Author's Note: Still don't own House. I'm going to try to get chapter 12 up later today as I won't be able to update on Turkey Day. Just in case I don't make it - hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

When House walked through the doors of PPTH Wednesday morning, Cuddy was waiting for him, standing beside the reception desk. His step faltered for a second before he continued on his way toward the elevators. Cuddy stepped away from the reception desk, blocking his path.

"House," she said.

"Dr. Cuddy."

"Please come with me to my office." They locked eyes for a moment. When Cuddy turned away, House followed her. He didn't even take a moment to admire her skin-tight skirt.

House followed Cuddy into her office. She took a few steps inside the door before turning to face him. He stopped in the doorway.

"Shut the door," she said quietly and he stepped the rest of the way inside, closing the door behind him. "I talked to Wilson."

"I told you. I'm not Wilson's responsibility."

"No, you're not," Cuddy said, sounding weary. "But you are a doctor at this hospital – my hospital. I signed off on your hours so you could get your license back. I am responsible for making sure that you are capable of providing patient care."

"Wha…" House was flabbergasted. Cuddy cut him off.

"I want you to submit to a drug test."

"Fine. You want me to pee in a cup, I'll…"

"No. We'll be doing a blood test. Once a week."

"For how long?" House was incredulous.

"Until further notice."

"You don't think that maybe you're overreacting? Just because I'm not living with Wilson…"

"He said he picked you up from a bar."

"I had ginger ale!" House was furious now. Why would no one believe him about the damn ginger ale?

"This isn't up for debate, House. Take the blood test or don't work here. Your choice."


Sarah had been surprised when Greg didn't bolt from her apartment. She'd really thought she'd pushed too hard. He had been so focused on his failures – he hadn't given himself any credit for Saturday. She couldn't let him ignore that. It was a victory – he'd faced down temptation.

He'd been quiet after she'd told him that people always had choices. It was something that she truly believed, but she'd wanted to take it back right after she'd blurted it out. She'd felt exposed, and she'd known she'd been pushing too hard. She was relieved that he hadn't dismissed her. She wasn't sure how she would have taken that. Instead, he'd sat quietly for a few minutes before asking her if she had any of the other "Road" movies. They'd wound up watching Road to Utopia.

She'd dropped him off at the hospital again today. This time she hadn't seen anyone in the parking lot. She hoped he'd have a better day today. She wasn't going to be able to use her ruse of needing to run an errand again tonight and she didn't want to. She'd regretted lying to him the second she'd made the request. She should've been direct and honest with him, and she made a vow to do that with him from now on.

Sarah's thoughts were interrupted when a graduate student came back to her desk. She wanted some advice from Sarah about a research project she was working on. It turned out she was working on a paper charting the history of free health clinics in the area for a seminar on the history of public policy. There was one clinic that she hadn't been able to get any information on and that was the clinic at the Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital.

"It's the only one that isn't funded with tax dollars; it's all done with private donations. I don't know who to talk to at the hospital," the student finished.

"I know someone who works there," Sarah said. "Let me ask him."

"Would you? That'd be great. Thanks so much, Sarah!"


House thought about his conversation with Sarah the previous evening as he waited in the clinic for his blood draw. He hadn't known how to respond to her. He'd thought she'd be frightened when she learned about his stay in the mental hospital. He'd been waiting for her to tell him to leave, but she never had. He'd described his failings and she'd responded by bringing up Saturday, as if it'd been some kind of victory.

Nurse Brenda took his blood sample, performing the procedure silently and efficiently. He was grateful for her silence. He found the whole process humiliating.

When House entered the conference room upstairs, only Chase was there. House gave him a nod in greeting and went on through to his office. He dropped into his desk chair. Chase came into the office.

"So, you're not living with Wilson anymore."

"Moved out on Friday. You win the pool?"

"Depends. When did he ask you to leave?"

"Last Tuesday."

"Damn." Chase turned and started for the conference room.

"What was your bet?" House asked.

"I had you making it through Thursday," Chase replied. He continued on his way. Foreman entered the conference room a minute later, followed by Thirteen and Taub. Taub was carrying a stack of blue file folders.

"Got a case!" he called out and House got up to go see what it was.


Sarah was feeling pretty good as she crossed the quad to return to her office from lunch. She had her mp3 player on, listening to "The Old Man of the Mountain" from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and though the air was chilly, the sun was shining. She knew she had a spring in her step. She looked out across the quad, shaking her head slightly at a student who'd paired a winter jacket with shorts and flip-flops. C'mon, Kids, she thought. It's December. Her eyes moved past the student and froze as they rested on a man leaning against the history department's building. Her heart started to race until the man looked up, giving her a good view of his face. Alright Sarah, she told herself. Stop being so paranoid. She went on into the building, the spring gone from her steps.

The rest of the afternoon passed slowly. All Sarah wanted was to go home and hug her dog. Her concentration was shot; the department chair had to speak several times before she realized he was talking to her. She was glad when it was finally five o'clock and she could leave.

She'd started to go straight home. Fortunately that route took her past the hospital and seeing it reminded her that she was supposed to give Greg a lift. He wasn't waiting for her outside this time, and she didn't want to wait in the parking lot alone. She pulled into a visitor's parking place and made her way into the building.

Sarah had just asked the woman manning the reception desk where she could find Dr. House's office when a man spoke to her. She recognized his accent and turned to find the blonde man who'd come to Baker Street on Monday night.

"I can take you to Dr. House's office," he said.

"Thanks," Sarah said. They walked to the elevator together.

"I think I saw you the other night. You're House's neighbor, right?" he asked as the elevator doors closed. "Robert Chase." He held out a hand to her.

"Sarah Kelly." She shook his hand.

"So, how are those mambo lessons going?"

"Oh, we've moved on. We're doing the cha-cha now." The elevator stopped and Dr. Chase led her down the hallway. He kept shooting looks her way.

"This is House's office," he said finally, opening a glass door to a small room. There was a comfortable-looking chair and footstool, an L-shaped desk, a light-board on the wall and a small television in the corner. The desk's surface was cluttered and Sarah wondered if Greg actually used it for anything. She could see through the room's glass walls into what appeared to be a meeting room. It contained a large table and chairs, book-shelves full of medical texts, and a large white-board full of writing. "House is with a patient at the moment but he shouldn't be long. Would you like a cup of coffee?"

"No, thank you." Sarah moved to the chair and found that it was just as comfortable as it looked. Dr. Chase stood by the connecting door into the conference room, reluctant to leave. "I don't want to keep you..." Sarah said.

"I'll let House know you're here." He went on into the conference room. A few minutes later, Sarah saw several other people enter it. A bald black man led them, followed by a short, balding man with a large nose. A young woman with long brown hair completed the trio. The short man and the woman were wearing white coats, like Dr. Chase. The black man wore a suit. Is he a doctor too, Sarah wondered.

"House was right. He was lying," the woman said, sounding disappointed. A second later Greg entered the room and Sarah noted that he also didn't wear a lab coat.

"After all this time, why are you still surprised? Everybody lies," he said, moving toward the white-board. The others took seats around the table.

"Your neighbor is here," Dr. Chase said and Greg came to a stop. "She's in your office." Greg turned and made his way toward the door. Sarah stood up as he came in. She could feel everyone in the conference room watching them. How can Greg stand this office, she wondered. It's like working in a fish bowl.

"Hi," she said. "I was a little early, and it was cold out there, so I came in. If I'm in the way…"

"No," he said quickly. "I'm just wrapping up."

"More waiting?" she asked, smiling, and after a second he smiled and nodded.

"Yeah." He went back into the conference room and Sarah resumed her seat. She could hear him talking with the other doctors but she tuned out the words. His tone was different with them than it was with her, more sarcastic and… snarky. Dr. Chase's curiosity had been evident and she guessed that Greg didn't have many visitors at the hospital. She wondered if she'd made a mistake coming inside.