"So, how did it go?" Cameron was rather anxious to see what happened as the three gathered in the doctors lounge after the review.
Foreman was still rather steamed. "House is an ass. Cuddy shouldn't force someone to do a task that involves being fair and objective. That concept is completely lost on House."
Cameron grabbed Foreman's review and started reading. "This isn't that bad at all. 'Dr. Foreman offers a unique procedural approach to his cases that greatly enhances the quality of the patient's care…He assures that compassion for the patients is not lost in following his standards for process…Dr. Foreman displays arrogance and confidence in a constructive manner when dealing with a sensitive situation…He adds an element of structure to the team that is sorely lost without him.'"'
"Yeah, well it isn't all that good and it should be." Foreman let the perfectionist inside him speak.
"Yes, he did blast you here in the section regarding working with your team. 'Dr. Foreman must learn to avoid stereotypes and misconceptions among his patients and co-workers. He at times interferes with the full potential of the team dynamic by often refusing to be empathetic and respectful to his team members.'"
"House must have pulled that off his own review." Chase chuckled slightly.
"Everything else here is very solid." Cameron observed as she finished reading.
"I'm better than solid." Foreman interjected. "I'm not sure what more he wants from me."
"Why isn't this exactly what you expected?" Chase was surprised by Foreman's reaction. "This is House. He doesn't see perfection in anyone nor does he give compliments. Not bad is good for House."
"You don't have to suck up here. House can't hear what we are talking about." Foreman said defensively. "Just wait until it is your turn. You won't be defending House then."
"Great point. It's all my fault." Chase sarcastically replied.
"Yes, actually it is your fault." Foreman shot back.
"Stop it!" Cameron had enough of their bickering. "We are supposed to support each other. House is difficult, but as we all have learned there is a method to his madness. Two more reviews to go and maybe we will get a clue about what he is up to."
Foreman and Chase both nodded in agreement.
"Good. In the meantime, you should be happy with what you got." Cameron said to Foreman. "Knowing House, it could have been way worse." Cameron of course was trying to reassure herself since her review was scheduled for tomorrow.
--------------------------------
Cameron sat in House's office alone, waiting for him to show up for their scheduled time. She knew he was avoiding her, but he couldn't avoid his office forever.
A half hour later House showed up. "I'm sorry, did we have something scheduled?"
"Don't worry, I cleared my entire afternoon in case you tried something," Cameron wasn't about to fall for his tricks.
House walked over to his desk and grabbed the packet he prepared. "Okay, start reading." He handed her the review.
Cameron took the documents and started reading. After a minute, she started asking questions. "What does this mean, my moral compass affects my abilities to objectively process a diagnosis?"
"It means you would be a better doctor if you got that stick out of your ass." House bluntly stated.
"I'm glad you didn't write it that way," Cameron calmly replied. "Care to elaborate a bit more?"
"You let your high ethical bias affect the quality of care delivered on quite a few occasions just because your hang-ups have you dealing with everything but the condition. You get obsessed with the wrong problem. It is our duty to treat the disease. Once we have done that, then you can go tell someone how he or she doesn't live up to your unreachable standards. Chase and Foreman do not let their moral ground prevent them from helping the patient. They also don't let their personal feelings affect them from being honest and direct about the situation."
"They let other biases stop them at times." Cameron argued.
"Ah, but last I looked, we were looking at Allison Cameron's performance issues."
"Fine, I'm going on," Cameron started reading more. "On occasion I have consulted with bad sources which have led to wrong choices? Where did that come from?"
"Again withholding specific examples in the written review are to your benefit, but since I'm thinking of one, how about taking a patient's crystal meth and then jumping an unsuspecting co-worker while stoned out of your mind? You didn't think that would come back to haunt you?"
"He wanted it too." She muttered under her breath in a sulking voice.
House was slightly disgusted. "Ew, I don't need that picture in my head. That example however also worked in your favor. See the part where I commend you for your exceptional methods in getting to know members of your team? Going on a date with your boss, sleeping with a colleague, you know how to work your male co-workers. You have to do what you can to get ahead in this male dominated field. Of course I wonder where the moral standards went during those times, but no matter."
"That all happened on my personal time and shouldn't be mentioned here, good or bad," Cameron defiantly stated.
"I don't give a damn if you drop meth daily and run to Chase every time you need to get off. Hell you both would be happier if you did. You did it because you let a patient get to you. Patients always lie. They might be kidding themselves into thinking they are telling the truth, but they are still lying. That is worth a mention."
"Okay, point taken. Moving on." She continued to read the review. "None of my skills as an Immunologist are in question."
"I wouldn't have hired you if you didn't know your specialty. It is my job to make you a better Diagnostician, not a better Immunologist."
"How about my diagnosis track record? Don't you keep track or something?"
"Yes, but you aren't winning. You were a great doctor when you came to me and nothing has changed so it's not worth noting."
Cameron read on. "'Dr. Cameron often struggles with analyzing the true complexity of the issues presented before her.' Now that requires a specific example. I'm usually very thorough with patient histories and checking all possible causes of their condition."
"Notice the word is 'issues', not 'cases'. Issues involve far more patients and their medical histories. Issues involve how you handle obstacles, your team members, and your own limitations. You have had many problems with this aspect."
"How so?"
"Let's for a minute forget how you waste an extraordinary amount of time on the phone calling social services when a patient or member of the patient's family does something you don't like. Let's forget how you actually do take no for an answer for some people and then stubbornly plow through for others. Let's forget how you are in Cuddy's office annoying the crap out of her the instant someone on your team or another doctor does something you don't like. Let's for kicks say all that is not important even though it takes away your focus on patient care. That leaves me to zero in on the most basic problem yet the most important. How do you utilize your team members?
"I'm not sure I understand the question. I often ask Chase and Foreman for consults."
"How well do you know Chase and Foreman?"
"Very well. We get along great."
"Alright, tell me about Chase's family."
"He's from Australia, his mother is dead, his dad was a doctor before he died, and Chase hates him." Cameron replied.
"Why?"
"He wouldn't tell me."
"Funny. He told me after I forced it out of him. What's Foreman's story? Do you know why he became a neurologist?"
"No." Cameron looked down feeling shameful.
"You need to learn how to get the truth out of people." House went into lecturing mode. "If you have to manipulate, fine, but getting to the truth is what diagnostics is all about. You have to know what your team members bring to the table because doctors aren't perfect. We don't know it all."
"Since when have you thought it was important to know a co-worker's personal history other than for your own amusement?"
"Have I taught you nothing? No piece of information is irrelevant, everybody lies, yada yada. Ring a bell? If you can't see through that in a co-worker, how are you going to tell it in a patient?"
"So if I know why Chase hates his father, I'm going to be better at diagnosing a patient?" Cameron had huge trouble with that logic.
"No, but your team will be better. You will understand his motivation, where he is coming from when he makes a conclusion. If a case mirrors something Chase or Foreman have experienced in their lives, then you are more than likely to see the relevance in the point of view presented and not quickly dismiss it."
"Has that happened before?" Cameron asked.
"Actually, yes it has. Luckily I know the history, so I'm able to filter all recommendations. Someday it will be your turn and you will need to know such things."
Cameron paused a moment to absorb what he was saying. He was right, but she resented having to her this now. "What is wrong with the idea of constructive criticism from time to time? Would it hurt for you to offer career guidance without the insults once in a while?"
"Boy, life sucks for you. You've got the wrong boss." House faked pity. "You were picked to be part of my team, so you have enough brains to figure things out yourself. Either you have the ability to learn or you don't. That is a question you have to answer for yourself."
"Anything else?" Cameron determined she had enough.
"Sign here."
-----------------------------
Cameron stormed into the room where Chase and Foreman were sitting.
"Yep, he's an ass." It was her turn to be completely frustrated.
Foreman started reading the review. "What does this mean? 'Dr. Cameron displays extraordinary sensibility when getting to know members of her team.'"
"House wasn't specific." Cameron looked at Chase and they shared a quick telling glance. They knew exactly what it meant.
"He had nice things to say too which is rare for him. "Dr. Cameron's abilities to diplomatically smooth over rough situations provide the team with a sorely needed center and balance. Her high moral standards do provide value at times where lines get fuzzy. Without her the team would struggle with balance and focus."
"Yeah, I did appreciate seeing that." Cameron noted.
"He was definitely harsher with you though." Foreman handed the review back to Cameron. "You're right, I can't complain. It could have been worse."
"Gee thanks," Cameron said as Foreman left the room.
"Are you okay?" Chase showed complete concern for Cameron's state of mind.
"Yeah, I'm fine. House really gave me good feedback even if it was hard to hear. Chase, why do you hate your father?"
"I don't hate him." He looked downward during his short reply.
"Why are you mad then? I know you didn't want to tell me before, but hopefully enough time has passed where you can talk about it."
"Why are you asking me this now? Did House say something to you?"
"Sort of. He told me I should know more about my team. Personal histories for team members are just as important as patients were his exact words. I have always wondered."
"House was wrong," said Chase. "He likes to use our personal histories against us for his own personal torment."
"No, he was right. I don't need every little detail or painful incident. If the question is too hard to answer, that's okay, but I thought I would try again."
Chase took a small breath and decided a quick answer would end this. "He left when I was 15. That is all you need to know."
"I'm alright with that. Thank you for at least giving me that much. How well do you think you know us?" Cameron was rather curious.
"Well enough where I know I can rely on you both when I need help."
"Do you know why Foreman became a neurologist?"
"His mother has Alzheimer's."
"How did you know that?" Cameron was surprised that he knew the answer.
"His father told me." Chase confessed.
"Wow, I have been putting on blinders. Sounds like I really need to change the way I look at things."
"Don't beat yourself up over it." Chase reassured her. "This job tends to make all of us not see things that are there. You are doing just fine. Don't let House get to you." Of course Chase was saying that to reassure himself. His turn was next.