Here's another chappie of my X-over! Hope you enjoy! And thanks to all my reviewers so far. You guys are the light of my life. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own either show.

Chapter Three: The House Seal of Approval

"Booth! Turn that down!" Brennan snapped at her partner. "I can't hear myself think."

Booth grudgingly turned down the radio. "Sheesh, what put your knickers in a twist?"

"I don't know what that means."

"Nothing. Sheesh. I thought you were happy to see me!" Booth grumbled. Brennan suddenly realized that she had let her displeasure over being whisked away to New Jersey spill over onto Booth.

"Oh, no, Booth, It's not that. I am happy to see you." When Booth didn't respond, Brennan placed her hand on his arm. "Really."

Booth felt tingles fly from the point where her hand touched his arm. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "It's ok." He mumbled. Brennan, satisfied that she had gotten her point across, settled back and continued perusing the file Booth had brought her.

They rode in comfortable silence for quite some time. They were stopped at a red light just after crossing the New Jersey border when Booth chanced a glance at his pretty partner and found to his surprise that she was asleep. He smiled. The harsh noonday sun poured through the windows, lighting up every tired crease in Brennan's face. She must be hot…Booth's mind suddenly realized. He leaned forward and flicked on the air conditioner, pointing it towards his sleeping partner. He then carefully lifted the case file off of her and folded it up, resisting the sudden wild urge to smooth back her hair and kiss her forehead. Damn that line to hell. He returned his attention back to the red light.

Brennan awoke to her partner's soft voice in her ear. "Bones? Bones, wake up. We're here." Brennan slowly opened her eyes, smiling sleepily into her bemused partner's face. Not a bad way to be woken up, she thought to herself. Wait, what? Brennan shook her head.

"Hi, Booth."

Booth chuckled. "Hi, Bones."

He and Brennan left the car and headed towards the main hospital doors. Brennan frowned. "There's a motorcycle in the handicap space!" She pointed out, confused.

Booth shrugged. "If someone parked here illegally, it's their problem, not ours."

His hand took its place on the small of Brennan's back, sending a thrill of pleasure running through both of them and they entered the hospital, sighing as a wave of cool air hit their faces. They walked to the front desk.

Booth flipped open his badge. "Special Agent Booth, FBI. This is my partner, Dr. Brennan."

The receptionist was a middle-age woman with way too much eye shadow. She looked up from her Cosmopolitan magazine and batted her eyes at the handsome FBI agent as she glanced carelessly at his badge. "Oh, yeah. You're here about Dr. House's patient. I'd go Dr. Cuddy's office. She's Dean of Medicine." She smiled up at Booth. Booth nodded, folding up his badge and looking uncomfortable.

"Um, thanks."

The woman gave them directions and pointed them to an elevator, smiling and batting her lashes thickly coated in mascara. Brennan folded her arms and glared at the woman, who looked a little put off at the beautiful scientist's evil eye. Booth steered his annoyed partner towards the elevator.

"Sheesh, Bones, you really gave that poor woman a death glare."

"I dislike women who smile and bat their eyes at you simply because you have a badge!" Brennan snapped, angrily jabbing the button for the elevator. A couple of doctors in white coats backed away slowly.

Booth snorted. "Bones, they're not flirting with me because I have a badge. In fact, I'm a little offended that you think that's all it amounts to. It's obviously 'cause they think I'm hot."

Brennan creased her eyebrows and felt Booth's forehead. "You don't feel hot."

Booth sighed. "No, it's…Never mind, Bones. Just…never mind."

The elevator arrived with a ding and the partners climbed in. The doctors waved them on and said they'd take the next one.

"All right, Bones." Booth began as the doors shut. "I've heard about this guy, House. I read his file. He's supposed to be a real ass, so just, try not to tick him off too badly, ok?"

Brennan appraised him. "Well, it's not like I make people angry on purpose!" Ding! The elevator doors slid open before Booth had time to answer. He sighed and followed his partner out onto the hallway.

A slim dark haired woman looked up from a file she was reading as they exited the elevator. "Excuse me." She said. "Can I help you?"

"We're looking for Dr. Cuddy's office." Booth said, flipping open his badge again.

"Well, you've found me!" The woman shook his hand. "I'm Dr. Lisa Cuddy. I'm the Dean of Medicine. You must be Special Agent Booth." Booth nodded.

Cuddy turned to Brennan. "And you must be Dr. Brennan, right?"

Brennan smiled, taking an instant liking to the woman. "Yes, that's right. You have a lovely hospital."

Cuddy's eyes lit up and she smiled warmly. "Thank you very much." She motioned to them. "Come this way, I'll lead you to the bones."

Booth shot Brennan a thumbs up. The followed Lisa Cuddy until they reached closed door. The blinds in the room were drawn shut. Cuddy sighed.

"I should warn you about Dr. House." She began.

Booth held up a hand. "No need." He said. "We've both heard about…um…we read his file." Booth frowned, trying to figure out how to say 'House is an ass' without actually saying it.

Cuddy smiled. "How House is an ass? Good. I'm just warning you, it's much worse in real life than it is on paper." Cuddy opened the door.

There were four people in the room. Three were sitting at the table, wearing white lab coats. There was a woman with long dark hair, a short balding man and another man with dark skin and darker hair. But what caught Brennan's attention was the graying, unshaven man by the white board. He was leaning heavily on a cane and his crystal blue eyes appraised her ruthlessly.

He was the first one to speak. "Excuse me, ladies, but you're early. I ordered the strippers to be sent at five o'clock." He glanced Brennan up and down. "Although, I must say, they've sent some nice ones this time." Booth instinctively gripped her shoulder and glowered at the man.

Cuddy frowned. "House! Behave!"

The man pouted. "Yes, Mommy."

Cuddy sighed. "Where's Foreman?"

The man, House, they presumed, leaned on the table next to him and flipped his cane. "Off dealing with an emergency with our patient."

"House, there is no emergency with your patient. He's supposed to be being prepped for a blocked artery test."

"I know, and you know, but does Foreman know?" House grinned.

Cuddy shook her head. "This is Dr. Gregory House. This is Dr. Taub, Dr. Kutner, and…" Cuddy faltered.

The woman gave her a lopsided smile. "I'm Dr. Hadley, but everyone calls me Thirteen."

"Why?" Brennan asked.

Thirteen shook her head. "It's a long story."

"Ok, you know who we are. Who are you?" House asked, bursting back into the conversation.

"This is Special Agent Booth from the FBI and Dr. Temperance Brennan, his partner. They're here for the bones." Cuddy's eyes narrowed. "I expect you to behave House."

House ignored her. "The FBI? They drag you out here just for us? I feel so special."

Brennan examined him. "Why do you walk with a cane?" She asked abruptly. The whole room froze, all eyes on House and the pretty anthropologist.

House raised his eyebrows. "I idolize my grandfather." He said, sarcasm layered so heavily that even Brennan couldn't miss it. "You're very direct."

Brennan nodded. "Why coat the truth with infantile fantasies that are simply meant to distract you from what you need to know?"

The two stood facing each other, the doctor and the anthropologist. The room held its breath, looking anxiously from House to Brennan and back.

Finally, House abruptly swept up his cane and said, "Come on then, Bone-Lady. Let's go have a looksee at what you came here for." And he marched out the door.

Well? I hope it lived up to your expectations. Please review! I'm almost done with Chapter four. It's going to have Chase in it. :)

xxAllTheWorldsAStagexx