This contains a death theme which may upset some readers. Be warned!
Disclaimer: If I owned House I wouldn't be a Fanfiction writer, I'd be a writer. Does that answer your question?
No rats were harmed in the making of this fic.
House came back to work the day of the funeral, but never removed his dark glasses; no one need know he'd cried. He couldn't help it, he'd lost one of his best friends, second only to Wilson, and he wasn't sure if he'd be able to go on.
The ducklings watched him meandering aimlessly around his office, wondering what had caused the once great man to break. Wilson, the only other person at the hospital who knew of the events that this followed, joined them a few moments later. He also was wearing dark glasses, but more because House had asked him to, as a sign of respect.
He walked towards them, the spring gone from his step, he knew how deep this had hit his friend, and he could hardly bare to see him like this.
"I've never seen him like this before." He whispered mournfully.
"Never?" Cameron asked surprised, "Not even after his leg?"
"Not even then, that was just a limb to House, this was a friend." Wilson replied.
"What happened?" Chase questioned, scared to know the answer, but needing to at the same time.
"He didn't wake up. He died last night, natural causes they say." Wilson answered mournfully.
"Who was it?" Foreman asked, wondering who could possibly mean that much to House, the man they all assumed had just one friend.
"Steve." Wilson replied.
The duckling's eye's widened, Cameron's out of horror, but the others out of what looked horrible like amusement.
"He's acting like this because his rat died?" Chase snorted in disbelief.
"Chase!" Cameron scolded, "Pet's mean a lot to people!"
Chase raised his eyebrows and walked off, Foreman followed suit. Cameron remained by the window, watching House walk the room.
"Is there anything I could do?" She asked Wilson.
"I don't know, this hit him pretty hard, he wants a knew rat, but he's scared he'll loose it again." Steve's death had shown the world some of House's innermost fears, he wasn't scared of being hurt, he was scared of hurting. Cameron nodded, collected her purse and went to leave.
"Where are you going?" Wilson asked.
"I have something to buy." Was all she would say.
HMD HMD HMD HMD
The next day, House came into work, and bought his dark glasses with him. Sitting at his desk was one Alison Cameron.
"What are you doing here?" He asked gruffly.
"I know your hurting about Steve, but that'll only stop once you move on. I bought you something to help you move on."
"If it's a new rat, I don't want it. I'll just kill it. I don't need that on my conscience." In his despair, it seemed House had lost his need to make cutting remarks.
"Don't worry, it won't die." She said cryptically, handing him a small package in silver wrapping paper.
He slowly unwrapped it; a tamagotchi.
"What is it?" He asked.
"It's a virtual pet! My niece has one!" She replied excitedly "You feed it, play with it, and if it dies, you can just re-set it!"
House looked doubtfully at the small electronic device, before removing his glasses to read the instructions.
Cameron smiled.
"I think I'll name it after Steve."