Bobby was already looking better, brighter, and like a bright, young boy should. He was in the process of charming the attending nurse by regaling her with stories about a puppy the family had just bought. Kid was going to have his pick of women when he grew up. Foreman entered the room, slipping on a mask and completing the last of the clean room procedures and Bobby lit up when he caught sight of him. "Dr. Foreman!" he announced cheerfully. "My Dad's getting lunch and balloons."

"Balloons, huh? You'd better save me one," Foreman joked. He checked Bobby's breathing, pulse, and stats; each result more optimistic than they had been twenty-four hours ago. The treatment was working. They'd moved him into a clean room to monitor his progress and it was looking good. Antibiotics for the infections and some time away from dangerous medical substances for the rest.

A knock on the glass drew a pleased gasp from Bobby and Foreman glanced over his shoulder to find Dr. Gordon at the glass with a handful of helium balloons.

"My Dad's great," Bobby announced.

"Yeah," Foreman chuckled. "He's a pretty great guy."

It was going to be a good heal, no bone marrow transplant would even be needed. Bobby was going to be just fine.

"Thanks," Bobby told Foreman gratefully. "You know, when I grow up? M'gonna be just like Dad. A doctor."

Affording another look to Dr. Gordon, Foreman smiled and turned his attention back to Bobby. "I think he'd be proud of that." What father wouldn't be, after all?

Cameron waved off Matt and Kevin from the hospital, having given them both a stern warning about drugs and violence and receiving a promise from Matt that they would shape up just fine. She leaned against the nurse's station as she finalized the discharge papers. "I saw you coming," she remarked to her side, not even glancing up from her chart to talk to her companion.

"Confounded luck," House said, snapping his fingers. "How's our delinquent?"

"Healing and reforming," Cameron said proudly.

House did a double take. "In the same twenty-four hour period? Not bad." He gave Cameron a nod. "Good work."

"Thanks," she said gratefully, happily signing the discharge form and basking in the pride of a job well done.

Chase spoke quietly with Annie, giving her the appropriate pamphlets and handing her his business card. "Just call, okay?" he relayed quietly. John was wheeling David out slowly, neither of them saying much at all. Annie's eyes were red-rimmed and she looked weary and defeated.

"We will," she promised listlessly, taking the papers and tucking them into her purse before she joined David and John. Annie gave a shaky smile, slipping an old baseball cap atop David's head.

Chase lingered by the stairs, still feeling weighed down. House drew up beside him without saying a word, having just exited the elevator.

"They'll stay together," Chase remarked.

"Until he dies," House reminded him. "Go upstairs. There's probably something for you to comment on there."

Chase just nodded, not in the mood to argue, watching David go. When they were out of sight, he used the stairs to get back to the office, just so House couldn't follow him.

It took them forty-eight hours to safely decide that Bobby could be released from the clean room and the hospital both and as patient as he had been, he was still a young boy and keeping one of those cooped up never ended well. Bobby was nearly bouncing, holding onto his father's hand as they led him from the hospital.

"And I want to play with Penny and see Mum and talk to my friends," Bobby narrated rapid-fire, all the while, Dr. Gordon smiled proudly, scooping Bobby up in his arms and carrying him towards the exit.

"Thank you very much for your aid," Dr. Gordon said with deep sincerity to Foreman. "I honestly would not have solved it this quickly without you." He was carrying Bobby a little bit like a puppy and from his father's arms, Bobby made faces at every passing person.

Foreman just nodded his appreciation. "The same goes for you," he assured. "Take care of him."

"Will do," Dr. Gordon assured, carrying Bobby the rest of the way to the exit, the little boy chatting on about ice cream. Foreman's grin lingered on his face, even when House sidled up beside him.

"My favorite kind of case. The kind where you do all the work," House remarked, sounding very pleased with himself. "Nice work on the diagnosis. If I were you, I'd have gone to the hospital to check."

"You're not me," Foreman replied easily. "Every day, I thank God for that." Foreman's grin widened and he watched until Dr. Gordon and Bobby drove away. Only then did he leave.

tbc