House hobbled in to the hospital, trying to deduce exactly where Cuddy would be at that particular moment, mainly for avoidance purposes.

"House!" a voice barked across the room. Damn! He ducked his head and tried to shuffle away. A delicate, but deceptively strong hand clamped onto his left elbow like a bear trap.

"You're later than usually, House, where the hell have you been?" Cuddy snarled. He tried to pull away from her, but she dug in, and he could feel his skin actually bruise.

"Most women would have to have sex with me before they sink their claws in," he muttered.

"I don't think so, since after they experience that, who'd want to?" Cuddy snapped, dragging him roughly in the direction of her office.

"No, Mommy, I'll be a good boy! Don't lock me in the scary closet, Mommy!" House wailed as loud as he could, drawing stares from several people. Cuddy threw him into a seat in her office so hard he actually gasped as his leg thumped the side of the chair.

"What the hell, Cuddy?" he snapped, finally angry.

"Why the hell is Tritter here?" she snarled, her large eyes flashing in rage. House blinked.

"How the hell should I know?" he asked, but his shock and dismay showed through his voice.

"You haven't done anything to bring him back here, House?" Cuddy asked, obviously not believing him and obviously still rather angry. There was a warning in her voice he usually discounted and ignored, but he heard it now. She'd lied for him before and would not do it again. House swallowed, actually a tad intimidated for once. Not that he'd really let her know it.

"What can I say, the man must be in love with me. Or Wilson; maybe Tritter just needs a pair of soft, caring, neat-freak arms to lie in?" he quipped. Cuddy's eyes narrowed.

"So why would he be back here? House, if I find out…"

"I didn't do anything, I promise. Hell, I promise I'm promising for real this time," House answered testily. "Maybe he's a glutton for punishment, like that stupid little squirrel in that movie, the one that chases the acorns and gets his head bashed in."

"Oh, God, House, if this is another one of your messes, I will castrate you!"

"And I'd finally get your hands all over my crotch. It's almost tempting!" House chuckled, standing. As he went to leave he came face to face with the aforementioned cop. Tritter stank of cigarettes. Evidently, the nicotine gum he'd been gnawing on before hadn't helped.

"House, just the person I wanted to see," Tritter said coolly. House glared at him and tried to push past him. Tritter grabbed the cane, forcing House off-balance.

"Get off me before I scream rape," House growled, jerking away. Tritter cleared his throat.

"I need your help, House," he said, very quietly. House shrugged.

"There are lots and lots of other doctors you can see. Go see them, they might actually care if you live or die," House mumbled as he left.

Taub, Kutner, and Thirteen were all frowning at him in puzzlement when he entered the room.

"What?" he snapped. Kutner actually jumped.

"We saw Cuddy dragging you to your office and before there was a cop here looking for you," Kutner babbled. House rolled his eyes.

"He tried to put me in jail, failed, and is bitter. I, however, am a very chipper individual, I get over things. Particularly when I have colleagues who work on sick people! Now, who is this sick person?" House said, coldly. Taub and Kutner exchanged glances while Thirteen said nothing.

"What? No one dying this week, is that it? There has to be someone dying! Too bad it isn't this Tritter jackass!" House exclaimed. The three of them sat and stared at him. Actually, Thirteen's eyes were aimed over his shoulder. House sighed and turned around.

"What is your obsession with me? It's really getting quite flattering, but you'll have to be nice and take me to dinner before I sleep with you, Tritter, dear," he said. Tritter cocked his head to the side and regarded House with the same cold face he'd always presented. Except there was something different. Less cold. Actually, almost...pleading? Odd...

"Different team," Tritter said simply.

"What? You think you can intimidate these guys better? Is that why you're here?" House asked. Tritter shook his head slowly. He was silent for a moment.

"House, I actually need your help. I'm…sick, and no other doctors know what the hell is wrong," Tritter said. House scoffed.

"This is too good!" he chuckled. Thirteen glared at him and Kutner stood.

"You're not going to help him?" Kutner asked.

"Sit down, flunkie!" House shouted suddenly. Kutner dropped back into his chair.

"Tell me what you have and I'll tell you what it is," House told Tritter. With a sigh, Tritter unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. His chest was speckled in an odd rash. If it hadn't been on skin attached to the biggest asshole ever created after him, House would have prodded at it. Still, it looked like nothing more than mild poison ivy. He looked up at Tritter expectantly.

"It's everywhere. My body burns and I can't sleep at night. Now you tell me what no other doctors have been able to tell me and I'll go away," Tritter said with a sigh. He didn't seem to be enjoying this any more than House was, at least.

"What other symptoms and for how long?" House asked.

"Fever, burning feeling, aches, pains, for…years. It has never been bad enough to warrant attention," Tritter answered slowly.

"Anything else?" House asked.

"Stomach issues," Tritter answered as an afterthought.

"Probably an ulcer, probably infected, and I'm pretty sure that gum didn't help that any. Now get out," House announced.

"I've been checked, that's not what I have," Tritter protested. House frowned.

"Did they test those pustules?" he asked, nudging a small cluster of red bumps at the edge of the rash.

"They aren't pustules. No one knows what they are. They have no fluid in them or anything," Tritter replied. Now House's interest was piqued.

"Thirteen, get this guy admitted. And don't let him handcuff you, I get to do that first," House said.