And so...House was back.
Wilson had not been able to give her many answers. She only knew that House had called and asked Wilson to pick him up at the Airport.
That morning Cuddy saw him entering the hospital front door, like nothing had happened, like he had exited from that same door just the night before. Apparently the same House.
She didn't even expect him coming to work the same day of his return, almost directly back from the airport.
But here he was.
He was walking through the door smiling and joking with Wilson, a cup of coffee in his left hand, the usual rumpled shirt ... yes, the usual House.
He had hoped to go unnoticed, but he couldn't avoid to see her.
She was there, signing some documents at the nurses' counter. She had just looked up to talk to Nurse Brenda when she saw him entering with Wilson. Their eyes met. In her eyes he could read relief mixed with astonishment and unanswered questions... his eyes were inscrutable as usual but she can't see anger or resentment, perhaps only a veiled pain.
"Good morning" he said approaching her.
She hesitated... then she could just said "Good morning".
They stood there looking at each other trying to find the right words, then, when she was about opening her mouth to speak, he talked.
"Uhm ... ok ... I have to go ... Work...backlog. ... I'll be in my office if you ... need anything." and he headed for the elevator.
She watched his slightly limp toward the elevator. His limp seemed less pronounced, different, but maybe it was just her impression. She hadn't seen him for three weeks and those had been three not at all easy weeks to deal with.
His words had been firm, a bit cold, but not rude. He could have thrown one of his sarcastic jokes or one of his sharp comments, and instead he had been strangely ... polite. She didn't know whether to consider this a good sign ... or a bad one ...
Wilson glanced at her as he followed House toward the elevator. A look that said "It's all right... see you later."
House hesitated before entering the differential room where his team was arguing a case.
They sat around the table and were listening to Chase.
Cuddy had warned them about House's return in Princeton, but she couldn't have given them other news or saying when he would come back as head of the team. House inexorably was their leader...that was never gonna change.
"I hope you're not too accustomed to your scepter of power" he said entering and pointing his cane toward Chase with his usual mocking tone "As the saying goes, when the cat's away the mice will play". A veiled smile seemed to appear on his lips as he approached to take a chair and sat stretching his legs on the table.
The team watched the scene for a moment, looking him like a ghost.
Seeing House after three weeks was strange... seeing him so apparently ... healthy... left them speechless.
"Wow... three weeks on the west coast made you better than I thought" Foreman said.
"The show must go on" he said back before adding "So what have we got?".
With a quick move he took the folder from Taub's hands and began to read it.
Yes, he looks the same House.