A very short chapter this time, but Nyx just didn't want to play L

Same old, same old

"So you won Arlene to your side," Nyx observed.

"So I did," House agreed. "Much good it did me."

"True," Nyx noted. "She just caused anxiety to Cuddy and …"

"What was over is still over," House completed the sentence.

"Not quite what I was going to say," Nyx sighed. "But still, to the point and true. Too bad."

"Yeah," House agreed. "But it is what it is."

"She did you wrong," Nyx insisted. "She had no right to … "

"She had every right to try and find happiness," House defended Cuddy. "Even with me. But I have said it before, though she can see things how they are and she can see how they ought to be, she doesn't see the gaping, impassable void between them. She has always known what I am like and she loved me even so, but she did not understand that love does not change people and living with me is a different proposition than just loving me."

"So you just forgive her?" Nyx asked.

"I, too, have always know what she is like," House pointed out. "Just because I wish she was different doesn't make her so. And anyway, I don't know if she was Cuddy anymore if she was different. As much as I am what I am so is she who she is."

"Hmmph," Nyx huffed. They sat in silence for some time. Then Nyx spoke again: "How is your leg these days?"

"Still there," House replied with a grimace.

"Same old same old?" Nyx clarified.

"Pretty much," House nodded. "Never far from me."

"Do they know?" Nyx wondered.

"Well they know about the Vicodin," House stated. "But I'm thinking they believe it's for a different kind of pain that I'm taking it."

"Is it?" Nyx asked neutrally.

"If it is, it sure isn't working," House scoffed.

"For which pain?" Nyx wanted clarification.

"Neither. Much," House sighed. "But I'll manage. Have done so before, will again."

"You know what happens if…" Nyx cautioned.

"If I lose control of it?" House concluded. "Yes, I do. Which is why I am more careful. Though I doubt I could prove it by Wilson."

"He always was a worrywart," Nyx noted.

"Only this time he is backing off some," House pointed out.

"I'm not so sure he should," Nyx frowned. "You need someone to keep an eye on you."

"I have a wife," House laughed.

"Who is rarely with you," Nyx reminded him. "Though not by her own choice, I suspect."

"We've been through this already," House didn't want to discuss his marriage. "We have a working relationship and that's all it needs to be."

"You don't actually have a relationship with your wife," Nyx insisted.

"And it's working just fine for both of us," House countered.

"Fine," Nyx gave up. "But if your wife isn't keeping an eye on you, you really need Wilson."

"He has a life of his own to live you know," House stated.

"Not so you'd notice," Nyx scoffed. "But even if you don't want to involve him, you need to involve someone. You can't deal with your leg alone. You need someone. Anyone. Thirteen or Chase of even Foreman! Get someone to help you find out what is going on with your leg now."

"Maybe," House muttered. "But I'm pretty sure I can handle this myself."

"Don't they say that a lawyer who represents himself in court has a fool for a client," Nyx asked. "Wouldn't that apply to doctors as well?"

"I believe that about doctors they say 'physician, heal thyself'. Or words to that effect," House observed.

"Somehow I don't think the context is quite right," Nyx mused. "But I suppose there is no talking to you. As always."

"People don't change, you know," House stated. "They really don't."