2005

House and Cameron's dinner date led to more dates which made Reilly smile.

"She's good for you," she told him one afternoon as they stood in the lobby testing patients for meningitis. Hundreds of people stood in long lines. One of the judges at a diving competition collapsed and was diagnosed with a particularly virulent strain of the disease.

"She likes me," he replied. He looked at the strip he pulled out of the woman's mouth in front of him. He grabbed a small plastic cup with two pills in it and handed her a blue slip of paper. "Take these and show the blue form to security to get out of this zoo."

Reilly handed a yellow strip to the man in front of her. "Take this and go upstairs to the second floor."

"Oh, God!" he gasped. "I'm going to die!"

"No, you're going to the second floor," Reilly told him. "Go."

"My leg is beginning to hurt," House told her. "I need to take a break."

Reilly nodded. "I can do both lines. Go rest your leg."

She moved to stand between the two lines and picked up two disposable thermometers. He turned and pushed his way through the people milling around. He saw Cuddy and increased his pace to the elevator. She ran up to him.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked as she trotted along beside him.

"My leg hurts. I have a note," he told her as he pushed the button on the elevator with the end of his cane.

"We have almost eight hundred patients to clear," she snapped. "Get back to work."

"Reilly's covering for me. I'm going upstairs to rest my leg."

He pushed his way into the elevator and she slipped in behind him just as the doors closed. When they arrived on the fourth floor, she followed him out.

"I heard a rumor that you're dating Cameron. I really hope it isn't true," she told him.

He walked into his office and sat down in his lounger. He sighed as he put his feet up. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his Vicodin and popped two in his mouth.

"Look, I know you've been carrying a huge torch for me since I slipped you the long hard one all those years ago, but you gotta move on. Chase is available."

"I am not carrying a torch for you," she began and stopped when he began sniffing the air. "What?!"

"The smoke from your burning pants is pretty strong." He looked at her tight skirt. "Or in your case, skirt."

"You cannot date her. She works for you."

"Then transfer her," he said.

"No."

"Jealousy is a very unattractive quality on you."

"I am not jealous. But you are her supervisor. You're opening us up to a massive lawsuit."

House scoffed. "No, I'm not. Cameron would never file a sexual harassment claim against me."

"When you dump her she could," Cuddy snapped.

"Have you met Cameron?" he asked. "She's incredibly ethical and professional. If we broke up, she'd be upset but she wouldn't let it interfere with our working relationship. Just like she isn't letting our personal relationship interfere now. So, I have to wonder. Who tattled? Wilson? Maybe during one of your little gabfests about me?"

"If this causes even the tiniest problem, you're both fired," she told him.

"Is that it? Cause there's about eight hundred people downstairs waiting to get cleared."

Chase appeared in the doorway. "Need you," he said to House. "Got a patient. Twelve year old female with fever, rash and neck pains-"

"Wow!" House exclaimed. "Sounds like she has meningitis."

"Not meningitis. Her head hurts when she moves it from side to side not up and down She's had the rash for a week now. If it was meningitis, she'd be dead."

"Gather the crew," House told him.

"Stop!" Cuddy ordered. "Give her some cream for the rash and some acetaminophen for the fever and neck pain. Then discharge her and get back to work."

Chase looked from House to Cuddy and back again. House groaned as he got up. He loomed over Cuddy.

"You know that suing thing you mentioned earlier? Do parents of little girls do that when their kid dies?" he asked. He shrugged. "Just curious."

"You have two hours," Cuddy told him and then stalked out of the room.

House looked at Chase and made a shooing motion. "You heard the boss. We've got two hours. Go!"

Four hours later the team was gathered in the conference room and House was pacing.

"We fixed the bleed in her brain but she's still sick," Cameron said.

"We're missing something," Reilly said. "She's twelve but she travels all over the country without her parents. Also, the only visitors are the girls from her team and the coach. She's cute and smart but none of the boys have been in to check on her."

"Maybe they're just not interested," Chase said. "The youngest guy on the team is sixteen."

"Or they're avoiding her," House and Reilly said in unison. They exchanged a smile.

"Check her blood again for cell fragments," House told her.

She nodded and left. When she returned she looked grim.

"Her blood cells look like they've been shredded. The rash is purpura," she told them.

"Thrombocytopenic purpura?" Chase asked incredulously. "There's no E. Coli in her system and she isn't menopausal so no estrogen."

"There is another cause," Reilly told him.

"She's twelve!" Cameron exclaimed.

House looked at Reilly. "Go tell her and then perform the abortion."

Reilly looked away.

"If your religious beliefs-" he began.

"Shut up! I'll do it, damn your eyes! I just need a minute."

"Our little mermaid doesn't have time for you to get your shit together. Go now," he ordered.

She turned sharply and stomped out of the room.

"What was the purpose of that?" Cameron asked. "Chase or I could do it. Why are you treating her that way?"

House didn't answer. He leaned heavily on his cane and looked down at the floor.

Chase got up and walked out.

"What did she do that was so horrible that you feel the need to punish her?" Cameron asked when they were alone.

"She left me," House said softly.

"But you two weren't dating."

"You wouldn't understand."

"Try me," she told him. Getting up, she crossed over to him and put her hand on his chest.

He shook his head. "We were inseparable for nearly twenty-six years. She kept me sane; she saved me. Then she got married and moved to Los Angeles. I thought I'd have her forever."

"She's back now. Give her another chance. She obviously knows you better than anyone."

He leaned his forehead against hers. "I'll try."