They just aren't mine!

Oh, by the way, I didn't make up the quarter thing. It really happened!

Here is a sequel of sorts to Ridgewood:

"Thud. Thud. Thud." Hearing the repetitive thudding of the rubber ball against the glass wall of House's office was a familiar and soothing noise for Dr. Allison Cameron. It was a noise she had missed while her boss, Dr. House, was in drug rehab at Ridgewood Rehabilitation Center. It had been a constant in her life for over two years, then it, and more importantly, the man responsible for the noise was gone. The impossible had been done. House had been manipulated into going into rehab. And even more unbelievable? It worked. House had been clean for a month. It was his first day back at Princeton-Plainsboro and she could only begin to guess how a House free of Vicodin would behave.

Cameron. She's standing outside. Waiting for me to invite her in probably. Fine, I'll bite.

"Dr. Cameron, I think there is a sign outside the hospital that says no loitering."

Cameron walked in with an overly bright smile on a face.

What's with the smile? She hasn't looked that nervous around me in a year.

"You can drop the pretenses. I know you're not that happy to see me."

"Well, I see Vicodin or not you are the same sarcastic bastard you always are."

"Yep, that is just my winning personality. No drugs involved."

"You really aren't on Vicodin anymore?"

"That's right House, no more little white pills." chimed in Cuddy. "You have to take a drug test once a week. Part of the agreement, remember? Starting today."

Cuddy handed House a cup and pointed him in the direction of the men's room. "And if I suspect any funny business next time I'll supervise!"

"Only in your wildest dreams!"

House, please don't screw this up.

House, don't mess this up. I don't want to have to fire your ass.

I can't believe they are making me pee in a cup! I am a doctor! I make other people pee in cups! Is it not bad enough I just spent enough in rehabilitation going through hell, now they are going to humiliate me on a weekly basis here? Damn it! Where's my Vicodin? Shit. I don't take Vicodin any more. Could really use one right now though.

In the men's room Wilson sees House, "House! Welcome back! We missed you. Well…kind of…well Cameron did. The rest of us…well we…we came to visit, right?"

"Stop while you're ahead."

"Anyways, it's really great that you're off the Vicodin now. I bet it feels great to not be dependent on it anymore."

Did he have to mention it? Now I want one ever more!

"Yeah, feels great. Well got to go. Dying people to save and all."

"Sure thing. Lunch later?"

"Call me!"

Wilson just turned and walked away. He wasn't expecting a new House, but was one with a slightly better disposition too much to ask?"

"HOUSE! Clinic! Now!"

"But I don't wanna!"

I am going to need more than one Vicodin after today. Are they trying to get me back on the bottle?

House headed down to the clinic where he treated a sprained ankle, two cases of the flu, and a five year old girl who, while she was in the car with her parents made a new game for herself. She would put a pillow over her head and a quarter in her mouth. Then she took the quarter out and the pillow off. Her parents didn't realize what she was doing until she swallowed it when they went over a bump on the road.

What kind of parent doesn't notice their child is sitting in the car with a pillow over there head and not ask why? Where is my damn Vicodin when I need it?

When his clinic hours were over House went back to his office, he had to check on something. He started pulling out the boxes he keeps his gameboy games in frantically and sees a small bottle. He is just about to open it when Wilson pokes his head in.

"Ready for lunch?"

"Sure, if you're buying."

"Don't I always buy?"

"Yeah, but I have to make sure. Otherwise I might have to buy my own lunch one day."

"Such a horrible thing seeing as you are the department head of a major hospital and clearly paid more than minimum wage."

"So tell me Wilson, what did you get for selling me out?"

"My practice back, the hospital back to normal, your staff behaving normally again, and you off Vicodin was just an added benefit of course."

"You've been trying for a long time. I know it was your idea, the week trial period."

"How's that?"

"Cuddy needed her hospital to run smoothly so anything that would possible disrupt it would have never occurred to her. You on the other hand, you are just one of the nice people who want what is best for everyone. And in your opinion I am better off without Vicodin."

He has no idea how wrong he is. It was easy not taking it at Ridgewood, here there is stress! And morons! How do people handle that without drugs?

So the question is, can House resist the urge to take the Vicodin?