House has no idea of the exchange going on in Will's head. All he knows is there he made a mistake when his cane bursts apart, sharp, singed shrapnel flying every direction. The hand holding the cane is the main victim for the doctor. The rubber glove melts around it, splinters stab through, wood flies up into his exposed cheeks. It's a miracle and a mercy nothing hits an eye or something else vitally important.

The doctor does fall back into the snow, though, with a cry of pain. He buries his hand deep in the snow, There's another sear of pain across his shoulder and the scent of burning flesh as one of Sylar's sparks stabs through his chest.

Up. Up. Need to run. They're almost to the shack. Will. Where's Will? The doctor struggles, fighting through the pain, just trying to get upright. Sylar's own delay might be enough to save them.