Chapter 6-Truth Be Told

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Cameron waited patiently by the front door for her replacement. Foreman told her over an hour ago that he would be there within twenty minutes. Bastard, she thought. He's probably not going to come and leave me here. Cameron turned her attention to House who was still sleeping soundly. Cameron realized that the day over all hadn't been a total loss. House seemed to be doing better, but then again that could be another lie. As she got lost in her thoughts, she heard someone knocking on the door. She looked through the peephole. It was Foreman. Finally, Cameron thought. She opened the door and came face to face with her collogue. He was dressed as if he had come from the hospital with his suit jacket and blue dress shirt.

"How is he?" Forman asked. Cameron shrugged.

"You know, House. Doesn't say much, doesn't do much."

Foreman gave her weird look.

"Were you expecting a slumber party?"

Cameron hit Foreman hard on the arm for his implication

"No, that is not what I meant at all. I just mean, he's…I don't know. Something's not right."

The two young doctors looked at each other before the one left. Foreman took a deep breath and edged closer to his sleeping mentor.

"I am awake you know", came a groggy voice.

"House, how are you feeling?"

House sat up immediately grabbing his Vicoden. "I feel," he paused swallowing the pills, "just dandy. How about you?"

Foreman sat on the opposite chair from House as he looked him over.

"So, still having headaches?" Foreman asked.

"Yes," was the reply.

"Chest pains?"

"Yes."

"Coughing up blood?"

"Yes."

Foreman paused his questioning.

"Did you tell Cameron that one?"

House sighed. "Would you tell Cameron that one?" he threw back at him.

Foreman groaned." I guess I see your point. Any more muscles pains throughout your body?"

House seemed to be having hard time breathing.

"Occasionally."

Foremen seemed to be taking so many notes.

"Thank you, for being so cooperative."

House feigned being shocked. "Cooperative? you make this sound like work and here…sob… sob…all this time I thought you were here to see me…WAH!"

He pretended to bawl. Foreman ignored the attempt of avoidance.

"Is there anything else you have been feeling that I should know about?"

House replied, "No."

Foreman seemed satisfied with the response.

"So what do I have, Doc? A bad case of indigestion perhaps?"

Foreman shook his head without meeting House's eyes.

"We have ruled out a great deal of possible causes."

House gave a disgusted look. "I was being sarcastic you know. So,

what letter of the alphabet are you up to?" House asked.

Foreman shot him a look. "E."

House nodded, "E is good."

"What about you, "Foreman questioned House. "Don't you have any theories?"

"How's the kid with the Brucellosis? "

Foreman released his breath. "He's fine, you were right. About you? What do you think it is?"

House's eyes focused intently on the floor as he tried to take deeper breaths.

"Have I ever told you the reason why I hired you?"

Foreman remained stoic. "You mean the one that you hired me to fill your delinquent, affirmative action quota?"

House tried to get a laugh out. "No, but that's a good one. I had a friend named Frankie when I was younger."

Foreman interjected. "House? Your case remember?"

House ignored him completely.

Frankie was a great kid, lousy at math and even a lousier friend. The last time I saw him, he tried to get me killed you know. Ah, the memories."

Foreman wanted to know this story had any relevance to this situation but every attempt to intervene went unnoticed.

"Frankie had told me to meet him in one of the abandoned houses near his complex to help him tutor."

Foreman asked, "Why did you help him if he was so mean to you?"

"Geez, haven't you ever been bullied? I couldn't say no to the guy or I'd get my ass whooped."

"Anyway," he went on, "I came to help him and before I knew it there was about 10 kids running out of no where who started shooting at me for the simple sake that I was white. Luckily I wasn't shot, but Frankie was. "

"The guy that set you up was killed? I bet that didn't go over big."

"No it didn't, "House said lost in thought. "I tried to save him but I was only 16. I didn't know anything. It was from that day on that I knew what I had to do."

"You knew you wanted to be a doctor, Foreman stated matter-of-factly.

House scoffed, "God, no, I did that for the money. I knew that I needed to get smart. Street smart, anyway possible. You are that key now, Foreman. You can help me see what I am missing by using both your intelligence and suave street upbringing."

House yawned as Foreman looked quizzically at him.

"Wow, opening up really makes me what to take a piss." He said holding his side.

"I'll be right back."

As House inched down the hallway, Foreman thought about what he had just said.

Maybe that was a compliment, Foreman thought, as close as it comes for him anyway. He found himself smiling in spite of the way it was told.

Foreman heard a soft groan coming from the bathroom. He ran to the door.

"Hey, you OK in there?"

House opened the door looking deathly pale.

"I forgot one thing, blood in the urine." He looked down at the front of his pants which were stained red.

"I just pissed blood."

Hope you all enjoy. As always please review. You guys are awesome! Any ideas on what House may have? Can you guess?

Next up: House goes to the hospital to see what caused the bleeding. Guess who's up next to babysit? You got it: Chase.