House is the bestest show ever….I must admit that it is even better than Summerland. Anyways, I know this story isn't as good as the show because you don't get to see Hugh Laurie, but I hope you like it. By the way it starts out w/ Dr. House having clinic duty.

"Take some Tylenol and sleep, if it gets worse go to another doctor," House said grumpily as he opened the door and limped from the room. When Cuddy heard the door slam she hurried over to House glaring at him with annoyed eyes, the eyes he tried to avoid when she was angry.

"House, come down to the Café during your lunch, we need to discuss a patient," Cuddy declared. House ignored her by whistling a song that was so off key it might as well of been an impersonation of a dying cat. As he whistled he continued to the next room as Cuddy called after him with her high heels speeding up until she was in front of him.

Turning his head slightly, with a smirk he said, "Hello Cuddy, I though you were one of those sexy models that wear only their lingerie, what are they called again? Oh, that's right, strippers."

"We need to talk about a patient," Cuddy repeated herself while pushing aside the rude joke.

"I heard you the first time, but why can't we just talk about them now, why must we always talk about these dying people behind their back?" House's eyes sparkled in the light as he pretended to feel bad for the people he treated.

Cuddy responded, "Because she will be with us, so we won't be discussing her health issues behind her back."

"Are you sure that isn't just an excuse to make me come because you know I would still come with out any excuses. You know how I hate to miss meetings especially when they are with my favorite person." House acted to look hurt.

"Oh go see the next patient." Cuddy dismissed him. Without replying House went into the room. A young girl sat sniffling in the small, grey rolling chair that served as a doctor's chair.

"Are you the patient?" House inquired.

"Yes," she replied her voice raspy.

"Darn it, I was hoping you'd have left by now….Anyways, get out of my chair. That is where the patients sit," He pointed to a raised chair covered with protective paper. She moved sluggishly as House peered at her side ways while she tried to lift herself. House plopped into the chair and watched amusingly until she managed to get up and then shrink back in relief.

"Tell me a little about yourself," House said after a moment.

The girl spoke and she tried hard to cover up the hoarseness in her voice, "My name is Cosette and I am 8 and a half years old. I go to elementary school and I am in 3rd grade. I like frogs, they are so adorable, see?" She stretched her shirt to make sure he saw the green frogs that covered her shirt.

"Yes how cute. What are some of your symptoms?" He replied as he stuck a thermometer in her ear. The girl answered by saying "um" a couple of times.

"What?" She asked.

"You know, what hurts? Have you been coughing, itchy eyes, rashes…" House droned on and on thinking it funny to hear his voice in such a boring tone.

"My throat hurts and I feel dizzy, my mouth sometimes gets a funny taste," she said.

"And you have a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit…Isn't that nice they sent me a feverish little girl for Christmas. Open your mouth so I can see your throat," House ordered as he picked out a popsicle stick and two cotton swabs. As Cosette did so she started to cough and gag, House rushed up to her just in time to see what she had for breakfast.

After Cosette was done and the mush had stopped flying House said calmly, "Well, you have the stomach flu, go tell your mommy, she should know what to do." House stood dripping as she stepped over the puddle of mashed bananas and small pieces of half-digested bread.

"Thank you Mr. doctor, I'm sorry about the mess, I-I didn't mean to," she stuttered with her face red with embarrassment. Then she was gone, House stayed there for a moment looking around him and all he thought about was that he had an extra pair of pants and a shirt, but no shoes.

"Your lunch started half an hour ago…The patient couldn't wait any longer and she left," Cuddy scowled as soon as he sat down in one of the Café's green, plastic chairs.

"Then I don't have to stay here and eat food that I would normally not eat unless it was forced down my throat with a tube, besides I don't really have an appetite since I just got someone's breakfast regurgitated all over me." Cuddy pulled him back to his seat as he turned to leave.

"No, please stay," She looked longingly at him, "We haven't had lunch together for a long time." At this House sunk into his chair and opened the menu with a pout. When the waiter came cuddy ordered an ice tea with a light salad.

"I think I'll have the ribs…No maybe the lobster…You know what I'll have the ribs, lobster, and the bow tie pasta, "House struggled to make up his mind. The waiter scribbled something out and wrote something else.

As the waiter walked away a woman emerged from the door way and came up to their table," Cristi, I thought you left?" Cuddy asked the woman.

"I did, but I left my Vicodin…You must be House," Cristi turned with her arm extended towards him.

Paying no attention to her hand, House muttered, "And that's my Vicodin you are trying to take." Cristi examined the bottle for a trice and then set it back down. After standing deep in though, she got on her hands and knees and wiggled her way under the table. Cuddy looked considerably uncomfortable as she heard Cristi shout that she found it. As she crawled back out House managed to "accidentally" kick her. Cristi hopped up and rubbed her right arm before grabbing another green chair and pulled it up to the small table with out being asked. When the waiter came back she ordered as well.

Throughout the meal the talked very little until Cuddy suggested that Cristi tell House about her injuries. "I had just turned thirty-four and my husband was driving us home from our last few days of relaxation. We were driving pretty fast when I saw two dogs sprint in front of the car and I screamed at my husband. He swerved off the road and we went over a cliff. He didn't survive and I am lucky to be here with only scars and searing pain in my arm and hand," Cristi's eyes fogged up as she looked back on that day, "The only thing is I hallucinated those dogs, they weren't really there. It had started a week before my birthday, but I didn't realize it until they told me…I killed my husband…"

After a while of eating in silence so Cristi could get over the tragedy again Cuddy spoke, "So Dr. House what do you think of this?"

"It's remarkable, you lived because God thought I needed yet another person to aggravate me," House said plucking lobster into his mouth.

Before Cuddy could retort the waiter interrupted, "Would you like any desserts today?"

"Yes, I want the Chocolate Fountain Cake to go," House answered with a full mouth. As they finished eating the waiter brought out a rather large to-go box and the bill. When House glanced at the total he stood up.

"Cuddy, I assume you'll be paying?" Without waiting for a response House left in a rush with the cake in his hands. Cuddy sighed as they lingered a little longer in the warm summer sun.

"Your boyfriend is cute," Cristi smiled.

Cuddy made a face, "House? He isn't my boyfriend."

"So you mean he is single?" Cristi's eyes lit up.

"Yes, but he doesn't date, and if he did he doesn't think anything of you. You even heard him say so….Sort of," Cuddy replied.

Cristi was still gleaming, "You mean to say a guy like that is just sitting there and nobody is taking him?"

"Must I say it again? He doesn't -"She was cut off.

"We have so much in common, I bet he'd date me," Cristi was growing defensive.

"Stay away from House," Cuddy stressed each word as she warned her friend, but nothing, it seemed, would keep Cristi from getting what she wanted.