"And by lively hood you mean…"

"Medicine."

As they walked back towards the hospital, House was grateful for the silence that the night air had presented to him. Was medicine the only thing in the diagnostician's life that gave it meaning? He thought about this for a moment and the only answer that made sense was unfortunately…yes. Without the adrenaline rush that came with every new case and the stunned expression on the faces of his team when the answer their leader predicted turned out to be right…every time, House didn't know what to do with himself. Which made popping pain pills and isolating himself from the rest of society all the more appealing.

The only two people House had let into his orbit were Doctor James Wilson and Doctor Lisa Cuddy and that was because the three understood each other on a whole 'nother level from the rest of the world. Of course, there were times when House couldn't stand either of them merely because they had pushed him too hard on a particular subject. Looking down at his right thigh which was now clasped lovingly under his hand the department head was reminded of the infarction and how quickly his life had seemed to spiral out of control after that.

House remembered the night he had been put into the coma and an overwhelming sadness was swept upon him like a warm blanket. Stacey had been right, amputation would have been the best solution. Oh sure, you figure this out now! Trying to ignore his subconscious for a moment, the physician went on to more recent memories. Why had he been so willing to open up to Robin? She was just a nurse…right? No, she was not just a nurse, she was a friend and a damn good one at that. House hadn't had many friends in his life, a few in school and of course there was Wilson and Cuddy but it was nice to have found a person to talk to who wasn't always on his back.

"Doctor?"

Looking up at the sound of Robin's voice, House arched an eye brow and sighed while scratching the bottom of his chin with thumb and fore finger.

"Yeah?"

"Time to go back inside."

As they walked through the main entrance and took the elevator up to the third floor back to the center their was an heir about the room that suggested an evil presence was lurking around the hospital corridors like a bad smell and this suspicion was confirmed by the sight of a woman dressed in black standing by the reception desk of the center looking up tight and strictly business.

"Can I help you?"

"Ah no, (looking towards House with a glare) I'm more interested in speaking with this man right over here."

This woman was obviously a member of the board and she knew that her presence in the room had made everyone suspicious and on edge. Everyone, that is, except House who shook her hand with a look of feigned delight plastered across his face while sizing her up.

"Mary Robertson I presume. How are all the gang from the board doing these days? My cohorts tell me you've been busy."

"Quite, (the curtness in Mary's voice escalated to new heights with every word spoken after this was said.) which leads me to why I'm here. Tell me doctor House, when are you going to stop this charade?"

"Excuse me?"

"You know what I'm talking about. This lie about getting clean is nothing more then your attempt at getting sympathy from the board well, its not going to work."

No sooner had these words left her mouth, when Mary was struck by the force of House's fist to her jaw causing the female member of the board to be sent crashing to the floor.

Everyone was silent, there were no words to describe what they'd just witnessed and House was livid. Standing there, looking down at the woman he'd just punched out sent a wave of emotions through his being. The diagnostician felt an overwhelming sense of pride and justice at this moment but on the other hand, punching a member of the board had not improved matters at all.

"I'm a doctor of medicine not a criminal. I would think the fact that I'm here on my own accord would tell you everything about what I'm really doing here. (Sigh) Alright you want to know the truth? Fine, I'll tell you…" Anticipation rose as everyone in the room waited on pins and needles to hear what was about to be said. Meeting the eyes of his fellow in mates and the gaze of his nemesis "Ms Robertson" sitting on the floor, House knew there was no way out except through sobriety and confession.

"I'm getting clean. That's it, that's the truth and if you don't like it then talk to my lawyer. "

This being said, the crowd dispersed and House limped away from Ms. Robertson as she slowly got to her feet.

"You actually expect the board to believe that?"

"I don't give a damn what you believe."

"But you do care about your job. Its no secret that Dr. Cuddy's the only hospital administrator that would hire you and that's only after you slept with her."

Standing with his back to Ms. Robertson as she stood daring her word to be shot down, House closed his eyes a moment and thought about Lisa Cuddy, the one woman who could level a man with her eyes while making him completely vulnerable. The dean of medicine didn't deserve to have her reputation mocked especially when she had helped House when he had needed her the most.

"What do I have to do to get you people off my back?"

"Appear at a hearing."