Actally I wanted to write something about Christmas, but then I got a new dog, just the way it happened in my story to House. He even has that scar on his leg and is feared of any stick I would hold in my hand. So I got myself a new pet, since nobody misses it and a new idea for the story. I hope you like it!

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House sat back on the sofa, leaving the cane on the floor and the dog jumped on it, too. House ruffled his fur, while he was thinking.

"Well, what happened to you, little fellow?"

He took another look at the dog. He was definitely a mongrel. About 1.5 feet high. He had a nice brown color. And yes, he was definitely a boy.

Suddenly House had to smirk. On the right hind leg he had a scar. It was a pretty big scar indicating that this animal had suffered a real bad injury. And after seeing the reaction to his cane, House could do the math very easy.

House had never cared for animals. If people needed the illusion of having a friend just because the animal doesn't have a choice since it needs food and a place to be, well good for them. But House didn't need, well didn't want such a "friend". But despite this, House had a problem with cruelty to animals. Mostly because it was the lack of ability to train an animal that leads people to harm their pets.

The dog jumped of the couch and went to the empty bowl in the kitchen. He looked at the dish, then at House and back at the dish. He was obviously hungry.

House sighed. There was definitely no take out for dog food.

"Gap in the market!", House thought when he got up and put on his jacket. He took his wallet and his keys. Then he opened the door, kicked the cane out in the floor and left the dog behind in his apartment. After he shut the door he picked up the cane and went to next supermarket to get himself and the dog some food.

He soon realized that this was not so easy since there is was a huge amount of different brands of dog food.

"This is ridiculous!", he said after 5 minutes, grabbed some cans and went to the liquor department. "Either he eats that stuff or he starves." he thought while finding himself a good bottle of scotch.

When he came home he realized that he should have brought some toys as well. Dogs will be dogs and so another LP became a victim of dogteeth.

He fad his new roomie and called Wilson.

"Hey buddy. How about a nice evening with good food and good TV?"

"Yeah sounds good, but wait a second. I have to fill in for that poor doctor who couldn't do his clinic hours because of that bad pain in his leg.", Wilson said in a sarcastic way.

"It's true; it is quiet bad, today." House defended himself.

"Maybe it's got something to do with all that bowling you did yesterday! I didn't notice that worsening pain that has been torturing you all week long, at least according to Cuddy." Wilson said.

"Oh come on. Just leave, Cuddy won't find out anyway."

"Cuddy knows that you lied to her, today!"

"And still I'm sitting on my couch with a good scotch in my hand! I rest my case, Wilson!"

He could hear Wilson sigh. "I'll be over in an hour." Then he hung up.

House still had a problem to work on. The dog seemed very nice and he even obeyed House.

"Come here!", " Sit down!", "Let go!", was no problem. Obviously somebody had trained him once. But as soon as he came close to his cane, the dog went nuts. He must have been hit very hard with a cane or something similar and it would take some time to rebuild his trust.

But House couldn't take a dog for a walk without his cane. What a coincidence that his good buddy Wilson was on his way, owner of a pair of very healthy legs.

"What the hell is this?", was Wilson's first reaction when he saw the dog.

"It's not a this, he's a he! Good thing, you are not a vet. They are called dogs!", House said.

"Where did you find it?", Wilson looked at the still dirty animal.

"Nowhere. He found me. Started stalking me when I got home and fell deeply in love with me obviously."

"Do I have to get jealous?", Wilson smiled.

"Oh no, don't worry. I think you two will leave each other. In fact you can start right now, it's time to walk the dog!"

Wilson knew there was something up. An invitation from House out of the blue, impossible.

"I'm not walking your dog! Those are the things you have to think about, before getting a pet!"

House rolled his eyes, it was lecturing time.

"I can't right now.", he finally said.

"Oh come on…", but Wilson was cut off, because House had picked up his cane and the dog showed the usual reaction.

"You can't keep him, he is dangerous!", Wilson shouted.

"He is not. He's frightened. So I have to convince him that this cane is not dangerous. It's gonna take some time and so I need you to walk him."

Wilson looked confused. House taking care for another living creature was really new. Wilson had spotted the huge scar on the dog's leg immediately and could imagine why House liked that animal. It was damaged. Physical and mental. So, birds of a feather flock together.

That could be really interesting.

"Alright. I do it. Where is his leash?", Wilson finally asked.

"I don't have a leash. What do you think? I have an emergency kit with all dogs supplies in my closet just in case a dog walks in?"

"House, you will have to get some stuff for him.", Wilson said.

"I already bought him some food.", House replied.

"Oh boy.", Wilson shook his head. "Come on, House, let's go shopping."

House smirked. "Well, Jimmy. I'll not share a changing room with you again!"

House put away some of his properties, so that the dog couldn't reach it, than he and Wilson headed off to get some dog stuff. While Wilson put all the necessary things together, House thought about a plan to make Wilson pay for everything. But this time it didn't work.

"I forgot my wallet, Wilson", House said when the guy at the cash waited for money.

"I know, that's why I took it with us.", Wilson smiled, pulling a wallet out of his jacket and handing the guy the money.

"Give it back!", House said annoyed.

They got back to the apartment and Wilson took the dog for a walk. A good opportunity for House to get back on his couch. Maybe his idea of keeping that dog was not good after all. The dog was out for 10 minutes and House was just glad about it. Wilson did him a favor and stayed away for an hour. House woke up when he heard the key in the lock.

"House, you really have to name him. People look really strange when you keep yelling "Dog!" through the park."

House rubbed his tired eyes. "I guess he already has a name. He is not really a puppy anymore."

"So you keep shouting names at him until he shows a reaction?", Wilson asked.

"I won't keep him anyway. He must belong to somebody. And if he doesn't, I'm sure I can find him a nice animal shelter.", House said while limping in the bath room. The dog followed him.

"Oh come on, House. You've tried taking care for him for 2 hours and you already give up?"

"I have used the 45 years before to realize that I don't want to have a dog. And what would I do with him when I'm in the hospital? He can't stay here alone all day long."

Wilson smirked. He pulled a flyer out of his jacket. "Found this at a street light.", he said handing it over to House.

"Busy with working? I take care for your dear pets! Phone: 555 378", the paper read.

House rumpled the paper and through it at the floor.

"Why would I get a dog when I have to pay another person to look after him, since I'm too busy?", he said shutting the bathroom door behind him.

His roomie was already there, waiting for his new master.

"Hey, no visitors allowed.", House said when he unbuttoned his pants to take a pee.

After he had released himself, he sat down on the edge of his bath tub and looked on his leg. The dog observed him, it didn't know that his move out was already planned.

House was opening his bottle with Vicodin when the animal came over and started licking over the scar on House's thigh.

House smiled. "If it was that easy, boy, I would be licking on it all day long."

He stroked the dog's head and took a deep breath.

Then he returned to the living room. Wilson had started to clean the couch.

"Pathetic!", House thought when he saw him.

He sat down anyway, followed by the dog that jumped up, too.

"Hey, excuse me. I'm cleaning your couch, here!"

"His name is Luke and I need you to walk him for a while.", House said ignoring his buddy.

"Okay", Wilson said looking a little bit confused. "What happened in there? Did you hit your head?"

House smirked. "What happens in the men's room, stays in the men's room, right?", he said looking at Luke.

"Great, fine. Well then you better call that number!", Wilson picked up the rumpled paper.

"I see you tomorrow, guys. I'll pick him up before work. o'clock!"

"Make sure you don't wake me up!", was House's way of saying thank you.

House realized during the next weeks, that he was pretty lucky with his pet. Luke was quiet, he obeyed and House taught him a few new tricks in a week. "Smart guy!", he often said to himself.

And his slow attempt to get Luke used to the cane showed first successes. Of course he didn't mention that to Wilson. He still showed up twice a day to take Luke for a walk.

House took Luke to a vet, to make sure that the dog was healthy. "He is in good shape, Dr. House. I think he had a rough time in the streets but he's strong. He should put on some weight, though. What are you feeding him?"

House shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever I eat, leftovers, dog biscuits, stuff like this."

"Oh no, Sir! You can't do that. He needs dog food. I'll give you some stuff to read."

House rolled his eyes. "He found his food in trash cans before he moved in with me. He's got an excellent diet now, compared to that."

"You as a doctor must know that humans and animals need different food, !"

"Alright, alright! Save the brochures. I'll find him his stuff."

The vet took another look at Luke.

"This scar here on his leg looks horrible. What might have caused it?"

"I don't know. I had to walk around without the cane for a while because he always got aggressive when I touched it. Now I mustn't raise it, since he still is afraid of it.", House said.

"Poor guy. But I think this injury here may be the result of a car crash. Maybe he was hit. Does he walk normal?"

"I think so. He's pretty fast when he sees a pussycat.", he raised an eyebrow. "Well, like master like dog, I guess!" The vet shook his head about that comment.

"I'd like to do an x-ray. Then we can see if his bones are alright."

House nodded. "Whatever the doctor orders!"

He sat down in the waiting room and played his PSP. He was surrounded by cats, dogs, rabbits, birds and many other pets. House felt like in a zoo. Fortunately he didn't have to wait long.

"", the nurse called him. "Please go back in room 1."

The vet was already there looking at the x-rays. Luke was sitting on the floor but he got up and waged his tail when he saw House. House looked at the images, too and even as a human physician he could see the trouble.

"He must have been in big pain. The femur had been broken in two places and since nobody had treated it, the bone didn't grow back in his original form.

"He's lucky he still can walk."

House had to laugh at the thought of this irony. He has had best medical care for his leg, but he hadn't been that lucky. And this dog gets hit by a car, breaks his leg and just walks it off, while living in the streets.

"Well, as long he feels fine, there is no problem.", House said and the vet agreed.

"Lucky boy! And make sure you get the right food, Dr. House."

"Thank you!", House said than he took the leash and off they went.

House was in the mood for a hot dog and there would be one for Luke as well…