Monday, Day 7, 7.30 am

It was the last time House was woken by that annoying sound of Wilson's alarm clock.

"So let's get that stupid shower routine over with", he mumbled and rubbed his eyes.

They got up and collected their clothes for the day.

Wilson checked his suitcase. "I ran out of shirts. Can we go to my place first?"

"Take one of mine", House offered and opened his closet.

"No thank you", Wilson denied that offer after he had looked at the crinkled shirts.

"Right, I forgot. You have to make up your lack of genius by good looking clothes and ugly ties", House mocked him.

"Never mind. I think I have some shirts in my office", the oncologist said and so they left for the hospital. Well obviously Wilson had run out of shirts there as well. That's what he discovered when they arrived in his office. House chuckled and got one of his own shirts out of his knapsack.

"Still not interested?", he asked.

Wilson groaned. "I'll definitely wear my lab coat today!", he decided and accepted the wrinkled shirt.

They took their shower and got their usual breakfast in the cafeteria.

After breakfast it was time for Wilson's round through the oncology ward. "Can't you do it tomorrow?", House whined.

"No, I can't. I have to make up my lack of genius by teaching students. Rubbing my knowledge in their faces makes me feel better", the oncologist snapped.

House rolled his eyes but followed his friend through the oncology ward. During the next hour he was annoyed by that bunch of students who asked stupid questions constantly.

Suddenly Cuddy approached the group.

"Good morning, Dr. Cuddy", House said in a friendly tone. He had to find out about her mood.

Since she completely ignored him he got his answer rather fast.

"Dr. Wilson, could you please fill in for Dr. Wolf in the clinic at 11 am? He called in sick this morning."

House rolled his eyes but he bit his tongue.

"Sure", Wilson agreed and returned to his students.

Cuddy shot House a glare and left. House furrowed his brows. She was really pissed. Damn!

A few moments later she approached him again.

"This doesn't mean you can skip your clinic duty in the afternoon, House!", she snapped and walked away.

Wilson pursed his lips and threw him a look. Terrific!

Wilson finished his round at half past 10. They settled down in the oncologist's office for a moment.

"See, I told you she's pissed", he started.

"She's just angry because she will lose the bet", House objected.

"Right!", Wilson smirked. House could always come up with an excuse.

Suddenly House's pager started. His team was searching for him.

"Come on. I got to look after my children", he announced and they crossed the two balconies to enter House's department.

"How nice of you to drop by", Foreman told his boss. House raised his eyebrows.

"Excuse me?"

"Your presence is really rare lately", the neurologist said.

"Who cares? I'm always up to date. I can even tell right now that the latest MRI didn't confirm our latest suspicion and we are back to nothing here, right?"

"How would you know this?", Thirteen asked him.

"Because Foreman only pages me nowadays when he doesn't have a clue. Apart from that he likes to play the big boss in here whenever I'm not in."

"Very funny, House", Foreman said annoyed.

"That wasn't a joke", House informed him and opened the file. Wilson was still looking at the white board.

"Get over here!", House told him and pulled at the chain.

"Ouch!", Wilson yelled but sat down next to him.

"Alright. What about this raised glutamine levels? These are new. Any ideas?"

He looked around. His team kept silent.

"I give you a hint. It's a really important organ and funny shaped. Got a tail and a head and…."

"His pancreas?", Taub wondered.

House nodded. "Wow, what a smart team I got here."

"But what about it?", Taub asked now.

Suddenly the door flew open and Cuddy entered.

She looked at Foreman. "Is he needed right now?", she asked him and pointed at House.

Foreman looked confused. "Ahm, actually we are in the middle of a ddx."

"House, tell them your latest theory and get your ass downstairs. It's 11.15. You guys are due in the clinic."

"Hey, I'm not supposed to be in the clinic. Wilson is filling in for Wolf. Let it out on him!", House replied.

"Wilson is not the reason for the held up here, you are. Like always."

"Oh, I'm so sorry for doing my job here! But if you want me to stop my work so I can waste an hour downstairs while my colleague treats some sniffels, I'll be fine with this."

"Just do as I told you!", Cuddy ordered him and left.

"What did you do now?", Thirteen asked him. "She is pissed."

"Think about the diagnosis not about the stuff that's none of your business", he ordered them and went up. Together with Wilson he walked over to the elevators.

"You do it? Just like this?", the oncologist wondered.

House shrugged. "She's my boss. Whatever she orders."

"Yeah, right", Wilson sneered.

"She's overreacting. I just called a hooker over to get rid of you guys", House defended himself.

"I doubt it this is only about the hooker thing."

"What else would she react that bitchy about?", House wondered.

"I guess it's a general annoyance. Maybe it got something to do with all those mixed feelings you are sending her."

"Oh my God", House mumbled and followed Wilson into the elevator.

"No seriously, House. If you didn't chicken out all the time you guys would probably be married by now", the oncologist continued.

"I think you should get an MRI of your head. All these fantasies you are having lately could really turn into something serious", House deflected.

They continued their discussion until they stepped into exam room two and greeted their, no actually only Wilson's first patient. House brought along a magazine to keep himself informed about the latest Hollywood drivel. Hey, if Angelina Jolie was about to adopt her next child he had to know about this…

The first patient of the day was a good looking woman in her twenties.

"My name is Judy Carlson. I was taking a shower this morning and I felt something here under my left breast", she pointed there. "I read on the internet that it could be breast cancer!"

House rolled his eyes. Damn google.

"Maybe we should take a look first", Wilson suggested.

House put down his magazine and swallowed a Vicodin.

"Good idea, Dr. Wilson", he said and starred at the woman ready to examine whatever she would bring out from under her top.

Judy seemed a little uncomfortable.

"Does he have to be here?", she asked Wilson now.

"Don't worry. Dr. House is a very good doctor. Very professional", Wilson explained and shot his colleague a glare.

"Actually you are lucky. Two doctors for the prize of one", House told her.

The young lady took of her top and opened her braw.

Wilson kept up his professional behavior while House felt like a cat in a fish shop. That woman was really hot.

"It's right here. Maybe you should feel for yourself", the woman showed them now.

"I'll do it. He has very cold hands. That's why he can't work in OB/Gyn", House explained and got ready to feel.

"I'm the oncologist here, so I should do it", Wilson explained and earned a nod of Judy.

"But Dr. Wilson. We are sure it's not cancer, right? And I'm the diagnostician here."

"Guys! This is really making me uncomfortable. Dr. Wilson, please you do it."

Wilson smirked at House who grimaced in response. Then the oncologist started the breast exam while House returned to his magazine.

"They are fake anyway", he mumbled and turned the page.

"No, they are not!", Judy objected. "This is all natural!"

"Oh sure. Just like your lips. Good surgeon but still detectable for a skilled person or anyone else with eyes", House replied.

"Ok, I'm done with you guys", Judy yelled and shoved off Wilson's hand. She put on her clothes and grabbed her purse.

"We should do an MRI", Wilson told her but she had enough. "Yeah, maybe but certainly not in this nut hole!", she shouted and left the room.

"You are an idiot!", Wilson told his friend.

"What? You grabbed her breasts without the entire oncology crap. Saved you lots of paperwork here. You should thank me!"

"She might have cancer and will never trust a doctor again. Good job!"

"She will get her treatment. She's keen on attention and since you just told her she needs an MRI she's already on her way to Princeton General", House explained.

"And she took her lovely breasts with her. She could have been my patient", Wilson sighed.

House once more put down his magazine and grinned.

"Good to have you back. You nasty boy. But believe me, I still did you a favor. A hot chick with cancer? First she will take your neediness then your bank account. You can't handle too many divorces."

A moment later the door opened and Cuddy came in.

"I just had a conversation with Ms. Carlson. Are you out of your minds?", she started.

"Oh no, mummy found out!", House snapped.

"I'm sorry, Lisa. I tried to keep him down", Wilson tried to explain.

"By starting a "who may touch her breasts first"- contest?"

"I just told her I have to examine her breast. House on the other hand….", he was cut off by his boss.

"Oh stop it. I don't want to hear it. I'm really disappointed in both of you!", she said and walked out.

House pursed his lips and watched her leaving. A moment later she led an elder man into the room.

"See, Mr. Garland, I told you two of my best doctors will take care for you. This one is our top diagnostician. He will take a really close look at your ulcerating hemorrhoids", she told the old guy and glared at the diagnostician.

House smiled at her for the first time that day. With a simple nod he acknowledged her victory. Surprisingly that simple gesture soften up her mood. At least a little.

As soon as she had closed the door behind her he looked pissed once more. Touching that old guy's ass while Wilson had been in examining heaven just minutes before? That sucked. Probably also the reason why Wilson had difficulties preventing a laughing fit.

"So which of you is that top doctor?", Mr. Garland wondered now.

"He is!", both of them answered simultaneously while pointing at each other.

I don't care. I'll take you!", the oldtimer said and pointed at House. He started explaining his symptoms immediately and House finally did the job.

Wilson would keep on mocking him about it for a while.

After this the two department heads settled in House's office to give the diagnostician a chance to ponder about the case and watch his favorite soap.

"How can you watch this drivel?", Wilson shook his head after 5 minutes but House shushed him down. He had no idea what was going on in the TV.

His thoughts were a mixture of symptoms trying to find a connection between them and asking Cuddy out for a date.

Suddenly they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Michael's mother stood in front of the glass door and Wilson signed her to step inside.

"The nurse in oncology told me I could find you here", she said. "I never asked you but why are you chained to Dr. House?"

"It's an experiment. We see how long we can go before we are driven crazy by the lack of privacy."

"Since you guys are friends it should take a while, shouldn't it?"

House looked surprised. "How would you know we are friends?"

For a moment she smiled. "I've been sitting so many times in Dr. Wilson's office to talk about my son's treatment. After the third time you interrupted us by throwing gravel against his window he told me about you."

"Sorry for that. Sometimes there are needs for very important consults."

"Like skipping work for bowling hours? He told me much about you", she went on.

House glared at Wilson.

"Never heard about friend-friend-confidentially?", he snapped.

"I'm sorry. Whenever I get interrupted by the lunatic on the balcony my patients ask for an explanation."

"Don't worry, Dr. House. I understand this. I think I would escape this place as often as possible if I were you."

Wilson got up, dragging House behind him who had trouble reaching for his cane.

"So how are you doing, Sophia?", Wilson asked her.

Tears showed up in her eyes immediately.

"Not very good I have to admit. I just came to pick up his things. And I wanted to thank you, Dr. Wilson. You have been fighting with Michael for such a long time."

House observed the scene and didn't feel comfortable.

"No, Michael was the fighter in this one. I just tried to help him."

"And so you did. You helped him. And me as well. If you are going through this it's good to know you have a shoulder to lean on sometimes and a sympathetic ear."

"I really wished we could have done more for him. It looked promising but then he caught that pneumonia. I'm so sorry", Wilson went on.

Sofia bit her lip and wiped away some tears.

"I just wished he would have had more time. Not in here but before the cancer started. Part of me feels relieved that he's finally out of this misery and out of the pain. But another part feels guilty about that. I think I'm just a complete mess right now."

Wilson put his free hand on her shoulder. "Listen, if you need help with anything or you feel the need to talk just call me, ok?"

She smiled for a second. "Thank you."

She turned around and walked to the door. Before she left she turned around.

"Listen, don't stop fighting, ok?"

Wilson nodded. "I won't. I promise!"

"Same goes for you, Dr. House. From what I heard you are a very good doctor", she said and looked at him for a moment.

He gave her a nod. "Good bye", he mumbled. Then she left. The two were standing in his office for a moment.

"So, no mocking about me starting a relationship with her out of pity?", Wilson finally started.

House looked up and met his eyes.

"I have to go", he mumbled.

"You had an epiphany while I was talking to her?", Wilson wondered.

House smirked. "Sort of, yeah."

"Ok, where are we going?"

"Downstairs!", House told him.

"I have an important meeting in 10 minutes", Wilson informed him but his friend didn't care.

"Hey, relax. I still need this arm", Wilson complained on their way back to the elevators.

House was looking for Cuddy but he couldn't see her either in the clinic or in her office.

"She left early today. Her daughter is sick.", the nurse in the clinic told him.

Terrific. By the time he would be there he would freak out again. So far he was still convinced of doing this.

"Cancel your meeting!", he told Wilson and dragged him behind him to the parking lot.

"Can't you do this tomorrow?", Wilson asked him annoyed.

"No, I have to prevent chickening out again. You can't blame anyone but yourself for this!", he explained while they drove over to Cuddy's place.

House parked the car in front of her door. The diagnostician seemed to be nervous.

He searched his pockets and brought out the keys for the handcuffs.

"What are you doing?", Wilson asked him when House released his hand.

House didn't tell him but cuffed his friend to the steering wheel.

Wilson wasn't very pleased with that.

"House. Stop this shit!"

The diagnostician took a deep breath. "I'm sorry we were in jail because of me. But it's true. You are an idiot for still being friends with me. Every other person would have walked out a long time ago. But you didn't because you still have hope for me. That is very stupid but it's also something I'm grateful for."

"And that's your way of showing me your gratitude?", Wilson asked annoyed.

"No, that's my way of telling you: Don't screw with me when I have to pee! And don't talk about me with your patients!"

House got out of the car and took the car keys with him. He knocked on the door and it took a while before Cuddy opened up. She carried Rachel in her arms. The kid was crying. House could tell she had a fever. Her head was read and her eyes were glassy.

Cuddy rolled her eyes. "What do you want, House? I don't have time right now."

He took a deep breath and felt ridiculous about how ridiculous he felt.

"I heard your kid is sick so you are probably stuck here. Maybe you could need some company now."

Cuddy looked confused. "Are you high?"

"Probably, but that's not the reason why I came", he objected.

"I just thought. You come over here voluntarily to be with a sick and whining kid and her annoyed mother."

It was only now when she realized the absence of her head of oncology.

"Wait a second. Where is Wilson?"

House pointed at the car. "Over there. He owes me for the night I spent in front of his patient's room. Now it's his turn to wait. So what, are you hungry? I know this fantastic Chinese place and I heard they deliver."

Cuddy was still skeptical but let him in.

"Did Wilson hit you on the head? What is going on here?", she asked him once they were seated on her couch.

"Can't I just come over here and spend a nice afternoon with you?"

"No, YOU can't. Something's up, House", she said.

He chuckled. This was harder than he had imagined.

"Look, I don't have much time on my hands here. Once Wilson finds a way to escape he will probably kill me. But I have to tell you; about this lion in the jungle thing you were wrong."

She smiled and rocked her daughter carefully in her arms.

"Really?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. A lion doesn't belong into the jungle. He lives in the savannah."

"So what you are saying is you are out of place in my hospital?"

He smirked. "Either that or I'm more of a monkey. They live in the jungle."

"Monkeys don't go on top of the food chain", she objected.

"True. But they do care much about their social life. What do you say? Want me to delouse you?"

She laughed at that comment.

"You are crazy, House."

He nodded.

"But it's true. Monkeys do value their loved ones. So show me your social skills", she winked at him seductively.

He didn't know what she meant by this until she put Rachel into his arms.

"Someone needs a fresh diaper here."

He rolled his eyes. Terrific. He knew this kid would mean trouble.

"You can't keep me company, House. Only us", she explained and pointed at Rachel.

"Ok, but you come with me. You don't want me to carry her upstairs without my cane."

Cuddy blushed immediately. "I'm sorry."

Now House felt uncomfortable.

"Hey, stop this. No pity! You know how this works. I can't keep you company. Only we can", he smirked and held up his cane.

"Wow, perfect patch work", Cuddy said and got up. She took Rachel from him and they went upstairs.

"I've never done this in my life. You show me", he told her once they were in the nursery.

"Oh, we finally found something the great Dr. House can't do?", Cuddy smirked.

Suddenly House's phone rang.

"What is it?", he snapped once he had answered the call.

"House, I'm gonna kill you!", Wilson yelled.

House chuckled.

"What took you so long?"

"Get me the keys for those stupid handcuffs!", Wilson ordered.

"You can't leave anyway. So what?", House objected.

Rachel started crying while Cuddy changed her diaper.

Wilson's mood cheered up immediately.

"Is it at least worth my time?", he wondered.

"No. I already left and wasn't in the mood for your lecture", House lied.

"I can hear a baby crying. Where would you meet a baby?"

"Maybe in the clinic? In a drugstore? Oh and I had that hooker once that couldn't find a babysitter. That was kind of weird."

"Shut up, House. You got lucky. You making nice with Cuddy is the only thing that saves you from another violent outrage!"

House hung up.

"Trouble in paradise?", Cuddy asked him.

"Nope", House said and put the phone back in his pocket.

"Now you missed the changing part", Cuddy complained.

House put on his innocent face.

"Well, then Wilson was useful for once."

Cuddy put Rachel down in her bed. The little girl was not really satisfied with that decision but after a few minutes she fell asleep. Cuddy and House went back downstairs.

"When exactly can I expect you on Saturday? I was lazy lately, my windows will definitely need to be cleaned."

"What do you mean? We didn't lose! In fact it's only 30 more minutes", House told her after he had checked his watch.

"No, the whole purpose of that bet is to prove that you guys drive each other nuts. So the rule says you have to be with Wilson all the time. The only exception was the night when that kid died. You guys are not only supposed to be in the same place but also to be together. He is all by himself in the car while you are having fun in here."

"I don't have fun right now!", House stated and raised his eyebrow. "Although I could come up with one or two ideas."

"Shut up. That's not the point. You guys lost, that's it!"

"That's not fair. Wilson had an emergency so you give him time off. I have an emergency and of course you declare us losers immediately", House complained.

"This is not an emergency, House!", Cuddy explained.

House didn't respond. He just starred at her. She looked fantastic as always. He was smiling but not his snappy smirk he put on usually combined with some sarcastic comment.

Cuddy liked that look. And she liked him more than she would ever admit. She waited for his next move. And got disappointed when he got up and reached for his jacket.

"Where are you going?", she asked him.

"I still have my patient", he told her.

"But your team would tell you if something comes up."

He raised an eyebrow. "My boss would be really angry if she finds out I'm skipping work hours."

"House, why did you come over here today?", she asked him directly now.

He took a deep breath.

"I told you it was an emergency. I just came to borrow some flour. We want to bake some cookies."

"House, tell me!", she ordered him but he grabbed his cane and walked towards the door.

"Make sure the kid gets well soon. See you tomorrow", he told her and got out.

House stepped out and sighed. He was such a stupid moron!

He glanced at the silver Volvo and rolled his eyes. Wilson threw him an expecting look.

But the diagnostician was not in the mood for another discussion with his friend. He walked down the driveway and stopped next to the car. He got the keys out of his pocket and waved them in front of Wilson's face. The oncologist looked upset.

"House! Don't even think about it!", he yelled.

House smirked and thought it over for a moment. Finally he opened the door and threw him the keys for the car and the handcuffs.

"What happened?", Wilson asked him.

"We lost!", House said and shut the door. As quickly as possible he limped away but he had no chance. Only seconds later Wilson got out of the car and followed him.

"What do you mean we lost? What did you do?"

"Go away!", House yelled and walked on.

Wilson passed him and stopped right in front of him.

"Tell me!"

House tried to go on but Wilson held him back.

"You can't outrun me anyway."

"For the last seven days we both wished we could get away from each other. And now, the moment we can do this you come up with the idea of stalking me? That's brilliant."

He shoved away Wilson's hand and limped away.

"You freaked out again, didn't you?", Wilson yelled after him.

"Good bye!", House replied without turning around.

The oncologist approached him again.

"What happened House?", Wilson asked him now.

House sneered. "Oh sure, I forgot my Wilson-English dictionary today. In your universe Good bye is another term for "please hug me so I can cry my eyes out on your shoulder!". Why don't you go and hold hands with the cancer chick? You heard her, she could need an open ear", House told him now.

Wilson exhaled noisily and starred at him for a moment.

"Go to hell, House!", he said eventually and walked back to his car.

"Just been there the entire week", he mumbled and started walking once more.