A/N: Read and review! Also, what should I write the next story about? This one is finished, just needs to be posted.

"It's not scleroderma. She doesn't have any thickened skin anyway."

"Fine. What else?"

The beeping of a pager stole the team out of their thoughts.

"She's having a seizure," Taub informed.

House sighed. "Fine! Go! But get an MRI."

The team rushed out.

House made a pained moaning sound and held his leg, rocking a little. He was trying to hide it, but it was getting much worse. He could barely stand without it giving out. Wilson hadn't noticed yet, thankfully, but he would soon. He'd make him get an MRI. Actually, an MRI was the only way he could see to figure out what was happening. He had known the mice had been having cramps but Riggin hadn't mentioned they'd been severe.

He stood cautiously and hobbled to the research room. Thankfully, Riggin was there and not getting coffee or something.

"Dr. House, hi."

House looked around. The room was conspicuously empty.

"Where are the mice?" House asked.

Riggin scrubbed a hand over his face and sighed. "Most of them died..."

"What?" House asked, not thinking he heard the researcher right.

"They got tumors. Turns out that while the injections did regrow muscles, prolonged use also promotes tumor growth."

"I have to go," House said and quickly limped away.

"Wait! You don't look so—" House heard Riggin start, but closed the door. House went to his office and paged Thirteen. She came almost immediately.

"How's the patient?" House asked.

"Postictal. She's sleeping off the Ativan."

House nodded. "I need an MRI."

"Huh? Why?"

"I just do!"

"Okay...you mean like now…?"

"Yes! Go schedule an MRI of the right fibular region under a false name and make sure no one's in there but you."

"It's your leg? Is it an emergency? Did you throw a clot?"

"I don't think so. Just get it. Now!"

Thirteen pulled out a tablet and tapped on it a few times, scheduling the MRI.

"Is 10:00 today good?"

"Yes. Now go test the patient's genes. Healthy adults don't just suddenly have liver failure."

Thirteen nodded and walked away, looking back at House.

At 10:00 sharp, House waited in radiology. He flipped through a magazine and tried not to think about his leg; the pain and what might possibly be taking up residence in it.

Thirteen walked up and stood next to him. "Ready?" House nodded and wobbled to his feet.

In the MRI room, he changed into a hospital gown, trying and failing not to let Thirteen look at his leg. Thankfully, she didn't say anything. He lie down on the table, grunting as he adjusted his leg. Thirteen slid an IV into his arm and pressed the button to start the contrast.

"You'll probably feel the urge to pee."

"I know. I've had an MRI before."

Thirteen nodded. "I'm gonna go back to the observation room then. Are you comfortable? Cold?"

"I'm fine. Just get on with it."

Thirteen went into the observation room and pressed the button to start the MRI. A sharp, loud, clicking sound assaulted House's ears.

"You're moving," Thirteen said through the microphone. House consciously stopped his leg from moving, tightening the muscles while biting his lip. A whimper escaped his lips.

"Are you OK?" Thirteen asked. Her boss looked pale.

"Fine...stop talking…"

Thirteen obliged and watched the scans come up. She winced in sympathy when she saw how much muscle had been resected in the initial operation. It was much more than she'd imagined. Then she looked at the scans more closely. There, clearly on the screen, were three white blobs. Tumors. Damn. She turned off the machine and sent the scan to print. Then she went to help her boss off the tray. He moaned when she helped him to his feet.

"What is it?" he asked, seeing her face.

"There's a problem…" Thirteen skirted.

"Spit it out. I'm a big boy. I can take it."

Thirteen showed him the scan. Three tumours sat near the epicenter of his muscle loss. The looked benign. It didn't matter; he wasn't letting anyone touch his leg ever again.

"I'll handle it," House told her.

"How? Are you finding another surgeon not in the hospital?"

"Something like that," House said.