Chapter 18 Life is like a game of chess. To win you have to make a move.

After a few feet while still in line of sight with his patient's room. House stopped walking, causing Wilson to glance back and come to a stop as well. He waited watching the oncologist with interest.

Wilson turned to look in the direction they had come from and the direction he had intended on going, then House himself. He adopted a bemused sort of expression, "what are you doing?" He asked, placing his hands on his hips.

Save for a slight twitch of his eyebrows, House looked a picture of innocence "I'm waiting to hear what you want to talk about." The older man replied.

This did not appear to be the response Wilson had expected "I…thought we could go to your office? Or mine?" Wilson said haltingly.

"Why?" House said

"Why?" Wilson repeated, again as if this new, unexpected dialogue unnerved him somewhat. "Uhh because you know your leg, you like to sit down…loaf around on my sofa like you normally do? You've been with that patient all day." He made a 'I have freed you' sort of gesture with both hands.

"So?"

"So?" Wilson repeated again, dropping his hands this time.

"If all you do is repeat my words back to me this conversation goes nowhere." House sighed and waited, when his friend simply stood and gawked at him rolled his eyes and turned away.

"Wait…Where are you going?"

House looked back over his shoulder. "I'd have thought that was obvious. I'm going back to sit with my patient."

The fair haired Doctor laughed but his smile faded when House did little more than raise his eyebrows again meaningfully and take another step. "Wait…you're not serious?"

"I am."

"You're willingly going in, actually choosing to sit with her…"

"Looks like it." House said as he limped back the way he had come.

Wilson blinked once and then quickly marched around his friend and cut his progress off. He held up a hand to stop House "Ok… what's going on?"

"Going on? Wilson this is a Hospital, I'm a Doctor. I have a patient, you can do the rest of the math there surely. Clever boy like you?"

"Bollocks. Chase filled me in, hell Cuddy filled me in! First you explode soda over the girl then you take her as a patient? What's your game here House? What's the angle?"

House looked mildly offended. "No angle, she's just a patient."

"Right. Why her?"

"Hey I don't pick 'em." House shrugged

"Yes!" Willson exploded incredulously "Yes you do! That's exactly what you do! You literally hand select them."

House sighed again and looked at his watch meaningfully.

In response Wilson once again held up one hand. " You know what… I'm not going to pretend to understand what it is you think is going on here or you think you're seeing. I've seen the chart, this is not your sort of case, hell if she had appeared at the clinic you'd have called her a moron, wrote her a script and tossed her out by now." He pointed a finger accusingly. House's only response was a snort of amusement so Wilson continued. "So ignoring all of that, what I'm interested in is why are you here."

House rolled his head on his neck. "I just told you, she's a patient, I'm a Doctor…you do the math."

"Don't give me that. You know exactly what I meant. Why are you insisting on staying here? Why not let the team deal with her?"

House shrugged nonchalantly "She doesn't like the team. They don't seem to like her very much either, come to think of it. It's kind of refreshing."

Wilson frowned at him a moment and glanced back at the girls room. "Wait…even Cameron?"

"Apparently."

"But…she's the…"

"The caring one?" House asked turning to explore the oncologist's line of vision.

Wilson turned back "I was going to say least objectionable of you four."

"Charming."

"Accurate."

"Well regardless, the kid seems to prefer me."

There was silence for a few moments while both men considered. Wilson broke it.

"Have you had psyche down to see her yet?"

House smirked and raised an eyebrow. "Are you jealous, Wilson?"

Wilson rolled his eyes. "Wha…why would you even assume…No, I'm not jealous. I just want to know what's going on."

House sighed and leaned on his cane. He hesitated for a moment before answering. "I don't know. There's just something about her that intrigues me." He caught sight of Wilson's expression and added hastily " Oh don't look at me like that, I just think there's more to her symptoms than meets the eye."

"And that's it?" Wilson asked waving a hand in a is it that cut and dry sort of way.

House looked at him again and before he could utter a word Wilson had turned his earlier gesture into a wagging finger.

"I KNEW it. I knew there was something else. This case is downright BORING by your standards. Out with it, What is it?"

"I…She just …"

The hesitation in his friend seemed to defuse Wilson. He dropped his hand and stood looking helplessly at him "What is it House?" He asked quietly.

"Doesn't matter," House said dismissively with a shake of his head. "Look, I'm just trying to help her. She's got some serious issues that nobody else seems to be helping with."

"So what, you're trying to play hero?" Wilson asked skeptically. "You don't play the hero, it's not your thing. You can't just decide to do other people's things. There's rules."

"I'm not playing anything," House growled defensively.

"Aren't you?"

"No, I'm not. Like I keep telling you, she's a patient, I'm a Doctor. I just think I can help her."

"And you think, despite what her file clearly indicates and despite the fact for your normal clientele that medically she's as dull as sand that she needs your particular brand of help?"

House heaved a sigh this time. "Not necessarily. But I think she needs someone's help and there's something I can't put my finger on right now."

"That's all you're going to tell me?" Wilson said his hands back on his hips.

House stared, leaning on his cane and did nothing more than raise his eyebrows again.

After a few moments of silence between them both "Fine," Wilson exhaled deeply, throwing up his hands. "Fine. But just… be careful, okay? You don't want to get too involved."

House smirked. "Too late for that, Wilson. I'm already knee-deep in teenage angst."

"I mean it, House. I've seen you obsess over patients before, it never ends well. As your friend I'm trying to make sure someone helps you when you need it. Let her parents help her."

"Kinda hard since they're dead. Unless you want me to hold a seance?"

"Oh…well how was I supposed to know that!" Wilson said exasperation clear in his tone, however his expression softened slightly "obviously not, don't be ridiculous…" he trailed off and looked at the room they had just come from again.

House followed his line of vision back to the blinds of Arin's room. He could see her silhouette superimposed on the material. Absently he lifted his right hand and rubbed his temples and forehead a second.

Wilson was ruining a hand over his hair, still seemingly unconvinced. " Just make sure you don't get too attached. We're doctors, not friends. There's a line you need to be careful of this time."

House gave a slight smile, and a pointed look before he said "I'll bear that in mind."

"You want me to stay with you…"

"She's…not so great with other Doctors around, best if we leave it to just me just now."

Wilson frowned then gave a nod and shaking his head he said "Fine…but I'll be back. And you're going to come with me then. Like it or not." He lifted a hand and walked away leaving House himself in the hall.

"Yes sir Captain Wilson." House said after him and gave a mildly mocking salute. As the oncologist waved his hand again dismissively he added "And don't you worry I'll protect the non interference directive or die trying!"

Wilson turned around the corner and out of sight doing nothing more than shaking his head. House watched him go and raised a hand to rub over his face. He knew Wilson was right…he should be careful, this was already more involved than he normally got and by rights he should have passed the case on to someone else hours ago. He hasn't because while it was only a mild medical interest he couldn't help feeling drawn to the kid's personality. Her analysis of him only serving to confirm some questions in his mind and reaffirm that interest. However the question became now what?

For some minutes he remained where he was watching the silhouette. It moved suddenly and he took half a step forward before he realised that she might be going to the bathroom and no cause for alarm so long as she didn't leave the room itself. She didn't, that was surprising. He glanced at the door across from hers where the mermaid resided and caught a twitch of the blinds there. An errant breeze perhaps or maybe he wasn't the only one watching the room. As a general rule of thumb He didn't indulge in long term relationships, with a few notable exceptions, but this one with the gossip queen didn't make much sense to him at all. If the kiddo was observant enough to see him fully, surely she could see what he saw in her so-called friend. Shaking his head as if to clear it, House refocused, he needed to contemplate his next move.

As he pondered a candy striper with a game trolley backed out of a nearby elevator. She smiled automatically at him then froze for a second as a form of recognition dawned. Her smile morphed into a mildly terrified look and she began moving off down the hall away from him. He glanced at the room again then back at her as a thought crossed his mind.

"Hey! You." He called loudly causing her to shakily come to a stop. He limped towards the trolley "Hang on a second."

As the door to her room slid open, Arin's heart skipped a beat, anticipating what fresh horror might befall her. Her eyes darted to the opening, only to find an old horror instead. House limped in with a half-checkered wooden box tucked under his arm. She was almost embarrassed by the sense of relief that washed over her, accompanied by a tinge of curiosity.

House paused as he slid the door closed again to give a meaningful glare into the corridor. Be it at a nurse or at Robyn she wasn't sure. The door closed and he turned properly into the room.

"Chess?" Arin asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, chess. You know, that game with all the little pieces and the board," House replied, giving the board a little shake, a smirk playing on his lips.

Suppressing a sigh, Arin rolled her eyes. "I know what chess is," she retorted, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "I mean why have you brought a chess set?"

"Then next time say that." House said ignoring the question "You know how to play I assume?" He asked as he moved forward, placing the game onto the over bed trolley and rolling it into position, halfway up the bed.

Arin adjusted herself, pushing further upright into her pillows as she felt the mattress depress under House's weight at her feet. She couldn't help but feel a slight unease as he watched her intently while settling down opposite her. Pulling her feet up under the covers, she unconsciously created a small barrier between herself and the doctor, a subtle sign of her wariness. With a slight frown, she observed as House opened the board and meticulously began to arrange the pieces.

"Well?" He prompted again.

Eventually, she nodded, overcoming her initial reservations. "Yeah, I can play."

House's grin widened, both in response to her acceptance and the fact that she hadn't scolded him for making assumptions. "Good. Then let's play," he said, his voice filled with a sense of anticipation.

"Why?" Arin inquired, her curiosity getting the better of her.

He shrugged casually. "You're bored, I'm bored... It's a good excuse to chat more," House replied, his smirk morphing into a faint smile.

Arin furrowed her brow, the confusion evident on her face, she scanned the board as if it would explain this sudden change in track. The black and white wooden squares were tight lipped however and she found herself with nothing else to do but nod in agreement.

The prospect of conversation was not as daunting as anything else he may have come back into the room demanding. Maybe a few hours ago…definitely yesterday but not now. Her shoulders relaxed as some of the tension eased slightly, although a hint of wariness lingered in her eyes.

As House finalized the setup of the chessboard, he couldn't help but notice the nervousness creeping back in. She fidgeted with her fingers and avoided direct eye contact with him. That intrigued him, he could see her trying to work out the angle on the game, almost hearing the cogs turning as she worked out how this fit into their already intricate dance. The monitor beside the bed caught and held his attention a split second before he decided to break the silence.

"Relax, kiddo." He nodded his head at the monitor as if it explained his comment and not his observations of her. "It's just a game," House reassured.

Arin flinched ever so slightly telling him that she too had registered the slight change in her readings but she nodded but House could sense that she was still on guard. He observed the way her brow knitted in the center, an expression he was becoming familiar with which seemed to indicate deep contemplation.

Despite having set up the board with himself as the back pieces and her as white, House took the initiative and made the first move, pushing his pawn forward by two spaces. A brief pause ensued as Arin watched him instead of focusing on the board itself. Raising an eyebrow, House awaited her response, expecting her to vocalize her thoughts or comment on his move. Surprisingly, she did neither. Instead she mirrored his move, pushing her own pawn forward by two spaces.

'So it's going to be like that, is it Kiddo?' House thought. 'Ok. If that's how you want it.'

The game commenced slowly, with both players cautiously testing the waters. However, as House began to make more aggressive moves, Arin found herself on the defensive. Her frown deepening as His smirk grew wider. He was all out grinning as he captured one of her knights.

It has been years since she had played last and while both her grandfather and his friends at the country club were good, none of them were like House. None of his moves seemed arbitrary, even the ones that made no sense at first. She found herself being pulled into the game, her mind spinning with questions about each little square and the merits of holding or giving it up each turn as if it was a real life battlefield. Her brain felt slow however and it frustrated her to no end as she tried to both focus on the board and waken it up fully.

The game progressed, each move met with an intense focused silence. House had anticipated a lively conversation, something akin to their earlier to and fro but it seemed that was unforthcoming both their attention was solely dedicated to the chessboard. Unexpectedly, the teen's style of play began to shift as she adapted to House's style. Clearly she had a head for strategy and it wasn't long after this that she began holding her own. She began anticipating his moves and responded with surprising speed and precision. Although House was still winning, his lead was gradually diminishing. Leaning back slightly, he shifted his weight on the bottom of the hospital bed, studying the chessboard in front of him with a slight furrow on his brow.

"You know," he said evenly, his low tone sounding almost deafening as it punctured the silence. He picked up one of his knights and moved it two spaces forward, "they say chess is one of the ultimate tests of intelligence."

Arin raised an eyebrow, and glanced up at him then away again. For a moment he was sure she wouldn't answer, however in a tone laced with mild sarcasm "Is that so?" she asked. She moved her bishop to intercept House's knight.

"Absolutely," House replied as with a kind of nonchalance moved another piece "It's all about strategy, predicting your opponent's moves, thinking ahead. All higher order thinking skills. "

Arin frowned again and considered his move, then smirked. "Well, in that case," she said, moving her queen to take House's knight, "I guess you just may not be that intelligent."

House chuckled as she played the move he had set up. It wasn't obvious so he had been unsure if she would notice it let alone take it. Out loud he responded "Don't get too cocky," he warned her, moving his remaining knight to threaten her queen. "I'm only getting warmed up."

The game continued in the same determined silence after that. Despite House's formidable intellect and experience of the game, the kiddo was proving to be a worthy opponent. More so than he had expected. He was mildly surprised at how quickly she anticipated his moves, even when he purposely tried to make them unpredictable. He began shifting from one strategy to another and felt a surge of…pride? Validation? Something he wasn't quite sure… when after a few seconds of thinking time delay she shifted to match. He found himself enjoying the game as they traded pieces back and forth until there were only a few left on the board.

As the end game neared Arin leaned forward, seemingly forgetting her proximity to the doctor, her eyes fixed on the board. For the first time since they had arrived at the hospital a sense of non drug induced calm seemed to have washed over her. The board and the game and the puzzle that played it with her became the torus of her focus and she no longer felt tired. Her mind and body felt like they were buzzing. It was an old comforting feeling she realised. Like putting on a comfortable pair or warm socks fresh from the dryer. The feeling confused some part of her but she wasn't ready to think about that yet.

Eventually, House broke the silence again. "Your move, Kiddo," he prompted when a minute had passed without her response.

She looked up at him fleetingly, then moved her last pawn forward again, hoping to open up a path for her remaining bishop. But House was ready for her. Lazily he moved his own pawn, blocking her bishop's advance. She frowned, trying to think of a way around House's defense. She studied the board for a few moments before reluctantly moving her queen, hoping to create a new threat. But House was quick to respond, moving his king to safety. She stared at the move he had just made and then traced back the more obvious one he should have made instead, the move she had been anticipating.

"What's the matter?" he asked, feigning innocence as he watched her.

"Why are you... playing irrationally?" she asked, her frustration evident.

"Am I?" he said, innocent tone ruined with clear amusement.

This seemed to annoy her further. "You're playing erratically, if nothing else," she accused as she glared at him and reluctantly made her move.

He gave a small laugh. "Well, maybe just a little, or of course there's a simpler explanation."

"Such as?" she inquired.

"Maybe you're just not that good," he replied and made his final move, capturing Arin's last remaining pawn, leaving her with no moves left. "Checkmate," he said with a smile.

Arin's eyes widened and quickly she scanned the board. He watched her with interest as she replayed the last few moves in her head then sighed, looking disappointed but also a little impressed. "You're pretty good," she admitted.

House shrugged. "Just experience," he said. "I've probably been playing for longer than you've been alive. You're not as terrible as I thought you'd be either."

Arin gave a slight chuckle that surprised him, "Don't tell me that was a compliment? From you?"

House smirked again. "Take it Kiddo, you're unlikely to get another any time soon."

Arin nodded while studying the chessboard one last time. "Another game?" she suggested, the words spilling out of her mouth before she could stop them. She felt her heart skip a beat, the sound echoing from the monitor beside the bed.

House raised his eyebrows, his eyes flicking to the monitor and back, clearly surprised at her suggestion. "Sure, if you want," he replied, already starting to set up the pieces.

As House reset the board, Arin leaned back into her pillows and contemplated what she could do differently in their next game. As she did so she realized that for the first time since they had arrived the tightness in her chest seemed to have alleviated. She took a breath in and had half opened her mouth to tell House when she considered what that news would do. Would he abandon the game and take the stethoscope to her again…would he return to the vitals check situation of the night before? Before she had decided what to do the pieces were set up, and House's eyes were fixed on her. She balked at the intense blue stare, feeling a slight flush creep up her cheeks. "What?" she asked, her tone defensive.

"You feeling ok?" He asked mildly.

"I'm fine." She continued in the same defensive tone.

"Ok."he said and cleared his throat slightly "So, when I brought the board in I envisioned that going…differently."

"Differently how?" She asked.

"My plan was that we would talk while we played, but that... didn't happen. It also turns out you're a better player than I initially gave you credit for, no offence."

"Some taken." Arin said but without the defensive bite of her last few comments.

House smiled and continued "So... I'm happy to play another game with you but, this back and forth isn't really getting us anywhere, so I wondered if maybe you want to make it more… decisive?" House asked.

Frowning, she searched his features, trying to work out what he could possibly mean. A switch flipped somewhere and deep down she was sure she knew already. Once again, a sense of calm settled within her but regardless she found herself asking "Decisive how?"

House shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing exciting. Similar to the deal we made, I get something, you get something. Quid pro quo remember?"

"I remember the premise. Go on," she said warily.

"Right, so if you win the game, I'll answer any and all questions you have," House proposed, letting the offer hang in the air.

This didn't seem to have the effect he had assumed it would. Instead she cleared her throat "And if you win?" she asked, a quaver in her voice.

"Same deal. If I win, I get the answers to all of my questions."

"As simple as that?" She asked watching him.

He smirked, clever girl, "Not exactly…my answers required a more specific element than just talking about the question."

"Which is?"

House seemed to be choosing his next words carefully, "Some of my questions require things you may not know the answers to because they are medical in nature. Put simply, to get those answers you would need to let me give you a full workup."

Arin sucked in air and held it for a few seconds before letting it out.

House shrugged. "I'll be as quick as possible but it'll still take a bit of time. And I'd want blood tests and a chest X-ray, maybe an ultrasound. I don't know yet. But even if I don't win, you should get yourself a GP and have them do it. By your age you could do with having had at least one full physical exam on record."

She stared at the board and then back at him. "I don't want people examining me..."

"Yeah, I get that." House interrupted. "And you were right earlier, generally your medical complaints aren't that interesting for someone like me. But you yourself are. Cards on the table kiddo, You're a vergence in the force so to speak which means that even the boring might not be that boring. In short I want to know what the heck is going on with you, and examining you is my only way of getting that." House spread his hands. "Now that I'm aware of it regarding your iatrophobia, we can take it slow, I can explain what I'm doing whatever you need me to do, but I want my exam." He shrugged again, "Those are the terms, It's not a gamble if we aren't putting something big on the line."

The honesty was fairly refreshing, she watched him as he spoke, hugging her knees, feeling the intensity of his icy blue eyes on her. "I hardly think you answering more of my questions constitutes big stakes from you," she said bluntly when he was done.

House rolled his eyes, his frustration barely contained, "What do you want then? I know money isn't going to tip the scale, so…name your price."

Arin frowned and was quiet for a few moments staring at the chessboard once again. She recognised that it was unlike the doctor to be so upfront about what he wanted, even their brief time together told her that much. He was putting everything out in the open and handing the one thing she was struggling with losing back to her. Control. She could say no to him now and that was it, he would have to find another angle but she would be on to him then. This was a final play sort of aspect and realistically that was what he risked if he lost. But was that enough? Her head throbbed monetarily and she tried to weigh up the pros and cons of what he was suggesting. Really, she reasoned, her not wanting him or anyone to examine her, even the query on what she wanted in return was secondary to the main question…could she actually win against him?

Arin sat back playing back the first game in her head, focusing on her memories of his style, how it changed and altered as they played. He had been testing her, she realized, testing and forming this plan to get to the actual end game. Unconventional and probably unprofessional on his part but clever really when she thought about it.

Finally, just as House was beginning to think he had played the wrong hand entirely and had started to consider damage control Arin spoke, licking her lips first. The monitor showed her heart rate hinch up again. "Ok. As utterly fucked up as this deal is… I'll agree to your terms, if you win…I'll…I'll let you examine me but if I win…" she locked eyes with him, her jaw set determinedly "…you let me go home."

If that hadn't been what House expected he didn't show it. He contemplated the teenager before him thoughtfully. Clever girl, he thought again with that strange sense that his suspicions about her were being verified. He made a sound, air passing through his teeth.

Before he could speak she hastily added "I got here by accident. Robyn is the one who needs to be here, not me."

He sat back and raised both eyebrows "Flawed conclusion. You realize that the fact you have had more than one severe breathing episode that required medical intervention, have a rash of unknown origin, spiked and then maintained a consistent low grade fever despite medication and that your blood work indicates some sort of infection that you're currently on steroids and antibiotics for not to mention the concussion that should have brought you in in the first place means that right here is exactly where you should be."

Arin gave him a pointed look and he sighed in response. There was no use trying to have that argument. It would just undo the groundwork they had already laid.

"High stakes indeed. You must be a lot better than you let on in that first game if you're willing to suggest that be what you're playing for. Not only does that mean I'd lose but I'd lose big because you'd take away any chance of me getting another bite." She didn't respond to this so he said then just in case she thought better of it. "Fine. If you win I will let you go home," he held up a finger "Once the IVs you are on are finished and if your temperature when I take it is either normal or no more than 100 degrees."

"That's not fa…" Arin started to say but House shook his head and continued talking over her.

"That's my offer. And if I win you let me examine you head to toe and I also get to run any tests I want. I'll even give you a sporting chance. We play for the best two out of three."

Arin swallowed awkwardly as he watched her, her head shook slightly as if internally all of her instincts were telling her to refuse this deal with the devil but shortly her face set in a determined fashion.

She gave one nod. "First to three. But your first win doesn't count. Makes the playing field more even."

"If you say so." He agreed. "First to three. But I should warn you…I was going easy on you before." He smirked.

She didn't take the news as he had anticipated, instead she returned it with a smirk of her own.

"Yeah? Well So was I." She said reaching for the first piece. This time, she made the first move, looking much more confident and ready for whatever House had in store for her.

He blinked then smirked in response and moved his pawn forward.

The game progressed, chalk and cheese compared to their first with each player making bold moves and calculated risks. But as game one came to an end, much to House's surprise and annoyance it was Arin who emerged victorious, trapping House's king in a corner and delivering the final blow.

"Checkmate," Arin said triumphantly, sitting back into her pillows, a smile spreading across her face.

House pushed the annoyance down and controlled his expression into his best poker face "Nicely done," he said, surveying the board, trying to see where he had managed to miss that "you're a fast learner. But don't get too comfortable kiddo…I ain't done yet." The pieces clinked as House reset the chessboard, a mix of determination and competitiveness evident in his eyes.

Arin leaned forward, her smile widening, fueled by the taste of victory. She had to keep that feeling and keep playing his strategy against him where she could. One more and she could go. One more.

As the second game commenced, the tension between them heightened. Arin was no longer the cautious novice she had been at the start and he found himself taking pause to note this change as She met his moves with a confidence that certainly hadn't been there to begin with. It was obvious her mind was working more swiftly to devise strategies and counterattacks but why? What had sparked that change? He pondered her while he moved his knight.

The room buzzed with a charged atmosphere, both players immersed in the chess match, their concentration unyielding. Move after move, the game unfolded in intricate patterns. House pushed his pieces forward aggressively, attempting to gain an advantage. But Arin was ready, her defenses solid, blocking his advances with calculated precision.

Again House found himself impressed by her adaptability and resilience. He adjusted his approach, weaving a complex web of moves that aimed to outmaneuver her. Yet, Arin remained unfazed, responding with a series of cunning moves that kept him on his toes.

The silence fell once more, time seemed to blur as the battle raged on. They traded pieces, launching calculated attacks and intricate defenses. Each move met with a silent analysis, a mental calculation of the risks and rewards.

After some time House found himself leaning in, studying the board intently, his competitive spirit ignited. Arin mirrored his focus, her eyes darting from one piece to another, contemplating her next move. He sent a rook forward and suddenly Arin realized what he was planning. It was a little too late however as she did the only thing she could and moved her king reluctantly one space, furious with herself for not catching his plan sooner.

Knowing it was over, with a growing smile of victory, House made his final move. "Checkmate Kiddo." He said. He didn't get a chance to savor the victory for long however as his opponent huffed and began resetting the board herself.

The game began again. House, flush with the last success, took the lead fairly quickly. Victory seemed inevitable for him once again. Then, in a surprising turn of events, Arin executed a brilliant combination, sacrificing a bishop to set up a devastating checkmate. House's eyes widened in genuine surprise as he realized the impending doom. He scanned the board, searching for a way out, but there was none.

"Checkmate," Arin declared, her voice laced with a mix of satisfaction and triumph.

A grin tugged at House's lips, acknowledging her victory. "Impressive," he conceded.

As they prepared for their next match, the room was filled with anticipation. Arin's mind swirled with strategies, her determination unyielding. She was no longer the wary patient, but an equal opponent ready to face House's formidable intellect head-on.

And as the first move was made, the chess pieces danced across the board, each one shaping the fate of the game. The room became a battleground, where victory and defeat were mere moves away. The game progressed, each move met with focused silence and calculated precision. The balance of power shifted back and forth, neither player willing to back down. It was a battle of minds, a clash of strategies, and a testament to the depth of their skills.

Hours had passed, the sun began to set. The one or two brief interruptions had not distracted either from the game, both accurately aware of what was at stake. But neither House nor Arin showed signs of fatigue. They were locked in a contest that extended beyond the confines of the hospital room, a battle that embodied their current status as Doctor, Patient, nemesis…kindred spirits

As their makeshift tournament neared its climax, one final game to decide the ultimate victor, House leaned back in the chair he had moved to the side of the bed for better back support, his eyes fixed on the board. Arin mirrored his contemplative posture, her gaze locked on the battlefield of black and white squares. The silence between them was pregnant with anticipation, with both players strategizing their next moves, searching for weaknesses to exploit.

And then, with a final calculated maneuver, House placed his bishop in a position that left Arin's king vulnerable. A triumphant smile played at the corners of his lips, the excitement of an imminent victory coursing through his veins, the game, the tournament, the whole kit and kaboodle.

Arin looked up, meeting House's gaze, and for a moment, their eyes locked in a silent acknowledgement of what was about to happen. Resignation played across her features mixed with a flurry of desperation.

House managed to contain himself and force the grin he wanted to wear down. He wouldn't brandish this victory in her face, perhaps a few hours ago yes but not now. "That's Checkmate, Kiddo." he said quietly, his voice tinged with both satisfaction and something akin to sympathy, at least as sympathetic as House ever got.

Arin's face fell as her eyes scanned the board again for a way out or a mistake. The tension that had filled the room before only to dissipate during their game began to creep back in at the edges. She gulped and gave a shaky breath and tipped her king. First to three…that had been the deal.

The two sat in silence for a moment longer before House extended his hand across the chessboard, offering a gesture of sportsmanship that he fully expected to be rebuffed. He was surprised when Arin accepted, shaking his hand with a firm grip. She withdrew her hand only a millisecond sooner than social convention dictated as polite.

With the chessboard now abandoned, the two sat back, basking in the aftermath of their intense battle. Words were no longer necessary; the bet had been made, won and lost and while he could see the calculations going in her mind as to what this would mean for her tomorrow, House did not interject. The unspoken understanding between them speaking volumes.

It was getting late, he realised checking the watch on his wrist and past the time he normally would have gone home. He turned his attention to the window and took in the inky blue sky a moment before gathering his cane under him and started to get to his feet.

"I better go and let you get some rest." He said slightly awkwardly, "We can uhh sort the arrangements for the tests and things tomorrow. I'll come talk to you after you've had breakfast."

Arin stared at the empty chess board intently and did not respond.

House considered her for another few seconds. What would Wilson do in this situation? Likely, he reasoned, Wilson would never even find himself in such an unethical conundrum as to have entered such an accord so instead House quietly gathered his things, leaving her to her thoughts.

"Why did you bring the chess board here, House?" Arin asked, just as he was looking around for anything he had forgotten. She was looking at him now, her tone tinged with a mixture of intrigue and suspicion.

House leaned on his cane slightly, studying the chessboard for a moment before meeting her gaze. "Chess is more than just a game. Like I said before it's supposed to be the ultimate test of intelligence. It's a battle of strategy and wits," he explained. "I wanted to see how you think, how you react under pressure."

Arin's eyebrows furrowed as she absorbed his words. "So, you're using the game to analyze me?"

House smirked. "Not exactly analyze. Believe it or not I'm not just trying to examine you."

"What then?" She asked looking up at him again.

"Consider it More like…getting to know you better. Chess reveals a lot about a person—their decision-making skills, their ability to adapt, and even their temperament." He shrugged. "You're quite the opponent," he acknowledged, his voice tinged with a hint of genuine respect. "I didn't expect you to challenge me this much."

Arin looked up at him again and this time didn't look away. She watched him with both interest and wariness as she had for the last day or so but something had shifted the balance more towards calculating House decided.

He gave another awkward glance around. "Like I said, I'll leave you to rest. We can talk more in the morning."

Arin nodded once slowly as the doctor limped to the door and out into the corridor, he slid in closed leaving her to lean back into the pillows alone in the room, just her and the definitive black and white board and pieces in front of her. Quietly she reset the board to the same position as the last game before House had checkmated her and began to replay the game by herself.

It was maybe another 45 minutes and another reset or two later following House's departure that Robyn entered the room.

"Oh my gawd I thought he was never gonna leave. I mean what the hell is up with that?" She bemoaned. Her voice seemed obscenely loud in the quiet contemplative air that Arin had just spent the afternoon. "I mean like hello what is that all about in here for hours? Is he just like really slow or something or does he just seriously need to get a life?" She picked up one of the articles House had forgotten from under the chair as she pulled herself up onto the foot of the bed not paying attention to where Arin's feet were.

"Local immunotherapy…Malling, Abreu‐Nog…ueira, Alvarez…Cuesta…" she read then promptly dropped it onto the chair as if it had burnt her. "Ew." She pulled a face and then turned to her friend noting the chess board for the first time and the fact Arin's attention seemed fixed on it.

"Uhh hello? If we are both stuck here we may as well keep each other company. My mom brought me these magazines." She said taking the stack of glossy magazines all of which had some incarnation of a very happy looking model in makeup, flicking her hair back on the cover, from under her arm and putting them onto the bed beside her opened one. "Here let's do this fashionista quiz." She said pushing Arin's feet up out of her way and making herself comfortable. She looked up from the magazine to see Arin's attention was still on the chess pieces.

"What are you doing with that anyway?" Robyn asked, wrinkling her nose again.

Arin did look up this time as though she were only just aware of the other girl's presence. She seemed a bit dazed for a moment and then her attention was back on the board. "Nothing." She said absently and reached over to topple the black king watching as it fell across the spaces and rolled lopsidedly back and forth for a few seconds. "Checkmate." She muttered under her breath as Robyn launched into the quiz only half listening to the questions and needing to be prompted once or twice for answers.