"doctor beckett!" a woman called, annoyed from down the hallway of princeton plainsboro teaching hospital.

"doctor cuddy! how nice to hear you're voice again. go away."

"beckett, i dont care how brilliant you are, i sign your paychecks."

jaclyn beckett turned around, and her striking green eyes found doctor cuddy, walking down the hall.

"sup."

"you need to write on your paperwork when you work in the clinic. which, you do too little."

jackie looked at cuddy. her facial expressions looked like she was gonna rant. jackie rolled her eyes and looked at cuddy. then, she turned right around and continued walking down the hall, with no regard to her boss.

"YOU KNOW, BEING HEAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE IS GETTING TO YOUR HEAD!" cuddy yelled after her. she always wondered why jack thought she was head of the hospital. she was even new here! "just like house." she thought.
jack turned around, shot a smirk at cuddy as if she knew what she was thinking and continued walking.

"ah, jack. just in time for me to leave." a man said, watching a woman enter his office. she was undenyably beautiful, with stunning green apple eyes and chestnut hair that flowed to about halfway down her back. she was wearing a flowy green skirt and a green t-shirt. she wore simple black jewlery. she looked incredibly summery

"house." her cool voice said. her eyes strayed to the whiteboard in the room next to her. she stood there for a moment, with gregory house watching her, until her eyes flickered back to him.

"thats lung cancer."

"what?" house said, surprised at her instant diagnosis. he'd been working on this case for days.

"it fits. a hoarse voice and swelling of the face are less common symptoms but are symptoms nonetheless. the rest of them fit perfectly with lung cancer. talk to wilson. get a biopsy to confirm." jack finished her diagnosis and looked at house's stunned face. he was tall, had brilliant blue eyes, a cane, brown, messy hair and never wore a lab coat.

everyone always said they were twins in personality, just jack was female.

greg house looked at the whiteboard, then at jackie, then at the whiteboard.

"nice one. i hate it when you do that."

a smile formed across jack's face. thanks. then, she sighed and threw herself into the chair across the desk from house.

"what?" house asked curiously. she was quieter than usual.

"cuddy. clinic. paperwork."

"say no more."

they sat in silience for a while, until cameron, chase, and foreman came in.

"we tested for everything, house. shes 0/14." dr. robert chase said, referring to the patient jack had just diagnosed. he was austrailian, blond hair. reasonably good-looking, but definetly not jackie's type.

"we need to opera--" dr foreman insisted, but was cut off. dr eric foreman was black, bald, and annoying, in jack's opinion.

"she's diagnosed." house interjected.

"with what?" allison cameron said. she was short, with brown hair, and seemed to be a puppy, constantly caring.

"lung cancer." dr. beckett said happily.

"beckett. hi." cameron said coldly.

jack turned to face house and smiled smugly. allison cameron was always spiteful about house getting along with a jerk like beckett more than a sweet girl like her.

"lung cancer?" chase started, but when he tried to prove the diagnosis wrong, he could not.

"who diagnosed that?" foreman asked

"beckett." house said, gazing at dr. beckett.
"of course." the ducklings were always very spiteful of jack when she made a diagnosis like this. they did all the tests after all. they did all the work.

everyone was quiet for a minute until dr beckett stood up.

"well.. i'm just gonna go, seeing as how im feeling extremely awkward." jack straigtened up, smiled at greg, regarded the ducklings with a nod, and proceeded to leave the room. but before she could, greg said

"find wilson. and send him to me k?"

"i assume thats for your patient."

"no i just have a facination with wilson." house retorted sarcastically.

"thats what i figured. it would explain alot if you were gay." jack shot back, grinned evilly, and left the room

from her office she called dr. james wilson. he was medium sized, with short brown hair, and was one of the only people who could put up with house.

"wilson. house wants you. for a patient i mean. sorry to get you all excited." jack said, without any helloes, or how-are-yous.

"hi beckett. kissed house yet?"

"are you deaf? call house." beckett said, and dropped the reciever back to its cradle. she always got those jokes. everyone in the hospital were sure house and jack were soulmates. they fit well together. very well. house was twice her age, and noone cared. that's soulmates. jack could see it. house wanted it. the only thing in their way was a man -- rob ellis. jack's boyfriend. house called him abusive. he didnt treat her right. he was always mad, and jaclyn honestly didnt know why she was with him. she didnt love him. heck, she didnt even know she liked him. but she loved to see him try to control her. noone could control her. rob thought he could. he was wrong. jack took great pride in that. house and her never said a word about it though.

jack sighed. then she got up from behind her desk, packed up her stuff, put it in a black briefcase and left her office. as she left she sub-consciously read the door.

dr. jaclyn beckett md. head of the department of infectious disease

she smiled as she left. she loved her title.

the next day jack entered princeton plainsboro with a simple blue button-up shirt, a black short skirt, and her briefcase as usual. before she could even enter he department someone yelled after her.

"DOCTOR BECKETT!"

beckett turned.

"house, you really dont have to yell. im right here."

"you were walking too fast. hello, im cripple. accommadations must be made."

they entered the infectious disease ward together.

cuddy immediately found them and they were just planning an escape when cuddy reached them.

"you two, foreman, wilson, me, chase, and cameron are going on a plane to san diego tomorrow."

house and beckett exchanged confused looks.

"may i ask why?" house said questioningly

"representation for each of our roles at the hospital. foreman will be representing neurology, cameron--immunology, chase--intensive care, wilson - oncology, me -administry, jack youll be doing infectious disease, and house you can do diagnostic medicine." cuddy said.

house and jack exchanged looks again. this time it was of despair.

"i hate events like this. so posh. not my taste." jack said.

"deal with it." cuddy retorted.

"whats in it for us?" house shot at cuddy

"a party. poker, alcohol, and a 5 star hotel room."

"oooh fiesta!" house said in a fake italian accent.

jack laughed. house never told her he loved her laugh.

"pack, now. go home, and meet us at the airport by 7 am tomorrow." cuddy commanded.

at 7: 40 am the next day , cameron, chase, foreman, wilson, cuddy, house, and beckett boarded the plane to san diego. it was a short flight, and soon they landed. they immediately went to check in at the hotel.

"damn. looks like we didnt get enough rooms. they gave one of them up to tourists." cuddy informed them once she returned from the front counter. the rest of the crew were in the lobby. "we have 6 rooms. we have to figure out who gets their own."

immediately house and beckett said "ROCK , PAPER, SCISSORS!" cuddy and the others looked at them , shrugged and they placed their hands in.

house, beckett, and wilson all played scissors in a strategic move. but cameron, foreman, and chase played rock, and they secured themselves a room. cuddy played paper, but because there wasnt enough rooms for beckett, house and wilson alone, the four of them put their fists in again. rock.. paper.. scissors. cuddy played rock this time, but wilson, beckett and house stubbornly played scissors.

cuddy secured for herself a room. wilson, house, and beckett were left. they did it one more time, and wilson won with a scissors, expecting house and beckett would play scissors too, again. but house and beckett played paper this time. , hoping wilson would get some spine and play rock this time.

but he didnt.

wilson got his own room. beckett and house would have to share. they looked at each other and both thought "this should be interesting."

the party was to be held in 20 minutes. all the crew were getting ready to go. this was a formal night, and everyone dressed accordingly. all the guys wore black tuxes, and the women went all-out.

cameron dressed in a red long dress with pearls around her neck. cuddy wore a blue, low cut dress.

cuddy, cameron, house, wilson, foreman, and chase were all playing poker around one table.

jack was nowhere to be seen yet.

they were playing fiercely, and chase was wondering to go all in with a 2 pair, and he lifted his coke to his lips, but he couldnt drink it. he put it back on the table and his eyes drifted away across the room.

house looked up from his cards.

"chase. are you gonna say something or..." house noticed chase was looking away and he followed his gaze.

jack had entered the room, 10 minutes late. she was dressed gorgeously. she wore a white dress that fit her magnificently. she wore white eyeshadow, mascara, and the little makeup she applied was put on by her own professional hand.

the guys were already closing in.

house had to say, she looked amazing... and... she was going to his hotel room.

she shook off the guys asking her for her number and she strode over to their poker table. she sat down behind the poker table and said,
"mind if i join you? you look good, greg." she added to house, noticing his tux. he did look great.

"i always look good, jack. you..look amazing by the way." house answered.

"i always look amazing, greg. chase, deal me in."

chase immediately dealt her in.

cuddy and cameron looked a bit annoyed at the guys. they were all drooling over jack. and jack played them like the fiddles they were.

except house. he was immediately lustful, but he kept it in check and showed her she would have a challenge in him.

jack rose to it magnificently.

the cards were dealt.

jack was landed with a 2 and a 4. house had an A and a Q. chase had a 5 and a K. wilson had a A and a 8. cameron left the table to go get a drink and cuddy joined her. foreman had a 7 and a J.

they all bet 6 chips and the river was put in place by house, who was the dealer at the moment.

the river was a 4, a 9 and a 7.

jack realized her opportunity and bet high.

only house challenged her.

an Ace was added to the river.

jack kept pushing house and he kept following her. then, a 3 was put in the river.

jack went all in. house, after staring intently at beckett, folded.

beckett laughed soflty, turned her cards over and raked in her loot. house was astounded. she didnt have any tells. no rapid eye blinks, no twitch of the lips. house might have figured it out if she had talked during the rally, but she was silient, and her body language was flawless. she had flawlessly decieved him. she was an excellent liar.

the game went on until the only three people left in the game were foreman, house, and jack.

the game went on longer, and longer. after another 6 rounds, cameron and cuddy came back and watched the game. foreman was out soon after they came back.

it was jack and house left in the game.

house realized his opportunity. he couldn't wait to see where this would go. the rest of the team were extremely interested too, but noone was more interested than house and jack themselves.

"oooh this could be the big icebreaker.. where house and beckett finally profess their love!" wilson mocked.

jack's eyes flickered to wilson. he could just feel the highly sarcastic and snarky retort he was gonna get back for that one.

"if something does happen, im sorry i got there first, wilson."

wilson was not disappointed. the comment was loaded with sarcasm, snark, and attitude. house smirked and looked down at his cards.

jack had two aces. she masked her joy beautifully.

house had a K and a Q.

the river was put down after much betting.

it was a K and Q and a 4

house had a two pair. jack had a pair.
more betting...

the next river card was a 8

more betting...

the final card for the river was an A

jack immediately went all in.

house was surprised at her immediate move. it was risky. all in was a huge move.

house called her, and went all in

when they flipped cards, beckett smiled her widest smile.

house looked down and smirked.

"nice game, greg." jaclyn said. she was smiling.

"yeah. i got my ass kicked by the female breed.." house said.

"get used to it." jaclyn said, smiled once more at house, got up and as she passed house she put her hand on his shoulder. and as she continued walking it slipped off.

house sat there in the midst of his coworkers yelling "OOOOH... OUCH!" and thought hard.

"she was playing hard to get, he decided," and he followed her.

jack was already being enveloped by a crowd of men. house hussled to come up behind her and he placed his hands strategically on her hips.

he felt her tense, and then she turned around to see house and she smiled gamely.

"hi sweetie" house said.

"hi hon." jack said back, catching on

house looked behind her and saw the men start clearing, thinking she was taken.

he smiled and said, "you really shouldnt dress like that. it might not be for your well-being."

jack grinned and said, "im allowed to be pretty."

"you're not allowed to be sexy."

"oh yeah?"

"yeah!"

jack looked at house and said, "ill take that into account. thanks."

she slid her hands down to house's (which were still on her hips) and pulled them lightly off her. instead, she took his hand in hers, in order to maintain the fake couple status they were pulling off.

they moved over to the punch bowl and poured themselves a cup. house wathced her drink and pondered her. jack watched him occassionally and knew he was trying to figure her out.

it was getting late. at 1 o clock the party ended, and cuddy told them all their flight left at 2 the next day. there were told to spend the nights in their hotels, and not to get into any trouble. (here she looked pointedly at beckett and house). the crew left the room in the hotel that they were using for the party and went upstairs to their rooms. they said goodnight to eachother and as they did so, wilson pulled house aside and said to him "please dont hurt her". house smiled and said "cant make any promises, but ill do my best." jack heard the whole thing and smiled. she entered her room and held the door for house.

he entered and threw his cane on the double bed that was there.

"behave, kids!" cuddy yelled at their door, and house and jack looked at each other, planning something. just then they fake kissed each other and the crew laughed. cuddy reminded them again though to behave and house shut the door in her face.

beckett and house laughed and fell on their bed.

"that was a fun night." jack stated

"i hate to say it, but im glad i came." house responded

"OH WOW, GREG! YOU LIKED SOMETHING! im proud of you." jack said sarcasticly.

"you didnt have to be so mean!" house fake cried and jack giggled.

"so... now that we're alone. wanna play a game?" jack asked eagerly.

"you're meaning to say you're not tired?" house asked.

"im never tired."

"fair enough. what game did you have in mind?"

"i dunno. something really immature. something i havent played in a while." jaclyn thought hard.

"truth dare?" greg suggested

jack giggled and accepted. "what have i got to lose?"

"ill go first."

they played vivaciously for a while, starting with small stuff. first kisses, highschool memories, memories from med school. then they escalated to bigger things like feelings towards their coworkers, and finally, they got to rob.

"do you love him?" house asked on his turn.

jack looked at him, wondering if she should tell the truth.

"aha. too long. you dont."

"no. i dont."

"do you even like him?"

"this is turning more into a conversation."

"good. that means your turn is just answers. then its my turn again to ask a question."

"fine. no i dont like him."

house looked at her curiously. "then why are you with him?"

jack smiled slyly. "he's an easy target. thinks he's better than me. its easy to make comments to him. one after the other. he just adds fuel to the fire. its great fun."

then house went into dangerous waters. "you know, they think we should--"

"i know..."

"what do you think?"

"i dunno... i wouldnt mind." she looked up to see house smiling.

"what?" she demanded

"nothing... its just; i won."

"won what?"

"won. against rob. against the mob that surrounded you tonight. i won."

jack smirked and said, 'not yet. technically im still dating rob, remember?"

house rolled his eyes, and said "you want more proof that you like me better than him?"

"sure."

"give me your wrist."

beckett did so and held out her wrist to him. he took it and checked the pulse. "normal heart rate, right?" he said

"yup."

just then, house suddenly leaned in and kissed her passionately. when she tried to pull away, he put his hands around her head, holding her to him. after a while, she leant into it, and when he tried to end it, tilted her head and made it more passionate. when it finally ended, house took her wrist again and found her pulse.

he smiled and said "check your pulse." jack put her hand on her neck. her pulse was three times what it usually was. "you dont get excited for no reason, jackie." he said.

jackie smiled, faced house and said, "you realized i totally just cheated on rob, right?"

house smiled and pulled out his cell phone.

"call him. end it." house insisted.

"greg..."

"come on. you dont love him. you love me remember?"

"i never said that."

"you will." he held out the phone again.

jack took it, dialed rob's number and he picked up.

"hey its rob."

"damnit. hes drunk". jack thought. "rob. hi. im breaking up with you."

"WHAT?"

"yeah, it just doesnt work for me."

"your gonna pay.." rob stuttered drunkenly.

"im sure i will." jack said, "maybe perhaps if you lightened up, stopped abusing me, and started to love me, we'd be friends. but, thats not gonna happen. stay away from me."

and with that, she hung up. she looked up from the phone to see house looking horrified.

"what?"

"he ACTUALLY abuses you?"

"um..." jack quickly tried to think of an excuse but house was drilling into her mind with his eyes. "yeah. he does. i usually fight him off, but he manages to bruise me once in a while."

"its not-- sexual?"

jack let out a cold laugh. "trust me, he tries. but usually hes drunk. so i fight him off, come to work and work late for a while."

"i'll kill him."

"no you wont. dont you dare. just let him be. i dumped him now, remember?"

jack looked down at house's phone in her hands. greg put a thumb underneath her chin and lifted her head up. and he kissed her again. when they pulled away greg looked curiously at her and said,

"so does this mean what the hospital has always feared has come to be?"

"what?"

"the two medical geniuses, sarcastic and witty, are teaming up."

jack laughed and said softly, "yeah, i guess so."

the rest of the night was talking, laughing, and kidding around, and by 3 o'clock they'd fallen asleep in each other's arms.