Cuddy was staying over-night for a medical conference at NYU, meaning that Stephanie had the house to herself. While she was working on her Trig homework, the phone rang and Stephanie saw the flashing lights. She glanced at the caller ID and saw that it was House calling. Stephanie turned on the TTY and began to type.

"Hello?"

"Hi. It's House. Put your mom on, kid".

"She's in New York" Stephanie told House.

"So you're home all alone?" he clarified.

"Yep. Why do you need something?" Stephanie asked with an innate curiousity. "Because I can take a message and pass it on to her later."

"No, actually. I was actually hoping to talk to you about something"

"Then why'd you ask for my mom?" Stephanie questioned.

"Just planning on going through the formalities, so your mom can't say that I went about this the wrong way."

"What do you mean the wrong way? What are you talking about?"

"You heard about what happened with me at the hospital, right?"

"Yeah," Stephanie answered skeptically.

"Well, there is a way that I can get my job back" House tentatively told her. Stephanie began to get really nervous. She couldn't imagine why he would be telling her this and not Cuddy. She knew something didn't seem right, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"What is it?"

"I don't understand this, but maybe you will. For some reason, Vogler wants to talk to you about something alone and in person. He says that if you agree to this, I'll get my job back."

"I don't know. Something just doesn't feel right about this" Stephanie confessed.

"Look, I rarely do this, but I am asking for help. Your help" House pleaded. "I will never be hired as a Pharmacy Technician, let alone a doctor in any office or hospital because of my crappy track-record. If I don't get my job back, than my life is gonna go down the gutters and it's gonna go down damn fast!" Stephanie bit her lip. On the one hand, she felt bad for House but, on the other hand, this whole feeling made her feel very uneasy.

"I'll call my mom and see what she thinks. Then I'll get back to you" Stephanie promised.

"No!" House quickly responded. "One of the conditions of this agreement is that your mom can never find out. If you agree, Vogler is going to say something along the lines of how he was talking with some associates and, despite my downfalls, he realized just what an excellent asset to the hospital I am. Also, how I would actually earn the hospital more money and improve its image. Then, because of that, he will say that he decided it would be best to push his personal feelings aside and agreed to hire me back."

"What does he want to talk to me about?"

"I don't know" House told her.

"I hate keeping secrets from my mom" Stephanie paused before continuing, "but if it'll help you get your job back, I'll talk with him."

"Great. I'll give him your address and he'll be there within an hour."

"Wait! Wait! I thought he was just going to call" Stephanie said.

"Yeah, he doesn't have TTY on his end, so no talking."

"But he doesn't need…" Stephanie had started to type when House interrupted.

"Ok, bye!" Stephanie had received a notification that the phone call had ended and hung up and phone . Stephanie bit her lip as she wondered what it was that Vogler wanted with her.

Roughly an hour later, the lights started flickering which signaled that someone had rung the doorbell. Stephanie peeked out the window and saw a man standing there. She assumed that this must be Vogler, so she opened the door. "Are you Mr. Vogler?" Stephanie said.

"Am I vocal?" the man asked confused. Stephanie chuckled and shook her head.

"No. Mr. Vogler" she said slowly, being sure to annunciate each syllable. "You him?" The man smiled and nodded. "Come in!" she said, stepping aside. Vogler walked up the stairs and into the living room while Stephanie locked the door behind her. Once she arrived in the living room she sat down across the room from Vogler. "So, what do I need to do for House to get his job back?"

"You're just like your mom" Vogler commented. "Always wanting to get straight down to business."

" I'm sorry, but can you talk a little slower, please? I'm not very good at lip reading yet."

"Never mind" Vogler said. "Anyway, sit down" he said patting the space on the couch next to him. Stephanie didn't feel comfortable sitting next to him, but put aside her discomfort for House's best interest. Once Stephanie was sitting, Vogler began to talk again. "So, my proposition is quite simple really" Vogler told Stephanie in a slow voice. "It doesn't involve money or any special skills, what-so-ever. Just a few minutes of your time."

"Do you need me to vouch for House at a Board Meeting?" Vogler shook his head. "Or you?" He inched closer to Stephanie, who began tensing up.

"Relax, Stephanie" he said putting his hand on her thigh.

"What are you doing?" Stephanie screamed as she pulled back.

"Just close your eyes and let me do all the work" Vogler snidely said.

"No!" Stephanie shrieked as she jumped off the couch and backed away from Vogler. "I'm not doing that! Get out!"

"Listen, either we do this, or I make sure House gets fired with no severance." Stephanie gave a bewildered expression. "You. Don't. Listen. House. Poof. Gone. Forever."

"You can't do that! My mom would never let that happen. You're breaking the law!"

"If you tell mommy, I will get her fired too" he said in a really slow and menacing voice. "Last chance!" Stephanie bit her lip before shaking her head, tears coming from her eyes. "You…need…you need to go!" Stephanie said, while staring at the floor. Vogler shook her by her arm, causing Stephanie to snap her head up.

"You'll be sorry. I'll make sure of that" he said as he walked down the stairs and out the door. Stephanie ran into her room, dove under her covers and began to cry. She felt scared, ashamed and guilty about everything. If she hadn't been so selfish and just said yes, than House would have a job. It was her fault that he was going to be fired. He was going to hate her. After a few minutes of cathartic sobbing, Stephanie picked up her cellphone and texted Cameron.

STEPHANIE: Are you busy?

About a minute later, she felt her phone vibrate.

CAMERON: No, why? What's up?

STEPHANIE: Can you come over? I don't want to be alone right now.

CAMERON: Is everything ok?

STEPHANIE: Can you please just come? I'll tell you everything when you get here.

CAMERON: Of course! I'm on my way.

Cameron, true to her word, was at the door ten minutes later. Stephanie peeked out the window and breathed a sigh of relief once she saw who it was. She opened the door and let Cameron in. Once the door was locked, Stephanie broke down in the middle of the hallway.

"What's wrong?" Cameron signed.

"I am a horrible person!"

"Why do you think that?"

"I got House fired" Stephanie said as she sat down on the floor and leaned against the wall. Cameron took a seat next to her.

"You didn't, Steph! Vogler did."

"Vogler wouldn't be firing him if I had just done what he wanted." Cameron tilted her head and looked at Stephanie with pure bewilderment.

"What are you talking about?"

"He came over before and told me that he would let House keep his job if I did a favor for him, a sexual favor, and I said no. Then he…"

"Wait! "Cameron interrupted, flailing her arms like crazy. "He tried to have sex with you?" Stephanie nodded.

"And because I said no, House is going to lose his job!"

"I'm calling your mom!" Cameron told her. Stephanie's eyes widened as she began to shake her head.

"No. Don't! He'll fire her too if she finds out. He told me that!" Cameron put her hand on Stephanie's shoulder.

"He was just saying that to scare you. I promise I will do whatever it takes to make sure your mom keeps her job" Cameron promised.

"What about House?"

"I'll see what I can do to help him out too" Cameron assured her.

"Thank you! For everything!" Cameron smiled as she pulled Stephanie into a tight embrace.

"Anytime" Cameron signed, once they had pulled apart.