CHAPTER TEN – In Trouble Again

House stood at the corner of Bain and Commonwealth waiting impatiently for Wilson; it had been 30 minutes already and he was getting cold from the brisk wind of the incoming autumn.

He was about to call Wilson again when he recognized his Subaru approach the intersection. House intently watched the lights change and the pattern of other cars approaching the intersection. He nodded his head in satisfaction of his brilliance (although it seemed only he could see it sometimes) and smiled.

Wilson turned around and parked in front of House, turned off the ignition and got out of the car. As he walked towards House he said, "This had better be important. I had a date."

"Yeah, so did I," House answered, but he knew from Wilson's expression on his face he didn't believe him. "Really, I did."

"Uh, huh. Yeah, okay, I call your bluff. I didn't really have a date," Wilson corrected himself.

"Yeah, neither did I."

"OMG, House, what do you want?" Wilson asked angrily.

"When you approached the intersection, did you see the oncoming traffic?"

"What? You called me all the way out …" Wilson started to say but House interrupted him.

"Just humor me, will ya?"

Wilson eyed him suspiciously before he said, "Yes, I saw the cars coming."

"Was the light green or yellow?" House asked.

"Couldn't you have driven and tested it out yourself?" Wilson asked irritably. Normally he didn't mind sticking around to see the end of House's brain process but tonight was different. He did have a girl back at his apartment, and he was wasting valuable time.

"Yeah, but then it wouldn't have been as fun watching your face turn red. Now, green or yellow?"

"Green."

"Okay, thanks. You are excused," House told his friend.

"I'm excused? Oh, thank you, wise Master! Your leniency is so very much appreciated," Wilson answered sarcastically, with no smile on his face. He turned and walked to his car.

"And ask Bambi if she has a sister," House hollered out louder than he had to. A couple that had just walked out of the restaurant gave him a look of disgust. "He's my pimp," he told them with a smile on his face.

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Later the following afternoon …

"Excuse me, Dr. House? Dr. HOUSE?!!"

House was leaning back in a chair, his arms down the sides, his head back and snoring lightly. He had dozed off quite happily after the other 11 jurors were disputing over the case, and it was only the second day. Now it was all a waste of time for House as far as he was concerned, especially after what he'd discovered the night before with the help of his 'assistant.' He jerked roughly awake and looked around the room, with all 22 eyes piercing at him.

"Dr. House, are we wasting your time?" a man in a business suit asked, who was sitting at the head of the conference table. "We only have a few minutes left before we are all dismissed for the day. You do remember what happened earlier, don't you? We have to give the Judge an answer in the morning before the trial can continue."

House mumbled and sat up, giving a little yawn. "Where's the coffee? Did you finish it, Mr. Forman?"

"My name is Keys, not Forman, and no, there is no more coffee."

"House, we need to settle on this. Can you at least stay awake for just one second?" Stacy asked nastily and House knew she meant business. He didn't really care about the others, except Kathi of course, but getting on her bad side in the current situation was something he knew he shouldn't do.

"Okay, fine. Not guilty," he muttered as he stood, grabbed his cane and walked around the room to stretch his leg.

"HOUSE! That's not …" Stacy started to say.

"I know, I know. Personally I don't feel the need to dig into the defendant's past; he's not guilty so it doesn't make a difference," House stated.

"Oh, and why is that, Greg?" Kathi asked, leaning forward and putting her chin in her hand. Stacy noticed the 'Greg' but didn't comment.

"Because I've already been at the scene of the accident."

"So have I, but due to the case I …" Kathi started to say.

"You mean you have both been to the scene of the accident?" Keys asked bewildered. He slammed his hand on the conference table and stood up. "Do you know what this means? I have to tell the Judge that two of the jurors have been there and he might just sequester us for the rest of the case!"

There were moans and mumbles from almost every juror. Keys walked to the door and pressed a button. The baliff opened the door, there were soft whispers between them and then the door closed again.

Therefore, because of House's stupidity (as well as Kathi's but she was an innocent victim), the baliff returned shortly with the Judge's ruling on putting the jury in isolation.

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A little over an hour later, House unlocked his door to his apartment and headed into his bedroom. While he packed a few items of clothing and essential primping necessities, he stuffed everything into a duffel bag and walked back into the living room.

"You must also keep your cell phone here," Detective Johanson ordered as House went to pick up his own. "Judge's orders."

"This sucks. I'm a doctor and …"

"Look, you did this to yourself, Dr. House."

The two men left his apartment and proceeded back to the courthouse, where there was a hotel across the street. They'd indeed been sequestered for the duration of the trial. But House had everything he needed, including his pain killers and a few other 'non-essential but necessary items' that he'd hidden in the very bottom of the duffel bag.

When Johanson opened the door to the hotel room and he saw who his roommate was, he smiled, although he wasn't sure if he should be happy about it, distraught or downright pissed off.

NOTE: Ok...now the question is………WHO IS HOUSE'S ROOMATE??? Stacy?? Kathi?? Keys?? And what did he hide in the bottom of the duffel bag?

OK, that's TWO questions, but you get the idea. CLIFFHANGERS RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!