AN- I don't own anything you recognize. House MD is a great show that isn't mine, unfortunately, and never will be. This is the end of Max's Arc, though he may come around in the future.

It took a few days for the results of Max's liver biopsy to come back, but they were able to start him on a temporary liver detoxification to prevent liver failure. Cameron had been quick to reassure him that the liver will eventually heal itself. "That's one of the good reasons we caught it quickly" she had added with a smile. The dialysis was working like it should.

The team was sitting in the Diagnostics Room to talk about the results before giving them to Max. "Cirrhosis is present… but not bad enough that he needs a new liver." House began reading the results.

"We knew that from the biopsy" Thirteen said. "We definitely saw some scarring, not bad enough, yet, that the damage is completely irreversible"

"His liver function is already slowly starting to improve" Chase added.

"Yeah but until we know what caused it…" Cameron pointed out. Chase glanced at her and put a hand on hers.

"Good news! Ratty McRatterson's results came back…" House said. "And so did our human patient… No Hantavirus…but they both had a little bit of Lepto…"

"So what's killing Max?" Foreman asked

House glanced at the board. "Faulty genetics…"

"FAULTY GENET..!" Chase frowned. "What does that mean?"

"Gilbert's disease…" House continued reading aloud. "Is negative… though, Max seems to have slight symptoms… probably in conjunction with what he has…"

"Which is?" Thirteen demanded.

"Touché" House said. "Black liver…increased amount of bilirubin… Come on? None of you know?" He sighed and slid the paper to Cameron. Chase and Foreman looked over her shoulder.

"Dubin Johnson! Normally that doesn't affect people like…"

"He's got Lepto from his rat roommate. The stress probably caused the spike and the jaundice." Chase pointed out. Foreman and Chase read through the rest of the results as Cameron turned towards House.

"D-did Brian?" Cameron's voice was soft as she studied her boss.

"Cancer typically pulls rank" House said to Cameron and she blinked.

Cameron frowned. "So you're saying his cancer saved his life?! His cancer is what killed him!" Her eyes were dangerous and Chase, Thirteen, and Foreman stayed quiet. Chase squeezed her hand gently.

"No…" House said as though she was just a stupid child "Dubin-Johnson typically presents in early adulthood… when he was in treatment for thyroid cancer. Probably didn't even know he had it… with all the other issues…"

"They didn't do an autopsy" Cameron whispered. The days after were hazy… the months after his death were hazy but she knew no autopsy was done.

"Of course not. No need to determine what killed him… though probably would have been helpful… or not." House shrugged.

"Stop" Chase said with a frown. Foreman glared at House.

"What? His organs were likely fried… they likely wouldn't have found it… even if he had it. Doesn't matter…"

"But you think Brian's got it?" Thirteen asked.

"Don't think. We know" Foreman added, looking at the paperwork again.

"I'm not telling him!" House said and the others frowned. "Who drew the short straw?"

Max looked up in confusion when he had the whole team around him. That meant something bad. Chase seemed to notice the look in his eyes so he spoke first. "Results" Chase smiled and Max looked at him.

"Good news?" Max asked hopefully and Alli smiled.

"We know what made you sick… and we know how to make you better…" Cameron began "You have what is called Dubin-Johnson..."

"That sounds made up…" Max interrupted.

House frowned "If you interrupt my doctors, you won't get better…" The other doctors frowned at their boss.

"Dubin-Johnson…" Thirteen continued quickly. "It's rare which is why nobody knew how to diagnose you. When you're under stress your liver began metabolizing differently. This caused the jaundice and your other symptoms."

Max nodded and looked at all the doctors. "Typically Dubin-Johnson Syndrome is asymptomatic" Chase added. "Though it is genetic. Your parents are likely carriers…"

"So what? I call Ma and tell her to make sure she gets my sister tested? And her kids?" Max frowned.

"If they don't want to have the same symptoms you do." House said simply.

Cameron gave him a look before turning to Max. "They can get tested easily, now that we know what to look for"

"You want my family to fly out here?! If you thought seeing me was bad…you know my family will be worse" Max answered and Cameron blinked, quickly shaking her head. The only expression Foreman could think to describe her face was 'deer in the headlights'.

"No… just a blood test. They can get it done anywhere…"

"Yeah… No! You are not telling them. Suz! You know what they're like! I don't…" Max groaned and Cameron looked at him curiously. He was on the phone and the more Cameron listened to the conversation, she determined it was to her former sister-in-law. "You tell them, they'll just panic. It was just some routine stuff…" Max lied. "Yeah… I'm fine. No worries. Please, just… yeah. Thanks. Al-the doctors… the doctors want you to get tested." He glanced at Cameron "Do our parents?"

"I see no need… unless they start to show symptoms… carriers typically don't even show symptoms so…"

That was all he needed to hear. "No. They're fine. But you do… It's genetic… Your boys too… and Jake… yeah, just in case. That's different…Suz…" his voice softened "I don't know… It doesn't matter…" he sighed. "Please don't worry them. With him… no. I'm fine. They tell me I'm going to live a long time." He laughed. "Yeah. Okay. See you at Thanksgiving. You'll have to tell me what pre-teen boys want for Christmas…" He said with a laugh as he hung up the phone.

"You lied to her…" Cameron said looking at him. He would be released from the hospital in about a week.

"Did I?"

"You said your doctors… you didn't say me." She looked at his eyes for the first time in quite a while.

Max shrugged. "I didn't know what to say. Besides, you're not the girl who left… you're different" He shrugged.

Cameron was quiet. They were all different since then. "In another life, I'd have known her and her sons… I'd have to be tested myself… I'd…"

"In another life, you wouldn't be a doctor and I would still be sick" Max pointed out. "Besides, they don't need to know who I ran into in New Jersey."

"Thank you…for not telling them…" Cameron said softly. "I didn't want to hurt them…"

Max didn't say anything as he took a breath. "Everyone gets hurt when someone dies." He said quietly as he gathered his thoughts "Did you miss us?"

"Did you miss me?" Cameron asked, turning her back so she wouldn't see his response.

"What happens now?" Max asked to her back, hearing her sigh.

"In a few days, you'll go home." Cameron said simply. Max opened his mouth to ask a different question but she kept talking. "Your liver should regenerate in a few months… a year at the most. Your kidneys will need some close monitoring… but you probably won't need dialysis" Max smiled at that "You'll likely have to avoid alcohol until then… likely for life. A glass might be okay, every now and then…but no binging. Your liver wouldn't be able to handle it. Take care of your kidneys… but you should make a full recovery."

"As long as you don't have any more uninvited houseguests" Chase added and Cameron laughed. "Thirteen was looking for you. Something downstairs… clinic duty." Cameron laughed and disappeared. Max smiled and watched her go. He met Chase's eyes.

"Do you think she'll be upset if I give Ma your address, Doctor Chase?" Max asked softly and Chase shrugged.

"You've got it so do what you think is right. Ignore most of what House says" Chase said simply.

"Ignore your boss?" Max asked, not understanding.

"Listen to him on the medicine… but he likes to give a little more sarcasm than any other doctor I've ever known." Chase laughed.

Max smiled "How long have you worked for him? You respect him."

"House saves lives" Chase said, before changing the subject "Your liver function is improving."

"Have you guys had patients that die?" Max pressed. Maybe it was absurd to ask that after the doctors had told him he'd be fine… but Max still had those questions.

"Every doctor has patients that die" Chase said, turning away. Max heard his sigh. He had to ask the question that had been turning in his brain since he'd found out about his genetic disease.

"You said it's Dubin-Johnson…My sister is getting her kids tested… could it have saved my brother?"

"I-I'm not the right person…." Chase muttered.

"But you're a doctor?" Max frowned. "Just give me your best guess… I know it won't change anything…"

"Then why ask?" Chase frowned. "Do you really want to know the answer? Trust me, sometimes you don't… when there is nothing you can do… sometimes it's better not to wonder… to blame yourself for not catching it in time…"

Max stayed quiet and a few minutes later he began speaking again. "The other doctor… Foreman?" Chase nodded as Max continued "He was checking my meds last night… He said your boss is upset?"

Chase snorted "House doesn't like change… Between me and Alli-Cameron. Between me and Cameron…" He shook his head. At work she was Cameron. "And the baby…and now Foreman and Thirteen…" Chase shook his head. "House doesn't like change." Max laughed. He could tell how stubborn the man was. "Good news is you won't have to deal with the grouch much longer…"

"Thank you, Doctor Chase" Max said and Chase raised an eyebrow but he didn't comment. Chase smiled and nodded.