Chapter One – Catch Up
"House," Cuddy chirped on her way back to her office, waving a folder. "eleven-year-old girl exhibiting dystonia, seizures, and inability to sleep."
House stopped mid-limp and grabbed the folder from a startled Cuddy and continued wordlessly to the elevator with Wilson.
"You're still not speaking to her?" Wilson confirmed more than asked. Since finding out she was adopting a baby, House had refused to speak to or about her. The time usually spent making offensive remarks about her low-cut tops and over sized backside was replaced by a new and distinctive blank stare that endlessly intrigued Wilson.
"Who, Thirteen?" House asked innocently. "No, no. We're bestest buddies now. But don't worry, you were my best gal-pal first." He wrapped his free arm around Wilson's shoulders in a patronizing hug. "We still on for the Jonas Brothers concert tonight?"
Wilson grimaced as he shook him off. "I've got a patient waiting. We'll continue this later."
"Alrighty, BFF!" House called down the hall as he opened the door to his own office. He tossed the folder in the middle of the table and straightened his posture as he regarded his team. "Taub, you're looking guilty and adulterous."
"We're working things out." Taub grumbled, opening the patient's folder.
Disappointed by Taub's reaction, House tried again. "Kutner, you're looking desperate for female attention."
"I am." He conceded. "Hand me the file when you're done."
"What's with you guys?! Is someone pumping ether in here? React to something!"
Foreman rolled his eyes.
"Ohhh, Thirteen gave you guys some of her happy pills."
"I don't do—" Thirteen objected as she jumped to her feet.
"I don't care what pills you take as long as they're not mine." House said flatly as he popped 3 or 4 vicodine. "Now then," He continued. "eleven-year-old; dystonia, seizures, and no nappy times." He haphazardly wrote the symptoms on the white board.
"Lead poisoning could explain the dystonia." Taub offered.
"She'd have to be eating cheap Chinese toys to get that much lead." Foreman scoffed.
"Seizures could be caused by hypoglycemia." Thirteen added.
House shook his head, shooting the idea down."Glucose is normal."
Kutner fidgeted with a paper clip, stealing glances at Thirteen sitting next to him.
"Kutner, ideas!" House prodded, pacing in front of the group.
Again, Kutner looked at Thirteen and didn't say anything.
"Kutner!" House barked.
"Juvenile HD fits." He mumbled.
"Excellent, Juvenile Huntington's Dystonia it is!" House said brightly. "Foreman, draw blood out of the twitchy kid. The rest of you can waste the rest of the week in the clinic. Aren't you glad I un-fired you, Thirteen?"
"I'm thrilled." Thirteen retorted.
Foreman opened the door and Thirteen brushed past him in an angry flurry.
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of their genetic disorder."
"Classy, House." Foreman said angrily.