CHAPTER 2: COFFEE CURRENCY
It was the next morning.
Thirteen stared into a half empty mug. She sighed as she grazed her slender finger tips around the rim.
"How's it going?" Cuddy sat down next to her.
"Good, I guess. Why are you here?" Thirteen asked.
"Well, I wanted to have a nice conversation with you." Cuddy answered.
"Yea right. That's why you have two coffee cups." Thirteen replied looking at the cups but not her.
"Okay fine. You caught me. I need you to let me in on what's going on with House. He's been so out of it lately." Cuddy replied dully.
"Isn't he always?"
"Yea, but it's different now. He seems… distracted." She held up the coffee cup. "I was hoping you would know something about it." She smiled.
"You were going to buy this information with coffee?" Thirteen asked, amused. Cuddy nodded. "I don't know anything Cuddy. Sorry." Thirteen brushed her off so easily.
"Fine." Cuddy stood up. "You can keep the coffee." Cuddy said nicely then left.
Thirteen stared at the hot coffee for a few seconds before pouring it into her mug. She sipped it thoughtfully. House had seemed really weird lately. But why should Cuddy care? Thirteen guessed it was just because Cuddy may be concerned if it affected his work. She stood up. She set the mug down and headed for the elevator.
She pressed number 3, the floor of the diagnostic room.
MEANWHILE IN THE DIAGNOSTIC ROOM
"Why isn't House here?" Taub asked as he flipped through the newspaper.
"Is that a serious question?" Kutner replied dully. "He hasn't been here for almost a week."
"I've seen him around the hospital." Taub replied.
"Just never in here." Kutner said, almost finishing his sentence.
Taub looked to the door when he heard high heals clicking on the marble floor.
Thirteen walked in with a tired look on her face. She slumped down in the chair next to Kutner.
"Where have you been?" Kutner asked.
"Coffee."
"Maybe that's where House is everyday." Taub added.
"Nah, Cameron gets him coffee every morning." Kutner said.
"Cameron gets him what?" A woman's voice startled them and they turned around.
"Hey Cameron." Thirteen said sleepily.
"Well we're all happy and skippy today." She replied jokingly.
"Just because Cameron gets his coffee, doesn't mean he doesn't get more throughout the day." Traub said, still looking at his newspaper.
"What are we talking about?" Cameron asked as she sat next to Thirteen.
"Where House has been lately." Thirteen replied.
"Hasn't he been around here?" Cameron asked.
"No, we haven't talked to him since last Thursday." Kutner said.
"Really? I just talked to him yesterday." Cameron replied. They looked at her. "Well, I gave him the regular coffee that I get him when I'm getting mine."
"That's the only time you talked to him yesterday?" Taub asked.
"Well, no. We talked briefly that night in the Nurse's West Wing."
"What about?" Thirteen asked without looking at Cameron.
"Just my job in the Nurse Wing." Cameron said casually.
"You liking it there?" Kutner asked.
"Yea, I am. It's not as intense as this job, but I feel like I'm doing something."
"This is intense?" Thirteen said jokingly rhetorical.
"It was." Taub said, putting emphases on 'was'. He set down his newspaper.
"Now we're all going to get our capes and become superheroes? Cuz that's the only way we're going to find House." Thirteen said.
"Well if you want." Cameron stood up. "I'm going to go find Cuddy." Cameron smiled and walked out of the room.
"We're getting no where fast." Kutner said. "The only way to find House is to look."
"Fine, let's just go." Thirteen said as she stood up.
"What's wrong with you today?" Taub said as he stood.
"Nothing, I'm just tired." She replied, brushing a piece of hair out of her face.
They headed down the hallway to the elevator. Kutner pressed number 5, Wilson's floor.
Chapter 2 done. Please leave reviews, it helps me become a better writer. Thanks and watch out for new chapters!