Wilson thought his heart had dropped to his knees in both surprise and relief while House was growling.
"Wait a second." He said. With a bit of force he pulled the shorter nurse's face mask.
"YOU!"
"Surprise!" Jenna Lispin said grinning as she untied the mask.
"Jenna!" Wilson stuttered.
Jenna laughed, removed the long scrub, then took off her hair mask and shook her brown hair out. Normally House would have found that a turn on, but right now he was furious.
"What kind of messed up joke is this!" He yelled.
"The best one!" Chase said laughing and holding his stomach. "You, you should have seen your faces!"
"Revenge is a dish best served hot when it involves you House!" Foreman said snapping his camera phone. "Now you know how it feels!"
"Don't tell me you all were in on this!" House said. When the team didn't respond, House lost it!
"I KNEW IT!" He yelled. "WELL THEN SAY HELLO TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT AGENCY DUCKLINGS BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE FIRED!"
Wilson meanwhile was still trying to absorb all of this, so Jenna filled him in.
"Sorry Dr. Wilson." Jenna said. "I wanted to surprise you with the puppies in a less frightening fashion, but when I found out House has been deemed the King Prankster here, well, the idea just came to me."
"And now you are about to get reamed like the rest of my so called team!" House said. "Isn't she Dr. Cuddy, Hospital Administrator?"
Cuddy was wiping her eyes from laughing.
"Actually House." She said. "I allowed it. Ms. Lispin offered to do a seminar here at the hospital on animal therapy and when she told me about how you and Wilson saved that poor mother dog and your hopes for adopting one of her puppies, well I couldn't pass it up! And no you are not firing your team."
"I didn't hope to adopt of these drool factories!" House yelled.
"Are you sure?" Jenna said. "I have an application in my bag saying otherwise."
"I wouldn't consent to something so dumb!" House said. Then the realization hit him and he looked over at Wilson who had his head turned away from him.
"WILSON YOU FORGER!" House yelled. "You put my name on an application didn't you?"
Wilson scratched the back of his head nervously.
"I may have, used your name, on one of the forms." Wilson said quietly.
"Why!"
Before Wilson could answer Jenna got a page.
"Oh great!" She said happily. "Ladies and gentlemen if you are not in any hurry, I would like to make another introduction that should be arriving on that elevator momentarily!"
Within seconds the elevator door opened and in walked a man with an adoption organization's shirt on holding onto a leash leading in a nervous, but familiar dog.
"Hey girl!" Jenna said happily as everyone awed as the two guests approached. Even Wilson gasped when he saw who came into the ward.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, esteemed doctors of Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, I would like you to meet Mason Cuttler, founder of the organization "Good Bullies" that rescues, rehabilitates, and finds homes for hard to adopt dogs like pit bulls and more importantly to doctor's Wilson and House I'd like to introduce you to Mama Molly, the mother of these two puppies."
Jenna kneeled down and let Molly come to her.
"Molly is what we believe to be a year and a half old blue nose pit bull who had it not been for the heroic efforts of your doctor's House and Wilson, would have surely perished along with the puppies in her womb. They had found her in a junkyard, barely alive with severe injuries and a chain that was tightly around her neck. She had also been pregnant and had gone into labor probably just before she was found. They even stayed the night while she was in surgery to make sure everything was alright. Instead of leaving her to die, they wrapped her up warmly and brought her to my hospital where as you can see not only had her babies, but has been making a wonderful recovery."
Jenna then stood up, pulled something out from underneath the infant beds and approached House and Wilson.
"On behalf of Manhattan County Animal Hospital, The "Good Bullies" Organization for Rescued Dogs, and of course Mama Molly and her puppies Angel, Ruby, Rascal, Wilson, and Holmes, I present you Dr. James Wilson and Dr. Gregory House with these plaques as a token of our appreciation and sincerest gratitude."
Jenna handed Wilson and House two small gold plaques as everyone in the room applauded.
Wilson was all smiles, blushes, and chuckles as he looked down at the plaque while House just sneered at it. The plaques were simple, but heartfelt that said:
Dr. Gregory House
Thank you for being our Hero
On the bottom of was one larger paw print with the word Molly underneath and then five tiny paws with the names of the puppies underneath.
"We don't normally do such extravagant awards, but we had to make an exception this time." Jenna said smiling.
Suddenly a whine from the infant beds drew everyone out of their reverie.
"Aw, someone wants attention." Hadley said.
"Ah, one or rather two more introductions." Jenna said walking back over to the baby beds. She lifted a puppy, who had pawed off its baby bonnet, into her arms.
"Everyone I'd like you to meet Wilson." She said. "We at the animal hospital thought it appropriate to at least name two of the puppies after their rescuers."
"A little Wilson!" A female doctor exclaimed. "How adorable!"
House was about to respond with a witty retort when Cuddy grabbed his arm.
"One nasty comment out of your mouth and I'll permanently post you to clinic duty and if you quit, then I'll make sure any other hospital you apply to does the same."
Jenna put Wilson on the floor and he just looked around nervously. Then she moved to the other bed.
"And last but not least." She said lifting up a yawning puppy. "This is Holmes! The puppy we named after Dr. House!"
"Definitely looks like him that's for sure!" Taub exclaimed causing another roar of laughter and House plotting Taub's demise.
Jenna put Holmes down on the floor next to puppy Wilson. Both dogs were unsure of what to do.
"They look so confused." Chase said with a laugh.
Seeing that the pups were not about to budge, Jenna lifted puppy Wilson up and approached James.
"Here you go Dr. Wilson!" Jenna said handing Wilson the pup.
"Hey little guy!" He said smiling. The puppy looked up at him, but after a few sniffs proceeded to lick his face. People began gathering around him to pet the pooch.
Jenna looked down at Holmes who seem uninterested and then she looked up at House who appeared the same.
"I dare you to hold the puppy!" Eric said.
"I fired you so I don't have to do anything you dare me to."
"I said he isn't fired." Cuddy interjected. "And if you do hold the dog I'll shave a week off clinic duty and add a few more vacation hours."
"And you'll let me cop a feel?" House asked her…or rather her breasts.
Cuddy crossed her arms.
"One week, vacation hours, final offer."
House snarled.
"Aw Dr. House said he wants to hold Holmes!" Cuddy said happily.
Jenna smiled and handed the puppy to a reluctant House who just held the dog at arm's length.
"He's not going to bite you." Jenna said. "You can hold him closer."
"I'm more afraid of bodily fluids." House said. "Puppies are pee factories."
"And you work in a hospital?" Jenna said. "Besides, hold him like that and your more likely to get mouthful of puppy urine should the urge hit him."
House sighed and brought the puppy closer to his chest. The puppy just snuggled up into him as if he was a blanket.
"Holmes likes his naps." Jenna said. "He can fall asleep anywhere."
"So can House." Hadley added with a grin as she pet Holmes.
A groan interrupted the joy and everyone saw Molly approaching Wilson with her handler right behind her.
"Hi Molly." Wilson said. "Is she doing okay?"
Cuttler smiled.
"She's doing just fine." He said. "She has a very sweet nature, but just a bit shy."
Jenna approached.
"You should greet her." She said. "Here I'll pass off Wilson."
James handed her the puppy and Jenna showed him what to do.
"Okay, now kneel down, but turn your body just a little the side." She said. "You'll be on her eye level, but in a non-threatening way."
James did as was told and Molly was tentatively approaching him.
"Okay now just let her sniff you." Jenna said as she let a nearby doctor take puppy Wilson for a second. "Let her get to know you."
Molly poked her nose out just a little bit at Wilson and he could hear her inhale and exhale nervously but quickly through her nose. Then she dropped her head down to James's hand, gave it a lick, and brought her head underneath it.
Jenna was grinning ear to ear.
"She senses you are safe." Jenna said happily. "She wants you to pet her!"
James was smiling as he gently began to stroke Molly's head. Feeling his legs tire out from kneeling James sat down on the floor. Molly then came up to his face and gave him some light licks on his chin.
"I think she remembers you doctor." Jenna said.
"Hey Molly." James said sweetly, petting her and looking into her blue eyes. "You remember me? What a pretty girl you are, yeah."
Everyone in the room was humbled by the scene of the mean looking, but actually gentle dog being loved by the boyish Dr. Wilson. Even House had to admit his heart was feeling a bit warm at the sight, but he blamed it on the fact he had six pound puppy using him as a bed.
"Alright everyone!" Cuddy said. "I really hate breaking this up, but as I mentioned before, Ms. Lispin is also here conducting seminars about animals and their multiple uses in medical and social therapies. If possible I'd like as many of you as possible to attend it and of course let your colleagues know as well! The seminars will start this afternoon. There are pamphlets and fliers here to give to your departments"
The group would soon disperse with news of the seminar and a myriad of pictures of Dr. Wilson and especially Dr. House in ultimate humiliation leaving only Jenna, House, Wilson and the dogs. Cuttler had excused himself to grab a cup of coffee in the cafeteria.
"Thank you Jenna." Wilson said. "As much as I wish I hadn't been in on the joke, I am glad you are here with the dogs."
"Again my apologies." Jenna said. "Both Dr. Cuddy and House's team thought it best to surprise both of you instead of yo-yoing back and forth."
The puppies proceeded to crawl over a sitting Molly.
"Well, trust me lady, you are now on my list of most wanted so be prepared for a Houseful of Revenge." House sneered.
Wilson just shook his head.
"And so are you Wilson!"
Puppy Wilson looked up and barked.
"NOT YOU!"
"What did I do?"
"Umm…how about forge my name!" House said.
"Right, and things like forging my name or even stealing my prescription pad never entered your own mind?"
"Low blow Jimmy." House growled.
"Listen guys!" Jenna interrupted. "Even if James had just submitted one application, I'd still be up here anyway. Besides being a nurse and a spokeswoman for the hospital. I'm also a volunteer social worker for the shelter the hospital uses when we aid injured and sick animals who have no owners to claim them."
"Cute job choices." House said. "What's the damn point?"
Jenna rolled her eyes.
"My point is, before any of the animals are adopted from the shelter we need to make sure they are going to good homes. We have to be certain they will be in environments where they will receive the most love and care. Therefore, I have to do a home inspection plus interviews to make sure the pups are going to be okay."
"Well here, let me give you your interview now!" House said. "The answer is a big fat NO! I am not adopting some dog. I don't have the time or the patience! I can barely take care of Jimmy here as it is!"
"Whose taking care of who here!" James said angrily. "Just because we share a roof doesn't mean anything. I spend most of the time picking up after you and tending to you while you pilfer my wallet, privacy, and food!"
"You said you didn't want a dog!"
"Well I changed my mind, I'm allowed."
"Not with me you're not!"
"Last time I checked I am not three and you are not my mom!"
"HEY!" Jenna yelled. "Look if this is going to cause some sort of strain between you, I don't want that to happen. I am just following up on a supposed adopter. I could say no to your adoption and right now it's leaning towards that way."
The room was silent for a few moments while everyone composed themselves.
"Listen James." Jenna said. "Do you want to adopt the puppies?"
"Yes, I do." Wilson said. "I think having them will be a welcoming change and when I do spend long hours at the hospital the dogs will have each other for company. The forging was more of a gag on House."
House glared.
"Greg, you don't want the dogs am I correct?" Jenna asked him.
"No!" House said. "Like I said I don't have the time, patience, and the fact that I don't want some flea infested biting machine ruining my stuff or going for my jugular in the middle of the night."
Jenna looked at House oddly.
"I have told you repeatedly that they don't bite."
"Yet."
"That can easily be rectified with training." Jenna said. "Just because they are pit bulls doesn't mean they are the only dog that bites. Every puppy big and small goes through a teething stage so of course they bite for relief and when they play. But if you train them young enough, they learn where their teeth are supposed and not supposed to go."
Jenna then had an interesting question for House.
"You don't happen to have a phobia of dogs, do you?" She asked.
House looked at her in shock.
"NO I AM NOT AFRAID OF MUTTS!" House said. "I FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT THEM AS I FEEL ABOUT PEOPLE, COMPLETE AND UTTER LOATHING!"
Jenna didn't buy it, but decided not to push.
"Alright." She said. "Well, you two talk it over. I have a seminar to set up and believe it or not, so do the pups and Molly. When I am through you guys let me know. I am staying at the Best Western on Walton until Monday because of some scheduling conflict, so I figured I'd make a long weekend out of it and maybe catch up with some friends here."
House looked at Jenna for a bit, his mind once again ticking.
"Jersey Girl huh?" He said. "Should have guessed it by your slip of the tongue when you said 'here'. Though I see that it's not very strong, so you either moved out of state or your family didn't originate here."
Jenna smiled as she hooked the dogs onto their leashes.
"Right on both accounts actually." She said. "My mom's from Pennsylvania and my dad grew up on Rhode Island. They were college sweethearts in Connecticut. They moved to Jersey just before I was born. I grew up in Bergen County until I went to college in upstate New York. Then I moved around a bit until I got the job in Manhattan."
She looked up at House.
"Nice deduction." She said sweetly.
"Hey when you're great." House began to say but then stopped himself.
"Don't do that!" He yelled. "Don't try the feminine wiles on me!"
"Excuse me?" Jenna asked as she went for the door.
"Don't try to be all flirty with me and think that by stroking my ego or anything else, might that happen, which I would gladly allow, you know if you are interested-
"Point House!" Wilson said annoyingly.
"Point is that flirtation, Ms. Lispin, will not convince me to adopt the dogs! Though you are welcome to try and I may respond to other ideas that don't involve canines."
Jenna just made a face.
"Does he assume that compliments from a woman are ulterior motives or just plain bedroom invitations?" Jenna asked. "Because believe it or not, that was genuinely a compliment with no plot whatsoever behind it."
"When it comes to women, yes." Wilson said tiredly. "Hence why he's never been married and constantly single."
"Hence why you are a serial divorcee!" House shot back. "You fall for the trick and it comes back to bite you every time!"
Jenna shook her head as the two men once again began to argue. They didn't even notice when she had slipped out of the ward and onto the elevator.
After a quick minute to gather herself, she looked down at the dogs as they stepped off the elevator.
"I don't know about you." She whispered to them. "But I have never seen two men bicker like that unless they were in a relationship and I don't mean of the friend kind."
Molly just looked at her while Holmes proceeded to chew on Wilson's ear.
Jenna laughed lightly. This was going to be an interesting weekend indeed.