House thought he heard Jack's voice, and when he tried to focus his attention on the doorway, the figure coalesced into something familiar. He groaned.

It occurred to him that he could try to rip off the tourniquets that Phedre had just applied, but he didn't think he'd be very successful. It wouldn't matter anyway. It would just be slower this way.

Why couldn't they have just waited? Why did they have to find him? It would have been easier on everyone...

"Not about you," he mumbled again, only this time it was for Jack's benefit. "Sorry you had to..." And then he finally drifted out of consciousness.