Chapter 3

When he got to work the following morning the minions and test results were already in and like he suspected there showed minimal increases in some areas but only enough to suspect a Rheumatoid condition – boring!

He had some brunch and went to Jonah's room. "Tests were as I expected. I am going to give you a referral letter to take to your own doctor"

"For what?" Questioned Jonah

House raised his eyebrows "To refer you to a Rheumatologist. I think you have the beginnings of Arthritis. There are also some meds on order for you. Wait here for the letter and the meds then you can go." He said walking towards the door.

"ok" was the quiet answer he got.

Ella came in just as House was leaving. "Hey" was all she said as she past him.

"You ok?" Jonah asked noticing her low mood.

"Sure" She said a little too quickly "Enough about me what about you?" She said with a fake smile.

He gave her a questioning glare. And she gave a slight shake of her head. Realising he wasn't going to get an answer out of her he continued.

"I'm coming out today, just got to wait for some meds and a letter" he said trying to sound cheerful.

"Great! That means you can come to The Yard tomorrow night before you go home" She said half smiling.

Realising the conversation had turned boring House left the room without saying anything else, he went back to his office, left instructions for his lackeys and took a deserved nap in his chair.

He was rudely awoken sometime later by a seemingly furious Cuddy. "House! Why is your patient still here?" She demanded.

"I don't know, ask them. I gave my orders hours ago" He said through a clouded vision of sleep.

"Well he is still here. I need him gone and you have clinic duty" She ordered.

"Not today I don't. Too late now" He said peering at his watch. It had only actually been 15 minutes since he had fallen asleep. "Actually my patient is still here, so I don't have clinic duty. They are sorting out his paperwork and his meds now" He said, looking through the glass wall to the outer office and saw them all sitting around drinking coffee.

He got up quickly with his cane, manoeuvred around Cuddy and crashed through the interlocking door. "Which one of you is discharging my patient" He demanded

"I am" Answered Taub "Just finishing my coffee" without looking up or around.

"When I said do it, I meant then not in half an hour. Do. It. Now!"

He disappeared as quickly as he had arrived. "Happy now?" He questioned at Cuddy "He'll be gone in half an hour" He said sitting back in his Eames chair, rubbing his thigh.

Cuddy noticed the subtle rub of the thigh and his hidden grimace as he sat down. She couldn't be angry with him. "Fine" She retorted and walked toward the door "Clinic duty on Monday, 2 hours you owe me" She said over her shoulder as she left. To which she got no response as it fell on deaf ears, he was already asleep.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

House was impatiently waiting for Wilson to arrive, he had invited him out for a drink, but hadn't told him where they were going as he knew The Yard was not Wilson's cup to tea.

He heard a knock on the door and opened it abruptly "You're late!" he exclaimed.

"Dying patient" Came the solemn response. He had come straight from work as it was.

House looked at him again "Then you'll need a drink, let's go!" He said as he hurried past him.

They got to The Yard a little after 9pm , the bands had already started playing. House went straight to the bar and spoke to the barman who came out from behind the bar and lead them to 1 of only 3 tables. He took their order for drinks and left them.

Wilson sat down on what seemed like a wooden crate, but not before dusting it off with his handkerchief. He proceeded to get wipe the table down too. House watched him and quirked a small grin. He had known what they were coming to, but Wilson didn't, he even still had his shirt and tie on.

The barman brought back their drinks and House ordered Burger, Fries and Onion Rings, having no idea what else they did and no menu to be seen Wilson ordered the same. The first band finished which gave way to a few minutes of relative quiet. "House what on earth are we doing here?" Wilson questioned, looking apprehensively around him.

"I heard about in on the grapevine" retorted House

Wilson raised his eyebrows and shook his head.

House happily looked around the place. It was a new joint in town, yet decorated to look and feel old and well used. It had minimal seating, the lights were dim and it seemed a little shady. But it was advertised as a catalyst for young musicians, with local talent playing every Friday and Saturday night.

It wasn't long before their food arrived in what looked like baskets, without utensils, much to Wilson's dismay. As the next band started Wilson sat playing with his shirt and tie and groaned as the band seemed to scream more than sing. He looked at House who seemed totally at ease, people watching and enjoying his food. He noticed House looking at one group of people in particular. "You know them" He gestured as he picked up some fries.

"Nope" House stated as he looked at them again. But he did recognise them, or at least one of them it was his last patient but he didn't recognise the woman he was with.

He suddenly heard the sweet sound of the axe that he had heard earlier, along with quite a soulful voice doing a bland rendition of "Fast Car". He tutted, he knew she could do better than that. Everyone who owned a guitar knew how to play that. As he was listening he caught sight of the small group of people again. His eyes kept tracing to a woman with deep red unruly curly hair, black jeans, worn out combat boots and a bottle of beer in her hand, swaying softly to the music with a smile that lit up the room. Had to be her Mom, same hair just a different color. The tone changed to a bluesy "Say What You Need To Say" by John Mayer. A bit new for his liking but it worked. Then she finished her set with her own take on "Nobody Knows you When You're Down and Out" By Bessie Smith. Not a song he would've thought a youngster would know. As he watched her he could see her looking at the red haired woman and smiling. It obviously meant a lot to them. Once she finished the whole place erupted in cheers and whistles for encores, but alas the venue did not allow that. But they would probably invite her back.

House smiled to himself, she was definitely worth seeing, he peeked at Wilson, he had finally finished his burger and was fidgeting in his seat. "Can we go now?" Wilson demanded

"Sure I'm done" Said House without hesitation.

"So why did we actually come here? And don't say for food and drink, because I don't believe you" Stated Wilson as he got in the drivers' seat.

"That's exactly what we came for" He deadpanned. He watched the passing streets as they drove back to his place. There was something about the girl that intrigued him, he had found nothing out when he had given her a ride home and all he knew now was that she could sing and play the 67 Gibson that she seemed to cherish…..

He was bought out of his musings by the shrill of his cell phone. It was Foreman according to the caller ID. "What" was his greeting.

"We have a patient, you need to come in" He countered.

"No I don't" He said shutting down his phone.

Wilson gave him a side glance "You need a ride back to the hospital" he offered.

"Nope, I'm not going back in" His phone rang again. "What? I already told you I'm not coming back in" He stated as got out of the car and headed inside.

"Cuddy has insisted that we take this patient. It's the daughter of one of her donors"

He heard Wilson drive off as he entered his apartment, he rubbed the back of his hand over his forehead.

"How old?" He said sitting himself down.

"17"

"Drugs"

"Tox screen is clear, the ER did all that yesterday"

"Sex"

"ER tested that too House"

House looked up at the ceiling all he wanted to do was have a bath and go to bed. He sighed "Ok, I'll be in in a while" He said closing his phone. He rubbed his aching thigh and took some Vicodin. He decided to take a shower and change before he went back in, who knew how long he would be there for. Half an hour later he was on his way out again, a quarter after midnight and he was going back to work. He went out the street door to see the girl and her Mom coming in. They nodded at each other as they passed, they both looked over their shoulders at him as he got on his bike and took off.

"Is that your Doctor friend Els" Enquired her Mom with a goofy grin on her face

"Yep, sure is" She said smiling and rolling her eyes.

"He is cute!"

"Mom Stop!" She chided as they shut their door.