Rachel clambered out of her car and rubbed her face, trying to squelch out any note of sleepiness it showed. She wasn't hungry, as she had bought a sandwich at the hospital cafe, but she was stressed. Staying on call, constantly studying, and practically living on just minimum wage took a toll on her.

She'd promised to Mom that she would call her almost every day. Since Mom used to be a doctor, she could help with something. She quickly called her, and Mom picked up surprisingly fast.

"Hi mom."

"Hi, Rachel."

"I know who the head of Diagnostic Medicine is."

"Oh, who?"

"Dr. Chase. Do you know him?"

"Yup, I do. Thanks for telling me.

Rachel wanted to say something else about her day, but she saw House peeping through the back seat window, shaking his head.

"And I made a friend."

"Oh, that's great! People tend to make more friends in residency, I'd say. Who is this friend?"

"His name's Jacob." Rachel winked at House, who rolled his eyes.

"Nice."

As soon as she was done talking to Mom, she got House into her apartment complex and into the stairwell.

"Remember; be quiet. The walls are literally paper thin. LITERALLY. And don't try to annoy them. They're intellectuals too, not idiots."

"SOOOOOO what's your relationship with Jacob? I know you're studying together," House sang as he stepped up the stairs slowly with his cane. The sound echoed through the stairwell. It always made Rachel feel alone and insignificant somehow, but House being there dimmed the feeling.

"I don't have a relationship with him. Just study partners."

"Really?"

"Yes, and if you're such a great doctor, why don't you help me study autoimmune diseases? They're my weakness, and so is nephrology-related stuff."

"Alright. But if I help you study, I get to have a say in your diagnostic meets with the team. And I get to ask you questions, which you will answer."

"Deal," Rachel said nonchalantly as she keyed open the door. "From now on, we whisper."

House was about to sing Toreador Song in an extremely loud faux operatic voice before Rachel clapped her hand over his mouth and gave him a frown.

"You know, you're not coming in. I haven't known you for almost seventeen years. I hope you have a place to stay."
House pouted. "But MOM-"

"You're such a child, you know that?"

"I get that a lot. Can we just have a chat together? One full of reminiscing and rainbows and cupcakes?"

"FINE," Rachel groaned. She knew it wasn't going to be fun, just House asking a bunch of questions and her answering them.

House limped inside and sat down on the comfy couch in front of the TV. "Do you know if you're adopted or not?"

Rachel leaned on the door after she closed it. "I am adopted. My mom told me when I was five."

"Do you want a father?"

"Umm… that's random, and I don't really care. I've survived this long without it."

"Do you believe in a god?"

"Sorta?"

"What do you mean? Is there or is there not?"

"Well my family is Jewish, of course they think there's a god, but I'm just not sure."

"How's it going with Arlene?"

"My grandma? What does that have to do with anything?"

"You said you'd answer my questions."

"She passed. I was six, I think."

"Interesting."

"Enough questions. Now you leave."

"Right." House stumbled up from his seat and exited the apartment. Just a few moments later, there was no other evidence that House was there aside from the slightly warm spot on the couch. The interaction was extremely fast, and even though House was quite the character, she still liked his presence. A lot. She thought she could just sit on his lap and fall asleep right there. That, or she was just very, very tired. It definitely won't be a good night, Rachel knew as she crashed into the bed into a very deep sleep.

Her phone rang. Rachel groaned and checked it. A page from the Diagnostic Department. Ugh, it's MIDNIGHT. I've barely gotten two hours and I have to go now! Nothing she could do about it. She leapt out of bed, ready to go, since she was wearing her scrubs, and rushed down to her car, which rested on the curb. She pulled open the driver's seat door and was about to sit down when she saw House, snoring in the back seat. She tried to ignore it, sat down, slammed the door closed, and ignited the engine.

Rachel had probably gotten three quarters nearer to the hospital when House woke up with a snort.

"Heeeyyyyyyy," House mumbled.

"Go back to sleep."

"Wherrrrrre youuuuuu goinnnng?" House slurred. He wasn't drunk, probably just sleep-deprived.

"Diagnostic Department meeting. First one, you're not missing anything."

"Remember the deal?" House didn't sound very drunk anymore, like hearing his favorite hobby made him perk up.

"Umm, yeah."

House handed Rachel a Bluetooth. "Use this, young Padawan."

"Huh, thanks. How do I-"

"Pretend to process whatever symptoms the patient has by saying it out loud, it's not that hard." House shrugged. "Unless you care about your public image."

Rachel rolled her eyes with extreme exasperation. The sarcasm is… impossible. God. I'm tired.

She managed to drive into the parking garage and stop neatly in a spot. There were plenty of spaces, and she picked one as close as possible to the hospital entrance.

Rachel opened the back seat door, but House slammed it closed.

"Uh-uh-uh, I'm dead," he said, waggling his finger.

I'm not a child.

"Oh, right."

"Make sure to tell me everything," House stressed through the car window as Rachel left.

"Aye aye, Captain," Rachel saluted as she slipped on her short white doctors' coat.

xx

Rachel walked into the office extension, and switched on the Bluetooth in her ear. It was about the size of a giant tooth, and hopefully wasn't too conspicuous. There was Dr. Chase, standing up and scrolling through a laptop. It had been awhile since charts were termed as outdated, and electronic medical records were far more convenient.

There were three other doctors sitting at the table. She read the nametags: Dr. Chi Park, Dr. Jessica Adams, and Dr. Eric Foreman.

Why is Dr. Foreman here? Isn't he the Dean?

"Hello, Dr. Chase, Dr. Park, Dr, Adams, Dr. Foreman," Rachel said out loud. She hoped House was listening.

"Nice, the whole team is there."

The original team? Cool.

The other doctors, equally exhausted, mumbled their greetings. All their eyes were on her, and she fiddled with a button on her coat. She really wanted to ask some questions.

"Hi, Rachel. Do you have any questions before we start?" Dr. Chase asked.

"Um… Dr. Foreman, aren't you the Dean of Medicine?"

"Yep. I'm just standing in for Dr. Masters," he said.

"Masters?" Rachel wondered out loud. Luckily, House caught it.

"Former resident I had on the team. She quit coz she couldn't deal with our morals. Goody-two shoes and socially awkward. Seems familiar?" Rachel knew he was trying to push her buttons. She hated being called a goody-two shoes and socially awkward, because she sort of was.

The team gave her an 'are you okay?' look. Oh right, they can't hear him. How stupid of me.

"Oh, I think I've heard her name before. Just didn't expect her here," Rachel quickly justified as to why she appeared to be talking to herself.

"Why don't you sit down? You seem really tired," Dr. Adams suggested. Rachel smiled and sagged into the seat, and Chase presented the case.