BRENDA CHENOWITH (SIX FEET UNDER)

House sat in the waiting room while maintenance fixed the door to the exam room. He looked around. There were a dozen or so people sitting around. Cuddy probably had half of them scheduled to see him. He couldn't wait.

Cuddy was talking to a woman by the front door. She was trying hard not to look at House, which gave him a clue that they must be talking about him. His suspicion was confirmed when the woman walked right over and sat next to him. At first she ignored him as much as he was ignoring her. It was a nice arrangement, but she ruined it by turning toward him.

"Hi." She extended a hand, but looked like she really didn't expect him to take it. "I'm Brenda."

"Lucky you." House didn't even look up at her.

"Lisa suggested we have a little talk." She was watching him carefully, judging his reactions. It was very irritating, so he did it right back.

"She did, did she?" House looked around the room for Cuddy, but she seemed to have vanished. He made a mental note to glare at her later.

"Yes. She said you don't want to go see a shrink, but you never said anything about one coming to see you." She was still watching him carefully.

"You're a shrink." House felt he already knew that, but he wasn't sure. She was watching him like a shrink, but there was something very unshrink like about her. He got the feeling she's spent more time on the couch than sitting in the chair.

"Yes. Does that bother you?"

Here she goes, he thought. "That you made a horrible career choice? No. That you con people into thinking you can fix them? A little. That Lisa wants you to try and fix me? Yes."

"She said you would be difficult." She looked over at the exam room door, which was now fully repaired, and stood up. "Perhaps you would be more comfortable in a private room?"

"Only if there's stripping involved, specifically yours." He smiled at her, but when she didn't smile back, he got up and followed her to the exam room. He was still looking around for Cuddy. He really wanted to shoot her a dirty look, but she was no where to be seen. Smart woman, that Cuddy. She sure knows when she should run and hide.

They were in the room, and Brenda took a seat in the only available chair, leaving House to either stand or sit on the bed. He chose to stand. "You don't want to sit down?" She was trying to get him onto the bed. Shrinks where always trying to get people into bed. House thought their might be some profound truth to that.

"Suit yourself. Now, is there anything specific that you want to talk about?" She was leaning in, all professional shrinkish.

"What did Cuddy tell you to talk to me about?"

"Do you always answer a question with a question?"

"Do you?" House was starting to enjoy himself. He set the challenge for himself of turning the tables on her. He would analyze her, thereby avoiding any discussion of his own feelings.

Brenda realized this was going no where. Based on what her old college roommate told her, she really didn't think she would get anywhere with basic psychology. She decided it was time to step it up a notch. She pulled something out of her jacket pocket. "Want a smoke?"

"Smoking isn't allowed in the hospital." House wasn't a stickler for rules, but he didn't want to smell like cigarettes all night, either. He was surprised when Brenda laughed and showed him she had a joint.

"Lisa was wrong about you. She said you were a rebel." She lit the joint and held it out for House.

"What makes you think I'm not?" He took the joint and took a long drag. It had been a long time since he's smoked a joint. He hoped he was doing it right. He handed it back to Brenda. They passed it back and forth a few times.

"Now, that's better isn't it?" She felt he should be suitably loosened up by now.

"What made you become a shrink?" He was surprised that he was starting to like this woman. She seemed like she would be very cool to hang out with.

"You're asking questions again." It seemed the pot had loosened her up more than it had worked on him. "My parents are both shrinks. Well, my dad was. He's dead now."

House braced himself for the waterworks. A dead father usually brought on lots of tears and a hug. House didn't like her that much, so he backed away in case she reached in for a hug.

The water works never came. She didn't even mention her father again. "I actually fought it for a long time, but I really like helping people. It's been very cathartic for me."

"Would you say it saved your life?" House was leaning on his cane. He wanted to move her out of the chair and onto the bed, but he thought that might be too much.

"You know, I think it has. My life was shit before. I didn't have any direction. I didn't know what I was doing. I was miserable."

"And now you feel better?" He could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

"I do." She smiled. "I really do. Thank you. I feel much better."

House made his move. He put a hand on her arm, and led her out of the chair. "You should go out and do something just for you. What do you like to do the most?" He was leading her to the door.

"I really like roller skating. It used to make me so happy to go to the roller disco."

"You should do that, right now. Take a friend, maybe Lisa." He knew he was pushing his luck with that one, but he couldn't resist.

"I'll do that right now." She walked out of the room and headed toward Cuddy, who had emerged from whatever hiding place she had been in. House stood in the doorway, waiting for the show.

Brenda wasn't walking in a straight line, but she managed to reach Cuddy anyway. "Hey, Lisa, let's go to the roller disco like we used to. That would be a blast, wouldn't it?" She was laughing, and grabbed Cuddy's arm for support.

Cuddy turned and glared at House. Oh, damn, he thought. I was supposed to be the one to do that. She leaned in toward Brenda and smelled her coat. "Maybe you should go sleep it off in my office." She lead Brenda out the door. When she looked back at House, he was smiling and waving at her happily.

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