Title: The Touch – Chapter Thirteen – Differential Diagnosis
Author: Linda/Brynna/Brynnamorgan
Rating: M for Graphic Language
Categories: Romance/Supernatural/AU
Characters: H/OC
Spoilers: None

A/N: Okay, from here on it gets a little bit stranger than it already has been. Of course, it had to be... more than just a "good time" happened in Chapter 11. ;-)

Summary: "We have a situation that needs diagnosed. Close enough. My whiteboard, my markers, my choice. So, children, let's get started."

Lyrics Credit:

"Forgiveness" as sung by Collective Soul, 1995

"As my seasons change I've now grown to know
When one's heart creates, one's soul doesn't owe
So I wash away stains of yesterday
Then tempt my heart with love's display"
Chapter Thirteen – Differential Diagnosis

Alison Cameron walked into House's office and almost, but not quite, stopped in her tracks at the sight of House sitting at his desk with Sabrina Wallace in his easy chair and Wilson leaning against the desk, all sharing early morning laughter. She blinked in puzzlement – there was already coffee made, apparently. That was her job. Her eyes narrowed at the likely guilty party.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Cameron," Sabrina said gently. "I craved caffeine and Greg told me you're the official coffee person around here. He's not let me forget it, either," she added ruefully.

"Should have listened to Elaine. She told me you burn boiled water." Greg took a sip and grimaced. "Cameron, could you rescue me from this excuse for coffee?"

"Hah. Last time I cook for you." Sabrina stuck her tongue out at him.

"Thank God."

Cameron shook her head with disbelief and retreated into the conference room to get the coffee going. House looked the most relaxed she'd ever seen him. Nice tan, hair looked a little sun lightened and… he was actually smiling. She had no doubt as to where the source of the change came from. Damn. How was she going to handle this?

Sabrina gratefully accepted a fresh cup from Cameron, took a sip and smiled. "Much better, Doctor. Thanks."

"You're welcome."

"Won't you please join us?" Sabrina added, wishing the girl would just relax for once. Okay, she and Greg had history, but not of his doing and it was past. Something else, though. Betrayal. Doing her duty. What she felt was right. As Allison nervously sat in another chair, Sabrina felt Greg's own puzzlement come over her in small waves. Quickly she visualized a jigsaw puzzle with a few pieces to put into place and bounced it back to him, getting amusement in return.

Wilson watched the silent byplay, the flicker of the eyes between the couple and blinked. The air was close to crackling with it, enough to give him goose bumps. Cameron looked as affected, her eyes wide. Whatever had happened between the two over the weekend was a good thing; a bit unnerving to witness but it felt all right.

The rest of the ducklings came in and paused at the sight before them. "Party?" Foreman asked, not making eye contact with Sabrina. Betrayal.

"Actually, Cuddy is coming down to strip for us," Greg quipped, ducking a mock swing from Sabrina. The guys nodded and went into the conference room, beckoning Cameron to go with them. Casting one last nervous look back at the couple she followed her team out of the room, leaving the three staring after them.

"I'm not sure I want to know what's going on," Jimmy finally said.

The clack of high heels coming down the hall made them turn automatically toward the door to reveal Stacy, Lisa right behind. Sabrina started to voice a greeting then froze.

Betrayal.

Anger.

Malpractice.

Betrayal.

Jealousy.

Obsession.

Exposure.

Betrayal.

Greg grabbed his cane and rose to his feet, his expression hard. I'll deal with this. "And to what do we owe the pleasure of your smiling face?" he said with a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"House," Lisa began, only to get a dismissive wave of his hand.

"Forget it, Cuddy. Sabrina Wallace, meet Stacy Warner, my ex. Note I don't use the term 'girlfriend' or any other that would normally go after ex. Those titles have to be earned." He paused for a moment to let the words sink in, then said, "Stacy, meet Sabrina, my girlfriend."

Betrayal.

"Stacy, Greg's forgotten the time we met in Lisa's office." Sabrina forced her voice to remain even. "I was out of it at the time, or else I would have…"

The two women extended their hands to shake, made contact...

Betrayal!Obsession!Anger!Jealousy!Control!Betrayal!Obsession!Hate!Anger!Control

"It was you." Sabrina maintained her grip on the other woman's hand when Stacy would have pulled away. "You… removed his choice, his ability to make a decision…"

"I saved his life."

"It was his life to decide on."

"Sounds like Greg couldn't wait to tell you what a bad person I am," Stacy muttered, her eyes hard with anger.

"Never said a word," Greg replied.

Easy.

Trust.

Sabrina stepped back, feeling Wilson's hand on her elbow as he guided her back into her chair. How dare that woman do that to him, she thought numbly. Images tumbled through her mind, of Greg in pain, having himself put into a chemically induced coma; then other images, clouded with guilt, jealousy, anger that he was so stubborn and she would do what was right for him; and then Lisa… her head swung up to gaze at her friend, horrified… but Greg didn't hold Lisa at fault, so she wouldn't.

Greg's hand on her shoulder brought her out of her trance. He wasn't leaning over her or on her, just there as he continued to stand defiantly. She smiled wanly and reached up to pat his hand, getting a squeeze in return.

"So, you were just going to let her," Stacy indicated Sabrina with a jerk of her head, "continue to come and go as she pleased, doing… what… whatever they call it. Even her touching patients, Greg…"

"Wow. Touching patients. What a concept. Remind me to avoid doing that in the future, Wilson."

"You do anyway." Wilson sounded as though he was just barely keeping the glee out of his voice.

"True."

"What if someone sues? What if…"

"Let's see, someone gets well, so they sue the hospital. My God, Stacy, you're onto something here." He didn't bother keeping the derision out of his voice. He released Sabrina's shoulder with a final pat and limped forward to a few inches from Stacy. "Okay, Mrs. Warner," he said tightly, "let's have a look at the situation. Come, everyone. Sabrina, you haven't seen me at work, have you?" He extended his hand to her.

"I'm not sure this is the place for me. I mean, I'm curious, but…" her voice trailed off at the look in his eyes.

Love.

Trust.

She accepted his hand.

"Good morning, boys and girls." Greg shuffled into the conference room, indicating for everyone to follow him. "Cameron's made fresh coffee so belly up to the bar if you need to."

"Greg," Stacy began, looking increasingly uncomfortable by the minute.

"Naughty, naughty. You didn't raise your hand first. So sorry." He shoved a chair her direction with his cane. "Have a seat. Everyone comfy?" His expression softened as Wilson held out a chair for his woman. "Thanks, Wilson." Jimmy merely grinned and sat on a nearby counter. Lisa shot Stacy a look of disgust, glared at Foreman until he stood up and gave her his seat. "Hanging around, boss lady? Give me motivation, for chrissakes. Just one button, just one."

"And in front of your girlfriend, no less." Lisa rolled her eyes at him.

"He's just getting even with me 'cause of that bellhop."

Immediately Sabrina clapped her hand over her mouth as Greg winked at her. "Don't mind my girlfriend. She's been picking up my bad habits." He set his coffee aside and walked over to the whiteboard.

"Differential diagnosis." He began writing on the board in the upper left hand side.

"Uh, we don't have a patient," Chase began, voicing his teammates' thoughts.

"We have a situation that needs diagnosed. Close enough. My whiteboard, my markers, my choice," Greg snarked in response. "So, children, let's get started." He drew two columns with dividers, turned to face everyone and raised a brow expectantly.

"Let's see. In this column… heading… ah, old bitter crippled cranky doctor. Why? What makes a man bitter?"

"Broken trust." Cameron's voice was soft, sad in tone. Greg nodded approvingly and wrote it beneath the heading.

"What else? Come on, guys. Don't let Cam have all the fun."

"Emotional abandonment," Foreman finally said.

"Loss of control." Chase's eyes were narrow in thought.

"Betrayal." They all swung their heads to stare at Sabrina. "Hey, you brought me in here, deal."

"Jealousy," Lisa spoke up, just barely repressing a grin.

"Score one for the lady with the push-up bra." Greg continued to scrawl down one side of the board. "Okay, for the right side."

May I?

Trust.

"Idealistic Bluegrass Lady. We have her complete history."

"We do?" Cameron asked.

"We do. At the age of eleven, her brother died of leukemia and she asked God to help her help other kids. The next day she started menstruating and healed a cut on her little sister's forehead. She also discovered that she was limited to the healing of children and young animals."

"Hormone related?" Foreman was leaning in his chair, his expression wavering between disbelief and curiosity.

Greg scribbled that below the heading. "Now, accelerate forward thirty years. What do you suppose could be happening in this woman's life?"

"She'd be almost too young for menopause, wouldn't she?"

"Already perimenopausal, in fact. However, she had a complete hysterectomy. What conclusion could you draw from that?"

"That her abilities would fade or go away entirely." Cameron's brow was furrowing.

"Very good." Greg continued writing. "What might happen as a result of that?"

"She'd either quit or…" Chase began.

"Try harder," Cameron finished for him. "Maybe work harder at… I'm not sure what you would call it. Rebuilding her abilities?"

"Which could result in?"

"Stress."

"Exhaustion."

"Fainting spells." Foreman looked pointedly at Sabrina.

"Very good." Greg stepped back from the whiteboard for a moment and sipped some coffee. "So, here we have two people, total opposites, but with a similar goal, and that is to heal people. What could result from that?"

"They might meet in an environment such as a doctor's office." Chase replied.

"Clinic." Greg looked at Lisa witheringly and she smirked.

"Hospital," Foreman added.

"Pediatrics." That was Cameron.

"Cameron's my girl. We'll stick with the last one. Any disagreement? Good. Now, let's take this further. Let's suppose..." His voice trailed off as he paced. "Let's go back to the fact that she's reaching the end of what she can do. And she's met the old bitter cranky doctor."

"She can't heal adults." Cameron was actually warming up to the subject. His little atheist, Greg thought with amusement.

"And she can barely heal children." Chase looked thoughtful.

"This is so..." Stacy threw up her hands. "You're doctors and you're discussing... I just don't believe what we're discussing."

"Believe it." Wilson finally spoke up from his corner, wearing a mischievous grin on his face.

"But it doesn't make sense."

"Sense. Does everything in life make sense?" Wilson retorted, standing up and discarding his lab coat. He rolled up the shirtsleeve on his left arm and extended it out. "Thirty years ago I fell out of a tree and broke my arm. I'd bet my old family doctor still has records of it. X-ray it and you won't see a trace. Wanna know why?" He turned to Sabrina and smiled. "Should I tell them we grew up in the same neighborhood?"