Murphy, Wilson's downstairs neighbor, was still tearful and shaking somewhat as he repeated to House for the third time, "Thank-you." House finished cutting away the tape which held Murphy to the chair, and saw the relief in Murphy's eyes. He was thrilled that he'd been able to rid this man of pain endured for 36 years, since losing his right hand in a land mine explosion in Vietnam.
"Glad I could help," House told him. "If the pain flares up again, repeat this exercise in the mirror box. It may take several treatments for the full benefit to take effect."
Murphy's smile spread from ear to ear, and he said "It's wonderful now, better than it's ever felt. Thank-you."
"You already said that, and you're welcome, again," House replied.
"I should've figured you were a doctor, since you're staying with Dr. Wilson. Do you work with him?"
"Yeah, same hospital, but I'm not an oncologist."
"Whatever you are, I'm glad you moved in. Sorry I was such a prick about the cane. Actually, it was never all that loud. I'm just – things aggravate me easily. Or at least they used to."
"No need for an apology. I get it."
"You really do, don't you?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
"Why are you staying with Dr. Wilson?"
"I was recently released from the hospital."
"For your leg?"
"No, not directly. That happened ten years ago. But it was related – I needed to kick a narcotics habit."
"So what do they have you on now?"
"Just prescription-strength Ibuprofen, and muscle relaxants for when the spasms get bad."
"And is that enough?"
"Not really, but I don't have much choice. Can't risk the side effects of going back to narcotics."
"I've taken too much over the years, too. Just couldn't deal with life without them. Maybe now I'll be able to."
"Don't try anything on your own. Even if the pain's gone, if you've been on them for a long time, you'll need to detox under a doctor's supervision."
"Right. Good advice."
"I gotta go now. See ya."
"I really can't thank you enough, Greg."
"De nada."
"No, it's not nothing. It's everything. You know it's everything, and that makes what you did even more amazing."
"I'm lucky it worked. Just think of the trouble I'd be in now if it hadn't!"
Murphy laughed, and House grinned at him and then turned to walk out.
"Just one more thing," Murphy said.
"Yeah?"
"Maybe you guys can come down here sometime. I'm not much of a chef, but take-out's doable with one hand. You like hockey? I've got a big screen. I've gotta pay you back somehow."
"You know what you can do? Let Wilson have his garden expansion."
"Well, it's not totally my decision, but I'll do what I can to convince the rest of the condo board. That's all?"
"Yeah. That'll make him happy. Doesn't mean we can't also hang out sometime, though."
"I'll look forward to it."
House nodded and walked out. As he made his way back to Wilson's, he chuckled to himself. Sedatives and duct tape – the lengths he went to sometimes were really ridiculous. But it had worked, and that's all that mattered.