Legal Disclaimer: I own my stuff, but not the original source material. That belongs to whoever. Also, the opinions and interpretations I use here may not reflect the same in said whoever that owns the source material. Look, I'm just a poor college librarian. Suing me isn't going to get you anything but tears.

Warning: This work may be offensive to some readers. Feel free to back out if need be.

Author's Note: These two's verbal sparring ate up so much of the word count that my friend Trish suggested the way this chapter ends. Feel free to yell about it (or keyboard smash).

Submitting Info:
Stacked with: Hogwarts (Term 16); MC4A (Year 5)
Individual Challenges: Missing Rainbow; Fire Extinguisher; Red Lights; Red Bull (x2); Medic MC [x4]; Neurodivergent [x2]; Rian-Russo Inversion [x3]; Ethnic & Present [x2]; Disabled; Zukes of Hazard; Bi Bi Bi; Lovely Triangle; Ship Sails [x2]; Zed Era; Old Shoes (Y); New Fandom Smell; In a Flash; The Real MC (Y); Two Cakes (Y); Eating Cake (Y); Green Ribbon
House: Slytherin
Assignment No.: Term 16 – Assignment 08
Subject (Task No.): n/a
Other Hogwarts Challenges: 365 [22](Negotiate); 1000 Prompts Challenge [362](Phone); Hogwarts Gardens [Equipment 1](Anger)
Other MC4A Challenges: SpB [1D](Cloud); TrB [1E](Mama Bear); Ship (n/a)[SpMic2 (White)]; Chim [Reta] ("The Anonymous Ones" - Dear Evan Hanson; Hospital/Medical Ward)
Representation(s): Amber Volakris/James Wilson; James Wilson/Gregory House QPR; Chim Song Prompt
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: Found Family; Nontraditional; Zucchini Bread; Bee Haven; Fizzy Lemonade; Machismo; Second Verse (Ladylike; Not a Lamp; Persistence Still; White Dress); Chorus (Pcky Pockets; Wabi Sabi)
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: T3 (Terse; Thimble); SN (Rail; Spare); Once (Moses Supposes; Santa Fe)
Word Count: 490 words

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House & Homes
Sniffs
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"Hold on," Chase demanded, pushing away from the bookcase. He sounded like he couldn't believe what he was hearing, despite how many years he had worked with House. "There's a kid—a small one, at that, which definitely explains some things—who has visibly anemic blood in this hospital." He scrubbed a hand over his face before throwing his hands in the air. "Because things aren't complicated enough with you trying to cure kindness in the middle of a nurses' strike."

"The man is sick—"

"House," James interrupted at the same moment that Amber raised the quilt to her nose. She frowned as she pulled it away again, only to tilt the section she had just sniffed towards him. The puffy white shape was probably supposed to be a cloud even surrounded as it was by the cartoon flowers. But what caught his attention was the reddish orange stain across the cloud. James swallowed hard, but it was Chase that asked what he couldn't bring himself to.

"Is that…?"

"He had a few scrapes when I found him," House explained in a tight voice. "It took a bit for him to allow me to patch him up. Then Mr. Congeniality showed up."

"I'm leaning towards neurological," Amber commented idly, still frowning at the blanket. "Something genetic, maybe." She rubbed the hem between her fingers. "Did the kid say what got banged him up?"

"Patient is nonverbal," House said. A loud buzz sounded from House's pocket. Uncharacteristically, House immediately checked it. Equally uncharacteristically, he stood up to leave. "Wilson, bring the food. Cutthroat, it's likely structural. Contemplate that as you go home."

"Neurons are structural," Amber argued as she intercepted House's path, "and I'm not going home now!"

"Fine," House agreed readily. "You don't have to go home. You just can't tag along."

"If James can go, so can I."

"Wilson is welcomed. You are not."

"You can't just take him whenever you want! He's a person, and we're on a date!"

"Are you? I hadn't noticed." House let his gaze move over her in an obvious leer. James rolled his eyes. Chase looked oddly fascinated by the way the two were metaphorically circling each other like dogs at the park. As annoying as the bickering was, James couldn't help but think it was a good sign. Amber was the first woman he had dated that had actually engaged with House in any way. "That does explain the dress. Aren't bright colors a sign of poison in your species?"

"I'm coming with you!"

"Not happening."

"Explain," Amber ordered in a voice that had James straightening his back even as his head dipped. House didn't share the reaction, letting out a growl instead. Undeterred and just as unwilling to negotiate on the point, Amber snapped, "now."

Whatever scathing quip that House might have used to deflect the command died an abrupt death as his pager went off with a patient alert.

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To be continued
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