It was windy and freezing, so Greg decided to take advantage of the almost too good heater in my car while I played chauffeur. We strode into the hospital together for the first time in weeks, like nothing had ever happened, like nothing was threatening to come between us. Just another day. More than a few gaping stares were aimed in our direction. Let them stare. I had more important things to worry about than what a few gossipy nurses thought about our private life. Though I'd like to think that they're watching our every move because they're jealous.

From the corner of my eye I saw Greg reach for that all-too-familiar brown plastic bottle. The bottle that held his salvation and downfall. A little brown prescription bottle filled with little white pills. That damned bottle of Vicodin, still very much a part of his life, and by association, mine. Sure, he said he was going to rehab, but he didn't say when. He was going to try and put it off as long as possible. I was going to have a talk about that with him later.

Cuddy came around the corner and did a double take. I smiled at her and nodded my head in a friendly greeting. Glancing over at Greg, I could see a ghost of a smile on his scruffy face.

"Good morning," she welcomed us, trying to hide her surprise and failing spectacularly.

"Morning, boss," my friend murmured. His expression returned to stoic and gave away nothing. A flicker of mirth sparked in his eyes and disappeared as quickly as distant lightning. He only acknowledged her because she acknowledge him first. If she hadn't said anything he would have walked right past her and up to his office, his mind turning a mile a minute, trying to figure out if it was humanly possible to beat the drug charges.

"Feeling better today, Dr. House?" Cuddy inquired, and handed him a file. New patient. New case. Hopefully it would be a sufficient challenge and offer a distraction for a while. "Any more marathon sleep-fests in your future?

"I'm here, aren't I?" he answered languidly, as if he could be on the moon for all he cared at the moment. "I can turn around and go right back home if you want. I could use another day or two off."

"Over my dead body," our boss replied. "Your team is waiting for you." He wasn't getting out of work today unless it was a damned good reason, like being abducted by aliens. Even then she would have him make up his clinic hours.

"I drove you today," I reminded him, and watched as Cuddy's smile broadened. "You're not leaving until I am."

"No excuses today, Dr. House," Cuddy gloated. "You're not setting foot outside until it's time for you to leave and not one second sooner."

"Such fun," Greg scowled. He eyed our boss. "Can I go see my patient now or is there some other obvious fact you're just dying to tell me?"

"Grass is green and the sky is blue," she replied with more than a little sarcasm.

"I never would have guessed. Thank you for your brilliant insight. Now would you mind getting out of my way or should I tell my team and anyone else I happen to run into that you kept me down here and dispensed useless non-medical trivia facts while a patient needed my help?" Greg didn't wait for answer and limped around her. I caught a twitch of a grin on his face when Cuddy's smile collapsed.

He stared straight ahead and waited for me to punch our floor button.

"We were just joking around, you know," I said.

"You were joking around at my expense. I really don't appreciate that at this point in time."

"It wasn't at your expense. It was just joking around, period. You've done the same thing with us a hundred times."

"You and Cuddy aren't facing a prison sentence. Still aren't as far as I know," he said glumly. "If you don't mind I'd like to leave the joking and teasing for a later date."

"All right," I agreed. I didn't need him to blow up twelve whole hours after I moved back in. Another night in a hotel bed and I'd end up checking myself into the psych ward.

Please let his latest case be a challenge, something to get his mind off the Tritter fiasco...

We stepped off the elevator and made our way to our respective offices.

"Are you leaving here at a decent hour or am I going to have to cab it home?" he asked.

"I don't know."

"You better find out real damn quick. I didn't get you to move back in just so you can spend every waking moment in your office."

"Yeah, God forbid I actually give my patients some attention." I muttered with a roll of my eyes.

"You need to give some of that attention to me," he said tersely, and I nearly choked.

Before I could ask what the hell he meant by that, we saw Cameron was peeking out the door of the conference room and when she saw us a look of concern clouded her features. After realizing that Greg and I were, for the most part, on friendly terms again, the clouds lifted in record time and a bright sunbeam of grin nearly blinded us.

"New case," Greg said, holding up the file. "Gather the troops and make sure the whiteboard and markers are in working order."

"The white board is where it always is. We've been in there for half an hour waiting for you," Cameron answered, a bit puzzled.

"Since my boss decided to delight me with the wonders of green and blue, I'm running a little late today." he said as the immunologist's brow furrowed in further confusion. "Put some coffee on. I'll be in there in a few," he finished, turning to me and waiting until his underling was out of sight.

"You want some attention from me?" I asked before he could speak. "Feeling neglected lately?" I bit my tongue to keep from giggling like the proverbial fool.

He answered, "A little." Then he looked up at me with a faint grin and sad eyes.

"I wonder why."

"Like hell you do. Leave the lying for a later date, along with the teasing."

"Trying to make up for lost time?"

"You could say that."

"Barring any last-minute emergencies, I should be leaving at a decent hour," I informed him. "How does that sound?"

"Sounds great. You better be ready to make some more of those pancakes."

"Well then, you better be ready to go grocery shopping with me tonight," I said, and turned to my office.