A/n: This story is an alternate universe - it meshes with canon only up to 'Love Hurts'. While House's infarction did take place essentially as described in 'Three Stories', I came up with this fic before Stacy's return and don't feel like writing her in.
Greg House was in the process of pushing through the main doors of Princeton-Plainsboro when, at a highly inopportune moment, his pager went off. He jumped, reaching instinctively for it, only to realize too late that he was attempting to hold the pager, his cane, and the door with one less hand than was needed. Something had to go, and the door lost, swinging solidly against his person once released. He was forced to lunge out of the way, a maneuver that very nearly sent him tumbling face-first to the floor.
This was his first clue - apart from the sun's rising - that today was not going to be a very enjoyable day.
After a vain attempt to gather his dignity and a somewhat more successful one to right his cane, House finally glanced at the pager. There, he found the next clue.
'Cuddy now'
Which certainly got the point across, but it wasn't like her to be that brusque. For that matter, it wasn't like her to page him at all. Knowing his proclivity to head in the opposite direction when summoned, she tended to prefer stalking him and pouncing. He might have written it off as a prank from his staff, were it not for the timing. The rear window of Cuddy's office faced the parking lot, and he suspected she'd sent the message as soon as she noticed his now fairly distinctive car.
Uncharacteristic all around, which left him both slightly worried and quite curious. This was a powerful combination, enough so to override his usual policy of avoiding her unless he wanted something.
After years of walking this hospital's corridors, House could have reached his destination blindfolded, leaving his mind free to mull over the possibilities. Either she wanted to yell at him, or she wanted to give him bad news. He could think of numerous reasons for either. Yell at him for how he'd treated Cameron at their dinner last week? Give him the bad news that Vogler was coming back? Remark on his vicodin intake?
Only one way to find out.