The fog in Wilson's mind slowly lifted, and he blinked, looking up. He was in a normal exam room, it looked like, and Dr. Cambert was standing over him, a menacing gleam in his eyes.

"Good morning, Dr. Wilson. How are you?"

Wilson glared at him. It was then that he realized there were restraints holding his wrists and ankles. He strained at them.

"What the heck?!"

"Calm down, Doctor." He said the last word with a sneer. "Hungry? I have something for you." He pulled out a small baggy with three pills in it. A cup of water rested on the counter behind him.

"Do you expect me to take those?"
"You will take them or I will force you to take them. You have to admit, I have the advantage here."

Wilson glanced down at his restraints. "How do you expect me to take them?"

"I will unlock you. But I'm warning you not to try anything. It's useless. Now, please…"

Wilson waited as the pressure on his wrists lessened. Dang. He'd forgotten that his ankles were trapped as well. Dr. Cambert handed him the pills and water.

"What do they do?"

"What's my specialty, my dear Doctor?"

"Neurology?"

"Yes. These are called Mens rememdium, which appropriately translates into 'mind remedy'."

"What for? I don't have any mind problems."

"You may find your senses are keener after this. Of course, since nearly all these drugs are experimental, you may find there is a possibility of allergies, unknown side effects, and, well… stuff like that."

"Haven't you tested it?"

"My dear Wilson, these are our tests. Now take them. Please don't make this unsavory. You know what happened back there when you defied Dr. J. So please, just take them."

"Dr. J?"

"The genius behind this whole amazing plan."

"You mean Jake?!"

"You will not speak that shameful name! He is referred to as Dr. J here. Now, if you don't mind…"

Reluctantly, knowing he couldn't do anything, Wilson swallowed the pills. How much damage could they do, really? His question was soon answered. A hot pain spread through his skull almost immediately after he'd swallowed.

"What-?" He gasped. "Am I supposed to be feeling this?" He gritted, closing his eyes.

"Don't ask me. I only know it works. Why do you think we're doing these tests, Dr.? This is to figure out the symptoms and risks, and how to improve them. Don't worry. It'll all be worth it by the time we're done here."

"Sure it will." Wilson hissed. Quite suddenly he'd grown disoriented. Dr. Cambert's face looked purple and his coat seemed quite green. Wilson blinked a couple times, but it didn't help much. He looked down at his hands, which were now a bright orange-ish hue.

"I don't think this is supposed to be happening..." He didn't even know if he'd said it aloud. The room had begun to spin around him, and he grew nauseous.

"I'd rather like to take an MRI, Mr. Wilson. Think you can get there?"

Wilson shook his head, but either he didn't actually do it or Cambert didn't care because he unlocked the restraints and grabbed Wilson's arm, pulling him out of the seat. He stumbled forward, catching himself on the door jamb. Or, at least, he thought it was the door jamb. He couldn't be sure.

"Come along. It's this way." Cambert walked ahead of Wilson, tapping briskly down the hall in highly-polished leather shoes.

Wilson staggered along behind, not really knowing what was going on. They reached a dark room and went in, and Cambert directed Wilson to lie down on a white bed. He did so, and the other doctor left only to re-appear in another room with a large window. The bed Wilson was on had begun to move, depositing him into a loud dark tube.

Wilson, in his state of near delusion, didn't know what it was; only that it was dark and there were lots of whirrings and strange lights. His right hand shook, and his breathing turned shallow. Dr. Cambert had directed him not to move. He didn't know if he should obey him, but even if he wanted to, his brain just couldn't get the order to his muscles towork. Soon, the bed moved back out of the tunnel again, and he relaxed. Dr. Cambert came back out of the other room, some strange, film-like paper in his hand that looked odd colors-of course, Wilson didn't know if it actually was funny colors or if that was just his vision being weird.

Dr. Cambert told him to stand up, and he did, only to nearly collapse again. Cambert didn't even notice, having started into the hall again. Wilson attempted to follow him, stumbling blinding through the corridors back to his room, where he willingly fell into the bed there. Cambert glanced at him bemusedly.

"Feeling a little odd, Dr. Wilson? I would think so. This has had a very… strange effect on your brain. I imagine you must be confused right now. Your functions may have been reduced by a few years… But not to worry. If you can even understand me. When you regain awareness, you'll be better than ever." He chuckled. "You'll be a new and improved Wilson… A regular superhero."

* * * *

"Well, Mr. House, I'm sure you can imagine what we'll be doing today." Dr. Mestic chuckled. "If you were listening to Dr. J, surely you heard my specialty."

House snorted. "Dr. J? Who the heck is that?"

"Dr. J is our resident genius."

"You mean that stupid little Jake intern who thinks he's going to change the world by using us as rodents?"

"How dare you defile his name like that?! In this place, he will be referred to as Dr. J."

"Right. Jake." Mestic glared harshly at him from his stance almost four inches lower than House. "Has anyone ever told you that you sound like a squeaky toy? And you should think about getting a toupee."

"I'm going to really enjoy this." Mestic muttered.

"Sure. You do that. Is there a Coke machine anywhere around here? 'Cause I could really go for one right now."

Mestic ignored him, continuing on. He turned into an oddly-shaped room, fashioned almost like a rounded L. There was a starched white exam bed in the middle with a small scanner atop it that House had never seen before. He cocked his head.

"What the heck is that thing?"

"It's an improved CT scanner, portable and with clearer images. Just one of our unique, ingenious innovations used here, courtesy of Dr. J."

House rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help but be a little impressed. It was too bad. That Jake kid sounded pretty smart for being stupid. He sighed.

"So what exactly are we doing here?" He questioned.

"You'll see. Lie down, please."

House did so, shrugging. At least it would give his leg a break. He shifted uncomfortably to the side as Dr. Mestic positioned the scanner exactly over his right thigh.

"Will you please hold still, Mr. House."

"I'd rather not. See, I'm a little restless…"

Mestic glanced down at him, annoyed. He messed with a few buttons on the side of the scanner. It began to glow.

"If this is a CT, aren't you a little worried about getting … radiated?" House inquired skeptically.

Cambert stepped back, grinning devilishly. "Oh, no. I'm sure I'll be fine."

House had begun to grow uneasy a while ago, and now he tried to shift and move his legs to get off the bed, but he couldn't move.

"What's going on?! He demanded.

"Calm down, Dr. House. It will make the process so much easier for all included."

"What the heck are you doing?!"

"Quiet, now. You are in a hospital. Wouldn't want to upset the patients..."

House would have said more, but at that moment, a sharp, hot pain had shot through his thigh. He reached for it, eternally grateful that he could move his arms, and gritted his teeth. Dr. Cambert was watching, looking slightly bemused. The glow coming from the 'CT' scan had brightened, its light harsh and unforgiving. The pain in House's leg increased, and sweat began seeping from his brow. He rubbed at his thigh almost fervently but cautiously, vaguely wondering why the beam wasn't affecting anywhere else, but not really caring at the moment.

"I'd suggest you not move so much, Dr. House. It will increase the length of the process."

House glared at him, and tried once again to get off the bed. But the movement sent a spiraling shot of agony through him. He struggled not to cry out, feeling like his leg had snapped in two. He moaned, doubling over it, thinking maybe he could block the beam. Dr. Cambert chuckled. The edges of House's vision had started to darken and blur, his body threatening to give out. House uttered a few words. He wasn't even sure what they were, but the expression on Cambert's face told him it definitely wasn't a compliment. The man marched over and touched something on the machine now hovering over House's head. He felt it grow almost hot, and the pain shot through the roof. He chuckled, just managing to lie back before the ocean of unconsciousness drowned him.

* * * *