A/N: I didn't wanna update any of my existing fics so soon, so I thought I might post a new fic, the idea for which has been rolling around in my mostly empty brain for awhile. I have no idea whether or not I'll continue it. That depends on the readers. If you like it and would like more, please let me know, and I'll be more than happy to continue. Otherwise, I'll forget I ever posted the first chap and it'll continue being an idea. That said, enjoy!

Into the unknown by Jremme

Chapter 1: vacation from Cuddy

It was a normal day at PPTH. The sun was shining, Foreman and Chase were doing their job, and House was taking a snooze in his office, ignoring the steady ring of his office telephone. The ringing ceased. Almost as soon as it quit, his cell phone began its tune.

Frustrated, he picked up.

"What is it?"

Wilson's voice came through the phone. It sounded excited.

"I've been trying to call you! Get over here, I have news!!"

He hung up abruptly, leaving House holding the phone. Naturally, he didn't want to get up and leave his office. This made him vulnerable to Cuddy. She had a sixth sense, always able to tell when he was out of the office and on the move. He didn't want to deal with her today, or ever, for that matter. But, Wilson was obviously jumped up about something. He had to find out what.

He cautiously opened the door of his office, and looked both ways. No sign of her. He crept out and went as fast as he could possibly go in the direction of the elevator. He arrived at the elevator and punched the open button repeatedly.

"House! Hold it right there!"

He punched the button again and again with a new sense of urgency as Cuddy appeared out of thin air, and began walking towards him. The damn doors remained closed.

He cursed under his breath and turned to face her.

"How's your patient?"

"Not dead, as far as I know. Foreman and Chase are working on it."

"Why aren't you?"

"Because I have more important things to do."

"Like your charting, budget, and clinic hours?"

"Exactly."

"Uh, huh, and where are you going now?"

"To Wilson's office. He has all these tips for budget preparation he just couldn't wait to share with me."

Cuddy raised an eyebrow at him, and sighed.

"As long as you're being productive. I'll expect your budget to be completed this week then."

"Not a problem." He hadn't even started it yet, and had no intention of doing so. But she hopefully didn't know that.

The elevator doors opened then, and he stepped inside, and punched the button for Wilson's floor. The doors closed on Cuddy's doubtful expression, and he slumped against the wall and watched the numbers progress to his chosen floor.

He entered Wilson's office cautiously, and found the oncologist behind his desk, grinning from ear to ear.

"One of your ex-wives die?"

"No, but I've decided to take a short sabbatical in order to make a contribution on more of a global scale."

"Which means…what?"

"I'm going to Africa!"

"To do what?"

"To lend my services as a physician to those less fortunate. To help people!"

"And you're telling me why?"

"Because I figured you might it a bit odd when I dropped off the face of the earth for a week."

"A week? You're going halfway around the world for just a week?"

"Yea, that's really all the time I can stay away from here. If it works out, I'll most likely go back. I'll be working with Dr. Sebastian Charles and his team too! That oughta be interesting!"

House made a disgusted sound at the mention of Dr. Charles.

"I know you don't think much of him, but it's still a good opportunity to make a difference."

"Yea, for a week."

"If I can change even one person's life, it'll be worth it."

Typical Wilson, out to save the world one sick African at a time. House wasn't at all surprised. This was just so…Wilson.

"So, what am I supposed to do while you're gone?"

"I was actually thinking about asking you to go with me. It might humble you a bit."

"Why don't you just kill me now?"

"Is it your leg? Well, some things are more important. Look at the big picture. Think of all the good you could do."

"You do know who you're talking to, right? Think about what you're asking me to do."

"I know. I just thought that maybe you'd go for it."

"You thought wrong. It's absurd."

"I thought you liked absurd."

"Only when it's a patient. Take Cuddy with you. You'd be doing us both a favor."

"Cuddy's not my best friend."

"She could be, a best friend with benefits."

Wilson ran a hand through his hair. He had known House would say no, but deep down, he had been hoping for the opposite. Not just because of the good House could do over there, but because he didn't want to go through it all alone.

"Get out then. I have to finish making plans," he said, not bothering to hide the disappointment in his voice.

House left, and made his way back to the elevator, thinking. There was no way he could physically get through it, he knew that for sure. But on the other hand, Wilson would probably pick up the airfare and his other expenses. And, on top of that, it would get him away from Cuddy and his fellows for a week.

He went back to his office and debated, weighing the pros and cons, and ignoring Foreman and Chase's repeated requests for some kind of guidence in their current case.

At the end of the day, his mind was made up, and after checking the hallways for Cuddy, he went stealthily to the elevator and back to Wilson's office, only to find out that Cuddy's absence was due to the fact that she was with Wilson, helping him finalize his plans.

"Can't you ever just stay in your office all day?" he asked by way of acknowledging her presence.

"What, like you?" she retorted, and turned back to Wilson.

"Looks like everything's all set here, James. Have a safe trip!" She gave him a little hug, and took her leave. Once the door shut behind her, Wilson looked at House, still lingering near the doorway.

"Come back to ridicule me for doing this?"

"No, actually. After weighing all the options and downsides to this, I have concluded that I will go with you. But I reserve the right to murder Sebastian Charles if he annoys me too much."

"You're seriously going to go with me to Africa?! This isn't a joke?"

"Nope. I'll think of it as a painful extended vacation from Cuddy. I just need to bring tons of Vicodin with me. Then maybe I'll get through this."

"You'll survive. And despite your motives for going, I think you'll make a difference."

"When's the flight?"

"Tomorrow afternoon. I'll pick you up at 2. Be ready. I need to get you a ticket too. It'll be my treat since I asked you to go."

"Damn straight. You can't expect me to go and pay my own way too."

"I figured as much. I'll get it taken care of and I'll see you tomorrow."

House left the office for the second time that day and went back to tell Foreman and Chase.

"You're just leaving?" Chase asked.

"Yep. You two will be fine without me. You're not total idiots. The patient's stable?"

They nodded.

"Then you really don't need me. You only think you do. Learn to be independent. Leave the nest and fly free!"

With that, he retreated into his office for his belongings, and went home to get packed and get some sleep.

A/N: Ok, so please R&R and let me know what you think. I need feedback!! Thanks for checkin it out and I hope it's worth continuing.