Dr. House sat in his dark office, his chin rested on his cane. He had the deep brooding expression in his eyes that always was apparent. His tortured gaze slowly moved around the room, looking at the things of his work, his life. The books and computer and models of parts of the human body. The body was his puzzle to discover. Finding the answers brought him the small joy that kept him going each day. If you could call it joy. Really, it was more of a drive to live his miserable life. The darkness of the room was like the darkness of his soul.

It was late. Everyone should have gone home by now. But he didn't feel all that surprised when he looked up to see Dr. Wilson coming through the door.

"Why are you still here?" Wilson asked. "Shouldn't you be at home calling a hooker by now?"

House laughed mockingly "shouldn't you be at home wishing you had the balls to call a hooker?"

Wilson smiled. He was used to House's responses by now. He took them all in stride. "Go home." he said and turned to leave. With the door opened he turned back again "Hey, Cuddy's looking for you." Then he left.

House wondered why Cuddy was still at work. "I'm probably in trouble for something again" he muttered. "I don't want a lecture. I'd better get out of here." He leaned on his cane and struggled to his feet, sighing, but also smiling a bit, thinking of the expression Cuddy got on her face when she was in the middle of giving him a lecture about his reckless behavior. He put on his jacket and grabbed his keys and the bottle of Vicodin on his desk. He limped his way to the door and headed down to the garage.

The motorcycle sat looking lonely in the empty garage. House stopped in front of it a moment and took out the Vicodin, discharging a pill from the bottle and popping it into his mouth as he did frequently. He gave a little sigh of relief.

"House!" he turned to see Cuddy standing there. She looked a bit out of breath. "I'm glad I caught you."

"You could always swing by and visit me at home sometime!" House winked and smiled at her slyly.

Cuddy just smiled, frazzled. "I wanted to talk to you about, well, you know I have been trying to get pregnant. I guess it is not a secret anymore. I know you've been teasing me constantly but I haven't been successful yet. I was just wondering, well…"

House looked at her with his piercing blue eyes.

Cuddy looked increasingly uncomfortable as she spoke. "It's just…uh…"

House raised his eyebrows, waiting.

"n—nevermind!" Cuddy's face was red. She quickly began to shuffle away.

House called after her "yeah, nice to talk to you! Let's do it again sometime!" but he knew that she had something important to say and he secretly longed to hear it.


The next day House arrived late to the hospital as always. Cameron, Chase, and Foreman were sitting in the meeting room with a file before them. House entered the room and began to hear their voices as they mulled over the case together.

Cameron was saying "…but that wouldn't explain the fever and the…oh, Hi House."

Foreman nodded at house. Chase stood looking very surly.

"What have we got?" House asked, though he sounded somewhat disinterested.

"It's a 17 year old girl" Cameron started. "She has a fever and is coughing blood…"

"Sounds boring." House remarked, interrupting.

"That's not all" said Foremen. "She has a strange rash and is showing signs of kidney failure."

"Have anything to add, Chase?" House asked and Cameron and Foreman turned to look at Chase as well, his hair was covering his eyes, his head down.

"This is stupid. I don't want to do this today." Chase shook his head.

"Then get out of here!" said House.

Chase looked around, annoyed, and then stormed out.

Cameron looked concerned but also irritated. "I guess we won't see him for a while, like last time."

"Yeah, with that fat guy. He tried to eat me!" House laughed.

Cameron shot him an angry glance. "He died, you know."

"It happens." Said House, and for a moment Cameron thought she heard the smallest hint of compassion in his voice but then it was gone. "Let's concentrate on the living!" he said. "Tell me more about this case."

Foreman spoke up "We spoke to the parents and there is no history of anything unusual in the family. She is having some pain but is mostly comfortable right now."

House scratched his scruffy chin and looked only slightly interested. "hmm. Run some tests! You know what to do. I'm gonna get some breakfast. Let me know what you find." He turned and left.

Cameron and Foreman looked at each other a moment but stood up and headed off to do their jobs.