I'm not usually a shy person, but today is an exception. Today, I'm going to Princeton Plainsboro Teaching hospital as a guest slash intern. What makes this different from every other scared shitless intern that probably walks through these doors? I'm a seventeen year old prodigy from a rural town. I thought maybe coming here from Wisconsin might be a mistake, but who knows? I could find a whole new life.
Today, which is another reason I'm scared, I have to meet with the dean of medicine whom my mentor/ best professor, Professor Amsterdam, told me is Dr. Lisa Cuddy. I'm sure she's a pretty nice person, but one never knows, being seventeen and all. I push the glass door aside and am immediately stunned by how many people are stalking around this lobby and nearly drop my bag in surprise. The front desk is surrounded by people, so I decide to take a gamble. I got in the elevator and was pressing the button when another doctor walked into the elevator. He was cute, short blonde hair, cute eyes. He leaned over and pushed the button, which I had so cleverly forgot to do (It's stupid freshman time!).
"So, what brings you here?" the doctor asks me. He scans me over, and I feel a little violated for a second. He probably just realized the white coat sticking out from underneath my heavy winter jacket.
"I'm here to meet with Dr. Cuddy," I say, keeping it on the safe side.
"Either you're really young or you are one healthy doctor," he replies back. "I'm Robert Chase."
"Elise Archibald. Pleased to meet you," he stuck out his hand, and I took it. He had soft hands and a nice firm hand shake. Yes, sadly I do believe in the whole handshake judges your character thing, so Dr. Chase must be a good person. Then I noticed the wedding band.
"Yes, I'm married," he smiled. "So, I'm off limits."
"Oh, no need. I'm seventeen and a half."
"You. You're THAT Elise Archibald. THE one and only Elise Archibald. Let me help you to Cuddy's office," he said as we disembarked the elevator.
"Okay, thank you," I replied happily.
We walked down the hallway chatting about how it was for me to be so young and almost be a doctor, how I barely survived college with older kids, and my mentor Dr. Amsterdam. We approached an office that had silver letters on a glass door. I had to squint to read them because the sunlight was so strong behind me. Sure enough, it said, Dr. Lisa Cuddy: Dean of Medicine. Inside, a woman with dark brown hair sat behind a desk practically screaming at another doctor with light brown-grey hair. It was a whole new experience right there. I decided to tune in.
"No, House. I cannot let you do that to a patient without consent."
"But they need this, or they will die, Cuddy. Do you understand?"
"Yes, but we need consent."
"Ugh! I don't have time for this!"
"Well neither do I! Just go do whatever needs to be done!"
The door opened and I caught a good look at the doctor's face. His eyes were almost unnaturally blue and his gait was broken by his leg. He stopped for a second and looked right at me.
"You may want to be careful, she is a little crazy," He gave a little half-smile and stalked off. I had no idea who this man was at all, but I was interested. Chase gave me my first clue.
"Oh, that's just Doctor House for you. I work for him. Scary, right?"
"Yep, absolutely," I say to Chase, who is turning to walk away.
"Better go catch up to him. Good luck with Cuddy!" he shouted.
I took a deep breath, opened the door, and walked into her office. Cuddy's face was still red in frustration and she tried to hide it, but it just didn't work out for her. She smiled and motioned for me to take a seat.
"Hello. You must be Elise. I'm Lisa Cuddy," she almost sighed the whole entire phrase and then looked at my blank expression. "Oh, sorry about that. Have you ever had one of those days?" she asked.
"Well, with a doctor like him, you must have several," I replied, brushing my own light brown hair from my face.
"You are quite right," she laughed. "House is an ass sometimes. He has his moments though."
We sat and talked about different rules and expectations of the hospital, with a few phone calls interrupting in between. She stayed professional, even though almost every time is WAS House or about him. When we finally got through the whole hour and a half chat, she told me where I was to be assigned.
"You'll be in the clinic, Elise, just for right now. Trust me you won't be there long if you are who you say you are. The locker room for doctors is right down the hall. And the clinic is just back down the elevators. Welcome to the staff," she smiled broadly. Maybe I was one of the first semi normal staff she'd had in forever.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"What is it, Elise?" Cuddy responded.
"Why do you say I won't be in the clinic long?" I was genuinely confused. I couldn't think of one doctor who would scout in a clinic.
"Let's just say someone works down there who thinks he shouldn't have to be down there, but said doctor owes a lot of work hours. He'll find you and pull you right back upstairs where you belong. I just think you should prove yourself first.
"Well thank you for your time, I will not disappoint," I said, and headed for the locker room.