Personal Days and Personality Clashes

The more James stayed in bed, the more agitated he became. He could only think about how things would be different if he hadn't blown off House for a dinner date. If only he had taken his friend seriously this time. It was infuriating to be both mad at himself for not knowing better, and mad at House for bringing his life into another state of crisis.

Was it guilt on his behalf? James pondered what exactly he was guilty of. Sure, not being the best possible friend at every moment was the first thought to pop up, but that was irrational thinking. He had to live his life first. He made that choice two nights ago.

He thought his friend understood that, but House was also capable of being spiteful. Maybe House did want to sabotage the date. But then again, Greg was not the type to throw himself in front of a moving vehicle for just anyone - at least not without good cause. Yet he had done so many crazy things in the past, it wasn't completely beyond his character.

So then what did happen to have House end up in a hospital on the other side of town? Maybe this really wasn't about him and House. It was possible that House and Cuddy had some unaired dirty laundry. But that wasn't making sense either. Just yesterday Cuddy had confided in him that she could not live without House in her life. Anything that might have transpired between the two of them would have been brought out in the open by the frantic Cuddy.

So then what was Remy Hadley's role in this weird little situation? Why did House reach out to her and not anyone else?

And that brought James right back to his own insecurity. House had reached out to him and was rejected. Thirteen was the least judgmental of all his colleagues. In his current condition, she was, at best, a loose connection to his life at Princeton-Plainsboro.

House needed more than an AC/DC adapter. He needed a lifeline. Maybe two.

Cuddy worked through the morning hoping to talk to her Head of Oncology at lunch time. She was thankful when Wilson finally answered his phone.

"What's going on?" Her voice was more accusatory than concerned.

"Can you clear your schedule for the afternoon?" James was fresh out of the shower, trying to get dressed while holding up his end of the conversation.

"If I need to," Cuddy responded cautiously. She hoped Wilson was going to reveal his intent soon. "Are you okay? You sound kind of down."

"I found House," he tried for casual.

Cuddy blinked several times before speaking. "Well…is he okay?"

"I don't know. I hope so." James sat on his bed, half dressed. "God I hope so," he mumbled, practically inaudible.

Lisa shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "What do you mean by that?"

"I saw him…just for a few moments. Then I got thrown out of the room."

"Can you blame him?" Cuddy didn't mean to say it out loud. "I'm sorry. I know it's not your fault. You have to remember, when it comes to House, I know how he thinks." It was a nice cover, and she was sure he bought her back peddling. But she really did believe in some way Wilson had something to do with whatever 'it' was. Call it guilty knowledge or guilt by association.

An hour later Wilson and Cuddy were driving across town in Wilson's car. He didn't say much when he picked her up, and said even less during the drive. Lisa could tell he was beating himself up. It seemed that every time she glanced over at him, his facial expression gave him away. She had known James a long time, and eye twitches and other quirky facial tics were his dead giveaway that he was stressed.

He finally glanced over to her to gauge her reaction to them pulling into the hospital parking lot. She didn't respond. "Please say something."

"What's there to say? We figured he was in a hospital. The fact that he's not in the morgue is reassuring." Cuddy wasn't sure what he wanted her to say. He didn't seem relieved by her words. "He's not in the morgue…is he?" Suddenly her heart was pounding a little too loudly in her ears.

Cuddy and Wilson walked right past the visitor's desk heading straight to the elevators. The doors had barely opened when a security guard approached them from behind.

"Excuse me, you need to check in and get your visitors' pass." He pointed them in the right direction.

They followed his suggestion of checking in, all the while Lisa was hoping security at her hospital was this good.

"We're here to see Dr. House," Cuddy said politely.

"We have no Dr. House on staff here," the volunteer returned her politeness.

"He should be in 461," Wilson offered.

"That's a patient room, not an office number."

"That would be because Dr. House is a patient here."

"Oh, you could see the error in my thinking." The volunteer tried to remain polite. "We rarely get people asking for patients as doctors." She tapped in the patient's last name and got a flashing screen. A few keystrokes later and she looked up at his visitors. "Names."

"Lisa Cuddy."

"James Wilson."

The volunteer seemed to scroll down the screen to locate more information. "I'm sorry, Mr. House as a restricted visitors list. Your name doesn't appear."

"There must be some mistake." Wilson turned on the charm. "Who decided who goes in?"

"Right now, his physicians."

"I'm Dr. Lisa Cuddy, Dean of Medicine at Princeton-Plainsboro and Dr. House's personal physician." Cuddy showed her badge knowing full well she shouldn't gain access that way.

"Still can't let you in," the volunteer shrugged apologetically.

"Can I at least speak to his doctor here?"

The frustration was building between both parties.

"Information is that desk over there. I'm strictly visitor passes only."

House dozed while Thirteen read her magazine. She only left the room one when the techs came in to check him for DVTs. This was highly agitating for him, and he was in a particularly foul mood afterwards.

Lunch arrived and Remy had to admit she probably wouldn't have wanted to eat either, but she knew it was important for him to get something down.

"You should at least try something," she admonished. "I.V. nutrition can't give you everything you need."

"Seriously? You're supposed to be a doctor."

Remy smiled widely, it reached her eyes.

"What's so funny?"

"You're sounding more like yourself."

"Yeah, well maybe this isn't what I thought it was."

Thirteen realized that if House was going to ingest anything, she'd have to serve it to him. She started the process of opening straws and popping them into various containers. "What's changed your mind?"

"My hallucinations of the past just spoke to me and appeared. And my delusions tend to center around me being in a good place."

Thirteen stuck a straw in his mouth while she held the bowl of soup. "So this can't be a delusion because this is not the Sultan's palace with belly dancers to entertain you, or a harem to cool you with palm fronds and feed you peeled grapes."

There were interrupted when a Nurse came in. "Thanks for helping us out with Greg. We're a little short-handed with Cindy out for a day or two." She took over what Remy was doing.

"What happened to Cindy?" House expected an immediate answer.

"We have a little situation brewing downstairs. That's why I'm really here." She struck a straw in Greg's mouth and held on to the cup of juice. "There are two people demanding to see you."

"Cuddy and Wilson, no doubt." Remy huffed in frustration.

"I don't want to see them. Not now, anyway."

"Want me to run interference?" She didn't really want to but was willing if he wanted her to.

"What would you say?"

"I'd just tell them you weren't up for visitors."

"They won't settle for that. They'll brow beat you."

"Better they brow beat me than your doctor."

"Nah, that's what he gets paid for. Besides he has a team. He probably sent one of his flunkies to deal with them…speaking of which, what's going on with Cindy?"

"She had a little mishap on the job. She's fine. HR sent her home, told her to take a day or two. But if I know her, she'll be back bright-eyed and bushy-tailed tomorrow."

"Tell Cuddy to stop harassing my doctor. They'll be the first to know when I'm ready to see them."

Thirteen nodded while her lips formed a straight line of seriousness. "Got it. I'll be back up in a few." When House didn't add to the conversation, she took it as a positive sign. She was half-expecting him to tell her to leave.

Thirteen reached the Information Desk and asked where the doctors were meeting. She was directed towards the ER Conference Room where doctors talked to families. She knocked lightly on the door.

The looks on Cuddy's and Wilson's faces were priceless as they realized who was interrupting.

"Dr. Hadley, this has nothing to do with you."

Remy caught House's doctor roll his eyes. "So you're a doctor. Nice to meet you officially." He held out his hand to shake hers, happy to have a friend in his corner.

"As I was saying," Dr. Cuddy began again, "I'm his primary physician. I have the privilege to know his condition."

"I have a verbal confirmation from the patient not to discuss his case with anyone other than Dr. Nolan."

"But I'm his health care proxy," Wilson argued for the umpteenth time. "I outrank both of you." He glanced at Remy. "And you, too."

"Hey, I'm just here as a messenger from House." Thirteen held up her hands in surrender.

"Why you?" Cuddy wasn't sure if she was supposed to be upset or relieved.

Remy shrugged.

Dr. Radcliffe took back control of the meeting. "Dr. Wilson, we'll put your copy of the proxy in Dr. House's file. If we need to contact you, we will.

Dr. Cuddy, I will speak with Dr. House to determine how he wants me to proceed with keeping you updated on his condition."

"House would like the both of you to respect his wishes and not bother Dr. Radcliffe. He said you'll be the first to know when he's ready to see you," Thirteen added authoritatively.

"This isn't over," Wilson threatened, pointing a finger at Remy.

"What are you going to do? Call his mommy? Can't you just give him a few days to stabilize?"

"No," Cuddy and Wilson said in unison.

"All the more reason I should be around. He's not stable."

"He's not unconscious or insane. He can make his own decisions." Remy tried not to glare at him, but it was difficult.

"I saw him last night. He didn't look capable of anything." Wilson wasn't going to give up the fight.

"Did you follow me?" Remy was surprised and insulted.

Wilson realized how it appeared. "I was desperate for information."

"The two of you need to realize that you've overstepped your boundaries, both with me and with House. I can't speak for him, but I won't tolerate it happening again." Thirteen stood defiantly, locking eyes with Wilson, then Cuddy before leaving.