Chapter 16

Hours later Foreman avoided meeting Price's gaze in the lab. Price, barely keeping his eyes open due to his hangover, didn't notice. Foreman was uncomfortable and frustrated. He didn't know how to act around Price suddenly. This was exactly why he avoided getting too close with co-workers in the past. It never worked out well. And there was still some lingering doubt in the back of Foreman's mind as to whether he'd imagined that light brush of lips against his skin. Foreman didn't like being unsure.

Jasper joined the boys in the lab. After spending the entire morning on the phone with various pediatricians, ER docs, lab techs and even an orderly, all Jasper had come up with was their patient had bacterial meningitis three times.

"Spectacular," Price said. "All the blood panels are normal, except for an elevated white count, which we already knew she'd have."

"What are we testing for?" Jasper asked, eager to jump in and do some actual work.

"Everything," House's voice said from behind them as he pushed the door to the lab open with his cane. "If you've heard of it, test her for it."

"House, that's insane," Foreman complained. "We can't test her for every autoimmune disease there is."

"Sure you can. You just don't want to," House scoffed, making a gesture that clearly said to Jasper and Price 'can you believe this guy?' "Little Brittany …"

"Brenna," Jasper interjected.

"Whatever. She'd be appalled at your unwillingness to work for her diagnosis."

"House," Foreman started, but Jasper interrupted.

"Why don't we narrow the field down a bit based on her symptoms?" Jasper asked.

"So far her only symptom is three cases of meningitis," Foreman said.

"Great, start with that," House said and limped out of the lab, leaving three very confused fellows behind.

"Negative ANA. It's not lupus," Price said from his station toward the rear of the lab.

"Of course not," Foreman muttered under his breath.

"Negative for HIV, too, thank God," Jasper said.

"This is ridiculous," Foreman finally burst out. "We're wasting our time here. We could run a hundred tests and not pick the right one. She's got no symptoms for us to go on."

"Foreman, you're brilliant," Price said, and Jasper had to bite back a laugh. He sounded just like those two guys from the Guinness commercials. "We should be testing her for the autoimmune diseases that can be set off from a primary infection."

"Reiter's," Foreman offered.

"Chronic fatigue?" Jasper asked.

"Chronic fatigue isn't autoimmune," Price argued.

"Chronic fatigue isn't autoimmune," Price reiterated from his seat in front of House's desk.

"It's called chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome for a reason," Jasper snapped back.

"Because patients who have the diagnosis don't want people to think they're psych cases," Foreman said tiredly.

"Hey I know," House interrupted, swinging his legs off the desk to the floor. "Let's ask an immunologist."

"Dr. Lindsay was the referring physician," Jasper said.

"Oh no, we want the immunologist who said we'd take this case," House replied as he lifted the phone to his ear. "Page Dr. Cameron to my office."

"Like there's any doubt whose side she'll take," Foreman grumbled from his seat.

"I haven't taken a side yet, Foreman. Say, how's the girlfriend?" House asked.

"Go to hell House," Foreman replied.

"I don't miss that," Cameron said as she walked in from the hall.

"That was quick," House remarked.

"I was on my way to see you when I was paged," Cameron replied. "What's up?"

"Chronic fatigue," House said and tossed the file at her like a Frisbee. Cameron caught it without even registering surprise on her face. House thought briefly it was a good thing she'd taken that promotion with Cuddy. Once he wasn't able to surprise his fellows any longer, they'd probably learned all they could from him.

"Well, she doesn't have any of the classic symptoms," Cameron mused. "She hasn't been sick long enough to meet the diagnostic criteria and there are about a dozen other things that would have to be ruled out first for a definitive diagnosis. Sorry guys, I don't think so."

"See?" House said to Jasper. "The immunologist says you're an idiot."

"That's not what I said. Has anybody looked at her spleen?" Cameron inquired as she perused the file.

"What?" House asked.

"Spleen," Cameron said slowly. "If her spleen is compromised in some way it would slow down her immune system and make it easier for an infection like meningitis to spread."

House smiled. "You heard the lady, ultrasound Brianna's spleen."

"Brenna," Jasper said.

"Yeah, yeah," House waved her away.