House limped into the hospital and spotted Wilson waiting for him at the front desk. Not smiling, Wilson made his way over to him. House noticed Wilson looking a bit edgy and wondered what was behind it; however he had a more important puzzle to solve.

"Come on, my office" Wilson led the way and House followed. He was breathing heavily now, he hadn't let it get this bad since he first got the infarction. The pills never let it get this bad. He didn't know how long he could keep walking. Finally they got to Wilson's office and House quickly collapsed into a chair. Wilson turned and took a good look at House for the first time.

"What's up?" Wilson walked over to the chair House was in.

"The pills…they aren't working" House took a deep breath before continuing.

"I took two and…they didn't work so I took two more and now the pain…is just magnifying. They aren't working" House's voice shook a little. He was frightened, his pills never failed him, never. He needed them and they weren't doing their job. He was screwed.

"You think maybe your body has built up too much of a tolerance for Vicodin?"

"Maybe…" House looked up. Wilson was shaking his head.

"You're in pain House. But you've abused your Vicodin intake and now because of your addiction the pills don't take effect anymore. You need to get those pills out of your system, and it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to change medications" Wilson looked at House who looked pretty pathetic. He was holding his stomach and his eyes were watering as he looked up in alarm.

"I can't. The pills…"

"You can! And you need to do it House! Damn it you have to kids to look after! You have a choice; obviously Vicodin is nothing for you now. You've reached that point. Now you can either detox and take something else for the pain, or you can continue taking the Vicodin until you overdose and DIE, and then Cuddy will be all alone to take care of Abby and Emily. And they'll be without a father. Is that what you want?" House sat there, thinking, not trusting himself to speak.

The pain is getting worse. I don't know how much longer I can take this. I can't stop the Vicodin, it let's me live. Doesn't he understand? How can I function without it? No other pills will help. What am I going to do? Think! There's go to be a way… if only…

House got up quickly and Wilson immediately grabbed the trashcan sitting beside his desk. House threw up while Wilson took the Vicodin bottle House had put on the desk and pocketed it. House wouldn't need those anymore.

…

"So, how did you meet House?" Chris was seated in the living room with Cuddy, a glass of scotch in his hand and a peaceful expression on his face.

"We went to med school together. We only spoke a couple of times, he was a legend already." Cuddy paused before continuing as memories filled her head.

" It all started in his last year. He was well known, I had a little crush on him. One night I was at a popular bar, waiting for my boyfriend. When he got there he started pushing me around, he wanted me to sleep with him and I wasn't in the mood. He started to get aggressive, started bullying me. I didn't like it and started to get angry so he pushed me outside. I was terrified, I though he was going to rape me. He was hitting me, I tried to defend myself as best as I could. Suddenly, he fell completely unconscious. I looked up and saw House standing there with something in his hands, it was dark and I never caught what it was. He threw it into the grass and came up to me to inspect my bruises. I was shaken, I didn't really know what to say. He brought me to his place, cleaned up my cuts and gave me a drink. He didn't talk, he waited me out. After two or three drinks I started talking. After his fourth he started talking and soon we were discussing stuff like best friends. I told him things I hadn't told anybody, he told me some stuff some people would probably kill to know too. I spent the night on his couch, he spent the night in his room. I left early and left him a thank-you note. He graduated a couple of months later and we didn't see each other much. Several years after I finished med school, got a job at PPTH, made my way up and became dean of medicine. I heard that Gregory House was looking for a job, and hired him. The hospital began to grow and prosper, and I made him a department head. He has such a special gift, I couldn't help but admire him. Admiration turned into respect, and respect turned into love. At one point I was taking fertility treatments because I wanted to have a child, and he found out about it. He was giving me my shots twice a day, and I realized that I wanted a child with him. I got up my courage and asked him, and he said yes. And, two kids later here we are" Cuddy wiped her tears. Chris looked thoughtful.

"Wow, that's such an intense story. He seems like a very complicated man. I can see how you guys work it out though, you're pretty fierce when you want to" Chris smiled, so did Cuddy.

"I know how to put him in his place when needs be. He is a brilliant diagnostician, and a unique guy. I love him more than I could ever say. And he knows it" Cuddy grabbed a Kleenex.

"He certainly does have an air of someone who notices things, he picks up things really quickly I saw. I also think you should know, that something didn't seem right at the restaurant. I know you know him a million times better than me, but something was wrong. I can be fairly perceptive myself, he was in pain."

"He always is" Cuddy wiped away another tear.

"No, I mean unbearable pain. He was clenching his jaw, his eyes were watering, he had a pained expression from behind your back. I just got that vibe" Cuddy looked grave.

"He asked me to take him to the hospital… I'm going to call him" Cuddy got up quickly and went to phone House. She slammed it down when she couldn't get through to his cell.

…

The dean didn't look impressed. Foreman waited his answer.

"Nice plan Foreman. I should have known you'd try to think of something like this. You're used to fighting for what you want aren't you? Did House teach you that?"

"I guess you could say that yeah"

"You think I'm going to accept this plan of yours?"

"I'm hoping you will. It'll make everyone happy. If me and House are partners in running this department, he can maintain his position of authority and his job. I can have my own position of authority, it will be safer, I can get paperwork done and everything can run smoothly. We can hire someone else on the team in my place, and everything will work out for everybody. It's foolproof" Foreman grinned. He was pretty proud of himself for coming up with such a perfect plan.

"I'll think about it, and Foreman? Don't pat yourself on the back too much, it wasn't a completely ingenious plan" The dean walked out and Foreman glared from behind his back. That bastard better take the deal.

…

Chase stood at the stove making breakfast and Cameron was sitting down with her coffee thinking about Foreman.

"Can you believe the dean offered Foreman House's job? How can he do that?" Cameron set her coffee cup down angrily.

"He's planning on demoting House that's how. Foreman must have been so pleased, as cocky as the bugger is though I can see where he would be hesitant to take it" Chase brought Cameron a plate of bacon, eggs and toast and sat down with his own. Cameron was still glaring.

"He should be hesitant. He's taking a man's job without the other even being aware. And House will go nuts when he hears" Cameron stabbed viciously at her bacon.

"Yeah Foreman will regret taking the position that's for sure. As for House, maybe with everything going on at home he won't mind so much as he would have before" Chase sipped his orange juice and felt a twinge of guilt as he saw Cameron's eyes turn to him.

"He hasn't changed Chase. This job still means the world to him"

"He's barely ever there"

"That's not the point"

"Ok Allison I was just saying" Chase poked calmly at his eggs with his fork and waited.

"I know I'm sorry. I guess I just hate that Foreman always gets to be in charge. I just don't think I could stand to have to answer to him again"

"I know, I feel the same way"

"You think Foreman will take it?"

"I think for Foreman, there are more negative points than positive ones. I'm sure he can do the math"