Chapter 9:

As the week progressed Wilson rarely had time to nag House about his trip. The team was busy with a puzzling case and were running all over the hospital, running test after test.

Of course, since House didn't tell the team he was going on vacation, they, as well, heard it through the grapevine. And House knew almost the PRECISE moment they'd heard...

He was sitting at his desk, bouncing his blue rubber ball against the floor and wall, when his office door burst open and the ducklings came quacking in.

"What's this about you going on vacation? You NEVER go on vacation...why now?" the lone chick among the ducks asked as she stomped over to the desk, planting hands on hips and a look of indignation mixed with interrogation on her beautiful face. This caused House to jump back involuntarily.

"Wow. You really ARE ugly when you're mad...or when you're ovulating. You look like you're both but I'm gonna go with ovulating." He opened his desk drawer and grabbbed a Hershey's bar, tossing it her way. "Do us all a favor and eat this." Her look deepened as the chocolate bar bounced off her head and hit the floor with a THUD. This only made the situation worse by causing the male duckies to chuckle. House made a "YIKES" look and went back to bouncing his ball, intentionally NOT answering her question.

"Why do you need a vacation? And what are you doing for two weeks?" Foreman asked as he took a seat in front of the desk, attempting a serious expression but he was unsuccessfully trying to muffle his giggles.

Chase sat beside Foreman and also attempted to look serious but it was awfully hard since he felt the same way as House did about Cameron. "Two week hooker party? Poker tour?"

House's look of shock was terribly overdramatic and, well, just plain cheesy. "Why Chase! I can't believe you'd say that about me. Well, if you MUST know, I'm opening a puppy orphanage in Thailand. Did you know they actually EAT those pwoor wittle gwuys there?" He made a sad, pathetic face and shook his head in mock indignation. "That's just a crying shame. Someone's gotta save them...and that someone is ME." And he continued throwing the ball, never missing a beat. This, of course, only intensified the coughing of the male duckies' suppressed laughter and the scowl of the female. House finally looked at the kids and rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright. You wrestled it out of me. I'm going on a road trip: going to see the sights of the nation...taste the nectar of the great outdoors...check out the local flavor."

"By local flavor do you mean food or women?" Foreman asked with a twinkle in his eyes. House smiled mischievously and wiggled his eyebrows.

Cameron groaned. "Oh do I REALLY need to hear this?"

"Jealous?" House leaned across the desk and eyed her. "You still want me, don't you? Can't bear to share this gorgeous piece of male flesh with anyone else, much less a perfect stranger? I'll have you know that last night..." The duckies' groans stopped him from going any further and he chuckled. Eyeing all three he continued. "Worried about Daddy being away from home? Jimmy's getting $5/hour to baby-sit you three. Isn't that wonderful? Now he can support his ex-wives." He leaned away, picked the ball back up off the desk and went back to the ball-bouncing, which officially signaled the end of the conversation. The duckies, taking the cue, sighed and left the office.

Finally, after a daunting week, it was Friday afternoon and House was in his office, packing up his backpack, lost in thought about the next two weeks. The duckies and Cuddy had come and gone, wishing him a good trip (though Cameron was still brooding). As he picked up the backpack he stood up and saw Wilson standing there, holding out a brown-paper bag.

"AAAWWWW! Is that a going-away gift? I'm only going for two weeks. No need to get all weepy."

Wilson rolled his eyes and shook the bag, the contents' rattle filling the relatively quiet office. "No you moron. It's your meds for the next two weeks."

House sighed, perhaps hoping Wilson had forgotten about them. He limped to his best friend and took them, stuffing them into the backpack.

Wilson continued eyeing him. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

House rolled his eyes. "Then I wouldn't be doing anything at all, would I?" Wilson shook his head and lifted his hands in defeat then turned to walk away. He didn't get far when he heard House quietly say...

"Jimmy, I have to do this."

Wilson turned back to face him. "I know you do House. It's your only chance. Have fun." With that he turned on his heel and this time succeeded in walking away.

House sighed and face-palmed, then limped to the elevator.

Lurking in the shadows was the spy, who'd come back after they forgot something. Unexpected tears welled in their eyes as they watched the scene between House and Wilson.

And that one constant thought filled the person's mind...

six months. That's all Dr. Gregory House had...

six months.
****