A/N: Thank you for your patience. There's one more chapter after this and then I can finally put it to rest. I have another story in my head that's looking to get out and be written but I can't until this one is finished. Enjoy. And thanks again to PurplemintPatty for helping me with this chapter :)

Chapter 12

House was still asleep when Tina returned but stirred when he felt something fall onto his chest.

"Huh?"

"Look," was all she said as she sat down on the edge of the bed and handed him his reading glasses.

He reached for the paper and read the headline.

He grunted as he read more.

Upon further investigation it was discovered that Dr. House had not flushed the hockey tickets, causing serious damage to the hospital, but had been set up by his former boss, Dr. Lisa Cuddy, who had become confused and disillusioned to discover that Dr. House had not been required to serve his full sentence, and had been rehired by Princeton Plainsboro Hospital.

Dr. Cuddy had been dismissed from her position as Dean of Medicine and Hospital Administrator after the incident that had caused Dr. House to be imprisoned. When detectives arrived at her mother's house to arrest her, the stress caused Dr. Cuddy to completely break down. For her own safety, she was taken to the very hospital she used to run and is now under psychiatric care. Charges will be brought if it is determined she is mentally capable of assisting with her defense. It is believed that Dr. Cuddy had help in getting the tickets from Dr. House's office, as well as getting in and out of the hospital without being seen. Authorities say more charges are forthcoming.

House put the paper down and stared into space, trying to take it all in. "Jesus."

He read on, but the rest of the story was just a lot of quotes from family and friends saying they couldn't understand how this happened to her. He tossed the paper aside.

"Ready to go?" he asked as he got up and started getting dressed.

"What? Now? I brought us breakfast."

"I'll eat in the car. I want to get out of here as soon as possible."

XXX

Tina found herself sitting next to Thirteen on the flight, while House sat in the aisle seat across from them, clearly sound asleep. There was an awkward silence which Tina felt she needed to break or it was going to be a very long flight.

"So do you mind if I ask you something? How did this suicide pact come about between you and Greg?"

"He was there when they released me from prison and we spent some time on our way back to Princeton, at a Spud Shooting contest of all things. House being House, he eventually got me to spill the beans, but I think he knew all along. He's one of those people who has to know everything, you know? But it's practically impossible to get him to open up about anything. When he dropped me off at my apartment, he promised to help me when the Huntington's got to be unbearable. And he's always been a man of his word."

"Greg mentioned that you did time for the very same thing he's about to do for you."

"That's right."

"Who was it?"

"My brother. Went to prison for almost a year. I don't regret it, either. We watched our mother suffer for what seemed like a century before our father finally accepted the fact he couldn't care for her at home anymore. I was only 8 at the time and very confused and didn't really understand what was happening. The last time I saw my mother was when my father was putting her in the car to take her to the nursing home. When I finally understood what my mother had, my brother and I made a pact that if one of us came down with Huntington's first and lost control, the other would find a way to end it."

"No, I can understand. Just like I know Greg doesn't regret faking his own death in order to spend Wilson's last months with him, even though it was a risky move."

Thirteen smiled. "That's House. He and Wilson had a strange friendship, enabler and enablee. He never forgave himself for what happened with Amber and I don't know if Wilson ever forgave him for it either, even though it was nobody's fault what happened. House did literally everything in his power, even put his own life at risk to find the answers, and she died anyway."

"I think Wilson forgave him. After all, he started the investigation to clear his name once and for all."

Thirteen shrugged and yawned. "If it gives you and House peace of mind, then I believe it too."

Her eyes fluttered closed and Tina took that to mean their conversation was over so she closed her eyes and tried to rest as well.

When the plane landed, an ambulance was waiting for them. Once Thirteen was safely inside, they flagged a taxi and followed the ambulance to the hospice. There were aides waiting to help Thirteen out of the ambulance and to her room.

While she was being admitted, Greg and Tina heard a gasp behind them.

"Greg, you're back. And you..." Cathy said as she looked at Tina with contempt. "I thought he would have dumped you by now and you took off for parts unknown, never to be seen again." Cathy said with a sneer.

"You wish," Tina snapped.

Cathy looked over at Thirteen who was watching the exchange with interest.

"Who's that?"

"None of your business who that is." Tina snapped. "What are you doing here?"

"Visiting my mother, obviously."

She saw House talking to the head administrator as he filled out paperwork and gave some orders before following him to the doctor's lounge.

"What's Greg doing? He can't go in there, he's not a doctor."

Tina grinned. "Actually, he is."

"And a damn good one," Thirteen added, already disliking Cathy. The hostility in the air was so thick she could cut it with a knife.

"Since when? Why didn't he tell anyone?"

"Would it have made a difference?" Tina asked her. "I'll bet he's even more attractive now, isn't he?"

House returned. "We're all set here. Cathy," he said curtly as he took over Thirteen's wheelchair and headed down the hall.

"Greg, wait..." she called after him and started to follow, but Tina stepped into her path.

"Don't bother. Just leave him alone."

"Who is that?"

"She used to work with him."

"But why is she here?"

Tina gave her a look. "This is a hospice, Cathy. Why do you think she's here?"

Cathy placed a hand on her chest. "Oh no...he's losing another friend? So soon after...how awful."

"Yeah, so back off and give him space."

"Why aren't you?"

"You're kidding, right? Are you seriously in that much denial? I feel sorry for you."

"If Greg is really a doctor, why is he still with you?"

Before Tina had a chance to respond, Greg stepped in. It's not that he minded a good cat fight, but it was not the time or place.

"That's enough," House said sternly as he stood behind Cathy and placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Don't make me tell you again, Cathy. Stay away from me, and stay away from Tina. I mean it."

She turned around to face him. "Oh Greg, why didn't you tell me that you're a doctor?"

"I was taking some time off."

"Are you working here now? It'll be a pleasure to see you when I come visit my Mom."

"I'm only here for a short time. And I'm not actively looking for work."

"I could talk to some people, get you into the best hospital in Wyoming."

"I don't need any favors, least of all from you. Now shoo."

Realizing she'd been dismissed, she stood a little straighter. "Why does she get to stay?"

House gave her a look that made her take a few steps back.

"She's changed you, Greg, and I can't say that I like it much." Cathy said, her voice a little hoarse from her mouth being dry.

"If by changed you mean she made me a better person, then you're right. She has changed me."

All Tina could do was grin. She was so proud of him she could burst.

"Tina's not leaving town, and neither am I. So you'd best get used to the idea."

Cathy smiled sweetly at him, still not willing to give up even after she had practically been told to go to Hell and pull the hole over herself.

"I hope you don't leave town. If you really are a doctor, people will respect you. I can't say the same for Tina though. Not even your good reputation can save hers."

"That's it," he said, finally reaching his limit. He gently took Cathy's arm and led her away to a corner of the room.

Tina couldn't hear what was being said, but she knew that House was more pissed off than she'd ever seen him and was glad she wasn't on the receiving end of it.

A few minutes later, he returned to her and seemed to shake off whatever happened and gave her a soft smile for her benefit.

"Let's go home," he said softly as he reached for her hand and led her outside. A taxi was just dropping someone off so they got into it and went back to her place.

"I love you," she said softly as they sat in the backseat. "Did you mean what you said back there?"

He gave her a look. "I don't say things like that just because. You know that." Then he placed his hand over hers that was on his lap and squeezed. A jolt of electricity went through her and she leaned over to place a soft kiss on his lips. It quickly turned into much more than a kiss and he chuckled. "Damn, woman...I'm torn between telling the driver to pull into the next hotel we come across or waiting to nail you in our bed."

"Our bed, huh," she asked with an arch of her eyebrow.

"Yeah. That only leaves one more question. Who's going to shack up with whom?"

Tina giggled. "Eloquently phrased, Greg, as always."

"So?" he asked, waiting for her answer.

She kissed him again, nibbling his lower lip. "Your place is closer."

"My place it is."