressed the patient directly. “Sorry to interrupt the best part of the story. I’m Dr. Gregory House. Allison, I believe Dr. Wilson is looking for you.”
Cameron was so startled to hear him speak her first name, she had to ask him to repeat himself.
“I said, Dr. Wilson is looking for you.” Cameron didn’t move. “I think it’s urgent. Don’t worry I’ll keep your brother company while you’re gone.” That was precisely what worried her.
“He’s not your patient,” she added fruitlessly.
Jack added, “Allison, it’s ok. I’ll be fine. I have a few questions for Dr. House anyway.”
Cameron simply stared at Jack and then at House. Knowing she had no say in this inevitable meeting, she left the room. She looked for Wilson first in his office and found him there, but he was on the phone. She waited patiently outside until he finished, at which point he beckoned her in and waited for her to sit down.
“Sorry about that. Divorce lawyer. Anyway, how’s Jack?”
Cameron stored that information for later. So he was getting a divorce. “Good. He’s awake now and said his chest felt tight, but otherwise he’s looking good.”
“I’m glad to hear it. We can go ahead and do those x-rays whenever you both are ready.”
“Sounds like a plan. Was there something else you wanted to tell me?” Cameron hinted.
Wilson looked confused, “What do you mean?”
“House said you were looking for me,” she said, but was just realizing that House had clearly made it up.
“I think it would be useless to say ‘everybody lies,’” Wilson responded calmly, awaiting the anger brimming on the surface.
Cameron looked away and snapped, “This is getting ridiculous.” With that, she stormed off. When she returned to her brother’s room, House was gone.
-------------------------------------------------
Cameron sat outside Jack’s room while she waited for Dr. Wilson to return with him and the x-rays. Foreman stopped by to check on her although he claimed he couldn’t stay long; House had him and Chase on a new case and had told them not to bother Cameron. This was, as Foreman noted, hypocritical considering House was bothering people all the time and because Foreman had just noticed him lingering discretely at the nearby nurse’s station. When House saw Foreman and Cameron look in his direction, he picked up a patient’s file and pretended to examine it.
“He’s acting weird,” Foreman muttered.
“He’s always weird,” Cameron replied, rolling her eyes.
“You’re telling me. But I mean different weird. Why is he so interested in your brother's case? And more importantly, why is he trying to act like he’s not interested?”
Cameron scoffed, “You’re starting to sound like House.” Cameron thought for a moment as she glanced again at House, who was still staring resolutely at the file. Foreman was right. If House was interested, he’d want to know more; if he wanted to know more, he’d be upfront and direct. He was acting different, almost sneaky.
House looked up from the file and, acting like he had only just noticed the two of them, glared at Foreman with a clear “get back to work” expression. Foreman took the hint and left Cameron after encouraging her to page him if she needed anything.
It wasn’t long before Wilson arrived with the x-rays. After they made sure Jack was comfortable again in his room, they stepped outside to examine how Jack’s lungs looked.
Holding the x-raysup to the light, Wilson offered, “The tumor has not grown much since Jack’s last x-ray, which is good. That means it’s operable. However, I’m not completely satisfied that his problems will disappear with treatment. Cancer is, as you know, tricky to deal with. I want to be sure that the respiratory distress he experienced last night was caused by the cancer. At this point, it’s the only reason I can see. But let’s keep an eye out for other symptoms.”
Cameron looked only more worried than when Wilson had begun talking. “This is good news,” Wilson reassured her. “We’re going to get him better.”
Cameron smiled. Poor Wilson, she thought. He didn’t understand that regardless of what he said, she’d still be worried. “Thank you,” was all that she could reply.
Wilson grasped herarm lightly as he continued, “I know you’ve been through this before, but that doesn’t make you immune to grief or harm... or anything.” Wilson sighed. He was troubled by the many burdens she had to bear. “I don’t want to see you get hurt. It’s simply too much for one person to handle, to have to deal with cancer in two loved ones. You can’t do this alone.”
Wilson looked like he wanted to say more, but he was rudely interrupted by the weight of a cane on his foot. “Ow! Damn it, House!”
“Oops, didn’t see you there, Jimmy,” House responded unsympathetically as he grabbed the x-rays from Wilson’s hand.
Holding them up to the light again, House frowned as he viewed the condition of Jack’s lungs. “A tumor this size doesn’t explain respiratory distress,” he claimed while looking at Wilson.
Wilson was already annoyed at House for his insensitivity earlier that morning and for the cane injury, but now he was getting angry. “If his condition was exacerbated by traveling, then it would explain his current problems. I think I know what I’m doing here.”
“Hmm. Or maybe you’re afraid his problem could be worse than cancer.” House softened his look as he gazed at Cameron. What was it that she saw there? Determination? Maybe even sympathy? “If you want a second opinion, you know where to find me.” With that, House hobbled back to his office.