Chapter 21: You never know

The ride to the hospital is silent. Wilson parks his car and hurries off to his emergency. House heads up to the diagnostics conference room. He stands in the hallway and gazes in the conference room. Foreman is sitting at the table with Cameron. Chase is playing with House's tennis ball by the coffee machine and Kate is perched on a stool next to the white board. He then reads the list of symptoms: rash, fever, fatigue, seizures, weight loss, joint stiffness, cough, muscle pain and elevated white blood cell count. He walks in while Foreman and Cameron argue. Kate frowns when she sees him.

Cameron says "It has to be lupus. The corticosteroids aren't strong enough. We need to get him on either Methotrexate or Azathioprine."

"But the patient got worse when we started the corticosteroids which suggests that it isn't lupus at all, but possibly Hodgkin's."

"But the tests were negative for Hodgkin's."

House silently picks up the file while Foreman and Cameron continue to argue. Chase interjects something every now and then and Kate is remarkably silent. Just as House is about to make a suggestion, Kate speaks.

"Infection. It may have been hiding but the corticosteroids woke it up. Stop the corticosteroids. Don't suppress his immune system anymore or it will kill him."

House looks at her and nods. "Twenty three year old white male, enjoys camping and recently traveled to the Caribbean. Visited St. Lucia, Antigua and Montserrat. Did our intrepid traveler partake in camping and water sports?"

Foreman and Cameron shrug. Chase says "Yeah, he said he camped and got to explore some really awesome waterfalls."

House's eyes brighten. "Schistosomiasis. Get a stool and urine sample and look for the eggs. Also get a chest x-ray to see if he has developed any pulmonary fibrosis. When the tests come back positive—and they will—start him on Praziquantel."

The ducklings look to Kate and she nods. "Go do what he said."

The ducklings scurry off. House walks over to the white board and writes Schistosomiasis. He says "I would have guessed lupus first too."

"No, you wouldn't have." Kate looks tired. She stands up stiffly and stretches. "You would have said no to this case because it wasn't challenging enough." She gingerly rubs her hip. House feels a pang of guilt as he watches her rub the hip that was broken in the car accident.

House shrugs. "Maybe. But I say that about all my cases when they first present."

Kate pinches the bridge of her nose and looks down at the floor. "This case had me stumped."

"Well, it should have. It's not like Schistosomiasis presents every day."

Kate weakly smiles. "You aren't positive it is Schistosomiasis yet."

"Ah, there is the argumentative and disagreeable ex-wife I know and love."

Kate shakes her head. She heads for the office and says "I am not in the mood for you today."

He follows her into the office and yanks her hair to stop her from sitting in the desk chair.

"Ow! That hurt!" She watches House flop into his chair. A realization hits her. "You're not using your cane!"

"Your powers of deduction are simply amazing."

"Well, hair pulling isn't your M.O. Smacking people in the shins with your cane is." She sits on the desktop next to him.

"Woman, do you ever sit on a chair? You are always sitting on desks, tables or counters."

"You're sitting in my seat."

"Technically, it's my seat. You are merely borrowing it when I'm not here."

"The chairs you have for guests are uncomfortable."

"Sitting on the desk can't be good for your hip."

Kate frowns at him. "It's the damn rain that makes it hurt."

House incredulously says "And you choose to live in Seattle? And all this time I thought you were a sadist, not a masochist."

Kate sighs. "Why are you here?"

"Wilson and I went to lunch, but he had to come handle some emergency before he could take me home."

"Fantastic. So I am stuck babysitting you?"

"Well, I wanted to visit my ducklings. I needed to make sure you haven't corrupted them. Wilson says our little Cameron thinks you are great."

"If she does, it's because I treat her like an intelligent human being, not some pretty little ball of fluff like you do."

House whispers conspiratorially "She has the hots for me." He puffs out his chest like he is the head rooster of the farmyard.

Kate laughs. "Trust me, stud, she doesn't anymore. Maybe if you hadn't been such an ass to her all the time, you might have had a chance with her."

"What do mean, 'might have had a chance with her?' Of course I still have a chance with her!"

"In your dreams, cowboy. You shouldn't have hooked back up with Stacy for those few days."

"How do you know that?"

Kate smirks. "I didn't. You just confirmed it." House's jaw drops open. "Oh my god. I made you speechless!"

House quickly recovers. He stands up and rumples her hair. "I taught you well, grasshopper."

Cameron and Chase walk back into the room to catch House in the act of rumpling Kate's hair. House quickly snatches his hand away from Kate's head and Kate smoothes her hair down as nothing happened.

"Well, what did the tests say?"

Chase waits for Cameron to speak, but she is staring wide-eyed at House. Chase rolls his eyes and says "It's Schistosomiasis. We started him on treatment."

Kate slowly stands up and nods. "Good work. I want you to monitor the patient and watch for any cardiovascular and pulmonary complications. The seizures should stop as the eggs begin to die off." Kate rubs her sore hip again and stares at Chase and Cameron who are staring at her. "Was there something else?"

Chase shakes his head. "Urm, no. Come on, Cam."

Cameron wordlessly turns and leaves the office. Chase follows. Kate watches the two young doctors walk down the hallway. She suddenly feels warm breath in her ear whispering "Bullshit. She still wants me."

Kate freezes. She feels Greg's warm breath caress her neck and the fine small hairs on her arm stand up on end. She can't remember the last time she felt this excited by anything or anyone… well, she did. She hadn't felt this way since she was married to him. She holds her breath and waits for the moment to come to a crashing halt.

Greg sniffs in appreciation. She smells like roses and jasmine and gingersnaps and musk and Earl Gray tea. Her scent brings back memories of lazy days at the park and weekends in bed. He can see the slight flush that is creeping up her neck and he smiles. He is itching to touch her honey blond hair to see if it is still soft as it used to be. He gently fingers a tendril of hair that rests against her collarbone.

Kate jerks away from him. She spins around to face him and says "What are you doing?"

He quietly says "I had to see if your hair was still soft." Kate stares at him, slack-jawed with shock. He nods and says "It is."

Kate manages to slightly compose herself. "Greg—"

He puts his finger to her lips and says "Shut up. Don't ruin the moment by talking." He gently caresses her cheek and she stares at him with a look of confusion on her face. One second turns into several.

The moment comes to a crashing halt when Cuddy walks in, talking and reading from a file. "Kate, are you serious? The patient has Schisto —" Cuddy stops and stares at House and Kate. Her jaw drops and she blurts "OH MY GOD." The patient file falls to her side.

Greg steps back from Kate and sticks the offending hand in his pocket. He coldly rakes his eyes over Cuddy and scathingly says "You really should keep the twins covered better on a cold, damp day like this. It would be a travesty if they fell ill."

Cuddy shoots a dirty look at House and says "KATE! Have you lost your mind?"

Kate calmly says "The test results confirmed the patient had Schistosomiasis. We've started the patient on treatment and we'll be collecting samples to send to the CDC."

Cuddy is clearly exasperated. "No. You and House. Have you lost your mind?"

"I am in perfect control of my mind. Gregory and I were just having a discussion about the patient."

Cuddy is about to say more when Greg cuts her off. "What I think your bestest friend in the world is trying to tactfully say is 'Butt Out'."

Cuddy throws the patient's file on the desk. She says "I am going to go to my office and have a good stiff drink and pretend I didn't see any of this." Cuddy hurries out of the office, leaving Kate and Greg to stare at each other.

Kate finally says "What just happened here?"

Greg tries to be light-humored with his answer. "It's not my fault you smell good."

Kate rolls her eyes. "You know that's not what I mean."

Greg shrugs. "I don't know. You are the last person I need to get tangled up with."

"Agreed. Rationally, I know that. But right now, all I can think about is getting you in bed."

Greg's eyes sparkle. "Drive me back to my place and I will give you your going away present."

Kate smirks and takes the patient's file. "I have some samples to collect for the CDC." Greg watches her walk out of the office and down the hall. He is still standing there staring at the hallway when Wilson comes in.

Wilson glances around the room and says "I guess they're all working on the patient?"

Greg looks at Wilson and drawls "Sure."

Wilson arches an eyebrow at Greg's answer. "Right. Do you want me to run you home real quick? I need to get back here once I drop you off."

Greg nods. The two men walk down to Wilson's car. The ride back to House's place is silent. Wilson figures House is sulking since nobody was in the office for him to annoy. Wilson double parks in front of House's apartment. "Well, here we are."

Greg nods. "Thanks for the ride. Hey, do something for me."

Wilson sighs. "That depends. How much trouble am I going to get into?"

Greg puts on an injured air. "Jeez Jimmy, why do you assume every time I ask you to do something that it will get you in trouble?"

Wilson laughs. "Because you have a pretty good track record for getting me in trouble."

"Don't be a baby. Just tell Kate that she needs to come over after work and get her going away present."

Wilson shrugs and says "Ok, that seems harmless enough. I'll be sure to tell her. Although, I would doubt she will actually take you up on that offer."

Greg smirks as he gets out of the car. He quickly leans in the door and says "Oh, you never know."