Chapter 12. Eureka!

"I'd better get back to Pete," House said, handing the towel back to Cameron before she went too far in her analysis of his behavior. "Your patient's waking up," he added, tilting his head toward the woman in the far bed. He started to leave without another word, then turned back. "Cameron, do you know what made her susceptible?"

Cameron shook her head. "Not yet."

"Well, let me know when you find out." He opened the door, and immediately the noise level increased tenfold. The wind had picked up during the short time he'd been in Room 10. He forced himself out into it and along the building to Room 12.

As he walked, head bent and shoulders hunched, he thought about the conversation he'd just had with Cameron. She hadn't really answered his question about whether she was still angry with him, but he hoped she was over it. He remembered distinctly what it felt like when she still worshiped him. It was his own fault, really, that she'd been disillusioned. He'd pushed her away, as only he could, and showed her his worst side, proven that he didn't always do the right thing, no matter what she thought.

He finally reached the room and opened the door. Pete looked up when he walked in, and he could feel the old guy's eyes on him as he took off the raincoat, found a hanger for it in the closet, and hooked it over the shower rod in he bathroom. As he walked back to the bedroom, he toed off his Nikes, then sat in a chair and peeled off his sodden socks.

Then it was back to the bathroom for a towel for his feet. He was sure he had a clean and dry pair of socks in his bag. After much rummaging, he pulled them out and put them on.

"Can we play now?" Pete asked impatiently.

"Sure, but where're we going to get the cards?" House asked.

"There should be a coupla decks in the drawer. Next to the Good Book."

House laughed. "Guess Zach caters to all comers." He pulled the drawer open and, sure enough, there were two Tally-Ho boxes. He wondered briefly how Pete knew they'd be there. "So, what'll it be?" he asked, removing one deck from its box and deftly shuffling it.

"Well, I'll tell ya. Pinocle's my game, but them's reg'lar decks. An' I have no fondness for them fancy games they play on TV."

House knew he was referring to Texas Hold 'Em.

"How 'bout some five-card stud?" Pete suggested.

"You got it," House said. He was about to move a chair closer to Pete's bed, but the old guy gingerly got up and walked slowly to the table. So House cleared a space and began to deal. They each had four cards and he was about to hand Pete a fifth when his phone sang, 'Dancing Queen'. House was so startled that he looked at the room phone first, then pulled out his cell.

"House, where the hell have you run off to?" Wilson demanded without a preliminary 'hello'.

"I didn't think I needed your permission to take a little trip."

"And what's this about you resigning?" Wilson went on without a stop. Nothing, yet, about the break-up with Cuddy.

"Wilson, I'm a little busy here," House said. "Call back another time."

"Not until you tell me where you are."

"All I'll tell you is it's raining cats and dogs, and the patients are dropping like flies and..." House practically dropped the phone as he realized what he'd said. "Gotta go. Talk to you later." He ended the call, and dropped the cards on the table. "Pete, they sprayed for mosquitoes last week, right?" There'd been something about it in the newspaper he'd read the first night.

"It's June. They always spray in June. July and August, too."

"Do you know who does the spraying?" House demanded.

"That'd be Seth Davis. He's a crop duster," Pete replied, becoming curious why the doctor was asking.

"Even better! You know his number?"

"His phone number? Nah. But Zach would know." As House picked up the room phone to call the office, Pete complained, "I thought we was gonna play cards!"

"Hold your horses! I have to find out something first," House told him.

Zach answered immediately. "Is there something wrong?"

"No," House replied. "I need the phone number for..." he looked at Pete.

"Seth Davis," Pete supplied.

"...Seth Davis."

"Huh?" Zach said. "Why do you want to talk to him?"

"He sprayed for mosquitoes earlier this week," House explained.

That seemed to be enough for Zach. "His number is 555-7788, but you probably won't be able to reach him. The phone lines are out."

"Oh!" House was disappointed. "I guess finding out the specific insecticide can wait. Thanks, Zach." He turned back to Pete, but changed his mind. He needed to share his epiphany, so he called Room 10. It took Cameron a little longer to answer.

"Tell me the other patients are well. Tell me the storm is over. Tell me..."

"It was mosquito spraying," House interrupted. "Something about the spray triggered shortness of breath in anyone with lung or breathing problems."

"I forgot that Seth sprayed this week!" she said. He could picture her hitting her smooth forehead with the palm of her hand.

"You know this Seth Davis?"

"His wife Carol works part-time at the clinic at the front desk. She hasn't been in the past couple of days because he wasn't feeling well," Cameron said. "I bet he was sick just like our patients!"

"Zach says the land phones are out. You wouldn't happen to have a cell phone number for the wife, would you?" he asked hopefully.

"Just a minute and I'll get it for you." It was actually only about thirty seconds before she was back, rattling off the number. "I hope Seth is OK. Carol told me he had pneumonia last year, and this could have brought about a recurrence." She hesitated than said, "Maybe I should be the one to call Carol."

"Afraid I'll tell her that she and her husband are idiots?" House asked.

"No. She knows me, so she'll probably be more comfortable talking to me," Cameron explained. "Besides, don't you have a card game to get back to?"

Now it was House's turn to hesitate. "You'll let me know what she says?"

"Is that a rhetorical question?"

House chuckled. "And ask what else her hubby sprayed for crop dusting," he added.

"Will do. Talk to you later, House."