Chapter One Liscence to Euthanize

"We need him exterminated, Agent Valentine." A strong male voice boomed through the dark room. A spotlight shined harshly upon an angelic face clad in a black suit, her eyes of lime green hard with concentration as she continued listening to her orders. "Your target is Dr. Gregory House. He has become a nuisance to the Society. He must be done away with. We are trusting you with this mission. Do not fail us."

"Of course." A voice of smoke and velvet replied as she stared at shadowed faces.

"You will need to make it seem like an accident. We don't need anyone sniffing around after you've accomplished your goal. His excessive smoking, drinking, and drug habit will make this particularly easy. You, as a woman, will have easier access to his personal life. Do what you must to achieve your mission and come back safely. Our faith is in you." The voice explained, the echoing of it making it hard to determine which of the broad shouldered sillhouttes were speaking.

Agent Valentine nodded and stood, bowing to her superiors before turning to leave. A sudden tapping sound caught her attention. She turned back and stared at the glint of the light shining off a pair of oval rimmed glasses.

"Don't let your last mistake happen again." A woman's voice sternly commented.

"Yes. I understand. Peace be with you."

"And also with you..." The entire congregation of people replied before everything went black, only the light from under the door available to guide Agent Valentine outside. She was to kill Gregory house and anyone that got in her way. Her stomach felt tight, her adrenaline pumping. How long had it been since she had been trusted to follow through with an important mission like this? Months at least. Now was her time to shine, to spill blood once again without error.

Snow settled over the hospital like a blanket of utter comfort. The courtyard looked like a winter wonderland, the sky pale but blue with hints of clouds swirling above all that walked the streets below. Beauty seemed to be easily noticed in a place as depressing as a hospital. Sadly it was lost on the cynics and assholes that inhabited it all.

The click of high heeled boots resounded through the Diagnostics corridor. The person sounded as if they had a long stride, perhaps long legs, and the boots suggested authority. It was strange to hear such a loud sound in the quiet area of the hospital that allowed many of the specialty doctors to collaborate and examine incurable diseases.

"-she looks like a...-"

"-I'd love to get under that skirt-"

"She's the new diagnostician's assistant. I hear she-"

Snippets of gossip floated about Agent Valentine's head as she passed by curious nurses and men that seemed to observe her as meat. It didn't matter, she wasn't here for anything else but House. She pulled his picture from her inner coat pocket and stared at the ruggedly handsome face that graced it. She smirked as she approached his office, knowing he wouldn't be paying attention. She wished she didn't have to leave her gun in the car. It would have been so easy just to blast his head off. But orders were orders. She needed to be stealthy and more perfect than God.

Agent Valentine knocked softly on the opened door as she peered inside at the slightly conscious doctor that was staring at his computer screen. He shifted his gaze to stare at his intruder, surprised at what stood before him. She watched his eyes move up and down her body as a smile rolled over her face. She had him.

"And who might you be?" He inquired silkily.

"My name is Lucia Valentine. And I was hired to be your assistant." She leaned against the threshold, one arm holding the other as she dangled her her briefcase in a coquettish way. A grin flashed over the doctor's face though he tried hard to hold his lips tight.

"My assistant... now what exactly is Cuddy up to this time?" He clicked off his computer screen and beckoned the stranger inside. Lucia easily obliged and took a seat, closing the door behind her. House leaned a his chin into his hand and rubbed his stubbly chin with intrigue.

"She sent a request for extra help. I'll be doing your paperwork and the rest of any technical work so you'll be free to do anything much more important." She smiled sweetly.

"Really? So I get a lap dog for free without having to use Wilson. Fun for all, huh?"

"Of course sir." Lucia replied professionally. House raised a brow at her, contemplating what he should say next.

"Can I call you Funbags? 'Cause those really do look like they could be some enjoyment." He motioned to her ample chest. Lucia's face immediately went from sweet to pissed. Her hand shot outward and grabbed House by his collar as her face closed in the gap.

"I may be a type of servant in your eyes but I don't take to that shit kindly." She glared, her eyes once again threatening. House could only smile at her as he lifted his hands in surrender.

"Just wanted to see how far I could go. I suppose a crack about having a hooker that looked like you once would get me a punch in the face, too, huh?"

"You're pushing it, Doc." She shoved his back and released her grasp. She quickly stood up and started out the door.

"But I didn't get my lap dance!!" He called out to her as she slipped out the door.

Anger welled up in Agent Lucia Valentine, her chest filled with rage. She'd never been treated with such disregard before. That prick. He wasn't worth her bullets. Nor her poison. She could see why someone would want him dead. At least she wouldn't feel bad after she ended his pathetic life.

Lucia turned the corner and slipped into her assigned office, her name already placed neatly on the door. She slammed the door shut and stood staring out the window. Apparently there was a patio to smoke. Perfect. She snatched up her purse and shot out the glass door. She fumbled with her Lucky Strike, lighting it finally after her fingers stopped trembling with absolute rage. She took in a long drag and released it into the icy air. She watched the white puff slide over the air current and thought of herself: a shapeshifter.

A noice caught her attention from behind her, a door opening quickly and being shut, a shuffle of uneven steps coming her way. The killer turned and faced the man that had just enraged her. He stared at her with that grin of absolute demeaning essence. Lucia sighed and turned her back toward him once more, taking another long drag to try to calm her nerves.

"Smoking's bad for you..." House commented as he walked up beside her, a cigarette already in his mouth. Lucia rolled her eyes and kept silent. "You know, when you walked through that door I thought you were some kissass woman willing to get on her knees..." He let the thought sink in. "... and do whatever I asked. Your smile gave off the air of wanting to move up in the system. But I mistook it... severely. Your smile is fake. Hopefully those tits aren't but all your cheerfulness when you walked through that door was an act. Who are you really?" As he spoke, Lucia's eyes widened. Perhaps he was already on to her. No, how could that be? She had been so careful with her files.

"I'm a woman with a past and plenty of sarcasm and anger to share with the world." Another drag followed her words.

"Then I think we'll get along just fine. But, I must ask one thing... what's with the knife in your boot?" He glanced down at her knee-high hooker heels. Lucia shook her head.

"It's so I can slit people's throats when they aren't doing their work." She joked, trying to allow her anger to slide away into the depths of her soul where she cultivated them further when she needed them.

"I'll remember that, Lucy."