A License to Treat
Dr. House strolled into the main entrance at the PPTH. He made sure that Cuddy wasn't in sight as he quickly made his way to the elevators. As he stepped on to the elevator and hit the 4th floor button he turned a saw Nurse Brenda giving him a snide look, so House stuck out his tongue at her as the doors closed.
He arrived at the door of his office and paused as his gaze fell on Cameron sitting in his chair. She had left before him this morning and had left him to wake up in an empty bed. As he entered his office he took a peek at the conference room searching for any other occupants in the vicinity. With no one in sight, House continued his approach to his desk, in the process shrugging of his knapsack. He took a seat in the guest chair and smiled at Cameron as she continued to sort through his charts. "Good morning. Sleep well?"
"Morning." She responded not lifting her head. "Sorry I didn't wake you, but I needed to catch up on YOUR charting." she stressed. "I figured that you would rather sleep, than having me DRAG you in at such an ungodly hour." She set her glasses down on the desk and rubbed her eyes. In all honesty, she had arrived at six in the morning to do his work.
He knew that she had been hounding him to get this work done so that if there were any complaints from patients, cause that happened from time to time with him, their charting would accurate. This was not the case. But even if they were married House still had to maintain his image at work, being an ass. House smiled uncomfortably. "That's okay. As nice as it is to wake up with your wife each morning, it's equally as rewarding to have your charting done for you." Cameron gave him a menacing glare, and House knew that he had overstepped his grounds. "Not that you hadn't been doing that before…meaning that you care about me and…" he stopped trying to crawl his way out of the grave he was slowly digging himself into, as Cameron crossed her arms and leaned back in the chair. He drastically changed the direction of the conversation realizing that his wife was none to interested with his presence "Want some coffee or breakfast or something?" he inquired.
Cameron just continued to stare at her husband. She could see his fear of her bring angry or irritated with him so she went along for the ride. She smiled inside as she watched his features shift from that of fear to desperation. "You know what I like." She placed her glasses back on the bridge of her nose and returned to her charting. "And I want a lemon Danish." Out the corner of her eye she spotted her husband's smirk as he stood and slowly made his way to the door. Just as he was half way out the door Cameron piped up "Oh, and Cuddy is looking for you; something about a classmate?" She questioned.
House paused for a moment. His wife's expression was one of interest, but he had no answers for her. "Thanks." He said in return "A lemon Danish huh? I'll see what I can do." With that he left.
--
Cuddy lifted her head from her paper work as she heard House stroll into her office. "What's this about a classmate you say?"
"John Lenko." Cuddy handed the file to him. "What do you remember?" she leaned forward on her elbows.
House threw the file back on her desk as if it had been poisoned and took a seat in a chair. He dipped his head, and began bouncing his cane in his hand as he thought about that name. He watched as Cuddy raised a brow at his silence, but she herself kept silent until he spoke. "He's an arrogant, self righteous, pompous jerk, who can't tell his slithering tongue from his peering eyes."
"Oh good," Cuddy laughed "so in other words, he's just like you. He's your equal." She pointed.
House snorted "In no way or form is he my equal. He's a hindrance to any hospital, and acts in a childish manner." He placed a hand on his chest and lifted his nose in the air "I have no equal."
"Arrogant, self righteous, pompous jerk," Cuddy pointed at House and raised the file she held in her hand "A hindrance to the hospital," she smiled at House "who acts in a childish manner." She chuckled and tossed the file at House. "You're right, he's not your equal," She stressed the sarcasm, but then became serious "but he is asking for you. And you, I can't deny. You're good at your job House, even if it means that you're an ass, everyone thinks you're the best. Why are you so hesitant to take this case?"
House sighed and stood. He stared at the file then rubbed his left hand over his eyes. He began pacing between her desk and the door. "It was his STUPIDITY that had me caught and expelled from Hopkins along with that other jerk that I need not mention. He's a prick and can't let other people's business be their own."
"Ah, too bad, so sad… GET OVER IT!!! That was like twenty years ago. Treat him." She held out the file for him to take again. He didn't. Cuddy continued "He's asking for you House, shouldn't that be something. Even if he caused you grief years ago, he still values your opinions."
House stared at the file for a few seconds then at Cuddy. "Well I don't want to treat him, conflict of interest!" He turned on his heel and headed to the door, leaving a bewildered Cuddy speechless…again.
--
House exited the elevator and headed towards his office. In his hand he carried two cups and a pastry bag in a paper cup holder. As he entered the conference room he saw Foreman reading a medical journal and Chase across the table with a crossword in hand pencil chewing on his lips. "Hey hommie!" House began "Wha's happenin' daug?" Foreman didn't even care to role his eyes at him, so House continued his way to his office and poked his head in. Noticing the lack of occupancy he turned with a perplexed look on his face "Where's Cameron?"
"She went down to the lab to help the immunology department run some tests." Chase stated without lifting his eyes off his crossword. "Five letter word for parasite?" he asked his audience.
House chewed on his cheek as he gathered the information presented to him in the whereabouts of his wife. He quickly deduced the fact that Cuddy has already or about to put Cameron in the middle of their situation, just like she has done time and time again. The fact that Cameron wasn't in the room and the fact that she came in early this morning to do his paper work meant that Cameron was already mad at him. He had gotten that point. But, now this situation was just adding more fuel to the fire. He puffed his cheeks and limped for the door. "I'm going to need more food." He said aloud to himself as he exited the conference room, coffees and pastry in hand.
Chase and Foreman snickered to themselves as House left "House is gonna get it!" They said in unison. They knew House was in for as licking, especially because Cameron was playing the avoidance game. Just as they were going back to their respective interests they heard House's cry from the hallway "FETUS!" and then silence.
Foreman raised an eyebrow questioningly at Chase "Fetus?"
Chase paused and then began to count the letters on his crossword. He smiled, "He's right. Fetus." And he began to write the letters in their boxes. Foreman gave him another brow. So Chase explained "Five letter word for a parasite of sorts."
Foreman rolled his eyes. He hoped a case would come their way soon. One thing was certain. He didn't envy House.
