Two folders sat open on the table in front of special jonin House and his team. As much as House agreed that a thirteen-year-old genin rendered comatose by a rare jutsu was fascinating beyond belief, the rest of the team had to admit that the patient who wasn't stable took precedence over the one who, despite being unconscious, miraculously was.

"Patient is an eighteen-year-old male shinobi presenting with massive hemoptysis and respiratory failure. Complete blood count reveals leukocytosis and anemia. Wilson's overseeing a brochoscopy as we speak."

"Anemia could just be a result of blood loss. But elevated white blood cell count points to infection. Probably a myobacterial infection or tuberculosis." Chase suggested.

"Sputum culture and blood tests were negative for both."

"Doesn't rule out all infections. Depending on mission location, he could have picked up almost anything. We should start him on broad-spectrum antibiotics. Maybe we'll get lucky."

"The problem might not be an infection at all." Cameron interrupted. "It could be a structural abnormality of the lungs."

"Or it might be a tumor. Hemoptysis could easily be the result of advanced lung cancer. So could the anemia."

"Bronchiectasis could also account for the anemia and the bleeding." Cameron continued. "Plus, excessive mucous production could lead to increased susceptibility to infection. It would explain why his white blood cell count is elevated – he could have contracted another infection without even being aware of it yet."

House nodded.

"Bronchiectasis fits. Cameron and Chase, get a chest CT to confirm as soon as the bleeding is under control." House instructed. "And start him on broad spectrum antibiotics just in case."

"What about me?" Foreman asked.

"You and I get to tend to coma-boy." House replied, switching his serious demeanor for a haphazard grin. "Before we get a good look at the kind of damage that tsukuyomi jutsu is capable of causing, let's see how much brain function is actually left. Get an EEG set up."

House cracked his knuckles as he stood up.

"Oh, and just so you can't say I'm a heartless bastard who didn't warn you this time," he added, entirely as an afterthought. "My patient and his partner are rogue shinobi, so they aren't exactly very trusting. You might want to be on your guard."

Chase and Cameron, who were already at the door, both froze. They turned their heads slowly toward House.

"Oh wait, you're ninja. You're always supposed to be on your guard. Silly me. Forgot who I was talking to for a second."

"House…" Chase growled under his breath. "Who are we treating this time?"

"You'll see. And when you do," House called out. "You might want to think about keeping it our little secret."

They exchanged nervously irritated glances as they walked out the door.

"You'll see?' What exactly does he mean by 'you'll see?" Chase whispered, glancing back over his shoulder. He almost expected another snide comment from his cell leader, but House and Foreman had already turned the other corner.

"It means whatever he wants it to mean." Cameron whispered back. "Either he's messing with us after everything that happened in the last couple days or he really did manage to bring back another missing-nin."

"Last time…" Chase began, but Cameron cut him off.

"Last time, even House didn't know who we were treating." her voice got even softer as they reached the stairs. "At least not right away. The fact that House already knows this patient is a rogue shinobi is a good thing."

"Right. At least we know we're walking into a trap."

"It means we aren't being intentionally deceived." Cameron insisted, and given recent events, her answer carried far more weight than usual. "Believe me when I say it's the lesser of two evils."

They turned the corner, and immediately came to a stop. The immense surge of chakra was impossible to ignore, and its source, even more so. The unusual man sat in the farthest corner. He was crouched over, his face buried in his fists as though he were trying to purposefully avoid drawing unnecessary attention to himself. His very presence, however, did just that. The pattern in his cloak was unmistakable. He was a member of the criminal organization, Akatsuki, making him a very dangerous man.

"Care to rethink that belief?" Chase whispered as he pushed through the operating room doors.

Cameron didn't answer. But even after the doors closed behind them, Chase knew she could feel a pair of tiny white eyes drilling through her back.