(Three weeks later)

The door to the House-Warner apartment had been left open. Turning the corner, Foreman stopped in the doorway, surprised by the layout. It looked almost the same as it did before House disappeared; except all the furniture was new, there were fewer and different pictures on the wall, and the bookshelf was almost empty.

"Wow," Foreman said succinctly.

"Uh, Foreman?" Chase asked. "You're heading a battalion here."

Foreman kept walking, leading the group inside.

"Wait a minute, I think I've been here before," Cameron said.

"This is incredible," Cuddy said.

House forced himself to smile as he raised his glass. "Couldn't have done it without all my peeps."

"Why didn't you ask us for more help?" Taub asked.

"You were busy. Didn't want to be a nuisance, I'm trying to turn over a new leaf. Well," House added, "An old leaf to the new side. You know, the one that hasn't been crapped all over."

Park raised her eyebrows at the analogy.

"Hope it all works out," Cuddy said, with a smile.

"It's an open night," House announced. "Anything could happen. I figured, I owe you."

"Maybe we could go ice skating," Park volunteered.

A slow smile came across House's face as he pictured Taub on the ice.

"Great idea," Chase told her. "Meanwhile House'll just stand there and watch."

"Oh." Park ducked her head, raising her eyes to the habitually grumpy, slightly unhinged man with the cane. "Sorry."

"It's okay," he surprised everyone with his calmness. "We can start with the food."

"I had no idea you could be such a pleasant host," Cuddy said.

"Nobody knew," Chase muttered.

House motioned gallantly to the furniture, and his favorite acquaintances began finding their seats. "Tell me about work. Tell me about Harper." House sat down on the piano bench, facing the couch.

Chase smiled, scrutinizing him. "Have you missed us?"

"Hm, some more than others."

Stacy hastily spoke. "Uh, can I get anyone anything? Water, tea, coffee, juice?"

"I'd like some coffee," Chase said.

"Decaf?"

"No, strong."

"Anyone else?" Stacy asked, and when she received all negatives, she walked into the kitchen. House studied the Aussie, with a glint in his eyes.

"You look like hell, Chase," House announced.

Chase looked at him. "Thanks, House."

"My pleasure."

"There goes your nice host theory," Taub said, quietly, to Cuddy.

"What's the matter? Hospital beds not cozy? Or are you still working off the damages?"

Chase sat up straight on the couch, staring at him. "Who told you?"

House smiled at him. "Nobody," he said, as Stacy returned with his coffee.

"Well, how'd you find out?" Chase asked, as she hovered there, offering him the cup. "Were you spying on me?"

Stacy finally put the cup on the coffee table and walked back to House, looking in curiosity at him.

Foreman frowned at House's near-giddy expression. "You sent someone to spy, didn't you?"

"My God, House, if that damn P.I. of yours," Chase began.

"Nope. Not Lucas. Actually, not even a spy."

"But you orchestrated a break-in at my house!" Chase deduced. "Is this the whole reason you invited me here?"

"Nope, figured you'd have recovered by now."

"Well, you were wrong." As Chase kept talking, his voice grew louder and louder, until he was shouting. "Completely and entirely wrong, to assume that and to meticulously plan out the worst day of my life—"

"Oh, get over it. Geez, your technology is fine."

Stacy raised her brows at him. "Why would you do something like that?"

House looked up at her. "Well, you wanted me and Rebecca to bond..." House looked past the horrified and disgusted faces, addressing Chase. "And I was pissed at you. Next time, stay out of my business."

Chase gawked for a moment, then turned to Adams and spoke with a surprising nonchalance. "You were right. An angry boss."

"You had my daughter," Stacy began loudly, "Do a B&E?"

"She learned from the master."

Stacy glowered at him, and House raised his brows. "If it's any consolation, she needed very little persuasion."

Stacy got up off the arm of the chair he was sitting in, and walked several paces away, shaking her head.

"Hey. Come on," House said. "She's home free, and the break-in was a prank and a learning experience. This is good!"

Foreman shook his head; the others frowned at him.

House raised his brows, waiting; allowing the silence to grow until he couldn't bear it anymore. "So!" he exclaimed. "What's on the menu? Pizza? Chinese?"

Stacy turned to face him, raising both hands palms outward, silently asking for silence. "I can't believe I thought you could change. That you could be civil, for one night."

"He needed the lesson."

"No." Stacy sighed, "I did." She turned around and began walking across the room.

"Where are you going?"

"Short Hills!" Stacy snapped.

"Stacy, hang on. Wait," House said, getting painfully to his feet.

She waited, but not for him to speak. "I can't even look at you, House. My God! You had her come all the way down here just to—I-I-I don't even—" She covered her eyes, and House reached out, putting a hand on her arm. And she slapped him away. With all eyes on her, she pushed hard on his shoulders, forcing him to stumble and fall into the back of the couch.

"Screw you and your damn miserable life," Stacy growled, as she walked to the door. She slammed it behind her.

House leaned unmovingly, unable to believe how quickly and irrevocably things had spiraled out of control. Stacy used to be a lot more fun. And it wasn't like Rebecca was too young, or even too good.

What just happened? He stood up and slowly limped around the couch to face his guests.

"House," Cameron said quietly. "Couldn't you stop?"

His voice was quiet as well. "Get out."