I don't own Firefly or House, I just think they rule : )

So this came to me during a Lincoln Tech commercial and I had a mess of ideas all at once. I hope I pulled it off alright, enjoy : )

Update 5/6/09 - I fixed a lot of mistakes I didn't catch the first time around, streamlined a few parts, and made a few changes based on some good advice : )

Update 5/13/09 - Fixed a few more things and again trimmed some fat. I think I'm done for good now :)

River Tam's head and body bobbed left to right, up and down, and back and forth as she attempted to sit still in the clinic at Princeton Plainsboro. Images, memories and feelings of places just like this tearing through her. Places where the Alliance had hurt her so badly, experimented on her and cut into her brain. None of what she heard from the 2 dozen faces in the clinic matched up with their words. Where there should have simply been 24 voices, she heard 48.

"So many faces with so much to say and none of it makes any sense." She said quietly to herself.

Greg House entered Princeton Plainsboro late and limping as always. Taking notice that her star diagnostician was late this morning, Cuddy decided to greet him at the door.

"I understand your throwing caution to the wind lifestyle choices, even those which I truly believe are a latent mid-life crisis like, I don't know…buying a motorcycle. But I would appreciate it if you could at least try to come to work on-time seeing as how you certainly have the means to do so now."

House wasted no time downing his first Vicodin of the day before replying, "And a good morning to you too my princess."

Fully aware of his clinic responsibilities, he quickly turned his attention to the file she held and nonchalantly asked, "So, what do you have for me?"

She immediately flinched pulling the file away, "Are you actually interested in what I'm holding?"

"Well it is my job isn't it, you know…to diagnose sick people?"

Cuddy smiled, "Very cute House." She raised her hand pointing him to the clinic, "You still owe me and we're having a slow morning."

"Do I gotta mom?"

She pushed him off towards the clinic and replied, "Yes you gotta."

House stood before the clinic doors in acceptance of his quick defeat. He sighed aloud and continued into the clinic he so despised. As he crossed the threshold, River's eyes widened and she turned to face him just as he was facing her.

He couldn't put his finger on why, but she had his complete attention. All of the voices in her head dulled as his thoughts began to run through her. He turned back to the rest of the room, sizing everyone up and proceeded to the main desk, occasionally turning back to see if the young girl was still staring at him, her eyes following every step he took.

As he approached the desk, he asked in a tone very unlike House, a tone that almost cared, "What's that girl's story?"

The female attendant replied, "There is no story. She was here when I came in and the attendant who was on call before me doesn't remember her walking in."

"Did anyone get her information?" House asked.

"We were waiting for a doctor. She hasn't said much and what she has said has all been nonsense." The attendant replied.

She handed House a small stack of files, which he accepted, again turning to observe the girl who couldn't seem to stop staring at him.

He turned to face the room and began to call for patients, "Marcus Powell?"

A man in the corner of the room stood up and House approached him. He noticed the man's armpits were stained from sweat and there were handprints of sweat on his pants. Without the man saying anything, House diagnosed him; "You have hyperhydrosis go see Dr. Klein on 3 for a Botox injection."

"But you didn't even…" House cut him off handing the man his own file, "Yeah, we're done here."

He turned back to the other patients, "Christopher Wilkinson?"

Another man in the opposite corner of the room stood up and House again approached him. As he walked, he again couldn't help but notice the unidentified young girl still staring at him.

He came up to the man who had stood and asked, "What seems to be the problem Chris?"

"Aren't you going to look at the file?" He asked.

"No point really, the people that write these things up are idiots, so what seems to be the problem?" House asked.

The attendant behind the desk gave House a snide smile and Chris replied, "I've been having a problem…you know…"

"Chris, there are about a million things you could be having a problem with, tying your shoes, getting it up, going number 2…"

Now flustered as House aired these embarrassing symptoms aloud, Chris replied quietly, "It's going number 1."

"Been to the dentist recently?" House asked confidently.

"Yeah, how'd you…" River shouted from the opposite end of the room cutting Chris off, "Nitrous Oxide poisoning, get yourself some B12."

As House's head snapped to face the girl, her eyes had closed and her head fell to its side. He dropped the files he held and on this rare occasion, hastily hobbled his way over to her. He grabbed a stethoscope from the neck of the attendant behind the desk and pressed it to River's chest as several attendants came to assist him.

"Heartbeat is normal." He raised her eyelid; "Pupils look good, so why is she unconscious?

He pulled away from her baffled, "Admit her and tell Cuddy a patient required my attention."