House was sitting in his office, twirling his cane and musing about what Quig had said, when Patrick Murphy walked in.
"You don't knock?" House asked.
"Glass walls. I can see you're not busy," Murphy replied. He tossed a file on House's desk and sat across from him.
"On the contrary," House retorted. "I'm pondering the origins of the universe. What's that?"
"Your paperwork," Murphy answered.
"That was quick. Are you sure you did it right?" House answered.
"Pretty sure. You might want to, I don't know, PAY a lawyer to look at it though," Murphy said sarcastically.
"Sure," House said. "So, are you still waiting for treatment?"
"No, actually. That's the other reason I stopped by. I was asked to give you this." Murphy reached into his pocket, pulled out the piece of paper House had given him yesterday and handed it to House across the desk.
House glanced at it and grinned broadly. Underneath the simple riddle he'd penned was a signature and a post script.
Dr. Michael Jasper – 8 minutes
Next time how about a challenge?
"Under ten minutes. She also talked me into quitting smoking. How did you know?" Murphy asked, standing to leave.
"Chest x-ray," House said. "I guess next time I'll have to be a little more creative. Maybe a scavenger hunt?" Murphy just shook his head and left. He passed a deliveryman on his way out. The deliveryman stopped and knocked on the open door.
"I've got a delivery for a Dr. House from Princeton Photoshop," he said.
"What a coincidence, I'm a Dr. House," House said. The deliveryman looked momentarily confused. He stepped forward and handed a House a package. He held out a clipboard, which House signed. The deliveryman left and House placed the package with the file that Murphy had dropped off.
"I love it when a plan comes together," House said.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Foreman sat in his apartment, deciding what to pack for his trip to visit his brother's family. He'd already rejected three suits, deciding they were too formal. He'd laid out four sets of slacks and sweaters for dinner, but couldn't decide which one to pack. He thought he might be able to narrow it down to two. He needed to pack more casual stuff for the rest of the weekend, but he really didn't have much. Most of his casual clothes were left over from college, and they just didn't seem appropriate.
Foreman grinned and shook his head. He was spending Thanksgiving with his brother, his wife and two small children. None of them would care what he was wearing. He reached into the back of his closet and pulled out a box containing some old clothes. He pulled a pair of jeans, his favorite pair of jeans, out of the box and smiled.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Chase smiled awkwardly and pulled out a chair for Jasper. He'd finally managed to ask her out for a drink without choking on his own tongue. They'd gone to a bar Chase knew; he figured he'd feel more comfortable there. And, he thought to himself, he needed all the help he could get feeling comfortable around her. It was weird, really. He usually wasn't this nervous around women. There was just something different about her that made him feel like he was twelve years old again, about to get his first kiss.
Jasper sat down and took a deep breath. She had been stunned when Foreman had suggested to her that Chase liked her. She knew she was overweight, and she was okay with it. It had taken a lot of years, but she was comfortable with who she was. One of the most unfortunate side effects of her size was that she'd never really dated much. She'd gone on lots of first dates in college, and ended up with tons of friends. When she met Chase, she'd just assumed that he was shy and naturally awkward. She'd been amazed by the gossip she'd heard from the nurses about his reputation. It seemed so different than the way she'd seen him act. Finding out she was the reason he acted differently was unexpected. But certainly not unpleasant.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Wilson sat in the overstuffed chair in Cuddy's bedroom, watching her sleep. She was quite possibly the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. He just couldn't get over how much his life had changed in just a few months. He was in a new relationship, one that wasn't based on need. He was going to be a father. It was the sort of life he'd longed for. Sometimes it was almost scary to him how easily it had all fallen into place. Probably it was a product of his past, but he couldn't help but wonder sometimes if it could fall apart just as easily. He watched Lisa shift in her sleep, the gentle curve of her spine disappearing beneath a rumple of sheets. He grinned, soon enough she'd have to get used to not sleeping on her stomach.
Cuddy dreamed of Jimmy and House and Allison. They were at a park, in the fall. The air was crisp and smelled like burning leaves. The sky was pale and blue, the sun bright but too weak to take the chill out of the air. She and Jimmy were walking hand in hand, a little boy of four or five years running a few yards ahead. Closely following him was a little girl; she was maybe three. Her chestnut hair bounced as she ran to try to catch the little boy. House and Allison walked beside them, the leaves crunching beneath their feet and House's cane, a dog pulling the leash in Allison's hand. Cuddy shifted in her sleep, a slight smile crossing her face. She loved this dream. This dream where she and all the people she cared about were at peace and happy.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cameron sat in her apartment, alone. It had been a long and challenging week at work for her, but she had enjoyed herself. Working for House was challenging, but working with Cuddy had been equally challenging. Cameron had always respected Cuddy, but she'd truly learned this past week exactly how hard Cuddy had to work to keep that respect. She smiled as she thought about the chance she'd been given. It was tempting. But as soon as she became excited about it, one thought would intrude and stop her in her tracks. She dearly wished she could ask House, but she really wasn't sure she wanted to hear his opinion. And really, she knew this was a decision she needed to make entirely on her own.
The phone rang, derailing her train of thought. She picked up the cordless and pressed talk.
"Hello?"
"Allison. Want to join me for dinner?" asked the deep, gravelly voice on the phone.
"Who is this?" Cameron asked back.
"Wow, way to stroke a guy's ego," the voice said.
"House?" Cameron asked. Normally recognizing his voice wouldn't be a problem, but he'd called her Allison.
"No, Greg. I think its Greg. That's what it says on paycheck," House said. "So, dinner?"
"Sure, Greg," Cameron said. "Chinese or pizza?"
"I made reservations. We're taking the bike; so don't wear a skirt. And nothing too dressy. I'll be there in twenty minutes." The phone clicked in Cameron's ear. Greg and Allison, huh?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Pulling into the parking lot at PPTH, House parked his motorcycle in the handicapped spot closest to the elevator. He and Cameron climbed off and Cameron handed him the helmet. While House latched the helmet onto the left handlebar, Cameron unclipped his cane from the holder and handed it to him. It was a routine they'd gone through many times in the past few months.
House limped two or three steps ahead of her, knowing that she would first run her fingers through her hair before entering the hospital. She would catch up by the time the elevator doors opened. Just as usual, Cameron walked quickly up behind him as the now familiar ding sounded and the elevator doors opened.
Cameron waited, knowing that if she tried to get on first House would likely trip her or try to block her with his cane. House waited, knowing that if he went first Cameron would roll her eyes and mutter just loudly enough for him to hear about how chivalry really was dead. The doors began to close, and House stuck out his cane to stop them. Cameron ducked underneath and got on the elevator first, House closed behind. They both grinned as they watched the numbers on the display light up.
"So, Greg," Cameron said, stressing the Greg to mock him ever so slightly, "I think we should try to keep things professional at the office."
"Are you mocking me, Allison?" House asked.
"Duh, Greg," Cameron replied. She smiled to herself. Did he ever forget anything? House grinned at the floor. Women really are like elephants, he thought, they never forget. They glanced at each other, neither realizing how closely their thoughts mirrored each other, or that despite the fact that House had been condescending and Cameron humiliated, they both seemed to remember it fondly.
The elevator dinged again as the doors opened to the hospital lobby. Like your typical Monday morning, the lobby area was buzzing with activity. House groaned as he saw the throng of people in the clinic waiting area. How could Cuddy be so cruel as to purposely schedule his clinic hours for Monday morning? He was beginning to think she really didn't like him.
"House," Cuddy's voice called from across the lobby, and he cringed. Cameron poked him sharply in the ribs. She smiled as Cuddy approached, and Cuddy smiled briefly back. It took Cameron only a moment to recognize that Cuddy was extremely tense. "Got a case for you."
"Good morning to you too, Dr. Cuddy. Why yes, I had a lovely weekend, and thank you so much for asking," House said in a sickening, falsely sweet voice, all the while backing toward the set of elevators that would lead to his escape.
"House, I'm serious. Tanita and Joyanna Ramos, 22 months old," but here Cuddy was interrupted.
"No, no, no, no, no. Those are your twins. They're supposed to cause no extra work for me, remember?" House protested.
"Right. Well, I'll just tell the dozen surgeons and doctors who have flown here from all over the world never mind, we were just joshing," Cuddy snapped. "This surgery has to take place in the next three days, or it won't be happening at all. I'm not doing that to this family." She shoved the file at him. He shoved it back at her.
"Greg," Cameron said quietly, with a pleading look.
"Give it to me," House said, rolling his eyes as he snatched the file away from Cuddy. "I'm not giving in to the eyes for another month," he told Cameron, pushing the button for the elevator. Cameron turned and gave Cuddy a quick hug. The elevator doors opened and House stepped in. "Coming?" he shouted at Cameron.
House limped into his office and dropped his bag on the floor. Cameron had gone to the conference room to start coffee. Jasper and Foreman were already waiting.
"Cameron, you staying?" Foreman asked.
"Yes, we have a case," Cameron answered. She was surprised to see that coffee had already been made. She knew Foreman wouldn't do it unless ordered, so she assumed Jasper had done so. Cameron smiled sadly as she noticed House's mail sorted neatly on the desk in the corner. How quickly one could be replaced, she thought.
"First she steals my girlfriend," House shouted as he burst into the conference room. Jasper barely jumped, an improvement. The rude comments, sexual innuendos and outright yelling she could take. The sneaking up on people got her every time, though. "Then she saddles me with conjoined twins. Lisa Cuddy is the spawn of Satan. Make a note."
He tossed his cane onto the table and wrote some symptoms on the board.
Vomiting Seizure Excessive crying
"What's excessive crying for a two year old? I didn't know they ever stopped crying," House snarked. "What have they got?"
"They don't have anything, only Joyanna is sick. Tanita has no symptoms," Cameron said, reading the file.
"She will," House said. "Get me blood and lots of it." Jasper and Foreman left to get started on what they were sure would be an insane amount of tests. Cameron remained behind. House was lost in thought, and only noticed that she was still in the room when she coughed to get his attention.
"Penny for your thoughts," she said.
"Just calculating my chances now that Britney split with K-Fed," House answered.
"Hmm, they're getting better than your chances of seeing any action tonight every second," Cameron replied. House grinned. "This poor family, they've been through so much already."
"We'll figure it out, we always do," House said. Cameron just nodded and left to join Jasper and Foreman, leaving House to his thoughts.
