Chap Chapter 4

"House!" Cameron protested. "They'll never find their way out like that. I can't believe you'd cheat!"

"Really? Because it seems just exactly like something I'd do," House commented, and continued a bit further along the path. Cameron hitched in a breath to chastise him more soundly, but Wilson took hold of her hand.

"Cameron, it's no use. Even if you managed to convince him he was wrong, which you won't, what good would it do? Chase and Foreman will be too far into the maze by now to find them," Wilson said sensibly. Cameron sighed, realizing he was right. "Besides, there are flags at most of the intersections. If they really get that lost, they can just lift one up above the top of the maze and an employee will come and lead them out. It says so right on the map and I'm sure it said the same thing last year."

Cameron nodded. Of course Wilson was right. She turned to walk after House when she realized Wilson was still holding her hand. She blushed slightly and looked at him. Embarrassed, Wilson dropped her hand and looked away.

"Come on already," House called. "It is possible that Lewis and Clark will find their out by accident."

Wilson gave Cameron a welcome-to-my-world sort of look, and they walked until they caught up with House. Wilson held the map out to House, who eyed him with disdain.

"Generals don't navigate," House scoffed.

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"Chase, we've been wandering around in here for nearly two hours. We've passed that stupid sign three times already. Give me the map!" Foreman demanded. He was cold. His shoes, not really designed for the outdoors, were soaked and his feet felt like blocks of ice. The cuffs of his pants were muddy and he was beginning to suspect that he was allergic to the straw or hay that had been strewn along the path.

This was embarrassing. It said right at the bottom that the average time to complete the maze was 45 minutes. The average time, that meant that most people were able to find their way out in 45 minutes. He was a doctor for the love of Mike; he should be able to find his way out faster than most people. They'd easily been here twice that long.

"I don't understand, it's like this map isn't even for this maze," Chase grumbled. Foreman stopped in his tracks.

"What did you say?"

"I said it's like this map isn't even for this maze. I know we've taken this path exactly the right way, but it doesn't come out where it should. See here…" but Chase stopped talking when Foreman snatched the map out Chase's hands. He flipped the paper over and groaned loudly.

"This is last year's map! Look, the coupons they print on the back all expired last Christmas. House set us up!" Foreman was incensed. He hadn't even wanted to come to this stupid maze, and now here he was, lost in the middle of a field of corn, half-frozen and with wet feet. "I'm holding up one of the flags."

"No!" Chase shouted. "That means House wins."

"Chase, he's already won. How long do you think it took the three of them do get out? We'll be lucky if House didn't swipe Cameron's car keys and leave us here." Foreman ranted at Chase as he marched to the nearest intersection. He lifted the flag there above the top of the stalks and waved it frantically.

"We'll never hear the end of this," Chase sighed.