H squared

Chapter One

"Why the hell would you say that? What kind of a doctor are you anyway?"

"The kind that is trying to save your son's life if you'd just stop being an idiot and do as I say."

"You're a pompous ass."

"Takes one to know one."

The father of House's current patient blinked only once before he drew back his fist and punched House square in the jaw. House fell back as the wife grabbed her husbands arm and yelled at him to back off.

The surrounding patients and family members gawked at the scene. Staff also stopped to look but didn't register surprise at the scene. They just rolled their eyes and shook their heads before going on with their tasks.

House sat up and pushed away that hand of the nurse who had walked over to help him up. Cuddy rushed over having overheard the end of the yelling as she went to check on a patient. She started apologizing to the couple after shooting a glare at House. She escorted the couple away as House sat on the ground, willing away the dizziness that he was experiencing. After a moment, he reached for his cane and was about to stand up when a pair of short but shapely legs stepped in front of him. He looked up at the 20's something female standing before him. Though he could tell that she couldn't be more than 5'2, she was athletically built. Her heart shaped face was framed in shoulder length dirty blonde hair. She was dressed in a black mini skirt, white baby tee showcasing the ever popular Aerosmith logo and a black biker style-jacket. What got his attention the most though were her eyes. They had the same sharp, all encompassing look of his own but hers were a mix of his own blue and an emerald. He'd never seen a mix like that but the emerald he had, a long time ago.

House's assessment only took a brief moment and he didn't let anything show on his face. The woman smiled bemusedly down at him

"Need a hand?"

He made show of taking her in and then started to stand without acknowledging her question. She automatically reached out to help steady him. Her touch was light, soft and familiar. A current went through him at her touch and he jerked back. She gave him a questioning look but remained silent. Once he felt steady, he started to turn and walk away. Her voice stopped him.

"You really should get that checked out."

"Yeah, whatever mom. I'll get right on that." House said sarcastically with an eye roll before starting on his way once more.

The young woman gave a small laugh that was airy and floated through the space between them. Again, familiarity tingled his brain but House kept limping away. The woman fell into step beside him. He looked down at her out of the corner of his eye and she looked back up at him.

"I can not in good conscience let you just walk away. You got hit pretty hard."

"Well, seeing as I'm a doctor, I think I know that I'm going to be okay."

"But you're obviously stubborn. So I'd like to make sure you get checked out to make sure that you really are okay."

"Why the concern?"

"Just my naturally want to help those in need."

"I know someone like you. She's a pain in the ass also."

"Yep that's me. Always a pain in the ass, wanting to help fellow mankind. Such an inconvenience." She looked at him with a twinkle in her eyes but still kept pace with him.

"There's no loosing you is there?"

"Nope."

House grunted and kept walking, his limp jarring his body and his sore jaw. They reached his office and she followed him in. The team looked over with curious looks. House didn't look their way as he sat at his desk, opened a drawer and took out an instant ice pack, popped it and gingerly touched it to his jaw. The cold started to numb away the pain as he sat watching the woman watch him from where she was seated across from him. He felt a bit unnerved by her out right stare. After a moment, he got up and walked into the adjoining conference room. As he walked toward the coffee pot, Kutner asked, "Who's that?"

"Interviewee for your job."

"Seriously? What did I do?"

"Asked too many stupid questions. And no, you're not really fired. Yet." House poured himself coffee and took a sip as Taub asked, "So who is she?"

"H3ll should I know?"

"I'm just the person who saw your boss get knocked on his back by a patient's father. Wanted to make sure that he was okay." The young woman stood in the doorway, looking at all of them.

"Well I'm fine so you can go now."

The woman looked him in the eye and shook her head, "Not yet."

The team all looked back and forth between the two, surprised at the similar stubborn and determined look the two shared.

"Why?" Hadley asked, looking at her with interest.

Not breaking eye contact with House the woman answered, "Because I do have another purpose for being here."

"And what is that?" House asked impatience evident in his voice.

"I wanted to meet you face to face."

"Why would you want that?"

"Because I'm your daughter."