Note: Thanks, EmileeElectro and that other person whose ID I don't remember, for the reviews

Note: Thanks, EmileeElectro and that other person whose ID I don't remember, for the reviews. (I'm writing this chapter on a laptop without Internet, so I couldn't look it up at the moment.) I appreciate the feedback that I have gotten on this story. I'm hoping to get a lot of reviews by the time this story is completed, so I'm hoping that there are more to come.

Chapter 15- Playing House

Open the door. Walk in the room. Lift up the case file. Slam it on the table.

By now, Dr. Gregory House's subordinates were quite used to the daily routine. However, something was different about this day. For one, the case file that lay before them consisted of one piece of paper: the patient's personal information.

Thirteen frowned and asked, "Is there not any past information?" House returned the favor. "Sure. There's buckets full of papers, all describing how our Video-Game patient jumped into the Earth Realm in order to get a bandaid for her scraped elbows and knees. No, of course there's not. Ms. Tifa Lockheart has never been to a hospital in her life, at least not in the real world."

"Then that makes our job so much harder, doesn't it?" Dr. Taub queried.

"It sure does. So, let's hear your theories. We have a make-believe person who recently had a grand-mal seizure. It's not much, but let's work from there."

Foreman took the first guess. "Obviously, a grand-mal seizure indicates some type of epilepsy, perhaps in the temporal lobe."

"Good idea," House replied, "But this little game never ends on the first guess. So, any other opinions?"

Kutner spoke up next. "Seizures are not always an indication of anything. Maybe this was just a one-time deal, and she's not really epileptic."

House simply glanced at the floor and uttered, "Maybe you forgot the part where I said 'grand-mal'? Anytime you have something of that magnitude, it's never for nothing."

"But maybe he's right.", Thirteen interjected. "I mean, it's obviously not something to overlook, but there are many other causes of seizures than epilepsy. It could be caused by some type of bacteria…"

"…Or poison.", Taub interrupted. "According to the patient information, she has reported that she was abused by her former husband a few years ago. Maybe it's just starting to take effect."

"Interesting. Okay, Foreman and Taub, check for abnormalities in her temporal lobe. Thirteen, test for foreign substances. Kutner, you come with me."

"Why?"

"Because you look like you would be a good gamer."

Tifa was just starting to doze off when Foreman, Thirteen, and Taub entered the room.

"What's going on?"

Thirteen replied, "I'll need a blood sample and a urine sample."

"Why?"

"Because I need to know if anything bad is in your system."

After Thirteen had taken her samples, Tifa asked, "Why are those men in here?"

"They're going to prepare you for a CAT scan. We really need to get a better look at your head."

As Foreman began to administer the anesthesia, Tifa calmly said, "Thank you."

Foreman asked, "Thanks for what?"

"Thanks for wanting to look at my head. It really does need to be looked at. Did you know that sometimes I hear voices in my head? It's always Aeris. I guess she just can't find her way out."

The look on Foreman's face was priceless. It was one of those I-think-I-Just-Solved-The-Case kind of looks.

"What does Aeris say?"

"She says: 'I see your pain through my window with a view, but I can't get out, and it's shocking you.'"

"Shocking you? You mean like a seizure?"

"Maybe. I never really pay her much attention."

Taub quickly pulled Foreman over to the side and whispered, "The anesthesia's kicking in, and she's probably just a little loopy."

Tifa silenced that thought when she queried, "Would either one of you like to buy a flower?"

"Do you realize why I've called you in here?" House stared into Dr. Cuddy's eyes for a few seconds before answering, "Because you have Playstation envy?"

Cuddy shook her head in disgust and replied, "No, it's because not only are you wasting your time, but you are also wasting the time of an employee."

"With all due respect, you are beginning to waste my time as well."

"I beg your pardon?"

"We have very little information about our patient. All the details that we're ever going to need are tucked away inside that little disc."

"House, you've been playing that game all morning. How long is that thing?"

"Let's just say that if I can beat it before Tifa is discharged from the Hospital, then you can officially call me a Super Gamer."

Foreman, Taub, and Thirteen entered the room and swiftly handed House some pieces of paper.

"These are the results of the CAT scan. As you can see, there is plenty of damage to the Temporal Lobe. I was right. It is epilepsy."

Thirteen interjected, "I can second that. The tox-screen was negative, and there are no traces of bacteria in the system."

"But that's not all.", Taub stated, "When we were administering the anesthesia, she started talking about how she thinks there is a girl named Aeris in her head."

House's head snapped up in attention. "She's delusional. That means we need to work fast. Prepare her for surgery."

All afternoon, Tifa had been accompanied by her friends. Everyone had come at different times, but now the only person left in the room was Cloud. He had just arrived, and was saddened by the sound of Tifa crying. He instinctually sat next to Tifa and wiped her tears away. "What's wrong, Tifa?"

"Cloud…"

"Yes,Tifa?"

"Tonight, they're taking out a piece of my brain. They think that I have Temporal Lobe Epilepsy."

"Tifa, don't worry about that. You'll be okay. I know some people that were absolutely fine living without a piece of their brain."

"But Cloud, I'm a fighter. I don't want to be in this place. I want to be on my feet, doing things. There is so much that I want to do right now."

"Name one thing."

"I would like to dance."

"You've got it."

Cloud turned on the radio that was sitting on the table across from Tifa's bed. He tried to get Tifa out of the bed, until she muttered, "I can do it myself." Tifa placed her arms on Cloud's shoulders. Cloud placed his arms on Tifa's hips, and the two began to slow-dance as the radio played "I Want To Live In Your Heart" by Bloodgood.

"Cloud, I forgive you. I'm a stupid fool for doing it, but I do."

Cloud placed a finger over Tifa's lips and replied, "Let's dance."

As the pair of friends closed their eyes and swayed to the tune of the music, they were unaware that they were being watched.

"Tifa, it's time to get you ready for your surgery."

"Doctor House! I didn't notice you. I must have had my eyes closed."

"Yes, well, Cloud has to leave now."

"Okay."

After Cloud had left the room, House administered the anesthesia. Tifa began to smile as she lost consciousness. The smile remained upon her face throughout the procedure.

"So, Teef, how are you feeling?" The newlywed ninja appeared hyper as usual, but also a little peaceful.

"I'm feeling a little woozy, but what do you expect? I just had part of my brain removed. You look happy. I suppose that has something to do with Vincent, right?"

Yuffie blushed as she answered, "Oh, Tifa, you don't know the half of it. I swear that I was in heaven last night!"

"Really?! Tell me about it."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I was asleep."

"No way! I guess I'll have to give that Vincent Valentine a good talking-to."

Yuffie muttered under her breath, "Yeah, and tell him to do it again."

"What was that?"

"Oh, nothing. Anyway, I noticed that you and Cloud are becoming all buddy-buddy again."

"I guess you could say that. He's definitely changed. But honestly, you don't think I'm making a mistake, do you?"

"No, I don't. Tifa Lockheart doesn't make stupid decisions."

"Thanks, Yuffie. I…I…"

"What, Tifa? Spit it out already!"

Tifa began to get very clammy and she started to shake.

"Not again! Snap out of it, Tifa! Quick, somebody help!"

"This makes no sense at all!", Dr. Wilson exclaimed. I have never heard of epilepsy reoccurring after the surgery. This is totally unbelievable! Unless…"

"What?", House queried.

"Unless maybe it wasn't epilepsy."

"Of course it was, Wilson! Didn't you see the CAT scan results?"

"Okay, then. Maybe it was the epilepsy acting in concert with something else. But what?"

The lightbulb went off in Dr. House's head, and he dashed out of the room in a flash.

House marched into Cuddy's office and demanded, "I want my game back."

"No."

"Why not? I have a patient that will live in constant worry if I can't beat that game!"

"You can't have it because I'm playing it."

"…The hell?!"

"Yes, you heard right. I had all of my work done last night, and I was bored. Don't you just love Yuffie?"

"Well, tell me all about, and I'll give you the pleasure of taking it all away."

"No way!"

House grabbed one end of the Playstation and tried to take it out of the room. Cuddy exclaimed, "House, you're being childish!", but that didn't stop her from grabbing the other end of the system. House and Cuddy tugged back and forth over the system, until it finally fell on the floor, breaking into many tiny pieces. Cuddy, looking down at the sparking mess, uttered, "Grossness."

House's team of doctors entered the room, asking, "What's going on!?" House simply left the room, and the team followed him to his office. "Our resident Yuffie lover doesn't know that I have a PC port of the game."

Kutner replied, "Great, so now what?"

House answered, "That's easy. Let's mosey."

House played Final Fantasy Seven all through the night. Long after his shift had ended, he still sat in his room and played the game to its completion. After he had finally slain Sephiroth, House hung his head in disgust and pounded his fist on the table. "That idiot!"

The next morning, when all of his subordinates arrived, House exclaimed, "Kutner, please come here."

"What's the problem?"

House turned around the swivel-monitor on his PC, revealing the on-screen image to Kutner.

"How many times have you played this game?"

"Oh, about five."

"And you conveniently forgot about the scene where Tifa Lockheart falls into the Mako Pit?"

"Well, I, uh…I thought she was cured of that."

"Apparently, you thought wrong. Give her this."

"This looks new."

"That's because it is. It's only recently been tested, but it's worked well so far at curing poison victims."

When Kutner had left the room in shame, House dispensed a bit of wisdom upon his team:

"Always remember, in the world of medicine, the word 'assume' makes an ass out of you and me."

Cloud was with her now, holding her close.

"I heard the good news, Tifa. Everything's alright now, isn't it?"

"Of course it is, Cloud. The Mako problem is over. He can heal you too, if you want it."

"No. My Mako makes me strong. It's different from the effects it had on you."

"Well, if you say so."

"Do you still hear Aeris?"

"No. I don't think that I do. I suppose it was all just a hallucination. For once in my life, I actually feel a lot better. But Cloud?..."

"What, Tifa? You don't look like you're at peace. I guess a part of you liked it when Aeris would speak."

"Cloud, she wasn't really speaking. Aren't you convinced of that?"

Cloud looked out into the distance and replied, "There's only one way to tell."