Author's note: This is my first fic ever, so please review and tell me what you think. I'm going to try and make this relatively long. Here is what you need to know: 1. I'm going to jump between Thirteen and Cameron occasionally, will let you know when I do. 2. Thirteen doesn't have Huntingtons, she's too pretty, and this will affect things like her coffee habit. 3. Cameron is divorced, but it was amicable. I'll let you know more as I continue.
Disclaimer: I don't own House, duh.
Thirteen walked through the hospital doors, taking in the chaotic energy surrounding her. Drifting past a couple at the front desk who were yelling at one of the nurses, she smiled to herself, glad that she wouldn't have to deal with the hectic nature of the ER. Instead, she had to deal with House though, along with her ex-boyfriend.
"Maybe it wasn't such a good trade off" she thought to herself, sidestepping a child running down the hall and smiling as a worried mother followed after her son.
Continuing towards the elevators, she began to prepare herself for another day with the team, and the boss who seemed to especially enjoy making her life as difficult as possible. She had long ago accepted her bisexual nature, but hated the constant comments from House regarding it.
"Ah, Thirteen, so glad that you could join us" House exclaimed, with a smirk on his face. "Rough night? I am starting to wonder whether these many women you seem to be enjoying are having an ill effect on your health. Why don't you bring me a video depicting the action so I can analyse it… from a purely medical perspective of course."
"I'm late by…one minute" she continued after glancing up at the plain clock hanging on the wall. "And I wasn't with a woman last night, not that it's any of your business". She wasn't particularly tired, but was not in the mood for a round of bickering with House. Taking a seat next to Chase, she hoped that the older man would drop the subject and move on.
Before House could chime in, with what she expected was a pre-planned remark, Foreman, thankfully, brought up the patient. A young woman had come into the hospital a few days earlier, and after the doctors in the ER had been unable to diagnose her, she had been sent to House and the ducklings.
Remy wondered whether Dr Cameron had been able to see her, knowing that the older woman had spent three years working for House, before eventually becoming the head of the ER.
"Lyell's syndrome?" offered Foreman, prompting the team's discussion.
"What about Mercury poisoning" suggested Taub, who was immediately shot down simply by a look from House that seemed to question why he had hired the short man in the first place.
"Sarcoidosis also fits" Thirteen put forward.
"Thirteen, Taub, go run the tests. Foreman, do something productive. And last, and questionably least, Chase, go do my clinic hours" House commanded, pleased by his ability to pass off any tasks he saw as being beneath him, which was almost everything involved in his job.
"House, I did four of your hours yesterday, get one of the others to do them!" Chase complained, not particularly happy about once again being assigned this task.
She looked between the two, wondering how House would react to Chase's stand, but chose not to defend him, content with being given some time in the lab.
"Just be glad that I'm not sending you to the ER. I'm doing you a favour really, giving you an excuse to stay away from the murderous stare of your ex-wife" the man remarked, head slightly cocked to the side, leaning forward on his cane, attempting to cover his face with a caring expression.
"Allison and I are fine, the divorce was amicable and we are both over it", the blonde doctor said sincerely, though remained unbelieved by the others in the room.
As each finally accepted their role, with Foreman choosing to catch up on paperwork, they all headed out of the room, Remy wondering to herself where House was heading as he hobbled down the hallway.
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Spending the next few hours in one of the labs, Remy re-performed blood tests, among others, in an attempt to solve the puzzle in front of her and discover the illness currently affecting their young patient.
"What is wrong with you?" she mumbled to herself as she examined the samples, grateful that this went unheard by Taub on the other side of the room. It wasn't that she particularly disliked the man, she just wasn't the talkative type, even when it came to casual conversation. Instead, she preferred to be left to her own thoughts, carrying out any required tasks in relative silence.
She enjoyed her work, solving puzzles and saving the lives of those perceived to be ultimately lost. It gave her a sense of purpose. She wondered if her need to save the un-saveable stemmed from her childhood, and the distress she went through watching her mother die of Huntingtons Chorea. Thirteen had tested herself and was relieved when she saw the black 'neg' typed across the sheet. Though she would not be subjected to the same fate, she was still deeply damaged after spending her life believing she would. As she pushed these dark thoughts to the back of her mind, Thirteen concluded her tasks. Having identified the correct diagnosis, she began walking towards the diagnostics room to inform House, allowing Taub to administer the required treatment to the patient. The woman would have to remain under observation for a few more days, but would ultimately be able to return to a normal life.
Walking down the corridor towards her destination, she listened to the sound of her heels connecting with the floor, allowing for the steady beat to calm her. Noticing that one of the nurses walking past was her checking her out, Thirteen's expression turned into a sly smile, knowing that even in relatively plain clothing, she still had it. As the nurse finally met her eyes, she wondered whether she should pursue this obviously bi-curious woman, but decided against it. She had gone through that lifestyle not long ago, sleeping with random women in an attempt to cope with her pain, and while she occasionally fell back into this habit on a particularly hard day, she felt no need to currently and so payed no further attention to the small, attractive woman.
She decided to get a coffee from the Doctor's Lounge before heading to see House. Taking her time, she sipped her coffee as she looked out the window at the many cars driving by, beginning to feel ultimately insignificant.
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"It's Sarcoidosis" she proclaimed, entering the diagnostics room some time later.
"Well duh, we already knew that" House remarked, prompting Thirteen to glance around the room and notice Taub sitting in his usual chair.
"That was fast" the brunette woman thought, blushing slightly as she took a seat. He must have been extremely quick at administering the treatment or she took longer than she thought drinking her coffee.
"Anyway, back to more important topics" House continued, "there is a medical conference coming up and supposedly the hospital has to send representatives. Now rather than go myself and have to deal with a bunch of idiots who can barely call themselves doctors, I'm sending one of you"
This caused the four other doctors to look at each other, inwardly hoping that they would not be the one chosen, knowing that the conference was likely to be extremely dull.
"Thirty-one" House proclaimed with a smile on his face, "you are the chosen one, accept this great responsibility with both courage and humility".
"Send one of the others, they're all much better choices for a conference" she said calmly as she waved a hand over the table, annoyed at having been singled out for this and wanting to pass the task on to one of her male counterparts. She attempted to maintain composure as much as possible when around House, having realised early on that the more mysterious she was to him, the easier her life would be.
"I would, but none of them are fit for the job. Taub is an idiot" he stated as though it were common knowledge, prompting what seemed to be a hurt whimper from the short doctor. "Chase will get anxious every time he sees a blonde, and will probably end up in tears for the whole conference. I have a reputation to uphold, I can't have one of my doctors acting like that. I couldn't send Foreman because most would assume he was a valet who had snuck into the conference for the free food. That, my dear, leaves me with you." House continued, making it sound as though his decision was the most obvious in the world. "Now don't get me wrong, it will be sad to be without my sassy lesbian at beck and call all weekend, but we all have to make sacrifices"
This last bit made her ponder the plan though, "No House for an entire weekend, maybe it was worth attending for this reason alone".
"Fine" she stated solemnly, hiding her newfound pleasure in the idea. "I'm talking to Cuddy first though. I'd actually like to know what's involved, for example when and where it's taking place."
As Thirteen finished this statement, she got up and headed out the door, turning towards the direction of the woman's office, and leaving her fellows grumbling about House's comments.
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"Dr Cuddy, I was wondering if I could talk to you about the medical conference House has put me up for" she asked, after having knocked on the door of the office and proceeded to let herself in.
"Of course, Dr Hadley" the older woman responded, smiling at her in a motherly sort of way.
"How very fitting considering her position" Thirteen considered inwardly, her mind wonder what other positions the older woman would be fit for. "Stop" she silently yelled at herself, turning slightly away from the woman while she regained control of her mind.
"The conference starts Friday and will continue over the weekend, but everyone will be arriving the night before" Cuddy stated.
Thirteen nodded, prompting the other woman to continue.
"Your flight has been arranged for Thursday morning, I'll email you the details regarding that, and the conference will take place in Chicago. I realise that it will be cutting into your weekend and so feel free to take a couple of days off when you return. This is, however, an important opportunity for the hospital, and I expect you to represent the diagnostics department as best as you can while there" the woman warned, though in a warm way. She hoped that Dr Hadley would make sure to attend all the lectures and would reflect on the hospital in a positive light. "Does that answer your questions?" she enquired, looking up to meet the woman's eyes and smiling kindly.
"Yeah, thanks Dr Cuddy" she answered, before leaving the room.
"That was strange" she muttered as she walked to the Locker Room. The case had been solved so there was no need to stay any longer.
As she paced through the hallway, Thirteen realised that she had forgotten to ask who else would be attending, not really minding who it was though. She knew she would mostly ignore them, but was curious nonetheless.
Noticing she only had two days before she would have to leave for the conference, she decided to go back to her apartment to quickly research it, and the many dull seminars she would likely be required to attend.