A/N: First-ever House fic. Constructive criticism welcomed.


The Naming of Parts

Greg closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and concentrated.

Facial bones. Virgil Cannot Make My Pet Zebra Laugh; Vomer, Conchae, Nasal, Maxilla, Mandible, Palatine…

The shock of first immersion had subsided, but now he was shivering uncontrollably, the nails of both hands skittering against the sides of the tub. At least he'd managed not to scream this time; another minute and there wouldn't be anything left to feel.

He reached a mental block at 'Zebra' and moved on to the carpal bones without pause, eyes scanning left to right across the phantom image.

She Looks Too Pretty; Try To Catch Her. Scaphoid Lunate Triquetrium Pisiform Trapezium Trapezoid Capate Ham- ham- ham…

A door opened. The bathroom light flickered into life.

"Think you're ready to behave now?"

Hamate, that was it. The imprint of the page glowed in his memory, brighter than anything else, stronger than any emotion. The right answer.

Only the rest of the world was wrong.