AN: House is not mine. If he was...I won't even go there. It would be good. For me anyway. They belong to David Shore. He does an amazing job. I'm just a fan. This is my first attempt at a fanfic, please read and respond.

Last Chapter: Deep down Stacy knew that he had a reason to be worried. He had almost lost her once, and now it seemed as though the vicious cycle continued. She bent down to kiss him on the cheek, and then sat on his bed and gazed at the newly lit stars. She knew Greg would see them too, she knew he was on the roof. This time she did not plan to follow, however. She needed to get Mark well, and then she needed to leave this place. Otherwise, who knew what trouble might arise?

----

House had spent little time sleeping the previous evening. He did remember tilting a few back, and he did notice the headache that he had that morning. What he refused to notice, or rather planned to ignore for as long as possible, was that sooner or later he was going to have to talk to Mark. Sooner or later he was going to have to be near Stacy. He recalled the last time that he had treated Mark, and Wilson had warned him to stay away from Stacy. Treat the husband, he had said, but don't go near the wife. It hadn't been possible then, and it certainly wasn't going to be possible now. He knew it when he had read her expression back in Cuddy's office. He had instantly remembered that look from a year ago, from that hotel room in Baltimore. He also remembered how he had felt then. He couldn't have described it with words, but he knew that it was something he didn't feel often. After he had sent her away, he never imagined he would have that feeling again.

At the same time, he was almost angry. She had come back after he had sent her away. Wilson seemed to sense disaster, as did Cuddy. It was so similar to past times, when she had first come for Mark. At the same time, it was different. They had an affair in their past now…that ice didn't need to be broken. He didn't have that strange desire to break that barrier this time, though, and he could not understand why. Last time all it took was the sight of her and he wanted to be with her. This time, he didn't know what he felt.

He realized then that it was because he had built a wall. Over time, the wall had become strong, and it only got stronger as he had been away from her longer. It had taken a while to begin building the wall. He recalled his need for a distraction, and self-induced a migraine to prove a point. Wilson had pointed out then that it was because he had sent Stacy away that he had needed to cause himself misery. That was why his leg had gotten worse. Well, that was Wilson's opinion. What did he have to say for his analysis of his best friend now that Stacy was back?

He was in his office, his feet resting on his desk. He had sent Cameron and Chase to do a Lumbar Puncture and an MRI, and Foreman to do clinic duty. He was left alone to wonder if he was making himself miserable this time.

The door swung open, and in walked Cuddy. She sighed, seemingly debating whether what she planned to say was a good idea or not. "How're you doin'?" she decided to ask, looking truly concerned.

"I'm fine."

"I can call another-"

"Seriously, I'm fine. I didn't know being pregnant made you deaf."

Cuddy ignored the comment, not even bothering to point put to yet again that she was not pregnant, and instead persisted. "Greg, I just wanted you-"

"What's going on?"

"What?"

"Never in your life have you called me Greg. Has Cameron been reading to you?" he asked, referring to the time that Cameron had insisted on calling them all by their first names to assert that she had an opinion and she did not wish to be 'dismissed'. Some book she had read had given her such a tip.

"What? No. I just…that's your name!" she exclaimed exasperatedly, for lack of a better answer. Why had she called him Greg? It just seemed to slip out, but certainly not out of habit. He was right, she never called him Greg. She hated herself for her slip when he raised his eyebrows in that all-knowing manner. She sighed, defeated, and turned to leave.

"I hope junior's not such a bad liar!" he called after her as the door swung shut.

----

Cameron sat next to Chase in the observatory across from the MRI machine. They watched as Mark's feet disappeared into the cylindrical machine.

"House certainly seems to be taking it well. Stacy being back and all." Chase commented, knowing that he was going to start Cameron into a rant.

"I don't think it's a good idea."

"Why? It may not be like last time. He could finally realize that she is married." He knew that he was hitting a nerve, but he was curious to see what Cameron thought. She had her morals that she lived by. She was also interested in someone who couldn't have cared less about any of them. She denied her interest in him now, but Chase knew that she wasn't over him.

"It will be like last time. Maybe worse," she responded crossly, knowing in her heart her words were true.

"Worse? How do you mean-"

"I mean she may not leave this time."

Chase stared at her for a moment, the MRI machine running in the background. He raised his eyebrows at her sudden response. She was worried about Stacy being here, her influence on House. "What makes you think they aren't finally over each other?"

There was a long pause. Cameron had the answer to his query, she just did not wish to say it. Saying it aloud would make it so real to her, so much more of a guarantee than if she just kept her thought to herself. Nonetheless, it came time to answer him. She took a breath, and faced Chase. Her voice was shaky, and she was on the verge of tears. "Because people like that can't help it. They are meant to be together, it's how it has always been. Stacy is a lawyer; she wouldn't have let this happen to her if she could help it. She can't help it, though. That's what happened last time. She loves him. He loves her. They have no control over themselves, and House certainly isn't going to let the fact that she's married get in his way. Give it time."

Chase was silent. There was nothing else he wished to probe her about. He wasn't sure he had wanted to hear that much. He finished the MRI procedure, and Cameron followed him silently out of the room to help Mark up.

"What did it show?" he asked, clearly still irritated that he had to be there.

"Nothing definitive, but we'll let you know soon." Chase responded. They helped him back to his room. Chase saw that Cameron was crying silently as they left the patient room.