Everybody Lies
Chapter 4
The following day, the Bith hadn't improved in the least. The allergy medicine hadn't really done anything and later Cameron's theory prove to be completely wrong. In fact, the being was rapidly failing and it would be a matter of hours before she died. And House and his team still didn't know why. The patient's husband was right by her side, worriedly stroking her hand and watching every single action the doctors made.
House entered the room and limped over to his patient.
"Who are you?" the husband asked.
"A cripple," House retorted. "What's it to you?" House looked over the monitors and began rummaging inside one of the bins of med supplies.
"What are you doing?"
House rolled his eyes at the husband. "Doing my job," he said. "I happen to be your wife's doctor."
"So you're the doctor my wife hasn't met yet!" he exclaimed angrily.
"At last you catch on," House replied.
The Bith looked increasingly more. "Don't get smart with me," he said.
House smirked. "I think I already did." Then he pulled out a handheld scanner and held it over the patient's chest.
"What are you doing?" the husband asked.
House ignored him as he studied the scanners readings. Then he looked up to face him. "Your wife's lung is failing."
"No!" the husband cried in shock and fear. "But Bith only have one lung!"
"Yeah," House said with a snort. "I did go to medical school."
The Bith looked angry for a moment, but his concern over his wife stopped him from yelling at the rude doctor. "What is going to happen to her?"
"She needs a lung transplant," House said. "But even if we did that, I still don't know what did this to her in the first place."
The Bith put his hands over his large black eyes. "Is there anything I can do?"
"Hold her hand," House replied. "And hope for the best."
"House, we need to talk." Cuddy said, following him down the hall.
"I don't want to make out with you!" House said loud enough for everyone to hear.
Cuddy gave him a dirty look, but ignored his remark otherwise. "You have to go to court today."
"I have a case," House protested.
"Which will have to wait," Cuddy replied, handing House a datacard. "See you in court."
"If my patient dies I'm blaming you!" House shouted after her.
"You're killing your patient?" said Wilson, walking over to his friend.
"Only temporarily." House said. "Want to come to my hearing?"
"Really House, I have been to so many of those." Wilson replied with a sigh.
"You'll be there, right?" House asked as Wilson started to walk outside.
Wilson stopped and was motionless for a moment, and then House heard an exasperated sigh.
"Of course,"
"Objection!" retorted the Twi'lek's attorney, glaring at House.
"Of course he's objecting," House said loud enough for everyone to hear. "He's said it at least a dozen times since this started."
"Dr. House," the Bothan judge gave him a stern and very frustrated look. "Need I remind you, for the third time I might add that you are speaking out of turn. I've been very patient with you so far, but one more outburst and I'm holding you in contempt."
House only rolled his eyes once the judge wasn't looking.
"Overruled," the judge said, looking at House's harried attorney. "You may continue."
"Yes, your Honor," he replied. "Dr. House has a well established reputation for being one of the most brilliant minds in medicine galaxy wide. He's a bit unorthodox in some respects, but in all actuality Dr. House knows what he's talking about."
"Objection," cried the other attorney once more.
"If I earned a credit for every time he said that—" House said quietly to Wilson who was sitting right behind him.
"You would be able to pay me back," Wilson finished referring to the many times House had 'borrowed' credits over the years.
"Why would I want to do something like that?" House asked, rolling his eyes, and looking back up to hear what was going on.
"Dr. House said that my client's wife was having an affair. That is a completely unethical practice and it has emotionally traumatized my client," the opposing attorney said.
"Dr. House, is this true?" the judge asked.
"Yes, your Honor," House agreed. "But it wasn't a lie."
"Dr. House, your lack of bedside manner is alarming. I will not let this case go before a jury but this is what I want done. Dr. House will be required to attend a lecture on harassment, and if he passes the course, all will be forgiven."
"But," the Twi'lek cried in protest.
"It has also come to my attention that this isn't the first time you've tried to sue a doctor for harassment, and if I hear of you doing it again, I will have you behind bars. Court is adjourned."
Embarrassed the Twi'lek stood up quickly and started to leave. As he did, House gave him a thumbs up and a smirk causing the Twi'lek to storm out of the room.
"Well that was fun," House said, with a smile.
"Loads, almost as much fun as when you went against that Tritter guy from Dantooine a few years ago," Wilson replied nonchalant.
And suddenly without any warning at all, a strange look crossed House's face. It was a look that Wilson recognized very well. It was the look his friend wore whenever he had an epiphany of any kind. Usually it meant that House would run off without warning and then solve his case in record time.
Dantooine. House thought with excitement as he left the court in a hurry. Why didn't I think of it before?
