AN: You might all get a bit frustrated about where this chapter leaves off but I decided to give you this bit while I continue to try to write the next part. IF I ever get the next part done it's good news because it means most of Chapter 11 is done, thus the story.

Forgive any errors you see as I didn't quite run this buy my beta before posting it.

-- chapter eleven

"Then he'll just have to wait for the EMTs to get here." Thirteen glance at her watch. "The ambulance is still four minutes out. I'll do what I can until they arrive."

Cuddy was waiting for the ambulance when it arrived at the ER with Cameron standing beside her. She kept her silence as Thirteen relinquished the gurney to the waiting team and filled Cameron in on the details that she knew. The moment she began to walk away from there Cuddy said above the noise, "Dr. Hadley, my office." She let the word now remain implied since she thought it would be better not to make the younger woman feel like she was the naughty student being summoned to the principal's office especially since she hadn't done anything more than Cuddy had asked her to do.

But the eyes of those were unoccupied were glued on Thirteen's back all the way to Cuddy's door, and they did not look away until she had disappeared inside of the dean's office.

Cuddy was seated behind her desk and she waited until the door had been closed by Thirteen before speaking, "Judging from what you told the ER team, I'd say House did not overdose on Vicodin."

Thirteen crossed her arms, "No, he didn't. He was in too much pain for it to be an overdose, and in fact I'm almost sure he didn't even know I was there until after I have given him the injection of morphine."

Cuddy sighed and motioned for her to sit down in one of the chairs across from her desk, "Tell me exactly what you saw over there."

*/*

Once Cuddy had finished her conversation with Thirteen, she decided it would be for the best if she waited for a few hours to pass before she tried to talk to House. She still had plenty of work she needed to finish for that day including meeting with the oncologist she was considering as Wilson's replacement, something she knew she had put off for far too long already.

"Welcome to Princeton Plainsboro, Dr. Xanthopoulos," Cuddy said reaching across her desk to offer the other doctor her hand.

Dr. Xanthopoulos shook her hand and stood, "Thank you, Dr. Cuddy. If that is all, and if it is fine with you I would like to use the rest of today and tomorrow to familiarize myself with the department I'll be running." She notice something pass over Cuddy's face.

"There is one more thing I need to talk to you about," she said and waited for the oncologist to sit back down. Dr. Xanthopoulos sat down, kept her silence, and waited for Cuddy to speak. "Your office is located on the fourth floor next to our Diagnostics department." Dr. Xanthopoulos gave her a look that asked her to continue on. "Dr. Wilson, the former head of the Oncology department, was friends with Dr. House who heads the Diagnostics department."

"I still do not understand how me taking over the Oncology department would be a problem."

Cuddy sighed, "I won't go into the exact circumstances but the problem is this, Dr. Xanthopoulos. When Dr. Wilson left this hospital, he and Dr. House were not on the best of terms."

"I see. You think Dr. House may not like my not only using his former friend's office or taking over in Dr. Wilson's position as head of the department."

Cuddy nodded, "Yes."

"I don't understand the source of your concern, Dr. Cuddy, but one would hope that Dr. House will accept my presence with some degree of professionalism." When she said that Cuddy knew the oncologist must not be aware of House's reputation and she was torn about whether or not she should warn her. In the end Cuddy decided to not warn her and allowed the woman to be on her way to get familiar with the department she'd be heading up.

When she said that Cuddy knew the oncologist must not be aware of House's reputation and she was torn about whether or not she should warn her. In the end Cuddy decided to not warn her because she'd learn soon enough either by the hospital rumor mill or from personal experience. She just prayed if the knowledge came by first hand experience House wouldn't chase her off with whatever it was he'd wind up doing.

Five minutes after Dr. Xanthopoulos left her office Cuddy left her office, heading towards the room where she knew House had been assigned to upon admittance to the hospital. When she got to the floor she knew he was awake and already being a problem for the nurses when she saw the exasperated look on their faces. She left their eyes following her as she walked to the room's door, and opened it. She decided the nurses didn't need to witness this conversation with House and closed the blinds accordingly.