"Rules of Engagement"

Chapter Nine:Hide and Seek

Author's Note: A really short chapter that ends very abruptly. I won't be updating for the rest of the week, so I thought I shoudl post something, to keep the fic alive. School is starting tomorrow and I made the varsity soccer team. I would rather be writing fics than running two miles a day, but which one is more worth while? Check for part two of this chappie soon.

"Wilson, this is our best hiding spot yet!" House proudly said as he watched the football game on his portable tv.

"We're in the office of Diagnostics." Wilson said rather confused.

"Exactly, right where I am supposed to be. Cuddy will never think to look here."

At that exact moment the door flung opened. But it was Cameron, Chase, and Foreman rather than the hospital administrator.

"How is the patient?" House asked.

"You have a patient and you are watching the football game?" Wilson said not that he expected anything less.

"Affirmative."

"You shouldn't of received a medical degree."

"And you shouldn't of got a haircut. Talk about-"

"-Dr. House" Foreman interrupted. "The treatment it working."

"Good. I am going to need one of you to monitor her for the time being." He said eyeing the three doctors. "Dr.Chase you are the lucky one to have that opportunity."

"Why do I always have to monitor the patients?"

"I could say because you need you are the one specializing in intensive care or some logical reason like that but I am just going to be honest and say it's because I don't like you."

Chase just stood there and rolled his eyes.

"Dr.Chase, did you not catch the sense of urgency in my voice? Go monitor the patient, stat. Page me if she is dying or something serious like that." House scoffed.

Without saying another word, Chase stomped out of the room. It wasn't like he actually wanted to stay in the room with all of them. He just wanted to for once, stick up to his boss. Make him look like the idiot for once. Chase would have his chance, one day. House after all was just a miserable cripple who just talked a lot of shit. What was there to be afraid of? After thinking about it for a while,Chase swallowed hard. A lot.

"You can't treat him like total shit all the time." Wilson reminded his friend.

"Who are you, my mother?" House scoffed.

Cameron sat right down next to her fiancé. "Stop being so defensive."

"It's not that easy." He replied.

"Yea, first you have to actually trust that not all of man kind is out to get you". Foreman said as he poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table with the rest of the doctors. Unlike Chase, he wasn't afraid of House.

"Dr. Foreman would you like to join Dr Chase?" House growled.

"No thank you. Who is winning?"

"It's the Patriots vs. the Jets, who do you think dip shit?"

"I think the Patriots."

"Wow, you aren't as dumb as I thought you were."

"I actually follow sports believe it or not."

"Then maybe if you spent less time watching sports and more time practicing medicine you would be a better doctor."

"And maybe if you spent less time obsessing over Cameron, you too would be a better doctor."

"You just got served." Wilson laughed.

"Just because he is black doesn't mean you actual can say that Wilson."

"That's true." Foreman laughed.

"Uh, oh. Everyone's favorite hospital administrator is walking down the hallway." House said peeking through the closed blinds. "I didn't do any of my clinic hours this week, so we have to hide."

"We?" Wilson said.

"Yes. If you all just sit there, I guarantee one of you will rat me out. We need a good hiding spot, fast."

"Under the table?" Foreman said.

"If I go under I will never come back up.You know, this cane isn't just a fashion accessory; even though it really brings out my eyes. Last time I checked I was a cripple." House said as he waved his cane in the air. His eyes wandered the room looking for the perfect spot to hide. "Ah, ha. The closet."

"I can't believe we are doing this." Cameron said as she followed her limping lover into the closet. Wilson and Foreman reluctantly accompanied them.

When Cuddy walked into the what seemed to be empty Diagnostic office she knew something was suspicious. She knew they were hiding. Call it intuition or just a lucky hunch. She wasn't feeling well all morning and had no time for this nonsense. Cuddy paced the perimeter of the office looking for a clue to support her theory.. House just had to be here. A smile swept across her face as she spotted the steaming coffee cup sitting on the table. She checked all the large drawers and cabinets. Then she swung the closet door open revealing four surprised doctors.

"Hmm.. this isn't the clinic. What was I thinking?" House said with an innocent grin on his guilty face.

"You are hiding in a closet." Cuddy said in disbelief. Did she really hire these people?

"I took a wrong left on the way to the clinic and got lost." House said trying to cover his tracks.

"Uh, huh. And why are the other three with you?"

"Cameron was um, grabbing some scapels just in case we had to do an emergency trachea on someone. It's always good to be prepared. God knows what the other two were doing. Possibly checking each other for testicular-"

"-Dr.House. Just stop talking." Cuddy interrupted just in time. "I want you in the clinic, right now. As for the rest of you, go check on your patients."

"You don't look so good Cuddy. You have a stomach ache? Maybe you should go home." House said in what seemed to be a concerned tone of voice.

"Who is going to run the hospital?" She replied.

"I think I would be a great candidate." House said proudly.

"Not in a million years. Get back to work, all of you."

House muttered something but other than that, all four doctors walked out of the room peacefully.

"Actually Dr.Cameron, I need your help." Cuddy said following them out the door. Cameron nodded and then followed Cuddy to her office.