Chapter 1

Doctor Chase was down in the clinic, he'd pick up the chart to room 3 without even looking at it yet.

"What are you in for?" asked Doctor Chase as soon as the door was shut behind him.
A young girl, 14, according to her chart, was sitting a little awkwardly on the bed. "My ribs."
"Okay," said Chase. "Lift your shirt up."
He put the chart down as she lifted up the right side of her shirt. There was a huge bruise on her ribs, deep and dark. "Oh my god," said Chase.
"It looks worse than it is."
"Uh huh."
"I have Hemophilia B."
"That wasn't on your chart."
She shrugged.
Chase looked at her. "Your name isn't Mary, either, is it?"
She shrugged again. "I just need to know if I'm bleeding internally."
Chase frowned and looked at the bruise again. He gently poked it, she didn't flinch. He frowned and poked another part. "How did this happen?"
"I walked into a car door."
"Walked?"
"Yes."
Chase poked her again, closer to her middle. She flinched. He clicked his tongue. "I think you're okay."
She breathed a sigh of relief.
Chase picked up the file and was about to dismiss her when he noticed something on her back. "What's that?" he asked.
"What's what?"
"Your back…can I…"
She frowned but lifted her shirt more and Chase went behind her. "You've got some lacerations here, they're…infected."
"Infected?"
"When did you get these?"
She shrugged.
"Look, you have Hemophilia B, I need to know."
"About 5 days ago."
"Jesus."
"What?"
"The infection is…bad. Not terrible, but with your condition…THIS might be causing internal bleeding. We're going to need to a CT scan."
"Great. Do I need parental permission for that?"
"For a CT scan, if your parents have healthcare I'd say yes – otherwise it might cost you."
She leaned back. "Crap."
"You want to think about it…Mary?"
She eyed him. "My mom's picking up at the library down the street in two hours, can it be done before that?"
"I'm gonna say no."
"Get me Doctor House," said 'Mary'.
"Excuse me?"
"Gregory House, tall, sarcastic, limpy, brash?"
"I know who he is."
"Wonderful, and I want him to be my doctor."
Chase took off his gloves and put them in the bin. He shook his head, "Your choice."

Chase found House in his office, watching a soap and eating a sandwich.
"House," said Chase.
"You're interrupting my show."
"There's a teenage girl downstairs who needs a CT scan."
"How does that concern me."
"She asked for you."
"Why?"
"You tell me."
House turned around. "What's her name?"
"She said it was Mary."
"You don't believe her."
"No."
"What did she look like?"
Chase shrugged. "Blonde, brown eyes, 14, don't think she lied about the age actually."
"Huh. Fun. No." He turned back to his show.
"She has Hemophilia B."
House turned the TV off. "Let's go."

Chase walked with House back downstairs and he slammed the door as he went into the room.
"What the hell are you doing here?" he asked her.
All 'Mary' did was raise her eyebrows. "Nice to see you too."
"What did you do?"
"Nothing."
"Look at her back and ribs," said Chase.
House came over and lifted her shirt. The bruises caused a sigh and the infection on her back caused a curse. "How long?"
"Five days," said 'Mary'.
"Let's get a chair and go, now," he said to Chase.
"But…"
"No buts, tell them the truth, we've got an HB minor female with possible internal bleeding and infection. We'll get bumped right to the front of the line."
"The truth?"
"Yes."
Chase pulled in a chair from outside and 'Mary' got into it.
"You gonna tell them?" she asked House as Chase began pushing the chair.
"Depends on what there is to tell."
"You can't just say no?"
"I can't lie to you."
Chase stared at House as they walked along. "Since when?"
"Since shut up."

"No internal bleeding," said Chase, looking at her results.
"You don't say," said House.
"You want me to tell her?"
"I will. Go get her the antibiotics for her infection."
"How do you know a 14-year-old?"
"Because I know her parents."
"Ah of course. That clears it all up."
House glared at Chase but went into the curtained off area where 'Mary' was waiting. "You're all clear for internal bleeding." He told her.
She leaned back on the bed and breathed a sigh of relief.
House sat on the edge of her bed. "What are you doing here?"
"The Medical Seminar."
"Ah, of course. Chase is getting you the antibiotics."
"What about the repeat dosages?"
House raised his eyebrows.
"I can't pay for them."
"You don't have a wallet?"
"I only have a credit card and certain people will see the transaction."
"You could always tell the truth."
"And I could always be grounded for life."
"How'd you get the lacerations?"
"How'd you get to be such a jerk?"
"Did you really walk into a car door?"
"You know, you might have cancer, do you mind if I call for a consult?"
'Mary' kicked doctor House in the thigh. "You wouldn't dare."
"Wouldn't I?"
Chase appeared with the meds. "Here you are, 'Mary'." He handed her the pills and a cup of water.
She took them, the whole time staring at House.
"Repeats?"
House sighed. "Give me the script," he said to Chase.
Chase scribbled it out and handed it to House. "How do you know him?"
"He's my-"
"Gay Uncle," House interrupted.
"Uh huh," said Chase.
"Come on, young Mary…"
"Watson," said Chase, frowning at her.
"Original, my dear. Come Mary Watson," he said getting up off the bed. "Let's get you your pills and you can lie to your mother down the road. If we hurry you may only be a few minutes late."
"Did I ever tell you're my favorite gay uncle?" said Mary, smiling as she got off the bed.
"Did I ever tell you you're my favorite niece who knows when to shut up?"
"All the time."
Chase watched in awe as they walked off together towards the pharmacy.

"Thank you, really," said 'Mary' in the lobby.
"Three times a day, same time, after food. Two weeks."
"I can read, House."
"I know you can. I'm just doing my due diligence as your doctor. And I want to see you after those two weeks to check."
'Mary' smiled, went on her tiptoes, kissed House on the cheek. "Thank you."
"Go forth and be a liar, my sweet autumn child."
"Go forth and be an ass, my sweet summer child."
House couldn't help but smile as she literally ran down the road towards the library. He turned back around and rammed right into Wilson.
"Jesus, Jimmy!"
"Who was that?" he asked.
"Who?"
"The lady that just kissed you on the cheek?"
"You saw that?"
"People don't normally kiss you so even from a distance I saw."
"No one you'd know. Lunch?" he said, changing the topic.
"Sure."