A/N: Thanks for the reviews! So far I've received one vote for Chase/Thirteen which I was probably going to do anyway. So I'm thinking I'll do that one. I'm warning you, though, it'll be a while before it comes about and the pairing isn't going to be a main part of this story. This is mainly just going to be focused on Thirteen and I'll be visiting her past as well.

Also, I am not Foreman bashing in this chapter or any later ones. This is just House being House. I have nothing against the guy, I even like him sometimes, so don't think I'm bashing him. I'm writing this because when I reread some of this story, I went 'Ooh, poor Foreman. Everyone thinks he's an idiot.' Of course, if you don't like Foreman than you won't really mind.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy. And I love, love, love reviews.

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"Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't."

Erica Jong

House twirled the cane in his hand as he thought idly about the events of that day. Chase was angry, Foreman was an idiot, Taub messed up, Chase apologised, Taub complained about his 'romantic' personal life, Foreman was an idiot, Chase messed up . . .

It basically continued in that manner.

To put it simply: a pretty normal day with the cottages. Except for the fact that Thirteen hadn't shown up for work, and just when House was planning on taunting her with the new titbit of information he had found out before the weekend, too. He'd even thought about dangling clues in front of Foreman's face (clues he'd be too much of an idiot to figure out) just to piss her off.

Damn, Thirteen, why did she always have to go and spoil his fun? Granted, she was often making that fun for him and what he considered fun tended to lean towards teasing her about her unfortunate illness but that was beside the point.

"I couldn't do it," a voice announced, stepping into his office without invitation. Only he's allowed to that to people, if anyone tries it on him it's just annoying.

House's gaze flickered up and he caught sight of Thirteen, dressed in brown pants and a loose white top. Her hair was neat and pulled back in a pony tail, there were no signs of bruises, cuts or any other form of lacerations on her person. So clearly she had not gotten herself sent to the emergency room and would have to come up with another excuse for why she had not come into work that day.

"You didn't show up for work," he commented casually, turning his chair fully to face her. "The last time that happened you were in the land of drugs and topless girls." He smiled in reminiscence. "Good times."

She gazed at him in exasperation. "I called Cuddy up and told her I wasn't coming in today. It's not my fault that you've been avoiding her lately."

"I'm not avoiding Cuddy. I'm just making life harder for her, which is a far more honourable cause so get it right."

Thirteen just rolled her eyes and looked away. House smirked, pleased with himself.

"So, what couldn't you do?"

She raised an eyebrow. "You really expect me to believe that you don't already know the answer to that question?"

He pretended to think for a moment, pondering the question. "Hmm. Let's see. All people with mindreading abilities go over to that side of the room," he responded, gesturing with his cane at the white board. Nothing happened and Thirteen sighed in irritation, dropping her hands from her hips. House cocked his head to the side. "That's odd. I could have sworn there was at least one person crazy enough to believe they had telekinesis in this room."

"Yeah," Thirteen bit back, "and I'm looking at him."

Touché; that, plus everything else, could only mean one thing. "You tried to get an abortion." He leant back in his chair, eyeing her speculatively. The cane in his hand kept whizzing in circles.

The brunette didn't reply, looking away. That'd be a 'yes' then.

"And the fact that you're here means that you didn't go through with it and you want me to give you yet another reason why you should."

Still she kept her mouth shut but House didn't miss the underlying pain in her eyes. He wondered whether it would be too much of a stretch to say this was tearing her apart even more than her Huntington's; it was certainly tearing her apart as a result of her Huntington's. The fact that she wasn't drinking herself into an early grave already was just another testament to the fact that she really didn't want to get this abortion – it was bad for the kid. Unluckily for her, want was being placed on the backburner for now.

"Which is stupid seeing as we both know I can't give you anymore reasons you haven't already thought of. At least none that would make you sigh in relief and thank baby Jesus that God handed you such a wonderful doctor like me." He expected her to roll her eyes again at that one but she just stared at him. "Sure, I could tell you that keeping this baby would put a serious dent in my parade since I'd have to let you go on maternity leave, which means I wouldn't be able to annoy you nearly as much, but I doubt that's going to help your case." Still she remained silent and House paused, a new thought occurring to him. "Unless, you're not really here for me to convince you to get the abortion, rather you want me to give you a good reason why you shouldn't."

The shutter of her eyes and the pain and defeat creased across the lines of her face was all the answer he needed to know he was right. For once, being right didn't feel so good and House watched as she pulled out a chair from the centre table and took a seat. She shook her head, gazing at him.

"What do I do?" Thirteen asked at a loss.

He stared back at her for a moment, considering. Despite the way he treated his employees there were days, few and far between, where he found himself caring about what happened to them. Besides Wilson, they were the closest things he had to friends, or something. Thirteen was a special case, though. She reminded him too much of himself and that was unacceptable–there was only room enough for one House in this hospital. Therefore, he had to make sure that she didn't end up turning out like him. Considering that she would be dead in a short amount of years, he wouldn't have to be focused on the task for very long.

"I can't tell you what to do, and not only because I don't know myself. This is your decision," he paused for a moment, rethinking, "the idiot's too, possibly, and you need to make it for yourself. While Foreman may have played a part, he probably doesn't have anything important to add, though." She sighed, turning to face the wall. By the expression on her face, it was clearly the answer she had been expecting all along, just not the one she had wanted. "The question you should be asking yourself, though, is what would you rather live the rest of your life feeling guilty over? Killing your baby or giving your kid Huntington's? Either way, you're responsible for the fact that it dies. With the second one it just gets a chance to know that you're responsible."

Thirteen ran her hand through her hair, elbow resting against the table. For a while all she did was stare at the table top, then, "I told Foreman once I wanted kids."

House didn't respond, watching her carefully as she stared off into the distance. Whether there was anything interesting there he couldn't be sure but it sure seemed to have her attention.

Something seemed to flicker in her gaze like she was remembering something important and she swallowed, fingers clenching. House had a feeling it had nothing to do with what she had just said and his interest grew. He knew that look all too well – Thirteen was hiding something again.

The brunette shook her head, pushing the thought aside. "I still do," she said, returning to what she had previously been saying.

"Then have it," he interjected, rolling his eyes. "For God's sakes, it's not rocket science. You want a kid, you're pregnant, have a kid."

She shook her head, finally turning it to face him again. "It's not that simple," she denied.

"It's only not that simple because you're making it more complicated than it needs to be. No choice is the right one, so pick the one you want."

For a moment, she looked like she was beginning to actually consider his words and a flash of hope dawned in her eyes. House didn't really care for giving her hope or not, he just wanted her out of his office so he could watch porn on his laptop. Though, come to think of it, she would probably go for that as well.

Thirteen blinked and the hope was gone. "It'll never be that easy." He had to agree with her there.

...