Ch 38: California Dreaming

House grinned seeing Taub in the differential room sipping coffee when he entered his office the day after Cuddy had given him reign over his own team once again. The stupid smirk on the other man's face was almost too much for House to bear, but he kept his patience, knowing that soon Taub would be out on his ass and things would be getting back to a state of normalcy. He sent Sundai and Taub off to get an MRI on the patient and called Thirteen into his office.

"What's up?" she asked, leaning against the edge of his desk. Her protruding belly was adorable, he admitted as he looked her over.

"I know that you're not particularly comfortable with the events surrounding the announcement of your pregnancy, but I have to ask you to do something," he said, meeting her eyes frankly.

"Ok…"

"I asked Foreman to come back and work here to get things settled," he said, his gaze not leaving hers. She physically blanched, but composed herself again almost immediately.

"It's your choice who you hire and who you fire," she said a bit too quickly.

"Are you sure you won't mind him coming back?"

"It won't be the most fun I've had in my life, but I think I can handle it…I'm an adult after all." House nodded. "Does Wilson know?"

"Not yet. I just got the details taken care of last night. Taub's ass is gone."

"Really?" she was a bit surprised, but he could still detect the amusement in her voice. "Cuddy told you it was alright to fire him?"

"Yes," he replied, rolling his eyes. "The boss gave me permission. You want to see the note?"

Thirteen snorted. "Well I guess I can deal with Foreman being pissy if Taub leaves."

"Good. I'll just let Wilson know that he'll just have to come to me personally if he's involved with any cases and tell Taub to fuck off."

"Is that the only stipulation?"

"Yes. Did you think I was going to fire you?" he asked her.

"No…I just…I don't know. I figured he'd be more difficult to get back on the team." She met his eyes and he realized that she had actually thought he might let her go. He cleared his throat, deciding to let that slide.

"Well, maybe he's moved on."

"Maybe," she repeated.

"You feel like doing lunch with me and Wilson? He might be a little less annoyed if his spawn is in the vicinity when I tell him he's not allowed in the differential room," House said with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

"Alright." Thirteen smiled and followed House down the hall to inform Wilson of the lunch plan.

The smug look fell off of Taub's face fairly quickly when House announced that he was being replaced. The surgeon looked more than a bit put out. "Did Cuddy ok this decision?" he asked House.

"Yes. But you should know that I've got the real power to fire your ass, she's just the formality since you went groveling to her like a sick puppy." House smirked at the surgeon. "So pack your stuff and be gone by 5."

Taub glared at his now former boss. "You can't do this. I'll sue you for all you've got."

House snorted. "Right. Being a jackass and not following orders will get you a settlement…"

"There are procedures, House…"

"Yeah. Like blackmail? Or did you think I wouldn't bring that up? Get you shit and leave if you want to keep that off your record," the older man said, keeping most of the anger out of his voice.

"What the hell am I supposed to do now?"

"I dunno. Find a new job?"

Taub scowled at the older man, but didn't respond. He stood up after a moment and got his things out of the differential room. "Thanks for…whatever," he said sarcastically before heading down the hall.

House couldn't help but feel quite pleased with the way the interaction had gone. He was finally free of the tiny troublemaker and felt like he could finally breathe again. He went home that night to Cuddy and Rachel in a better mood than he had experienced in quite a long time.

Foreman started working at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital for the third time a little more than a week after Taub left for good. He greeted House curtly and ignored Thirteen altogether when he greeted the rest of the team. "Think he'll stay for a while this time?" Wilson asked his best friend from inside the head office.

"I dunno. I kinda like having him around, so I hope so. He's apparently the only constant I'm gonna get."

"What about me? Cuddy?"

"The only constant fellow," House said, rolling his eyes. "Don't be so needy or I'll have your girlfriend kick your ass. Needy is the reason women leave you…well that and your habitual cheating."

Wilson sighed. "Thanks for the advice. I wouldn't talk about failed relationships, though if I were you. Two months before you finally cement this thing for good."

"Are you saying I can't last that long?" House asked, a slight frown crossing his face.

"No," Wilson replied, searching for his words carefully. "I'm just saying that there could be a chance of social unrest within the next two months."

"Wanna make a bet?" House asked.

"About whether or not you'll screw something up between now and when you say I do? It's a given…and I really shouldn't be on how likely it is that my best friend's relationship will fail," Wilson pointed out.

"Oh, we're betting," House informed him. "Loser pays for the strippers for your next bachelor party."

Wilson snorted. "You're sure I'm going to have a next bachelor party? I told you Thirteen and I are taking things as they come."

"Right. I know you. You'll be married within the year," House predicted."

"Another bet?"

"Ok." The two men set the details for their bets and ended up settling on tickets to a Tom Petty Concert for the winner. "You're going to regret making bets with me!"

"Right. The day that you say 'I do' will be the day I pay for my own strippers…"

"Fortunately that bet is already on the table."

Wilson laughed. "Why don't you go address your new team, I have work to do!" He left House's office and the diagnostician entered the differential room with a smirk plastered all over his face.

"Ok, kiddies, this is how things are going down: the patient is leaving tomorrow…you actually solved the case. The first one of you who finds me the next interesting case will win a prize!" His eyes lit up exponentially as he announced the contest. "Ready, set, go!"

He watched the three doctors stroll leisurely out of the room to check different areas of the hospital with a grin. Things were getting interesting again…