Well, this is it.' She looked positively into the glass room where three people in long white lab coats sat in various states of disarray. House hadn't yet made his appearance, but Kate knew when he did it would be at the most uncomfortable time.

I'm doomed.

Walking into the room, she put on an air of confidence that had succeeded in making the most stubborn doctor treat her with respect.

She flashed the three startled associates a genuine smile.

The man with a little black goatee had been drinking a mug of something while his feet perched precariously on the table, while reading a file. The woman was half asleep, leaning on one hand while she perused a similar manila folder, and the other man was hidden behind the first two doctors.

Hello. I'm Catherine. I start work with Dr. House today." She explained.

Chase was first to respond, quickly taking his pen out of his mouth and laying what looked like a well marked newspaper crossword on the wooden table top.

I'm Chase, its nice to meet you.' He smiled with what most might have seen as charm, and Kate automatically labeled him as a flirt. Why not, with his accent and easy manner, most girls would probably swoon over him easily enough.

Chase. Nice name. Odd too. I've never met anybody with the name 'Chase' before.' She teased knowingly

Well, my names actually Richard.' He explained.

Well, since that is quite a mouthful and I rarely call colleagues by first name, do you mind me using your last name?'

He shook his head a little abashedly and retuned to the seat he had so swiftly left

The women offered a preoccupied smile and an outstretched hand

I'm Allison Cameron, nice to meet you.' Well she seemed nice. Naive, but nice. Kate thought perhaps she was hiding something behind her polite mask.

Foreman. Just Forman.' The last man with a little black goatee volunteered. Now he was a little harder to judge. Oh well, she figured enough time in this place and she would get to know them well enough.

Hmm. Wonder where House is. Knowing him, he's probably listening at the door.

Well, you can all call me what ever you'd like. My last name is Braden, if you prefer." She said graciously, to the others, still not sitting.

Wait.' Chase said, cocking his head, accent more pronounced 'Catherine Braden? The Neurologist?'

House sailed in from the next room,

Neurologist and Bio physical medical engineer" he said, emphasizing the last syllables mockingly

Well, now that my last little duck is in a row, sit.' She raised an eyebrow lazily

Go on. You can do it' House patronized

Her expression was not amused, giving him a look his team knew would have quailed a lesser man.

After waiting a few second to prove she didn't take orders, least of all from him, Kate sat.

House threw a folder down in front of her before going to the white board at the front of the room.

He wrote down a list of symptoms

Cardiac Arrest

Fatigue

Fever

Muscle Spasms

Low white blood cell count

So, what do we have? First duckling," he pointed to Foreman with his cane, still looking at the white board

Uh, seems like a normal flue virus, maybe brought on by the low blood cell count.

But he had a heart attack. Poor little flue virus can't do that. Wrong.'

Could be… a flu virus and a heart attack, two separate causes' Chase said, pointedly, pen inches from his mouth

Nope. Next.'

Cameron shrugged. "It could be a problem with the lymphoid system, and his lack of antibodies led to him catching some disease which led to heart failure. He is sixty three years old, so an infection or virus could cause serious organ trauma which would trigger the cardiac arrest.'

House didn't respond but looked at Kate, who pretended not to notice, as she casually flicked through the patients file.

Well?' he asked impatiently,

She looked up, startled.

"Me?"

No, the person behind you."

She looked bemused, obviously not rising to the bait.

I think Cameron could be right. The only problem I have is with the arethmea. It could be serious heart condition, and there are at least a few which would deplete his immune system to the point where he would catch a virus.'

Foreman looked up. 'Isn't there heart condition that shows flue symptoms? Acute Myocarditis?'

Chase looked confused, 'yea, but he has an immune system problem. Acute Myocarditis doesn't touch the immune system '

And his muscles are spasiming, not paralyzing like they would if he had that condition.' Cameron added

Is there another form of Myocarditis?' The three associates spun their head to look at her, forgetting for a moment her presence.

Fore man looked puzzled for a moment, before a dawning realization came on his face. Kate had a feeling that didn't happen often.

'Fulminant Myocarditis. That would explain the immune system.'

Cameron added 'well then we should run endomyocardial biopsy.'

What are you waiting for?' house looked annoyed with wide questioning, yet sarcastic eyes 'go!'

The three doctors got out of their seat, foreman rolling his eyes, Chase sighing, and Cameron remaining conspicuously quite before taking her file and leading the trio out the door. Kate made to follow them, but House blocked her with his cane.

'You know, ' she said nonchalantly 'it's not nice to take advantage of your disability.'

But I'm not nice.'

I never claimed you were. Excuse me doctor House, I really should be going.' She made to push his cane out of the way.

You knew what the disease was. You led them to it.

Of course I did. So what?'

He looked at her patronizingly.

Just because I actually care about other people House, doesn't mean I am weaker then you.'

I care, I just, get a rash when I care too much.' He stated

I don't have time for this. Be nice, or I'll leave.'

His cane went down quicker than she thought it could by the forces of physics.

Don't be nice to them. It will ruin all the character in them I worked so hard to build'

With you house, I can imagine what kind of character that would be. I know what your character did to me.'

And she swept out of the room, face impassive, a glint of something in her eyes that House couldn't place. He looked down at his cane, lips tight, thinking.