Well, so far, no takers. But I'm enjoying my story!! Much much much gratitude to my lovely, lovely Beta reader! Check her out in all her wonderfulness at .net/u/1272542/Swing_Girl_At_Heart

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Chapter Three

Applicant Theatre: Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital

"This is Ms. Bricks," House said, stalking into the lecture theatre. "She – "

"It's DOCTOR Bricks," she said, following him to the front of the hall. "Don't panic. I'm not here to steal a job. I'm a diagnostician and my superiors thought that it would be good for me to learn from Dr. House for a while. No sweat."

She looked around her. The faces were warily welcoming. House flipped his cane at a seat and she took it as Wilson quietly slipped in at the back door.

"You're solving my clinic," House said, dropping a stack of manila folders onto his desk. It was directed at the whole room, but his blue eyes stared, pebble-hard at Doctor Bricks.

"Patient is tired and pale. Significant note of PKD in - "

"Anaemia. Possibly inherited PKD." Bricks caught on.

"Don't you want us to examine the patients?" Number Nine protested but they were still going.

House threw aside the first folder and picked up the second.

"Caucasian, 40-year-old male, upper abdominal pain, also complaining of regular stomach upsets, nausea and regular heartburn."

"His rings?"

He couldn't hide a grin. "Solid gold signets."

"Dyspepsia."

"This isn't fair!" pointed out Thirteen.

House tossed down that folder, picked up another. "12-year-old Hispanic female, rapid unexplained weight loss, hair loss, mouth ulcers and fever."

"Autoimmune. Check her joints and lymph nodes, possibly lupus."

The folders were switched again. Every doctor in the room had his or her mouth hanging open. House and Bricks were looking at one another and seemed totally unaware that anyone else was in the room.

"White 20-year old female, complaining of a burning sensation when - "

House was abruptly cut off as Cuddy stormed into the room. She looked furious. "Stop it. Now!" she commanded. The room fell silent.

"It's an STD," Bricks said calmly. Appalled, Cuddy turned to her.

"What?"

"The patients' photograph. She's white, blonde, she's definitely had her tits enlarged. Even in a medical photo, she's posing suggestively. Lots of bling. I'm guessing she's a sex worker or erotic dancer of some sort. Symptom was a burning sensation when – when what? When she pees? When she has sex?" she shrugged. "No great difference."

After several moments, Cuddy looked around her. "Clinic. All of you. Go!"

The doctors trickled out of the doors like a stream depressed at its surroundings. Taub approached Elizabeth.

"Everyone in this room is a good doctor. But you also seem like a good person. House isn't. Either you'll hide your talent to make the ride easier, or House will poison you. Poison you like he poisoned his last team. Either way – I'm sorry," he told her.

Then with a sympathetic smile, he slipped away, leaving her wondering just what the result of her time in America would be. After a few moments she caught up with the other members of the team.

"I'm really not a plant," she emphasised, running to the front of the group so she could turn around and face them all. There was a long pause.

"Taub," he introduced himself.

"What are you doing?" muttered Thirteen. "Of course she's a plant."

"Shut up," Amber told her, annoyed at the brunette's paranoia. "Amber."

"Zibby," the Scot smiled gratefully. She noted the slightly confused looks. "Elizabeth. Please don't use it, it's way too English."

"You…dislike the English?" Kutner asked her.

"Yep, as should anyone with Scottish blood in their heart," she told him vehemently.

There was an awkward pause as the group wondered how to respond to such heartfelt racism. Zibby, however, was unconcerned. It was normal in her opinion.

"So, eh – clinic?"

Amber was thrilled to see Thirteen's clear dislike of their new colleague. She didn't like the pretty brunette one bit as Thirteen was probably her biggest contender for a job – or so she thought.

"C'mon Zibby," she said, stepping forward with a smirk. "Let me show you."