Night time at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. Doctor Gregory House was still in his office, checking through some files that Cameron had helpfully left on his desk. Damn admin. He was supposed to have lackeys to do this for him. He definitely needed to hire another doctor or two. His team was quite small; it might be fun to throw a couple of strangers into the mix.
No sooner had this thought come into his mind than the phone rang. Frowning slightly, and assuming it was Wilson, he picked it up, idly flicking his pen onto the desk.
"House," he said glancing up at the glass door and out into the lit corridor.
"I've got two transfer doctor's coming over tomorrow, was wondering if they could sit in on a differential?"
House sighed and rolled his eyes. Not Wilson, Cuddy. Damn. If he'd realised he certainly wouldn't have picked up the phone. The idea of hiring some new doctors had seemed a good one when it had been his, but now Cuddy was suggesting he take on two transfers he was dead against it.
"No."
"Not a question House."
House sighed again, impatiently this time, making sure that Cuddy could hear his disapproval.
"Where are they from?" He asked, wondering if they'd be coming by plane and he wouldn't be able to send them home again. If he was lucky, they'd be transfers from inside New Jersey.
"Cardiff, Wales," Cuddy replied.
"That's like a slang term for New Jersey right? As in America?"
"Wales as in the UK. But the two doctors are both originally from London," Cuddy said. "They're faxing over their details as we speak."
"Oh great," House said in mock enthusiasm. "Maybe we can all have tea and play some cricket together?"
"Funny. Look, they'll be here eight o' clock tomorrow so you better be ready," Cuddy sounded like she was about to hang up without waiting for a reply.
"No patient!" House said quickly. "I don't have any zebra's running about in the office at the moment."
"Well I'm sure something will turn up!"
Wilson appeared in his doorway then, looking at him expectantly. House pointed at the phone and mimed with his hand to show that Cuddy was going on in his ear. Wilson smiled slightly and sat down on a chair, briefcase on the floor to wait for him to finish.
"Right, well, if something comes up I'd be happy to torture the Brits for you," House continued. "But the chances of me being here at eight in the morning are about as likely as me doing Wilson."
Wilson shot him a scathing look. Evidently that remark was for his benefit more than Cuddy's.
"See you at eight then," Cuddy replied as House put the phone down.
"What was all that about?" Wilson asked.
"Cuddy wants me to baby sit some British doctors who, for god only knows what reason, are coming here tomorrow," House quickly put the files on his desk into his draw, making a mental note to give them back to Cameron to finish at some point. He stood up, grabbed his cane and bag and limped towards Wilson.
"I came to ask if you fancied a Chinese?" Wilson said, standing up too.
"Yeah, sure," House nodded. "But only if it's going to lead somewhere."
"Like where?" Wilson looked at him dubiously as they wandered out into the corridor and headed for the lift.
"Romantic meal-"
"Chinese is hardly romantic."
"T.V., beer, you'll probably end up sleeping on the couch, whatever," House looked at him then and Wilson stopped, frowning at him.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
House looked like he was about to answer truthfully, but somehow, admitting he needed help was not something House did.
"I just… might need a hand in the night," he said quietly. He didn't add that he'd collapsed on the way to the bathroom the previous evening.
"Well I've missed a few episodes of the L Word," Wilson agreed, knowing better than to make a big thing of House's plea.
"Brilliant!" House said, continuing towards the lift. "Come on then."
--
House hadn't been too bad that evening, but he had woken up at three in the morning in screaming agony. He hadn't been able to get up, but after throwing a book, several bottles of Vicodin (which he later regretted chucking out of reach) and his cane at the door to his room, Wilson wandered in to see what the matter was. There was nothing Wilson could do to sooth the pain medically, but he made coffee and sat with House until the pain subsided enough for him to fall asleep again.
In the end House was in work long before eight, but only because he couldn't stand lying in bed staring at the ceiling and listening to Wilson's levelled breathing next to him. Apparently the Oncologist hadn't been able to make it back to the sofa before he fell asleep again.
It was slightly strange to find the boardroom empty when he entered his office. Usually Cameron at least was sitting at the table working and if there was a case then all three of his ducklings would be waiting.
When they finally did drift in House was juggling with his Vicodin bottles. He always found it fascinating how they would watch and wait for him to stop before talking. He caught the last bottle and opened it, swallowing a pill quickly.
"Cameron, got something for you," he said pointing at his only female doctor.
"Oh?" She sounded hopeful. As though she was expecting something… House paused, frowning.
"Is it your birthday?" He asked.
"Few days time yeah," Cameron was smiling and the red tinge to her cheeks told House that he had better tread carefully.
"Ah…" He pulled the files out of his bottom draw and handed them to her as he passed, heading into the boardroom. "Birthday present."
"I put these on your desk for you to finish them!" Cameron complained following him.
"The reason I hired you is so that I don't have to do admin," House replied, knowing that the real reason Cameron was annoyed was that she'd been expecting an actual present.
The only reply he got was an angry growl as she slammed the files down on the table and began flicking through them. It was probably her time of the month as well House decided. He'd never thought to keep tabs on Cameron. Cuddy yes, because she could shut him down if he said the wrong thing.
"We've not got a case today," Chase said as he watched House making coffee.
"I know," House nodded. "Isn't it wonderful?"
"Doesn't that mean you should be in the clinic?" Foreman asked.
"Yeah, but so should you three," House glanced round at them. "Anyone complaining? No? Didn't think so."
"But Cuddy said-"
"What Cuddy said is nothing for you to worry about," House stirred his mug. "She's my boss not yours."
"And don't you forget it," Cuddy said.
House turned and saw her stood at the end of the table, two young doctors with her.
"Transfers," she said pointing at them. "They're good. Dealt with plague, should be your sort of people."
House raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything until Cuddy had handed over their credentials and left.
"I'm-"
"Foreman, Chase and Cameron," House interrupted, pointing at each of his lackey's in turn. "I'm Doctor House and I'm going to be the one torturing you for the next twelve hours."
The woman who had started to speak quickly snapped her mouth shut again. House smiled slightly, she'd learnt fast.
"I'm Doctor Owen Harper and this is Doctor Toshiko Sato, we'll be the ones insolently outsmarting you for the next twelve hours," Harper said, holding out a file. "Hypocalcaemia and anaemia. Thought it might interest you."
"Hypocalcaemia and anaemia is boring-"
"And their eyes are widely spaced." Harper grinned at him.
House narrowed his eyes slightly and took the file. Maybe having the transfers around could be fun.