Ah, my god knows what number House story. This time, I'm going to try writing a story that revolves around a patient. Wish me luck and enjoy! This may take a little bit because I still have a little bit of research to do. . .

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters etc. . .

Same Difference

Chapter ONE

A man stands in his bathroom at home staring at himself in the mirror. He lets out a deep sigh as he leans on the sink, biting his lip. His brown hair looks normal – everything looks normal. But he doesn't feel that way.

At the same time, another man stands in the bathroom at his work, also staring at himself in the mirror. He lets out a soft sigh as he leans on his cane, clenching his fist. Everything looks normal – even the stubble on his chin. But he doesn't feel normal. Far from it actually.

The man at his house pulls a bottle out of his jeans pocket. He gently opens the bottle and peers inside as if expecting something other than what he expects was inside. He then gently pours three Advil into the palm of his hand and downs them without any question. He stuffs the bottle back into his pocket before his wife walks in.

"Everything okay honey?"

"Just not feeling to well, that's all." The man smiles back, knowing he was lying through his teeth. He was tired of denying his problem.

Meanwhile, the man at work pulls a similar bottle from his jacket pocket. He pulls the cap open and takes a quick glance inside as if expecting something to happen. He then dumps three Vicodin into the palm of his hand and downs them without saying anything else. He pushes the bottle back into his pocket before his friend and co-worker walks in.

"You okay?"

"Yes. I'm fine. My leg is all. You know, it hurts sometimes. You should really look at it." The man smirked, knowing the sarcasm was building a wall ten feet thick around him. He was never tired of denying his problem.

"Well, Cameron told Cuddy and Cuddy told me to come tell you that there is an interesting case here for you if you want it."

"Humph." Grumbled House as he followed his friend, Wilson, reluctantly down the hall to the meeting room.

The man was now lying in a bed in the hospital, using a tube to help him breath for the moment with his wife by his side. And this was when two people who were the same, yet different, met for the first time.

"So what do we have?" House asked anyone who would tell him. His was silent until Cameron spoke up.

"A man mid thirties. According to his wife, they were just about to leave for their daughter's first day of third grade when he experienced shortness of breath. It got worse as the got to the front door and he collapsed."

"I want you to run some tests. . ." House began and they all started to leave, thinking he was finished. "tut, tut, tut." He waggled his finger causing them to all turn again. "Did I sound done?"

"But you. . ." Chase tried but was interrupted by Foreman.

"What else do you need?" he sighed and stared at House obviously not amused.

"Cameron, I need you to see if you can peel his wife from his side and talk to him. I have a feeling this is stupidly simple."

"Oh. . . okay." Cameron turned left when she stepped out the door instead of right with everyone else.

Cameron walked into the room and was about to ask his wife to leave but she wasn't there. Cameron saw the man's eyes divert in her direction and could see him begging for the tube to come out. She moved closer to him.

"This is going to be a little uncomfortable coming out, okay?" she warned. He nodded. She took it out and immediately he began coughing. Cameron helped him sit up and he finally stopped coughing. "So. . . uh. . ." Cameron searched for his name on his chart.

"Jason." He gasped out before coughing again.

"Right. Jason. How're you feeling?"

"My head hurts. I don't feel so well either."

"Where'd your wife go?"

"I don't know. Maybe to tell Jessica what happened."

"Jessica's your daughter?"

"Yeah." He leaned back and sighed. Cameron watched him. Although he didn't act or look like it – he reminded her of someone she knew in some strange way. Suddenly, the heart monitor began beeping faster and Cameron ran over and his pulse was fast as well.

"I need some help in here!" She called out the door. As staff began scrambling in, Cameron turned to Jason. "Wake up! Come on, wake up!"

How was that for a start? I'm still trying to work out a strange illness or disease he could have. Does anyone have any suggestions? I promise I'll give credit to whoever helps! REVIEW!