The first of these chapters was inspired by our first hot air balloon experience. Since then we've 'flown' a few times and crewed for several balloons, especially during the International Balloon Fiesta here in town. You haven't lived until you've been up in one of those things, or been out on the field as up to five hundred balloons prepare to go up.

Pyewacket: when you brought up this song last week, it reminded me that this chapter was coming soon.

UL 67. WOULD YOU LIKE TO FLY IN MY BEAUTIFUL BALLOON

Cameron woke on Sunday morning when he planted a bristly kiss on her cheek. Her eyes opened slowly to adjust to the dark.

"Up and at 'em, little girl," House whispered.

Suddenly her entire being was alert. "Greg, what's wrong? What time is it?"

He could barely see her. He looked at the clock and said, "Four thirty."

"Four thirty?" Shock filled her voice. "You never get up before nine

if you can help it, certainly never this early. Even I don't get up

this early!"

"We've got places to go, things to do," he insisted. "Rise and shine!"

She groaned, but she had to know he wouldn't be detered from whatever he had planned. "OK, OK, hold your horses." She pulled herself up.

He cupped her chin and kissed her, then said, "You can have the

bathroom first, well technically second, since I just came from

there. I'll go wake the Squirt."

Cameron stood, sleepily grabbed some clothes and padded barefoot to

the bathroom as House limped into the living room.

Gretchen looked so sweet and peaceful, stretched out on the couch,

Junior's crate close enough so she could reach in and pet him.

House leaned over her, smiling at the sight. He suddenly wished he

had a bugle, but his neighbors wouldn't have appreciated him playing

reveille at four forty-five in the morning.

"Hey, kiddo, it's upping time," he said, not loud, but not softly

either.

"Huh?" Gretchen woke with a start. Then smiled at him. "Morning,

Dad."

"Let's get this show on the road!" he said.

"Isn't it too early?" she asked, stifling a yawn. She wondered what

was going on.

"I promise you'll be glad you got up now. Get dressed and take

Junior for a walk. Then we'll be ready to go."

She shook her head, but didn't ask 'where'. Instead, she did as he said.

They made sure Junior had food and water before they left. They

drove out to an area that was under development. New houses and

shopping centers were appearing all the time. They parked in the lot

of one of those centers and could see a group of people congregating

around a van in an adjacent vacant lot. Walking towards the group,

they could see two men pulling something very colorful out of the

back of the van. It was a hot air balloon!

"How are they going to get it up?" Gretchen asked.

"Just watch." House pointed to the men, spreading the envelope out on the ground and then, as one held the bottom open, the other set up a fan and aimed it at the opening. In about fifteen minutes the balloon was filled with air.

Now it was time to start the propane-fueled blower. The flame of the blower was

aimed at the opening to heat the air inside and as it

heated, the balloon went from horizontal to vertical.

"Wow!" Gretchen and Cameron said simultaneously.

The basket that they attached to it was made of heavy wicker. Soon, it too was upright, waiting for the pilot and passengers to climb in.

With her long legs, Gretchen was easily able to put one foot in a

lower foot hold and the other in an upper one, and then swing the

first leg over as she scrambled into the basket. Cameron followed

suit, finding it easier than she'd expected, but she was a little

concerned how House would manage. Steadying himself with his cane,

he put his left foot into an upper hold and quickly shifted his

weight to it, wincing only slightly the short time his weight was

on his right leg. He swung that leg and the cane over, followed

immediately by the left. Cameron was hesitant to offer help, but he

steadied himself by grabbing her shoulder.

Another couple, newlyweds by the looks of them, climbed in after

them.

"Everyone ready?" the pilot asked, and at their nods, he increased

the intensity of the blower and the balloon began to rise off the

ground.

Gretchen was grinning and trying to look in every direction at once.

To the east they could see the sun rising. As they ascended higher

they could look out over the houses and fields. To the west they

could make out the Delaware River.

"It's like we're floating!" Cameron shouted over the roar of the

blower. House took her hand and she squeezed his.

"Technically we are," House shouted back, just as the blower stopped

and they started drifting with the air currents.

"Dad, isn't that the University?" Gretchen asked, pointing to a

cluster of buildings.

"And there's the hospital." Cameron pointed too.

Every once in a while the pilot turned the blower on and they rose

a little more. Each time, the passengers moved back from the heat

of the flame.

"Oh, Dad, this is the most outrageous thing we've ever done!"

Gretchen exclaimed. The broad grin hadn't left her face.

All too soon it was over. The pilot brought the balloon down in

another vacant field where they met the chase van. Once they were

out of the basket, everyone even House, helped deflate the balloon and pack it

in its bag. The pilot and another man brought out a table and

began to take pastries and juice and a bottle of champagne from a

cooler. The van would take them back to their cars, but first, a

toast was in order. The pilot recited the Irish Balloonist's Prayer:

The winds have welcomed you with softness

The sun has blessed you with his warm hands

You have flown so high and so well that

God has joined us together in laughter and

set us gently back into the loving arms of Mother Earth.

UL 68. REDEMPTION SONG

Marty Wilson walked into the lab at PPTH on Monday morning ready to

start a new life. His brother and Dr. Cuddy were giving him a chance

to prove himself and he was very determined to do that. And,

although he was a little worried about working so closely with an

endless supply of chemicals of all kinds, he was also determined to

be strong.

He soon found he had little to fear in the way of temptation. The

prescription drugs kept in the labs were under lock and key and all

the inventories were controlled by computer. The closest he'd get

to actual drugs were their names on the monitor screen.

Schultz was quite willing, even proud to show his inventory system

to his replacement. The hospital grapevine had already spread the

word that the 'new' guy was Dr. James Wilson's brother, and therefore

the brother-in-law of the hospital administrator. He might be

retiring soon, but Schultz wasn't stupid.

"All the supplies and medicines are bar-coded" he explained. "When

they're used, the doctors and technicians scan the code and the

information about what and how much is recorded. When supplies start

to run low, a reminder is automatically transmitted to order more.

For some supplies, the usage is so consistent that we have a standing

order with the suppliers. The only deviation is when we have

something new to add to the inventory."

Marty smiled. He was sure he could do this easily.

"There are cross-checks against the other hospital records to make

sure that what's dispensed is actually used," Schultz said.

"What about things like X-ray films and sampling equipment, that

sort of thing?" Marty asked.

"Those too, same systems as the drugs and test reagents. We do a

really big business in latex gloves." They both laughed.

"And equipment?" Marty wanted to know how extensive the system was.

"We rarely have to replace that," Schultz told him. "The lab manager

fills out forms if we need a replacement or something new and those

forms require two signatures."

"Sounds well thought out, thorough and secure."

"It is that." Schultz beamed. He'd set a lot of it up over the years

and he was proud of his baby. And he sensed that Marty Wilson would

take good care of it for him.

"I see you've decided to grace us with your presence," House told

Sheffield as he entered the conference room. "I hope all that

research was useful."

"Ever hear of systems biology?" the young doctor asked, thinking he

could impress House by knowing about a methodology that was used to

build databases linking DNA and protein sequencing with diseases.

"Ye-es" House said. He'd actually done a study on it a few years

before, but since it was used more to predict diseases in populations

and more for preventive medicine than diagnostic, he hadn't

investigated further. He wondered what Sheffield had in mind.

"You've heard of it?" Sheffield was surprised.

"Dr. Sheffield, there's very little in medicine I haven't heard of

or read about, but how does this relate to our case?"

"Well, if we knew what Mr. Pauley's genetics show that he may be

susceptible to, it may help us determine what's wrong with him."

House's eyebrows went up. There was hope for Ben Sheffield yet. "OK.

Do a proteome analysis. Let's see what, if anything, it shows."

"I'll get right on it."

"Oh, and Sheffield?"

"Yes?" Sheffield asked, expecting House to finally compliment him

about something.

"Close the door when you leave."

Now that she was back in Albany, Cameron paid a visit to Sandy Gelman's office. Her life was about to change and she knew there were legal ramifications.

She needed her lawyers advice.

Sandy's secretary wasn't at her desk. Instead Caro Ny was covering

the phones. She looked up as Cameron walked in and said, "Dr. Cameron,

Mr. Gelman said to tell you to go right in when you arrived."

"Thanks, Caro. How's school going?"

"Don't ask! But I'm glad I work here. Mr. Gelman is very good about

letting me work hours that fit around my class schedule," the law

student said. "There's so much to learn! I guess medical school was

the same, huh?"

"Yes, but it was worth the effort," Cameron told her, as she opened

the door to Sandy's office and walked in.

"Allison! It's good to see you again" the friendly lawyer told her.

"Thank you for making time for me today," Cameron said as she sat

down in the chair across from him.

"So, how can I help you?" he asked.

"Well, things have changed quite a bit since I was here last."

"From your face, I gather that the changes are good?"

"Yes. First of all, I'm moving and starting a new job," she said.

"In New Jersey?" he guessed.

"How did you...?"

"Well, it was obvious when you were talking about allowing Gretchen's

father to have more access to her, and when you wanted her to use his

name, that the next step would be for the three of you to live

closer."

"We're moving in with him."

"That's as close as it gets." He chuckled. "So, you'll be selling

your house. That changes your assets. And I would imagine if you're

living with him, you'll want to change your will."

"Yes," she said. "Honestly, I don't know what I have to do. That's

why I'm here, to get your advice and start whatever paperwork is

needed."

They spent the next half-hour going over the documents Sandy had

prepared for her in the past and agreeing on the changes that were

appropriate.

"I'll have the new documents to you before you leave on Friday,"

Sandy said.

"Thanks, Sandy," Cameron said. "You have been a big help to me over

the years. I certainly appreciate the way you've taken care of me,

of us. I'm gonna miss you." Impusively, she walked around the desk

and gave the man a hug. "Thanks."