Chapter Three

Princeton, NJ,

1999

House was tired. His current case was taking its toll on him. He'd exhausted all the avenues but kept hitting a dead end at every turn. He didn't know what to do next and the patient was circling the drain.

He sat and buried his face in his hands, not sure what to do next. Hoping to clear his head, he reached for the English Physician. It had been a few weeks and he'd read it a few times all the way through. He knew he wouldn't find his answer within it this time, but he was tired, and maybe reading it would help him fall asleep so he'd be fresh in the morning.

Stacy was away on business, or so she said. She'd had a lot of meetings and business trips lately and he missed her. He knew she was working on an important case at the moment and like him, would focus all her time and energy on preparing for that one case, even if it took weeks to do so. She'd been gone a few days and he was bored. Nothing seemed to hold his interest. Not even porn.

As he flipped the pages, his eyes began to get tired and he closed them, only for a minute, he told himself. But as he slumped over on the couch, he suddenly began to feel cold. Not just the chills, but as if he was outside.

This was practically impossible since he was in his apartment and it was the middle of summer.

House couldn't escape the feeling either. When he tried to warm himself up, he couldn't even move his arms. "What the..." he muttered as he tried opening his eyes, but they felt like lead. In fact, his whole body felt like lead and he was suddenly paralyzed with fear. "What's happening?" He shouted, but there was nothing but silence, and his voice echoed like he was outside in the woods. Then he heard it. Or them. Horses. Thundering through what sounded like a forest.

He was afraid to open his eyes, but he knew he had to. When he did, a hand clamped over his mouth. "Shhh! Or we'll both be killed!" someone hissed loudly in his ear. The voice was definitely female, and her accent was definitely British.

He was all but dragged away into a thicket as several men on horseback approached, looking around.

"I thought you said you heard voices, John," one off the men said.

"I did. I know I did. It was but a man's voice. I distinctly heard it."

"What did the voice say?"

"It sounded like he said "What's happening."

"I'll tell you what's happening, us going to the pub for some ale. Although it sounds like you might've already had a few." The other man laughed as House's eyes grew wide. "And what of the maiden you thought you saw and shot with your cross bow?"

"I do not know. I was certain I hit my target, but there is no sign of her."

"What were you planning to do with her when you had her?"

"What do you think?" He laughed and pulled out a bottle from his saddle and chewed off the cork. "She was a pretty thing. Fell right to the ground when I hit her. But when I went to investigate, she was not to be found."

"Well, we've been over every inch of his forest and there's no trace of her. So as I said, let us go to the pub. It's getting on."

The other men seemed to agree with this and nodded. "Aye. To the pub!"

House glanced at his companion and noticed the blood. "You're bleeding," he whispered.

"Shhh!" she hissed at him. "Keep quiet!"

He looked her over and liked what he saw. She looked like jailbait to him and he wondered just how old she was.

They waited for the men to disappear and then he turned to her. "As I was saying, you're bleeding. Turn around."

"I beg your pardon, sir..."

"Do you want my help or not?" he snapped back at her.

"How dare you..."

House had had enough of her and stood up, but his hip was sore and stiff, probably from lying on the hard ground for so long. He walked around the back of her and saw the arrow sticking out from her side and hoped it didn't rupture anything. "Do you want it sugar coated or right between the eyes?"

"Pardon me?"

"How do you want it?"

"Want what?"

"You have an arrow stuck in you. It looks pretty deep too. I don't know if I can pull it out without rupturing something or nicking a major artery so you won't bleed to death."

She narrowed her eyes at him, and then they widened, as if she finally understood his meaning. "Is it too late to get it sugar-coated?"

"That WAS sugar coated," he replied with a wicked smile. "So the next question is, do I do it here or get you to a hospital?"

"A hospital? What is that? And who are you?"

"Don't you think that's a little irrelevant? You could be dying."

"How dare you! How dare you talk to me that way. Don't you know I'm a Princess?"

"I can tell," he nodded, which made her puff out her chest a little with pride. She flicked her long hair back over her shoulder.

"Oh really, how?"

"You're very rude."

She gasped. "How dare you..."

"Ahh to hell with it," he groaned, and grabbed the end of the arrow. "Slight pinch," he said and yanked it out. She screamed and he winced. "Okay, big pinch."

The girl stared at the bloodied arrow, back at House and then her eyes went back into her head and she promptly fainted.

"Ahh Christ," he hissed as he managed to catch her before she landed in a heap on the cold hard ground. He glanced at his surroundings and spotted what looked like what might've been her horse. He gave a whistle and the horse came running over to him.

He thanked his adolescence for having a friend who owned a ranch and taught him how to ride a horse. He never thought he'd get a chance again after they moved away some years later. He lifted the girl over his shoulder, mounted the horse and then took off, hoping he was going in the right direction. "Home, boy. Or girl. Whichever you are. Let's go."

The horse responded and took him through the forest to a clearing where he was able to see a very large castle. "God help me, what have I done?" he muttered as the horse took him forward. House saw what looked to be stables and was greeted by several men. "Who goes there?" two of them demanded, drawing their swords.

"I believe she belongs to you," House said, gesturing to the girl who was just now starting to awaken. When she saw him, her eyes widened and she looked around at the men below.

"He has not harmed me. Put your swords away."

The men bowed and put away their swords as a tall, white haired man stepped forward. "What happened?"

The man didn't have an accent, and for that House was relieved. Perhaps this man could give him some information.

"Shot with an arrow. I managed to take it out but..."

"You took it out? Are you crazy? The repercussions could be disastrous..."

"Don't get your pantaloons in a twist, old man," House chuckled. "I'm a doctor."

"So am I," the man said, standing a little straighter. "Dr. Emmett Von Braun."

"A medical doctor?" House inquired.

The man's demeanor gave him away. "I'm a student of the sciences."

"Do you have M.D. after your name?"

"Well no, but-"

"Then shut up. This girl needs medical attention."

"She's not just a girl, sir. She's the first heir to the throne of his Majesty, King Richard," one of the other men spoke up, looking proud.

"Blah blah blah. Is there a place where I can examine her, yes or no?"

"You can use my lab. Err, my workshop. I have a first-aid kit in there. Follow me," the white haired man said as he led them out of the stable and into a barn nearby.

"Wow, this is where you live?" House asked in awe as he looked around.

"It's not much, but I'm a simple man with simple means. It's all I need for now. I don't plan on staying long. Now, your Highness, have a seat on that cot right there and the doctor will see to you. What happened out there anyway?"

"Yeah, what did happen?" House asked her as he opened the kit to find it stacked with fairly modern supplies. Fairly modern meaning twentieth century. He glanced at the man and he shook his head, giving him to mean not to ask, so he didn't.

"Do you have a first name?" he asked the girl.

"Princess Althea, daughter of Richard, King of England and Ireland, and Queen Beatrice."

"Wow, all that, huh?"

"I beg your pardon, sir," she replied, haughtily and held her head up, until he attempted to lift her shirt and she slapped his hand away, causing him to sigh.

"How am I going to heal you if you don't let me check it out?"

"He's right," the man said. "It's okay, Princess."

She looked at the white haired man for a second, and then nodded, attempting to untie her corset at the front while the man turned away to give them privacy.

He dipped a cotton ball in some anticeptic and when he dabbed at the wound, she jerked away from his touch. "Ow! What is that?"

"I have to clean the wound before I can patch it up. It's not a big hole, you shouldn't need stitches."

"Stitches?" she asked.

"There are butterfly sutures in the kit," the white haired man called out from the other side of the barn.

"Great. I don't suppose you have a tetanus shot handy too, do you?"

"Actually yes. Hang on." A minute later, the man brought over a couple of sterile syringes and a vial. "Don't ask," he said, and prepared the syringe for House while he worked at closing the small puncture wound.

"You know my father is going to hear about this," Althea told him, her voice was as cold as her stare.

"I'm sure. Should I be scared? Is he going to send me to the scaffold? Or maybe the stocks?"

"I don't know. Do you deserve to be put to death? Are you just another ruffian like the men in the forest today?"

"God, no. I'm just..."

Emmett glanced at him with an arched eyebrow and House sighed. "I'm just passing through. I don't know how I ended up here but I don't plan on staying long. Providing your father lets me live."

Althea smiled. "Well, you saved me from certain death. I'm sure he'll be indebted to you for what you've done. I suppose I should thank you, sir."

"I should be the one thanking you, Princess. If you hadn't come along when you did and pulled me into that bush, those idiots would've killed me for sure and God knows what else."

"I guess that makes us even then," Althea said as she looked at him, somehow seeing him for the first time. He stared into her eyes, which were a light blue color, almost pale, with a dark ring around the outside.

She was a pretty little thing, for a kid. House was sure she couldn't be more than sixteen or seventeen. Definitely too young for the likes of him. On the other hand, she was definitely easy on the eyes, with a tiny figure and she looked to be in very good shape. Her long brown hair was wavy and hung in ringlets down her back and he found himself longing to touch it, but he refrained. He didn't want his head chopped off for touching the King's daughter.

When he finished up, he closed the kit. "I'm going to give you a tetanus shot now. It will ward off infection you might've gotten from the arrow. God only knows where that thing's been."

"Will it hurt?"

"Another slight pinch, I promise, this time," he grinned as he swabbed her arm and quickly injected her. "Done. You can go back to Daddy and tell him about the big bad man you met in the woods."

"Indeed I will," she said as she got up from her cot, curtsied to Emmett and then left the stable quickly.

"Okay, what the hell is going on?" House demanded. "You have something to tell me, Von Braun? If that's your real name."

Emmett chuckled, made sure nobody was lurking, and closed the barn door. "It seems we're in a similar predicament, Doctor. What did you say your name was?"

"Gregory House."

Emmett's eyes widened. "The Gregory House?"

"You know me?"

"I've read some of your articles on infectious diseases and the like. Very fascinating. So how did you end up here?"

"I don't know. One minute I was resting on my couch, the next I was lying in the middle of the forest. What about you? Clearly you don't belong here either."

Emmett chuckled. "That's a gross understatement."

"Well, I gather this is England. London?" House inquired and Emmett nodded. "Eighteenth century?"

"Seventeenth. It's 1666."

"Oh God," House groaned as he sank down onto the nearby cot and scratched his forehead. "This is bad. I've gotta get out of here."

"That makes two of us. I'm surprised I haven't been burned at the stake yet for heracy."

House paled at the very idea. He had a pretty good idea of the barbaric methods of torture and executions that were carried out in this time period, and he wanted no part of it. None at all.

"So how did you end up here?" he asked Emmett. "And is Von Braun, your real name?"

Emmett smiled. "Sort of. My ancestors are from Germany. They moved to the US in 1908 and changed the last name to Brown after the first world war."

House nodded. "And what brought you here?"

"My time machine malfunctioned. I intended to go to 1066 to see William the Conqueror, the computer put in 1666, and the car hit a tree on entry. I've been trying to repair it ever since."

House arched an eyebrow. "Time machine, huh? Normally I wouldn't believe you, but your first-aid kit with modern supplies tells me that maybe I should."

"I'll show it to you. But when it gets dark. I have it hidden someplace special."

"I can imagine. So now what?"

"I don't know, but be prepared to be called upon for an audience with His Majesty, the king. I give you maybe, oh, an hour before you're summoned to court."

"Goody. So, you and the Princess have something going?"

"What? No!" Emmett said, all too quickly for House's liking.

"Uh-huh. Right. That explains a lot. I saw the looks between you two just now. You're telling me that nothing's going on there?"

"Look at me, Greg—"

"House," he corrected.

"Fine. Look at me, House. In this day and age, I should be long since dead. I'm in my mid-sixties. "I'm old enough to be her grandfather two times over. She's just a kid. Not even eighteen. Jailbait. Do You get what I'm saying? And besides, she's already betrothed to the Duke. She'll be married soon."

"Does she like the guy?"

"No," Emmett smirked. "But that just makes it worse. She's basically going to the gallows by marrying him."

"How do you mean?"

"Once he gets her as his wife, she'll be a kept woman and she won't be able to do anything. He'll keep her locked up all nice and tight and she'll be trapped."

"Unless she doesn't marry him," House added.

"Right. And just how do you plan on stopping that?"

"How the hell should I know?" They sat in silence for a few moments. "So, what year are you from then?"

"2015, and 1985, respectively."

"What does that mean?"

Emmett narrowed his eyes. "I hope I can trust you, House. I can't afford to make any enemies while I'm here. I'm trying to get back to my own time and if you help me, I can help you get back to yours."

"Whatever lets me get out of here any sooner I'm all ears."

Emmett sat back and told House his story, about his time machine, about his best friend, Marty McFly and their adventures in 2015 before he left him behind in 1985.

"So you're stuck here just as much as I am," House said. "What is it you need to get the time machine working?"

"A new front end and some plastic parts to fix the fusion generator which fuels the flux capacitor."

"Huh?"

Emmett laughed. "When you see the time machine, I'll explain everything then. But now I think you need to make yourself look a little more presentable. Those clothes won't cut it."

"What do you suggest?"

Emmett pointed to his closet. "We're about the same size. Knock yourself out."

House got up and went rummaging through the closet before he found something to change into. As soon as he emerged, there was a knock at the door and two guards came in.

"His Majesty requests an audience," one of them said to House. "You will accompany us to the castle."

"If you insist," House shrugged and followed them outside.

"Good luck!" Emmett called after him and smiled. Finally he had an ally that he could hopefully trust.

X X

House was escorted through the halls of the castle and brought into what looked like a throne room where a middle aged man with salt and pepper hair sat next to a very attractive woman. She looked a lot like her daughter, but the king had more of a resemblance.

One of the men nodded to House, who quickly bowed, instantly hating all the pomp and circumstance that went with meeting such a figure.

"Your majesty," he said.

"State your name, sir."

"Gregory House."

"And how is it you came to be in our neck of the woods?"

"I got lost."

"That's not how my daughter, the princess, tells it."

"I'll bet," House muttered under his breath.

"Beg pardon, sir?"

"Actually it's Doctor."

The king's eyebrows went up. "You're a physician?"

"Yes, your majesty."

"Well well," he said as he looked at his wife, who nodded. "I might just have employment for you."

"What kind of employment?" he asked, as if he didn't know.

"Our main physician is ill. The others say that he's very ill and not expected to live much longer. We could really use another physician. And from what my daughter tells me, you saved her life today."

House rolled his eyes. "With all due respect, your Majesty, it was just a flesh wound. The arrow didn't get deep enough to do any permanent damage. Thanks to Dr. B-Von Braun," he quickly corrected himself, "I was able to treat her injury and she's safe from harm."

"It was very impressive. I've never seen such handiwork. You're very skilled and that's just the type of physician we need in our kingdom."

"Again, that's not why I'm here, your Majesty."

"Then why are you?"

"I don't know yet."

"Well please consider my offer. I can offer you very respectful living arrangements and pay you handsomely for your services. It's the least I can do to repay you for saving my daughter's life."

"Huh," he said. "More like she saved mine."

"How do you figure that, sir?"

"She found me lying in the woods and dragged me to safety before some men showed up."

"Men?" the king asked, looking both worried and annoyed. "Althea didn't mention any men."

"Then how did she explain the arrow?" House inquired, starting to get a little impatient.

"She said she fell on it."

"Right. Well, your offer is very appealing but-"

"Please, Dr. House. I beseech you," the Queen finally spoke. "We need a fine doctor at court. You could save the lives of many. Especially when the sweating sickness returns."

House's interest was suddenly piqued. "Sweating sickness?"

"You have not heard of it?"

"Not in a long time. Cool."

The King and Queen looked confused, but house's mind was reeling as he began to reconsider the offer. Being in the castle would give him opportunities he never in a million years thought he'd have. He had heard of the sweating sickness but that was old news like the plague. Now to see it first hand and know how to treat it? That was an opportunity he couldn't pass up.

"Your Majesty, you've got yourself a physician."

The King and Queen smiled at each other and nodded. "You'll be seen to your quarters in the castle and you'll be given proper attire. You're very strangely dressed."

House looked down at the clothes he took from Emmett and chuckled. They did fit him kind of large.

"What am I supposed to wear?"

"I'll see to it that you get settled in. Mason!" he shouted, and a young man stepped forward. "See Dr. House to his new quarters and have him fitted for a proper wardrobe. And tonight, would you join us for supper?"

House nodded and bowed, trying to come up with a valid response. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Mason ushered House to follow him. They went through the castle and up some stairs to a very lavish looking suite. "I hope this meets your approval."

House looked around. "Nice. I think I'll manage okay."

"Very good. I'll send up a tailor to measure you for your uniform," he said and before House could ask, he was gone.

"What? Uniform?"

House looked around and stared at the large four poster bed in the middle of the room. Oh, the damage he could do with that. He planned to make use of that bed and not sleep alone too often if he could help it. The only problem was that there was no contraception in that time, save for abstinence, which clearly wouldn't do.

"Fuck it. With any luck i won't be here long," he said to himself. There was a knock at the door and a man entered carrying what looked like a black robe and some kind of black cap.

"What the hell is this?" he demanded, staring at it. "I'll look like a monk."

"Nay," the man said, looking at House with contempt. "Monks wear brown."

"Oh well pardon me. You don't really expect me to wear this do you?"

"Tis what all physicians in court wear."

"Uh-huh. Whatever," he sighed as he took the garment and put it on. When he stared art himself in the mirror, he actually thought he looked cool. "This isn't half bad. I look bad ass."

"Do you wish to shave?"

"No. You can go. But I'm hungry. Where do I go to eat?"

"I'll have food brought. Dinner is at six O'clock in the dining hall. You're to wear your uniform at all times, thus everyone knows your station and that you are indeed a physician. Should the need arise, we'll know where to find you."

House nodded. "Great. I'll be needing some wine."

"Indeed."

House was left alone and he went to the window and looked out at the courtyard below. He saw Althea sitting on a bench reading a book while she munched on some grapes. She seemed so content he didn't want to disturb her. A moment later, someone came in with a tray carrying wine and other assorted breads and cheeses.

"Enjoy, Doctor," the man said as he bowed and walked backwards out of the room. House stifled a laugh as he found the man's behavior to be hilarious. If doctors were treated with the same respect as royalty, being the King's physician was something he could definitely get used to.

After his snack, and some wine, which gave him quite a buzz, he went downstairs to the courtyard and stood in front of Althea until she looked up.

"How's your flesh wound, Princess?"

She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "It's very well. Thank you. And I believe a congratulations are in order. I hear you are the new head physician."

"Thanks to you for singing my praises." He pointed to the empty space next to her. "Do you mind?"

She looked at him, then at the empty space, and shook her head, looking a little unsure of him.

"You know, you don't have to be afraid of me."

"You're a stranger in this land. And yet my father welcomes you at court without so much as an inquiry as to who you are or where you're from."

He shrugged. "I guess having a competent doctor was more important to him than where I came from. Does that bother you?"

"I suppose you think I owe you for saving me. Well you can get that thought out of your head right now, sir. I do not give sexual favors!"

House laughed. "Who said I wanted sexual favors? Or any favors. I don't even know you and you don't know me. And here I thought you were a maiden."

"I am a maiden!" she fumed as she stood up and clutched the book she was reading. "I am betrothed!"

"So? That doesn't mean anything. You could be betrothed yet not be untouched. Are you a tease?"

"I beg your pardon?" she gasped.

"Have you ever kissed a man?" he asked.

"That is none of your business!"

"So that would be a no, then?"

"What makes you think that?"

"Because you never answered the question. Is your betrothed a homosexual or something? He won't even kiss you?"

"Anthony is not that kind of man!" she hissed. "He's a man of great importance and stature."

"That doesn't mean he wouldn't try to lure you into his bed every chance he got. God knows I would if you were engaged to me. As soon as you said yes I'd have you in my bed behind closed doors within minutes."

Althea blushed three shades of red and she was clearly speechless. How dare he! she thought to herself. Didn't he know he wasn't allowed to talk to her in such a way?

"If I were you, sir, I would be careful how you speak to me in the future. My father would not take kindly to your words."

"What?" he laughed . "Gonna tell on me? Go ahead."

She looked confused. "You wish me to tell my father all the things you say?"

He shrugged. "You can do whatever you want. But my guess is that he won't believe you. You're just a kid. It's my word over yours and I can be very convincing. So, when's the big day?" he asked, hoping to change the topic and learn more about her.

"The big day?"

"Yeah. When are you getting married?"

"In three weeks. The wedding will be here in the castle. Everyone in nobility will be there. It'll be the biggest wedding in history," she boasted, looking proud.

"Uh-huh. Do you love him?"

She turned beet red. "I will not discuss such things with you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must be going. I have an art lesson."

"Enjoy."

He watched her leave and chuckled to himself. he was about to go himself when a young lady caught his eye who was sitting on the grass playing a guitar. She flashed him a very dazzling smile, which he returned, and beckoned him to join her. He made his way over to her and sat down on the blanket.

"You are new at court," she said, her voice was soft but her accent gave her an elegance.

"Yes. Just arrived today. What's your name?"

"Ruth. I am a lady in waiting to Her Majesty."

"Interesting. And what does a lady in waiting do?"

She giggled. "I wait."

House grinned and stole a grape from her bowl nearby. "For?"

"I assist her Majesty with many things throughout the day. But today is my day off."

"Oh, so you're a lady of leisure today."

"Yes."

"Well, Ruth, I'm Greg. The new head physician."

"Doctor," she smiled. "May I ask you something?"

"You can ask me anything," he whispered, putting emphasis on anything.

"Is it true that doctors know more about sexual relations than regular people?"

House grinned wider. "I like to think so. Why? Are you looking to further your education?"

She smiled and let her fingers trace invisible patterns on his arm. "I might be. The men in the kingdom, they know naught about pleasing a woman."

"What a shame," House said. "Do you live in the castle?"

"Yes," she smiled again. "I believe you have met my cousin, Althea."

House narrowed his eyes at her. "Your cousin? I'm guessing you're the more uh advanced cousin?"

She giggled. "Althea is but a girl. I am a woman. Do you prefer women, Dr. Greg?"

House chuckled. "Yes, as a matter of fact."

"Perhaps we could meet after supper? Somewhere more private."

"I think that's a very good idea."

"Where are your quarters?" she asked him.

"I'm not sure. Upstairs, in a tower."

"I'll come find you."