Talia had been thinking of House a lot recently, and she didn't really know why.

It might have been the sudden breakdown of her friendship with Thirteen, as she felt like she needed House's cold words of advice on a day like this. But unfortunately, she still couldn't get over what he did, and she couldn't bring herself to even like nor respect him anymore.

So she knew that it was a no-go area. Plus, he was in prison, where she truly believed he deserved to be, and she had no intention of visiting him like she did when he was in the hospital.

Not again. She couldn't go through that again.

On this day in particular it was raining like all hell outside, and Elijah had gotten a bit of a fever - so his parents, being in the medical field, were doing their doctorly duties and keeping a close eye on him. He was drowsy, wasn't eating much, and was sleeping a lot, so it was quite a miserable day anyway.

And then…Foreman turned up.

Fun times.

Chase swung the front door open and raised his eyebrows once he saw who it was. "Ohhh f*ck's sake, here we go," he groaned quietly. "Seriously Eric, this isn't the time, or in fact the day for you to be snooping around - so do us a favour and take a rain check this time? Talia didn't euthanise her best friend and, to make matters a little worse, Elijah is pretty sick today - so if you're here to keep prodding and-"

"I actually wanted to apologise to her," Foreman spoke over him smoothly.

Chase closed his mouth and squeezed an eye shut in genuine shock.

"Pardon?"

"I mean it. Like, genuinely."

"You mean apologise and then slyly suggest she still had something to do with it so you can find out more information and keep your title, or…"

"No, just apologise and leave it there. Seriously, I have nothing else to say but that. I felt awful about it after you guys left that other time," Foreman sighed, leaning against the doorframe and crossing his arms. "I shouldn't have even suggested she had anything to do with it - not like that. It was unnecessary and unfair, especially cos I consider you guys my…friends."

Chase twisted his mouth to the side and nodded slowly.

"Fine. In that case…I guess you can come on in," he sighed as he stepped aside. Foreman shot him a thankful smile and did just that, already overhearing the impatient wails from Effie inside.

"Yikes. She's sure got a strong ass set of lungs on her, huh?" he grimaced to Chase as he shut the front door behind him.

"Dude. She's really found her vocal cords recently," Chase grumbled back, running his hands through his hair. "And Elijah's super stuffy and feeling all sorry for himself so we have to keep her out of the nursery where he's trying to nap and wallow in his own misery…basically, this house is becoming way too small, mate."

"Yeeaaah, I'm getting that vibe," Foreman murmured, following him into the living room where Talia was frantically trying to calm Effie down by blowing softly on her flushed head and bouncing her gently, although she was swiftly running out of ideas.

She happened to glance up once Foreman stepped in - and openly rolled her tired red rimmed eyes.

"Oh for fu- Eric, please," she grumbled. "Not now, not ever-"

"It's an apology, he's just here for an apology, babe," Chase assured her hurriedly.

"FAB. Tell him to put it in writing," Talia muttered back, turning away from them both.

"Talia," Chase groaned under his breath.

"Robert! Our baby is screaming bloody murder, I'm sorry if I seem a little distracted today!" Talia snapped, lying the bawling Effie on the sofa. She sat down beside her and started peeling off her baby grow, knowing that she was now probably so worked up that she was overheating and clammy. "Baby girl, it's okaaay," she whispered worriedly, now that Effie was just in her vest and nappy. Foreman and Chase watched her scoop her baby daughter back up and start blowing on her head again - and this time, it worked a treat.

Effie started to quieten down and lean against her chest, chewing on her fist. Talia chucked her head back in relief and took a deep breath, finally looking up at the blinking men opposite her.

"Right then. How can I help?" she beamed brightly as if nothing had happened.

"I…uh…I wanted to apologise for insinuating that you had anything to do with Leona's passing," Foreman started off awkwardly, causing Talia to raise a brow. "It was…wrong of me. Especially as you were in a vulnerable position and had only just given birth and…I know that I…"

"It's fine, Eric," Talia cut him off as quickly as she could. Now she was feeling bad, because Leona had been euthanised, and Foreman's suspicions were somewhat correct all along. She didn't want him doubting himself after he'd been right to assume what he did - it would just ruin his self-judgement.

"No but it's not," Foreman continued to sigh, causing Talia and Chase to glance at each other awkwardly across the room. "I always let this kinda thing happen when I get a little bit of power and it's definitely not okay - I know this by now."

"Yeah well, we all make mistakes," Chase rushed out with a smile on his face. "There's no-" Suddenly, there came the needy cry from Elijah from his room again.

"DAAAAADDYYYYY!" he practically screamed. Chase squeezed an eye shut and practically bolted out of the room, leading Foreman to blink over at Talia in surprise.

"Damn. Is he okay?! Does he need to come into the hospital for a check over?" he murmured in concern.

"Mhmm no, I don't think so. Rob and I are monitoring his fever closely but I think it's causing him to have night terrors now, so his sleep has been really bitty and he always jolts himself awake," Talia answered quietly, whilst rubbing Effie's back. "Sometimes he ends up sweating like crazy too, but-"

"It's just the body trying to cool itself down," Foreman nodded, making Talia smile over at him.

"How was that for a mini differential?" she giggled. Foreman let out a knowing laugh and shook his head.

"Good times, huh?"

"Mhm."

"Well, if you ever do need to come in, just give me a call. They…they actually officially made me the Dean of Medicine now so I-"

"YOU WHAT?!" Talia gasped. "Wait, they actually did it?! You now officially run Princeton Plainsboro?"

"Yeah. Got confirmed last night," Foreman smiled slightly, ducking his head bashfully. "I actually thought I'd feel way happier than I feel now, to be honest."

"You…don't feel happy? Why? Isn't this like…what you always wanted?"

"I don't know," Foreman shrugged awkwardlt. "I…I thought it was, but turns out it's a lot more pressure than I'd anticipated. And now I just feel like I'm getting all the leftovers now that Cuddy's quit."

"Well what did you expect them to do, fire Cuddy to make way for you?" Talia couldn't help but scoff confusedly. "Foreman, you won the right to being the Dean of Medicine fair and square. Don't start doubting yourself now - your cockiness over the past five years would've gone to waste!"

"Wow, Talia. You really are the nicest friend I've got," Foreman frowned, just as Chase reentered the room with a look of pure exhaustion on his face.

"He's gone back to bed…but in our bed this time, because his was soaked through with sweat which yes babe, I put straight in the wash," he explained lowly as he ran his fingers through his hair. "His fever is going down though-"

"Because he's sweating it out," both Foreman and Talia acknowledged, making Chase blink at them in surprise. "Yup. We're way ahead of you, hun - as usual," Talia smirked cheekily.

"God. It's like we're at the office all over again," Chase hummed under his breath whilst going to make a cold drink.

"Speaking of, Foreman's officially the new Dean of Medicine!" Talia announced brightly as she rubbed Effie's back in soothing motions.

Chase's face fell into shock.

"WHAT?"

"Right?! That's exciting, huh?" Talia nodded, shooting Foreman a knowing look. "But he doesn't seem too happy about it."

"What? Why the hell not?" Chase blinked in shock. "Eric, isn't that the role you've been aiming for from the beginning?"

"Actually no, I was after House's role from the beginning," Foreman admitted with a wince. Talia raised an eyebrow and Chase could only roll his eyes irritably.

"Should've seen that one coming," he blinked.

"But there's literally no money for House's department anyway. There was…a significant loss…once House and Cuddy left. So many people didn't want to work there anymore and now the whole thing ceases to exist," Foreman explained, chewing on the inside of his cheek.

"House didn't leave, House got himself arrested and damn right for that," Chase grumbled as he poured himself the lemonade.

"Mhm," Talia hummed in agreement. "Well, you never know. I know my wonderful husband over there is enjoying the stay at home dad life for now, but he gets a little restless if he doesn't exercise his brain and honestly, it's just a matter of time."

Chase shot her a little smirk and shrugged.

"My darling wife has a point. I'm good for another few months but soon I'll be itching for something to do," he nodded, making Foreman grin.

"Well. If you ever decide that itch needs scratching, you know I got your white coat waiting for you right where you last put it," he shrugged.

"I'll remember that, bud," Chase chuckled back as Talia kissed Effie's clammy forehead again lovingly.

…

That evening, Chase and Talia were snuggled up on the sofa with the kids, both of them at that. Effie was slowly falling asleep against Chase's chest, sucking on her dummy with her little fist to her mouth, and between him and Talia was Elijah, who had insisted on being with them once he'd woken up from his long hot sweat naps. He was wedged comfortably in between both his parents but mostly snuggled into Talia's side with a giant thick blanket covering them as they watched Hercules together - that being one of Elijah's favourite films. His breathing was all heavy and he kept sniffing away, but he was happy to be in between of them.

It's where he felt the most safe.

"Bubb, please try and drink some more water for me," Talia whispered to him as she passed him the sippy cup. Elijah looked up at her with droopy red eyelids and shook his head.

"No kenk you," he declined politely.

"Buddy, you need to," Chase chimed in as he pulled the covers over them a little tighter. "I know you don't feel like it but you need to stay hydrated."

"Hy-vay-di?" Elijah tried to repeat miserably, carefully turning his curly head to his father instead. Talia bit back a smile as Chase nodded sombrely.

"Exactly. It'll make you feel so much better, I promise," he further explained. Elijah sighed and sipped a bit more of his water before snuggling back into Talia's side again.

"Ahhh good boy," she giggled, running her fingers through his light curls curls lovingly. "Well done, Lij." She and Chase exchanged a little look with each other as they continued to watch Hercules - and then Talia's phone went off. She reached over for it and slid it open to see Cameron's name and picture on the screen, letting out a little yawn as she answered it. "Hello?"

"Hey, T," Cameron murmured out.

She didn't sound too happy about being on the phone to her.

"You okay, Al? You sound…sad," Talia blinked.

"I'm…I'm fine. How are you doing? I haven't heard from you all week," Cameron explained with a sigh.

"I know, I'm so sorry - Elijah's not been very well at all. He's had a fever and the sweats and everything."

"Oh my god. Poor thing. How is he doing now?"

"Right now he's all good. I think we've seen the worst of it and it's only up from here to be honest," Talia answered apologetically. "He's been all sorry and sad so his father and I have been tending to his every need, of course…"

"Oh, my poor angel," Cameron frowned. "You know, my Mom gave me this great herbal cure for kids to drink that help regulate fever and any bowel problems. Remember I was telling you about it a few months ago?"

"Yeaahhh I do actually," Talia nodded, leaning forward slightly. "Honestly his fever's going down now but his bowel movements are still a little off. Where did your mum get the stuff from?"

"My mom gets it imported from overseas, but I'm pretty sure I still have some at my place. You can come over tomorrow and pick some up if you like…it's all unopened?" Cameron suggested helpfully. Talia looked down at the drowsy Elijah and nodded, biting down on her bottom lip.

"Alright, good plan. I'll be over at about 10, if that's okay? I don't wanna spend too much time away from him, he's super clingy these days," she sighed.

"No problem T. I'll see you then," Cameron hummed. "Have a good evening."

"You too, hun," Talia frowned before hanging up. She looked over at Chase, who was far too invested in the film to pay attention to whatever was going on. "Robert, there's something weird going on with Allison," she murmured as discreetly as possible.

He glanced up with a risen brow,

"Something weird like what?"

"I don't know! I can't really explain it. She just sounds…odd," Talia tried to explain. "Like…unhappy, I guess. But she's insisting she's fine."

"Really? That's kinda unlike her," Chase scoffed sceptically.

"Babe."

"No, it is! Allison never misses a damn opportunity to talk about herself and her problems, bub. You and I know both know that much is true," Chase pointed out as Effie started to stir slightly.

"Good point," Talia frowned. She sighed and looked down at Elijah. "A very good point, in fact." Before she could continue pondering on Chase's theories, her phone went off again. She picked up straight away, assuming it was just Cameron who had forgotten something else. "Hello?"

"An inmate is trying to contact you from New Jersey State Prison. Please press '*' if you would like to receive this call," an automatic voice spoke.

Talia almost dropped her phone straight into her lap and her entire body tensed up.

She went rigid.

Her breathing went all shallow.

"Oh my god," she whispered to herself shakily. "No. N-no, no no-"

"What's up, T?" Chase asked worriedly, immediately noticing her reaction. "Is it Allison?"

"N-no, it's…" Talia gulped and placed a hand on her forehead. "House. I think House is trying to contact me-"

"From prison?!"

"I mean it's entirely possible, Chase," Talia groaned, still not pressing any button. She didn't know what to do. She was panicking.

She hated him.

She still had nightmares about what he did.

She couldn't do this - not again, not now, not ever.

So she hung up and put her phone on airplane mode, so spooked by the phone call that she was wondering if she'd ever be able to sleep again.

Sound familiar…?