Exactly, Rei :) Pallada, thanks – and is this an amazingly fast update, or what? Koralina, I know I didn't end the last chapter at a logical place. I was falling asleep while

typing, and I figured waiting to post it would be mean. May you be consoled by this new chapter! Lize – done! Didn't fit in this chapter, but I'll do it, and I'm looking

forward to it, too! ;)

10:45 a.m.

After the team were treated to a differential full of insults and mocking, House finally released them with orders to run several tests and talk to the patient

again.

"What did you do?" Cameron asked, as soon as they'd turned the corner.

"Me? Nothing!" Chase replied.

"You must have done something."

"Cameron, I didn't. He had the cops search my apartment last night, but I didn't do anything. Honest."

"Cops?"

"Yeah. Called them. Anonymously, I suppose. It was awesome."

"Well..."

"Yeah, yeah. I know. I asked for it."

Foreman chimed in: "It's not the first time he's acting like a lunatic, Cameron."

"Yeah – " the immunologist agreed, "but still, there has to be a reason." Chase shrugged.

"Well, if there is, I don't think we'll find out. Unless you'd like to ask him..."

"No, thanks." Cameron sighed. "Let's just get to work."

11.10 a.m.

"Foreman!"

The neurologist tried hard to keep his face professional. After all, not only was their patient watching, but his three children had looked up from their toys as

well.

"Yes, Dr. House?"

"Heel."

House turned around, walking along the corridor, while Foreman swallowed his pride. No-one else had ever been arrogant enough to believe the neurologist

would accept such a method of summons, but of course, House was. And the diagnostician could also be relied on to find some way of making his minion regret

if he simply ignored him. So, sullenly but reasonably fast, Foreman followed the older doctor.

"What?" he spat when he'd caught up.

"Less of the attitude." House countered, raising an eyebrow in warning.

Foreman clenched his fists. Whenever his employer got difficult, the neurologist tried to copy the behaviour of someone who never contradicted House. 'What

would Chase do?' he asked himself, and then looked at the department head with a carefully levelled expression.

"Did you need anything?" he asked, suppressing the urge to add, "...jackass."

"No."

"You're just screwing with me."

"Yup."

It was all Foreman could do to keep from punching his mentor.

1:05 p.m.

By lunch time, the diagnostic fellows had worked for three hours straight. House had managed to be everywhere at once, annoying the hell out of his

employees. When Foreman tried to take a coffee break, House dumped his mug into the sink, making it shatter. Then, he'd ordered the neurologist to clean up.

Chase was ridiculed in front of their patient for explaining a procedure House had agreed on. When his intensivist responded by calling off the test, House had

yelled at him for a full two minutes straight – again in front of the patient. And Cameron had been paged for a consult exactly five times, each time to discover

that the apparent sender had no idea what she was talking about. Now, the immunologist had somehow managed to be alone in the office for a couple of

minutes. Needless to say, the ducklings were pissed off. So, she decided to order pizza for all of them – House not included. Sure, he would simply steal it if he

found out, but she had a plan to stop him from doing that...and everyone knows pizza tastes best if eaten in secret.

"... a large pepperoni, please, and that's it" Cameron waited while her order was being repeated back to her and then said, "Yeah, that's fine. Listen, would it

be possible for you to deliver it to the roof? The hospital's." After hanging up the phone, Cameron left the room. And in the maternity lounge, House smirked.

The bugging device had come in handy again.

1:25 p.m.

Chase was the first to arrive on the roof. Or so he thought. Actually, House was waiting already, concealed from view. He stepped out from behind the boulder

he'd used to hide and enjoyed the panicked look on his duckling's face.

"Oh, House...hi." Chase stammered, looking like a kid with his hand stuck in something a lot more forbidden than the cookie jar.

"Chase." House responded. "Enjoying the fresh air?"

Chase was torn. It was highly unlikely House just happened to amble up to the roof at the exact time they'd scheduled. And he frequently tested his minions'

willingness to lie to him, so this could very well be a trap. On the other hand, Cameron had sworn the diagnostician hadn't been anywhere near when she'd

ordered the pizzas...and Chase definitely didn't want to be the one giving away their secret. So, the intensivist decided to not say anything unless he was

asked directly.

"Yeah." he replied, thinking that he was enjoying the fresh air.

"Thought I told you to put Mr. Tannsey through lots and lots of unnecessary tests?"

"All done." (They were.) Chase shifted nervously. If he could get a message to his colleagues somehow... "Um, is there anything else you need me to do?"

"Just keep me company." (Now, Chase knew House had found out about the pizzas.) The Australian bit his lip. "Sure." House turned away, limping to the

banister, and Chase's eyes lit up. Frantically, he dug around in his lab coat until he'd found his pager. However, when he looked up, he realized House was

looking at him.

"Put that away." he said, his voice carrying over easily, "If you're good, I might save some pizza for you."

Defeated, Chase trotted over to his boss.

"The weather's nice." he mumbled, just to have something to say.

"It isn't, actually." The intensivist shrugged.

"Could be worse."

"Could be better. Now shut up about the weather already." For a few seconds, the two doctor's stood beside each other silently, Chase chewing his lip. Then,

the Australian turned to his boss.

"Seen any good movies lately?"

"Chase...!"

"Sorry." The young doctor eyed his employer's cane warily...but he couldn't quite suppress his grin.

1:45 p.m.

Stripped of pizza, the three fellows trudged back to the conference room shortly after. Foreman had been quick enough to grab a slice, but the other two were

still just as hungry as they'd been before.

"What's he gonna do with three pizzas, anyway?" Chase muttered angrily.

"Eat them." Foreman said matter-of-factly. Seeing as House would gladly eat junk food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, his prediction was likely. Cameron

sighed.

"Sorry, guys."

"Don't beat yourself up." Chase consoled her, "He must have hid somewhere. We all know he's good at that."

"Well, someone needs to talk to him." As if on cue, both Foreman and Cameron turned towards their colleague.

Chase shook his head. "No."

"He's got to turn it down a notch, Chase. This is too much."

"I know. But I won't be the sacrificial lamb. You go, Cameron. You're his favourite anyway."

The immunologist shook her head defiantly.

"Not for a long time." Chase turned to Foreman, but before he could say anything, the neurologist sighed.

"Look," he began, "I'd do it. But there is no way he'll tell me anything. I can't...deal the way you do. I get angry. You...you always know what to say." Seconds

passed. Then, finally, Chase took a deep breath.

"Fine."