Hear No Evil

by Jazelle1996

An adventurous story with lots of suspense, twists, love, cliffhangers and surprises. Lots of medical drama and plenty clinic patients for House to diagnosis. COMPLETE

6. Chapter 6

This is a fun chapter. Their little adventure in New York is a blast...literally because someone gets SHOT...oops giggle

CHAPTER SIX

While the gang was home quickly packing for the mountains of upstate New York, House rushed home to make a phone call. He had only two Vicodin left (that Cuddy didn't know of) and he was starting to feel the panic sink in because he knew he couldn't make it until Friday. He called Kyle's sister; Kyle had given House her number while he was still in rehab. The phone rang but there was no answer. He cursed and slammed the phone down. He went to his bedroom, grabbed a few things and threw them in a duffle bag. He went back to the phone and dialed her again. Again, there was no answer. Well, if Cuddy was permitted to give him something for the pain, maybe the next few days would be a test for him. He had to at least try. He had Melissa to support, and he knew he could count on her to support him.

House was the last to arrive at the hospital. There was a 15-passenger van to accommodate everyone for the trip north. As he approached the van, Sarah walked up to him and gave him a hug.

"That's from Charlie." She said and grabbed his bag and took it to the van.

'That little kid is starting to get on my nerves.' House thought to himself. Then he grinned, because he wasn't, really.

He said hello to everyone and they got in the van for the four-hour trip. Cuddy found a friend to drive them up there, but he'd be back Friday morning to pick everyone up. Cuddy sat in the front passenger seat, with House behind her so he could stretch his leg out; to his left were Melissa then Rog; the second row had Cameron, Foreman and Michelle, and in the back were Chase, Sarah and Wilson.

'Fresh meat.' House thought to himself. He still hadn't figured out why, or how, Chase knew about the cocaine Melissa had in her bed table. He lied about Chase finding it. But Chase took every opportunity he could to rat out House and it just confused him why he, for once, defended him.

The gang was having a good time the first hour and a half, laughing and joking with each other like they had been friends since high school. House noticed Melissa was a little quiet. He figured she must not be feeling well.

"Hey, Melissa? Wanna play 'I spy?'" Rog asked her because he noticed she had been quiet, too.

"Thanks, but no." She answered.

House snickered to himself. 'He's such a kid! I've got to keep that boy away from her.'

An hour later, everyone was quiet. They were either asleep or staring out the window at the view that passed them by.

"Ok! Who needs a pit stop?" Cuddy called out.

Everyone mumbled 'yes', but Melissa and Rog, who stayed asleep during Cuddy's announcement. Melissa's head was on Rog's shoulder and his head was against the headrest facing her. No one had the heart to wake them up. 'They actually looked quite sweet together.' Cuddy thought.

'Uggh, I see I'm too late.' House thought to himself after he saw the two, then reached for the door and slid it open. Michelle jumped out first and made a mad dash for the ladies room, followed by everyone else that was awake (well, the men went to the men's room). Chase was the last one out and House had purposefully waited to get him alone.

"So, how's your love life?" House asked Chase as they stood outside the restroom with their hands in their pockets. They really didn't have to go in, as they just needed to stretch their legs.

"Don't have one." Chase answered coldly.

"That's not what I heard from the most recent rumor."

"Right. The most recent rumor is about you and Cuddy. What do you want, House?"

"Oh, you're getting good. I want to know what you told Cuddy about the cocaine."

"What cocaine?" Chase asked, playing dumb. "Oh, that. I told her it was real sugar from Australia that my cousin sent me and I gave you some. I told her it wasn't cocaine."

"Bull! She flushed it down the toilet." House told him.

"I also told her to do that because I'd found a meal worm in my sugar at home."

"Ok, but, I guess my real question is WHY did you lie to Cuddy?" House asked. "You find every opportunity you can to bury me and you didn't. Why?"

"The truth? Because, at first I was furious at you for not telling me Dad was dying. That's why I told the review board about you bribing Kayla's surgical doctor. But when I thought it over, I regretted telling the board. You did make a promise to Dad, and I finally understand why you didn't tell me. So, I guess I owed you one. And I don't want to know where you got the coke."

House looked at Chase in bewilderment. "Ok." House said, contently, as Michelle came out of the ladies room and the two went walking off. House needed someone to harass, so he went back to the van to mess with Rog and Melissa.

In the ladies room, Cuddy and Cameron were just finishing washing their hands. "Dr. Cud…" Cameron started to ask.

"Lisa, please, just while we're up at the cabin. This is like an employee morale-booster week." Cuddy told her.

"Ok. How do you feel about House?"

Cuddy looked at her confused then understood. "I'm learning. That's all I can say. He has changed since he's been at the rehab center, and he's coming around." She said with a smile. "Allison, I know what you're going through, believe me. But he has a lot of issues to deal with and I really think you'd just get in the way." Cameron gave her a snotty look.

"No...no. That's not what I meant. I meant he'd just hurt you more than you think he will. And with me, I can help him."

"Help him? And I can't?" Cameron snapped.

"Look, I've been through this with him before. All I am saying is that I know what to expect from him." Cameron stormed out of the restroom. She looked in the mirror and thought to herself, 'what have I done now?'

As House walked up to the van he noticed the driver standing by the curb smoking a cigarette. He slid open the door as quietly as he could then screamed, "WE'RE HERE!" Rog jerked awake so fast he accidentally pushed Melissa's head off his shoulder and her body slid behind his back.

"What th…" Rog started to say. Melissa groaned then grabbed the side of her stomach as she sat up. House first thought she'd busted some stitches and started to get into the van, but Melissa stopped him.

"You are so mean!" Melissa fussed at him. "Doc, when you least expect it, expect it!" She warned him.

"OH! You're gonna give me money? Tha…" House started to say.

"Are we at a rest stop?" Melissa asked. House nodded his head and she scooted over slowly to get out. House held out his hand to help her and he caught the expression on Rog's face glance at him nastily. So, when Melissa was standing on her own, he let Rog help her to the ladies room.

Ten minutes later they were on the road again and everyone stayed awake for the remaining 1-1/2 hour drive. The scenery outside changed from an inch of snow on the grass and bushes outside the hospital to a foot of snow piled up on the side of the clear highway. Clumps of snow held onto barren tree branches as best they could until a gust of wind sent them cascading down below. Cars and trucks passed them with skis piled on top the luggage rack, and an occasional trailer being pulled with a snowmobile or two.

"Oh! I can't believe I forgot about the snowmobiles! We've got two and there's an awesome trail not far from the cabin." Cuddy said excitedly.

House smiled at the thought of racing the snowmobiles because he hadn't been driving his bike because it was too cold to. But a snowmobile was perfect. He loved speed, with the air hitting his face and making he force himself to breath. He felt so alive when he rode his bike. That was the only time he felt really alive. Well, aside from making love to Cuddy.

A short time later a little past midnight, the van pulled into a long, narrow, winding snow packed road to the cabin. Everyone had their eyes on the two-story log cabin nestled in a cove of tall pine trees as the van came to a stop. They all got out of the van and stood looking at the cabin and the surrounding area. There was a wide front porch that circled around the back that faced the lake.

"Lisa, it's beautiful!" Cameron exclaimed as the driver brought the suitcases to the door so they could take them in.

The men, except House, grabbed the luggage and followed everyone else to the front door. Cuddy unlocked it and they eagerly entered, all except Cameron, who walked around the porch to the back porch. They stepped into the living room with vaulted ceiling and rows of logs as the support beams. The couch and chairs were a deep tan that blended well with the wood and a 12-seater wooden dining room table with wooden chairs to match. The kitchen was to the right in the back of the cabin.

"Ok, you guys! You are on your own to find your own bedrooms! But the room called 'Birch' is mine!" Cuddy said as she headed to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee.

"Lisa, do you mind if I nap for a second before I head back?" The driver asked before she entered the kitchen.

"Of course, A.J.!" She said as she walked back to him and handed him a key. "This is for the shed you'll find in front of the van. It's not really a shed but like a mini-suite. Make yourself at home and sleep as long as you need."

Cuddy walked to the kitchen and finished preparing the pot of coffee, then turned to get the heat pump turned on now that they were there. She was stopped by House standing in the doorway, watching her.

"Which room is ours? The Birch? Great!" House said.

"Greg, I don't think it's appropriate we share a bedroom with everyone here."

"Why not? We're all grown ups, well, except that Rog."

Cuddy shook her head. "We'll see if the gang has any problems with the sleeping arrangements. We might be able to work something out." She said as she gave him a quick peck on the cheek before she walked out of the kitchen.

House happened to glance out the window and saw Cameron turn her head away quickly. House still had his coat on so he unlocked the sliding glass door to the back porch and walked out.

"Wow, it is beautiful out here." House said. Cameron didn't say anything.

"I wonder if there are any good deer out here for shooting! The snow on the ground is great for tracking with their blood in the snow." Cameron turned around in a huff and was just about to reach the door.

"Whoah, Cameron, hold up. I was just kidding. Will you lighten up!"

She turned around and walked toward him. "Do you love her?" She asked.

House contemplated for a moment. "Yes, I do Cameron. And I do care about you, really. You're an awesome woman. But I'm not

in love with you. Do you know the difference between loving someone and being in love?" She looked at him like she was about to start to yell, but then her face softened as she understood what he was saying.

"Ok. I get it." She said softly. "I hope you two are happy together."

"Cameron? Do you love Chase?"

"I don't know. I want you. But your words keep coming back, 'I don't love, I need.' It's like I don't know what I need anymore."

"Cam..Allison. Trust me, you'll fall into your own at your own pace. Someone once told me that." House told her, starting to shiver from the cold.

"They were smart." She said as she walked to the sliding glass door.

"Yes, she was." House said reflectively and the walked back into the cabin.

Cuddy had just walked back into the living room from turning on the heat pump via the generator. Rog, Foreman and Chase came bounding down the stairs. Chase instantly noticed House and Cameron standing close to each other, but that was only because the couch was in the way.

"Ok, it's all settled." Foreman stated. "Sarah and Wilson are in Elm; Michelle and I took Oak; Rog and Chase are sharing Apple; Melissa chose Cedar for her and you, Cameron, and House so that left Maple. It's all pink and flowery and pretty, just the way you like it." Foreman teased.

"Oh, please tell me there is a teddy bear on the bed, too!" He joked back. "And why didn't you just name the rooms after the seven dwarfs?"

"Because, there are only six bedrooms! Where are the girls?" Cuddy asked.

"Getting ready for bed. Sir...How...Dr..." Rog stuttered as he spoke to House. "You might want to look at Melissa. She looks a little pale." House nodded his head.

"Is Wilson one of the girls now, too? I knew there was a reason I was attracted to him." House said. Everyone laughed by Rog, who looked confused and horrified.

"Relax, Rog, I'm just joking." Rog still didn't smile.

"Ok, you guys. Get up when you want. In the back room there's a pool table with a full cabinet of liquor an..." She stopped talking and watched Chase, Foreman and Rog run to the back room. "...and a fresh pot of coffee. Help yourselves to anything you find!" Cuddy yelled at them.

"Well, I'm off to bed myself." She said as she pulled a bottle out of her pocket, took out two pills and gave them to House. He eagerly took and swallowed them. "Goodnight, you two." She hid a wink at House as she walked up the stairs.

House noticed the look of confusion on Cameron's face. "It's okay. It's doctor's orders." He said.

"Well, let's go check on Melissa. Uh, House? Why did you ask her here? I mean, it's just a little weird." Cameron asked.

"You know what's weird? Those colored marshmallows in Lucky Charms. I mean, they're not charms you wear on a bracelet. And you can't cast spells with them, so like, where do they really come from?" House said sarcastically. Cameron smiled. A genuine, 'you're sooo annoying' smile then walked toward the stairs, and House followed her.

Across from the top of the stairs was a full bath, and to the left there were two rooms: first was House's then Cameron/Melissa's. At the end of the hall on the right was Cuddy's room. To the right of the stairs was Rog and Chase's room then beside that was Foreman and Michelle's, then another bathroom with a window looking out over the lake.

House peeked into his room then smiled when he saw Cuddy's was just diagonal from his. They walked into Melissa's room to see her in bed with the covers up to her chin.

"Hey, guys. Save some liquor for me." She teased.

"Foreman said you weren't feeling well." House said as he stepped toward her.

"I think it might just be a cold. I started getting it yesterday." She said. House bent down and felt her forehead with the back of his hand.

"You are warm. Where are your antibiotics you brought with you?" He asked.

"In my duffle bag at the end of the bed." House turned to look at Cameron and she grabbed the bag and searched for her prescriptions. She took them out and handed them to House, then the bottle of water on the nightstand she handed to Melissa.

"You guys, I don't want you to fuss over me. I'm just tired, that's all. You're supposed to have fun, not worry over a patient." Melissa told them as she took the pills.

"You are not a patient, Melissa. You deserve this as much as we do." Cameron told her. House gave her a look of appreciation and headed for the door.

"Don't stay up too late talking about me...I mean men...I mean Chase." He said with a grin then closed the door behind him.

He could hear the guys downstairs hitting the balls with the pool stick, and he looked at Cuddy's door then decided he'd wait until it was quiet before he snuck in her room.

House walked into his room and changed into sweats and sweater. It just hit him the past 15 minutes how exhausted he was. But he also wanted to be with Cuddy. This was the first time in quite a while he could feel the stress from the past few months skim out of his every muscle in his body. For once, nothing bothered him. Well, his father still did, but this wasn't the place to think about his father. Not now. He lay in bed and thought of what they were going to be doing tomorrow.

The next thing he knew he heard girlish laughter coming from the room next door and voices downstairs in the living room. He thought he smelled bacon frying, which only told him how hungry he was. He rolled over and looked at the clock; it read 9:15. He groaned and sat up. He looked out the window and could tell there was a little snow overnight. He opened the door and went downstairs.

A huge, roaring fire was in the fireplace, the t.v. was on to the Morning Show, and sitting on the couch were Foreman and Chase. Rog was sitting on the floor reading another book and Michelle and Cuddy were in the kitchen making breakfast.

"I'm surprised to see you three up this early. What time did you guys go to bed?" House asked.

"Around 3:30, Mommy? Is that okay?" Foreman said. House gave him a dirty look.

"Where are Wilson and Sarah?" House asked groggily as he headed for the kitchen for coffee.

"Still sleeping, S...Dr." Rog answered.

'Oh, so he does listen when he reads.' House thought to himself.

"Well, hello, House! 'Bout time you got up. Are the girls still sleeping?" Cuddy asked as she handed him a cup of coffee.

He nodded 'thanks' and leaned against the cupboard. "I heard them giggling. Why do girls do that? That's just so...guurrly!" House said.

"Because, Dr. House, us girls talk about guys, and there are just sooo many stupid things they do that make us giggle!" Michelle told him as she spooned out a big bowl of scrambled eggs.

"Michelle, call me Greg. But just while we're here, ok? After all, you're going to be family soon." He teased her.

Michelle put the dirty pan in the sink and washed it quickly as Cuddy walked toward the door. "Where were you last night?" She whispered as she walked by him.

"I fell asleep. Sorry."

"You won't tonight." She said with a grin and walked out.

"Come on, girls! Breakfast is ready!" Cuddy hollered upstairs.

"Geez, woman! Why don't you just get a cow bell!" House screamed back as he walked from the kitchen to the dining room. There were running feet coming down the stairs and Cameron jumped over the last step.

"Good morning!" She said.

"Where's Melissa?" Cuddy asked as she brought a basket of biscuits to the table.

"She's getting Wilson and Sarah. What do you need brought in, Lisa?" Cameron asked.

"There's a bowl of fruit in the kitchen, and grab the jams, please." Cuddy answered.

"Is she feeling better?" House asked her as he sat down with the boys.

"Much better. Missy is a trip! She's so cool!" Cameron said as she placed the items on the table and sat down next to Chase. House caught the 'Missy' and gave her a strange look. A few minutes later Melissa came down the stairs to the table and sat next to Cameron.

"'Morning. They'll be down in a sec. They said not to wait for them." Which was fine, because the men already had food on their plates and were eating.

When Wilson and Sarah came downstairs, the whole gang ate. And ate, and ate.

"I'm glad you all are filling up on breakfast. Who's going to be the first to get on the snowmobiles?" Cuddy asked.

"ME!" Melissa hollered out. Everyone looked at her like she'd lost her mind; more like part of her large intestine. "Laugh, you guys! Geez!" She laughed and they all joined in.

"Ok, why don't we do this: Let's all go right outside the cabin and use the driveway as a race course? It's certainly long enough." Melissa said. "I'll keep the tally and Sarah, Cameron, Cuddy and I can be the cheerleaders!"

"I don't think so, girl!" Cuddy protested. "I'm in!"

"I've got Wilson!" House yelled.

"House, I don't think I'm up f..." Wilson said.

"What? Are you chicken?" He egged him on.

"Ok, ok. Hold on, guys. Lisa, do you have paper?" Melissa asked. Cuddy stood up, grabbed a notepad and handed it to Melissa.

"Ok, are you all in on this?" They all said yes at the same time.

"Ok, fine. You guys finish eating and I'll get the tournament started. I've got to take my meds anyway." Melissa stood up and went upstairs.

With the mention of meds, House shot a quick glance at Cuddy, who caught his eye. But he realized his leg wasn't bothering him too bad, and she shook his head. She smiled, stood up and went to get more coffee.

An hour later, the whole gang was outside the cabin with the snowmobiles gassed up and ready to go.

"Ok, y'all! This is it! The Premier PPTH Snowmobile Contest! Here is how the races will go to get to the Champ-een!

#1 - Michelle and Sarah; #2 - Chase and Foreman, of course!; #3 - Cuddy and Rog; and finally, House and Wilson. Winners of the four races will then be paired up until we get to one! Y'all brave enough to do this?" She hollered. "Ok, Foreman marked the starting line at the beginning of the driveway with a black umbrella so you can easily see it. We can see from here, and Cuddy will wave her American flag to start!"

Everyone hollered and applauded. Rog, who was all excited, jumped up and down and his foot accidentally caught the end of House's cane and House almost fell over. Rog apologized up and down, and House playfully picked the cane up and raised it over his head like he was going to hit him with it. Rog covered his face and whined for House not to hit him.

"Rog, you know what we're going to do as soon as we are done with the races? We're initiating you into our club by getting you hammered." Rog just looked at him.

"Don't worry, Rog. His bark is worse than his bite." Foreman said as he padded his shoulder.

"OK! Michelle and Sarah! You two are up first!" Melissa said and the two headed to them. They started them up like they knew what they were doing, but Michelle had trouble steering it. Sarah hollered a few hints and they rode them down the driveway to the umbrella.

Cuddy yelled, "Ready? Set? GO!" The engines roared and Sarah got an immediate lead over Michelle. Michelle was laughing because she had trouble steering it and avoiding smacking into a tree. Some were yelling for Sarah, and some were yelling for Michelle.

It was an easy win for Sarah as she turned off the engine, got off and bowed politely. She turned around to see Michelle finally reach her. She walked over to Michelle and helped her off.

"Oh, my God! That was great! I may have lost, but that was my first time on a snowmobile! I wanna do it again!" Michelle said laughing as she walked toward Foreman. He reached out and gave her a hug and told her they could go out later, just the two of them.

"OK! That's Sarah for the second round! Chase and Foreman, you're next!" Melissa said as she wrote something on the notepad.

Chase and Foreman got to the beginning of the driveway on the snowmobiles (hereon referred to as SM) and they raced even doing that.

"Oh, God, this is going to be good." House said sarcastically with a grin.

"Ready? Set? GO!" Cuddy shouted as she brought the flag down. The engines revved and they both took off in a dead heat. Michelle and Cameron were hollering for Foreman and Rog and Cuddy were shouting for Chase. House stood back with a huge smile on his face. As the two got closer, the gang could see their mouths moving like they were yelling at each other. At one point Foreman stuck his foot out pretending to push Chase off course. But that didn't work.

Just as they approached Cuddy holding the flag, Foreman got a last minute burst of power and crossed the 'finish line' first. The men got off the SM and shook hands, but Chase got a solid grip on Foreman's hand and maneuvered him to the snow-packed ground.

"You cheated! You pushed me out of the way!" Chase said laughing.

"No, I didn't! My foot slipped!" Foreman lied.

"Do over! Do over!" Chase screamed as he stood up and looked at Melissa. "Well, Judge Melissa, what's the verdict?"

"Ok, let's take a vote. Who votes for Chase?" She said. Cuddy, Rog and Sarah raised their hand for him.

"And those for Foreman?" Wilson, and of course Michelle raised their hand.

"Now, wait, Greg! You didn't vote! Who is it going to be?" Melissa asked.

House looked at the two men with a calculating grin on his face. "Whoever offers to take the most of my clinic hours." He said seriously.

"Now, Greg! That's not fair!" Cuddy said.

"Two hours!" Foreman piped up.

"Two and a half hours!" Chase challenged.

"Three, and that's my highest offer!" Foreman said, laughing.

"Fine! But you still cheated!" Chase said then they all broke out in a round of laughter.

"Great! Nice negotiating, boys! Ok, Lisa and Rog, you two are up!" Melissa said, jotting in the notepad.

"Rog, do you have a beneficiary on your life insurance policy?" House chided him.

"Yes, I do. I'm leaving all my money to my guinea pig, Holister." He said seriously, then burst out laughing and got on the SM.

Cuddy handed the flag to Chase, got on the SM and they both headed down the driveway.

"Allie, would you mind hollering out for them to start? My side is starting to hurt from the scream...OH, CRAP! I don't have you down! I'm sorry! We can work something out." Melissa said sincerely.

"It's no problem, Missy, really. I wouldn't want to embarrass the 'boys' by beating them by a mile." Cameron told her.

"Excuse me? That sounds like a personal bet to me, Cameron! Might I take you up on the bet tomorrow?" Chase asked.

"Sure. You'll need a day to practice." She laughed then raised the flag. "OK! Ready? Set? GO!"

Cuddy didn't rev the engine up as much as it could have gone and Rog took off like he was a wad of paper being pinged out from a rubber band. He was halfway up the driveway when Cuddy revved the engine to try to catch up to him. But it was too late. He crossed the 'finish line' before her.

He turned off the engine and Chase and Foreman applauded and screamed loudly. When she approached them and got off she said with a smile on her face, "I let you win."

"HEY! One up on the new guy! Way to go! You'll fit right in!" House hollered, laughing.

"Why didn't you tell me you drove one before?" Cuddy fussed at him.

"Hey, I have to keep some secrets, don't I?" He teased.

"Ok! Now the real test! Greg and James, you guys are next!" Melissa said, grabbing her side.

"You okay, Melissa?" House asked as he took a few steps toward her.

"Yeah, I just need some aspirin. It's ok. We're almost finished."

House handed Melissa his cane and he limped to the SM, sat down, started the engine right away and raced down the driveway. Wilson hadn't even sat on the SM yet.

When they were at the starting line, Cameron raised the flag. "OK! Read..." House revved the engine and headed up the driveway before she even finished. Wilson screamed something as he, too, revved up the engine and chased down House.

House kept looking over his shoulder to see how close Wilson was but he knew he had a solid win. He reached Cameron holding the flag, and she didn't even have it raised in the air to bring it down as he crossed the line.

House got a big smile on his face and turned to look at Wilson coming toward them. He had an angry pout on his face.

"You suck! You are such a cheater! That was the lowest of low!" Wilson screamed as he got off the SM.

"Hey, I'm crippled, man!" House tried defending himself.

"Ok, well, what do you say, James? You gonna let him have the win?" Melissa asked him.

"Yeah, you can have it, House, but I'm never lending you money again!" Wilson said as they shook hands.

For the second round, the race between Sarah and Foreman, Sarah beat him hands down. Then, it was Rog against House.

"Now, Rog, you know I'm your boss, right?" House asked Rog as they both got on the SMs and House started his up.

"Yes, I do." He answered.

"And you do know you have to let your bo...?"

Rog started the engine. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"I sa..." Rog revved the engine again.

"You are gonna lose!" House screamed as he kicked the accelerator and took off down the driveway.

"Go, Rog!" Foreman screamed as he followed behind House.

Cameron raised the flag and yelled, "Ready? Se..." And Rog took off before she could finish. The gang could hear House scream and took off after Rog. Everyone, including Cuddy, was cheering for Rog. House slowly inched up on Rog as they got closer to Cameron.

"...fy...erd!" They heard House scream. Rog kept the power on and they were neck and neck at the finish line.

"Rog! It's Rog! Rog won!" Cameron screamed as she jumped up and down as the two parked the SMs and turned off the engines.

"Dude, you are SO fired!" House told Rog as he got off the SM. Melissa walked to him and handed him the cane.

"Melissa, you ok? You look pale again." House asked her as he grabbed her waist and walked her to the stairs.

"I'm fine, Greg! I'm just cold." She told him.

"Ok, guys, I have a patient here I need to attend to. Sarah, my money is on you! Kick his butt!" House said as they climbed the stairs and walked into the cabin.

House and Melissa walked into the foyer and took off their boots and coats, hanging the coats up on a rack hanging from the wall. Melissa went to the fireplace and sat down in front of it.

"Do you want some tea?" House asked.

"Only if you're getting some." House nodded his head and walked into the kitchen.

They heard shouts and cheers and the engines from the SMs from outside. A few minutes later, everyone walked back in except Cuddy and Sarah, who were putting the SMs back in the shed.

"Man that was awesome! I can't believe you choked after that stunt you pulled with House, Rog!" Foreman said laughing as they took off their boots and coats.

Just then House walked by them with a dirty look on his face, glaring Foreman down. "What comes around, goes around, Rog!" House said sarcastically with a grin and walked into the living room.

"The kettle is still hot and I started a fresh pot of coffee." House said to them as he handed the mug to Melissa.

"Robert, do you want to go for a walk? It doesn't feel that cold outside." Cameron asked.

Chase was in the middle of taking off his right boot when he slid his foot back in and buttoned his coat. "Sure, sounds great." He said as they walked back out the door.

Everyone sat around the fire and drank to get warm. Melissa and Rog sat on the couch; House and Foreman were both sitting in chairs, with Michelle at Foreman's feet; Wilson sat on the floor in front of the fire and Cuddy and Sarah were in the kitchen getting a huge dinner ready.

"Melissa, you've really got to take it easy." House told her as she threw her feet on the couch, with her feet touching Rog's thigh.

"I know. It's weird just standing outside for an hour would tire me out. I'll be fine. I'll sit back and relax and chill."

"Wow, House! I'm not sure how I like this new 'domesticated' boss I'm seeing! You're really starting to scare me." Foreman teased, and House gave him a death glare.

"Come on, Foreman! Let's shoot some pool!" Rog said.

"I get winner!" Wilson shouted as he stood up.

"I knew I should have believed those rumors about you, Wilson!" House teased.

"You're just jealous, House." Wilson told him as they walked to the back room, but after Rog hit the corner of an end table and sent a vase falling to the carpet but luckily it didn't break. His face turned bright red and followed the guys to the room.

"I'm going to see if the girls need any help before I lie down myself. Do you two need any refills?" Michelle asked. They both said they were fine, and that left House and Melissa in the living room alone.

"Doc Greg, can ya tell me one thing?" Melissa asked him as she pushed herself down on the couch and covered herself with the blanket. "Why did you ask me here? And what happened to your sister?"

"That's two…well, actually three. I'll only answer one." House said with a grin.

She looked at him because she knew he'd eventually break. She broke him a few times at the rehab center, but she never asked about his sister. She could see the pain in his eyes and she never pushed the subject. House looked at her as if he were trying to decide whether he should tell her. But he did. He told her all about LizBeth and how close they were and how she died.

"And I asked you because I didn't want to come here knowing you would be released on Thursday and I wouldn't be able to say goodbye. Cuddy worked that out. I guess I wanted you to come because you remind me so much of my sister, and I miss her."

"Greg, I'm sooo proud of you for saying that!" Melissa said as she tried to sound like Dr. Stafford. "Seriously, you're lucky to have these guys, you know that, right?" She asked him sleepily.

"I don't know if you can call it lucky." House replied. "But don't tell anyone I like them, ok? I mean, they tell me Wilson is my only friend but so…" House stopped talking because he heard a snore from Melissa.

---Chase and Cameron's walk had been eventful. They walked down the path at the back of the house to the lake. It had been snowing about 30 minutes and started to get windy. The edges of the lake were frozen, and there were a few branches on top of the ice chunks. There were several Canadian Geese in the water off in the distance, and the reflection from the snowy trees shown on the frigid lake water.

"So, what do you think of House and Cuddy?" Chase asked Cameron as they approached the lake.

"I think it's great." She said, trying to sound honest.

"And it doesn't bother you?" He said as they turned a corner and the whole lake was in front of them.

"No, not in th…oh, this is beautiful. The view is even better than on the deck. I wonder what it's like in the summer." Cameron said.

"I'm sure not as beautiful as you are, Allison." Chase said, but it came out like from a ten year-old boy to his crush. She turned to look at him.

"Wow, you need to work on your flirt lines." She said then laughed.

"Hey! That was classic!" He told her.

"Classically bad!" She said then started to walk back to the cabin and he quickened his step to follow her.

"Cameron, have you thought about what we last talked about?"

'What was that?"

"You said you liiiiked me…you want to daaaate me…you wanna kisssss me…" Chase teased like Sandra Bullock in the Ms. America Pageant movie.

She looked at him and smiled. "Yeah, Robert, maybe I do. Do you?"

"It depends on if you do?" Chase answered.

"I don't know, Chase. What about you?" They went back and forth a few times until they both laughed.

Chase put his left arm around Cameron and pulled her toward him. "Yes, I do, Allison."

"Uh, that's sounds like we're exchanging wed…never mind." Cameron said when she realized she'd said it out loud.

"Maybe one day." Chase said, and they kissed, like it was the first time they'd kissed. And he liked it. They both liked it.

Back at the cabin, House looked at his watch and General Hospital was on in a few minutes so he switched on the t.v. Wilson came in from the pool room and sat heavily in the other chair.

"So, how'd it go in there? Did those youngins wear you out?" House asked.

"Yes, but not from pool. I forget sometimes I can't do everything I used to do before the car accident. I just think I'll be back to normal but then my body tells me otherwise." Wilson told him.

"Welcome to my world." House said as he headed to the kitchen for another cup of coffee before the soap started.

"…en he led me to the bathroom an…hey Greg!" Cuddy was saying, cutting herself off after she saw him standing in the doorway with a grin.

"Talking about me again, ladies?" House asked as he walked to the coffee pot.

"Yeah, we're just standing around talking about men and the stupid things you do!" Sarah laughed.

"What's for dinner? It smells good." House asked, ignoring what Sarah said.

"Turtle crap!" Cuddy answered him seriously.

"Excuse me?"

"No," Cuddy laughed. "We're having lasagna. But turtle crap is what Gran'ma Cuddy would make with macaroni and hamburger, green peppers and tomato paste."

House shook his head and walked back in the living room. The couch had a better view of the t.v., so he sat at the end of the couch where Melissa slept. She turned in her sleep but didn't wake up. Wilson was sitting in the recliner and he, too, had fallen asleep. He wished he could fall asleep that fast sometimes.

The soap started and 15 minutes into the show there came a ticker at the bottom of the screen that read: 'Onondaga County under Winter Storm Warn…" House hollered for the ladies in the kitchen to come out, which made Wilson jump awake, but Melissa only stirred a little.

"….ing until Thursday, April 28th-3:00a. front coming in from the West with moisture coming up from the south will produce lake effect snow bands - up to 25 inches of snow are possible, with wind gusts 55-60mph expected with this storm…Snow to begin falling this afternoon and continue through tomorr…"

"It has already started snowing." Chase said as he and Cameron walked through the door and started taking off their coats and boots.

"Well, I'd better call A.J. to come get us early." Cuddy said as she went back to the kitchen.

"You know, I've always wanted to get snowed in with Angelina Jolie." House said.

"And she's where? Actually, Julia Roberts, House." Wilson said.

"And she's where?" House repeated like Wilson as best as he could. "Ok, fine, you can have Julia and I'll have Angelina, too." House told him. Sarah smiled, shook her head and headed back to the kitchen.

"TOO? What do yo…" House was interrupted by Cuddy after a few minutes.

"Well, A.J. said they already have eight inches on the ground there and they're expecting ten more! Everything is closed and there's no way he can make it up here."

"Darnit! Where's Angelina when ya need her?" House said as he put his head against the cushion of the couch.

"It'll be fine. Gran'ma Cuddy and Aunt Beatrice spent two weeks here during the winter storm of '79. We have plenty of food."

"The last thing I want to be is cooped up in this place with these people." House whined.

"No, House. The last thing you want to do is have clinic duty!" Cuddy corrected him. He smiled and nodded his head because he knew that was the truth.

Sarah walked out of the kitchen and walked to Wilson. "This would be the perfect time to go rest, honey. I want to call Charlie anyway; I promised him I would." She said as she took Wilson's hand and led him upstairs.

Rog and Foreman were still playing pool so Cameron and Chase headed to the room, which was beside the room with the hot tub with plate glass windows that looked out over the grounds.

"You know, that's not a bad idea, Cuddy." I think I'll head on up for a nap myself." House said with a wink, just in case Melissa was only playing asleep.

The living room grew quick, except for the occasional echoing "smack" of the cue ball hitting another ball on the pool table in the back room. And as Melissa lay on the couch, she turned over, and smiled. Then went back to sleep.

House and Cuddy walked up the stairs to his room, but Cuddy kept walking to hers. When she reached for the door handle she turned and did the 'come here' motion with her forefinger.

"I've got your medication in my room." She said with a sly grin. He happily walked toward her. As the door closed behind them, House grabbed Cuddy by her left elbow and swung her around.

"I've been wanting to do this for days!" House said as he brought his left arm around hers and kissed her.

"Hmmm, and I've wanted that from you, too!" Cuddy said before she hungrily kissed him back. They spent the next hour or so making love, and fell asleep in each other's arms.

At about the same time, Cameron went upstairs to take a bath to freshen up a little before dinner. She ran the tub water in the bathroom at the end of the hall and was only wearing a robe. Chase, Rog and Foreman finished playing pool and drinking to warm up from being out in the cold and the three staggered up the stairs.

"Seee ews guyzz 'ater!" Chase said as Foreman and Rog went to their perspective rooms. Chase staggered down the end of the hall to the bathroom and opened the door. Cameron shot around and brought the robe back over her shoulders, as she was in the middle of taking it off.

"oohhh, I'mmm sooooo awry, Allison! Buuuuuuurrrppp."

"Get out of here!" Cameron screamed then she calmed down a little. "You need to go lie down, Robert." She said calmly.

"An' ewd 'eed to ta-ack that awfff…" He slurred.

"Sober up, and you'll see as much as you want tonight! Now get out!" She said and she gently pushed the door closed.

Later that evening everyone but Melissa and Rog made it for dinner; they stayed in the living room. Melissa said she was nauseous, and Rog volunteered to keep her company while everyone ate. Cuddy suggested making her a can of chicken noodle soup but she said she wouldn't be able to keep it down. Cuddy made sure she had taken all of her medications before everyone else began to eat.

"Are you feeling better, Melissa?" Rog asked as he handed her a pillow.

"No, no," Referring to the pillow as she threw it to the end of the couch. "I want to go upstairs. Everyone is fussing over me and this trip isn't about me. You guys are having so much fun and I feel like I'm in everyone's way."

"Well, to tell you the truth, Melissa, from what I've heard about House, he scared the crap outta me. But with you here, he has totally surprised me."

"Yeah, he's a big softy, except when he has a bug up his butt, which, I'm afraid, is several times a day." Melissa said then laughed. "Ok, I'm going up. You go eat, Rog."

"You sure? I can help y…"

"Oh, please, I'm the last person you need to take care of." She said as she slowly stood up.

She got a little dizzy and he grabbed her by the waist and they locked eyes. And just stood there, not even blinking. Then she pushed herself away from him and started climbing the stairs. She turned around and said 'thanks' as he watched her turn the corner at the top of the stairs.

Back at the dining room table ---

"It looks like we've already had four inches in the past two hours. And the full brunt of the storm hasn't even hit us yet." Cuddy said as she passed around the basket of garlic bread.

"James and I are going for a walk to the lake later. Anyone want to join us?" Sarah asked. Wilson shot Sarah a glance that said, 'Are you insane, woman! I'm not going out there!'

"We're staying put, Sarah, but thanks." Foreman said.

House turned to Cuddy and said, "Isn't there a hot tub in this place? I haven't seen it yet."

"It's next to the pool room. I turned it on this morning so it's nice and hot."

"Awesome! I say we all go in the nude." House said excitedly.

"I say we don't!" Foreman interjected.

"Oh, come on! They'll be fun bags galore!" House said, then Michelle shook her head and Sarah blushed.

"Knock it off, Hormonal Harry!" Wilson teased.

"Fine, fine. But y'all are no fun!" House said as he stuck a forkful of lasagna into his mouth.

Rog walked into the dining room and sat down next to Chase. As he pulled the chair in his knees hit the edge of the table and several glasses went flying over and spread all over the table. Everyone automatically stood up and started grabbing bowls and plates, then someone started to laugh and everyone else did too. It made Rog feel a little bit better. For about two seconds.

"I really hope you are not considering going into surgery because you'd accidentally cut the wrong artery or wrong arm or something." House snapped as he brushed the cloth napkin over his t-shirt.

"And I hope you never decide to become a real doctor because you have the personality of a bark tree!" Rog answered and rushed out of the dining room. Everyone looked at House, who was looking at them like, 'What? I didn't do anything.', but of course, he did. And he knew it.

"House! That was rude!" Cuddy screamed at him.

"Yeah, well, so was his comment. Actually, not rude, just stupid." House replied.

"House, that wasn't necessary." Cameron said as she started to walk out the door to follow him.

"Ca…hold on. Don't." House said as he grabbed his cane and followed Rog into the living room.

While the gang cleaned up the table, House sat on the opposite side of Rog who sat on the couch. He put his cane against the coffee table, and it fell to the floor.

"Uh, oh, Great Doctor, you dropped something. You aren't perfect!" Rog snapped, staring directly at House with a confidence House had yet to see from Rog.

"You know how I came to be doing what I'm doing? Because as klutzy as I am to you, I actually am good at what I do. I know a thing or two about medicine. Not as much as you, I know, but I know. I graduated high school at 15; Princeton at 19 and medical school at 24. That was five years ago. Outside a hospital, I am a walking time bomb. Inside, I am not.

"My parents taught me to respect my elders. Meaning: those that are in a higher authoritative position than me. Respect is something that is earned, Dr. House. And you have yet to earn my respect. Because, one day, it may be your life I save. And you won't be laughing at me, then."

Rog stood up and went up the stairs to check on Melissa. House had stared at the floor most of the time he spoke. The only time

he looked at Rog was when he said, 'Dr. House.' He said it sarcastically, with an attitude, and he sounded just like House when he was his age: Cocky, confident, defiant. House grinned a little, got up and went to the window. It was 8:45 now, and there was a good six inches of snow blanketing the trees.

"Ok! Hot tub time!" Foreman yelled as they walked out of the kitchen. Everyone headed upstairs but Cuddy, who walked over to House at the window.

"Greg, what did you tell him?" She asked, wanting to put her arm around him but she thought better of it.

"Nothing. He told me off."

Cuddy smiled. "Really? Oh, my. Now I know why I hired him!"

"And what was the reason?" House asked looking at her.

"Because he's a little like you, Greg! Now go put your trunks on, sexy." She smiled as she walked upstairs.

He watched her walk up. 'Now that's a nice view!' He thought to himself.

"Rog, there's a plate of lasagna for you in the frig since you didn't eat." He heard Cuddy tell Rog then her door closed.

House was the last upstairs and checked on Melissa first before changing. She was sitting up in bed and Rog had gone into his room to change.

"Hey Doc! How's it hanging?" Melissa said as he walked to the other twin and sat down.

"Girl, you have a mouth on you!"

"Doesn't she, though?" Cameron said as she grabbed her one piece.

"I know. I was born with it. I've had it for as long as I can remember." She said. House shook his head.

"Yeah, I've said that before. So, you have a temp?"

"No, I feel better. I'm hungry, too. How was the laz-ag-nah?"

"Great! Rog didn't eat, either." House said.

"Yeah, I heard. Why are you such a dork?" Melissa asked laughing and Cameron joined her. House gave her a dirty look with a little side grin.

"I don't know. I've been a dork as long as I can remember. Now, get your butt out of bed and let's hit the hot tub. Well, as your doctor, I'm telling you, you can't but you are part of this group and you have to come!" House begged.

"Ok, I was going to. Rog asked me to referee between the two of you." She said as she stood up.

"Oh, something tells me he can hold his own. I'll wait for you at the stairs, ok?" House said as he walked to the door.

"Actually, Rog is helping me down, but thanks." House nodded his head, went to his room and changed into his trunks. He could hear Cameron and Melissa giggling through the wall.

'Girls!' He thought to himself. 'Gotta love them!'

House threw on a Led Zeppelin t-shirt from a 70s concert that still fit him. He stood at the window and watched the snow. LizBeth loved snow. She'd always go out and make snow angels. Of course, her loving big brother would destroy them as soon as she'd finish one and they'd end up having a snowball fight. But she'd always make him hot cocoa. She made the best cocoa.

There was a soft knock on the door and House went to answer it. Cuddy was standing there in a one piece red suit with a towel

over her shoulders.

"Come on! Everyone is already downstairs." House walked through the door and gave her a long, hard, wet kiss. She smiled.

"Save some of that for later!" She said as she grabbed his hand and they went down the stairs.

Rog and Melissa were eating dinner, and seeming to be having a lot of fun.

Cuddy warned Melissa, "Don't eat too fast, Melissa. And here are your meds to take after you are done eating." She said as she put the bottles on the table.

"Thanks! You two have fun." Melissa said with a mouthful of garlic bread. House gave Rog a nod, a respectful nod. Rog nodded back as they walked to the hot tub room.

---Back in New Jersey, A.J. pulled out of the driveway in the same minivan he drove down the night before, in the same direction as the night before: upstate New York, a four hour drive.

He was on his way to get Cuddy and the rest, but he didn't want to. There was now 11 inches of snow on the road. They'd been plowed, of course, and he knew they were only going to get worse.

At least he had slept a little bit before...well, before he was held at gunpoint and ordered to drive to where Cuddy's cabin was.

---House and Cuddy walked through the living room where Cuddy turned on the stereo and hit a button. They heard screams and clapping as "Hold Your Head Up" came blasting from the back room.

When they reached the room with the hot tub it was actually pretty big. The 12-person hot tub was in the corner to the right of the door, with a huge plate glass window looking over the pine trees and lake. But it was steamed up so they couldn't see the snow falling, which would have been pretty surreal. Right beside the tub was a table the same height as the tub, in which sat five different kinds of liquor. On the opposite side of the tub were two all oak benches and a wooden table. On the wall on the left were several hooks where robes and towels were hung.

"Get in here, House!" Wilson yelled over the music and jets from the hot tub. Cuddy was already stepping over to sit next to Foreman, who handed her a glass.

House got in and sat next to Cuddy. He thought he'd be able to play footsies with her, so he slowly moved his left foot to hers and pinched her big toe between his. He was looking at Cuddy to see her reaction but she didn't give one; she was talking to Sarah across from her. But Foreman did. He quickly gave Cuddy a fast glance that said, 'are you doing what I think you are doing?'House almost tossed his lasagna in the water and never tried the stunt again.

House noticed Cameron and Chase sitting pretty close to one another, and for the first time realized that maybe it was a good thing they hooked up. After losing the baby, it seemed to draw them closer. And Wilson and Sarah seemed very romantic. 'Ick! Did I say romantic?' He looked at Cuddy and smiled.

They sat in the hot tub and talked about dating, sex, high school, college, sex, food, everything but work, but more about sex. Michelle was talking about how her ex-boyfriend owned a house on Cape Cod, but he was as stupid as a horse; Sarah bragged about adorable Charlie; Wilson bragged about Sarah; House bragged about his hookers until Cuddy elbowed him in his stomach.

An hour later, they'd gone through 4-1/2 bottles of liquor and they were all drunk. Well, Wilson wasn't because of the meds he was on, but he was still having a good time. Cameron went to stand up to get the last bottle and almost slipped out, but Chase caught her by her hips and pulled her back down in the tub. Water went all over everyone and some splashed out on the tile floor, but there was a drain pipe.

For some reason the pipe reminded House that Rog and Melissa hadn't come into the room. 'I knew I should have watched out for that boy.' House thought to himself.

"OK! Who's ready for a pool tournament?" Foreman screamed. Michelle fussed at him that it was late, but he said he didn't have to go to school in the morning; Wilson was half asleep and Sarah had already gotten out and dried off; Chase and Cameron were all lovey dovey and House was ready for bed, himself. Well, not for bed, but for Cuddy.

"Fine! Guess I'll stay up and watch it snow and snow and snow!" Foreman said as he got out.

They all dried off and walked into the living room. Rog and Melissa were sitting in front of the fire talking. Her back was against a chair and Rog was sitting facing her, very close.

"Ok, you two! Time for bed!" House hollered at them as Cuddy went to turn the stereo off.

"But Daddy! We don't have school tomorrow! It's snowwwwwwwing!" Melissa playfully whined.

"Fine, but I want you in bed by midnight!" He said with a grin.

"Will I turn into a pumpkin?" Rog asked.

"No, but I'll kick one up your..."

"House! Leave them alone!" Cuddy interrupted them. "Ok, I'm off to bed. Make yourselves at home, ok?" Cuddy said as she headed for the stairs. Everyone followed them but Rog and Melissa, who stayed by the fire.

"Allie, come here." Melissa said. Cameron walked toward them and bent over.

"You and Robert can share our room, tonight, ok? Rog and I are going to stay up late. We'll share his room. How does that sound?" She said with a wink.

"You sure? Rog?" Rog nodded his head and she smiled. "Ok, thanks." She said as she walked toward Chase. Melissa could see his eyebrows rise and a huge smile on his face. Everyone headed upstairs to their rooms and said goodnight. Chase almost took a left to go to Cameron and Melissa's room but caught himself just in time. But House still caught that and gave Chase a wink.

House turned to Cuddy after all the doors closed. "Lisa, uh, can I get my goodnight pill?"

"Uh huh, sure you can, as long as you give me yours!" She said with an evil grin, and they walked into Cuddy's room and closed the door.

---An hour away from the cabin, A.J. continued to drive the van to the cabin, against his will. The roads had begun to freeze with the steadily falling temperature and he had to drive considerably under the speed limit. His nerves were almost completely shot and he had no idea what this madman wanted. He never spoke a word. He just said, hours earlier, "take me to Cuddy's cabin or you're dead!" That was enough incentive for him to drive. And so they did, slowly but surely, to the cabin owned by Dr. Lisa Cuddy.

---Chase stood at his door listening for Cuddy's door to close after he heard House's and Cuddy's voices in the hall. He quietly opened the door and went to Cameron's door and knocked. She quickly let him in.

"Thank Missy. This was her idea." She said as she sat on the bed. "You know, I'm glad we went for the walk, today."

"So am I, Allison. I really was worried about you, and about losing the baby. I'm sorry that happened." Chase told her sincerely.

"It's hard, yeah. My cousin Teresa has six kids and Dawn has three. They had a competition going until Dawn had her third one and bowed down to Teresa, literally. But it happened for a reason."

Chase stood up and sat next to her, putting his arm behind her. "Maybe we can try to beat Teresa. What do you think?"

"I think you are drunk, Robert."

"Is that why you look so hot right now?" Chase said with a smile.

"I always look this hot."

"That is so true." Chase said as he leaned in and kissed her cheek. She closed her eyes and moved her head to give him a kiss. He gently pushed her down and lay next to her, touching her, brushing his lips against her cheek, ear, neck. She wrapped her leg around his thigh and they made love. It was gentle, sweet, passionate, just what she needed: someone to lover her. And, she found it, from Chase.

Early the next morning, House woke up on his side with his head on his left arm and the other wrapped around Cuddy. Her back was pressed against his chest and his right leg was over her left leg. Her hair lay across the pillow touching his left hand so he took a strand and twisted it in his fingers. Then he gently pulled it trying to wake her up. With each tug he'd pull harder and harder until finally he tugged as hard as he could.

"OW! There are other ways of waking me up, Greg." She said sleepily.

"Not when you're asleep. That's just too weird." He said as he turned her over and kissed her. Then he slid out of bed and walked to the window.

"Nice view, baby." Cuddy told him.

"Yeah, you can see the lake from here."

"No, silly, I mean the view from here." She said with a grin. House frowned at her until he saw where Cuddy was looking, and quickly struck a pose.

"HERCULEESS! HERCULEEES!" He imitated Eddie Murphy in the nude and they burst out laughing. "It's still snowing heavy, and everything is white out here! It's actually pretty."

"Geez, it's 10:30! We better get downstairs." Cuddy said as she slid out of bed and put her robe on.

"No, THAT'S a prettier view." He said with a grin.

"Shut up and get dressed, will ya?" Cuddy said laughing as she walked to the bathroom and stepped in the shower. He put on his clothes and walked out the door just as Cameron walked through her bedroom. He caught a glimpse of Chase still asleep in one of the twin beds with the blanket wrapped around his waist before she saw him and she quickly closed it.

"Go, Cameron!" House said as he limped by her, giving her a wink. Her face turned bright red.

House went down the stairs and saw everyone but Melissa and Rog sitting at the dining room table eating muffins or yogurt or fruit.

"Where's the coffee?" House said rather loudly as he walked into the living room.

"SSSHHH!" Sarah fussed at him, pointing to the couch. House turned to look and saw Rog and Melissa nestled on the couch side by side, both sound asleep.

"I heard them still talking at 4:30 when I got up to use the bathroom. There's a fresh pot in the kitchen." Wilson said. House grunted and headed off to the kitchen.

"Ok, Sarah. You're stuck in a cave on the edge of a whirlpool. Your mother and best friend, who's like your sister, are clinging onto your hands for their lives. You must let one go to save the other. Who do you save, your mother or best friend?" Foreman asked.

"What kind of question is that?" House said as he walked into the dining room and sat down. "I'd let them both go and get the hell outta there!" Everyone laughed. "What are you playing?" He asked.

"Scruples. It'll help you get into the psyche of your coworkers." Wilson said.

"Uh, right. Ok. Well, Sarah? Mommy, who carried you for nine months and had a 36 hour labor, or your best friend, who stole your 10th grade boyfriend?" House said smugly.

"Ok, technically, you can't have a cave with a whirlpool in it. If there was, it wouldn't be a cave. That's bec..." Sarah was interrupted.

"Enough! Just answer the question." House said.

"Fine. I'd save my mother. No question. Mom. My turn! Give me a card. Ok, this is for...Michelle." Sarah started.

"Ok, Michelle. You and your husband go to dinner and you see your boss with a woman. The problem is, your boss is married...to another woman. Do you bribe your boss for a raise because you know his dirty secret?" Sarah asked.

"Wow, dirty secrets? Chase, shouldn't that be your question? Oh, wait, we already know the answer to that one." House said as he sipped his coffee, pretending he never said it.

"Hey! No fighting in my house!" Cuddy said as she turned the corner from the living to the dining rooms.

"Good morning!" Sarah said. "The weatherman said there is now officially 19-1/2 inches of snow on the ground. Schools are closed and some roads are impassible. It's still snowing and we're expecting 5-6 more inches before it's over tonight."

"Great. I'll have to check the heat pump and generator. I think there is enough to last us 'til Friday. Cold showers are NOT fun when it's 20 degrees outside." She said as she walked into the kitchen for coffee.

"Oh, easy one. It depends on how much raise he does offer, but if he fires me I can just threaten him by telling his manager that he fired me because he slept with me." Michelle answered.

"Wow, girl, you had that answer awful quick." Foreman teased her. Cuddy walked into the dining room and sat down next to House.

"Ok, let's go with House this time, since you seem to be sooo into this game." Michelle said. "Your married ex-girlfriend comes into town, gets pregnant with your baby then leaves. Do you offer to marry her, just support the baby financially or just let her go?"

"Uh, oh! I hear Melissa calling me!" House quickly stood up and walked to the living room. Everyone at the table looked at each other in confusion then continued the game.

House sat in the chair closest to the fire and stared at Rog and Melissa sleeping. Then he looked at the side table and saw a bowl of pine cones and walnuts. He picked up a pine cone and threw it at Rog, who didn't move. He grabbed another pine cone, aimed for Rog's crotch but missed and hit Melissa on her thigh. He quietly cursed then grabbed four walnuts and threw them all at one time. One hit Rog right on the forehead and he sat up fast, which woke Melissa up.

"What is yo...oh, Dr. House." Rog said then grinned. "You remind me of my big brother."

"Oh, way to suck up to your boss!" House said.

"No, he was obnoxious, too! Missy, you want some coffee?" Rog asked as he sat up and stretched.

"Yes, kind sur. Two lumps of sug-ah and a spot-a crahm, plays." Melissa said with an English accent.

"I've already gawt a lump on me forehead...be back in a tick, milady." Rog said also in an accent as he walked toward the dining room and said hello to everyone. House rolled his eyes.

"Oh, please, don't give me that, Doc!" She said with a smile as she sat up.

"I heard you two last night." House said.

"Oh, sorry. We tried to be quiet."

"All that moaning! I thought I was going to puke!"

"You are joking me, right? I couldn't have sex now even if I wa...wait, and I'm telling you this, because? By the way, I think we heard you two last night." She said with a grin as she stood up, but got dizzy and sat back down.

"Impossible. I couldn't have sex now even if I wanted to." House teased her. "You like him, huh?"

"Yeah, he's funny. He had me laughing so hard I think I done bust a stitch. But, Greg, you know I can't get into a relationship with anyone."

"Why not?" House asked as he frowned.

She looked at him funny. "I'm HIV positive, remember? I wanted to tell Rog but I never got the nerve." She said sadly.

"Melissa," House said as he scooted to the end of chair to talk softer. "You can still have relationships. There's no reason why you can't."

"He's too nice a guy. I don't' wanna hurt him." She told him.

"Hurt him, or hurt you?" House said, then sat back and said, "Hey, Roger Dodger!" Rog came around the end of the couch and

handed Melissa her cup.

"Well, it's official." Rog said as he sound down.

"What's official? You made it to the couch without spilling any?" House snipped.

"No, we are now officially snowed in." He said as he smiled at Melissa and gave her a wink.

"Girl, you and I need to talk!" Cameron said to Melissa as the gang came into the living room.

"Talk about what?" She asked. She looked at Chase and thought she saw him blush a little.

"Just come on." Cameron said as she grabbed Melissa's hand and pulled her off the couch and they headed upstairs. Melissa and Cameron went to their bedroom and she closed the door.

As Cameron turned around she said, "WELL?"

---Outside, in the mini-suite, a man was looking out the window. Watching. Waiting. For the right moment...

---"Well, what?" Melissa asked as she sat on the bed.

"Did you, you know?" Cameron asked as she jumped on the twin opposite of Melissa waiting for all the dirt.

"Oh, please, geez! I just had surgery two days ago!" She laughed. "I like him, and I like how he stands up to Greg. He's soo funny, but he's kinda nerdy, you know? I mean, I like nerdy, but, Allie, I'm HIV positive." She finally confessed.

"What? House never told me. Well, he shouldn't have. But, Missy, I'm glad you did tell me." She told Melissa about how she was exposed to an AIDS patient, and she was still going through the tests every six months.

"How di...I shouldn't as..." Cameron started to say.

"Oh, no! It's ok. Hey, I've been through worse. I found out I was HIV positive two years ago. When I was 18, my boyfriend got thrown in jail for drug possession and I was living on the street, where I was raped. After that it was the slap in my face I needed to get my life right. And I did. I went to give blood and was notified I was HIV positive. But I'm still here, thank God."

"But, didn't you meet House at the rehab center? How did you end up there?" Cameron asked.

"Yeah, after got a decent job I slipped again. I started to gain weight after I was raped, and did the coke to lose it. And as you can see, since I've been off of it, well, except for that one day, I've gained the weight back. I had a little slip, a BIG slip. My job made me do rehab, and I'm glad they did. Then, when I met Greg, he really helped me get back on the right track. But when he left, that same day I made plans with Jack, my boy..ex-boyfriend, actually, HE made the plans." She sighed to catch her breath.

"He got me out, I got high, but I kept thinking of Greg an..." She shrugged her shoulders. Thank God I got sick." She laughed.

Cameron gave her a reassuring smile. "I really freaked out, myself. I know exactly where you are coming from."

"And what about you, girl-freeend?" Melissa asked, changing the subject.

"A girl doesn't kiss and tell."

"That girl better because I gave her my room last night!" Melissa shot back.

"Hey! You offered it!" Cameron answered. "Because you wanted to be with Rawg!"

"That is sooo low!" Melissa said and threw the pillow at Cameron.

"CAAAAA-ONNNNNNN!" Someone hollered from downstairs.

"Think your honey-pie is callin' ya, Cammie!" Melissa teased as they headed downstairs.

"Okay, we're playing nekkid Twister!" House shouted as everyone was still gathered around the fire.

"We most certainly are NOT!" Cuddy fussed at him and they all laughed.

"Uh, ok, how about just you and I?" House asked, looking at Cuddy. Her face turned bright red.

"Actually, Allison, us 'young' peeps are headed out for a walk. Want to come?" Chase said, but almost more like told her she was going.

Cameron looked at Melissa. "You know I can't go far. You go! Have fun! And throw a snowball at Chase for me!" Melissa teased.

Foreman, Michelle, Chase, Rog, Cameron, Sarah, and House went to get their coats on.

"Where do you think you are going, House?" Cuddy asked as she stood up to go to the kitchen.

"I'm going with the youngins!" He told her.

"Uh, no you're not. You're staying here with us old folk." She told him.

"HEY! I'm only 21, Lisa! I ain't no old youngin'!" Melissa said.

"Neither am I, Cuddy! I'm really offended." Wilson joked.

"Oh, honey, you are a youngin'! You just can't keep up with us!" Sarah teased and ran out the door into the snow.

Cuddy, House, Wilson and Melissa sat in the living while the others played in the snow.

"Ok, who's up for nekkid Twister, now?" House asked.

"I am not playing nekkid Twister with you, House! That is up-and-beyond the call of our friendship." Wilson said.

"And besides, Greg," Melissa said. "I won't be doin' any twisting for a while!"

"Ah-ha! I knew you didn't! Good girl!" House said.

Melissa threw a pillow at him and hit him directly in the face.

"Nice shot, Melissa!" Wilson said and they all laughed.

---Across the way, in the dark, snow-covered mini-suite, A.J. moaned. He awoke to find himself lying on a bed, hands and feet tied and tape over his mouth.

"Make a sound and I'll hit you with the other side of this gun, man!" He told him.

He looked outside the window and saw several people walk out the door, but none of them were who he came here for. They were still inside.

---The gang outside went screaming and laughing around the corner of the house on the path to the lake. The snow was coming down heavy and it was perfect for snowballs. Foreman started when he got Michelle in the back of the head, and Sarah came to her defense by chucking one at Foreman.

"Us women have to stick together!" Sarah yelled, and went after Rog with two snowballs, one in each hand.

---When they disappeared, the man in the mini-suite looked at his watch. It read 2:15.

'The sun should be going down in an hour or so, that'll be the perfect time...but, wait, it'll be easier with the four than all ten of them. I've only got six bullets. Too bad two innocent people have to die.' He thought to himself as he quietly opened the door, walked to the side of the house and walked up the steps.

---"Melissa, why don't you help me in the kitchen with dinner?" Cuddy asked as she stood up.

"Oh! What are we having for dinner tonight? I'm really hungry for steak and lobster." House said.

"Then you'll have to dredge down to the nearest restaurant, which is about 25 miles, in the snow. You wouldn't make it down the front steps with that cane." Cuddy shot back. "We are having peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."

"What? You are kidding me, right?" House said.

"Nope!" She said as she and Melissa walked out of the room. "Don't tell them we are having ham and roast beef sandwiches with chips, ok?" Cuddy said as they both laughed.

"So, House, how'd it go?" Wilson asked House when the girls left.

"How did what go?" House said, playing dumb.

"You know what I mean!"

"Oh, you know." House said, egging Wilson on. Just then the doorbell rang.

"Someone must have forgotten something. I'll get it." Wilson said as he stood up to get the door.

Wilson reached for the doorknob, and as soon as the door was cracked just a little, the door opened hard and fast. It caught Wilson by surprise and hit him in the forehead, causing him to fall backward onto the hardwood floor.

House was just standing up when the man barged into the cabin with a pistol in his hand, waving it like a mad man. He kicked Wilson in the leg as he came into the living room.

"Sit down, cripple! Where is she?" He screamed with the wall to his back so he could keep an eye on Wilson and House.

"Greg, what's go..." Melissa said with a knife in her hand she'd been cutting meat with, but she just held it, in no way a threatening manner.

"Drop it! NOW!" He ordered, and she dropped it right away. "Get over there with them!" He said, pointing the gun to the couch, but she walked over to Wilson and tried to help him up, but she had no strength.

"I'm ok...ok...don't" He muttered, then stood up and she helped him walk to the couch.

"Where IS she!" He yelled, but he was starting to slur his words.

Cuddy stood frozen in the kitchen because she recognized his voice. It was Thomas, her ex. She had to think quickly. Chase always kept his cell phone on. She'd call him. She quietly picked up the phone and dialed his number. She heard a phone ring upstairs. His phone!

"What is that? Whose cell phone is that? Who's up there? Is she up there? Wait, no. You were in the kitchen, right? With her?" He said, pointing the gun at Melissa. House tensed up and started to lean forward in his chair.

"Don't! You're gonna die anyway, but I'm not ready yet." He said as he walked into the kitchen. "Out here! NOW!" He yelled to Cuddy, who was cowering in the corner of the kitchen.

She slowly walked out, and as she passed Thomas she said, "don't do this, Tom." He raised his hand with the gun in it and brought it down on the back of Cuddy's neck.

She went down hard and fast. House did stand up this time and took two steps toward them. Thomas aimed the gun at him and

shot...right into the wall to his right on purpose. Just to scare him. He quickly sat back down.

"Thomas, stop. Someone's got to look at her!" House said urgently. Melissa and Wilson looked at House because he seemed to be the only one that knew who this man was.

"Forget it! No one is looking after her. Except you have been, haven't you, cripple?" He said as he bent down, grabbed Cuddy's elbow and dragged her into the living room.

Melissa stood up slowly, calmly, and walked to her, eyeing Thomas the whole time. Wilson tried to grabbed her hand as she walked by but she pushed his hand away. She bent over Cuddy and reached behind her neck. Pulling out her hand she saw the blood on her fingers.

"You son of a bi..." House started to say. This time, he aimed the gun at Melissa's leg two feet from him and shot her. She rolled over crying in pain.

"Next time, it's you, cripple!" Thomas said.

---Sarah thought she heard a faint gunshot echo in the trees as they just reached the lake, but she couldn't be sure. It could have been a hunter; could have just been her imagination. But a few minutes later when she heard the sound again, she grabbed her right leg and yelped in pain.

"What is it?" Cameron asked as she walked toward her. "I don...oh my god, Melissa." Sarah whispered.

"We've got to get back, NOW!" Sarah said. The gang hurried as fast as they could in the deep snow; it would take about 25 minutes before they'd reach the cabin at the rate they were going, even in a dead run. The four in the cabin didn't have very good odds.

Back in the cabin, Cuddy was still passed out on the floor and Melissa was on the floor against the couch. Wilson got on the floor beside her and ripped her jeans up to where the bullet was. There was just a trickle of blood; it was a clean shot, but the shot was so close that there were burn marks around the entrance wound.

"I'm fine, James. It doesn't hurt too badly." She said as she contorted her face in pain as he ripped the jeans up to her thigh.

"Doc, don't do anything dumb." Melissa warned House. But of course he didn't listen to her, like he never really listened to anyone anyway.

House slowly stood and walked to Cuddy while he kept his eye on Thomas. He knelt down on his left leg and pulled Cuddy up by her shoulders to look at the back of her head. The blood was already coagulating and the place where the butt of the gun went into her neck wasn't bad at all. He turned to look at Wilson and House nodded his head as if to indicate Cuddy was fine.

"Baby, Lisa...please...wake up..." House whispered in her ear as he held her, his voice cracked with emotion at the whole scene that was playing around them. He gently laid Cuddy back down and faced Thomas, who paced back and forth as if he were getting his thoughts together as what to do.

"Why did you do that, Thomas? Melissa has nothing to do with this." House said as he walked toward him.

"She's at the wrong place at the wrong time, just like A.J. It's Cuddy I want, and you. Now shut up." He said as he waved the gun in House's direction.

House thought to himself: 'A.J.? The guy that drove us up here? That must mean A.J.'s here somewhere. Thomas didn't know about this place, or did he? Damn, where's Foreman?'

"I knew she was shacking up with you! She left me because of YOU!" Thomas screamed at House.

"No, she left because you beat the crap out of her!" House retorted.

"House, DON'T!" Wilson pleaded.

"How about I get you a beer. No, Scotch! It's in the kitchen. How does that sound? We'll sit back, have a few laughs." House said.

"NO! Well, that does sound good. Go, but I'm watching you!" Thomas said.

House slowly walked to the kitchen, got a glass and set it on the counter. He looked behind him and Thomas was not watching him. He reached into his pocket with a grin on his face and poured the pills into his hand. They were Percocet, for Melissa. He kept them just in case he needed something for his leg, but in case he was busted he would say they were for Melissa if she needed them.

'Oh, what the hell.' House said to himself as he popped two of them. The remaining capsules he tore apart to let the powder pour into the glass. There were about eight, which he hoped would be enough to knock him on his butt, if not, just get him high enough to get the gun from him. He grabbed the bottle of Scotch and poured some into the glass.

"Where's that drink?" Thomas yelled.

"Almost done." House replied.

He stirred the liquid in the glass until the powder dissolved, then walked out of the kitchen into the living room. He stared at Thomas as he approached, and to him it seemed Thomas was wired on something. He said a little pray as he handed Thomas the glass.

"Bottoms up!" House said.

Thomas brought the glass to his lips and swallowed the whole 10 oz. drink. It didn't even appear that Thomas tasted the Percocet. House walked back to the chair, and as he passed Cuddy she moaned. He quickly bent down to her.

"Lisa, sit up. Can you sit up?" House said.

He looked up at Melissa and Wilson. Wilson was holding his side and Melissa looked like she was in a lot of pain. Cuddy slowly opened her eyes and looked at House. She tried to sit up but House stopped her.

"No, no. Let me sit you up. Ok, easy, slow." House said.

"How's it hanging, Missy?" House said. He tried to smile as he sat down behind Cuddy and had her back rest against his chest.

"It's ok, Doc. At least I'm surrounded by three doc..." Melissa cut herself off because Cuddy wasn't exactly in any shape to help anyone.

"We've got to get this bullet out, House." Wilson said.

"Shut up! You four won't be feeling any pain in a second. I came here for a reason." Thomas said as he pointed the gun to Cuddy's head.

Just then, the door burst open and Sarah walked through the front door. Then she saw Thomas aiming the gun at the four on the floor and stopped in her tracks. Cameron, Foreman, Chase and Michelle all bumped into her.

"Dang, girl, what's th..." Foreman started to say before he saw Thomas.

"YOU! ALL OF YOU! Over here, NOW!" Thomas screamed as he waved the gun from them to the couch.

They all followed Sarah into the living room while taking off their coats and boots.

"Sit dah-un." Thomas slurred. House could tell the Percocet was slowly kicking in. Thomas wiped his forehead as if he was feeling dizzy. As Michelle walked toward the couch, she suddenly stopped and stood next to Thomas.

"What are you doing back so early?" Thomas asked her, as she took out a pistol from inside her coat.

"Yeah, well, little psycho lady over there knew something was wrong. I was doing a good job keeping these juveniles busy with snow ball fights." Michelle said.

"What in the hell? Melissa, Cuddy! What is going on?" Foreman demanded.

"Well," Thomas started to say as he leaned back against the wall for support. "I came here to take care of a few things...I mean people. But your early arrival changed all that."

"No problem, Tom. These people were getting on my nerves anyway. Which one do I get?" She asked Thomas with a sly smile.

"Cuddy and House are mine." Thomas told her.

---What Thomas and Michelle didn't know was that Rog was making his way through the door in the back of the cabin in the hot tub room. He quietly walked to the door into the hallway and peeked around the corner. He got down on his hands and knees and crawled to where he could see everyone in the living room. He first saw Thomas against the wall, then frowned when he saw Michelle holding the gun. He could see Wilson's back and the left side of House holding someone in his arms. He had to think quickly.

"Tom...Thomas...don't do th..." Cuddy mumbled. House grabbed her hand and squeezed to reassure her. Thomas was slowly sliding down the wall as the painkillers took effect, and his wrist grew limp, making the gun drop to the floor. House couldn't help but grin.

"What's the matter, homey? Can't handle your liquor?" House asked him.

"Shut UP House! You are such a pain in the ass. Now I know why Foreman complains about you all the time." Michelle said as she took a step toward the group.

"I met Thomas in a bar one night after he and her had a fight. We talked, and he offered me a deal I couldn't refuse. It was easy, or should I say you were easy, Foreman? Not a bad lover, but easy." She snickered.

Cameron saw something in the corner of her eye and turned to look, not thinking of the consequences.

"What are you looking at?" Michelle screamed. She walked far enough in the direction of Cameron's gaze to see Rog lying dead still on the floor.

"Get up! Do you think I'm stupid or something? Get up, now!" She screamed. Rog slowly stood up and walked into the living room. He saw Wilson beside Melissa and sat down in front of her.

"Are you hurt, Me..." He said but stopped when he saw her leg with the bullet hole. It had started to bleed again, but it wasn't heavy.

"Oh, she's hurt alright. I'm glad Thomas shot her. She is just so 'Marie Osmond' sweet it makes me sick. But don't worry, honey, you won't be in pain much longer. See, $5,000 is nothing to sneeze at. Thank God I got the money up front because it appears Thomas is just as helpless as you all are. Speaking of which, I think I'll take care of him now. Thomas, I mean. I need his gun for the extra bullets anyway."

She said as she walked toward Thomas, who was completely on the floor and passed out. Her back was toward the group as she raised the gun at Thomas' head.

Just then, A.J. barged through the door and tackled Michelle to the ground. The gun slipped out of her hand and it hit the floor and skid toward Chase. Chase picked up the gun and aimed it at Michelle. A.J. got a firm grip on Michelle's arms and pulled them tight behind her. Then Chase and Rog got up quickly and walked toward Thomas, who was out cold.

"I saw some rope in the back room. I'll get it." Foreman said as he left.

"Man! That was so COOL!" House said. "Can we do that again?"

"Shut up, House!" Everyone in the room said at the same time.

"Honey, are you ok?" Sarah asked Wilson as she knelt down beside him.

"Yes, but she isn't." Wilson said as he looked at her. Her face had become flush and she was starting to sweat. "We've got to get that bullet out."

"Ok, I'll get blankets from upstairs." Sarah said as she raced up the stairs.

A.J. put Michelle in the corner of the room so everyone could keep an eye on her. She started cursing and yelling out, so House leaned Cuddy against a chair and grabbed a scarf that was on the floor, wrapped it around Michelle's mouth and chin to shut her up.

"I knew there was something off with you." House said to her.

"A.J., wh...izz..va?" Cuddy asked as she tried to get her composure back.

"He made me stop a mile down the road. But the snow's gotta be piled up to the roof by now, especially if the tow trucks have come through. They always make it through quick up here." A.J. answered.

Chase and Rog pulled Thomas to lay beside Michelle. Sarah came back down the stairs with blankets, bandages and gauge she'd found, and Foreman came back with the rope. Chase and Foreman tied both of their wrists and ankles. House walked back into the living room from the kitchen with a bottle of Scotch in his hand.

"House, now isn't the best time to be getting drunk." Wilson said.

"It's not for me, it's for Melissa. You're going to need it, girl." House said.

Chase, Foreman and Rog helped her stand up and semi-carried her into the hallway where there was better light. They laid her on a few blankets and Sarah threw a little shawl over her shoulders because she was starting to shiver.

"Missy," Cameron said as she knelt beside her. "Here, drink this."

"But I don't like Scotch." She said with a laugh, then coughed and moaned in pain.

"You will after you've had a few swigs." House said as he took a swig himself then handed it to Melissa. Foreman and Chase both went into the kitchen to get something to get the bullet out with. Back in the living room, Wilson had a washcloth with ice holding it on the back of Cuddy's head. She looked at A.J. and smiled.

"Big brother to the rescue." She said. "This is my older brother, A.J."

"Yeah, we've met." Wilson said with a laugh. "I thought for sure Rog was going to go after one of them, trip and knock the gun out of their hand."

"I heard that!" Rog hollered from the hallway. "Thanks for your support."

"Now, Melissa, keep drinking this. I'm afraid we don't have anything better for the pain." Cameron told her.

"Oh, ye..." House started to say.

"House, get the bottle from upstairs." Cuddy said from the couch. House came back downstairs a few minutes later.

"See, aren't you glad I'm in pain, Cuddy?" House asked with a wink as he walked to Melissa.

"House, it's not a good idea to mix Vicodin with alcohol." Cameron warned him.

"Don't you think I know that?" House answered. Cameron helped Melissa take the pills as Foreman and Chase came back from the kitchen.

"I'm afraid it's not quite sterile, but it's all we have." Chase said as he put down a serving tray with a couple of bowls filled with

water, tweezers, a few hand towels, couple of steak knives and a roast beef sandwich.

"Uh, I guess the sandwich is to stop the bleeding?" House said as Chase reached for the hand towel and dipped it in a bowl and brought it to Melissa's thigh.

"No, I was hungry." Chase answered. Melissa laughed a little.

"You high yet, girl?" House asked her.

"I think so because Chase is actually funny. Just do it before I lose my nerve." She told Chase as she closed her eyes. Chase put towels around the wound in her thigh and grabbed a knife.

"Doc Greg, you still here?" She asked, but her words came out a little mumbled. House scooted up and sat on the other side of her.

"Hold my hand, Melissa. Chase is ready." Cameron said.

"You know, with her holding your hand I'm a little turned on." House said with a snicker as he grabbed Melissa's left hand and held it.

"Doc, I thought you just said stupid stuff 'cuz of your leg pain, but now I know you are just an a..." Melissa started to say but then gasp as Chase made an incision at the top of the wound. Both House and Cameron flinched as Melissa's hands grasped tighter to theirs.

"It's ok, it's ok. I'm keeping an eye on Chase." House said. She started to laugh then screamed when Chase made the incision below the wound.

"Oh, god. This is worse than I thought it'd be..." She moaned.

"Hang in there, Missy. Chase knows what he's doing, despite House's snide comments." Cameron said then shot House a dirty look.

"Ok, Missy, I'm going to go in now to get the bullet." Chase said as he looked at her. "Ok, ready?"

"Yeah, do it...just do it..." She said.

Chase brought the tweezers to her thigh and reached in the wound. Melissa screamed then jerked her leg.

"Melissa...Mel..." House started to reassure her, but she passed out from the pain.

"It's better this way, for her." Cameron said.

It took Chase just ten minutes to retrieve the bullet, and it made a 'click' as he put it in a bowl of water. Melissa didn't flinch at all from her pain induced sleep, and Cameron and Rog were watching Chase intently. Occasionally House would wipe the wound where blood would start to seep into the wound.

"She's lucky. It just missed her artery so there's little damage. But she's going to be in a lot of pain when she wakes up. Ok, where are the bandages? Chase asked. House grabbed them and bandaged her leg himself. Chase stood up, went to the kitchen to clean his hands, then came back to Melissa and ate his sandwich.

"Don't you dare get any bread crumbs in there or she'll sue you!" House said with a grin. "Thanks. Good job."

Everyone sighed with relief and House went to the couch to check on Cuddy. As he passed the corner where Michelle and Thomas were, he saw he was still out cold and Michelle's eyes blazed at him with hatred. But he was used to that look; it didn't bother him at all.

"I got the cops while Chase was operating, but they said they wouldn't be able to get out for a couple of hours. I told them about her condition but that she was in good hands with six of the best doctors she could possibly have." A.J. said while House sat next

to Cuddy.

"Wait, you're missing one." House told him.

"Yeah, the verdict is still out on you, Doc." A.J. teased and they laughed. Cuddy laughed too but then grabbed the back of her neck.

"God, I am so sorry, guys. This is all my fault." Cuddy apologized.

"Hey, it is not." A.J. told her. "Once the cops get here you won't have to worry about him ever again." Cuddy put her head on House's shoulder and closed her eyes.

"Your head doesn't look too bad. I don't think you have a concussion. But your fun bags look in FINE shape. I think it's safe to get you upstairs now, Lisa." House said as he stood up. "A.J., can you help?"

"Of course." He said as he grabbed Cuddy's waist and helped her up the stairs, with House behind.

"Hey, 'Lease', this reminds me of that time you came home drunk and I had to help you to bed."

"Yeah, yeah, I was just tired." She said as she held onto the railing.

"Uh huh. Right. Mom and Dad didn't believe that either." He said with a laugh as they turned left at the top of the stairs to get to her bedroom.

In the living room, Sarah sat beside Wilson and he nestled her in his arms. "I don't think I've ever been this tired, James. Oh, well, there was that one time you and I...uh, never mind." She said with a smile. "I'm pretty wiped, too. Guys, why don't you go get some rest while we stay with Melissa and these two losers."

"No, no. I want to stay with Missy." Cameron interjected.

"I'll watch these two, guys. Cameron and I can stay down here. Go on up, guys." Foreman said.

As Sarah and Wilson got to the top of the stairs and headed to their bedroom, A.J. was just closing his sister's bedroom door. "I'll have dinner ready in a few hours. It takes a while to put the roast beef and ham out. And the bread...wow, that's really hard to carry to the dining room table." He joked and headed down the stairs.

Cameron sat against the wall at Melissa's head and closed her eyes. She wasn't going to sleep. She just needed to close them for a second after what they'd just been through. A.J. sat down in the chair across from Foreman. It was quiet in the cabin. More quiet than it had been since they got there.

Up in Cuddy's bedroom, House pulled the covers down and she crawled into bed. "Man, my head hurts. Greg, what did you put in Thomas' Scotch?"

"I found some rat poi..." House started to say.

"I don't have any rat poison in here."

"I had Melissa's Percocet and dumped a whole bunch into the drink. Pretty clever, huh?" House said, trying to take the severity out of it.

"Greg," Cuddy said as she closed her eyes and she lay on her side and pulled the covers up to her shoulders. "Did you take any?"

House hesitated for a moment. "Yeah, but I didn't get any from you this morning."

"Yeah, ok. That wa...my fault." She said sleepily and yawned. House lay next to her and held her in his arms.

"Hey, good thing you have me around, huh?" House said as he kissed her on her cheek.

"Uh huh. Whatever you have to tell yourself." Cuddy said then she fell asleep. House watched her for a few minutes before he, too, dozed off.

---House is outside watching little Charlie riding a bicycle, with Wilson following along behind him as it wobbles back and forth on the sidewalk. Cuddy is sitting at his side on the front steps of Sarah and Wilson's home.

"Do you see yourself doing that with Katie in a few years?" Cuddy asks him as she nudges his elbow.

"Uh, who's Katie?" House asks.

"Ok, fine, L.P. with his baseball hat riding the bike."

"Who the hell is L.P.?"

"Little person." She told him.

"That's the stupidest name I've ev..." House started to say.

"Ok, here's little Greene, guys!" Sarah says as she opens the front door and hands them a 15-month old baby boy.

"I still can't believe you named your kid Greene, House!" Sarah says.

"Hey, it was Lisa's fault! She was the one with the drugs!" House teases as he grabs the baby and walks to the yard to twirl him around in his arms. No cane in hand, no pain in leg, no thoughts of clinic duty; only a terrific feeling of overwhelming happiness.

"House, come here!" Wilson yells from the sidewalk of a neighbor's house.

"What is it?" House asks as he walks toward Wilson.

"It's Melissa, House, come on!"

"What the hell are you talking about, Wilson?"

"House...House...HOUSE!"

House jerked in bed and accidentally kicked Cuddy with his right leg. He let out a yelp as the pain shot up his leg, sat up in bed and rubbed his face.

"House, Melissa is running a high fever and I think she's going into shock." Wilson said as he continued to bang on the door.

"Ok, ok. Lisa, hon..." House started to say but saw that she was almost all the way off the bed already. House walked into the hall and saw Foreman standing at Cameron and Melissa's door. Everybody was up now with all the yelling and tried to either stay out of the way or help out as best they could.

"Chase and I brought her up here about an hour after everyone else laid down. We thought she would rest more comfortably. But she started running a fever about an hour ago and she's hallucinating." Wilson said as House walked into the room to see Cameron at her side dabbing her forehead with a wet washcloth.

House said, "Who's watch..." but he was interrupted by Foreman.

"Chase, A.J. and Rog are downstairs. Thomas has come to but he's still a little out of it." Foreman told him.

"Where are the cops? What time is it?" House asked as he knelt down to unwrap the bandage around her thigh.

"It's 6:30 and they should be here any minute." Cameron said hopefully.

"Jack...no..don...Ted...Te..." Melissa muttered as she tossed her head back and forth.

"Dam, it is infected. Get on the phone and get the cops here with an ambulance, NOW!" House ordered.

"Greg, there's almost two feet of snow out th..." Cuddy started to tell him.

"I don't care! We have nothing to treat this infection with and if we don't do anything it'll get into her bloodstream. Call them!" House screamed at Foreman who nodded his head and head downstairs.

"Fill the tub with water then throw some ice cubes in there." House said. Cuddy went to the bathroom at the end of the hall and Wilson went downstairs to get as much ice as was there.

"House, isn't there anything else we can do to get her fever down?" Cameron asked.

"Not in this situation. Not unless you have meds in your duffle bag." House snipped at her.

Foreman came back upstairs and told them, "The cops left 30 minutes ago, but it's slow going."

"Ok, help Cameron get her in the tub." House said as Wilson yelled he was back with the ice, in which he went to the bathroom and filled the tub.

House and Cuddy stood in the hallway as Foreman and Cameron carried her to the bathroom. The ice Wilson put in the tub had already thoroughly melted. They slowly and carefully lowered Melissa into the tub and as soon as her body touched the frigid water she started screaming and cursing and yelling for Ted. As the water totally covered her she settled down a little but still muttered.

"I'm gonna have to go get snow to make this colder." Wilson said as he headed down the hall to the stairs.

Wilson filled the pot with snow, then Rog would go up the stairs, hand it to Cameron, who took it to the bathroom. It took them a good 15-20 minutes doing this until the water was cold enough to satisfy 'her doctors.' During the last trip, Wilson said he thought he heard a snowplow, but that could have just been a truck going by.

She soaked in the tub for 30 minutes until her body started to shiver and House decided it was time for her to get out. Cameron and Cuddy held her as Sarah removed her clothes, dried her and put warmer clothes on her. Sarah opened the bathroom door and Cameron and Cuddy slowly carried her into her bedroom. They laid her on the bed, covered her and threw more blankets on top of her.

"I've got a thermometer in my bathroom." Cuddy said as she left the room.

"HEY! Guys! The cops are here!" A.J. yelled from downstairs.

Those upstairs looked at each other relieved, and those downstairs stood back and let the cops take Michelle and Thomas out to the squad car. Then two paramedics came in and Rog escorted them upstairs to where Melissa was.

"Oh, thank God! It's about ti..." House started to say.

"Keith, Ed, glad you are here." Cuddy said as she told the paramedics about Melissa's condition. They checked her blood pressure and her pulse, which were both weak, but not life-threatening yet.

"If we were here just 30 minutes later she'd be in bad shape." Keith told Cuddy as he inserted an I.V. into her arm.

Everyone went downstairs except for Cameron, who stayed with her as the paramedics continued to assess her condition.

"Rog, she'll be fine." Cuddy reassured him when he asked how Melissa was.

"I thought I heard a plow out on the street." Wilson started to say. "They had the plow in the lead with the cops and ambulance behind them. When they reached the van, they stated it up and it's out front to take us out of here."

Thirty minutes later, the snow plow led the convoy with Cameron and Melissa in the back of the ambulance, then the rest of the gang in the van, being driven by A.J. then followed by the squad car that carried Thomas and Michelle, then two extra squad cars. It was only a 25 minute drive but it went slowly. When they got on the main highway, the ambulance was escorted to Rochester General and the other crew was dropped off at a hotel near the hospital.

House and Chase both shared a cab back to the hospital, and Chase was nervous the whole time; he didn't say one word to House. He kept staring at Chase, trying to get him more nervous than he already was.

"What do you want, House?" Chase finally asked but didn't look at him.

"Uh, you surprised me."

"How's that?" Chase asked.

"I don't know. I was all ready to fire you but I don't think I will, now." House said.

"That's nice to know. Er, thanks." Chase answered as they pulled in front of the hospital. House got out first and walked straight to the front door, while Chase stayed back and was forced to pay the cab driver, then he caught up with House.

"Ok, that's a travel expense I need to have reimbursed. You have to write an invoice when we get back." Chase told House as they walked through the doors.

"Ok, I'll get right on it, as soon as I get on Angelina Jolie." House said with a smirk. Chase just shook his head.

When they finally found Cameron, they told her she was in surgery.

"But, it's minor. They're just cleaning out the wound. The doctor said you did a pretty good job, honey." Cameron said as she kissed Chase on the cheek.

"Oh, please. Keep that up and I will need surgery to remove my eyeballs." House said. "How is she doing otherwise?"

"Great, actually. Her fever did come down and her blood pressure is fine. There weren't any complications with her H...heart. House, can I stay with her until she's released? I can drive her back." Cameron asked House, and she caught Chase frowning at her in a peculiar way.

"I'll check with Cuddy. But I think I need you back at the PPTH right away." House told her.

"No, you don't, House, and you know it."

"I'll stay with you, Allison." Chase said.

She smiled at him and wrapped her arm around his waist. The three sat down in the waiting room. Almost 45 minutes later, a doctor approached them in the waiting room.

"Oh, Dr. House? I've heard about you. It's nice to meet you." The doctor said as he looked at his cane then seem to recognize his face. He stuck out his hand to House, and he politely returned the gesture.

"How is she, Doctor?" Cameron asked as she stood up and stood next to House.

"She's fine. Actually, with one of you escorting her, she can leave tomorrow. But I have a list to go over with one of you for her post-op care."

"Fine, ok. Thanks, Doctor." Cameron said and shook his hand. "When can we see her?"

"In about an hour. Dr. House, may I speak with you for a moment?" He said.

House rolled his eyes and reluctantly walked to the corner. They spoke for a few minutes and he walked back to the group. Cameron really wanted to ask House what he said but she didn't.

"Chase, you can go back to the hotel, now. I'll stay with Cameron." House said as he sat back down in one of the chairs.

"House, I don't mind st..." Chase started to say.

"Chase, I need someone to keep an eye on Rog." House lied.

"Why? I don't think that's quite necessary." Chase objected.

"Well, thanks for your opinion, but you can leave now." House said. Chase walked to Cameron and took her hand, and they walked to the lobby where they called a cab. When Chase left, Cameron came back up to sit with House.

"Uh, what was that all about, House?" Cameron asked.

House slowly turned to look at her. "I see you know she's HIV positive."

"Yes, she told me last night. Is there a problem? Is that why he wanted to talk to you alone?" She asked him.

"Her CD4 count is 185, low enough for her to require taking the cocktails now. Did she say anything to you about her T-cell count being within the acceptable range?" House asked.

"No, she didn't. Did the infection from the bullet itself cause the low count?" Cameron asked.

"The doctor said it's doubtful. He did say he found a lesion on the back of her thigh, and she has Kapoli's sarcoma. So, if she hadn't been shot, the SK wouldn't have been found."

"But how can that be? More men are affected with that than women are."

"Well, the odds are 1 to 8, so she just fell in there. So, more than likely, that's what caused her intestinal blockage, not the Crohn's Disease. When she gets back home she will need more tests to determine if the KS has spread to her liver, lungs or lymph nodes." House said.

"But we did an MRI and Ct sc..."

"Yes, we did, but we weren't looking in those specific areas for sarcoma."

"Then, you're telling me she now has full blown AIDS?" She asked disheartedly.

House just nodded his head, and Cameron threw her head to the wall and closed her eyes, trying not to cry.

A few minutes later a nurse approached them and said they could see her now. They followed the nurse to Melissa's room and Cameron went straight to the bed, while House stood back against the wall by the door.

"Melissa? Missy? It's Allison. Hey, you made it, girl." Cameron said. "We all made it."

Melissa slowly woke up and mumbled something until she came around more clearly and opened her eyes.

"Great. Good." She whispered.

"I'm going to stay here with you until we go home tomorrow." Cameron told her.

"Cool...you drive." She joked. "Where's Doc?"

"I'm here, Melissa." House answered from the back of the room.

"Ok, either he's too far or I've lost my hearin'." Melissa said and that prompted House to approach her bed.

"You gonna give her the day off, boss?" Melissa asked House.

"It depends on how many clinic hours she agrees to do for me." House said then winked at Melissa.

"You better not make her do your work!" She said as she closed her eyes.

"Get some sleep, ok? Cameron is going to stay with you tonight and we'll be by in the morning to properly escort you home." House told her as he patted her hand. She nodded her head and went back to sleep.

"Can I get you anything before I leave, Cameron?" House asked.

"No, thanks." Cameron said as he walked out of the room.

House took the elevator to the first floor and decided he was going to walk back to the hotel because it was only a ten minute walk, and he took notice that the sidewalks were clear of any snow. Besides, he had a lot to think over. House put the key in the hotel room door and walked in. Cuddy, Wilson and Sarah were sitting on the beds talking. But it got quiet as soon as he walked in.

"How is she, Greg?" Sarah asked House.

"She's fine. They cleaned the wound and she'll be able to leave with us tomorrow. Now, Wilson, Sarah, go away. I'm tired." House said as he sat on the bed beside Cuddy.

Wilson and Sarah left and Cuddy turned around to face House.

"Ok, what are you hiding, Greg?" Cuddy asked.

"Nothing." He lied.