The Great Escape

It was Sunday morning when Grace woke up to the sunshine coming in through the window. The whole apartment was completely quiet, which must mean that House definitely hadn't woken up yet. And she didn't smell any food or coffee, so that had to mean that her aunt hadn't woken up yet either. As much as Grace missed her parents, she was definitely going to miss Princeton. She was going to miss her Aunt Ally, and even that sarcastic boyfriend of hers.

Still in her pajamas, Grace got up from her temporary bed (the couch) and toddled down the hallway to House's bedroom. She found the door slightly ajar and snuck inside in pursuit of House's pet rat, which she'd been introduced to earlier that week. Grace tiptoed over to House's dresser and found the rodent cage sitting atop it, but inside there was no rat. Grace looked everywhere in the cage, and she was positive that Steve McQueen wasn't in there. That probably wasn't a good thing.

Grace made her way to House's side of the bed and started to shake him awake.

House moaned. "Ugh," he sighed. "Who is it? What do you want?"

"Wake up," said Grace.

"No," said House quickly.

Grace rolled her eyes. "Please, Greg, wake up," she pleaded.

"Why?" he groaned.

"Steve McQueen's not in his cage," she said.

"The queen's not on stage?" House asked curiously.

Grace almost chuckled. "No," she said. "Steve McQueen isn't in his cage!"

House finally opened his eyes. "Sure he's in his cage," he said. "I fed him last night."

"Well he's not in there anymore," said Grace, pointing over to the cage on House's dresser. "I checked."

House couldn't help but wonder why Grace had been in his room this early in the morning anyways, but he just assumed it was to see Steve. He got out of bed and limped over to the rat's cage. Sure enough, Steve wasn't where he was supposed to be. House looked in all the surrounding areas, but he wasn't really sure why. After all, if a rat escapes, he's not about to just hang out right next to his cage, right?

By now, the noise in the room had awakened Cameron. "What's going on?" she asked sleepily.

"Steve McQueen got out of his cage," said Grace with a glance towards the cage.

Cameron sat up. "You mean there's a rat somewhere in this apartment and you don't know where it is?"

"Correction," said House. "We don't know where he is. Steve has feelings too, you know."

Cameron rolled her eyes. "That doesn't change the fact that he's a rodent."

"Oh relax," said House. "He's the cleanest rat I know."

"You know many rats, do you?" quipped Cameron, checking the sheets and under the bed, just to make sure.

"I know Chase, don't I?" retorted House.

"I thought Chase was a wombat," said Cameron slyly.

"They're all rodents," said House.

"Actually," said Grace. "Wombats are marsupials."

House rolled his eyes. "Look," he said. "Can we just look for Steve already?"

Cameron seemed almost afraid to walk on the floor in fear of a mouse darting across her feet. The odd thing was, she'd never had a problem holding, petting, or playing with Steve. She just didn't like surprises, especially when they came with fur, whiskers, and a long tail.

"Oh suck it up," said House. "Steve doesn't bite."

Cameron did as she was told and started searching the bedroom with House and Grace.

&&&&&

After a half hour of searching House's bedroom showed that Steve was no where to be found, Grace and Cameron moved on to the kitchen while House decided to take the living room.

Cameron looked under the fridge, insisting that a mouse had once come out from underneath hers. There was no sign of Steve.

Grace checked underneath the oven for the same reason. She shined a flashlight in the darkened area just to make sure. There was no Steve, but there were trail marks in the dust. Steve wasn't the only mouse in the House house.

Grace let out a large sneeze, and Cameron sat up.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Grace nodded. "My hayfever gets really bad this time of year," she said. "The dust probably just aggravated it."

Cameron nodded in agreement.

&&&&&

House shone his penlight under the armchair with no sign of Steve. He searched under all of the tables, and even the bookcase. Wondering why he hadn't checked there first, House shone the light under the sofa. Eureka!

"There you are," said House to the mouse. He reached under the couch and pulled Steve out in his hands. "How in the world did you get out?"

Steve looked up at House innocently.

"Don't play innocent with me, mister," said House glaring at the rat.

Steve seemed to cower.

"I found him!" shouted House.

&&&&&

Grace and Cameron heard House's declaration and came running into the living room to find House sitting on the floor with Steve McQueen in his hands. By the looks of it, Steve didn't really appreciate being held at the moment.

Grace walked over to House and took Steve from him. "I'll put him back in his cage," she said with another sneeze.

"Are you sure you're okay?" asked Cameron.

Grace nodded and left to put Steve McQueen back in his cage.

&&&&&

After peace had been restored in the House house, Cameron decided to make everyone breakfast while Grace packed her bags. After all, her mother said that she planned on returning to Princeton today. House set the peaceful morning atmosphere by playing some lively tunes on the piano.

&&&&&

When breakfast was ready, Cameron called everyone into the kitchen to eat. She'd cooked up some pancakes to be served with orange juice.

House and Grace quickly dug into their meals, making Cameron smile.

"They taste good?" she asked with a smirk.

Grace nodded, but House felt the need to be sarcastic.

"They aren't as good as Wilson's."

Cameron rolled her eyes. "Fine," she said. "I'll have to get his recipe."

House agreed that this was a good idea, of course, because he liked having Cameron in his apartment much more than Wilson. Sure, Wilson was a great friend and all, but he only stayed the night when he was getting divorced. That meant that he was depressed and mopey, two qualities House didn't find very attractive.

"Do you have all of your things packed up?" asked Cameron, changing the subject.

Grace nodded as she took another bite from her pancakes.

"Good," said Cameron. "Your mom hasn't called, but she said she would be here sometime today." Cameron had given her sister Greg's address so as to avoid any and all confusion.

Grace smiled. "Do you think my dad remembers anything else?"

Cameron shrugged. "I hope so."

Just then, there was a rapid knocking at the door.