Thanks for all the Get Well Wishes! I am feeling much better!
From Chapter Eight:
I get harassed, and then I am punished. Talk about an unbalanced system. God, I could really use some Vicodin right now. And I just did my drug test for the week, so I won't be tested again until next week. Should I risk it? Or should I call Steve? Oh hell, I need the Vicodin.
House headed for home where he had a couple Vicodin left that Tritter didn't find. Once he took the Vicodin though he immediately vomited it back up. He discovered he didn't have the tolerance for it anymore.
Shit. I can't even get a fix when I need it anymore. Damn rehab. Guess this really is the end of my Vicodin use.
House went to work the next day and he looked awful after having had taken the Vicodin and then gotten sick the night before. His blue eyes were red and blurry and his hair looked even more disheveled than usual along with an extra day's stubble on his face. He looked like something the cat dragged in and Cuddy was quick to comment.
"House? What happened? Did you take something?"
"What makes you jump to that conclusion?"
"I am a doctor, remember? I have seen people who have taken drugs before."
"I took some Vicodin last night. So sue me."
"House! You have been clean for over a month! Why did you throw it a way?
"I needed it. Tritter dragged me to court, got me fined and I was pissed. Like I said, I needed it. Isn't it ironic? Don't you think? A little too ironic. The man who made me get clean drove me back to the pills."
"Nice Alanis Morisette. But quoting Alanis Morisette doesn't change the fact that you screwed up. Seriously. Now I have to decide what to do. Should I turn you in to the authorities? Legally I am obligated to. But turning you in means I lose you on my staff again. Thank you House, you put me in quite the position. Now get out of here before I take your cane and kick you out with it."
For once deciding to do the right thing for the situation House left Cuddy's office and headed for his office knowing his fate at Princeton-Plainsboro rested in the hands of the woman whose job he made a point of making difficult on a daily basis.
Maybe all those jokes about her shirts weren't such a good idea after all. Oh well, it doesn't really matter. She can't afford to get rid of me again. The hospital doesn't do as well without me. Sure, there may be less lawsuits, but less patients are saved. It's a balancing act, and Cuddy can't afford to tip the scales against me.
Not long after House got to his office and started bouncing his tennis ball, Cameron appeared and immediately started showing her characteristic concern.
"House, are you alright? I heard you had a rough night."
"Hospital gossip travels fast."
"Okay, I didn't hear. You look like hell. Doesn't take a genius to figure out why."
"Great, now everyone here is a doctor."
"House, we are all doctors!"
"Duh! How could I forget with the lab coats and everything? Ever known me to be sarcastic before?"
"Yes, I have. Just bounce your tennis ball or listen to your ipod until you can be civil, okay?"
"Great, now I have two Cuddy's to deal with!"
Cameron turned and walked away with a roll of her eyes as House resumed bouncing his tennis ball, as he usually did when he needed to think.
Cameron's getting more and more assertive everyday. I must be having an effect on her, is that good or bad? I can't worry about that now though. How do I deal with Cuddy and the impending doomsday? I could hide in the clinic. That would bide me some time, she won't look for me there. Plus I can catch some soaps. That's two for the price of one, sounds good to me.
House headed off for the clinic but when he got there he was headed off by the nurse in charge.
"Dr. House, I need you in Exam Room Three."
"Why?"
"I need a doctor and you happen to be here. That makes you the lucky doctor to handle this case."
"Alright, but only because I would rather be here than dealing with Head Mistress Cuddy."
House entered Exam Room Three and saw the usual, a mom and a seven year old little girl.
"Alright, what's the problem?"
That's when Cuddy barged in.
"House!"
