Kelly awoke feeling refreshed that Wednesday morning. Her fever was gone, her mind was clear, and all seemed right with the world for the first time in a very long time.

On the phone the night before, she and House had decided to play things by ear on their trip back rather than wrestle too much with an itinerary before they got on the road. All she had asked was that they take a markedly different route than she'd taken to get there just to vary the experience, and that they start the trip by continuing east until they hit the ocean. He'd agreed, though still said goodnight early so he'd have time to browse the Internet for possibilities.

Before he'd signed off, he'd admitted that he felt a little reluctant about taking this trip, afraid that after a few hours together in a small car she might realize he really was the bastard he'd claimed to be. She told him point blank that he was being stupid, and it had made him laugh in a way that brought back that feeling in her stomach even stronger than before.

Packed, loaded and ready to go, Kelly drove the now familiar route to the hospital for her 10 a.m. appointment where she found Kutner waiting for her in the radiology reception area. She obliged him by engaging his attempts at small talk enthusiastically, and tried not to make him feel embarrassed when he said something dumb, changing the subject to her thyroid instead.

"You need to stay on your medication," he told her. "Same dosage. I'll write you the prescription before you go." He was standing outside her changing room cubicle as she donned the gown and robe he'd provided. It apparently occurred to him that he should turn their conversation to medicine now. "So you've been monitoring your temperature?"

"Yeah. Except for the fever from the infection, it's been normal." She followed him and allowed him to help her get settled for the MRI. "Is Dr. House here?"

Obviously, she knew that he wasn't. However even though he hadn't talked to her about his concerns, she thought it would be best to allay any suspicions that might arise from his leave coinciding with her trip home.

Kutner glanced toward the control room where he knew Thirteen was listening and evaluating the interchange. "No, he's off on a sabbatical of sorts."

"I just wanted to thank him," she said believably. "Will you pass on the message?"

The scan seemed to last a long time, but Kelly had no problem with them being thorough. When it was over Kutner took her into an adjoining room that was normally used for ultrasounds so that he could do a quick exam, checking the operative sites and doing a pain and mobility assessment. Then while she changed he suggested that she should wait in the hospital for the MRI results which the team were busy analyzing. "If you give me your number," Kutner suggested, "I can text you when we're ready."

House HAD told her about this. Fighting hard to keep a straight face, she said, "I left my phone in the car; I need to charge it. Sorry."

Was that a look of disappointment?

"I brought a book," she continued, pretending not to notice. "Is there somewhere I can go to read so you'll know where to find me?"

"Okay. You can just go to..."

"Why not Dr. House's office, since he's not there."

"Um... that's fine. Do you remember how to get there?"

"I'm sure I'll find my way." And laying a hand briefly on his arm and giving it a squeeze (of pity, though he didn't have to know that), she set off.

She used House's own phone to call him in case Kutner should arrive and see that her cell phone was in fact charged and in her possession.

"Someone had better be dying," he said gruffly before she had a chance to identify herself.

"Hopefully it's not me," she said genially. "My doctor promised me a clean bill of health."

She could hear the smile in his voice. "I saw my office number on the call display and assumed they needed my help already. Why are you in there?"

"Just waiting." They spoke very briefly and then she hung up, not wanting to be found behind his desk like she owned the place. Her timing was stellar; less than two minutes later Kutner, Foreman and a very tired looking Thirteen entered.

"Everything looks good," Foreman reported. "You should get checked out regularly over the next few months, and we'll make sure all your records get faxed to your physician, but you appear to be fine."

Kelly beamed at them. "Thank you so much, all of you." She shook hands all around and after getting her prescription and exchanging final niceties, taking a few extra moments on Kutner just to give him something to talk about later, she left the hospital.

House met her at the door before she could knock. "You check out alright?"

"All clear!" He hadn't seemed the type, but now that she knew he was so inclined it felt natural to hug him. This time his response was comfortable and immediate. "You did it, just like you said."

"Never doubt me again," he commanded, giving her an extra squeeze before releasing her.

"I didn't doubt you'd solve the puzzle. You came highly recommended after all." She extended the handle on his large suitcase and dropped the carry-on sized bag on top. "This everything?"

"I'll take those if you can get the stuff in the kitchen." He'd gotten antsy waiting for her that morning and had made a trip to the grocery store for supplies. He ended up filling a cooler with all kinds of items he thought might delight her.

Soon the car was packed and after a final bathroom break they decided that House would drive the first leg of their trip. "Where to?" he asked her, unable to keep a degree of excitement out of his usually controlled voice.

"To the ocean. After that, we'll just see where the road takes us."

And so House pulled away from the curb feeling refreshed that Wednesday morning. His reluctance was gone, his mind was clear, and all seemed right with the world for the first time in a very long time.