Chapter 3

House sat at his desk going over some test results as his staff discussed their current case in the conference room. They still had not come up with a definitive diagnosis and all three were arguing as to what illness the patient may have contracted. House glanced up periodically to observe them, not because he was particularly curious, but because he wanted to make them feel intimidated under his watchful eye.

He finished going over the test results, disappointed that they offered no explanation of the symptoms. But he was even more bothered by the fact that he didn't find something… anything… that his team may have missed. No chance to gloat. Grabbing his cane, he stood up and snatched his coffee mug with his other hand. Despite the fact that he was walking with a cane and hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, he moved with agility across his office towards the conference room. It probably had something to do with the Vicodin he had taken 15 minutes earlier. Just as he opened the glass door, Dr. Wilson entered the room from the hallway. Their eyes met briefly, then Wilson turned his attention to the three doctors sitting around the conference table. House ignored them as he walked past the table to get his coffee.

"I checked the MRI results three times and I'm telling you there's no cancer," Wilson said to no in particular, dropping the file onto the table.

House stopped and turned to face Wilson. "Who asked you to check for cancer?"

Before he could answer, Cameron spoke up. "I did. I just wanted to be sure since we're having such a hard time diagnosing this patient." She looked over towards House.

"If I thought he had cancer…."

"She," Cameron interrupted. "The patient is a 'she'… Danielle."

House rolled his eyes. "Okay. If I thought she had cancer, I would've requested a consult with Dr. Wilson myself. I already ruled out cancer, yet you consulted him anyway. I'm sure he's taking valuable time out of his busy day to come here to tell you what I already know."

He looked at Wilson. "Thanks for your time, Doc, but we won't be needing your services anymore. I'm sure you're very busy telling your patients what you think they need to know … or not telling them."

Wilson knew House was trying to provoke him and decided this was not the time or place. But he still couldn't help himself. "You're welcome, Dr. House," he said, "always happy to help your team when they can't get a straight answer out of you."

House smirked. Wilson smiled sweetly.

The three young diagnosticians quickly glanced back and forth between House and Wilson. The oncologist couldn't help but notice they resembled spectators at a tennis match. When no one said anything the three looked at each other with stymied expressions on their faces. Wilson shrugged his shoulders, turned around and walked out.

They watched him leave; then all three peered up at House from their seats.

"Don't look at me for answers; that's your job," he said gruffly, and turned his back to them to get his coffee. As he walked back to his office, he felt three pairs of eyes boring into him. He stopped.

"What? Is my mascara running? I seem to remember telling you this morning to get another complete blood panel and a contrast CT scan of the patient'sabdomen. But for some reason, you haven't done it. Okay, let's try this… Simon sez get another complete blood panel and a contrast CT scan of the patient's abdomen. Now will you play with me?" Without waiting for a response he continued on to his office.

All three doctors stood and headed towards the door.

"What do you suppose that was about?" Cameron asked.

"Trouble in paradise," Foreman said, holding the door open for Cameron and Chase.

"Yeah, lover's quarrel obviously," Chase agreed. Cameron scowled at both of them.

House sat down at his desk and clicked on his small television. The sound helped him think. Wilson came to mind. Again. He had spent most of the previous night thinking about this thing with Wilson. He knew the oncologist had lied to him in the past, but those were white lies. This was different. This wasn't even an off-white lie. This was as big and dark as they get. True, it was a lie of omission, but it was still a lie.

House swiveled his chair towards the window and closed his eyes, half listening to a woman on television spouting off how her new winged pantiliners made her feel clean and fresh. He started to doze off.

"House!"

"Whaa!" House almost flipped his chair over backwards. He grabbed onto the desk with his left hand and twisted his chair forward. Standing in front of him with folded arms stood Dr. Cuddy, a smug smile on her face.

"Busy?" she asked.

"Yes, very busy. Very very busy. Go away." He leaned over and turned off the television.

"I need to talk to you."

House cocked his head. "Did you do something to your blouse?" he asked, staring at her cleavage.

"No. And I'm up here," she said, moving a pointed finger from her chest up to her face.

House made a show of following her finger with his eyes until they met Cuddy's. "Oh, Dr. Cuddy, hello," he said with mock surprise. "And what can I do for you?"

"Dr. Wilson came to see me today."

"Now isn't that sweet? I bet he has a crush on you."

She smirked. "He's upset."

"He is? Did you comfort him? What were you wearing?"

"House, go easy on him. He was only trying to help," she said thoughtfully, trying to appeal to House's forgiving side, although she wasn't quite sure he had one.

"And this is your business because…?" His voice trailed off.

"Because you both work for me," she said brushing a strand of hair off her shoulder. "And because I can't have my doctors bickering."

"Did you just say 'bickering'?"

"Arguing, fighting, whatever," she snapped. "He's your best friend; he did what he thought was right."

House nodded slowly. "Well, Dr. Cuddy, you've certainly given me a lot to think about. Thank you and good bye." He motioned with his head for her to leave.

"House… "

He looked at her with what appeared to be a cautionary… but respectful… expression on his face. She knew attempting to continue the conversation was pointless.

"So, I assume you're not going to talk to me about this."

House stared at her blankly.

"Just think about it," she said as she turned to leave.

"You think I have time to think about Wilson?" he called after her. She smirked with her back to him. Based on how tired he looked, she figured he had probably thought about Wilson the entire night.

House turned the television back on. Of course he knew Wilson had been his best…if not only…friend and that he had always been there for him. But this had shaken House's trust in him. Friends don't do that to friends. Wilson should've talked to him.

A/N: Chapter 4 is almost ready to post. I'd love to know what you think so far.