Archive of Our Own

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Prologue
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Once upon a time, in a land where things were big, adults ruled and it was a sin to eat too many cookies before dinner, there lived a small girl. She lived with her Daddy who laughed lots, told jokes and smelled of peppermint and her Mommy who smiled, spoke softly and stroked her hair while she slept.  She was a happy inquisitive child who liked to watch creation, drinking in everything she could see, touch, taste and smell as if afraid that she would miss a crucial moment. And from the first time her small bell like voice chimed out ‘why?’ demanding to know more from the world around her that just was her parents knew she would one day be destined for great things.

They were the centre of her entire existence and she was theirs, and for a time they were happy together but in the real world darkness is not always overcome by light and more often than not fairy tales, and those in them, must come to an end.

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October 12 1990.

It had always struck her in her long and arduous four years of life how annoying the wind was outside but not on the inside. As she lay amongst the blankets and soft downy pillows of the giant bed and listened to it howl angrily somewhere far off behind the huge red curtains, it came to her that the air inside was very still compared to its cousin.

The stillness did not frighten her nor did the dark of the room, for it was night time and night time was always dark…there was no point in being afraid of something that always happened. No, she was not afraid of the wind or the stillness, if anything they made her feel safer, warmer and oddly at peace.

She sat up under her covers and tilted her head listening. The howling of the wind seemed to be creeping into the house somewhere ruining the stillness, and an overwhelming need to get up and go see overcame her.

The soft pad pad of her feet in the hall carpet brought no one running to cart her back off to bed. She followed the corridor towards the room with the big chairs that smelled of Grandfather’s aftershave and tobacco. Her eyes peered around the great oak door, her eyebrows contracting slightly at what she saw there.

Granny sat in a chair, hunched and shivering with her face in her hands as if she was cold. To her right Grandfather stood leaning on the mantle of the fireplace where she hung her stocking at Christmas for Santa. He looked like the cold marble of the fireplace itself, holding his pipe but not smoking it. The room was chilled despite the roaring fire that flickered behind Grandfather.

At the big bay window, the rain lashed relentlessly down obscuring the night in a veil of water and reflecting the room back in on itself. A clock chimed somewhere and she stopped to count. Ten….ten times it rang, was that very late?

She jumped as the ringing grew louder into a shriek and huffed a breath of relief and embarrassment when Grandfather stopped it simply by picking up the telephone.

“Yes this is he…” He rumbled around his pipe. His jaw worked as he chewed its end while he listened. That was odd; she could not ever remember him doing that before. Just as she was wondering why, his expression changed to one she could not place, one she did not have a name for and he spoke again.

“Of course. No we understand….I want the best possible care. Of course, we will meet you there…but I don’t think it best to bring my granddaughter…..” he trailed off and removing the pipe from his mouth grandfather clenched it. “I understand. Yes. “He put the phone down and replacing the pipe chewed for another minute.

She frowned again and pushed slightly further into the room.  He looked up and saw her but did nothing. Instead, he crossed to Granny and placed a hand on her shoulders.

“Elizabeth.” He said gently. Granny looked up at him then followed the direction he looked. Her face was red, her eyes tired and watery like she was crying…but Granny never cried.

The older woman twisted pearls on her neck then quickly, fluidly crossed the room to her.

She had time to wonder if Granny had been cutting onions and that was why she was crying before she felt herself enveloped into a hug. The soft rhythmic stroking on her pyjamas wiped the thought from her mind. “Oh petal….” Granny said and shook slightly as she hugged.

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October 13, 1990 1am

The place they had taken her was much brighter than it looked from outside.

She wandered along peering this way and that taking in the strangeness of the place. It smelled like a swimming pool, the air had a similar kind of feel. Hot and clean but with the undertone of something else that made her think of the time she had licked a penny. It was still night outside but she had the feeling it was very very late. They had been here for a while and she had napped on the bench beside Granny while they waited.

But now Granny had fallen asleep and Grandfather seemed to have wandered off to yell at the man in the White coat. That was the trouble with being four years old. No one told you anything assuming you couldn’t tell when something was amiss. Adults were so stupid sometimes. Of course having no frame of reference for both this place and what was going on only increased the desire to find out. Sure that Granny was not likely to miss her any time soon she had gotten off the bench, an arduous task at that, and walked to the end of the corridor.

A glance back and then around the corner had revealed...nothing. So she had walked up this corridor to the next corner, and then the next and then again and assumed she would end up back where she had started with Granny still sound asleep. There was no Granny in this corridor and no benches either instead a set of double doors and buttons. An elevator! As if by magic the doors opened and a man with another white coat on exited reading a clipboard. He didn’t look up at her. The elevator stood open beckoning her. She bit her lip in indecisiveness but jumped forward and in as the doors pinged and began to close. She waited staring at the buttons then with a small shrug pressed the ones she could reach. Five orbs of light blinked into existence under her hand and off they went.

The first time the door opened there were people and noise and she shrank back from it unsure why, one light went out. The second time the corridor was dark and spooky looking and she waited wide eyed for the door to close again taking with it the second light. The third time the corridor looked very similar to the one she had left but with a desk and a funny looking bed on wheels against one wall instead of a bench. A coke machine stood humming nearby. She walked to it fascinated by the sound and the elevator closed behind her.

For some time she stood in the relative calming combination of hum and light from the vending machine tracing the words on the front with her small fingers. She paused hearing a rattling sort of sound and stepping away from the machine walked a few steps back towards the big empty desk, her head cocked towards the sound which appeared to be coming from the far end of the corridor. So focused on the noise trying to figure out what it was she didn’t notice the doors behind her burst open nor the call of the man who was kneeling on another bed on wheels until they were almost on top of her at which point she stood frozen and exposed mid corridor with nothing to do but stare wide eyed at the commotion.

“LOOK OUT!” the man yelled again without really looking at her. A squeak and heavy footsteps sounded to her right and then her sense of equilibrium tilted as rough hands grabbed her and yanked her back. She struggled once the went limp.  Inside she screamed outside she was mute her eyes flickering as the trolley hurtled last followed by another, then another and a team of doctors and other people like a train and just as noisy. Exactly over the place she had just stood.

As it faded just as quickly as it had appeared She sucked in a slightly painful breath that caught in her chest. Little heart hammering she swallowed unsure if she was ok or not, if she should cry or not it was all very confusing. As she reasoned it out something niggled interrupting.

“Hey...hey!” A voice behind her said loudly and turned her on the spot to face a pair of legs clad in dark blue trousers, the material almost black.

Her head tilted up and up seeking some form of recognition. The man, because it was a man, wore a dark shirt and jacket over his trousers. She stared at him in silent awe. He was huge. Her dark brown eyes widened watching him cautiously like a rabbit caught in headlights.

“Don’t they teach you the rules of the road in kindergarten these days Kid?” he asked her.

She continued to stare up at him, her mouth open in a little ‘o’ shape. He was a stranger, she didn’t know him but she wasn’t sure what else to do. She tilted her head slightly to one side and considered him.  Would he chase her is she was to walk away? Who was he and what did he do here….he did not have a white coat or one of the other things the grownups here wore around his neck.

She frowned at him and tilted her head further then stepped back slightly as if trying to take in his entire stature from her small height. Her step wobbled uncertainty forcing her to look away from him and frown at the floor.

The man bent down to her height capturing her attention again; he had the bluest of blue eyes she had ever seen. They seemed to be made of ice; they bored into her as the brow above her frowned. He clicked his fingers in front of her loudly “Hey kid…are you listening?”

She frowned slightly and watched him, swallowing once or twice but unspeaking. Who was this man? Was he supposed to be here…He certainly looked like a normal grown up...would he take her back to Granny?

“Anyone lost a kid!?” The man yelled looking up and down the deserted corridor. “Hey this kid belong to anyone?”

She wasn’t expecting the loud noise and jumped, clutching her hands together and rubbing them in fright. No one responded causing the man to frown and shout again “Kid for sale, female….bout 3 to 5 years old…free or best offer.”

The shock of the trolleys ebbed as she registered what he was saying and despite herself she found a reply forming to his yells.

“I’m four stupid!” She clarified indignantly surprising herself how loudly her voice sounded in the empty hallway. “And you’re not apposed to sell people that don’t belong to you that’s bad.”

The man tilted his head slightly as if considering her the same way she had been considering him and yelled over her head again, “Four year old kid for sale slight attitude problem will require correction.”

“ I’m not a kid.” She said at him scowling her cheeks flushing.

House sighed slightly then yelled again. “Four year old human for sale you know the rest.”

The girl jumped again as he raised his voice. “Stop that!” she declared at him. “What are you anyway?”

“I’m the guy that sells stray children to the highest bidder.” He said looking down.

She looked confused for a moment. “You can’t have bidders if you say something is free…” she said as if thinking out loud. “ And it’s illegal to sell children”

He smiled at her “It’s only illegal if you get caught.” His smile spread, wide and wicked looking. “Ohhhh chiiiillllldddrreeen” he said his voice reaching a higher pitch.

She backed away from the man, strangers were bad…she remembered that now. She didn’t dare take her eyes off of him, still facing him she ran backwards, clumsily. Her sneakers caught under her and she tripped, landing hard on the vinyl covered floor with a small oooft as the air left her lungs. A Tight horrible feeling spread across her chest and into her throat making tears spring up as she struggled for a second to get air either in or out. A weird wheezing sound came from her and she wanted it to stop.

“Ow...” she finally said when the air eventually entered and the tight feeling loosened. “Ow...”

“Noooo.” The voice of the man said. “You’re supposed to run away till you are totally away from the scary bad guy not trip over your own shoes and wind yourself. What kind of heroine are you?”

She didn’t move just continued looking at the ceiling waiting for the feeling to totally go away or for the bad man to catch her. He was going to sell her and she’d have to live on a farm and chop wood like Cinderella.

The thump of his footsteps caused a feeling of panic to rise up and she quickly tried to sit up and scramble away from him casting around to see where he actually was. The tight feeling returned as she panicked and struggled to fill her small lungs.

“You don’t want to sell me.” She gasped out  wheezily from the floor. “I’m a lie-billy.” She sobbed, was that the right word Daddy used? “It’s... not good business.” She added for emphasis then coughed.

“Wow, she’s intelligent.” The man said coming closer. “That changes everything guess we won’t be giving you away for free after all.”

She backed away on her bum and hands as far as she could get and then stopped short as a wall or something pressed back behind her, she was trapped.

She swallowed and winced as her winded lungs had to stop bringing in air for that split second then said with only a slight wobble. “No! My Granny will look for me and my Daddy! And...and my Grandfather’s a really important lawyer and my Daddy too and my Mommy... has... a big stick...” She was lying about that last part Mommy did not like big sticks; she said problems could be solved with words not sticks. Part of her wondered what Mommy would say to this dark clad scary man with the blue eyes if she was here now. She gasped and started to cough again as she tried to get back to her feet using what she could now see was the big desk as support.

“Oh no!” the man said not sounding like he really meant it, “Whatever will I do about some random kids mommy with a big stick.” He was almost on top of her, looking down at her attempt to escape. He extended his hands towards her, and the colour drained from her face. She felt faint.

Her heart felt like it was going to explode, she turned her head away and clenched her eyes shut taking as deep a breath as she could she started to build up a scream….there wasn’t enough air! It hurt too much, she gasped out the first attempt and tried again as the man’s hands closed around her waist.

She felt herself pulled upwards…he was going to tie her up and put her in a sack then a cage then a van and drive her away!! Her imagination spun wildly increasing the dizzy faint feeling. This was the end she wouldn’t see Mommy or Daddy or her toys again. He was going to take her far away, he was going to sell her, he was going to….stand her on her feet and brush off her jeans?

She opened one eye to look at him, on one knee now on the floor dusting her off with one hand while the other had a gentle hold of her arm.

“ Here’s a life lesson Kid, contrary to what your fairy tales tell you bad guys don’t stand around and rant about their plans before they do it. They just do it. They certainly don’t yell them in busy Emergency department corridors. Even half deserted ones. Understand?”

She stared at him as her heart beat in her ears and some small part of her realised he was not going to hurt her.  The relief washed through her and the little colour she had along with her sense of fight drained away so suddenly her little knees trembled then buckled.

The man caught her easily.

“Whoa easy there.” His tone changed and his expression softened. He peered at her face again with those icy blue eyes. “I didn’t really mean to scare you.” he glanced around as if looking for something, his hand on her back now.

She recoiled from his touch and he frowned back down at her. “Are you hurt kid? Can you tell me where you are hurt?”

She stared at him trying to remember how to speak. This seemed to decide something in him.

“Ok, hang on, up you come.”  he swept her up into his arms and stood. He was going to take her after all; he was just trying to make her look tidy! Her heart started to pound again and she struggled against him.

“Nooooo!” she gasped at him then stopped short as just after the word left her lips she felt a soft, cool leathery texture rise up to meet her.  He had put her down on one of the wheeled beds along the wall.

“That’s better, thought you had gone mute on me there kid.” He said as he released his hold on her. “ Ok life lesson number two….while it is true that bad guys lie they don’t always lie.” The man said.

She stared at him her eyes wide again then tried to dash to the side of the bed. She didn’t get far, the dizzy feeling had made her movements slow and clumsy.

“And not all people that pretend to be bad guys are actually bad guys.” The man continued as he caught her again and put her back into the sitting position in front of him. Her back to the wall. He was smiling at her clearly amused.

She scrambled again and he caught her by the wrist this time. Small limbs flailing “Careful now. Look calm down its ok. I’m not going to hurt you…” he considered a moment. “Or sell you.”

She stopped struggling and looked at him; the deep blue of his eyes seemed warm now, but still as sharp. “You’re not?” she asked. “What are you going to do?”

“First I’m going to ask you where you came from, because that’s the responsible thing to do.” He said helping her back to a sitting position but not letting go. His grip did lessen slightly.

“Second, I’m going to ask you to sit still for me while I check just on the off chance you actually are hurt and those lawyers you mentioned decide to sue me. Third I’m going to help you get back where you came from,”

She looked at him a thousand questions racing through her head and seemed confused for a second then finally settled on one. “Why?” she asked.

If this wasn’t what he expected her to say he didn’t show it. “Because this isn’t a safe place for kids to be running about and also lawyers are scary and lawsuits are bad.” He stopped to consider a moment then added. “Or is it the other way round I can never remember. But trust me my girlfriend is one so I know what I’m talking about.”

She settled on her next comment quickly. “I’m not hurt.” She asserted.

He nodded, agreeing with her. “ Yeah kids basically bounce these days. But as the adult here I’m going to do it anyway.  And before you ask me why let’s say you had a bit of a fright and a fall so I’m going to check anyway. You don’t have to be afraid I’m a doctor so it’s ok.”

She frowned more “What are you going to check?”

“You.” The man said carefully, “I’m going to have a quick look at you.”

The words triggered something.

‘Let’s have a look at you’

she repeated the phrase. “ So Like Mommy and Granny do when I fall outside?” she asked brightening slightly.

“Yeah.” He agreed readily. “Something like that. Do you fall outside a lot?” He was peering closely at her now.

She shrugged captivated by his gaze. A few seconds passed. The intensity of his eyes was too much. She broke eye contact and looked off towards the side of his head pondering. The man craned his neck trying to peer into her eyes again then gently took her chin and straightened her head to face him.

“Look at me.” He said quietly and frowned slightly, cupping the sides of her head in each hand he tilted her ever so slightly left then right, up then down to get a view of her pupils reacting to the light.

She blinked and frowned. “What are you doing?” she asked intrigued, he was odd. Doing odd things but she wasn’t as scared of him now. He wasn’t scary really just weird.

With his thumbs the man pushed down the bottoms of her eyelids, then rolled the tops slightly before releasing her.

She blinked a couple of times then watched him raise a finger. He touched the tip of the finger very deliberately. “Now look here.” He said and when she did, he placed the same finger on the opposite hand on her chin keeping her head still.  “Follow my finger.” He said.

Her eyes tracked the motion of the tip of his finger all the way across until her head hurt then back again to the other side. After a second or two of this, she took her eyes off it for a moment to watch him.

“Ah-ah-ah...” he said bringing the finger back to the centre. “Noo…look here.” He wiggled the digit at her then started again.

With a small frown, wondering why, she did as he asked watching its progress up and down and side to side again.  When he released her, she drew breath to question him but stopped as he interrupted.

His hand brushed her hair back from her neck and pressed just under her ear. “So, where’d you come from kid?” he asked shaking back the sleeve of his shirt to look at his watch.

“New jersey.” She said watching him with interest he didn’t look up from the watch. “My Mommy was born in new York though we go there Christmas shopping sometimes.”

The man removed the fingers “heart rate’s good...” he said quietly to himself and placed his hand over her forehead that caused another frown from him. “ I meant how you ended up here.”

She shrugged his hand away. “ My Mommy and Daddy had sex.” She said matter of factly at the same time he muttered.

“A little warm but low grade at best...maybe an overactive mother brought her in...” He stopped and stared at her. “What did you just say?” he asked.

She took a small breath, “When a mommy and daddy want to have a baby the Mommy grows an egg inside her, the daddy grows a special seed. They have sex and the Daddy gives the Mommy his seed that she feeds into her egg and it grows into a baby.” She sounded exasperated as if she was sick of explaining this.

The man watched her quietly a moment then. “ Did your Mommy bring you here?”

“No. She’s at a party with my Daddy.”

“Babysitter? Would explain the freak out.”

“No. Lorri has exams at school so she couldn’t come. My Granny is looking after me.”

“Did your Granny bring you?” He was bending her wrists and fingers gently watching her.

“Yes. But she was asleep. Grandfather was talking to the man in the white coat,”

“Another Doctor?”

The girl shrugged and put her hands around her throat as if by habitant lean on her elbows. He watched her again a second. “...is your Granny sick?” She shook her head. “ Are you sick?” Again she shrugged with her hands still around her neck as if she didn’t think so.

He gently pulled her hands away and pushed his fingers in under her chin. She flinched away from him and resisted the urge to giggle.

The man seemed to mistake her reaction. “Did that hurt?” he asked. He pulled her back towards him and tried again pushing deeper, he followed the line of her jaw on each side. This time she couldn’t stop the giggle.

“ No it tickles.”

He rolled his eyes at her response but kept pressing all the same until he was satisfied. His fingertips pressed into the back of her head and down her neck into her shoulders.

“You said you were Four?” He asked as he felt along her shoulders and into her back. “What kind of four year old calls their Grandfather Grandfather.”

“I’m five in the summer. I’m getting a cake.” She said as if this explained it.

He smirked slightly. “You know you are remarkably articulate for a four year old.”

She blinked at him, she didn’t know that word was it a bad thing? Did it mean she was short or smelled or something?

Her lack of response didn’t seem to phase him. His fingers pressed into her ribs and she sucked a breath. “Ow...”  causing him to pause in his probing and focus more attention on the area.

“Did that hurt?” He asked as again he gently pressed her back and along her ribs. He felt her stiffen again. “Ow...”she said and her eyes welled with tears,

“No no...” he said hastily. “ It’s ok...don’t cry.”  He turned her slightly and pulling the child’s green sweater up inspected the area. There was no lacerations or marks but the spot was tender. Bruised most likely he decided and released the grasp he had on the child.

“ It’s ok it’s bruised from where you fell.” He explained then Sighed slightly as a thought crossed his mind. He rummaged in his inside jacket pocket and pulled a tangle of metal and tubing out which seemed to scare the girl.

She watched this New thing with trepidation and looked at him for reassurance.

“It’s called a stethoscope.” The man said untangling it and putting part of it around his neck. White bits sitting on each side. “ You’ve never seen a stethoscope ?”

She recognised it then from the man Grandfather had spoken to and the others draped across the white coats. She nodded and his frown relaxed slightly. He pulled it into his ears and rubbed a round part on it in his hand before gently leaning her forwards and placing the round part over the side of her bruise.

“Deep breath,” he said automatically.

“Why?”

“What do you mean why? So I can hear your lungs. Duh”

“Why do you want to hear my lungs?”

He paused. She couldn’t see his face above her only the underside of his chin and the tubing of the stethoscope.

“This is exactly why I’m not a pediatrician.” He muttered more to herself than anything. To her he said. “You ask a lot of questions for a four year old. I just do. Now be a good kid and take a nice deep breath like you are going to blow out birthday candles. In and out again...”

Shaking her head at the odd man she did as he asked. In and out again.

“...Good girl. And again.” He moved the stethoscope slightly. Paused a few seconds then did the other side. He paused again and closed his eyes as he listened but whatever he thought he heard wasn’t there a second time. To be safe he moved back to the first side and repeated the process before stepping back and unhooking the device from his ears. He stuffed it back in his pocket and pulled her sweater back down.

“Sounds good. You can stop breathing like that now.”

The girl took a few experimental normal breaths and continued to watch him. She seemed calmer and her pallor was much better. “ Well it looks like you are a bit bruised but no sign of concussion or any real injuries.”

“I’m not hurt?”

“No. Unless you can show me anything else that hurts?” He waited almost expectantly but the girl shook her head.

“Good, then since your neither hurt nor sick we will get a nurse to take you back to where you belong and watch where you’re going next time Kid.” He very gently picked her up and placed her back on her feet on the ground then gave her a slight shove.

“Sorry.” She mumbled embarrassed. Another flush of colour bit her cheeks and she looked up finding him frowning at her again as if there was something he couldn’t put his finger on.

“ Don’t be sorry, be careful. It’s not like I’m going to be around to save you next time. Remember that your gonna have go learn to save yourself. There not always going to be someone to grab you if you get yourself run over by a lot of gurneys.”

She frowned at him then looked at her shoes. He ran a hand over his hair and the slight five o’clock shadow across his face. “Geez..” he began and looking down at her opened his mouth then looked behind him as further up the corridor alarm noises sounded, someone yelled and another commotion started.

“Stay there.” He said then hurriedly raced off towards the noise, yelling for things that she could not understand as he went.

She waited holding onto the metal of the Bed on wheels but he did not come back. Totally forgotten about it seemed she walked quickly away towards a quieter corridor, rubbing at her bruises. This place wasn’t nice she wanted to find Granny and go home. Mommy and Daddy would be back home by now and they would be wondering where she was.

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October 13
th
– 1990 – 2am

Getting back to Granny was proving to be much more difficult than she had thought it would be. The corridors here were all the same and the people seemed much too busy and shouty to help her. Besides, she wasn’t supposed to speak to strangers and she already had. She bit her lip and chewed slightly wondering if the man would tell on her and get her into trouble. He had said it was ok because he was a doctor but Did that mean the stranger rule didn’t apply to him? He was a strange doctor after all. He had also said  stay there but there were too many people and she didn’t belong. Besides that was a while ago now and his eyes scared her slightly when she thought back on it.

She turned another corner and froze as a familiar smell hit her, Tobacco and aftershave. She spun towards it expecting to see Grandfather and his pipe ready to tell her off for wandering away but she could not see him anywhere. She felt scared, lonely and ground her teeth together, her little fists clenched to stop the water that nipped her eyes from falling.

She sobbed slightly and then stopped as a feeble bleep bleeping noise made her pivot on the spot and stare into the dim greyness of the private room behind her. Slowly she turned, unknowing what she would see and if grandfather would be there hiding in that large, curtained area. The bleep bleeping was coming from the shape on the bed. The smell of the place was getting stronger and the smell of Grandfather fading. A combination of cleaning things and a salty unwashed smell and the taste of pennies on a wafting air that came from the vent in the roof not the windows, properly shut and soaked with rain as if they were crying the tears she had stopped herself spilling

She pushed the curtain aside and found…

…Not grandfather, a person with bruises, and red stuff leaking out of them. A hot burning feeling leapt from her belly to her throat, she turned away quickly then stopped.

Something felt wrong here. Looking back she took a step forwards, towards the bed, her heart hammering with each step almost in time to the bleeping  sound that seemed to echo around her. Swallowing she drew level with the bed and looked up at the woman there. Her face was unrecognisable, crossed with lines, wires coming from her as if she was covered in Christmas lights. Yet even watching her the girl felt something stir within her.

“Mommy?” she asked the bleeding, injured creature before her. The water welled again as a strong sense of truth settled over the girl the halo of light around the woman throwing shadows out from her to the edges of the room.

“Mommy?!” the girl said again, water pouring down her face. She held a shaking hand out tentatively to the woman’s hand some older part of her brain saying that she could do nothing more, and looked around for an adult.  Look for the giant man with the stethoscope thing and the blue icy eyes, for the shouty man in the white coat for Grandfather for Daddy for someone….nothing but the gloom that seemed to press closer and closer arrived to help and for the first time in her life, she was afraid of the dark.

13
th
October 1990 – 2 am

The grandfather chewed his unlit pipe more for something to do than the actual smoking of it. A nurse, small, red headed girl with a crest in her white tunic that said “Princeton General Hospital” chided him.

“Excuse me sir, you can’t smoke that here…this is the SICU sir…”

He chomped down on it without looking at her. “I am aware of where I am and what I may and may not do thank you.”

She opened her mouth, to argue with him no doubt, at the same moment the door to the room he had been watching opened and an older man in a lab coat with grey hair walked out. He made a beeline for them both.

With a passing thought that the doctor looked tired and drawn, the Grandfather was forced to walk forwards.

“Jonas.” He said in recognition.

The doctor nodded at the nurse who graciously had the sense to leave for now. “Fredric…..I am so sorry for your loss...”

Fredric waved his hand dismissively. He couldn’t think of it now….couldn’t deal with it in public. Not yet. “Thank you Jonas, I appreciate your kind words. Both Elizabeth and I do. My daughter in law? How is she?”

The doctor seemed to resign himself. He squared his shoulders. “I’m not going to lie to you Fredric she’s in a bad way. The surgery went as well as could be expected but there is still internal injuries and the MRI showed bleeding in her brain. We are watching it and we’d like to operate again to both release the pressure if necessary and explore the area.”

Fredric gestured with his pipe. “So do it...what are you waiting for….”

“Like i said we need to wait to see if the bleeding continues. Even still Her recovery will be difficult Fredric… surgery after surgery…and no way of telling how much damage has been done. “

“If it’s a matter of money Jonas you know...”

“It’s not Fredric…I’m not very clear. I know tonight has been a terrible shock but realistically at this stage I’m not even sure if she will wake up. I’m sorry.”

Fredric chewed his pipe a moment. “The person on the phone had me bring my Granddaughter…something about a transfusion?”

“No she is too young and it won’t be necessary. We used blood from our supplies”

“So what are you telling me to consider organ donation? Therapy? What?”

“Many of her organs were badly damaged…”

He cut the doctor off “But this bleeding may come to nothing. The internal injuries are the major issue so this surgery is her best option?”

Slowly, reluctantly the grey haired doctor nodded. “Yes…but...”

“Then operate dammit…prep whatever you need to do. “

“We can’t at the moment Fredric…there are other complications…Her kidneys are not damaged but are shutting down and we aren’t sure exactly why…she wouldn’t survive a trip to the OR at the moment…she barely came out the first time. “

Fredric listened, listened as the man painted a picture in half speak half medical jargon of his daughter in law, her chances of survival and his idea to consult some other guy, a genius apparently. By the end, he was sure of only two things. Firstly If these people did not know what they were doing, His sons wife, his granddaughters mother would die and secondly that these people were lost in a dark room with a blindfold on.  He sighed.

“So what do we do? This specialist fellow…what’s he do?”

“Doctor House has been here the past six months he’s helped to set up a diagnostics department here, he is also a kidney specialist. He’s very good Fredric….he takes on the impossible cases and his results are high.”

“So she’s an impossible case is she?” Fredric said softly causing the other man to pale and hurriedly try to retract his statement. He waved him off again. “How long until this House Fellow gets here?”

Jonas paled again. “I’ve had him paged and had the case notes sent to him so he will be aware of what’s happening…his current patient is in a critical state in emergency care which is why he hasn’t been up to Examine her yet…he will be though very soon….”

The man cut off as down the corridor a woman’s startled cry distracted them both. Fredric turned hearing his wife and hurried back up the corridor towards her. Just up from a T-junction where he had left her on some leather sofas she stood looking wild-eyed and pale.

“She’s gone Fredric! I drifted off for only a second...and she’s gone she was just here and she’s not in the bathroom…oh my god…oh oh.”

As he clutched her to him, sobbing Jonas picked a phone handset up from the nearby wall.

“This is the SICU we have a missing child. Repeat a missing child aged four, three foot two, brown hair wearing blue jeans and a green sweater with sneakers.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

13
th
October 1990- 3am

Mommy did not move, just rasped in deep breaths that sounded like she was gurgling water. The girl didn’t know how long she stood holding Mommy’s hand but it wasn’t warm like normal and after a while she brought it up to rub along her own face and dry the tears the way Mommy used to. The way she did, she always would.

She curled up on the floor in the circle of light still holding Mommy’s hand staring at the dim that creeped closer and closer towards her and the chill that creeped out from them both almost to meet it.

Something was very very wrong here. Something not right, Mommy wasn’t waking up, Daddy wasn’t here, and things were just wrong.

The bleeping got louder longer, as if it was scared too then suddenly mommy made a funny rattling sound and the bleeping turned into a scream. A high-pitched sound that lasted on, on, and on echoing into the nothingness and back to her from every direction. She leapt up and away, away from the sound and the red stuff pouring out from Mommy’s mouth and her ears. She watched it drip out of the tube in her hand along her fingertips and onto the floor.

Scared she ran to the corner of the room behind the big curtain and sat down her hands pressed over her ears and her eyes squeezed shut.

People were running and shouting. The lights came on just as she opened her eyes blinding her. Hurting her head and making the sore red skin under her eyes sting as salty tears poured out again. She shook her head as if to clear it and tried again, everything was a blur of motion and noise that made her feel like her senses were all going to explode at once. There was so much noise, people with machines on metal things with wheels, there were so many people, strangers’ men and women in white coats and some not. In the doorway the dark clothed man with the icy blue eyes stood observing passively at the commotion. Maybe that was his job to go watch when there was a lot of noise and tell someone else what happened some part of her reasoned that was quickly ignored.

Someone swore a bad word and then the bleeping made an alarm like a fire drill, red stuff that smelled of pennies was all over their hands, all over Mommy all over the floor someone’s shoe print in the small puddle by Mommy’s fingers…blood.

The ear-piercing sound went on and on, she felt it inside her building like tight bands pressing into her chest, her throat and finally unable to contain it she let it out.  The scream mixed with the blaring of alarms in a sort of morbid harmony.

More footsteps and Hands then, urgent but not rough turned her and lifted her from the floor. Something soft held her close, tight and turned her face away from the sight. The sound of the curtain being pulled, a little metal on metal rasp startled her and she jumped.  The person held her head gently from behind holding it into their chest, just under the shoulder another arm under her legs helped keep her aloft. She could not see who it was; it was not Daddy or Grandfather... it smelled of something different she had never smelt before it reminded her of spices at Christmas time. Of apple pie.

“Shhhhh….” A deep reverberating sound from under her ear soothed and despite her fear a deep feeling of calm settled on her. After some time her voice broke and she stopped screaming aloud, the noise refused to leave however and it took a moment to realise that it was inside her. Then, noiseless.

“Time of death….3.30am” a deflated voice said followed by a wall of utter Silence a stillness that was not comfort but ached with both pain and loss.

The comforting smell of spice moved then an gently put her down, having to pull her small clenched fists from its clothes. She blinked her eyes making out only fuzzy images through tears that were half adjustment to light half she did not understand.

The dark fuzzy figure walked away leaving her standing behind the curtain rubbing her eyes and too scared to move though she was not sure really, why or where she was for that matter. She could remember smelling Grandfather but after that…..blank.

“You came too late” a voice said

“I came when I could…I had another patient.”

“ I paged you an hour ago.”

“ I had a pediatric case then my original case coded. I made the choice we all have to make.”

“Yeah?” the voice demanded. “Well was it worth it?”

The voice responded sounding empty of all emotion. “My patient is 14...because I was there during the seizure I was able to work out the underlying cause...he’s going to live. You tell me.”

An angry sort of breathing sound followed before the voice interrupted sounding further away.

“By the way there’s a kid behind that curtain….she’s bruised and in shock.”

The curtain noise then and voices and finally the overwhelming smell of Grandfather pressing her close to him.

“Shhhh…” he rumbled. “ Shhh…shhh it’s ok everything’s going to be ok.”

Granny’s hands stroked along her hair, “ Oh oh petal shhh its ok it’s ok. How did she even get in here...do you think she...oh no she didn’t see...”

“I don’t know.”

She wasn’t really aware of the sobbing, or of their words. The man in the white coat seemed to be having an argument with Grandfather that made him clutch her closer to him.

“Don’t you think you’ve done enough Jonas…you think I’m going to let you poke and prod my granddaughter after what she just saw…”

“She’s in shock Fredric….let me give her something to help.”

Grandfather didn’t answer him instead he reaffirmed his grip on the girl in his arms and walked away. Walked away from it all carrying her along with him and ignoring his wife and the person he once would have counted as a friend.

The girl pulled her face up from his shoulder and watched the man in dark clothes with the icy blue eyes stare at her. Looking as if he wanted to say something but instead he turned, shaking his head sadly and walked away. She watched his shadow grow longer on the floor a thin tall figure it cast. Holding a scythe.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Chapter 1- Asthma Attacks are so last season.Summer, the time of year when all things change animals move with the seasons and come home to roost, the slowly ebbing grasp of winter is finally forced back into its proper season, spring colours are abandoned and no one goes aww over little chicks at Easter. School terms finish and groups of kids, teenagers and the general unemployed flock around with the need for something to do.Many of the teen variety sleep which is no surprise to any parents out there. In addition, on this particular Wednesday it just so happened that temperatures had reached a record high. It was early but already people were sweating in the sheer heat of the day or desperately seeking something or somewhere cool to go.Arin Rae, 16 (and 11 months, two days) lay under a thin blanket, the shorts and vest pyjama ensemble she had worn stuck to her in places that frankly would be unattractive to describe. The air conditioning blew cold air into her bedroom winning its never-ending contest with the open window that only let in the chirping of birds not a single breeze of air.Her dark brown hair fanned in a messy array, stuck to her forehead and did nothing to shield her ears from the second onslaught of irritating noise. The chirpy annoying tune rang loudly again causing her to screw up her eyes as the phone vibrated along the wooden bedside table. It buzzed like an angry hoard of wasps, cut off then started again.Reaching blindly she swatted it and then rolled over. Quiet, serene she sighed in comfort despite the heat and settled into a cooler nook of cotton when.Bbbbbbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt!...Bbbbbbbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt!Apparently, it was not going to go away. She rolled over again and without opening, her eyes clenched the phone to her ear. "What." She demanded of the person on the other end.The voice laughed at her. "Robyn says she's been calling you for over an hour. Did you forget project buy everything in the mall?"Arin sighed and sitting up looked at the clock beside her bed. It was gone of course having been thrown or knocked off during the struggle with the phone. Clambering over the side, phone tucked under her chin she dived looking for it.
"No I didn't forget….I just chose to ignore the incessant clamouring for my attention at…7am!" she held the clock as if it were personally offensive and scowled. "Jesus Zen it's practically still night time! Why on earth does she want to go to the mall this early it's not half open yet…"On the other end of the phone Zenneth McLeod, 17, raised one blond eyebrow his girlfriend could not see and laughed again, sending his longish wavy hair into disarray."She said she needed the time to get ready, so I'm coming to get you then we're going to her place so she can have you help her pull her wardrobe together. Be ready in 20?"Arin felt her face light up as she smiled. "Your stepmom's letting you have the car?""Borrow..."Zen said loudly in a way that made Arin think his stepmom could hear them. " She's letting me BORROW the car for today"She laughed. "Ok. Fine but give me 30 I still need to shower and eat first.""Oooh….something I get to see?" he whispered in a playful tone."No lover boy something you get to wonder about. 30 mins, I'll meet you at the bottom of the drive.""Ohhh…ok fine, see you soon." He said hanging up.Arin flopped back into her pillow and stared at the ceiling trying to remember what she had been dreaming about. Something about a tall shadow with a scythe. She really needed to stop reading discworld novels before bed. She shuddered and after a few seconds, sighed and began disentangling herself from the sheets.—
The entire room was pink. Arin had sat in this bedroom a thousand thousand times but each time it struck her just how Pink it actually was. Shades of the same colour were on everything from the baby pink plush carpet to the rose pink silk wallpaper. Even the four poster bed frame and curtains were pink. Tho a shade so pale that to the untrained eye they would pass as off white. As the second skirt and top ensemble flew into her face Arin scowled and then ducked the pair of kitten heels that followed practically having to flatten herself into the pink comforter on the round double bed."What was wrong with that one!"she demanded honestly perplexed.The girl before her flicked her raven coloured hair back in annoyance as if the question caused physical injury. The dark eyes and slight oriental features of Robyn Adamson were perfectly made up and took in her friend with what could only be described as scorn."Ugh it's so last season. I don't even know why I bought it." She rummaged in the double doored walk in closet and swore to herself as Arin lifted the skirt to look at it. The tag was still on it."Didn't you buy this last weekend?"Robyn's voice sighed dramatically. " Yeah and it was fine then but not now...obviously."Arin frowned and shook her head. She didn't get it."Which reminds me...you remember those super cute denim shorts and the blouse ensemble I bought last weekend?""With the stupid sandals?""If by stupid you mean the limited edition gladiator strap sandals in chocolate leather then yes."Arins expression took on a healthy dose of suspicion. She stared into the dark recess of the wardrobe. "Yes..." she said carefully.Robyn reappeared dressed in a red tartan skirt the would have made the word mini embarrassed and a black cashmere sweater vest that Arin was sure that would induce heat stroke within seconds. In her hands she held a set of hangers with the shortest pair of denim shorts and a white sheer shirt Arin remembered being called a peasant blouse. The sandals dangled from her other hand."No." she stated. A small laugh of disbelief escaping her as though she wasn't convinced her friend was serious. "Robyn no...absolutely not."Robyn pouted, her expertly glossed and coloured lips quivering. " Please Arin...my Nai Nai like totally went crazy when my credit card bill came on Monday. The only reason I'm not like grounded for the rest of the summer was because i told her it was totally a gift for you and i was going to surprise you with it, i mean come on... you totally owe me."
Arin scowled " i owe you? For what?" She watched as her friend rolled her eyes as if the whole thing was obvious." i totally stuck up for you with Olivia and Vanessa...you know what the rumour mill is like. They put weight on over the winter break and you didn't so obviously that means you have a sort of...shall we say problem."she watched the colour drain from her friends face with a sort of satisfaction. Sucking in air and lost for words, not so clever now was she.Arin felt fury rip up through her. Those rumours were old, old and dead as far as she knew. The idea of it had made her life hell with whispers and trips to the schools guidance counsellor and scrutiny from her teachers. All in all a living nightmare for someone that doesn't want the attention and also is not even remotely true. " I'm not..."Robyn shrugged still holding the clothes. " That's what i told them. But the way you eat...it is a little hard to believe, like obviously I believe you because I'm your best friend I'm totally on your side. So please...wear it for me and then i can tell the old fruit bat that you didn't like it on and since i didn't have a gift receipt you decided to let me keep it." She flicked her hair and checked her makeup in the full length mirror by the door. " besides it looks better on me anyway..." she added in a mutter.Arin sighed deeply. Why did it always have to go like this. She glanced down at her own attire. Long baggy jean shorts, black band vest and red converse all stars. She was comfortable...she was herself. She was...doomed. Her head fell chin to chest in defeat. The motion caused Robyn to laugh with a kind of wicked delight and clap her hands." Oh thank you! Thank you thank you. Oh my god you are like the bestest of best friends in the whole wide world...i totally owe you one. Besides you are going to love it you'll look amazing we will fix your hair and your face and Zen is going to flip when he sees you." She stopped wide eyed. " ohmahgod!" She breathed the words together. " I totally forgot about him!"She pushed the clothes into Arins arms. " get changed i'll go see that my mother and grandmother haven't like adopted him or something!" With that she rushed from her room leaving Arin to pull a face at the hated sandals.Looking down at her comfortable shoes and back to the mass of straps her head shook. How did she end up in these situations. Not for the first time did part of her consider that her so called best friend literally used her for her own means time and time again and she knowing full well simply went along with it. That part of her growled in fury but was quashed by the tired sigh of status quo.About thirty minutes later as the trio walked the short length of driveway to Zen's waiting car her face already feeling like it was going to melt with the layers of makeup Robyn had slathered over her skin Arin considered if the status quo was worth it in the end. It was a thought that had been creeping into her head for some time now. She cast a sideways look across Zen towards Robyn to find the other girl glaring at her, more specifically at her feet. Looking down Arin turned her ankle to look at the source of the annoyance. "what?" She asked.Robyn flicked her hair again, " Ugh i cannot believe you wore those ratty old things instead of the sandals. It's throwing off the whole look."Arin smiled as she got into the front passenger seat and as Zen held the driver seat forward for Robyn to climb in the back she glanced again at the red canvas shoes, well she wasn't ready to be a total doormat.—On the other side of town, sat the prestigious looking building that housed Princeton Plainsboro teaching hospital where, like the rest of new jersey, the heat was doing nothing,on this hottest day of the summer so far, to lighten the mood.The staff at the reception of the clinic fanned themselves briefly with each new file passed to them, sweat running down the faces of all those in the waiting room. The free walk-in clinic was by far the busiest that it had been this summer with sixty to seventy people lined against the walls all claiming sunstroke or some other ailment.There was the general unspoken agreement between most of them that they would stay there in the air-conditioned room for as long as possible, on the grounds that the rather irate doctor who had emerged only once or twice so far that day was not assigned to them.Across the hall from the edgy looking people exam room two sat quietly and innocently, as a minute war against idiocy was waged within."And...Ahh you see…my hands, I cannot work like this and the family who hire me. Well they won't pay my time off without knowing what it is and i can't get it to go away. It just sprung up." A small, balding Hispanic man sat on the exam table the sleeves of his shirt rolled up exposing a very red, very nasty looking rash. When his doctor did not reply, he ventured. "My grandson…he thinks it could be something serious like meningitis...""Your Grandson..." The doctor replied from his position at the window as he took a small orange bottle from his pocket and popped the lid off. For some reason the heat did not seem to be affecting him. "… Obviously has never been to el college de medico…otherwise he would know that what you have is not meningitis."He shook a small white pill from the bottle and threw it into his mouth before placing it back into his jeans pocket and turning, leaning heavily on his cane, limped over to the stool in front of the exam table and sat down. "…Thus by proxy making both you and him idiots."The man frowned and opened his mouth to either argue his case or that of his grandson, however Doctor Gregory House who had remained silent for most of the consultation, and did not suffer fools gladly, now seemed unable to stop speaking."You're a Gardner for goodness sake. Ever worked with plants? Clearing weeds?"When the man continued to look confused and no sudden inspiration dawned on him House pulled his prescription pad towards him sighing dramatically. "What you have is not meningitis. In fact what you have is possibly the most diagnostically boring event of my summer thus far." He signed his name with a flourish and handed over the piece of paper pocketing the pen in his sky blue rumpled shirt. He got to his feet and limped towards the door.The man's blank gaze following him as he sat clutching his prescription. "Hydrocortisone?" He asked."Yeah. It's a rash you put cream on it. It'll go away. You have poison ivy. But thanks for playing. And next time wear some damned garden gloves." House told him with a look that declared the condition as obvious and the consultation at a definite end. He left the room and closed the door behind him.Limping over to the desk he deposited the Hispanic mans file into the waiting grasp of the receptionist and treated those people in the waiting area to a withering icy glare that chilled many of them much faster than the air con had been doing. The mass population of the waiting room drew a uniformed breath and backed as far into their respective seats and corners as they could.House inclined his head at them. "You can all breathe easy. My sentence is served. Those of you with real medical conditions will be seen by a doctor shortly, those of you using this clinic as free air conditioning which I'm willing to bet is the majority of you will most likely still be here when I return." He limped off towards the doors."…I'd advise you to consider how badly your freeloading asses actually need to see a doctor today in my absence."The door swung shut behind him and the entire room of patients released its collective breath. A heartbeat or so passed and as the sounds of House's cane faded away a handful of people detached themselves from the crowd and followed him out of the clinic, walking hastily, their heads lowered and their feet scuffing slightly in their hurry.
—"Urgh freeloaders." Arin said with a frown as she lifted the tray of soda and fries out of the way once again and dodged two more people lolling around in the food court. " hello walking here!" She made a beeline to literally the only available seating they had been able to find at the fountain and thumped the tray down in annoyance causing the soda to topple and tip into the outstretched hand of Zen."Chill Arin, geez everyone's just trying to find someplace out of the heat." The teen told her as he put his drink down well out of harm's way.Arin sighed and her expression softened. " i know...sorry. But seriously that line was huge and i think the sodas warm because they are out of ice." She pulled hopelessly at the bottoms of her shorts trying to make them lower by sheer force of will as Zen gave his soda an experimental shake at his ear. Giving up Arin sat down on the wall of the fountain instead of her usual spot on the floor. The denim bit into her thighs and she once again felt a surge of annoyance for letting Robyn shanghai her into wearing the stupid things. She ran a hand over the front of her, basically see through, blouse and looked around. " where is Robyn?""Some of the fountain spray got on her bag. Apparently its a Marc Jacobs and can not get wet so she's taking it to the ladies room to dry off the offending droplets."Arin turned to look at the offending fountain. The fountain was a definite centrepiece that took up basically most of the room on the level that wasn't taken by the food court. It was large made of green marble with three different pools. A deep dark one that they sat beside was the bottom with a large fountain and areas where the other pools cascaded into. On the other side there was a plaque that dignified why it had been built but she couldn't see that from her side. She leaned over, having to press herself across the wide rim and stretch the foot or so down to touch the water. It was icy cold some shining glints of silver and copper told her that despite the signs asking patrons not to people had tossed coins in. She pulled her hand back and sitting up grabbed a handful of Zen's shirt to dry her fingers."Hey!" He yelped but didn't look overly angry. He smiled and slid closer to her pulling her into a hug. Arin stuck her tongue out and Zen laughed. "Personally i think it was an excuse."Arin looked upwards at him as he reached for his drink again. "What was?""Robyn. I didn't see any water on her bag. She wanted to go to the bathroom so she could go take her inhaler in private. It's an excuse. You know what she's like, Asthma...so last season.""Well, she did sound slightly wheezy…" Arin said quietly, more to herself than Zen."Hmm?" The boy asked around the handful of fries he had jammed in his mouth. She shook her head and chewed on the straw of her soda." Nothing."The boy swallowed and looked around. " I guess she did sound kinda wheezy when we sat down." He said slightly pompously. Arin smiled and looked away from him."I wonder if it's the thirty or so bags of shopping she was touting." He glanced at the array of bags by his feet. " or maybe the pollen from those?" He pointed overhead at the food court archway.Large ornamental pots housed some very colourful looking flowers which Arin had assumed were plastic like normal. The presence of a rather irate woman in overalls with an stained orange coloured industrial mop and a cross expression made her look again."It's making a real mess." She said conversationally brushing some of it off of the bags and her converse soles. "If this stuff stains anything Robyn has bought she will have a fit."The din of the mall mingled with the splashing of the fountain for a few moments then changed as if someone had turned down the volume. Conversations stopped by a creeping silence that eventually gave way to complete quiet, people were staring at them. Slowly Arin turned to look over her shoulder in time to see a dark shape fall over the marble wall with a splash into the main body of water.There was a beat as Arin tried to make sense of what she was seeing, on the other side of the fountain floating face down she saw a girl, her tartan skirt askew."Robyn!" Arin yelled as she leapt to her feet. The colour drained from her in shock because there was no mistaking that tartan skirt. A nanosecond had passed. Zen looking panicked was whirling on the spot seemingly trying to work out if he should grab someone. He appealed to the stunned people nearby. " Help! Someone!"Arin didn't stop to think, she glanced around reasoned the fastest way to her friend was through the water and clambered up onto the marble rim of the fountain, across the seat she had just occupied and in. She slid the drop from rim into the water and landed on her backside, the fountain despite its location and purpose was deceptively deep. Deeper and colder than she would have thought, it came to her chest sitting like that. Quickly she stood, slipping slightly and began wading through the waist high water. At the same time a man in a business suit had done the same from the other had removed his jacket. He reached Robyn first but seemed unable to get her turned. Gripping the girl Arin tried to move her, Raven hair floating eerily in the motion of the water. The majority of it seemed to be caught in some undercurrent and was pulling her further under the water. She wasn't moving."Oh my god…" The man yelled as he saw the mass of hair. "Turn off the pump turn off the pump!".Arin grabbed a fist full of hair and pulled not caring if it all ripped out of Robyn's skull. She couldn't get it all free and the more she pulled the more it seemed to tangle. She scanned the pool desperately. Another man was in with them now trying alongside the first to hold as much of Robyn's head out of the water as they could.Arin took a breath and turning back pushed her head under trying to get a closer look at what Robyn was caught in. The pump sat amidst tile, so the whole fountain wasn't made of marble some part of her brain noted, and was a mass of green algae and hair. Her fingers slid through the grime. She came up and gasped a breath moving closer towards it before ducking under again. Clawing at it. Her foot slid on something and she pitched forwards catching her head off of the part of the wall where tiled turned to marble. It stung. She came back up wiping the slimy water out of her eyes.There was a woman there above them in overalls with another man on his knees at a large box Arin hadn't paid much attention to before. The noise of the pump turned off. With a final yank Robyn's hair came free and both men and another woman Arin hadn't seen join in took hold of her shoulders and hoisted her friend out of the water back up to the ledge and onto the floor by the fountain. Arin wading after her.A cascade of water followed as she pulled herself out with some assistance from the onlookers, converse slipping and squealing slightly as she gained her footing. She looked at her friend, hair a dark mess over pale skin like something from a horror movie. Her lips already a light blue."Oh my god…".Tightness clenched over Arins heart. She fell to her knees and put her ear over Robyn's face. Nothing."She's not breathing…" she muttered. Then louder " She's not breathing! Someone help! Call 911! PLEASE!""They have been called. It's ok..they are on their way...paramedics are on their way." Someone soothed. The wet woman was also on her knees starting CPR. Arin watched her terrified and feeling utterly useless. She sat at Robyn's side in the pool of water formed under them both as Zen reappeared with a mall cop.Arin shivered she didn't feel remotely warm anymore.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Chapter Two- A Bird in Trauma is worth two in the waiting room."Look out!" A voice called as the doors to Princeton Plainsboro's ER department swung open.A paramedic team, pushing a dark haired girl on a gurney rushed through the halls towards a trauma room, one keeping the gurney rolling while the other ventilated the bag attached to the girl's mouth."What you got?" a female voice asked as she rushed over to join the gurney team. Alison Cameron took the chart the paramedic offered."Robyn Adamson, Sixteen year old female, went for a swim in the malls fountain. Unresponsive at the scene." Paramedic Bob explained. "Pulse thredy, BP 180/90 'resp's shallow, we scooped and ran. Her friends pulled her out, they are right behind us. The female friend said she's an asthmatic, we treated with 10 ccs epinephrine and a bronchodilator in the field… couldn't get a line in…"Cameron took all of this in as she kept pace with them. She glanced down at the tangled wet mass of the girls hair. The scalp was bleeding slightly under it. "What happened there?" She asked."I think her hair was caught in the fountains main pump, that's what pulled her under it looks fairly superficial." The paramedic replied following her gaze.The gurney rolled to a stop as it reached the trauma room. The waiting medical team moved into action as one nurse fixed the respirator and removed the bag. The rest of the medical team took hold of the body board from under the patient. Cameron took the head."All right. On my count." She told them. "One...Two...Three!"The team hauled as one allowing the board to slide seamlessly on to the waiting gurney, and the paramedic stepped back. Cameron took control of the situation, as the nurse began cutting the wet clothes from the patient; she took a pen light and shone it into her patient's eyes."Robyn…can you hear me?" she asked loudly. " Pupils equal and responsive.." The girl remained unconscious the steady rise and fall of her chest aided by the respirator. Cameron looked worriedly at her pale face for a moment before reaching over and rubbing the knuckle of her thumb into Robyn's Solar plexus, the teenager's body contracted under the pressure."She's responsive to pain." Cameron called, unable to keep a slight note of relief from her voice. "….Ok get a blood gas, blood count, chem. Panel, electrolytes" She said. "… Start a line…Heated IV fluids""Positive batinsky" Someone at the feet called up. A ripping sound of Velcro sounded as an intern removed the collar and gently examined the patient's neck."Necks clear""Portable chest and neck..." Cameron continued as she plugged her stethoscope into her ears and pressed the diaphragm against the girl's chest.Outside of the trauma room and back down the hall stood watching the procession. clutching an ambulance blanket around her soaking clothes, hair wet and sticking to her forehead.She felt rather stunned and wasn't really sure where to go or what to do. She waited for maybe five minutes before a kindly looking nurse spotted her and approached."You aren't hurt are you my dear?" She asked causing Arin to blink and slowly look at her."Uh...no. No my...my friend, she...there was an accident." She pointed uselessly down the corridor where the trauma team had vanished.The nurse flicked her tongue and led Arin to the waiting area. She sat across from the girl and began asking questions about Robyn, her name, date of birth her parents number.Arin answered as much as she could in a sort of numb way. When she was finished she shifted her feet and looked down at the puddle of water she had made in the chair and the floor. She stood. " I am so sorry…" she started.The nurse clicked her tongue again and smiled reassuringly. "It's ok pet, not your fault. If you're sure you're not hurt…" she waited for Arin to shake her head again and then continued, "... then I will get this information to the desk and get you something dry to change into a hot cup of tea. Just sit tight."She left then and Arin moved to another more deserted part of the waiting room. That's where she was watching a janitor or something mop up her earlier mess and holding a steaming hot cup of tea when Zen arrived.Sometime later and the rather roomy waiting area was beginning to feel oppressive. Arin took a slow, slightly ragged breath and bounced her knees looking around at the few other occupants with little interest. In her head she was replaying the scene over again. How had Robyn ended up in the water. Was she watching them on her way back from the bathroom. How could she have failed to notice that her so called best friend was wheezing and in need of her inhaler. She felt achy and still wet. The hospital scrubs that the nurse had given her sat abandoned in the chair at her side along with the untouched cup of tea.The air conditioning was working well here as a saviour from the heat but it wasn't exactly helping her dry out much. She knew she should go dry off and change but she didn't want to leave the waiting area without knowing Robyn was ok. She had to be ok.Leaving the damp blanket on the chair Arin stood and began pacing the length of the chairs in their side of the waiting area. Thirteen steps forwards, one-step around, thirteen steps back, she counted.Zen who watched his girlfriends progression frowning. "Wearing a trench in the carpet isn't going to help her you know." He said gently breaking the silence.Arin shook her head and ignored him. She sat however and after a few more seconds bounced her knee again eyes trained on the door. Zen put a hand on her bouncing knee and squeezed gently. "She's going to be ok Arin. It's going to be ok." He soothed.Female figure clad in a white lab coat entered the waiting area and looked around. Her dark hair was pulled back from her face in a ponytail. Her eyes fixed on the shivering Arin and then Slid to Zen before she made her way over. She smiled and cleared her throat slightly. "Are you two Arin Rae and Zenneth Macleod?""Yes." Arin replied standing. "Is Robyn alright? Is she going to be ok?"The female doctor's smile brightened warmly at them. "I'm Doctor Cameron; Robyn's going to be just fine. She was on a respirator when they brought her in but she regained consciousness a little while ago and is now breathing on her own. She's going to be a little sore and achy but yes she is going to be fine."Zenneth raised his eyebrows." A respirator? Isn't that serious?""The respirator was helping her breathe when she was brought in."She explained patiently. She turned to Arin " I understand you helped pull her out. That must have been very frightening for you. It looks like you pulled her out just in time.""Can we see her?" Zen askedArin swallowed hard, her eyes slightly bloodshot. She rubbed part of her damp sleeve across them and Cameron looked away giving her a moment to compose herself while she pondered the boys question and said slowly. "Yes…you can as soon as she's back from CT…"The doctor, Cameron, began explaining what was happening to Robyn and how when she was stable they would find her a room upstairs. But Arin didn't care. She let loose a painfully deep breath that she felt like she had been holding in for hours. Relief surged through her and she felt her body sag under it. One thing clear in her was going to be ok."I was wondering" Cameron continued. "Would either of you have contact details for Robyn's Parents…we've been unable to reach them via the numbers we have and I thought maybe you would have a cell phone number or something or another relative we could call?"Yes" both of them replied together causing Cameron to smile wider."I'll go." Zen said kindly, giving Arin a pat on the arm. He dug into his jeans and produced a handful of coins which he handed over. "Why don't you go find us all a soda or something? Or just take a walk and dry out a bit?"Arin nodded grateful of the distraction and watched Cameron lead Zen back down the corridor towards the main admit desk. Turning to her left, she picked a direction that looked remotely vending machine wielding and headed down it, her fingers jangling at the loose change in her damp pockets.

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Chapter 3- FizzingSix corridors and five floors. That's what it apparently took to find a set of working vending machines that did not read either out of order, out of stock or correct change only. The elevator opened into a sort of letter T shape with the corridors to her left and right snaking their way to parts unknown. Directly in front of the elevator doors was a sort of off cut from the main corridor which ended in the stairwell door and held only the required vending machine and a three seater sofa sort of thing. Arin walked towards the humming quarry and stopping stared at the device in front of her, something stirred deep in the recesses of her memory. Coins in one clenched fist she ran the fingertips of her empty left hand over the vending machine case tracing the white on red lettering and listening to the gentle hum of the refrigeration units.She frowned and pushed the wet hair back out of her eyes as she tried to remember why this felt so familiar, slowly tuning out all sounds beyond the harmony of the machines.Beyond the sphere of Arin's shrinking world the elevator door binged its arrival and smoothly slid open to reveal a tall man dressed in a crumpled blue shirt and walking with a cane.From inside the wood paneled box, Dr House stepped out into the T junction corridor, still fuming from the most boring morning of stuffy noses, watery eyes, sunburn and generally annoying whining idiots that the streets of Princeton could muster. In addition, the apparent inability for the air-conditioning in his office to work had necessitated the hunt for something cold to drink. Even in that respect, he had lucked out, for the machines closest to his office were out of order and the next set were out of things to actually vend. He limped his way across the deserted hall into the junction and stopped in front of the first of three vending machines, finally grateful to have found one that both worked and had stock.His leg burned from the added strain of his hunt. He inserted a couple of coins into the machine and hit a button with the handle of his cane. The rumbling as it produced his drink also seemed to stimulate a response in the only other occupant of the corridor.The dark haired girl to his left jumped slightly as though only just noticing he were there. She dropped a quarter and bending to pick it up, brushed against the flowerpot housing the ghastly orange plant things Cuddy was using as 'ambient decoration'. The girl stood up and quickly put a series of coins into the machine, randomly pressing her hand across three buttons. They lit up and went out one by one as cans of soft drink were dispensed. He watched, noting two things that piqued his interest. Firstly she was soaking wet, as if she had recently been swimming and was waiting for the sheer heat to dry her off, but fully clothed. Secondly... he cast his eyes at her wrists she didn't seem to be wearing an sort of wrist band. Not a patient then. Thoughts of taking his hard won drink back to his office faded as he considered how she came to be in a hospital five floors up in her current state, but without any sort of obvious injury or sign someone had actually seen to her. He back peddled slowly and sank down onto the leather sofas opposite, watching her.Arin sighed. She couldn't remember what she was supposed to be remembering. Her mind ticked back to the task at hand, and she scooped up her drinks without really looking to see what she had selected. She walked over to the sofa opposite and, observing social convention, threw herself down into the end seat its soft expanse feeling oddly comforting. The skin under her soggy blouse itched as it dried. She gently plucked the sheer material up and gave it a light shake to free it from the areas it stuck to her body. Looking down she noted for the first time that her bra was basically on view for the world. She flushed then feeling the heat rise up into her face. Well it wasn't like she could do much about it now.How had she ended up here Arin wondered. The day had gone drastically askew. She should be either still at the mall having a pretzel or helping Robyn sneak her purchases into the house via the back door. The thought of Robyn made her eyes prickle. With a sigh she brought the soda can in her right hand up to the nape of her neck and the one in her left to her forehead. She hissed slightly as it touched her forehead and caused a stab of pain but it was gone as soon as it had come and swallowing she sat there, her eyes closed enjoying the silence and ignorant of the man sitting beside her.The man, however, did not seem to be ignorant of her. She felt his weight shift as he turned towards her and then an awkwardly upbeat voice stated, "you know, they stopped making that stuff in the mid nineties after they realised what the long term effects of radiation was on the Chernobyl babies."Arin slowly opened her eyes and turned her head slightly to look at him a bemused expression crossing her features, " Sorry?" She asked."It's like those pots of botanical nightmares over there..." He gestured towards the plant pots and waited. The girl blinked at him as if unsure what to say to such a statement and followed his gesture to look at the offending items herself. "... both relics of the USSR's nuclear programme."A smile now played across her features and she turned to look at him. Taking in his crumpled shirt and jeans she made eye contact and blinked at the starling blue colour of his eyes above a tentative smile. It was almost, she mused, as if he wasn't used to making jokes. Or...he wasn't used to making jokes that didn't get him slapped. Taking the can away from her forehead she looked at it closely, "Sunkist?""Yeah," her companion agreed. " That thing almost contains enough waste for it to eat through the can."He watched her as she turned the soda over and read the ingredients list. The corners of his mouth twitched as she made a face of disgust. "Be warned not all mutations grant super powers. Take my advice, toss that one in the trash."The girl seemed to contemplate this a moment looking at the trash can nearby. She bent and put the soda down on the floor at her feet. Unopened. "Thanks for the tip," she said. Her voice sounded slightly hoarse.Taking it as an opening, House shifted across the sofa and extended a hand. "Greg House. Archeologist, excavator and fellow seeker of the elusive cold beverage."Arin watched him somewhat warily move himself towards her and then blinked at the proffered hand. Years of social training took over; she smiled lightly and took it in her own. He had a strong grip. "Arin Rae. I thought they had scrapped the male role when they decided to go for Lara over Lawrence."The girls fingers felt cold, though given she had been holding a chilled soda and recently went for a 'swim', it was not surprising. "Even the greatest female tomb raider of all time learnt from a man."Arin laughed. Then stopped as though she were afraid she would be caught doing something inappropriate. She glanced around and blushed slightly. Self consciously pushing her dark hair off of her forehead and behind her ears.House watched the girl as she shifted a clump of hair away from her damp forehead, revealing a laceration about the length of his fingernail centred around a darkening bruise. He frowned. Even in today's safety mad society, that cut did not merit a trip to the ER. Nor did the bruise. Though he could not rule out a concussion at this stage. This puzzle would require a bit more poking."So, what happened to your head?"Arin frowned her expression becoming confused. She reached a hand tentatively up to the area and pressed. A stab on pain rewarded her prodding and she hissed through her teeth, withdrawing her fingers and looking at them it wasn't bleeding now but given the rough feeling she associated with dried blood it obviously had been under her hair." I'm not sure…" she said slowly.Great, House thought. kid doesn't even realise she's knocked a chip out of her skull. That meant she had either been in too much shock at the time to notice the injury, suffered short term memory loss and forgotten about it, or was a troll, and would have suddenly noticed it in about two days time. Either way, it helped him naught. Perhaps he should ask his next question using words containing only one syllable and a lot of grunts.As her new companion considered her she thought back to the events of the mall and of finding Robyn. She paled slightly. "...There was an accident. It all happened so fast." She turned to look at him. Her eyes shiny as though she were trying not to cry. She turned away again and looked at her feet.House took a long drink from his soda, only vaguely aware that she had spoken. Fishing in his pockets for his Vicodin netted him only a roll of Mentos and an empty orange bottle. Bastard! He'd swallowed the last of it while enduring the whingings of that idiotic gardener. His thoughts immediately drifted to the stash in his office. He was currently two floors and several corridors away. His leg would not cope with that trek without at least another fifteen minutes rest. Cursing his continued streak of bad luck, House unwound the loose paper of the mints and popped one in his mouth.Minutes passed. "Lost something?" Arin asked. Composed for now she leaned back into the sofa and tilted her head at him ponderously.House turned to face the girl, not allowing the 'caught with his pants down' look to show. The discovery of having finished his Vicodin had almost caused him to forget his dry docked water baby. "Grown up stuff," he replied, intending to close the matter before it even opened.If his response annoyed her she didn't show it. Instead Arin placed the can of Diet Coke on her forehead again and sighed. "Do you ever look around yourself and wonder how the hell did i get here?" She asked glancing at him."I'd say all the time, but mostly it's at 3am."She chuckled again and took another deep breath letting it out slowly. " I think i may be too young for that particular reference."House gave her a sideways look. "What self respecting teenager hasn't been wasted at 3am and went for a dip in the neighbours pool at least once?"Arin turned to look at him fully, making eye contact. Brown eyes to blue. " That's not what happened if that's what you're getting ready to segue into. Just so we are clear." Her tone was slightly clipped. " It was an accident." This guy was weird she thought, no doubts about that. Watching his eyes while he formulated his response Arin had the sudden and unnerving feeling that he could see through her, like she were being x-rayed.House smirked to himself and resisted the bait she offered to divert his segue. She deserved points for recognising it, but he would not be deterred by a damp teenager, no matter how skimpy and see through her attire. "So…." he elongated for effect. "What kind of accident are we talking about here? One with copious amounts of water I'd wager.""Wow...you must be like some sort of detective or something," she retorted. "The real question you want answered isn't what sort of accident. Rather, why is there a girl soaked from head to toe standing in a hospital five floors up from the ER with no obvious injuries or sign she has actually come in via the ER. That's the real noggin' scratcher right?" She frowned at him expectantly."I thought that one would have been obvious…?" For the second time House left the door ajar for a response.Arin shook her head and looked away towards the vending machines. All she had wanted was five minutes of peace.It almost disappointed House when none came; this girl had been doing so well too."...looking for soda." Arin said without looking away from the machines as though they had jogged the thought loose in her mind.House smiled to himself as the words were snatched from his lips. Perhaps there was hope for this one yet. Quickly he prepared a second ball for service. "I suppose your point about obvious injuries would call into question your wider health. Given the fact that you were so oblivious to that chip in your skull." He managed to suppress a smirk. Lets see how she handles that he thought.This caught her attention. She raised one dark eyebrow, on her uninjured side, in an arch that would have made Mr Spock jealous and considered him. " Wider health Doctor House?" She asked with a genuine note of curiosity in her tone.House studied each an every twitch in her face and body language. Searching for any sort of boby pin that would help him pick this particular lock. When she spoke he maintained his infamous poker face. Well, she was better than the rabble he'd dealt with down in the clinic, though that wasn't saying much. Then again it could simply have been a wild punt upfield. His comment about 'wider health' hadn't exactly been subtle. Still, why not throw a dog a bone. They had a tendency to do more tricks that way."You've suffered head trauma that could have caused more damage than a simple laceration and bruising. Some form of concussion would not be surprising. You should really get it checked out downstairs."Arin smiled as her suspicion was confirmed and brought her hand back to her forehead as he spoke. She shrugged. "You and I both know that it's not that bad. Some ice and Tylenol is all I need. And that can wait."House laughed internally. Whenever he encountered someone so apathetic to their own health, he was reminded of a lung cancer patient who had felt 'fine' only a month before dropping dead. In his experience such stupidity only lead to a premature grave. However, the girl beside him did not seem the sort to be swayed by a 'prophet of doom' charade. Instead, he elected to try a rarely used tool in his arsenal, concern."Look," he began, trying his best to sound as if he genuinely cared about the girls wellbeing, "while you're not likely to bleed out from such a small cut, the bruising around it indicates that the trauma would have been sufficient to cause concussion. While I understand that you're concerned about your friend, you should at least make sure that your not going to collapse the second you walk out the door." House paused for a moment before realising he had forgotten something. "It's what he/she would want."The smile that stretched across the girls pale features was a mixture of amusement and something else. She turned to face him again and looked him up and down as if sizing him up for the first time. "Actually that's not at all what they would want." She paused as if considering. "What they would want is for me to get a hairbrush and a hell of a lot of conditioner, and to make sure that her Grandmother didn't see the…" she trailed off considering. What the hell had they done with the bags? She couldn't remember. She had just followed the paramedics and sat down in the ambulance. If they had tried to ask her to leave she didn't remember either. Zen had followed in his car...arriving ten minutes or so after Arin had sat down in the waiting area. Maybe he had them."So it is a friend who's holled up downstairs in the ER and a girl friend at that," House interjected. The girl had done well not to betray the sex of the individual, however, had slipped up with the grandmother comment. Or maybe he was simply feeling for resistance that did not exist.She looked down at her clothing wondering how many of Robyn's new purchases she would need to lay claim to in order for her friend to stay out of trouble or if the whole near drowning thing would mean she didn't need to do that at all. She ran her index fingers along the edges of the denim shorts pulling it slightly free from her thighs. These were very tight uncomfortable shorts. She surveyed her legs but the tightness wasn't the worst thing."You know what the most stupid thing about these shorts is?" she asked House as she observed a few scrapes and some bruises that certainly hadn't been there that morning."Major wedgies?"With a shake of her head Arin gave him a would be withering look. "No. It's that they don't give enough protective coverage." She rubbed her hand gently up her calf and then felt a surge of guilt. Here she was sitting talking to this random stranger and complaining about some stupid superficial bruises while Robyn was downstairs having almost died. Arin huffed a sigh and shuffled her feet, eyes casting about the corridor as if taking in the place properly for the first time. She hated hospitals, hated the way they looked and the way they smelled. Like a swimming pool, but instead of excitement and fun the smell evoked a sense of loss and a kind of trapped feeling that, if she let it, made her feel physically sick.Taking the comment as an invitation to leer, House allowed his gaze to trail down her thin, pale legs to a pair of ruined, well-worn red converse. He cocked his head upon noticing the stitched star and scuffed text on the outside of the left shoe. Those babies were limited edition and would have cost at least $350 new… if they were genuine."Are those custom stitched 2001 converse ex13-bright stars?"Looking at her shoes Arin clicked the heels together and considered them. They had been a gift bought for her 15th birthday from her Grandfather...more likely purchased by her Grandfather's assistant. She hated to admit that she hadn't really questioned the shoes origins rather just delighted in the fact that they were so comfortable and right up her street. Harrison really did his job well she mused. "Probably." She admitted out loud to House. "They were a gift."No surprises there then, House thought. Only the really rich brats would get away with downing that much on one pair of shoes. Still, her family most likely had money or one of her friends was very generous. For a moment he sat and pondered. The name Rae rang some sort of bell down in the dark and dusty depths of his mind, however, he had never been interested in New Jersey genealogy. On a related matter there had been something bothering him about the girls attire that he had put down to the damp. Yet having now given it headspace he realised he had in fact missed a trick."Those clothes don't belong to you," he said matter of factly, then added, "unless of course you have absolutely zero fashion sense… by Jersey standards.""Really?" She asked him. "And how'd you work that out?" She didn't deny the claim."Those shoes are both well worn and you've admitted to being the owner. However, in no world of fashion do they match the shorts and peasant blouse ensemble." He gave her a devilish smirk. "Or is there a thing going on amongst the upper classes where they try to get in touch with their working class side."Tilting her head she considered him again, "Ok…" she started. "You get upper class from the rarity of the converse. Assuming they are genuine of course. But what if I'm not. What if they were a gift when my gambler mother won it big or my father got a huge settlement for an accident on the construction site?" She smirked, was she enjoying this random interlude into the weirdness of the day. " It's a flimsy premis to go on if you ask me, half guesswork and half assumption. I thought doctors dealt in fact."If House was taken aback any by her ballsiness, he did not show it. Though it was not often someone, other than one of his team, tried to call him on his deductions. He gave her a smile. "It's the accent, or lack thereof." He raised his eyebrows knowingly. "We're in Jersey.""You are making the assumption that regional dialects are synonymous with social dialect. Lower classes tend to speak non standard dialects, upper classes to speak standard dialects. That's what you are working with. But what about middle class. Which my previous points would put me in, the dialect could still be standardised there as many working middle class families do speak more of a standard class dialect as they hope to one day move up and it makes them more acceptable." She gave him another smile. "Still a pretty flimsy premis."House's smile widened and he waited a moment to see if the girl would notice that she had fallen squarely in a pitfall trap that Team Rocket would have been proud of.Arin watched him, noted the grin and looked confused a moment before she rolled her eyes and sighed. Her smile gone. "I just played your hand for you didnt I?" she asked."More that you've placed your cards face up on the table, but thanks for playing."House gave her a moment to reevaluate the situation and helped himself to another mint and mouthful of coke, enjoying the fizzing sensation on his tongue when the pair unceremoniously collided.She smiled and shook her head again. "You know, you are possibly the strangest person I have ever met." She leaned back into the sofa and pinched the bridge of her nose as if her head hurt. "It's been a very long weird day." She added softly.House resisted the urge to say, 'I get that a lot, I don't know why'. Instead he swallowed the remnant of his candy and decided to bring the conversation back to the point at hand,specifically the accident that led to the girl sitting on a sofa soaking wet, five floors up and conversing with an old drug deprived doctor."So what happened to your friend to land her a spot downstairs?"Closing her eyes Arin drew in breath as if to explain then stopped. Silence for a few heartbeats. "I don't really know." She said finally without opening her eyes. "Long story short, she fell into a fountain…"House considered things for a moment. He was beginning to see how this so called 'concerned and caring' attitude worked. Was this what it felt like to be be Cameron? No, he reasoned. There was a distinct lack of whining and breast tissue for that. He turned back just in time to hear the word fountain. He racked his brain. Teenage school kids spending the day together somewhere that had a fountain large enough for a girl of about 5"7' to go for a swim in… "The John McPhearson Mall," he then said aloud.Unaware that House was soul searching by her side Arin furrowed her brow thoughtfully and continued, eyes still closed. "... the real question is how the hell did she get in the fountain to begin with. I think she took an asthma attack and passed out. She must have been sitting on the upper pool or something. I don't know if she hit her head or what but I think she was unconscious by the time we noticed her…" she trailed off. " I mean if she had been taken an Asthma attack and fell in the water it would stop right? Isn't that a thing.. divers reflex?"Well, that spoiled the fun, House thought, feeling slightly cheated. If he'd wanted the particulars laid bare he could have called down to the ER and had the attending fill him in. It wouldn't have been difficult. How many soaking wet teenagers could they have gotten on a day like this?Arin seemed to be recounting the events of the accident. In her head she replayed Robyn's skirt askew, the hair trapped in the stupid pump thing...what would have happened if they hadn't got the power off when they did. And the sight of her when she lay on the ground. Lips blue, skin pure white and makeup running while the woman tried to resuscitate her. It took Arin back to another sort of half memory that she tried to suppress...of someone else pale and lifeless while desperately someone tried to resuscitate them...alarms blaring. The noise echoed inside her head and she felt a wave of nausea wash over her, her palms grew slick and an acidic taste like bile filled her mouth. She swallowed hard and tried not to throw up.When neither party bothered to continue the conversation, House turned to look at the girl. Her cheeks had gone pale and her eyes, while not quite glassy, seemed to have zoned out. Doctor mode kicked in and he instinctively delved into his pocket for his penlight. Reaching out with his left hand, House took hold of her chin and gently turned the girls face towards him and shone the bright, white light into her eyes."You ok?" he asked, the feigned concern dropping from his tone as he reverted back to House classic.At first there was no response from her. Her pupils constricted under the light. His words seemed to rouse her in a sort of dazed delayed reaction. She blinked hard then screwed her eyes up at the light and pulled her head away from his grasp. "What are you doing...?" she demanded weakly.She looked around and drew a shaky breath. "I need to go." She said more to herself than him. She pushed her hands into the sofa, scooped her soda up and stood. The momentum seemed to carry her further than she meant however and she swayed slightly as the nausea was replaced with a wave of dizziness. She slowly lowered herself to the seat again.House reached up and taking hold of her arms, helped guide the girl back down to the sofa. From the brief glimpse he had gotten of her eyes and the clear sudden onset of dizziness, he could tell that the bonk to the head had indeed rendered her with some form of concussion. Taking her wrist between his thumb and forefingers, he looked at his watch and began to count.After exactly a minute, he announced, "your tachycardic and are suffering bouts of vertigo when you try to stand up. You've got a concussion and need to take a trip back downstairs." On hearing his own words, he thought for a moment. "In fact it's probably best if you don't use the stairs… or go by yourself."With his free hand House reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. Flipping it open he scrolled through his contacts until he found Foreman's number and hit the call button. It rang three times before the irate voice of his lackie answered."House, what do you want?"Arin sat with her eyes closed willing the dizzy feeling away. She was only partly aware of House while she focused on getting herself under control. As it ebbed she moved her arm and felt both pressure over the pulse point in her wrist and resistance to her movement. Her eyes flew open and registered House holding her wrist, his phone in his other hand and the fact he were speaking to someone else just as he said…"I need a wheelchair up on floor five. The vending machines in that alcove opposite the elevators."Panic, sudden and sharp hit her heart, she blinked furiously and pulled sharply at her assailant as he held her. Her breathing hitched up a notch and unable to free herself she did the only thing that came to mind. She reached over, grabbed the phone from his unsuspecting hand with her free one and snapping it closed, tossed it towards the end of the sofa. It sailed through the air and came to a stop on the leather arm rest before falling onto the floor with a small clatter and sliding out of reach.Both House and Arin watched it in the sort of stunned silence that follows such an act. Arin stared at her hand as though shocked at what she had just done."Hey!" House exclaimed, his tone a cocktail of anger, annoyance and surprise.The shock wore off and she pulled her hand again trying to free it from his grasp. "Let me go!" She stated as she struggled.Inadvertently acquiescing to her request, House let go of her wrist. Casting his gaze across the polished floor to where his cell phone lay, he groaned internally. The damn thing was out of reach for both his arm and cane. Cursing under his breath, he turned his attention to the aforementioned stick of wood that sat between him and the now vandalous little pixie. Gripping the handle firmly in his right hand, he maneuvered the tip to hover above her left foot. Pushing down with all his weight, House used the cane to help him rise.Pain flared in her foot and she yelped. "Ow!" Her attention immediately turned to her foot and then looking up at him she glared. Her cheeks flushing in anger. "What the Fuck!?" She demanded. "What did you do that for?!" She too got to her feet her earlier difficulty apparently forgotten. The fingers of her right hand clenched on the single can of soda that had rested against her leg, her knuckles had turned white, her breathing slightly ragged.House ignored the outburst and, completely oblivious to the daggers she was now staring at him, stepped forwards a few paces and bent down to pick up his cell. Continuing to blank her, he shuffled backwards and sat back down, carefully turing the device around in his hands to check for any damage. Kids these days were so darn disrespectful of other people's property.Arin scowled and shaking her head looked away at the elevators. " You know what fine…"The words her brain supplied helpfully from the list of appropriate things to say like 'Sorry,' and 'I shouldn't have thrown your phone.' Or even ' I will pay for that if it's damaged.' Refused to leave her mouth as if she were physically unable to state them to this man. She closed her eyes and tried to get a grip on herself. Instead what came out was. "...Forget it." And she moved in front of him to get by. She had enough of this, heart hammering in her chest and throat now feeling dry she kept her hands clenched, one around the soda can and one in a fist.The movement of the girl eventually registered in House's brain and he pocketed his cell. Regardless of her hoodlum-esqu behaviour, she was still in need of medical attention. Something that, somehow, he was sure she would not go get if he allowed her to walk past him and to the elevators. Cane still firmly in his hand, House quickly shoved it between her legs and twisted trying to redirect her momentum back towards the sofa.Arin took one step, collided with the wood of the cane and yelped again as it jarred her shin. The twist propelled her back as if she had been pushed, causing her to automatically step backwards to try and regain her balance and for her heels to make contact with the edge of the sofa. With nowhere to go she wobbled and then fell back into the middle cushion with a slight 'oof', once again, By the irate Doctor's side."What's your problem?!" she demanded sounding winded."Idiot's that ignore good medical advice grind my gears," he replied with mock offence. "Now, why don't you sit there while my underling fetches you a nice, safe wheelchair." His words may have held a hint of humor, however, he was through with joking. This mild case of concussion could very well get him out of clinic duty for the rest of the day if he played his cards right.Scowling darkly Arin pushed her free hand into the sofa again and got to her feet. "I didn't ask for your help. I don't want your help. And I don't need a wheelchair." She stated her tone verging from indignant to defensive.The girls attitude reminded House of exactly why he disliked the gentry. Though come to think of it, he did not know for certain that she belonged to it. Perhaps it was a subconscious recollection of something he had encountered regarding the family name, Rae. Regardless, it made no difference. They had all that money, yet the one thing they couldn't buy was common sense… and there she was trying to get up again. House rolled his eyes, stretched out his arm and caught her trailing hand. With a quick tug he hauled her back down towards the brown leather.Arin yelped out loud and snatched her hand away from his towards her chest as if his touch had burned her. "Don't touch me!" She spat at him. " Let me go."House brought his piercing blue eyes up to meet her deep browns. Locking her gaze he took in her pale features. Her palm felt sweaty in his firm grip. He didn't need to touch her pulse point to know that her heart rate had shot up to new heights."All the colour has drained from your face," he began, using his authoritative doctor voice. "Your palms are sweaty and your heart rate has increased again. Right now, for some reason which I am sure there is a fascinating explanation for, you're beginning to panic. I'd even go as far to say that your displaying symptoms of paranoia."That last comment may have been a stretch but she didn't need to know that. The more unusual her symptoms, the less likely it would be that Cuddy would detect he intended to use the kid to skip out on clinic duty.Arin stared at him, she could hear her heart beating in her chest and the blood it pulled rushed to her ears. Like a small roar. She struggled against his grip again and felt a surge of adrenaline. Why she fought him, she herself did not know. All she knew was that this man had hold of her and intended to take her somewhere she didn't want to go and do...god knows what. She felt confined and unable to breathe.He continued to watch her, blue eyes boring into dark browns once more. "Look," he tried to reason." I'm a Doctor, I want to help you. I'm not going to hurt you, idiot."His eyes, brilliant blue commanded her to look at him, to see sense and listen to him but they unnerved her in a way she more felt than understood. She wasn't listening to anything he said. It just sounded like noise. It was fight or flight time and she had no way of escaping and nothing to fight him with. Unless...she glanced down at the soda can she still clutched in her free hand and manoeuvring her thumb popped the lid. It resisted a second then depressed with a short hiss. Starting to hyperventilate and desperate to get loose she brought the can between them both and upturned it into his lap.House noticed too late what the girl was doing. In a vain attempt to evade the gush of liquid, he shifted as far back into the couch as he could, to no avail. The soda splashed over his lap and he instinctively released his grip on her hand and batted at the freefalling can; it bounced off his knee and fell to the floor. Oblivious to what the girl was now doing, House stood up and tried to brush what little standing liquid that remained from his crotch.Arin fled up the corridor and towards the elevator. The adrenaline rush giving her speed. She slid to a stop at the doors and jabbed hurriedly and repeatedly at the button to summon the behemoth of escapism that it now represented. "Hurry up, hurry up!" She bounced on the balls of her feet. Like a smoke grenade, that can wouldn't keep him busy for long and she had to get away.By the time House realised that there was nothing more he could do for his juiced jeans, the girl had already made it halfway down the hallway. The moment of surprise and shock had already ebbed, but the sight of her fleeing had replaced all thoughts of helping her with just one, vengeance. Taking in the large bottle of soda on the front of a vending machine, he felt the faint lingering taste of mint on his tongue when he rolled it around his mouth. He smirked to himself. Time for that bitch to get a taste of her own medicine. He was only vaguely aware of the irony of that sentiment as he quickly formulated a plan.Cane in hand, House quickly crossed the short distance between the sofa and the machines. Stuffing his hand inside his pocket he pulled out a fistfull of coins and hurriedly shoved them into the solitary machine that vended bottles; not giving a wooden nickel about correct change. Come on, come on, he cursed as he waited for his weapon of choice to fall. The loud thud of the bottle landing filled the hallway and House quickly bent down to snatch it. Limping as quickly as he could, he set off after his prey.The elevator binged it's arrival and Arin roughly shoved her way in before the doors were even fully open. Somewhere in the back of her mind she remembered her Grandmother teaching her she should always wait for the elevator to fully come up and open to make sure it was actually there and she wasn't about to step into an empty shaft.Thankfully the elevator gods were kind it seemed and she spun around desperately seeking the buttons to get her out of this corridor. She hit one and risked a look at House and the corridor she had just vacated. She frowned at what he was doing in confusion.House could only watch the girl scurry into the elevator. There was no chance he'd make it to the door before it closed and the carriage departed. With only a split second to choose, he stopped dead with about eight feet to go and hurriedly unscrewed the bottle cap. Pulling the last of the Mentos out of his pocket, he looked up at her and smirked."Fire in the hole," he declared, as in one fluid motion he dropped the candies into the bottle and lobbed it into the elevator. The chemical reaction took hold mid-flight, the air turning the bottle neck upwards towards the lift just in time for the main geyser to burst out spraying into the carriage.Arin yelled and cowered from the fizzy onslaught as she was sprayed. The bottle then landed at her feet, clearing the closing door just in the nick of time in a move that Indiana Jones himself couldn't have achieved. It lay still for a split second as if in shock then erupted, spitting, fizzing and hissing like an angry cat."Bullseye!" House declared. He did a fistpump as the doors closed. That would teach the smart-mouthed, punk-assed, ragamuffin a lesson. Physics always wins. Now to get back to his office and change before someone saw him and started spreading gossip about him pissing himself.Arin screamed and closing her eyes shrank against the wall of the elevator where she slid down to her haunches on the floor as if that would save her from some of the mess. She was, for the second time that day soaked. This time large dark stains covered her light blouse and shorts. Her yells echoed up the shaft to her assailants waiting ears as the black bulb of the camera in the corner dripped quietly observing all.A slight squeaking sound announced an arrival into the corridor just as one left. Eric Foreman stood behind an empty wheelchair frowning quizzically at his strangely happy looking boss."Uh…" he began looking from House to the closed elevator doors and drippings of some sort of liquid. "...what are you doing?" His tone was mildly exasperated, mildly intrigued. " What's up with the wheelchair...have you actually got a patient?" He looked around for some in the otherwise empty junction. Then frowned, screwing his nose up."Are your pants wet?" He asked sounding mildly disgusted now.The untimely arrival of his underling deprived House of both his quick getaway and time to relish in his victims echoed screams. Still, such a performance demanded some form of good exit. Jabbing the call button with his cane, House shot Foreman a mischievous look with one eye."You were getting lazy sitting in that office while the rest of us were out hunting for patients. I thought you could use the exercise."Anger flared across Foreman's features. " You mean to say you called me to bring you this when you didn't actually need it?" He turned around and shook his head."No… I inferred that you were getting fat. That labcoat really is starting to look a bit tight.""Oh yeah real mature House. And here I thought you actually needed help. Your mother never teach you the story of the boy who cried wolf?""She did," House conceded. "Only when she told it, the boy had a crossbow and shot the wolf dead. He made a pretty penny selling the pelt. That's capitalism for you."Foreman muttered darkly, head shaking incredulously and spinning on his heel marched off leaving the wheelchair with House. "Chase is doing crosswords!" He yelled over his shoulder without looking back. "Next time bother him." He turned left and vanished."Wrong again," House called after him. "My patients about to drop in on Cameron. Make sure your good and ready for diagnosing after lunch. Or it might be your pelt we end up selling."The apparent victor in two rounds against two opponents, House smirked to himself as the doors to the elevator on the left binged open and greeted him with a soda free carriage. He limped in, pressed the cane into the button and waited. Time for lunch.

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Chapter 4- Makot Mitzrayim- All Hail House.Lunch time, the time of day when people at Princeton Plainsboro teaching hospital, generally, attempted to find food. The extreme heat meant that many of the staff who found themselves off duty or able to grab a quick bite were situated inside the cafeteria, the air conditioning up to full. Those who considered themselves brave enough to venture outside, looked longingly back at the building, and weighed the possibility of entering it again without having to leave the shade.Unaware of the battle of indecisiveness, Doctor James Wilson sat in his office with his shirt sleeves rolled up and his lab coat hanging on the back of his chair. He flipped another folder closed and ran a hand wearily across his forehead. Though the air-conditioning was on and his windows wide open he still felt the perspiration trickle down his neck. He reached for another file and delved head first into his work, trying to find a distraction from the intensifying dull throb in his skull.He finished one page and glancing up made a grab for the cold cup of coffee in front of him. He lifted it to his lips then sighed as nothing came out. Apparently it wasn't half empty, it was fully empty. Standing stiffly Wilson stretched his back gently and groaned. He rolled his hunched shoulders willing the muscles to relax and crossed his office to the coffee pot by the window.As he stood directly under the breeze of air con and filling his cup he glanced sideways through the glass door onto the balcony that separated both him and House in time to see the other Doctor holding a pile of what looked like clothing in the crook of his arm close the blinds and vanish from view.With a shrug, House was always up to something, Wilson drank long and deep from his mug and then grimaced as the liquid burnt his throat. He really should go home but with the work he still had to do...no he had cancelled his appointments for the day and could sit and catch up first. He sat back down and pulled himself closer to the desk. Picking his pen up he read his last comment and started again.So absorbed was he that he did not pay any attention some twenty minutes later or so to the door to his office opening quietly nor to the person who limped through it. It was not until a sharp bang announced the head of a cane on his desk that he even so much as gave his visitor reason to suspect he was aware of their presence at all. Disappointingly he didn't jump."House…" he sighed tiredly without looking up from his work. He raised his free hand in a placating sort of gesture and continued writing with the other. " I have three months worth of charting to do and two clinical trials to submit patients for. Whatever this is make it quick."The other doctor's response was to draw the cane back across the desk onto the floor and back hooking Wilson's satchel with it."It's lunch time." House said. His tone light and matter of fact. He limped over and dropped himself into the chair opposite causing Wilson to sigh again when he heard the seat springs creak as though he realised that the sound meant his visitor was hunkering down for the long hall. He needed to nip that in the bud quickly."And..."Wilson began still without looking up, as though eye contact would seal his doom. " ..You've lost your way to the cafeteria again? Funny how you always seem to find it no problem when i'm there."A rustle of foil sounded before House spoke again. "It's Ham and pickle day." He said as if this answered all of the potential questions that were about to come up.That did it, Wilson paused in his notation his eyebrows knitting together in confusion. "You don't like pickle…" he finally looked up at his friend.House sat relaxed, leaning back into the chair as he fiddled with a foil package."Exactly. However, thanks to our esteemed dean of medicine cutting corners on this months food budget the cafeteria now…on Tuesdays serves ham and pickle. I've been forced to seek out alternatives" House replied as he peeled the two bits of sandwich from inside the foil apart to peer at the filling."You've taken up cooking?" Wilson enquired as he wiped his hand over his sweaty forehead again and went back to his notes. He frowned sudden,y as a thought struck him and cast about for his bag. That foil looked very familiar."No…I've found another cafeteria. They serve better sandwiches anyway." House emphasised his point by putting both sandwiches together and biting into the soft bread.Long suffering, exasperated, annoyed. All of these things at once made Wilson put his hand up to his forehead and rub. "Is that my lunch." He demanded.House didn't answer merely chewed. "Is it just me….or is the true art of sandwich making restricted only to those of your faith? How do you Jews do it?" he asked as he bit into the bread again.Wilson sighed, deeply, again at the joke and put his pen firmly many potential avenues to take in response but rather than get outright angry, which never irked the caustic diagnostician anyway, Wilson went with..."Sorry Pharaoh house….the secrets of my people's sandwich making is denied to you." He remarked sarcastically. "Now return the sandwich to ye old sacred lunch box lest the wrath of Egypt and the ten plagues of Princeton reign down upon on you." He held his hand out in a firm 'give that to me now' gesture.House watched him and chewed his last mouthful. Carefully calculating the boundaries of which he could push in this instance. His blue eyes roved across his friends face a second before he gave a sniff and threw the half-eaten sandwich back into the foil, wrapped it haphazardly and placed the Tupperware box it resided in firmly back on the desk. Using his cane to knock it back into place as well as knocking over Wilson's lamp."I knew I never should have let your people go!" he exclaimed as he sat back in the chair. "But…the parting of the red sea was cool I suppose. Hard to ignore that."Wilson scowled for the first time, his face etched with a mingle of annoyance and sweat."Let's see, if we continue your rather stereotypical assessment we have two choices either doomed to walk forty years in the desert or doomed to a rule of tyranny. Tough call." He began but the running joke between them came to a grinding halt as the oncologist was silenced by House's intensive, inquisitive gaze.The unkempt looking doctor tilted his head slightly. His eyes flickering between the open windows and the air vent."What?" Wilson demanded as he followed his friends gaze around the room."It's a cool 68 degrees in here" House stated and flashed a piercing look back to Wilson's face. " Air conditioning is on and all of the windows are open…but you're sweating and still flushed. Are you sick?"House rose slightly and leaning over the desk put the back of his hand on the unsuspecting Wilson's forehead. Wilson blinked then threw the hand off with a shrug back out of reach. He glared at House."It's not anything you'd be interested in." He told House whose expression stated very much the opposite. " I have a summer cold if you must know…" he deflected. " Why are you still in here anyway? You've gotten most of my lunch why aren't you in your own office? ""You're air conditioning is working. Mines broken." He said in a bored way. "Summer cold hu? What are the symptoms? Low-grade fever? What 99.9-100.2?"Wilson stretched and rubbed the bridge of his nose as if to alleviate the headache. He closed his eyes . " What has your hand gone digital now? That's impressive even for you."The rumpled looking man in white band shirt and jeans didn't respond. Wilson opened his eyes to find the chair empty then jumped slightly when he noted movement to his left. House was now sitting on the edge of the desk closest to him. How the hell had he gotten there. The guy could be stealthy despite what his gait suggested.House reached both hands up to the sides of Wilson's neck. He palpate the glands a second before the oncologist once again shrugged him off. House frowned looking offended."House...I'm not doing this with you." Wilson said shaking his head. " Leave me alone. Like I said it's just a summer cold."House fumbled in his pocket and procured a penlight. He clicked it on and took hold of Wilson by the chin. "Open up…" he said trying to get a look in his friends mouth.Again Wilson shrugged House off. "House I said no."Looking annoyed and wounded House put his penlight back into his pocket and stood up. He limped away from Wilson and for a second the light haired Doctor was sure he was about to grab his cane and storm off. Instead he sat down in his original chair and spun his cane between his fingers frowning.Silence stretched between the two for a few seconds. Wilson felt slightly guilty. He opened his mouth to...apologise? He wasn't sure himself when House beat him to the punch."Why is it when I genuinely want to help people they don't want my help?" He asked causing the oncologist to gawp at him. Slowly Wilson swallowed and frowning actually looked at House for the first time. The obvious statement wouldn't work."Is that Why you changed your clothes?" Wilson ventured causing House to look down at the black jeans and t-shirt combo he had replaced his blue ones and shirt for."Something like that." House stated. He stood again and reaching into his back pocket pulled his prescription pad out. He took the pen from Wilson's desk and wrote on it for a few seconds then capping the pen ripped the sheet off and handed it across. "That will help with the fever and headache. You'll need something different if you develop a cough."Wilson took it and glanced at the writing. He felt a warm sort of glow in his chest and smiling looked back up to find House watching him. The other doctor pulled a face."Oh don't do that." House snarked."What?""That. The I'm so thankful for a friend that cares I feel all warm and gooey inside. That's the virus talking."Wilson raised his eyebrows. " I wasn't…""Yes you were. I can see it in your stupid face."Wilson held his hand up and sank back into his chair tucking the script into his shirt pocket. " So what happened earlier.""Nothing. Just some punk kid with a head injury." House spun his cane again as both men sat silently.Wilson looked confused. "In the clinic? Did they get sick on you or something?""Or something." House said his expression breaking into an evil looking grin.Wilson gave a pained look and picked up the earlier conversation. "See looks like that are why people don't want you to help. But if you are going for madman with a hint of evil dictator you are somewhere between overlord and Bond villain. Sans cat."House chucked. " I'd prefer the term Pharaoh if you don't mind.""Yeah. I bet you would." Wilson continued. " And I suppose when they mummify you they'll have a set of three separate sarcophagi. One for you one for your Cane and the other for your stash of Vicodin!"House waved his cane at this. " Too right. Only the important things I'll need in the other world. But at least I know I won't be lonely.""Oh? And why's that?""You'll be there right along with me.""Me?" The bemused expression gave House permission to continue."Yeah. They always buried the servants with the masters. I mean how am I expected to eat in the afterlife without my sandwich Slave." Houses eyes flashed with mischief as he waited for his friends response.Wilson closed his eyes as if the comment physically caused pain. He couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him but before he could respond the door to his office opened again and in the doorway stood Cuddy. She looked both men over then turned a stern no nonsense expression towards House."House. In my office. Now." She breathed fury evident in her every syllable.Wilson turned a puzzled look at House, eyes clearly screaming 'what did you do this time.' House however stared at Cuddy with an expression that clearly stated. 'Uh Oh...busted.'** 45 minutes ago (approx.)**Arin ran her tongue across her lips tasting Diet Coke. She huddled against the far corner of the elevator and opening one eye looked at the now still bottle on the floor. Dark liquid still oozed out of it staining the light coloured flooring. Patches of coke had splattered across her legs and arms making her feel sticky and wet.The doors of the elevator binged and opened into another corridor. Arin shakily stood and tried to brush off the wetness with her hands. Her hair stuck together in clumps. She ran a hand across her face to remove the moisture there and stealing her shoulders walked out into the corridor.It wasn't the ER, but it was away from Doctor House at least, the people in the corridor seemed to be mostly women, pregnant looking women, and nurses.They stared at her in a sort of shocked way that made her look self consciously down at her now thoroughly ruined attire and blush an interest colour of scarlet.Two uniformed men were approaching her. Security. She stopped and swallowing waited for them to reach her.The older one, grey showing in his moustache, looked her up and down and sighed. His expression showed sympathy and that surprised her. He shook his head. " I am very sorry miss...but I think you had best come with us."As they led her away from the corridor, back into the elevators and down again Arin let her shoulders sag. She was suddenly very tired. All she had wanted was a few minutes of distraction from the ER, get soda go back see Robyn. Go home and never enter this horrible place again. Why couldn't it have gone down like it was supposed to.The younger man was watching her, in particular her bra region. He caught her looking at him and quickly looked away, embarrassed. Arin flushed again and crossed her sticky arms over her chest."Am i in trouble?" She ventured surprising herself at how confident her voice was. She didn't feel it,The older security guard, the one with the moustache, glanced at her and removed his jacket which he draped over her shoulders in reply. He was scowling at the younger man who stared straight ahead. Thankful Arin pulled the jacket around herself."No miss. We saw what happened on the camera. We will take you to see Doctor Cuddy she's the dean of medicine. She's who normally deals with Doctor House's...antics shall we say?"Arin frowned. So Doctor House had antics did he? The elevator opened into a reception lobby and She found herself being shepherded towards a large sign that said Clinic.Inside the double doorway, a woman in a grey pencil skirt and a baby blue blouse stood talking to another woman in scrubs at the desk. Her dark hair was pulled up in an elegant knot at the nape of her neck. She turned seeing the trio approach and took in the sight of both security guards and the young girl clutching the jacket.She sighed and crossed her arms. "What did House do this time?" She asked.

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Chapter 5- Who says no to mentos? OR A close brush with an assault charge.(Aka lawyers and administrators ruin all the fun)Arin was beginning to feel like she should have stayed in bed today, it felt so long ago that she had been rudely awoken by Zen and Robyn. She watched the tree outside the window of the large office she now sat in. Orange coloured walls made the place seem airy, bright even. The sun streaming through the window added to the cozy feeling. She watched the small motes of dust rise through the air. Suspended in a sunbeam.Across from her on the second sofa sat a bald man in a grey suit. He had been introduced to her as Bryant Kelland, one of the hospitals lawyers. The man sat with the remote for the vcr unit in his hand but instead of watching the cctv capture he was watching her.Arin sighed deeply. The clock on the wall ticked loudly, each passing second caused another beat of anxiety in her. She only wanted to go back to Robyn and Zen, was that too much to ask? The later must have thought she had gotten lost… or worse chickened out and gone home. But that didn't seem likely anytime soon. Doctor Cuddy had listened to the security guard, found her a towel and an ice pack for her head while she watched the CCTV footage. She had to admit, the whole thing looked worse than it actually had been. There was no sound just a black and white image, half cut off by the top of the vending machine. She watched silently alongside Doctor Cuddy, while Doctor House seemed to repeatedly grab her, first by the arm, followed soon after by her face and wrist. When he tripped her, Doctor Cuddy visibly gulped, but could do nothing to stop the image showing Doctor House grab her arms again, while she repeatedly tried to fend him off. The whole thing had a bad sort of film noir vibe to it, the helpless damsel and the evil doctor.The part where she tossed his phone actually even managed to come across as an accident, which resulted in House stomping on her with his cane. The camera feed then changed to the one that had apparently alerted the guards. A scared looking Arin entered the elevator shoulder first and jabbed the button. A maniacal looking House approachedj, bottle in hand. A second later and he launched it at her. It splashed all over her and she shrank back, only just in the camera's view as soda spurted all over the image.Doctor Cuddy paused it there. She looked astounded, long suffering and sat in silence for maybe a second or so before starting to apologise over and over. Before Arin knew what was happening, Doctor Cuddy was calling damage control, which appeared to be the big guns of the hospital's lawyers. They talked, a lot… About her pressing assault charges, how Doctor House was one of the best in his field and was something of a maverick. How the hospital would, of course, ensure Doctor House apologised profusely to her in person and would pay for her dry cleaning. Which is why she found herself waiting for the Dean to go and get the man himself.Switching her ice pack from the small towel Doctor Cuddy had given her she rubbed it along her hair again and considered the lawyer. He cleared his throat the second their eyes made contact even though she looked away again. "I must say Miss Rae it is an honour to make your acquaintance even in such circumstances. Your Grandfather is something of a Well..I suppose hero is too strong a word but I enjoy following his work."She didn't reply.Awkwardly he shuffled the papers on the glass coffee table and cleared his throat, "will Uh...will He be joining us today at some point?""No," she stated flatly. "He's in Europe on a business trip he won't be back until the start of July." This time. She added in her mind. Kelland looked...almost disappointed. She let out a mirthless sort of half chuckle.The door to the office opened and with a dull thud on each second step, Doctor House walked in, followed by Doctor Cuddy. The expression on House's face told her two things. One that he was only half expecting to see her and two that man and woman hadn't spoken on the trek back to Doctor Cuddy's office. The Dean shut the door and strangely Arin found herself watching the two and wondering, as they stood side by side staring at each other in a silent standoff, if Cuddy had ever told House that when it came to who wore the metaphorical trousers they certainly wouldn't be called diagnosticians or something like that.Neither moved to sit down. Five ticks of the clock and Cuddy broke eye contact first. She sat in the chair at the head of the coffee table, the video monitor took up the space at the bottom leaving only one seat either to her left or directly opposite her on the lawyers left. Pointedly both lawyer and Dean looked at House and after another few ticks he moved by Cuddy to sit opposite Arin.Once again she found herself the subject of his unnerving, unwavering blue gaze and for the second time that day, felt like she were being X-rayed."Thank you for joining us Doctor House." Kelland began looking at his sofa mate. " Now I think we all know why we are here." He raised his eyebrows pointedly and glanced between Arin and House."Excellent," House declared before anyone else could get a word in. Deep down he probably knew that this situation would not work out well, the presence of the lawyer being the obvious giveaway. However, he never could resist the urge to mess with Cuddy and make the situation ten times worse for her, regardless of the personal ramifications. "I see security caught the little rascal that ruined my jeans and broke my cell phone." He turned and looked directly at the mortified face of his boss. "You should give those guys a raise."Kelland frowned and opened his mouth. Cuddy beat him to it. "Doctor House…" she began then stopped short as the sound of laughing reached them all. Lawyer and Dean looked at one another then back to the supposed victim who was shaking her head a smile on her face."I'm sorry," Arin said, not sounding it. She looked back at House. "Little rascal? Seriously? What decade are you from?"Cuddy swallowed. Her lips pursing. "Doctor House." She started again. " We are here to discuss the incident between you and Miss Rae earlier this afternoon. According to both security and the CCTV footage…" she trailed off looking to the lawyer for assistance."There is grounds for Miss Rae here to press assault charges against you and we would like to mediate this to try and come to some sort of agreement in the best interests of us all." Apparently he found the fact Arin was laughing strange but was choosing to ignore it.House shot the kid a quick look and said, "it's for the benefit of the old lady there." He pointed his cane at Cuddy. "She's almost forty." He then turned to the lawyer, "this kid attacked a cripple. Don't I get to sue her?"Kelland shuffled his notes without looking at House. He licked his lips. "Miss Rae," he emphasised. "Was seen on camera sitting beside you peaceably and what else is clear is that you engaged her. Not the other way around." He looked at House then. "Forcefully. I might also add Doctor House that though you are an asset to this hospital...I would strongly advise you to consider this mediation seriously."Arin watched the two men, her right eyebrow twitched slightly upwards.Cuddy rolled her eyes and held her hands up. Apparently she was the only one who was willing to answer House directly. "No. You don't get to sue her." She sounded annoyed as though this was obvious. "Instead, you get to apologise to her."Arin watched him closely. This was possibly getting weirder by the second. She considered the people in the room one at a time and then sighed almost inaudibly. There was no way that these two were going to get an apology out of this guy. She rubbed her right temple with her finger tips and closed one eye. What, she wondered, was the quickest way out of this? Her eyes flickered towards the door as if she were contemplating just walking out.House gave Cuddy a devilish smirk. "Cuddy," he began, his tone matching the smile. "We both know that's not going to happen.""Don't finish that sentiment Doctor House," Kelland said sternly. "You will apologise to Miss Rae and you will pay for any damages and dry cleaning, that's the minimum that the hospital asks for you to do in this circumstance. It's not up for debate.""Let me think about that for a moment." House paused, feigning contemplation. "Ummmm, nope. No dice. But hey, it was worth a try."Arin felt the corners of her mouth twitch slightly. She shook her head and looked away from the men. Hand under her chin she watched a furious looking Cuddy trying not to blow her top.Kelland stared House down for a second then turning lifted the remote from the player and pressed a button, he played it in double time watching quietly as the CCTV version of events, the one that painted House in a particularly bad light, was displayed to the four of them. When the camera in the elevator was soaked the lawyer hit pause and fixed House with a neutral expression."Ummm… she started it…" House ventured, still not taking the matter remotely seriously.Before Kelland responded or House could continue with his insanity, Cuddy intervened. "Oh stop it! House, there is CCTV footage that shows that YOU started it! Like you ALWAYS start it!" She paused, seething with rage. "Now we," she indicated Kelland and herself, "are ending it."Arin blinked and clearly forgetting herself and where she was gave House a look that said. 'Is She always like this?'House caught sight of the look the girl gave him and returned it with one that said 'Oh Yeah!'. Internally he smiled, she caught on pretty quick.Arin's head tilted ever so slightly in a 'bummer, sucks to be you' sort of way before she returned to leaning her chin into her hand. Bored."Don't you understand who she is?" Cuddy hissed at House, her eyes flickering to Arin almost as if she hoped that the girl wouldn't hear her. "She's the granddaughter of supreme court justice Frederick Rae, the same Frederick Rae who is due to be elected to the Senet.""Sebastian." Arin's voice said. Her eyes still locked on the door. Cuddy turned to look at her. "Frederick Sebastian Rae," she clarified. "The third if you want to get technical.""Wow!" House declared, in mock alarm. "Must be serious, he's got a middle name and a number.""Yeah.' Arin breathed as Cuddy and the lawyer started a conversation in hushed voices. She looked at House again. "And I've got your number." Her eyes widened ever so slightly as if only aware that he may have heard her. Her cheeks flushed bright pink."You wish kiddo. I only give my number out after the second date." He then gave the girl an exaggerated wink.Cuddy and Kelland stopped, mouths open and looked incredulously at House but before either could retort Arin's eyes narrowed. "Oh Doctor House…" she put a hand over her chest. "...I bet you say that to all the girls you hose down. Guess you don't get many numbers." She raised her eyebrow at him as if to say, your move.Well, that was… unexpected, House thought. If the girl hadn't flipped out on him upstairs and landed him here in Cuddy's office he might have liked her… strictly in a manner that was appropriate for an over forty year old man to like a teenage girl of course.Cuddy and Kelland seemed unsure what to do. Both looked between the pair, supposed victim and attacker, as if unsure how to proceed. Kelland in particular shuffled his papers awkwardly again which seemed to capture the girls attention"Look." She began with a sigh, her hand rubbing her right temple again. " With all due respect to you Doctor Cuddy and Mr Kelland, but any idiot could walk in here and see that this guy isn't going to apologise for anything. ""I assure you Miss Rae…" he stopped short when the girl held a hand up at him. Eyes flashing as if she were used to being listened to when she spoke."As I was saying. While I am in no two minds about the fact that Doctor House is very good at his job and Doctor Cuddy would happily enforce whatever punishment you deemed a satisfactory recompense, I am not interested." She drew a breath and fixed House with a calm expression.Kelland and Cuddy exchanged looks that very clearly said they were concerned where this was about to go. Cuddy twisted her bracelet around her wrist and shook her head slightly, eyes flickering to House as they waited for the blow to fall.House stood looking completely unfazed. He must have been through five, wait no six, similar meetings since he started working at PPTH. In the end Cuddy would realise that it was in her best interests to just remove him from the situation and let the lawyer deal with some form of compensation. He'd get to escape, have to deal with a 'severe talking to' at a later date and ultimately fob off the extra clinic hours onto his team. Case closed."Doctor House... I apologise for the incident with your phone. I was stressed as a result of my friends accident and the entire thing was unfortunate and inappropriate. Please accept my sincere apologies and I will of course happily compensate you for any damage to your property including your jeans and shoes." She stood and pulling a purse from her back pocket removed two soggy bills, which she offered across the table to House. "They will need drying out I am afraid."The initial expression that formed on House's face was one of confusion. However, his brain quickly did the math on the situation. Not only had this girl just indicated that she was waving her right to sue, but had apologised to him and, he reached out a hand and picked up the damp bills, given him $200 into the bargain. His expression shifted to one that said he was the cat who had gotten not only the cream, but the cow and the dairy farmer into the bargain. Cuddy was going to be so pissed but unable to do a thing about it, result!Arin put her purse away and turning to the stunned lawyer and Dean she said, "can I go now?"Kelland was a flurry of motion, " Uhh...why...yes. Certainly Miss Rae, you were never being detained of course. We just...I mean to say. " he brought out a piece of A4 Paper which he quickly noted some things down on. "Of course if that is what you wish, I will have to ask you to sign this stating that you are happy with the resolution we...uh..we have...agreed on." He trailed off. "As you are a minor...we would need a parent or guardian…" he trailed off again as Arin picked up a pen from the table and waved her hand at him in a shut up and give me it gesture."Trust me, you wont need to cover your backs. I won't take this to court and you won't be hearing about it again." She tugged the paper from the lawyer and signed her name with the flourish of those used to signing for things. Her signature was loopy and well practised. She offered the paper back to Kelland and then shook the hand the lawyer offered in return."Thank you for the ice pack Doctor Cuddy," she then added turning to the Dean and offering her hand to shake too. The stunned looking woman seemed incapable of speech and merely nodded her head. Finally Arin offered her hand across the table to her attacker. She raised her eyebrows at him."I'd say it was a pleasure Doctor House, but that would be a downright lie. So…" she waited for him to take her hand."Don't worry, kiddo," House took the hand he was being offered; her fingers were still cold. "We'll always have Sunkist."Arin smiled faintly and ever so slightly pulled her hand back towards herself. Her grip on House didn't relent however, bringing him slightly closer to her. She leaned in. "Only till the concussion deals with it." She said conspiritaly so only he would hear and then let go. She walked away then towards the door without a backwards glance.House frowned and made a mental note to page Cameron after he had finished with Cuddy. That kid was getting treatment whether she wanted it or not.Once outside the office Arin walked quickly through the clinic and out. In the lobby she found the elevators and a bench beside them and walked over. Sinking down she let loose the breath she had been holding and her shoulders sagged. That last comment to him had been stupid but she couldn't help it. She didn't want him to have the last word. She put her head back against the wall and tried to get control of her hammering heart before finding her way back to the ER.Back in Cuddy's office the dean of medicine surveyed the two men and drawing a breath said, "well...that went..better than Iexpected.""I couldn't agree more. I got an apology and two hundred big ones. We should do this more often."Kelland surveyed the door the girl had just left through. He let loose a sigh himself sounding almost relieved. He began packing up his papers. "I agree" he laughed humorlessly and glanced at House. "You're like the Doctor with nine lives, House. Given the footage, the witness testimony from security, how pale she was and the mess she was in not to mention her connections, i was sure that was it for you this time. She really had us over a barrel."Cuddy frowned and shook her head at the diagnostician. " Have you anything to say for yourself?" She asked."Always brush after meals?" House offered, not really caring for the eventual response. Kelland had unwittingly presented a puzzle to him that he had completely ignored in his delight at being able to rub Cuddy's nose in his mess. Why had the girl, soaked as she was, elected to throw the game and indeed pay him for the pleasure? She could have taken both him and Cuddy for everything they had. He could almost see the headline 'senator's granddaughter, honour student, attacked by mad drugged out doctor. Hospital pays huge settlement. Doctor fired.'Cuddy put a hand tiredly over her eyes and then pointed out of the door. "I'm not amused, I'm not impressed." She said then waved her hand at him as if she were sick of looking at him. "Go...just go to the clinic and do your damned job. Remind me why I put up with you, remind me that despite the fact you are a terrible, selfish excuse for a human being that you are a good doctor. Remind me of all the reasons I shouldn't fire your ass for damaging hospital property and acting like a crazed out of control child. I'm adding ten more hours clinic duty to your schedule. Don't think this is over."House paid not one iota to Cuddy's idle threats as he strode out of the office. He had a wet bandit to track down.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Chapter 6- Going my way? 
Leaving the dastardly Dean and her lackluster lawyer behind, House stepped out into the main lobby of PPTH. It was relatively busy and he was convinced he saw at least three people he had scared out of the clinic earlier that morning. Ignoring them he took a quick glance around, eyes searching for his prey. It was unlikely she had gotten far, especially if his hunch about her friend in the ER was right. His eyes roved around the lobby. It was on the bench facing the elevators that he eventually found her. For a moment he simply observed, like a hunter in the tall grass. The mingling crowd simply other wildebeest who would be spared todays chase. The girl looked as though she were trying to catch her breath, or perhaps simply waiting for an empty elevator to take back down to the ER. She had given off some signs of claustrophobia in their earlier encounters, perhaps being in one alone made it easier.
The elevator arrived and the carriage emptied. House watched the girl stand up and cross the short distance to the open doors. Stealthily, he made his move. Between the crowd he silently stalked, cutting a path towards the elevator. Up ahead the girl caught the doors before they closed and stepped inside. Pressing down hard on his cane, House had to force his leg to cover the remainder of the distance, lest the door shut and his prey escape.

Arin walked through the open doors and surveyed the list of floors before selecting the appropriate button, in her hands she held her cell phone. The device was turned off, the screen blank and filled with moisture. Giving the phone a little shake and so absorbed by its damage and the fact she hadn’t thought about it until now, Arin failed to pay attention to the doors as they closed.

His timing perfect almost to the millisecond, House slipped inside the elevator. Beside him the girl held a cell phone and by the way she was shaking it about, House deduced that it too had gone for a swim. “So...Going my way?” House asked and smirked as the girl before him visibly jumped and stepped backwards away from him.

Arin scowled at House and shook her head in disbelief. “You just...don’t know when to quit do you?” She asked. Her eyes flickered to the elevator doors and the lights that indicated their progress. She felt tired now and deep down part of her knew that this was some sort of karma payback for her stupid need to have the last word in the Dean's office.

“Or it could simply be that I’m a cripple and don't get along with stairs,” House replied nonchalantly. Though he knew he should just cut to the chase, he could not resist a glib reply. Why break a habit of a lifetime? “Besides, quitting is for losers.”

Arin continued to scowl at him. “Yeah it could be.” She replied. “But it’s not. Otherwise you’d have pressed a different button.”

“There’s only nine buttons. You do the math… actually have you even done probability yet?”

She sighed and debated arguing with him, her shoulders sagged down slightly further and she decided against it, her eyes did glance at the camera in the corner as she chose to ignore his last question entirely. “What do you want. I already gave you something for the juiced jeans and the phone. I promised I wouldn’t sue. So what?” She rubbed her right temple again.

Again House felt the need to reply with a witty remark, however, he managed to reign in the compulsion. Contrary to what TV shows would have you think, elevator rides did not last long in the real world. Once down in the ER the girl could easily escape from him if she so desired, he needed to make this count. “I want to know why you apologised, gave me $200 and decided not to sue. Lionel Hutz back there was right, you had this place over a barrel.”

Well that wasn’t what she expected. She stared at him for a few moments, deep brown eyes roving his face for some form of hint to his thought process. Finally she glanced back at the lights and said. “Three more floors and this conversation is over.”

So much for a straight answer House thought. Then again would that have bored him? “Guess you had better explain quickly,” he replied.

“Why?” Arin asked without looking at him, “It’s obviously bothering you otherwise you wouldn’t have followed me. From my perspective it’s much more satisfying to leave you wondering.”

Two more floors. Her tone changed to almost conversational and her expression relaxed. “Besides Doctor Cuddy said you were some sort of genius. I’m sure it won’t take someone of your clearly superior intellect long to work out the thought process of some... what was it again?” She paused looking thoughtful. “ ...scallywag.”

The gears in House’s head came to a grinding halt. Not only had this kid deduced his motive, but she knew that denying him the answer would irk him even more. He almost smiled at the challenge this little minx was proving to be but he was running out of time. And floors. For a moment he glanced at the emergency stop button. It would buy him time for sure, but on the flip side bring Cuddy crashing down on top of him the second the doors eventually opened… and not in the fun way. Again he looked the girl up and down bemused. He had no information that would allow him to bully, blackmail or barter with her.

She was a puzzle wrapped inside an enigma wrapped inside of a peasant blouse and for once he had run out of options before he had run out of floors. Perhaps this called for a more indirect approach.

Arin turned and smiled at him, the kind of dazzling smile that came with good social upbringing. “One more floor,” she said.

House shrugged. “Meh, no biggie. Just thought we could have one last chat before we go our separate ways. Clear the air, that sort of thing.” He paused for a moment before adding, “though you really should see about that concussion. Don’t want you falling into another fountain.”

Arin made a scoffing sort of sound and looked away again. “Nothing to clear. And for the record I didn’t fall. It was faster to go through the fountain to her than it was to go around.”

The elevator binged and the doors opened onto a hallway full of waiting people. House waited for the girl to depart before making way for the impatient rabble of patients, doctors and wellwishers.

Arin paused as the doors opened and the noise hit them. She drew in a deep breath and squared her shoulders before walking out into the sea of people without a backwards glance at him, her steps were hurried and she kept her head down.

House waited until the girl was out of earshot and withdrew his now slightly scuffed cell phone. Flicking through the contacts list, he dialed Cameron’s number. It rang only once before she answered.

“House?” The young Doctors concerned voice asked. “What’s happened, what’s wrong?”

“Dr Cameron,” House replied, using his unnervingly upbeat tone. “I take it from your radio silence that you’ve failed to find me a suitable victim amongst the drudgery of the ER.”

“I...didn’t realise that’s what you wanted me to do.” She sounded worried now. “ I came down to cover for Doctor Hermany...I mean I only said I’d take a shift in the ER because we didn’t have a patient. I didn’t think you’d mind.” Her voice was lower as if she had turned away from people and was trying to keep her tone hushed.

“Your disregard for your duty displeases me. However, I’ve got the perfect way for you to redeem yourself.” For a moment House stood and pictured himself wearing an Egyptian headdress. He could totally rock the Pharaoh look.

Cameron didn’t speak for a second. When she did, suspicion was evident. “What do you need me to do?”

“Well, short of sprawling yourself over my desk clad in a bikini…” he let the comment hang for a moment before continuing. “You didn’t happen to have a sixteen year old girl brought in who'd fallen into a fountain after suffering an asthma attack?”

“...yes.” Cameron said slowly. “ But it wasn’t something you’d be interested in, she had an asthma attack while sitting on a fountain and fell back into the water hitting her head and knocking herself out. We...wait how would you know that.” Her voice came away from the microphone a moment as if she were looking around for him.

“Are you spying on me?”

“Only when you take a shower.”

“I’m going to hang up now.” Cameron said. “If you’ve nothing better to do than annoy me then I’m going back to the sutures I was doing.” She said the last comment with a slight inflection as if testing her spying theory. In truth she hadn’t been suturing at all.

“So you're completely oblivious to the fact that one of her friends has been gone for the past two hours. Long time to get some sodas huh.” House smiled to himself as he pictured the look of shock mixed with amazement that would be spreading across his fellows face right about now. “And I thought you were supposed to be the caring one of the team?”

Silence. “ I haven’t really kept track...I’m waiting for word to transfer her upstairs for observation...the other friend was with her, then her parents and her grandmother arrived. I’ve been busy...I assumed she was back.” A heartbeat. The sound of Cameron speaking to someone with her hand over the microphone then her moving.“Why...what have you done?”

In the background House could hear a page going out over the system. He pulled the phone away from his head for a second and listened then turning walked in the direction of the noise and towards Cameron.

“Long story short, her friend is about to walk back in. She’s got a laceration on her forehead, bruising and a suspected concussion. I need you to examine, treat and under no circumstances let her know you work for me.” House ordered. He thought for a moment, then added, “and if it comes up, try and find out why she didn’t sue the hospital when she had it over a barrel to the point the lawyer would have switched sides.”

Cameron didn’t respond at first. “ What do you mean she had it over a barrel? What did you do!?”

“Details,” House replied nonchalantly, “who needs them?”

Cameron paused a moment. “ Well She seems fine. She’s having a conversation with the other friend at the end of the corridor. He doesn’t look too happy though.” The dark haired female physician paused at the top of the corridor and stood by the nurses station as she watched the two teens. “She’s a mess...what on earth happened.”

“Cameron, you of all people should remember the fable about the lung cancer patient.”

“House,” Cameron told the phone. “ I’m not going to just go charging down there and demand she let me examine her. She’s alert, conscious and vocal. She seems fine.”

House rolled his eyes. It was just his luck that Cameron picked today to be uncaring and lazy. He rounded the corner and caught sight of the woman’s back. In a few strides he caught up to her. Holding his phone out beside her completely oblivious head, he snapped it shut. “Go be your over caring self and treat the poor girl. She was involved in an accident for Christ sake.”

Cameron jumped and spun, her hand over her heart and her chest heaving slightly. “What are you doing here?” She demanded her tone annoyed. “ Don’t sneak up on me like that.” She looked at his cane as if accusing it of not alerting her to his presence.

Down the bottom of the corridor the two teens appeared to be in some sort of heated discussion. The girl held her hands up and waved at her outfit. And the boy shook his head in a disbelieving sort of gesture.

Cameron frowned at House. “Zen said that only Robyn was involved in the accident. Arin tried to get her out but she went into the fountain of her own accord along with some others. She’s not fond of hospitals which is why he assumed she was taking her time finding soda. I assumed she was back by now. But of course that’s because I didn’t account for her running into you of all people.” She crossed her arms and gave him an impatient look that said ‘what am I to do with you.’

House reached into his back pocket and pulled out the two bills he had collected in Cuddy’s office. “Two hundred bucks says she’s got a head lac, bruising and some form of concussion.”

Still with her arms folded Cameron said “ And you think that because?”

“Because I’ve already seen her,” House said with a smirk. “And now I’m telling you go and deal with it. See how this works?” The question was rhetorical.

With an exasperated sigh the female doctor unfolded her hands. “If you’ve examined her already why didn’t you deal with it?” She demanded.

“Well, I was going to. But then some things happened. She got wet, I got wet…”

Cameron gave him an utterly outraged and half disgusted look before she spun on her heel and started off down the corridor. She glanced back at House, shook her head once and then focused on her target.

House smirked. Typical Cameron, always thinking something sordid out of the most innocuous of details. Limping over to lean against the nurses station, House kept his eyes fixed upon the two teenagers that stood at the opposite end of the corridor. The boy looked angry, he kicked a nearby plant pot making a mess and probably cracking it. Unfortunately, a seat in the stalls would give the game away. He’d have to settle for one in the gods for this show. 
 
===
 
Arin rolled her eyes and threw her hands up again. “Zen. I’m not dismissing what happened to Robyn, how can you think that?” 
 
“Yeah well fucking off for two hours while she’s lying in the hospital is a funny way of showing it, what was I supposed to think? I didn’t know if you were ok or had had a panic attack or gone home or what and I tried to phone you…”
 
Arin held her broken phone out to him, basically shoving it into his face. “Hello! Fountain...water. Broken phone.”  The boy shook his head and looked away from her. Staring at him Arin searched his expression a tightness stealing across her heart and chest. She almost couldn’t recognise the boy that supposedly loved her. He was so angry. He walked to the wall and kicked the plant pot again making another mess with pollen. Noticing it the boy swore and sat down on the bench against the wall to brush off his foot. 
 
Arin considered him and sat at his side turning to face him. She coughed slightly, her throat felt dry. “Look...I’m sorry ok.” She told him. “I didn’t mean to get caught up with things. Of course I’m worried about Robyn.”
 
Zen sighed as if he wanted to stay mad at her but either didn’t want to use the energy or couldn’t. He looked up at her then frowned as he watched her lean forward her hand on her sternum. She was wheezing. “Hey...are you ok?” 
 
Arin, her skin pale and her cheeks starting to flush shook her head, she coughed again but couldn’t get the air in and out for a proper cough. Instead weak and continuous half coughs were the best she had. The tight feeling that she had assumed was trying to tell her something about Zen only minutes before now felt like belts pulling themselves across her chest. Her lungs desperately tried to get air in. “Can’t...breathe..” she managed to get out.
 
The boy stood quickly and looked around. He spotted Cameron half way down the corridor and waved hurriedly recognition on his features. “Please. Help.”
 
Cameron hurried forward and bent down to look at Arin. She did indeed have a small cut in her forehead as House had said. “ Arin?” Cameron asked. The girl looked up at her, her expression frightened. “ Can you breathe in for me?” She pressed her fingers into the girls neck then frowned. “ Oh god,” she said and pointed back up the corridor “Zen go to the desk get a nurse. Tell her to bring a crash cart and a gurney, hurry.”
 
===
 
The staff in the ER seemed to move around House on tenterhooks. As if his very presence meant that some sort of incident were an inevitability. This didn’t bother him one iota. In fact, he found it rather amusing. One nurse in particular, a young man who he did not recognise, gave him a particularly wide berth when he walked passed. His reputation preceded him it seemed. Naturally, when the poor sod did a u-turn and walked back the way he had came, House leaned over and shouted, “BOO!” The nurse jumped two feet into the air then ran a metaphorical mile.
 
When eventually he turned his attention back to the kids, he immediately noticed that something was amiss. Cameron had bent down in front of the girl and even from distance he could see the concerned expression spread across her face. The addition of the doctors fingers on the girls pulse point added to the tension. Gripping his cane firmly in hand, House set off down the corridor. Why could he never trust his lackies to do anything right? 
 
===
 
The boy sped off up the corridor past House without looking at him. Dodging around the cane he slid to a stop at the desk and looked around. Meanwhile Cameron unhooked her stethoscope from a round her shoulders. Pressing it into the girls back she listened. 
 
“You’re having an asthma attack Arin.” She said pulling the device back down. “I need you to relax ok. I’m going to get the nurse and give you some epinephrine, it’ll open your lungs and help you breathe. In the meantime I want you to…whoa.” She didn’t finish as Arin pitched forwards in a slump. Catching her Cameron pushed her onto her back on the bench. Her eyelids fluttered. The coughing had stopped but she still wheezed. 
 
House drew level with Cameron. “What the hell did you do, Cameron?” House said. This was weird, he thought. Normally he was on the receiving end in such circumstances.
 
“Nothing! I didn’t even get a chance to do anything. She’s having an asthma attack. Her heart rates through the roof.” Cameron glanced behind her looking for the nurse and gurney. She stood. “I’m getting the crash cart.” She said and pointed at the flushed unconscious teen. “Stay with her.”
 
The female doctor rushed off up the corridor after Zen and made a beeline for the boy who was talking to the male nurse who looked like he’d seen a ghost. Probably another in a long line of House’s victims, she thought. 
 
House frowned down at the girl and carefully tilting her head back pressed the tips of his own fingers into her pulse point. He felt it flutter against his fingers in time with her heartbeat and his frown deepened. As Cameron returned he stepped back out of her way and allowed the other Doctor to pull down the girls top to expose her shoulder and then administer the hypodermic she wielded. Slowly the girls breathing eased and she moaned weakly. 
 
Cameron sighed in relief, sat back on the bench as the ER team arrived with the gurney and looked at House. “You didn't say she was asthmatic.” She accused. 
 
“How was I supposed to know that?” House barked at her. “You think I take a history from every person I encounter.” 
 
Before Cameron could respond Zen’s voice said weakly, “she isn’t.” He watched the people move Arin from the bench onto the gurney,
 
The nurse gently pulled an Oxygen mask over Arin’s face. “ Doctors House and Cameron...She’s very flushed.” He ventured. 
 
House reached out his hand and touched the girls forehead, he frowned again.“Since when does a girl who, according to this random kid, doesn’t have asthma, take an asthma attack that comes with its very own side order of fever.” 
 
The girls eyes fluttered and opened, she looked up at House, eyes glazed. Her eyebrows knitted in confusion for a few seconds. Slowly she reached a hand up towards the mask. 
 
On seeing this, House preempted her action and knocked her hand. “Better be careful with this one, Cameron. I think she’ll turn out to be a biter.”
 
The other doctor had procured an ear thermometer which she offered to House. She raised an eyebrow at his comment but said nothing, waiting.
 
“Do I have to do everything today?” House declared, snatching the thermometer from Cameron’s hand. In one fluid motion he slid it into the girls ear and pressed the button. It beeped franticly and he glanced at the small display; 101.3°F. 
 
Arin’s hand missed the mark due to House’s interception. She swallowed and again looking confused tried to turn her head. The gurney was moving now and after a few seconds she slumped back into unconsciousness. 
 
Cameron watched the ER team go, she looked at House. “ Asthma doesn’t normally present with fever, not a rapid onset attack like that and definitely not that high.”
 
“Really...” House said mockingly. “...wait a minute. Your just regurgitating what that smart guy with the beard and cane said thirty seconds ago.”
 
“I’m not regurgitating I’m reiterating.” Cameron retorted. “Did she seem sick when you saw her earlier?”
 
House gave her a condescending look. “We all know you chicks like to feed off of daddy’s bright ideas.” He stopped for a moment and then added, “by chicks I mean lackies. And by lackies I mean you, Foreman and Chase. And by YOU, Foreman and Chase, I mean admit her and gather in the House cave…”
 
Cameron rolled her eyes as he continued “...and by House cave I mean…”
 
“...I know what you mean.” She muttered darkly and walked away from him after the gurney to do as he commanded. 
 
Satisfied that his will was once more being carried out, House headed back towards the elevators. He replayed the meeting with the girl again in his head seeking some sort of indication that would explain the most recent turn of events. Nothing was forthcoming, he puffed air between his cheeks as he stepped through the doors and hit the button for the fourth floor with the handle of his cane. Apparently Miss Arin Rae was going his way after all.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Diagnosticians are firmly behind weird cases

The faculty wizards of Ankh Morpork’s Unseen University had an unspoken rule of thumb when it came to work. It had to be a rule of thumb as sitting down and drafting an actual rule would take far to much time and effort. Regardless, it went something like this. If there was not any work to do, don’t go looking for any and if there was, put it off until tomorrow. So when Greg House limped back into his office to find two of his underlings with their feet up reading newspapers, he had to double-check that he had not wound up on the Discworld.

House took in the lazy layabouts and smiled to himself; neither had noticed that he had entered the room. Sliding over to the head of the table he raised his cane and…BANG! The sound of it smacking down onto the tabletop echoed around the room and the sight of his two startled employees made him smirk.

“The two of you have just earned yourselves one mornings worth of my clinic hours each.” He dropped himself into his chair, the look on his face daring the other doctors to argue. “I’m going to have to start leaving you kiddies homework. I could almost feel your brain cells die through lack of stimulation.”

Chase let loose a breath of air he had been holding and shook his head. “Well, it’s not like we’ve got anything to do. No patients remember,” he said by way of explanation.

Foreman nonchalantly folded his paper and looked at his boss, “I assume by your dramatic entrance you’ve either found something for us to do or you’re fed up with the clinic.”

House had to resist the urge to make a statement that began with, ‘back in my day’. Largely due to the fact that anything he said would most likely be so much of a lie that even these two bozos would see through it. For like the aforementioned wizards of the Unseen University, by this time in the afternoon, he would have most likely already been utterly hammered. Instead, he went with the more truthful, “why has it got to be one or the other? Why can't it be I got bored
and
found us something to do? But for that matter may I remind you that when we don’t have a case, it's your job to go out and find one.” He rolled his eyes and popped a Vicodin. “God, you guys suck in comparison to my old team. I’d have already rejected at least seven possible cases by now and that would have been before lunch.”

“Well…” Chase began, clearly unsure if he was part of the old team or not. He waited, looking at House for some indication. House stared back with a ‘what?’ sort of expression. Finally, he continued, “...we assumed that anything good that would come in from the ER Cameron would pick up. Anything in the clinic, you’d pick up. And anything else would be a referral, which would be brought to your office. Better to be here to get it when it came we assumed.” He shrugged.

“Wow, it takes two of you to wait for a case to come… does it also take two of you to use the little boy's room? Should I make you both hold hands when we leave the room in case you get lost?” House asked, bating them for a response. He then quickly turned back to Chase, “and for the record, you were the token foreigner on my old team.”

Chase seemed to contemplate this and shrugged as it didn’t bother him. “So I’m the token foreigner, I can live with that.”

“No,” House admonished, “you were the token foreigner, past tense. That role passed to Foreman. Now your just the sympathy case.”

Foreman sighed and shook his head, unwilling to play the game, “I was born near New York.” He looked sternly at House as if this clarified things. “Have you got something for us or not?”

House elected to ignore the New York comment. He did not care where his team came from, so long as they did their jobs and followed his lead. “In case you’re both wondering, Cameron’s the eye candy.” He swivelled his head towards the door as he spoke.

Into the room strode Cameron with a set of folders in her arms. She placed them on the table and slid a copy of the file to each of them. It was very thin. “16-year-old female collapsed in the ER during an asthma attack. Presents with a peak flow of 150 and a…”

“...an asthma attack,” Chase asked interrupting as he lifted a page in the file. “You’ve been there all morning and brought an asthma attack.” His eyes flicked to House as if to say ‘well this is a bust’. He closed the file and pushed it away.

“Ah Ah ah...we don't berate unless I say so for three reasons. Firstly, she actually did her job and bothered to go looking for a case, unlike you two,” House began, twiddling his cane in his hand. “Secondly, as boring as it looks she didn't bring it. I picked out the lucky lady behind folder number one, so watch the attitude and thirdly, she has a symptom so rare it’s never before been encountered in the US.”

“No.” Foreman agreed “I didn't go out looking for a case because I was too busy doing laps of the hospital with a wheelchair on your command.”

Cameron frowned at House. “What did you need a wheelchair for? What happened?”

Chase, however, was listening to House. “Which is?” He asked flicking the file back open, looking for something he’d missed. At the other side of the table, Foreman also had opened the file.

“If you allowed Eye Candy to finish, you’d find out,” House replied, waving a hand at Cameron to continue.

Cameron dropped into a chair. “House was there when it happened, uhh she also had a fever…”

Foreman frowned. “A fever with asthma isn't normal but hardly an unseen in the US symptom. She probably has a respiratory infection and that’s what caused the attack. Steroids. Antibiotics and rest at home.”

“She doesn’t have an infection,” Cameron insisted.

“You missed out one key symptom, Candy.”

“What other symptoms...that’s it, ”she rolled her eyes at him but didn’t object to the new pet name.

“She’s the first person in American history to decline a lawsuit after getting somewhere over a barrel… If that doesn’t say serious I don’t know what does,” House finished and waited for the usual collection of looks he received after one of his more interesting notions.

Cameron and Foreman exchanged a look. “What?” They both asked in unison. “If this is one of your metaphors I don’t get it,” Foreman said with a frown, Cameron merely stared at her boss as if this would make him elaborate.

Meanwhile, not paying a blind bit of attention to the discussion on lawsuits, Chase scanned the papers in the file. “It’s not a lot to go by is it?” he asked lifting the paper and looking mildly perplexed. “One history questionnaire and a basic ER admittance physical… where’s the rest of it?” He shook the file in Cameron’s direction and she shrugged looking at House again as if waiting for his reaction to this news.

“That’s literally it, that’s her whole medical record.”

House rolled both his eyes and entire head, apparently, Foreman had been idle for so long that he now lacked the ability to tell metaphor from reality. “The lawsuit thing’s a true story, just ask the Dean.” He then picked up the file. It really was tiny. A quick flick through confirmed Chase’s assessment. He turned to glower at Cameron, and repeated Chase’s gesture and question “where’s the rest of it?” He shook the thin file at her.

Patiently Cameron waited then repeated, “that
IS
the rest of it. There are no other medical records for this kid.”

Foreman now too was looking at the file. “That can’t be right. Pediatric records, vaccinations...her birth for god sake?”

Glancing at him Cameron said, “no pediatrician, no vaccinations. She was a home birth with two of her mother's friends acting as midwives, so we have a certificate then there’s a report from a health visitor five days after the birth but that’s it. No school records except for one page of A4 when she transferred to the UK for a year and even that’s basic...eye test, hearing etc. Nothing in-depth and nothing of note reported.”

House frowned at the file, tossed it onto the table and picked up his marker. He ignored the conversations of the ducklings as he pondered then wrote, ‘Respiratory distress, fever, tachycardia, dizzy spells, anxiety, head wound, concussion,’ on the whiteboard.

Chase considered the markings. “ You’ve got more up there then we have,” he commented.

Without looking House tapped the pen to his lips. “Yes, because some of those symptoms are ones I noticed when we first met one another. The asthma attack and fever came later.”

“It is possible…” Foreman began, “...that she has an infection which caused the fever and the asthma attack. Would explain everything else not explained by her head wound.”
House glanced at him then wrote ‘Flaming underwear’. He capped the pen and turned around. All of his team looked confused. The greying older doctor smiled to himself as he saw Chase mouth the words and Cameron and Foreman frown. He picked the file up and waved it. “If she’s claiming this is all she wrote she’s a liar liar…” he waved his hand in the air in a rolling gesture to symbolise the rest of the turn of phrase. 
His team frowned at him but didn’t buy-in. He was forced to sigh at their disregard for his wit and continue.

“Since Cameron can’t seem to find it, Foreman, get the rest of this kid’s records. Chase, P and H and full blood workup. If this is an infection I want to know what and where.” He paused, considering the board once more. “And since I’m not sure I like the look of the Tony Hawke wannabe as a key witness, do a lung function test. Once you have an accurate reading give her a bronchodilator...wait 15-20 minutes and test her again.”

Turning House watched Cameron wait for an instruction. “And you...the caring one, see to that head wound. If she resists, sedate her. She’s getting it treated whether she likes it or not.” He muttered the last part to himself as the ducklings rose as one from their seats and left the office.

“Oh! And under no circumstances is my name to be mentioned to her or any of this to Cuddy. I am to be the unknown attending for now. He who should not be named as it were! ” he called, stopping them in their tracks. The team exchanged a look and a sigh but continued down the corridor.

Standing in front of the board House uncapped his pen and wrote ‘Miss Money Penny/ Kiddo” above his new list. He considered it a moment then as a thought struck him abandoned the board, limping quickly to the office door.

Glancing up the corridor at the backs of his retreating team he yelled, “and for god’s sake, someone get her cleaned up, hosed down and properly disinfected.” He considered for a moment, “... and into a gown. Those mall fountains are full of chemicals and god knows what.”

With his bidding underway, House retreated back to his desk and lowered himself into his chair. He rocked back and forth for a few moments ponderously watching the ceiling tiles. After a time where his brain categorised and considered he righted his chair and turning to the computer brought up a google search bar. As he typed his query in he thought about the rest of the afternoon, Wilson was likely to be narky and not much fun, the clinic was a definite no go and there was time yet till prescription passion. He clicked search and waited. The page loaded after a few seconds with 2,353 results for ‘Arin Rae, New Jersey.’ House’s brow lowered in concentration as he began to read.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

All medical cases start somewhere...though this patient would disagree…

It wasn't the fact that the lights in the room were making her headache worse. Nor was it that her skin now felt like it had been blasted with sandpaper; the nurses having been relentless in an effort to get her clean. And, as she lay in the big comfortable mass of hospital bed, Arin Rae had to agree on one thing - she had definitely needed the shower. Between soda, the fountain and everything in between, the colour of the water that had come off of her had been almost as embarrassing to watch as the fact that the aforementioned nurses had insisted on assisting.

No, she could let all of that slide with the concession of flushing a few shades pinker. She could even excuse the stiff material of the hospitals patient garb where it touched her skin because, frankly, it was more comfortable than the horrible shorts belonging to Robyn, now safely stored in a plastic bag in the cabinet by her bed. What annoyed her more than anything was the droning voice of the doctor, who was talking to her in an upbeat happy way that accentuated his accent. She turned her head slightly on the pillow and looked out of the glass wall of the room, across the hall and at the small gathering of people sitting around Robyn’s bed. The girl was asleep now and they appeared to be talking quietly as they waited. The other girl's room was a sort of pastel pink colour that seemed to extrude warmth whereas Arin’s was a mix of blues and greys, it was cold and clinical, everything she hated about hospitals. Ironically it was as if the rooms matched the Doctor’s who had admitted them both.

The female Doctor in question, Cameron, paused in her ministrations and was looking at her, causing Arin to realise that the Aussie doc had stopped rambling. She turned to look at them again. “Sorry, what?” she asked causing him to look up at Cameron and smile, pen patiently poised above his chart.

“Any changes in your appetite?” he repeated.

She shook her head only realising that this may be causing some issue with Cameron’s task and promptly stopped, blushing. “No. My appetite is fine.”

“All finished,” Cameron added stepping away from the head of the bed and snapping her gloves off. “It was a small cut but deep. I've cleaned it and sealed it. We would want you to stay overnight for observation anyway regardless of what else is going on and you'll want to change the dressing in two days then again in four.” She smiled, “it shouldn't leave a scar, you were really lucky but I bet you have a whopper of a headache.”

Arin frowned and felt the ache in her head intensify as if summoned by Cameron’s words. “Yeah, I do actually.”

Cameron checked the monitor at the bedside a second. “I’ll get you something to help with that and with the fever.” She smiled again and walked away from them, sliding the door closed behind her.

Arin watched her first put her head into Robyn’s room and check on things there. The smile was back as she quietly spoke to each person and checked Robyn. The room colour matched her perfectly. Again her attention was demanded by Chase. She looked over at him again and frowned trying to recall what he had asked this time. “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”

Chase again smiled but did not look as patient as he had before, “I asked how your breathing was now?”

“It’s fine,” she replied, turning her head again to watch Cameron walk out of Robyn’s room and away down the corridor towards the nurse's station. Her eyes locked with the those of Zen who sat across the hall. He had said nothing until both doctors had entered. When Chase had started asking inane questions the boy had gotten up and excused himself, saying he was going to check on their friend. However, now he looked...embarrassed? The expression confused her but she didn’t have time to probe further because he broke eye contact and looked away; sitting with his back to the window. In Robyn’s room she saw the other girl’s grandmother, a formidable woman, start to berate her son, who stood at the foot of Robyn’s bed, his head hung low. Most likely because the blame for his daughter’s current predicament was being heaped upon his shoulders.

Robyn it appeared was now awake and she too looked over at Arin giving her friend a small smile and a roll of her eyes as if to say ‘ugh save me.’ Arin felt the corner of her mouth twitch in response but did not get much further when the blinds on her side of the silent conversation snapped closed.

Startled Arin looked over at Chase who was now returning to the bedside unhooking a stethoscope from his neck as he came. “Ok, so now I’m going to examine you and then get some more blood samples, and Doctor Cameron will take you to do the first part of the lung function test I mentioned earlier.” He waited to see if she was paying attention. “...then I’ll come back and we will do the second part together that sound ok? I need you to sign this saying you consent to the tests” He said offering her his chart, seemingly oblivious to what he had just interrupted.

Arin stared at him as he drew level. “No.” She said calmly ignoring the offered paperwork.

“No?” he repeated confusedly and then smiled. “Oh, I see. Don't worry, we know about your guardian, it’s fine for you to sign.”

“I know, I’m still not going to.”

He looked perplexed, “we won’t hurt you, I’m just going to check your throat and ears, listen to your lungs and check your blood pressure. It’ll be quick and when we get the results from the bloodwork, we can get you the right treatment,” he trailed off when her expression of quiet determination did not falter. “Would you..ah, would you rather Doctor Cameron did the examination?”

The girl shook her head. “The Doctor in the ER examined me and both he and Doctor Cameron said I had to stay because of the head wound. I’ve had enough people poking and prodding at me today, so I’m fine thanks.”

Chase blinked. “But...you had an asthma attack, you’re in hospital...and you have a fever. We need to work out what sort of infection you have so we can treat it. That’s what the bloodwork’s for.”

“It’s just a fever it’ll go away, it happens. Besides you’ve got your blood. Today has not been a very relaxed sort of day and to be honest I think that’s more to do with things than anything. The doctor in the ER said he thought it was a panic attack that’s why I passed out. I’m not asthmatic and haven’t had an attack before so…” she shrugged and stared at the blond man in the lab coat.

“But...you aren’t serious?” He was frowning now.

“Very,” she said her expression set and stoic, she brushed her hands across her knees under the light grey blanket and considered how soft it was; she’d almost expected it to be coarse.

“Ok, I get it, you’re scared and you’ve been through a lot. You don’t need to worry we will take care of everything from here. All you have got to do is sign and we will get you set.

Arin frowned at him and he ran a hand through his hair in an exasperated sort of way, looking anywhere in the room then back at her. The door opened and Cameron stepped in holding a small white paper cup in one hand and a plastic cup of water in the other. She paused and looked at the standoff.

“Everything ok?” she asked as she put her burdens down on the tray at the bottom of the bed.

Arin looked at her and then the cup, she almost wanted the contents purely to stop the headache. Reaching a hand up she rubbed her temples as Chase turned to Cameron and gestured at their patient with his clipboard.  “She won’t consent. She said no.”

Cameron frowned and put her hands into her pockets, “Do you understand what we are asking you to do? It won’t hurt.”

Arin raised her eyebrows, “I don’t care. I’m not consenting. Please can I just have the painkiller for my head and then if you don’t mind,  I’d like to get some rest. It’s been a long, trying day.”

Cameron blinked then reaching for the cup gave Arin it along with the water. She watched the teen take the tablets and wash them down. “I really think you should reconsider. Your fever may get worse if we don’t treat the infection.”

Arin rolled over onto her side taking the blankets with her. “No, thank you for your concern but I don’t want treatment or tests for anything else,” she said again firmly as she literally turned her back on her Doctors.

Chase stood frowning at her and opened his mouth, only to stop when Cameron held up a hand and shook her head indicating the door. They exited and Cameron closed the door behind them. The blinds Chase had closed earlier fell into place over it.

“Well, that was just great, some help you were. You could have told her she wasn’t getting the meds till after the exam...what are we going to tell House?”

“She was pretty adamant, Chase. I don’t think leaving her in pain was going to help. Besides her head's hurting because of the knock it took, not because of her other symptoms. Her breathing is normal, for now, she’s not in any danger.”

“Great, fine, but you neglected to deal with the most important point.”

“Which is?”

“What are we going to tell House?!”

====

Up in his office, his soap forgotten, House continued his internet sleuthing. So far he had encountered a pretty tame Bebo account that had maybe three photos of Kiddo with the sk8er boi and the wannabe mermaid. A couple of generic posts told him she liked the Eagles and The Rolling Stones and her profile page taught him she also liked Lucky charms. Whether that was the cereal or the wearable artefact he wasn’t sure. It didn’t seem like she was the social media type.

He scrolled through the next set of hits, her school website showed her in a homeroom photo for winning some sort of competition with the 20 other kids, including both the sk8r boi and mermaid, nothing else helpful there. Her name was associated with a rather prestigious country club (no shit Sherlock). Apart from that and her parent's obituaries where she was named in passing as “survived by their young Daughter…” he had nothing to go on. He sat back in his chair and pondered the profile page before him. What a boring teenager.

Into the room walked Foreman with a sky blue coloured folder that often indicated psychiatric records. House raised an eyebrow and turned his chair towards the third fellow. “Find something juicy?” he asked.

Foreman sat and dropped the file onto House’s desk. “I found a referral to a psychologist for grief counselling after the grandmother died. She would’ve been about ten. The whole transcript reads like an average kid who lost someone. They had maybe 6 sessions which is normal then…”

“Then?”

“...Then nothing. Her sessions ended, he recommended she maybe needed a fresh start. So she had a year abroad then came back. He noted that she was clever, charming, and socially well developed for her age and that she was courteous and willing to talk about her feelings and thought that she would finish processing herself and that’s it.”

House was now flicking through the file, “what about the rest?”

Foreman shrugged looking resigned. “Cameron was right. That’s all she wrote. Her parents obviously didn’t want a hospital birth and had her at home, it stands to reason they didn’t like Doctor’s much so she’s a product of a mad parental upbringing.”

“The parents died when she was four,” House said absently as he compared both thin files.

“Then she is a product of eccentric old money grandparents. It’s not unheard of, some of the older generations are strong anti-vaxxers. And she goes to a private school that may make allowances for that sort of thing, maybe they said It was for religious reasons I don’t know, all I do know is that’s all we have.”

While he did not wish to admit it, Foreman was, in all probability, right on this one. The kid was most likely the product of old money. And the kind that took their scant medical advice from their barber at that. Although come to think of it, he never put much stock in what prior doctor’s had to say anyway. In fact, the lack of a file would simply save him the trouble of wading through the ramblings of lesser mortals. He allowed himself a slight smirk. It was a pity he couldn’t make this lack of paperwork a mandatory criteria for all his future patients.

Foreman sat back and looked at his boss. “So now that we have found the ‘vergence in the force’, Qui-Gon, what do you want to do with her? It’s like starting from scratch. And with no vaccinations, there could be anything going on.”

“The metaphors are strong in you my young apprentice,” House replied, slightly surprised that Foreman had not only bothered to make one but that his metaphor had been both amusing and apt. However, like any good Sith Lord, he would have to put him back in his place. There was no sense in giving an apprentice incentive to strike you down after all. “Yet your diagnostic training remains incomplete.” He gave the obligatory pause to allow confusion to set in before explaining himself. “Her symptoms so far don’t fit any of the big bad childhood boogie men illnesses that good old Master Hypodermic would have immunized against.”

Foreman opened his mouth to respond when the door opened and in trooped Chase and Cameron. Chase put a clipboard on to House’s desk. “There’s the history. We sent some blood work to the lab to check for infection. So far nothing, her breathing is normal and her O2 stats are back in the 90s and the fever is down to about 100.”

Cameron crossed her arms as Chase sat down by Foreman leaving her to stand. “I cleaned and sealed the head wound, you were right, it was small but fairly deep, and gave her some Tylenol which will help with her headache and the temperature, the nurses cleaned her up and didn’t note any other injuries.”

They both looked at each other, then at the floor. Foreman glanced between them then looked back at House looking confused. They all waited…

“And…” House replied, gesturing with his hand that they should continue.

“And…” Cameron started and reached for a bottle of water from the small stack under House’s lightbox. “...nothing. That’s it.”

Like a wolf that had caught a whiff of blood, House leapt upon Cameron’s feeble response and in the manner that only he could, fit this rather innocuous behaviour together with what he learned from his own interactions with the kid. “She wouldn’t let you do the test.” It wasn’t a question.

Cameron gave House a look that questioned how he had reached that conclusion. Chase, however, threw his hands up. “She wouldn’t consent. She said she had been ‘poked and prodded enough for one day thank you.’ The only reason she’s not left is because Cameron told her she had to stay for observation till tomorrow morning because of the concussion.”

House looked at Cameron with a cold, emotionless stare. “This turn of events is unfortunate,” he said, his voice mimicking that of Emperor Palpatine. “This is my apprentice, Darth Foreman, he will get your lung function test and physical.”

Chase frowned as Foreman shook his head and with a sigh snatched the clipboard from the desk and stood. He swept from the room his lab coat waving dramatically behind him as he cut across the door in a very dramatic, almost sith like, way.

Cameron raised both her eyebrows and Chase, watching him go reached into a pocket, “Fifty bucks says he doesn’t get it either.” He said pulling his wallet out.

House snorted, “I’d have more luck giving it to Cameron and asking her to take her clothes off.”

Cameron made a disgusted sound and walked away into the outer office without dignifying that with a response.

They didn’t need to wait long ultimately, enough time for Cameron to boil some water and make herself a coffee. She came back into House’s main office with her own cup and one which she offered to House, peering over his shoulder at the computer screen as she did so. “Are you looking her up on social media?” she asked.

“Wait, you mean to tell me that this is
her
page,” House replied, glancing between the screen and the young doctor in mock alarm. “I thought I was looking at Wilson’s list of potential new girlfriends.”

It was then, that Foreman stormed back in. He gave off an air of irritation and dropped the clipboard back in front of House. “Well she’s a peach,” he said as he sat down again in front of House’s desk and crossed his arms over his chest. “She wouldn’t even let me put a tongue depressor near her.”

“Your powers are weak young man,” House declared. After which he picked up a Rubix cube from his desk and began to fiddle with little intent to solve it.

Foreman shrugged, “She doesn’t want the tests, her breathing seems fine. The fever is down to 99. The blood work is back, no infection. She’s clean.” He tapped the clipboard with his index finger pointing out the new sheet he had managed to procure from the lab. “Face it House after her times up for the concussion observation we got nothing.”

Chase smirked and clapped the other Doctor’s shoulder. “Wouldn't even let you take the tongue depressor near her huh...I, at least, got blood.”

Turning to look at his peers Foreman shrugged again. “You’d have thought I offered her a scorpion the way she looked at the damned thing. Proper panic. I don’t think she wants or needs our help. I say we agree with the ER Doc and let her go home tomorrow morning unless of course, anyone else wants to tag in. 100 bucks says no one else gets any other medical test from her.”

Proper panic, House contemplated, his mind quietly rewinding back to the meeting at the vending machines and replaying her reactions. Slowly a small light turned itself on in his head. It was almost too good to be true...he would need to test the theory of course. But what would be the best method… Only at the sound of money being foolishly offered up as a wager did House bring his wayward mind back to the conversation. Replacing the Rubix cube back on his desk, he rose from his chair and picked up the file. Without a word, he strode passed his fellows towards the door.

“Where are you going?” Cameron asked as all three exchanged looks.

“To relieve Foreman of his one-hundred beans.”

Foreman looked amused. “If Cameron couldn’t get her to consent and she wouldn’t let the pretty boy here or me examine her, what makes you think she’s going to let YOU, of all people, do anything?”

House turned and smirked from the other side of his office door. “Because I have her over a barrel,” he said as it closed and he limped off towards the elevators.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The bleeping sound from the monitor. The tannoy system overhead paging Doctor whoever to whatever place. Footfall, movement, voices. The swish of the door to her room what seemed like every half an hour for the nurse to check on her. And the smell of antiseptic, or clean with a hint of something not so much, like a fresh cotton shirt on an unwashed body. It was an assault on the senses and likely to drive her insane before the evening ended, let alone the whole night. Arin Rae hated hospitals, even the thought of them. Realms of weird smells, suffering... death. She hated it, it turned her stomach. In fact, she hated everything about the medical profession. Well...she reconsidered, maybe not everything. Her eyes roved around the room taking in the alien surroundings with a sort of morbid curiosity. She shook her head causing a throb behind her eyeballs. Arin screwed up her eyes and pulled one of the masses of pillow from behind her dropping it over her face. The world vanished into a grey, dulled hum that smelled of clean cotton. She let out a sigh of relief. It felt cool against her warm cheeks and after a few seconds the throb in her head eased gently too. Here at least, under the pillow, she could forget her surroundings… forget the day from hell. Here under the pillow she might find some respite, if not some sleep.===Outside the room, observing his very odd patient through the glass and grey blinds stood one Doctor Gregory House. He leaned on the nurses station and watched her a few moments longer, blue eyes shifting to the room opposite where the mermaid now lay reading a magazine, seemingly unaware of her stressed companion. All of the other visitors were gone for the afternoon but that didn’t mean they couldn’t visit one another. She was in bed, sure, but her legs worked fine she could go into the room across the hall. Yet the mermaid didn’t so much as look across at the kiddo, with her head under a pillow. A universal sign of stress. He stood, contemplating. The present situation put him in mind of something that always irked him in rpg’s. The quest where two paths were presented to the player with two distinct rewards. However, choosing one would mean forever sacrificing the other. In this instance, he had two rewards to aim for. The answer to why she had decided not to sue the hospital, and the possibility that she had something of diagnostic merit wrong with her. Only he was the sort of player who didn’t settle for half measures. Invariably he would reload his game time and again and try different options in order to circumvent the rigid rules the developers had coded. It was few and far between that any had bothered to think of a solution worthy of his intellect. In which case he was left with only one option in order to get the prize, cheat. House liked to apply this logic to his medical puzzles too. Now all he had to do was work out the walkthrough for both this girl’s prizes.House pondered his next move. To progress down either path he would require information. Except trying to tease it from the girl had led to the door being slammed in his face and then locked. So he was going to need some picks. With this in mind, he pushed open the door and entered the bright pink room. The mermaid looked relaxed and though slightly pale, healthy enough for a near drowning victim. She glanced up and frowned at him without recognition as he neared the foot of her bed and feigning interest picked up her chart to look at it. “Hi,” he said in an upbeat tone that seemed to make her relax, “I’m Doctor House.” He glanced at her then back at the chart, flipping a page to see the notes on her file. Save for the way she had ended up here, her history and everything else was straightforward. Ordinary, boring. He put it back and stepping nearer began to read the monitoring equipment. Her blood pressure and temperature were good, the pulse right...O2 stats were still low. His eyebrows quirked and he glanced at her again, “how are you feeling?”Robyn smiled apparently deciding he wasn’t a threat. “Good thanks...well, like, better anyway. I mean I’m Like totally embarrassed and all that...god i know right? I mean who falls in a fountain? So last year in the drama dept right? And in front of all those people. So embarrassing but I mean my chest like feels better. Still have a bit of a wheeze and a cough though.”House felt his teeth clench in a pre grinding sort of way as he listened to her teenie bopper tone without really hearing the words; it was grating. Yet looking the perfect example of attentive and fighting the urge to roll his eyes, he nodded sympathetically. “Yeah, mall fountains are tricky to manage,” he said and turned back to the monitors. That O2 stat was annoying. He reached into the pocket of his jacket and withdrawing his stethoscope showed her it. “May I?” he asked gesturing the device.She looked up at him innocently and sat up straight pushing her magazine aside and leaning away from her pillows slightly as if she knew the routine. He plugged the device into his ears, he didn’t wear a lab coat or any ID yet here she was prostrating herself to him because he had said he was a Doctor. She had not even bothered to question him. “Breathe in…” he stated as he performed the quick listen that he really had not intended to pay any mind to; there was a slight wheeze.“Hmm, that should clear up with the medication Doctor Cameron is giving you,” he said as he moved the stethoscope around to her back for another listen, again she did not question him. She was bruising across her right shoulder. A side effect of the fountain maybe? He prodded it but gave up when she seemed to react normally to such an injury. “That hurt?” he asked. The mermaid nodded. “Doctor Cameron said I was lucky to not really hurt myself and need...like...stitches or something. I mean can you imagine if I had a scar?”House for his part simply moved the bell to another region and listened to her breathe quietly for a few moments; still wheezing. “I’m treating your friend,” he added conversationally. “Who Arin? I thought Doctor Cameron and the Hot...I mean other Doctor were treating her,” she blushed. He rolled his eyes this time as she couldn’t see him. Of course she would find Chase Hot. “They are. I’m their boss,” he said by way of explanation as he watched her breathing, quietly counting respiration. “Oh,” was her only reply. He decided to use it as a segway “She doesn’t give much away does she?” He pulled the instrument around his shoulders and left it hanging there as he moved to the foot of her bed. Picking up her chart again, he overwrote what had been prescribed with an order for an extra nebuliser treatment. Robyn made a sort of ‘yeah duh’ sound, which caused the corners of House’s mouth to twitch as she played right into his hands.“What are you writing?” She asked sitting back into the pillows. He pocketed his pen and sat in the chair beside her bed. “Just something to help you breathe, Princess,” he used the term in a slightly sarcastic tone but she didn’t seem to pick up on that at all. In fact, the smile that broke out on her face left him considering a slightly different approach with her. “You know…” he said as she beamed at him. “I need to know more about her if I’m going to help her and she doesn’t want to talk to me,” he held his hands up in a ‘understand what I mean’ gesture. Robyn nodded. “She wouldn’t...you’re a Doctor.”Bingo, House thought. His straight drive down the iatrophobia fairway had been followed up with a nice chip towards the green. One simple putt and he’d have his first pick. “Why does that matter? She spoke to Cameron and Chase,” he said sitting back and interlocking his fingers. “Well yeah, but only enough to like, get rid of them. You know?” She said sounding exasperated. “She never wants to go to the doctor. Like even when she, like, totally should.”He nodded empathetically as though he understood, mind whirring. “Anything you can tell me about your friend will help me understand better and help me diagnose what’s wrong with her,” he gave her his best charming smile.“Well…I don’t know...” she bit her lip slightly and glanced across the room and the corridor into her friends room. She looked thoughtful.“You’d really be helping her and me out, Princess.” She started returning his smile with another of her own, apparently she approved of the pet name, interesting...but was it enough. He waited blue eyes locked onto her face. “Well, Like I said, you know she’s totally not ok with doctors I mean I don’t think she’s ever gone to see one. She freaks out anytime we even suggest it. I think it’s because her parents are dead and you know her grandmother and like she never sees her grandfather. My grandmother says she basically raises herself like a little wild child but with you know...like manners. Oh my god she’s so polite to adults all the time and she totally gets away with anything. She just turns the smile on and people just like give In. I like, tried it but it doesn’t work for me can you imagine? But oh yeah, so she’s by herself so no one makes her go to do things like physicals and doctors appointments,” she thankfully stopped to take a breath. “Well I mean there’s the housekeeper but I mean I don’t think it’s her place to tell Arin what to do. Even if you totally should go to the doctors if you have a fever, I mean even my Grandmother lets me stay home if I have a fever and she goes to school regardless. I’d stay at home and watch soaps all day if it were me. But oh my god how I’d kill to not have adults on my back all day everyday. You know?”He nodded as though adults were the worst thing ever and considered how best to focus her energy. He had expected maybe a slow leak not a geyser. ”Does she get sick often?” he asked, trying to return the direction of the conversation back to the Kiddo.Robyn shrugged, and pursing her lips looked thoughtfully upward. “I mean she’s pale a lot so you can so tell when she’s feverish, urgh I’d kill to her skin, but she gets narky when you, like, ask her. She has fevers and sore throats a lot. And I mean a lot like more than I did and Doctor Fitzgerald, he was my pediatrician, he took my tonsils out but she doesn’t have a pediatrician so I mean…” she trailed off and shrugged. Hmmm, fevers suggested infection and sore throats could, ironically, be from recurring bouts of tonsillitis, like the mermaid had suggested. Useful information, but not enough to forge a second pick with. And he doubted the girl would be able to give him more specifics than that. At least not medically relevant ones. He decided to change track, “how long have you known her?”“Oh my god like I’ve known Arin since we were born, I’m totally like her best friend. She and I went to elementary school together and then we met Zen in middle school and we are in all the same classes. Zen’s the clever one. They hooked up like the first week of high school but whatever I mean it totally doesn’t bother me.” “She spent a year abroad?” he prompted. “Oh yeah ew...in a uniform and everything but she didn’t stick, like, she came back. I think she probably flunked out, or she hated the weather. Did you know it like rains most of the time in Scotland? Or so I heard and they wear tacky tartan skirts? Even the men.”“So...what is she like? What do you guys like to do together? It may be important, I’m a Doctor I need to know everything.” She bit her lip once more but continued and there it was, a more focused energy but still pouring from the girl. Information. He didn’t need to prompt now that she had gotten going but every now and then he would ask a question to clarify or get more detail. For the most part he simply listened to her drone, filing away each point as she detailed the entire life and times of Arin Rae in the level of detail and friendliness with the slight twinges of contempt and jealousy that could only be mastered by a high school gossip. And this was supposed to be her best friend? He glanced across the hall at the pillow covered girl and felt a pang of gratitude for Wilson and almost sympathy for her. Quickly he stifled it and as his mini mount Vesuvius had a coughing fit stood to help her with some oxygen. As she settled he prompted her to continue a story about a girl in their class who had decided Arin was anorexic because of the inordinate amount of food she apparently ate, he rolled his eyes. The two prizes at the end of this particular quest had better be worth it.===Sliding the door to room number two open, Dr House stepped inside and closed it quietly behind him. With her head still under a pillow it seemed that the sleeping beauty had not moved since he had gone to visit the mermaid. She must have drifted off, that was the only explanation, Arin thought as she blinked and tried to work out what had disturbed her. He quietly closed the blinds, effectively cutting them off from from the mermaids prying eyes. Still no movement, perhaps she really was asleep. Regardless, he was taking no chances. From his past experience, this fair maiden would not wait until sundown before transforming into her beast form. With as much stealth as a cripple with a cane could manage, he walked over and stood beside the edge of her bed. Stretching out a hand he reached for the pillow covering her face...Arin frowned into the fabric, the pillow wasn’t as cool on her face now and she felt a little bit too warm. Time to surface back into the noise and light for some air perhaps. She sighed, coughed once and pulled the pillow away letting her eyes adjust to the light of the room. The sight that she beheld caused her to jump and the monitor attached to her to register a sudden spike in her heart rate, annoyingly. “Fuck sake!” she swore loudly her right hand reaching up to rub her sternum in the center, she glared at the man looming over her, hand outstretched and stethoscope clad shoulders glinting in a macabre way. “Don’t do that! What’s wrong with you sneaking up on people like that!...fuck!” She pushed back into the bed as if she were trying to get as far away from him as she could get. “So its you is it?” She asked “What the hell do you want now?” she demanded. The monitor marginally showed her heart rate slow and she was conscious of it all too much, it took an effort not to glare at it too. Her cheeks burned red hot with embarrassment. House, who had taken a step back that seemed to have gone unnoticed, quickly recovered from the self defense mechanism he seemed to have inadvertently triggered. It must have been the sound of the door opening or the tapping of his cane on the floor that had roused the beast from its slumber prematurely. Why had he foolishly left his silver sword at home today? “You might want to tone down the ‘rargh’ next time you wake. If I’d been Dr Chase you might have scared me off,” House replied. “Or caused me to wet my pants.” He took a breath before adding, “hi, I’m Dr House, I’ll be your attending today.”Arin scowled darkly at House and then with a shake of her head looked away from him fanning her face with her hand in a gesture that screamed damsel in distress. “Yeah, I figured you were around somewhere in all of this. What do you want?” She asked again her vocal volume lower as she calmed. “Well, a high level cure materia, all of the chaos emeralds, of course, and a thunderstone. My Pikachu really needs to evolve.” He glanced up at her stats monitor; temperature was high. “You feeling hot?”Taking a shaky breath she closed her eyes and brought a hand up to rub the bridge of her nose. “Sorry, you seem to have confused me with a gameshark code disc or Santa Clause.” She ignored his question.House smirked at the kid and looked at her monitor, mentally registering the other details. “No, you asked me what I wanted in general, you need to learn to be more specific.” He paused for a moment and looked back at her. “You don’t happen to have a spare thunderstone?”Arin rubbed her face and opened her eyes again to look at the annoying voice, she made eye contact and considered him. He had the bluest eyes she had ever seen...it stirred something in her mind, like a long forgotten memory of something she couldn’t quite place. Her brow furrowed and whatever she was going to say died on her lips, instead she replied, “no, try Celadon city, I hear they have a superstore, if you run now you might get there before it closes.” Her tone dripped sarcasm but she was apparently relaxing slightly more as she shifted back to the centre of the bed and let herself flop back onto the pillow with a sigh. While the kid may be offering him nothing herself, the sarcastic comment confirmed at least one thing the mermaid had told him; she played video games. However, he still lacked a way past her outer defence of sarcasm and deflection. Not only that, but it would be all too easy for him to become embroiled in a long string of reference and metaphor. For he suspected she would be both able and willing to indulge him if it kept him at arm's length. Assuming of course that she did not simply elect to sit in silence. “I’ll pick one up next time I’m in the area. Besides, I’m here to see you.” He gave her a smile. “How are you feeling, Kiddo.” Watching him as he considered her Arin took in the fact that he now wore the stethoscope but not a lab coat. That made him stand out from the others around here and in a way it made him slightly easier to deal with. He moved the instrument from his shoulders as if he could hear her thought process and put it in his inside jacket pocket. She gave an involuntary shudder and swallowed a lump that seemed to have formed in her throat. The monitor registered her heart rate increase ever so slightly as she realised she hadn’t answered him. “Fine thanks,” she replied apparently accepting the nickname, her throat suddenly dry, “nice of you to drop by. I guess it’s not every day you get a chance to visit an assailant the same day they supposedly attacked you.” She looked around for some water.House’s eagle eyes roved over the girl and took in the slight shudder, awkward swallow and the slight fluctuation of her heart that the monitor displayed. In most cases he would have put it all down to the fact that he could be both intimidating and creepy. However, in her case, and based on what the mermaid had said he suspected that this was the manifestation of iatrophobia. At least he had got a straight and by their standards normal answer from her. So far so good. “Let’s just agree that you said some things, I said some things, some beverages got spilt, no hospitals got sued and focus on what’s really important here. Your health.”Arin smiled slightly as though she expected this line of dialogue to go this way, “ If by spilt you mean exploded then sure. Like I said, feeling fine here thanks.” She found the water pitcher on the stand by the side of the bed House was not standing at. She pushed the covers back and put her legs over the side, getting to her feet she disentangled some of the wires with a sigh and poured some water into the plastic cup. She brought it to her lips and sipped. Watching him.Stridding to the top of the room, House picked up the chart from the foot of the bed then settled himself down in one of the visitors chairs. He flicked through it, pretending to read information that he already knew. “Well this says you’re not fine…” he said as he flicked. “This says you need a lung function test.”“Does it?” Arin asked innocently after she swallowed her first mouthful of water. “I can’t imagine why, I’m going home tomorrow.” she sipped.“I know, right. Imagine a hospital chart saying that a patient was not fine.That would be like a police station where they locked the bad guys away in the cells.” He waited a moment to allow the sarcasm to sink in before adding, “you’ve suffered or are currently suffering from concussion, fever, respiratory distress and tachycardia. Not to mention the head wound, dizzy spells and bucket loads of anxiety.”
Arin raised one eyebrow. “You know that Doctor Cameron sealed the wound and that the concussion is mild at best. I’m fine.”
“Convenient that you ignored the symptoms that are actually the most worrisome. I know it’s hard for you gentry folks to accept that a paid lackie might know more about something than the factory owner, but trust me on this one, Kiddo, you’re ‘out of sorts’. So let me do my job, then you can go back to counting the proffits.”
“And by out of sorts you mean?” She asked looking mildly amused but wary of him.
“Ill, sick, not well, under the weather... peaked, take your pick.”“Ah,” Arin said as she stood feeling slightly awkward, the floor cold under her bare feet. “So that’s why you are here. I take it your two lackies tattletold when I wouldn’t let them do the tests they wanted and then the reserve flunked out so now you’re up to bat?” She laughed slightly. “Why do I feel like I’ve ended up in the final boss level?”“Well, when you put it like that…” House glanced around as he spoke, “now where
did I put masamune.” He gave her an evil grin and flicked his eyes towards the glass she held. “Better make sure you don’t waste all your Hi-potions just now, this is only my first form.” And just like that House realised that he had started metaphoring again. This was going to take a while. He could only hope that Cuddy had suffered him enough for one day. “What would be the point in badgering you to do a medical test you’ve thrice refused?” He took a pen and made a note in the chart.Despite herself Arin smiled at his response. “Don’t worry, I hear that there are X-potions available from the vending machines around these parts.” She finished her water and replaced the cup. She was left with little choice now. Back to bed or try unclipping the wires and going for a walk. She considered the wires lifting each gently as she decided what to do as she answered him. “Regardless of what you think, I feel fine. The Doctor in the ER said he thought it was unlikely to be anything serious and the nurse told me that there wasn’t any sign of infection in my blood work so…” she shrugged. “Doctor Cameron said I had to stay here because of the concussion. That’s it.” “I know, right?” House reached out and replaced the chart on the foot of the bed. “How dare a doctor come up with another idea after they’ve already said something to the patient. That would be like chipping a gym leaders pokemon down to 1HP and them using a full restore.” Arin rolled her eyes, “Please, don’t patronise me,” she told him turning her back to him slightly as she wondered what clip to remove first and if it would make noise when she did. She looked down at her feet a second and wondered if there were socks somewhere. “Fair enough,” he said causing her to look at him again in confusion which he smiled at. “How about I don’t patronise if you don’t act like an idiot? And yes, an alarm will sound and nurses will come running if you remove one of those clips.” He fixed a smirk to his face for when she inevitably turned round to face him again. Arin turned to look at him and blinked. That was twice now he had seemingly read her mind, she sighed and turning back to look at the monitors rolled her head and neck. “Let me guess you wouldn’t let me leave the room anyway right?” She asked “I’d be a lousy observer if I let the person under observation leave, wouldn’t I?” Arin shook her head “I’m not sure under observation actually means I need someone sitting watching me.” She carefully got back into the bed and pulled the covers back over her otherwise exposed legs, resting back against the pillow. The covers were weirdly cool against her skin. What she wouldn’t give for a pair of pyjama bottoms. “Actually you’re assigned observation status if you’re not sick enough to require inpatient admission like your friend Ariel, or if we aren’t sure exactly how sick you are so aren’t sure which area of the hospital to admit you to, which is your case. From that we can observe you in the hospital from anything from 6 to 24 hours, maybe more and make you an inpatient if you become sicker, or let you go home if you get better. So yeah it kinda does mean that...it also kinda means you’re not just here because of the headwound no matter what Cameron told you.”“Anyway…” she continued trying to ignore him. “What defines me as an idiot? Because I won’t agree to let you and your underlings do what they want? Even if I did let you do the test, what would it tell you? Either Asthma or no Asthma, hardly your speed of diagnostics is it House?” She looked at him.House gave her a reproachful look. “No, you’re an idiot for ignoring sound medical advice. And since you lack the necessary MD to argue against it, we’ll be taking my word for it.” He twirled his cane between his fingers. “And no. The lung function test would simply tell me if your lungs function properly. Asthma doesn’t fit all the symptoms. Although if you had an MD you’d know that.”Arin sighed again sounding tired.The words came tumbling out before she could help herself. “Asthma was a fair guess for the thing that looked like an asthma attack, granted having a fever puts a hole in that.”She glanced at House and found him watching her with one eyebrow raised and shrugged, “ The guy in the ER said panic attack was more likely. Especially after the very stressful day I’ve had.” she rubbed the sheets covering her. “I mean I was in shock, soaked, dried and soaked again by a maniac…” she looked pointedly at him.
“I don’t have to have an MD to know that if you add the argument Zen and I had when I eventually got back to him after my detour courtesy of you and you have a perfect explanation for a panic attack.” She watched him. “ Everything else, like the headache, would be because of the fact I apparently whacked my head in a mall fountain this morning. Regardless fevers happen, it’s down now, concussion diagnosed and head wound treated...breathing normal again so like I said before...I’m fine thanks.”House had to admit, it was a fairly well constructed argument. In fact it was very reminiscent of the one his own team had given him. Yet a second recitation had done little to convince him that he was wrong. Granted it typically took a hell of a lot to do that. Was she that observant or simply regurgitating what she had heard the team say to make herself look clever. Regardless her attitude so far had only served to convince him that taking the tried and tested path of his lackies would land him with the exact same amount of bupkis. He would have to try an alternate path and hope the kid didn’t cry Cuddy. “You know what, yep, you’re right. Why would a guy with infinitely more medical expertise know better than you? So let’s just ignore what he has to say and get on with the observing.” When he had finished House readjusted his position in the chair in an attempt to get comfortable. He stared at her intently. Arin scowled at him in return. “I wouldn’t even dream of arguing against the fact that you have more medical expertise than I do. I would hope you did considering your a Doctor and I’m a teenager. But I know myself so when you have as much Arin Rae expertise as you do medical then maybe we can talk again.” It was such a childish thing to say and she cringed internally. House sighed. Blue bloods. They always did think themselves so unique and immune from the diseases that plagued the poor, huddled masses. However, it was soon replaced by a smirk as two thoughts latched onto it. While the first was purely for the shits and giggles, the second would certainly catch her unawares. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his now scuffed cell phone, dialed a random number and brought it up to his ear.Arin frowned watching him, confusion etching her face. “What are you doing now?” She asked exasperated as he dialed. Why couldn’t he take that outside, in fact take his whole personage with it. House glanced over in her direction. “Calling Nature to let them know that I’ve discovered a new species. If I’m lucky perhaps I’ll get to name it.”She shook her head at him, “you aren’t funny. Look will you just go away please. I’m bored of this now.”House gave her a condescending look. “I’m as funny as you are stupid. No, sorry I take it back, not stupid, ignorant. You are ignorant because you literally have no idea what you’re talking about. Even more than my patients normally.” His eyebrow arched. “Don’t worry kiddo it’s just because your a virgin. You’ll catch up eventually. However, if you want to play the ‘I’m so completely different from any other human being you’ve ever treated’ game, then your in luck as I took a crash course in Arin Rae before I stopped by.”She put her hands up, choosing to ignore the virgin comment. “I didn’t say that! Look why don’t you and your team get it? I don’t care if I’m exactly the same as every person you've ever treated. I’m willing to bet I’m a damn sight more boring than EVERY person you’ve ever treated but I don’t WANT to be treated by you or by anyone, why don’t you understand that?” She blinked at him and then licked her lips finding they had gone dry, “Wait...what do you mean you took a crash course in Arin Rae?” Her head tilted slightly to the right as she looked him up and down trying to work out what he meant. House almost had to sit further back in his chair to survive the fallout that came in his direction. He then smiled when she finally figured out what he had said. Watching, he saw her head tilt. Was she trying to figure it out? Pocketting his cell phone, he sat and twiddled his thumbs with a smug grin on his face as he waited for the penny to drop. Arin felt a tight band press around her heart as she tried to work out what he meant, was he being annoying or not, what did he know about her and more importantly why did she care. She could hear her heartbeat in her ears like a rush of water. However how could he possibly know anything...she had given the team the basics they had asked for, sure he could have looked her up online but there wasn’t much to find there she wasn’t a social media person...no he would have had to ask someone. Slowly her eyebrows furrowed as she considered this, the idea he had asked her grandfather was laughable. Zen had of course been there in the ER and for a while in her room but he knew how she felt about hospitals and she had explained what happened with House, he wouldn’t tell the man anything. Was he bluffing? She considered him more closely, no he was too smug…That just left...her eyes darted to the glass wall of the room and then widened as her jaw set. “Robyn!” She muttered in outrage. “What did she tell you?” Arin asked House through her teeth.His grin widened. “Wouldn’t you like to know.” “Well obviously, how else am I to know what to correct? If you’re going to get all your information secondhand you’ll have nothing but bias and hyperbole. And trust me if it
all came from that particular source you’ll…” She trailed off then started to laugh lightly. “Actually come to think of it, how did you survive the length of conversation that you would have needed to have with her to get the information?”At last Miss Rae had said something that interested Dr House, and she did not even know what it was. In order for two people to trade, be it goods or information, both parties had to have something the other wanted. In this particular case it was questions. While it may have been a rather light question, it was a question nonetheless. “Maybe I’ll tell you…” The amusement faded. “...if?” She asked“I thought that would have been obvious?” House replied with a smile, half expecting her to fire back with a ‘I’m not consenting to your lung function test’. Arin raised her eyebrows and sitting back again into the pillow crossed her arms. “Oh really? Why don’t you spell it out for me.” Damn, House thought, stifling a pout. He’d been looking forward to see that particular outburst. He let out an over exaggerated sigh. “Guess you haven’t even done your ABC’s yet, let alone probability,” he replied, sliding in a dig from their prior meeting.Arin put her hand over her forehead, “Why is it every time you actually seem like a decent human being you go and get annoying again. You like to play head games right? Well if that’s how you want it then fine by me,it’s not like I’ve got anything better to do. let’s see now..” she moved, crossing her legs under the blanket and brought her hand down her face. Cupping her chin she shook the dark hair out of the way and rested her elbow on her knee as she stared at him without a word. “Wow!” House exclaimed, exaggerating the word to its fullest the grin on his face matching the tone. “Head games? Really? Are you normally this highly sprung or is it just when you’re around hospitals and doctors? Besides, I was simply going to offer a trade of information.” Though he had made the gambit, House doubted he would get the answer he desired so easily. If he did, then he may even consider the entire escapade a bit bland and boring. ”Wouldn’t know, this is the first time I’ve been in a hospital and around Doctors. So I haven’t got any foundation to base a comparison with.” She rested her head on her hand and continued to stare in his direction, but not directly at him. If he paid close enough attention he would notice that her eyes had glazed over slightly as if she were looking at something far away.House studied the girl as her eyes slowly started to glaze over. Much like they had done back at the vending machines. His smile faded as he watched. That was twice now. Was this a symptom? Did the kid suffer from absence seizures? He made a mental note but decided he would wait a few moments this time to see how she responded before going in guns blazing with the pen light. Slowly a smile tugged the corners of her mouth as her eyes refocused. “ It’s still bothering you isn’t it, why I did what I did in Doctor Cuddy’s office…” she looked properly at him, “...You want your test but that’s not all is it...you want to know the answer to that too.” She shook her head in an almost disbelieving sort of way. House laughed before he could stop himself. “Oh the education system of the gentry. Teach them how to play the game of Houses but not how to spell or count. Lucky for me that I know a bit about that particular game too. Since we’ve got time on our hands,” he checked his watch, just to make sure he actually did have the time to spare before he would be forced to play his trump card, “why don’t we play a round?”“I wasn’t aware that more than one Gleeman had that particular expertise in Daes Dae'mar as well as their day job.” She smirked at him, “ I’m not sure you can deal. It’s been said the best way to put players of the Great Game off balance, is to be honest, since no-one expects you to be. I’m not sure you could stomach that any more than you could stomach the sunkist.” She put her right hand over her forehead again and closed her eyes a moment. “If we’re being honest then you would be best to just give me what I want and save yourself a lot of hassle. Though I’ve got to admit, you’re far more fun than most of my recent patients.” Arin dipped her head in a grateful sort of gesture as if thanking him for the compliment and moved her hand from her forehead to the back of her neck. “You’re not used to getting told no are you?” Her tone wasn’t mocking or sarcastic. She seemed genuinely interested. “People come from all over the world desperate for your advice, your attention...the nurses have a lot to say about you if you ask.” She said by way of explanation.House responded to the ‘compliment’ in kind. He was actually beginning to like this kid. “People say no to me all the time. Especially the guy in that sex-ed video that said fifty no’s followed by a yes doesn’t mean yes.” Arin smiled again, “Do you always do that? Deflect when the conversation doesn’t go the way you wanted it in your head? Smart Guy the sex Ed guy, you should heed his advice. Three no’s won’t turn to a Yes on the fourth occasion either. That’s why it’s called non-consent.” “I said I watched the video, not that I cared about what he said,” House replied. It seemed like this kid was not one to bite on hooks, bated or otherwise. He might have to wait until 4pm when he could unleash his trump card. This seemed to unnerve her. She straightened and dropping her hands looked warily at him as if the idea of him ignoring a lesson on consent, the very thing she was denying him terrified her. She swallowed, the lump back in her throat, as the monitor bleeped slightly higher and waited as if the shadow of the axe was over her neck. “You want to play, fine...what do you want?” House opened his mouth wide to feign a response before acting as though he had changed his mind. “Hey, didn’t we do this part already?”Arin watched him but said nothing. She had paled. House checked his watch and rolled his eyes again before replying, his time was slowly ticking away. “Fine, have it your way. I want to know why you unpatrioticly elected not to sue this place for every last cent. American’s and lawsuits are inseparable.” He paused and frowned. “You’re not secretly Canadian, are you?”She laughed, a nervous sort of noise. In the back of her head she was mildly concerned about the shifts in mood this man seemed to bring about in her. She was going from amused to scared and anxious in between so fast that it was a wonder she hadn’t developed whiplash. “No, I’m not Canadian. And like I told you before why tell you? If we are being honest it’s much more satisfying for me if you are kept wanting. But you are an adult, I’m just an ‘ignorant’ kid. Surely you can work it out for yourself.”House thought about this notion of ‘working it out for himself’. He’d been so caught up with trying to prise the answer out of the kid that he’d forgotten that he actually had more than enough information to just slot the pieces together by himself. Perhaps he had just enjoyed the challenge this kid had presented him with in lieu of a medical mystery. In hindsight the answer seemed obvious. She was a rich kid that clearly did not need the money and apparently hated hospitals. All she’d wanted to do since he’d come across her was go home and so following down the path of a lawsuit would have left her stuck inside one for even longer than she had been already. He smiled to himself. Arin quietly returned the smile with one of her own which clearly showed that she knew he had worked it out. “All you’ve wanted to do since you set foot in this place is leave. Insisting on sueing this place would have kept you trapped here for longer.” “Now you see. Isn’t that much more satisfying. You don’t need to probe me any longer, be free.” She waved at the door. House’s watch beeped then and on que the nurse slid the room door open.

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Chapter 10 - House CallThe woman pushed a blood pressure monitor on a small rolling basket with a digital oral thermometer in her hand,she seemed distracted however and didn’t look up from her implements until she was into the room. “Alright sweetie…lets get your vitals and your meds. How’s your throat feeling now?” she started as she finally looked up then stopped dead seeing House in the visitors chair. “Oh...my I mean, Doctor House, I… I didn’t realize you were in here.” She glanced at Arin. “I just need to check this patient.” “Don’t mind me,” House replied, rising from his chair. “In fact, don’t mind her either. I’ve got this. Why don’t you go see the next poor soul on your list and I’ll deal with this one.” He paused and pulled a thermometer out of his pocket. “In fact I’ll be doing all of Miss Rae’s vital checks, so no need for you to disturb her again.” He gave the kid a wolfish smile. Arin for her part did not look happy about this idea. Her heart rate spiked again slightly and she blushed a dark red colour. The nurse blinked at him, “you’ll be...but she is under observation as per your order...surely you’ll need someone to do the night time checks…”“Oh, don’t worry about that, Miss Rae and I are going to have a little sleepover. I’ll take care of it. Besides, It’ll give us a chance to get to know one another,” he turned to look at the kid, “isn’t that right, Arin.”Arin and the nurse both stared back at him their mouths slightly agape. Arin shook her head as if this idea was the worst yet and looked between house and the nurse. Eyes wide, pleading with the woman not to leave her with him.The nurse didn’t seem to know what to do but with a small sigh she acquiesced to House’s seniority and left the rolling basket where it was, put down on the table the cup of little white tablets and turned back to the door. “If you’re sure.” She said to House and with an apologetic look back at Arin she left the room again sliding the door shut behind her. Now alone again Arin swallowed and looked at House. She didn’t seem to be able to form words just mouthed soundlessly for a second before…“Sleepover?” she asked apparently dumbfounded. She cast around the room, looked at the basket and the wires and things it contained and felt her stomach drop as if she were on a rollercoaster. Stupid, she told herself, get a grip. She watched him, eyes fixed on the thermometer he now wielded with the expression of a caged animal. Unfazed, House drank in the girl’s now frightened appearance and had to hand it to himself. He really knew how to freak people out. Let’s see how long she would refuse his lung function test now. He walked closer to her, waited a few beats before he spoke. “You didn’t tell me your throat hurt,” he said eerily, he clucked his tongue wagging his left index finger at her in a tisk-tisk manner. Then, looking her directly in the eyes, held up the thermometer and grinned, “We’ll have to see about that, but first...open wide.”She closed her eyes and willed herself to calm down. She didn’t comply however. He waited a second as she seemed to struggle internally then opening her eyes looked at him then at the device he held, she swallowed again. With a deep shudder of a sigh she opened her mouth just wide enough for him to put the thermometer in. Like he was feeding a baby, House put the device into her mouth and lifted her chin up with his other hand until it closed around the plastic cylinder, metal tip under her tongue. “Good girl,” he praised and gave her a gentle pat on the head. Her eyes flashed darkly at him as her jaw clenched hard, a low soft growl of disapproval rumbling from her chest. She jerked back slightly away from his touch but did not spit out the thermometer despite the urge to do so.“That stays under your tongue until I remove it,” he warned. “Otherwise, I start again until you do. And if you keep doing it I’ll have the nurse bring me an anal thermometer and I’ll roll you. Understand?”She scowled at him her expression set and stubborn but after a moment she seemed to collect herself again and gave him a curt nod to show she understood, the quicker this was over the better.“So, now that we’re friends and all, how about we talk about the head injury you neglected to mention to anyone since being admitted.” Arin frowned at him as if he were crazy. “Wha’ oo ‘hink am here…” she started to say. “Hey, hey, hey, no talking around the thermometer. Didn’t they teach you that downstairs? Besides, I’m not talking about today's head wound. I want to know about the one that happened when you were on your little ski holiday.” Expression totally blank, Arin looked at him again as though he had gone even more crazy than her encounters with him had thus far demonstrated. She started a reply then sighed as she caught herself and waited. The thermometer beeped and she reached a hand up to take it out if her mouth. “Ow!” she stated around the device as lightning quick House rapped her smartly across the hand with the tips of his fingers and removed the device himself. While he peered at the little screen Arin swallowed. “What are you talking about?”House frowned. Her words and expression had come with such brutal honesty that there could be no doubt that she was telling the truth. She had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. That only left him with two options. Either she genuinely could not remember the incident, always a possibility with head trauma, or the mermaid had lied to him. There was only one way to find out. “According to your little friend, you crashed while snowboarding last winter. Hit your head off a log, so she said.”While he waited for a response he glanced at the thermometer; 101°F. Her temperature had gone back up. His mind ran through the possibilities from infection to House inflicted. He would need more information before making an assessment. Pocketing the device he reached out his hands to take hold of her chin and lifted it with the intention of feeling her glands.  Arin’s frown deepened. She winced as the action pulled at the more recent head wound. She cast her mind back trying to picture the event he was referring to. Last winter Zen, Robyn and herself had gone to aspen for Christmas and new year. Two weeks of fresh snow and mountain air, picturesque lodges...they had done the whole hot tubs, hot chocolate thing. A smile tugged her lips as she remembered a snowball fight with Zen that had resulted in them both rolling in the snow, laughing as they tried to stuff the cold mush into each others jackets. As House took hold of her chin and his fingertips began to push under in and along the line of her jaw she jerked back, both out of the memory and his grasp. “Ow, what are you doing.”“Checking your glands, duh,” House replied. Although he had been slightly taken aback by her reaction. Nevertheless, he ignored her protest and leaning over her slightly, started again, this time intentionally pressing deeper, watching her for a reaction as he continued with the exam. As House’s finger tips reached for her neck and started prodding again she made a slight face as though the feeling was uncomfortable but not really painful. “I remember going snowboarding,” she told him thoughtfully. “I remember hitting...something and losing balance…” her eyes had glazed over again, lost in thought. “I remember...I was really sore and tired. It was New Year’s Eve and there was this...party…”She looked mildly confused a moment then shook her head as if to clear it. Again, inadvertently this time, moving out of his grip. “Anyway, like I told you The life of Arin Rae according to Robyn is not a very reliable source.”Reliable enough, House thought. By the sounds of it, the kid had whacked her head good and proper. Only the adults had clearly been idiots or non-existent as his team had found no record of the incident. However, that did not mean that they wouldn’t find anything now that he had somewhere to direct them to. “Where did you stay?” he asked. “We have a lodge.” She said then blushed. “Of course you do,” House said as he moved his hand and picked up her wrist. Shaking back the sleeve of his shirt and jacket, he stared at his watch. Her heart beat furiously under the pressure of his finger tips. Mildly tachycardic, but panic explained that. He made a mental note to stick around and see if the reaction was the same when one of his lackies did it. “What else did she tell you?” Arin asked. She was taking measured breaths, the sort people did when facing something they didn’t like but had to put up with and was looking directly at the chair he had just vacated, not at him or in his direction. House said nothing as he waited for the minute to pass. When it finally did, he dropped her wrist and walked to the foot of the bed. Picking up the chart, he noted down his observations and gave the kid a moment's reprieve. “Well? What else did she tell you?”“Well, there was the time you went to Bonnie Scotland for a year, ” House began, switching in and out of a Scottish accent without a pause. “And the time when she got gum stuck in her hair and you put her head in a freezer… the death of your parents and grandparents, ” he finished, emphasising his last words. Arin raised her eyebrows, “Grandmother, not grandparents plural.” She said absently “and the ice makes the chewing gum firm and easier to remove. I didn’t think she would sit still long enough for me to use WD40. Peanut butter oil was out too since her father has a peanut allergy and they don’t keep any in the house.” She shrugged. She seemed very nonchalant about the death thing. He hadn’t expected that. “Yeah, I know the gum trick too.” As if to emphasise his point, House fished inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a packet of chewing gum, tossed a piece up into the air and caught in his mouth. However, internally he made a note to try and limit the subjects she could deflect onto. “Meanwhile, back at the lodge in Aspen, you whacked your head off a log and didn't receive proper treatment. I'm adding an MRI to the list of tests you should have done. There could be anything going on inside that skull of yours.”“That was six months ago. I’m pretty sure I’m ok.” She rolled her eyes. “Besides I didn’t realise two tests constituted a list Doctor House.”  House scoffed loudly and almost burst out laughing. Was this kid serious? Either she was an idiot or a bigger narcissist than even he was. “Wow!” he exclaimed, almost speechless. “Just... Wow! Do you have any concept about all the possibilities for internal damage you could have done to your head that might not show symptoms for months, or even years?” Taking a deep breath as though she had enough of the conversation Arin said. “Well since I only have a vague memory of it and didn’t really think about it till you brought it up I clearly had some sort of concussion or post trauma amnesia. But…” she paused as if she wasn’t sure if she should continue or simply shut up. She gave him an appraising look, swallowed again and decided to keep talking. A slight sigh then...“...Brain-imaging studies done by Metting and his team in 2001 of PTA, patients showed a positive long term prognosis.” She swallowed and continued, “In fact he proved that most patients return to normal levels of functioning within 4 months of the original injury, despite the fact that some memory might be fuzzy and because the person often hears peers, family, and others discussing events surrounding the injury it actually makes it more likely that they will subsequently falsely report remembering more about the injury period. It’s a poor measure of injury severity and as most people feel well by the 4 months mark I’m pretty sure that, as I said, I’m ok.”House tilted his head as he listened to the ensuing onslaught of… a well founded medical argument? Hang on a moment, wasn’t that supposed to be his role in these conversations?She flopped backwards into her pillow then as if this onslaught of information had robbed her of her strength. Her cheeks burned red, almost glowing in her pale face from what he would notice was embarrassment.His icy blue eyes stared at her with intent as he watched her cheeks burn a brighter red than a piece of sodium tossed into a flame. She was embarrassed. But why? While he had deduced that she was, contrary to his own prior thought and the mermaid's testimony, not an idiot, the only suggestion at her level of intellect had come from the brief note Foreman had found in her psyche file. The psychiatrist had noted she was ‘Clever’ but that was a subjective term, he must have meant very clever, if he bothered to note it down in her file. However, knowledge of the medical field wasn’t a new thing, every idiot with google now thought they could diagnose, but the obscurity and relevance of the research she had cited, no that could only have come from reading journals and it did not fit with her iatrophobia. People tended to purposefully avoid things associated with their phobias, not delve into current research. Then there was her clear embarrassment at having blown a proverbial gasket. Was it because it had been medical knowledge she had spouted or a more blanket issue with a display of intelligence? Perhaps she had even bought into the gentrys old mantra of, ‘woman, know your limits!’. The questions swirled around the inside of House's head as he did what he did best and slotted the pieces of the jigsaw together. The kid was too hot headed to hold to archaic views on women and he suspected she would deny her iatrophobia, so would more likely be insouciant about showing her understanding of medicine. That left him with the blanket option. He thought for a moment. He'd seen enough of her two friends to know they were idiots.  And, from what he had gathered from the mermaid, they were both her only friends and sucky ones at that. He knew from experience that idiots reacted to intellectuals in the same way as villagers did to witches. If you wanted to move amongst them you had to act like them. And the longer you had to do it, the more you started to hate yourself for being a witch. To the point that any display of magic could leave you feeling embarrassed. Regardless of the company you were in. As the silence stretched on Arin cleared her throat, pulled a face then reached again for her cup of water. She made another face as she swallowed and looked at the little paper cup the nurse had brought in with her. “Can I take the Tylenol the nurse brought please?” The sound of the kid’s voice drew House out of his musings. “Sure, why not, ” he replied, realising that he was still holding her chart. He placed it back on the foot of the bed and limped round to the side closest to the door… just in case. “It might help bring that fever of yours down. Although I doubt it'll do much to quell the furnace that's burning behind your cheeks.”Arin scowled at him and again chose not to bite, “will you hand me them please?” She asked nodding at the table at the foot of the bed. Her eyes tracked his movements to the doorway side. “What? you expect me to run for it?” she asked.House picked up the small paper cup and offered it to her. “You totally contemplated it after the nurse left.”As she reached out and took the cup he continued, “which reminds me. Let’s have a look at that throat of yours, shall we?” He rummaged inside his pockets and procured a penlight and a tongue depressor. “Now, are you gonna be a good girl and open your mouth and say ahhh for me once you've swallowed those hospital brand supermarket tic-tacs?”Arin frowned at him again, all this eyebrow work was irritating her wound, “Will you stop now?” She asked as she tipped the pills into her mouth and swallowed them with a sip of water. She acted calmly but the monitor beside her pitched in its heightened beep as if reminding them both it was still there as he produced the penlight.“Of course, right after you open wide and say ahhh.”This guy made her tired she decided, she stared at him a moment longer as a slight shiver shot down her spine. “Fine…” she muttered in a defeated tone.House resisted the urge to sweep the wooden stick into her mouth with an accompanying aeroplane sound. Instead, he simply placed it down on her tongue, clicked on the penlight and stared into the cavernous maw and its… Yowch! While at present her throat just looked red and slightly irritated, the battle scarring on her tonsils suggested a campaign that had lasted longer than the first, second and all fictional third world wars combined. It seemed the mermaid had been right about repeated bouts of tonsillitis. “Say ahhh,” he repeated, tone serious as he continued peering at her with a frown.Arin for her part seemed to become more and more uncomfortable as this went on. She did however do as he asked, “ahhh.” She repeated, thinly veiled annoyance evident with just the sound.House clicked his tongue, he really did feel a pang of sympathy for her, that must hurt whenever it became inflamed… a lot. If he were in charge of her medical care he'd have sent her for a tonsillectomy years ago. A brief thought crossed his mind pertaining to the criteria for such powers to default to her attending, but he quickly filed it away for later. There was a lung function test and MRI that took precedence.The end of the “ahhh” sound she made caused her throat to constrict as a tickle welled up. She gave a slight cough then gagged as the reflex kicked in and tried to remove the offending stick from her mouth. She jerked back from him right to the furthest edge of the bed. Her breathing slightly erratic again as she visibly tried to control herself. “Ok...I need you to stop now,” she told him honestly. House gave her the most un-reassuring smile imaginable. “Don't worry, I'm not going after your tonsils just yet.” He withdrew the stick and clicked the penlight off. “Are you aware of just how much of a mess it is back there?”Arin tried counting to seven as she breathed in then let it out slowly for eleven, she did this three times before she answered him. She looked up at his face then away again to the floor “It’s fine,” she said, “it’s sore just now since I came in here but it’s not bad. It’ll pass.”House rolled his eyes. There was just no getting through to this kid. She had a very warped sense of what fine meant. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his recently scuffed phone and navigated to the camera function. Fortunately it had a flash.Arin watched him warily, “what are you doing now,” she almost cried. He was relentless and her nerves were now getting to their literal wits end. When the kid next opened her mouth he stuck the tongue depressor back in and focused his phone until he had a clear shot. Click! The flash went off and the image soon appeared on the screen. While it would never make the cover of photographers monthly, it would serve its purpose. He withdrew the tongue depressor and tossed it into the trash can. She gagged again as the stick violated her and the flash went off. As it’s presence left her mouth she gagged once more and started to cough violently for a few seconds. “What..the hell!” She demanded between coughs.House turned his phone around so she could see the screen. “Say hello to your battle scarred tonsils, Kiddo, ” he said with a smug look. Arin swallowed and rubbed her eyes as they watered from the coughing. “Are you insane I know what they fucking look like you madman.” She gagged again and this time wretched slightly as if she were going to be sick. House allowed her the time to seethe while he added this latest development to his mental whiteboard. To have accumulated such high levels of scar tissue, the kid must have had multiple bouts of tonsillitis and nasty ones at that. There was even the possibility of strep throat and all the suspects it brought to the table if it had gone untreated, which in her case it certainly would have. Alternatively, the whole lot could simply be secondary infections. Little buggers that had snuck in while the big daddy was busy lowering her immune system elsewhere. Her absence of any inoculations, as Foreman had suggested, added a whole host of other possibilities to the list. Hell, this kid could have something that was ultimately diagnostically boring, yet still present sufficient challenge due to the sheer number of things he would need to rule out in the process. He smiled to himself. It seemed that her jibe about two tests not constituting a list was about to backfire horribly on her, for his brain had already started to formulate a new plan of attack. Boy were the lackeys going to be busy once he'd extracted consent. Arin watched him, resting her head on her hands again and her elbows on her crossed legs. She calmed slowly and tried again to work him out. He was like an infinite stack of brick walls, each time she successfully removed a brick from the one in front she found herself peering at another underneath. She wasn’t used to this, normally Arin was a very good read on people, it made it easier to deal with them. She sighed and considered if this was all some sort of revenge for her outburst with his phone earlier. Stupid that she would let herself act like that. He was just another person, she told herself. He was a doctor yes but he was less starchy compared to the image in her head and weirdly his presence seemed to have the ability to work her up and bring her back down again. “Why do you look so happy all of a sudden?” She asked and sighed. “You know you are honestly the weirdest person I have ever met. What’s your glitch? Why are you so insistent on bothering me when I’ve clearly told you, more than once I might add, that I’d rather you just left me alone. What do you want from me House?”“How about your boots, your clothes and your motorcycle?” House replied as he fetched the blood pressure cuff from the nurses trolley. “You already have my boots, you’d have to ask Robyn for my clothes as the ones I was wearing are actually hers. That’s two out of the three.”“Do you have a motorcycle?” he asked offhandedly as he ripped the cuffs velcro open with a satisfyingly loud noise. “Somewhere... probably,” she replied thoughtfully as if she didn’t know really. She considered the numerous vehicles in the garage that had been collected by family members past and present. Her grandfather didn’t seem the motorcycle sort but her great uncle Alfie...he had been a bit of a rebel.  She looked at the cuff. “I really don’t like that thing.”“Oh..,you don’t? Well, in that case, I suppose we always could...” House said as a look of mock contemplation smeared across his face. “...oh, wait a minute, you don’t get a say in the matter. So, hold out your arm.”She gave him a look that said do I have to but held her arm out. House wrapped the cuff around her outstretched arm and fastened it tight, perhaps a little too tight for comfort.  When his hand came into contact with her arm she flinched as if he were burning her. The material of the cuff felt cool against her skin but as he tightened it the edges began to bite into the flesh uncomfortably. “Ow” Arin supplied helpfully. House ignored the kid’s discomfort and turned the machine on. “You forgot to add, quit it.” Arin closed her eyes tight as the cuff inflated and bit further into her arm. She bit her  lip as though to stop herself making noise and turned her face away from him and it so she didn’t need to look at it. However, she kept her arm unnaturally still, despite this slight movement. House observed her discomfort, but left the machine alone until it had finished its cycle. He did not exactly enjoy watching her suffer, he was no sadist after all, however, he could not help but find her reactions intriguing. She genuinely was afraid of doctors, hospitals, medical implements… the whole shebang. However, he very much doubted that she would admit to it if he asked… only one way to find out. “You have iatrophobia, don't you?”The colour drained from her, leaving her grey and washed out looking. As the machine finished its reading and deflated, releasing its grip on her arm Arin’s eyes opened and she let loose a sigh of relief. She looked at House waiting expectantly for him to remove the cuff.Glancing at the display on the machine, he made a mental note of the readings; her blood pressure was elevated. Firmly he took hold of her wrist and ripped the velcro of the cuff open. “You have iatrophobia, ” he repeated, pulling the thing off of her arm and tossing it back onto the trolley.Again she flinched as his fingers closed around her wrist. After it was free of the cuff she pulled her arm back from his grip. She made eye contact with him then and searched his expression for some sort of indication to his thought process. Looking embarrassed again she finally dropped her head slightly and looked at the covers and gave him an almost imperceptible nod. “I think that's the first truly honest answer you've given me all day, ” House replied, trying to inject some of that warmth that Cameron always banged on about into his tone. “The answer to your other question remains the same. I genuinely think there is something medically wrong with you that the ER doc didn't pick up. I'm a diagnostician, that's what I do.”Arin shrugged, “It’s not exactly something you talk about since most people don’t get it. And it’s certainly not something you talk about with the source of the problem.” She told her legs. At least that was over with for now. “I guess I should consider myself lucky then. Diagnostics is a very limited field in the US…” she started offhandedly and then stopped herself. “And it's also not the sort of thing that you read journals about. At least not ones that aren't related to your phobia and how to best combat it,” he added in a helpfully unhelpful manner. ”unless…” he frowned slightly again and gave her another sweep with his blue penetrating gaze. ”...unless you were trying to treat the phobia through immersive therapy.” House took a moment to look genuinely impressed. It explained her random outburst of medical jargon. ”You can't be in a medical building, but you can dive into as much theory as you like...the Internet will give you everything you need. How much have you researched?” Arin looked at him.”Does it matter?” she asked. Again the frown, as if she was a rubix cube he had almost solved only to realise that the colours of the solved sides had changed on him mid-twist. ”It matters because it's interesting. It's not normal behaviour.” he said ponderously. ”...it’s clear you retained some of it….how much of it do you understand?” he asked. She looked away, unable to bare the intensity of his gaze and asked her knees “Are you going to leave me alone now? You got what you came in for and probably a hell of a lot more to boot from Robyn. So now that you have me all figured out why don’t you just leave me alone?”“Yeah, ” House sighed as the conversation steered away from the interesting and back to this, he was actually growing slightly tired of this circular argument. One, because it was boring and two, because he genuinely wanted her to answer his question. Did she understand any of what she had spouted at him? It appeared so, in part at least, otherwise the information wouldn't be contextually accurate. He sighed at her.  “Sure, Kiddo,I've got you all figured out. Except that I don't. I don't know what's going on inside your body. Which, given that I'm a diagnostician and all, is actually the most important part. That's the part I want. So, let me do my tests, figure out and treat what's wrong with you and then yes,” he said almost grudgingly, ”then I'll leave you alone.” His tone confused her, he could tell and she looked at him again and met his gaze. ”And what? If I say no. You’re going to stay here and play on the iatrophobia thing? do all of that again to me in a couple of hours, and then again a few hours after that until either one of two things happens.” she swallowed ”Either one, You break me down and I consent to get you to fuck off or two, I have some mass break down of panic and anxiety or stress and have a massive outburst or run from the room or something and end up getting sedated or something and somehow you get permission to test me in case I become some sort of danger to myself and others?” She asked eyes roving across his face as if trying to see deeper than the surface expression.He gave her a sly smile, “well, I was hoping for option two, but I’ll take the first if I need to. True iatrophobia is fairly rare. Well, rare enough anyway that if it presents itself as a big red button that I can justify pushing over and over, I am going to. Would telling you that it'll be every hour make a difference?” She scowled at him as he no doubt had expected her to with such an answer. But Rather than threaten to tell, call him unprofessional or panic she said in a slightly shaky voice “Why every hour?” She asked. “The nurse was checking every 4 hours. By the time you do all that it’s about 15 minutes. So technically what you’re saying is every 45 minutes? I’m not sure you’ve got the staying power for the whole night at that rate.” her eyes were wider, the slight pupil dilation obvious even in this light. “Yep, just enough time to play The Dark Side of the Moon in.” He gave another smile, the sort of smile referred to as a crocodile grin in some circles. “And I’ll take that bet, Kiddo. I know where to get some seriously good coffee. Besides, I'll see your staying power bet and raise you the fact that you'll break long before I do. In fact, I have age, and the fact this is my home turf on my side, whereas you are a guppy treading shark infested waters.” He gave her another look up and down. ”I'd wager you'll break one way or another before I need to get out the takeaway menus.” He thought for a moment before adding. “I can also add in a check of your lungs with a stethoscope and some other annoyances, if needs be.”She gave a shudder and he knew then that he was in her head now. “Fine. You can have your lung function test. That’s it. Now go away.”House made three sharp clicks with his tongue before he spoke again, “oh no, no, no, no, no, ” he admonished with another wolfish grin. “I’m playing for my lung function test, an MRI of your head, a throat swab and a hell of a lot of bloodwork. I've got every illness you would have been inoculated against if you had responsible guardians, strep throat, a multitude of brain and head injuries and practically every secondary infection known to man and some only to Klingons, to rule out.”Arin stared at him, her mouth slightly agape, she mouthed a few times and then stopped to collect herself. He waited, watching as she swallowed once or twice but didn't speak. He was just starting to grow concerned at her pallor when finally she seemed to find words. They weren't what he expected. “Are you out of your goddamn Vulcan mind?” She said breathlessly as her heart hammered in her chest. She took refuge in the sci-fi come back for a moment to let her brain catch up.House couldn’t help but laugh. So the kid was a Trekker and an original series one at that. “If you set your emotions aside you will see that it is only logical, Doc… Oh wait, that's right, we already established that you don't have an MD. It's my way or the hard way, Kiddo. Sorry if you're not used to being told what to do by adults but this time you'll do as you're told.” This, was a mistake he realised as he said it, rather than drive his point home Arin’s expression hardened, indignation clear in her face and tone when she next spoke. She crossed her arms and set her jaw with only the slightest quiver. “You get your lung function test or nothing House. I’m through playing with you. So either that’s it and you accept or you get comfortable because I guarantee you are in for a long night.”Fair enough, House thought as he strode back to the chair, stopping only to note her blood pressure readings on the chart. He sat down and fixed her with a firm expression. The lines had been drawn. Pulling out his phone he dialed Cameron’s number. It rang three times before the lackie answered. Arin watched him with just as firm an expression of her own. “House,” Cameron breathed sounding relieved. “Where have you been? You’ve been gone for over two hours.we thought you’d gone home...” “I’m on a House call with our patient. It seems that the rabbit hole is a lot deeper than we first imagined.”“What? All this time?” Cameron sounded sceptical “I know, imagine that, ” House replied, his voice brimming with sarcasm. “A doctor actually spending time with a patient. Perish the thought.” “Yeah but you...don’t.” She answered lamely. “Then I guess you don't know everything about me. You know, maybe we should go out for dinner sometime. Get to know each other a bit better, ” House replied, hoping Cameron would take the bait. Cameron chose to ignore him, but her breath caught audiably over the line. There was a silence and the sound of her swallowing a few time as though her throat had constricted, “did...did you get consent for the test?” She asked finally.While he enjoyed hearing the air catching in her throat, House felt disappointed that Cameron had not fallen into the pitfall trap. “Technically yes, ” he said in a tone that hinted at there being a catch. “That’s great!” Cameron stated. “But?...” She asked “We need to do an MRI, throat swab and a pile of bloodwork too. She's still holding out on that lot, but I think I can wear her down.” he winked at Arin.Arin made a “pffft” sound from her bed.Cameron paused for a moment, “okay…” She said as she processed. “What do you need me to do?”“Bring me my gameboy, a cup of good coffee with a donut and the takeaway menus we have in the office, just in case.” Cameron made a sort of affirmative noise and hung up the phone. The line played the dial tone as she went to do as he bid. House hung up the phone and put it back in his pocket. He then turned to look at the kid. “Oh, sorry. I should have asked if you wanted something. How careless of me.”Arin said nothing. She pushed back into her pillows and stared at the ceiling preparing to ignore him for as long as possible and mentally preparing herself for his next onslaught.House adjusted his position in the chair and stretched out his legs. He counted her respiration rate as he sat. Too quick, but not dangerously so. She was skating on thin ice and though clearly stubborn, to the point of being pig headed, he was certain that this was a true phobia and not simply a fear. Her physiological reactions that the stimulus of him and his Doctor-ness would wear down her already physically and emotionally exhausted body before the night was through. In a rather impressive feat he spat the wad of gum directly into the centre of the trashcan before plucking an orange pill bottle from his jacket pocket. Popping the cap he tipped two pills out into his awaiting palm and dry swallowed them. Nothing like a little high to tide him over till his next attack. This was shaping up to be an interesting, if drawn out battle of wills. Pity for her, that this sort of situation was the exception to his not going to see patients rule. And he'd be damned if a kid was going to get the better of him.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Chapter 11 - Stubborness is like poker… mostly about the bluff

Arin was dreaming, a sort of half awake half asleep dream where she stood in an elevator with all of the buttons pressed. Each time the door opened a fresh horror waited for her on the other side. She frowned as the elevator came closer to number four but the door didn’t open as instead a bleep bleep sounded and she opened her eyes to the real world. Rubbing a hand over her face she sat up and looked at the offending noises owner. Oh how she was starting to hate that watch.

She groaned and rubbed the palm of her hand over her neck, pushing the sweaty hair away from it a moment. This was hour four of their stalemate and it was shaping up to be as lengthy a conflict of standstill as the First World War at this rate. Cameron had come and gone supplying House with a handheld game that made an unholy assortment of noise itself and with coffee. Robyn had appeared with soda, which House had denied her, and left again at the diagnosticians bidding.

“Not again,” she groaned exasperated and becoming more and more exhausted as the hours stacked up. Between the emotional rollercoaster of the day, the stress of the morning and the fever she felt like a well wrung rag.

House remained seated, his eyes fixed upon the small screen of his gameboy advanced. The game was Metroid: Zero Mission and felt both fresh yet provided a healthy dose of nostalgia for people like himself who remembered the NES original; where the game cartridge had been slightly larger than the entire console he currently held. He had heard his watch beep, however, had decided to leave the kid in suspense for a couple of minutes. That and he was in the middle of a boss battle he intended to win. Although letting her stew on this occasion might just help put another chink in her so far impressive armour. Truth be told he had expected her to fold by the time the first hour was up, let alone still digging in after four. If he had known it would last this long he would have ordered Cameron to bring him more snacks and some beer.

Arin waited and when it appeared he was engrossed in his game, she flopped back into the pillows and let loose a sigh that had been sitting in her chest. He hadn’t really spoken to her for the last three hours and the silence that at first was welcome, now was beginning to wear on her. She considered the pros and cons of engaging him in conversation. Con: Silent and game playing kept him away from her and their new hourly dance of thermometer, pen light, blood pressure cuff and pulse. So far the fabled stethoscope hadn’t appeared which made her sure he was bluffing. Con:  silence was boring in both ways if it continued surely he would give it up, get bored and go home.

She pondered. Pro: he was at least interesting, so conversation might also be. Pro: she couldn’t sleep and conversation would help with her boredom. Maybe he hadn’t heard the beep over the game beeping. She closed her eyes and considered if that meant she would get away with it for another hour uninterrupted.

One final volley of missiles and the boss burst into tiny pixelated fragments. House did a fist pump, claimed his prize for defeating it and then hauled ass to the nearest save station. His progress saved, he turned the gameboy off in order to conserve battery power. If this duel went on much longer he would need to send for a new pack of batteries. Rising from his chair, he stretched off his legs before crossing the short distance to where the nurses trolley sat. He picked up his penlight and prepared for round five.

The game sound ended, no such luck. She lay where she was, eyes closed and feigned sleep for now as she composed herself for his approach. A small part of her brain once more telling the reptilian portion that took over during amygdala hijack, that she’d be less stressed if she gave him his darned tests and that it’d be over with quicker with less pain than the current situation. Round five...ding.

Clicking the penlight on, House reached out a hand and opened one of the kids eyes. Bringing the light up he shone the beam directly at her and watched the pupil dilate.

“Mmmhggh!” Arin said indignantly and tried to push him away and herself upright. “Ok, fine you’ve checked my pupils already.” She tried to blink but couldn’t with his fingers rolling the bottom and top of her eye. She frowned. “Quit it House,” that’s what he had become now. Not Doctor House, just House. As if it were easier to refer to him by the surname alone.

House, who had elected to remain with the tried and tested ‘Kiddo’, feigned thought for this request a moment and quickly decided to decline, ”nah,” he said. Keeping a firm grip on her eyelid he brought the light across her line of vision a couple of times, noted the reaction and without breaking stride, expertly switched eyes before she had the chance to react. He gave her a smile that said clearly that she could put a stop to it right here and now.

Arin pushed back into her pillow and withstood the exam in silence as she had the last few hours. After a second or so, she relented and rubbing her temples said,“my head hurts.”

Looming over the kid, House couldn’t help but be reminded of another old episode of Star Trek. He thought for a moment. Should he…? Too right he should! “I’ll quit it if you tell me there are five lights,” he said as he let go of the girl’s head.

”There are five lights,” she said wearily, without pause. She rubbed her eyes as if they itched.

Ok… not what he had expected. Where was the whole, ‘THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!’ routine? However, if this was her giving up, he’d happily take it. “Hmph, some captain of the Enterprise you’d make,” he replied mockingly, before adding, “just to be clear, this is your way of surrendering and letting me have my tests, right?”

Arin shook her head. ”No.This is me telling you there are five lights. You were the one who said and I quote, ’
I’ll quit it if you tell me there are five lights,’” she clarified.

Oh, well, it had been a nice try at least, House mused. Guess it’s back to the trenches. “It was a metaphor. I thought you at least had enough intellect to grasp those.” he reached for a tongue depressor. He was totally milking what he could do in an hourly vitals check, only needs must. Besides, the kid clearly didn't know enough about this aspect of medicine to be able to call him out over it. “Open wide for me.”

She sighed, ”and I thought you had enough intellect to know my throat will not have changed since the last time you looked, ” but for the first time, rather than argue further she simply rolled her eyes and opened her mouth before he had finished asking.

“Good girl, ” House said with genuine delight at the slight wear down. ”Very good girl” he emphasised and patted her on the head. He seemed to recall that had gotten under her skin the last time he had done it.

She sighed tiredly and stayed still for him but imagined taking the stick and ramming it...she chuckled to herself.

When the anticipated reaction failed to materialise, he couldn't help but feel cheated. He was about to stick the tongue depressor in her mouth when he heard her quiet laughter. “Something funny, Kiddo?” He asked both out of curiosity and annoyance.

“So have you decided you’re talking to me now? This is the most you've said to me in three hours. Am i wearing you down?” She asked and smiled. Ahah...that had annoyed him, she could see it in his expression. She chuckled again.

“I could say the exact same thing to you. In fact, you were the one that got all indignant after round two and started the silent treatment, ” House countered. He did not wait for a response before sticking the tongue depressor into her mouth this time.

“Aaahhhh,” Arin responded without prompting.

House shone the light into the bowels of her throat. He was fairly certain he could now map out the entire thing and the more he looked at it, the more pity he actually felt for her. Some of the patients he saw in the clinic, acting like they were at death's door in the throws of infection, looked healthier than this girl’s throat did. And her throat looked inflamed and raw now, despite her assurances that it didn't hurt. He didn't believe her, however, he couldn't let the pity show, not when he had an agenda to reach first. Resolved to fixing one Issue at a time with this kid, he held both the light and the tongue depressor in place until it forced her to cough dryly. He removed them as she made a retching sound and felt a moment of triumph as she made a face that clearly said swallowing afterwards from that had actually hurt.

Arin coughed and swallowed a few times as the feeling passed. This time she did sit up properly. “You did that on purpose,” she accused weakly.

“It was medically justified, ” House replied quickly, discarding both implements and reaching his hands out towards her neck. “Now, hold still and I promise it won't hurt… too much.”

She held up a hand in a stop gesture at him, “hang on a second,” she said as she kept the hand in place and caught her breath again.

House looked at her outstretched hand and watching her try to come down from the heightened state he had put her in switched to his mocking tone, “oh no, an outstretched hand! However will I find a way past it?” he had to keep pushing. She was proving to be more resilient than he had originally assumed.

“Oh no sarcasm, however will I respond to that…” she countered and then lowered the hand. The second was all she needed to get her barriers back up. “It doesn’t hurt at all,” she told him in answer to a question unasked. “It just feels uncomfortable.”

House smirked to himself as he reached out with both hands as if to start palpating her glands. Only at the last moment he changed tact and pressed the first two fingers on his right hand onto the pulse point in her neck. She went stiff as though an electric shock had gone through her.

She noticeably flinched under his finger tips with a sudden frightened gasp. Her pulse thundered under his scrutiny and she tried to move away from him. No, she didn’t like that. She couldn’t place why, but it was across a very hastily established line of ‘Ok’ and ‘Not ok’.

House drank in her reaction, slightly unexpected but a welcome chink in her shield against his onslaught and pressed his fingers harder against her neck. A part of his brain thinking he might need to reevaluate that, ‘not a sadist,’ assessment of himself. Regardless, he certainly enjoyed having found a new button to push and the reassertion of his authority over proceedings.

Her heart rate spiked dramatically for just a few seconds, the machine recording gave a quick warning alarm that stopped as her heart rate slowed marginally back down. “Was that punishment because I laughed?” she asked breathlessly.

“No, it was because I needed to measure your heart rate. And if you don't keep quiet, I might lose count and have to start over again. And we wouldn't want that now, would we?”

Arin rolled her eyes and glanced pointedly at the machine that had been recording her heart rate for the last few hours. “Oh golly gee no sir, we certainly don’t want that. What if the alarm goes off again and the nurse comes in to rescue me from you, can’t have that.

House had to hand it to the kid. For someone with iatrophobia, she certainly had some balls; daring him to think up increasingly terrifying ways of doing basic medical examinations on her. He needed to pull the big guns, she was so getting her lungs listened to this round. He released her and turned away as her hands flew to her neck and covered the area he had just been touching. Maybe to prevent him doing it again…? he couldn't be sure. He fetched the thermometer from the trolley. “You are aware that the nurses are on my side, aren't you? I hope you've not been saving that as your trump card. That would be just downright embarrassing.”

As he released her she sighed in relief and watched him, “Hah, from what I gather your team are the only ones on your side, House. The nurses do what they need to do to keep you away. I wonder how loudly I’d have to scream to send one of them scurrying back downstairs to find Doctor Cuddy.” She raised her eyebrows and watched him intently, deep brown eyes fixed on his icy blue ones. She smirked slightly and opened her mouth for the thermometer.

“Sorry, Kiddo, but Cuddy probably checked out hours ago. She always goes home early on days where I've caused her serious headache. And boy I caused her a serious headache today. Not to mention, that the nurses are more scared of me than they are of you.”

“I guess that happens a lot of the time then, poor Doctor Cuddy. I’m sure they could call her. They don’t know me well enough to be scared or not scared…” she tilted her head then as if a thought struck her. “Does it bother you that they are frightened of you?”

“Why would it? It gets me what I want.” He wasted no more time in putting the thermometer under her tongue and pushing up her chin closing her mouth with his index finger.

“I think my temperature is down,” she said conversationally as the device slid in under her tongue and he closed her mouth around it. Normally this was where he picked up her wrist for her pulse in their new routine but he had deviated this round so who knew what to expect. Clever really.

So, she hoped to engage him in conversation, was that her game? Perhaps the silent treatment had been slowly working after all. When the device beeped, House withdrew it and looked at the display. Surprisingly, she was right, her temperature had actually come down. Although the law of averages dictated that she would make a correct medical assessment sooner or later. This may just have been it.

Arin rubbed her tongue off the top of her mouth and tried to get rid of the sensation of the device. “Done?” She asked hopefully.

House returned the thermometer to the trolly and elected to go back in with his hands, before pulling out the big gun. Reaching out, he took hold of her chin with both hands and began palpating her glands. “Guess again,” he mocked.

Again, she made a face as though the pressure was uncomfortable but not painful exactly. She swallowed and winced slightly as he moved up her jawline towards her ear. “You’re not going to leave this alone are you. You’re going to stay here all night if you have to, right?”

“Evacuate, in my moment of triumph! You severely overestimate your chances,” House said with a smirk before adding, “wait, sorry, that only applies to rebels trying to blow up Death Stars.”

She laughed but it was a mirthless sound as he continued to palpate and she winced again. “I’m really tired, and my head really hurts,” she told him. It had been hours since the Tylenol.

House did not release his grip. Her glands were slightly swollen. He frowned as he moved his finger tips in small circular motions, they hadn't been like that an hour or so ago. However, she distracted him, her admittance of tiredness at this stage constituted another brick out of her wall. If she fell asleep after round five she would probably cave when he forcibly woke her for round six. However, he was not without feeling. He would of course offer her the opportunity to surrender. “You've had a hard day, you should get some rest. You know what I hear is conducive to a good night's sleep? he asked rhetorically. “A series of medical tests for breakfast,” he finished, still palpating her glands. He gave a slight frown. ”Do you feel well apart from being tired? I'm genuinely trying to ascertain your health here.”

Her stomach sank and flipped over twice as though she were on a ride at the fair. She swallowed again and tried to move out of his grip. “Ow,” she said despite herself. Then quickly as if to cover up her momentary lapse of reason she shook her head, slowly her skin seemed to be heating up under his touch. “I just told you I'm really tired, and my head really hurts, no dice, no tests.”

One slip, House questioned internally? He locked eyes with her only to be disappointed with her reaffirmation that she intended to continue the fight. This had gone on long enough. “Sit up,” he commanded, finally removing his fingers from her glands and straightening up.

The tone he spoke in made her look warily at him again but she did as he commanded and sat up straight. Glad to have her neck free, she rubbed at the area he had been palpating and frowned slightly. Now should be the cuff then sweet reprieve for another hour. What was he doing?

House took hold of her shoulder and pushed her forward slightly. His hand parted her gown behind her back. He stopped, however, and frowned again when he saw the large patches of magenta coloured bruising. There had been no mention of this in the file, hence he could only conclude that it had come from her antics in the mall fountain that afternoon and thus had only recently started to show. Regardless, it gave him a new set of proverbial buttons to push. And when Greg House saw a big reddish button.. he just had to press it.

Arin tuned her head and craned her neck as he leaned over her, as if trying to see what he was doing. A sharp pain followed by an equally sharp hiss escaped her and her head whipped back round against the arm he was using to brace her in the position he wanted her in. She sat poker straight and stared directly ahead. He smelled of soap and bourbon...

House released the pressure at the indication that it had caused her sufficient levels of pain. He visually inspected each mark and said, “apparently I’m not the only one who didn’t know that this bruising was here.”

A cold sweat broke out over her forehead and down her back, she shrugged her shoulders under him as if trying to get him off of her. However she didn’t respond to him and just looked mildly confused as she tried to place the injury.

House gently pressed around the perimeter of each bruise. Not with enough force to cause more pain, but just enough to let her know the locations and extent. “These babies are fresh. You must have slipped and landed on your back during your underwater rescue mission.”

She shrugged again. “ I slid down the side of the marble side and landed on my back...winded. The water was freezing and I started to cough,” she remembered out loud and turned to look at him. “ I didn't realise it had bruised. I wasn’t keeping it from you or your team; it mustn’t have been like that earlier.” She turned back to face forward again. “Though I guess it explains the ache,” she muttered the last part as if to herself.

House listened to her explanation and might have felt sorry for her apologetic attitude had they not been embroiled in conflict. However, he suspected that her last thought had not been meant for his ears. Although he would have deduced as much anyway. “Is there anything else that hurts?” he asked before moving on.

Arin seemed to ponder this question with a confused look on her face as though she wasn’t used to being asked such a thing, not least sure how to answer him. Her hand came up and rubbed the back of her head and down into her neck a second. She shifted slightly back and forth and pulled a face. “My lower back is stiff…it feels uncomfortable if I breathe in too deeply,” she said. Her stomach felt like it was in knots but it wasn’t really painful. More like mild cramping on and off that she was attributing to his presence and she’d be damned if she was going to give him that. She felt clammy and tried to lean back again.

No shit, Sherlock, House thought and rolled his eyes. However, on instant reflection her tone did not sound like she was being glib. He considered her.“There’s only one place you’ve ever heard the phrase ‘can you show me where it hurts’ and it’s not been in a doctors office,” he said gently, seeking confirmation that she may not actually have known how to answer the question.

Arin smirked. “I’m not sure Pink’s reply would have helped you.” She said honestly. “Can I sit back now please.” She added

“Lucky then that it’s yours that I’m after,” House replied. He raised up a hand pressed gently across the back of her skull, watching for reaction. He would wager that the ER doc had been clueless to the fact that she had slipped in the fountain and possibly cracked it. That head MRI was non-negotiable now. “Not until I’m finished,” he then added in response to her question.

She shrugged uncomfortably under him but didn’t demand he release her. As he pressed her head she added, “It’s not sore...but I kinda feel like my headache is more from there than the cut Doctor Cameron sealed, if that makes sense.”

Great, House thought. Head trauma all round, why not.

“Sorry…” she added and seemed somehow to shrink smaller into the bed. She felt vulnerable, not being able to see his face and the discovery of these other injuries had unsettled her. Vulnerability was not something she wanted to project but she knew, at that moment, she probably looked it. People examining her wasn’t something she was used to...a dull memory pulled at her making her headache worse.

House carefully pulled his stethoscope out of his jacket pocket and placed the plugs into his ears. Like a vampire, he could smell blood and now it was time to sink his teeth in, metaphorically speaking of course. One hand firmly clamped onto her shoulder he brought the diaphragm end of the device up and placed it against the upper lobe of her left lung. “Ok,I know it will hurt, but try to take a deep breath for me.”

She jumped, clearly startled as the cold metal of the device touched her and half way through complying with him the memory broke the surface with a rush of confused emotion and pain. She had a slight flash to a younger version of herself in a similar situation and the grumbling voice from above saying “deep breath…” she couldn't form the memory fully but she had asked the voice why...she knew she had asked why, but she couldn’t remember if they had answered her.

Her throat went dry and suddenly the memory was flooding her senses. She wasn't in the room in bed anymore. She was in a different room, a different hospital and she could see a huddled lump of wires on a bed in front of her. The bed shifted and the noise, a deep gurgle like rattle that seemed to penetrate down to her very soul. In her memory, an alarm sounded and She could feel her heart rate increase as the machine beside House echoed the noise in her minds eye. It bleeped it’s alarm as it too caught onto the race. That only served to add to the image, the bleating of the alarms and machines was overpowering, she felt sick and dizzy. She closed her eyes and shook her head as her breathing under House’s scrutiny became more and more erratic. Beads of sweat formed and she wanted him to release her. It was too overbearing, his presence. Her mind and body felt like it was overheating.

House listened intently to the gentle inhale/exhale pattern of the kid’s lung. All seemed fine until… The respiratory rate slowly started to increase. What had been nice relatively relaxed breaths turned into short, sharp gasps of increasing pitch. Over the top of this, he could hear the alarm from the heart rate monitor begin to sound. An indication that it had started to spiral out of control. Letting the diaphragm fall he pulled the plugs from his ears and pushed her back to look at her. Screwed up eyes in a chalk white face greeted him, her lips white and her skin clammy and he could see that her head also shook. Instinctively he reached out a hand and clicked his fingers in front of her face. “Hey!” he said loudly.

Without warning, She pulled away from him and in a flurry of blankets and limbs was out of the bed, jerking off the monitor which set it off again on an error message. She didn’t make for the door but rather for the corner of the room between the window and closed bathroom door. Where she backed herself in until she touched the door and slowly slid down it into a crouched position on the floor.  She put her hands in her hair as she tried to get control of her breathing. After a few seconds she looked up at him, sweating with a flush of scarlet across her features. Fear, pure unadulterated fear. She gasped huge heavy breaths and swallowed once or twice. “You…” she said breathlessly. “Stay away from me.” she looked confused as if she was unsure how she had gotten there.

House took a step back and allowed the kid to scramble away from him and into the opposite corner of the room. Boy, was it ever time for some Ativan.  Before doing anything else he turned off the heart rate monitor, effectively cutting out the noise. He had two choices and less than a second to decide, let the nurses deal with it and order the drug or keep trying to work this one out.

Every time he thought he was close to getting around her barriers she threw another in his path. He decided and moved to the door to wave away the sprinting nurses and their crash cart and nosey mermaids. “It’s ok,” he said holding a hand up. “The monitor came off, my fault…” the nurse in charge gave him a glowering look and glanced at Arin on the floor.

House, for his part, didn’t glance over and instead pointed at the raven haired girl who was on her tiptoes trying to see around him, “take her back to her room make sure she stays there. And bring me 500mg of Tylenol and 0.5mg of Ativan.”

“She was receiving 365mg…” the nurse started and stopped as House glared at her. 
“I know what she was getting. Get what I’m asking,” he growled and then turned back into the room sliding the door closed and letting the blinds fall back into place. He moved closer so that he had a clear view of his patient, but kept his distance. He sat in the chair facing her and waited.
A few minutes of silence passed between them in a relative bubble of calm as she slowly relaxed. Finally she looked back up at him. “You...weren’t vital checking...you were examining,” she accused. “That wasn’t part...of the deal.”

That's what had set her over the edge? House wondered, he doubted it. He held his hands up. “Look, I found bruising on your back and was only doing what the ER doc would have done had he either a) been able to see it or b) even known to look for it in the first place.” While it was not an outright lie, she did not need to know that he had been intending to listen to her lungs anyway. If given the opportunity or incentive, she might decide that suing the hospital might actually be to her advantage this time. Only this time he had a genuine belief that it would be to the detriment of her health.

Arin swallowed and watched him as though only just realising that he was a shark swimming amongst other fish. She was totally a seal and he would eat her alive as soon as look at her. She screwed her eyes up again and shook her head trying to clear it and focus.

House refrained from moving any closer for now. With any other patient he would already have sent for Cameron to come and clean up after him. Only in this situation the addition of a second doctor would probably just aggravate things. He would have to continue on alone for now. The brief look he had got of her eyes from across the distance suggested they had gone glassy and that she now suffered from increased fatigue. Her face had gone scarlet and he did not need the thermometer to tell him that her temperature had spiked again.

After this recent development, he now genuinely felt sorry for her. Such a reaction to something so simple as him listening to her lungs screamed prior trauma. And House knew trauma when he saw it. He'd be willing to bet it linked directly with her iatrophobia. Whether she was aware of it or not. The knock at the door caused her to jump. He held a hand up in a placating gesture and getting to his feet limped to the door. Sliding it open he spoke quietly with the nurse and took a small paper cup from her, he slid the door closed again and returned to the chair holding the cup.

Watching her watch him House settled himself and grimaced as his leg burned briefly. Rubbing it with his free hand He waited for another few moments to both allow her some breathing space, for her vitals to start to regulate and for him to figure out exactly what to say. In the end he came up with nothing better than the old fashioned and often inappropriate, “are you ok?”

A deep inward breath followed by a slow and long exhale was his response.

”Ok, stupid question,” he relented. “Tell me how you feel. Do you feel sick, dizzy?”

Slowly her eyes opened and she looked at him, deep brown orbs confused as though again he asked her a question she wasn’t used to hearing and didn’t know how to answer. She shook her head and he nodded letting it drop for a moment.

After a few minutes she had the feeling that she should say something else. She scrambled for what and went with the only thought in her mind. “I’m sorry…” she said with embarrassment clear in her tone. She shuddered, from fear or the cold floor it wasn’t clear, “I’m honestly not a headcase...believe it or not.” He would have been within his rights to call for a squad of people in white coats, armed with sedatives to come deal with her here she knew. Yet he had simply sat and waited for her, she became more confused and simply stared up at him. “Please...don’t get anyone or...or a sedative.”

House frowned when the apology came and only deepened the longer she spoke. Why she felt the need to ask him not to sedate her, he could not quite tell. There were multiple possibilities for that one, many of which could be clumped together like a scoop of neapolitan ice cream. And he lacked enough information even for an educated guess. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to go all Sarah Conner hypo on you. Now, are you ok to stand up and get back into bed?”

Arin swallowed and looked at the bed. “Do I have to?” she asked and glanced at him again.

“It beats sitting on the floor,” he replied in a more lighthearted tone. “Besides, if you stay there I might start to think you are crazy...er.”

Watching him she gave a slight smirk, “you know the illusion of choice isn’t actually a paradigm that I buy into.” Despite this, using the wall for support she slowly did stand. Swayed slightly but stayed on her feet.

“It doesn’t matter if you buy into it or not. However, getting into bed of your own accord or being hoisted there by orderlies is a choice.”

“You said no Sarah Conner” she countered,

“I said no hypo like Sarah Conner.” He continued to look at her making his point clear. If she did not comply he would have her drugged and dragged. He was giving her an out.

She stared at him and watched his expression. His facial features didn’t move. Slowly, trying to hold what was left of her dignity she walked back to the bed and reorganised the blankets. She climbed into the folds. They felt soft and warm against her skin compared to the floor and it was oddly comforting. She lay back against the pillows and finished calming down.

House took the break in the conversation to approach her. He held the paper cup out to her and she looked up at him. Again a silent exchange between the two before she reached out and took the cup. He turned to pour her some water as she looked at the tablets.

“What are these?” She asked suspiciously.

“Tylenol for the pain and the small triangular shaped one is Ativan.” A beat of silence as he held the cup of water to her. “Do you know what Ativan is?” She stared at him and he raised his eyebrows. “It…”

“It helps with anxiety and panic.” She stated flatly.

He nodded and took the opportunity to sit back down in his chair and help himself to a vicodin; he’d been standing for too long. “It’s a psychiatric drug for anxiety. It’ll help you calm down.”

She sat looking at the pills.
“Are you going to force me to take it?” She asked him quietly without looking up at him.

He opened his mouth to say, ‘I won’t force you if you let me do my tests now’, however, instead took a leaf out of Cameron’s book and said, “I’d recommend you do. It'll help.” He waited in the silence that followed. “Does that happen a lot?” he asked

“No.” She said shaking her head. “Well…”

“It has today?” ge guessed. “Do you want to talk about it?

Arin blinked as though again he asked her questions she wasn’t used to and had no way of answering, “no,” she said with a level of finality that made it clear she wouldn’t budge on the matter. “Sorry…” she added.

The caring and compassionate door slammed closed in House’s face and reminded him exactly why he never bothered with that bullshit. The only way he was getting those tests was to revert to his methods and if that made him a sadist then he didn’t care. He’d put her through as many of those episodes as it took to get what he wanted.

As if reading his expression she added again. “I...I don’t know what IT is to talk about...I…” she looked around, “this whole thing seems so alien and yet at the same time I feel like I’ve...done this before?” She sighed as if this didn’t make any sense to her and made eye contact again. “I honestly don’t think I’m ill. I just want to go home. Do you understand why now?” she asked.

Internally House patted himself on the back. Such an admission practically told him that her episode was directly linked with her iatrophobia. Only it did raise one question, “if you've never seen a doctor before today, how can you possibly try and rationalise your argument in a way that suggests you knew this would happen?”

Arin’s expression closed down as if the openness over the episode was raw and his question was a pointy stick he had then poked it with. “Doctor House, if you don’t mind I’d like to be left alone now,” she told him, her tone back to the social etiquette style of their first few meetings.

With the emotional option now well and truly off the table, House reverted back to option one; being an ass. “Sorry, no dice,” he began, deliberately using one of her own phrases. “I still have a series of tests I need you to consent to, so that I can go about the process of diagnosing you.” He paused and glanced at his watch. “Besides, it’s almost ten to nine, your next vitals check is due soon.”

He sat back in his seat and picking up his cane, began twirling it as he pondered her and her reactions. With his other hand he tugged gently on his bottom lip. Ten minutes passed with him watching her and her sitting staring at the pills. When his alarm went off she jumped and he smirked as he stood, taking his penlight from his pocket. “Ok, Kiddo...let’s do this thing,” he said.

“No.” She stated and shook her head. She felt stupid, part of her thought she had built a rapport with him. Idiot.

“No isn’t an option,” he said and picked up her wrist. He looked at his watch. She wriggled under his grip and pulled from his grasp. He raised his eyebrows at her. “I’m Starting to rethink the Sarah Conner thing,” he said with a sigh.

“Will you leave me alone if I agree to your stupid tests.” She asked. “For the rest of the night.” She added.

House smirked, she was a quick study this one. “Yes, for the rest of the night,” he agreed.

“Fine. Give me your clipboards I’ll consent to your stupid tests. I’m not going through the whole rigmarole of you checking my vitals again. That’s it, I’m done.” She clicked her fingers in a give me it now sort of gesture. “You win. I hope you’re happy.”

House let out a breath and had to resist the urge to declare, ‘Yes!’. It had been a slog and he had almost wavered and succumbed to the light side, but in the end he had won. He picked up the clipboard with the relevant paperwork Cameron had brought and tossed it and a pen in the kid’s direction. He then turned and headed out of the door.

At the nurses station, he grabbed the attention of the woman behind the desk. “My patient had her last vitals check at eight, so will need another at midnight. However, once I leave again, no one goes into her room before that, she’s going to need to sleep a bit.” The nurse nodded at him and with a curt nod in response he turned and walked back into the room.

Arin lay on her side and had turned her back to the blinds. She held the blanket wrapped tight around herself.

He watched her a few seconds then picked up the clipboard from where it had obviously been tossed at the foot of the bed to look at it. A quick glance through the pages showed him she had indeed signed each consent form and he smirked to himself. Placing it on the table alongside his game boy for now, he fished in his jacket for his pen and pulled her chart off the bed. He made three recordings from her 8pm check, noted she hadn’t had her blood pressure checked and then ordered the Tylenol to be upped to 500mg. Better than the nonsense she had been given thus far. What was Cameron thinking?

He considered Arin as his pen hovered over the page, she appeared to be sobbing now. He sighed then changed his mind on the Ativan and instead wrote an order for 100 mg hydroxyzine, though an antihistamine. It also worked to reduce activity in the central nervous system and would work as both a sedative and a way to treat the anxiety and tension. And with him gone, the anxiety itself would drop further naturally  and she’d go out like a light. He pondered the dosage a moment and glanced up at her again. After the up and down of the day, he would bet she needed to sleep and while Ativan would do that too, he didn’t want her to feel like he had ‘drugged’ drugged her and just left her there. A one time deal wouldn’t have any negative effect...and it wasn’t Ativan, which is all he had said he wouldn’t make her take...and if she were groggy the next morning then all the better for whoever had to deal with her then. He finished writing, for whatever reason, full moon, heatstroke… whatever...he was going soft on this one but thankfully no one would ever know.

He signed the chart, gathered his effects and the untouched cup of meds and left her without another word. He didn’t offer comfort or compassion now that he had what he wanted. No, instead he would let her work it out in private. However, he dimmed the lights and closed the door quietly as he left.

Again at the nurses station he handed over the pills and explained she hadn’t taken the drugs first time and made sure she would receive the meds he had ordered now, not in ten minutes not in thirty but as soon as he stopped speaking. He also stated that he wanted her heart rate measured before someone checked her pulse and afterwards. That would get him his answer about the spikes.

Task completed, House claimed his prize and leaning on his cane hauled ass to the nearest save station, aka his office. The ducklings could take it from here and he could go home.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Chapter 12- Hogwarts School of Diagnostics - with Professor House

Across the carpark of Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, Greg House limped the short distance between his car and the main entrance. The relentless heat that had persisted all week had refused to let up. So much so that he had forgone his usual morning coffee in favour of an iced tropical beverage he’d picked up en-route to work; it was already half melted. Stepping inside, the first thing he noticed was that the air-conditioning had been repaired overnight and thus made the building a more attractive prospect than the outside world. He’d wager the clinic would be packed full of people pretending to have heat stroke, but in reality just wanting to escape the sun’s continual bombardment.

Striding across the ground floor, he reached the elevator and rode it up to the fourth. When he passed the door to Wilson’s office he made a mental note to find some way of pranking him should he get a free moment. Through the windows of his outer office he could see that his team had already gathered. The files in front of them suggested that they had successfully done his bidding and put Kiddo through the battery of tests. Opening the door, he stepped inside and took up his seat at the head of the table. He tossed a pair of vicodin from the bottle in his pocket and helped himself to a donut from the box in the centre of the table before acknowledging that he’d even noticed his team were present.

“Good morning class,” he said before taking a bite out of the donut. “I hope you all did your homework.” He made a hand gesture that indicated he wanted a copy of the test results.

Chase raised his eyebrows in a sort of gesture that told House they had been discussing how best to give him the results. He slid the now slightly fuller file across to House.

“We did, but you’re not going to like it, all the bloodwork came back clean. The rapid strep test was negative and the lung function test was normal.” He sat back and sipped from his own coffee cup and loosened his tie.

“Hey, who said I was against negative test results. In fact, the Michelson-Morley experiment produced one of the most famous and biggest theory shattering null-results of all time.” He waited to see if any of his students had done their physics lessons.

Ignoring House, Foreman added the MRI scans to the top of the file. He adopted his neurologist tone, “there’s evidence of a significant head injury, a small hairline fracture would have been my bet. She would have been ill, possibly vomiting and had a major headache, possibly some visual disturbance too, but it’s healed and wouldn’t explain anything current.”

House shook his head in disappointment. “Ten points from Gryffindor,” he declared, pulling the MRI scan out of the second file and holding it up to the light. He squinted at it in an unimpressed sort of way.

“Sorry professor Snape. Looks like she’s healthy,” Chase said reaching for a donut.

Cameron, the one who had actually run all the tests by herself,  had removed her lab coat and was in the process of trying to open the window. It appeared that while the majority of the hospital's air conditioning had been repaired, the one in House’s office was still woefully neglected. “Her fever is down. Breathing normal.” She sat down and checked her pager. “Which is more than I can say for my other patient who took another attack this morning.”

House reached out with his cane and hooked the box of donuts out of Chase’s reach. “While Dr House doesn’t mind negative test results, Professor Snape doesn’t reward students that don’t bring something meaningful to the table,” he paused for a moment, feigning contemplation. “In fact, he has a tendency to punish those not in his House. Detention, Dr Chase… and by detention I mean you just earned yourself three of my clinic hours for the week.”

Cameron reached over and firmly took her box back from House’s grasp. She handed one to Chase and standing took the box to the counter. “Apart from spikes in her heart rate and temperature she’s perfectly fine today. Head wound is fine and a mild concussion. But we had a thought…” she glanced at her coworkers.

Foreman rolled his eyes as if he knew he would end up being the one to deliver this in their earlier conversations. “We think that the initial diagnosis is correct. She had an anxiety induced asthma attack and despite what I said initially the fever is connected to it, she is having a physiological response to stress.” He paused and watched Cameron and Chase a moment. “Probably exasperated by you.”

“Yeah, because the collection of Doctors wandering about the place dressed like… well, doctors and all the other hospitally things did absolutely nothing to set of her iatrophobia.”

Cameron looked confused. “What iatrophobia?” She asked.

House rolled his eyes. “Seriously, Cameron, you're supposed to be the caring one and yet you failed to notice that she had iatrophobia. Why do you think I said only you could go near her?” House mockingly held his mouth agape and made a hand gesture that indicated that the others should join him in his shock.

While Cameron stuttered her reply Foreman raised one eyebrow and looked sceptical. “Do you know how rare true Iatrophobia is? Her psychiatrist would have mentioned it in his files. She was perfectly calm more or less with Cameron today. I’d say she was playing you.”

A stony look followed Foreman’s suggestion that Kiddo had played him. “Firstly,” he turned to look at Cameron, “you’ve got detention too for your failure to do the one thing you’re good at. And by detention I mean…”

Cameron crossed her arms and sighed before cutting him off, “yes, I know what detention means.”
House continued as though the woman had not uttered a word. “Secondly, do you know how rare physiological manifestation of stress as fever is? There has been no epidemiological study of psychogenic fevers, yet. Therefore, the number of affected patients is unknown. It’s only in a few lesser known, lesser reported Japanese studies that the idea of functional hyperthermia is even being postulated. To have a working example of that, when many doctors still consider it to be nonsense, would be groundbreaking in terms of research.” He paused to give Foreman a piercing stare. “Are you suggesting we have a rare, Virgince in the medical field with a rare phobia, an even rarer stress condition? Or are we to throw out the rare phobia and replace it with the rarer still ability to put both her heart rate and temperature up and down at will? Assuming you still want to go with the, ‘she played me’, argument.” 
Chase looked up from the file he had been flicking through. “Her blood type is AB negative if that helps…” he said as though he felt he needed to make some sort of contribution to the current discussion now that his donut was finished.

“Wait, say what now? Does this now make her
rare squared
or something?” House mocked, although he knew the math on that one. Only one percent of the US population had that particular blood type.

“Anyway!” Cameron stated. “Her tests are normal, she’s responding to painkillers and the nurses didn’t report anything unusual about her observation…” she looked at House. “...except from you being there for 5 hours of course.”

Chase shrugged and closed the file. “I say let her finish her observation period and go home. Rest at home and come back if the head wound causes any issue.”

Foreman watched House carefully for a response.

“
Wow
,” House exclaimed, feeling a little like rolls had been reversed on this occasion. “Usually I’m the one pitching the rare theories for you guys to try and debunk.” He took a second bite out of the donut he had sorely neglected and conditioned with his mouth full. “Are the three of you actually saying you think this kid takes stress related fevers and that we should just let her go home?”

Foreman held his hands palm up and shrugged. “It’s the only logical explanation. Idiopathic fever is the other, which we know you don’t like. We can put that down on her discharge papers and give her a reliever inhaler away if it makes you feel better. But all of her blood work is negative. No infection, no symptoms, nothing to go on.”

“You know you could have just said yes, Professor,” House replied with a shake of his head. “I guess it’s detention for all three of you. Unless one of you wants to go and deliver the good news to the patient?” He looked at each of his fellows in turn.

“Detentions fine with me, the clinic air con is working,” Chase replied and got to his feet. He pushed the file into the middle of the table, turned and walked to the door.

Foreman gave House a ‘no thanks’ sort of look and followed.

“Aren’t you naughty boys going to wait until teacher dismisses you?” House said, shooting a look that dared either one to walk out the room without his permission.

Cameron smiled slightly. “Since you were the one that wanted her case it’s only fair you get to deliver the good news and do her discharge checks. You have the best rapport with her after all. She actually speaks to you from what the nurses said. The most I got out of her this morning was polite Indignance.” She reached out and gave his shoulder a slight squeeze as if sympathetic and turned to head for the door too.

“Before you all head off to the detention hall, there’s one last little matter we need to discuss.”

All three fellows paused to look at their boss, it was a weird reversal of situation. Leaving House to go deal with the patient while they went to the clinic was not something they revelled in...well maybe slightly. With a glance between them they looked back blankly at him for more information.

House gave them all a wiley grin before honing in on Foreman. “I got a lung function test, an MRI, a strep test and a full set of bloodwork out of her. Not to mention the five hourly vitals checks I carried out and the examination of her back and lungs,” he paused as he started counting his fingers, “that’s at least nine-hundred smackeroos you owe me.” His grin became insufferably smug.

The neurologist scowled darkly and with a disgusted shake of his head fished in his back pocket for his wallet. He rummaged through the notes there and withdrew the lot save for one or two small bills. He dropped the money unceremoniously in front of House and folded his now depleted wallet and stuffed it back into his pants. “I’ve got four, that’s all you’re getting.” He then turned and stormed from the office without waiting to be dismissed.

Chase hurried after him. The phrase “You know...part of me wonders if they were in on this together…” in a consolatory tone was heard as the door shut,

Stopping at the door, the only one left in the office, Cameron turned to look at him. A wave of nervous awkwardness coming from her, she cleared her throat.

“Looking for some extra credit,” House asked as he scooped up the stack of bills and put them inside his now bulging wallet. He’d made six hundred dollars in less than twenty-four hours and only at the cost of a few scuffs to his phone. Hell, he could buy a newer, better phone and still have enough change for a decent bottle of scotch and some lavish takeout.

“what you said...on the phone...about getting to know you better…”

He looked Cameron up and down. Young, sexy and above all emotionally clingy. A shame really. If she’d been the party sort of girl he might have considered inviting her back for the hypothetical takeout and bottle of scotch. Unfortunately, she would read too much into the evening… wonder why he didn’t call next day… get outraged when he told her it had meant nothing and, worst of all, become absolutely useless to him as a doctor. No, she would be best kept as the piece of art that he could look at every once in a while, but never own. A painting on loan from the national gallery perhaps.

He got up from his chair. “Sorry, my social calendar is surprisingly full of bowling with Wilson, poker nights, and sitting on my ass at home doing bupkis,” he replied and brushed past her out of the office.

Cameron’s expression fell as he spoke. Her jaw clenched around the emotion his words purposely stirred. She said nothing as he passed her.

After a few steps he called out over his shoulder, “maybe I’ll call you if I get an opening between my next hooker and crate of beer.” With that he headed off down the corridor and towards the elevator. Time to go teach his next class.

Cameron for her part did not leave the office. Simply watched him go and took advantage of the empty room. She sat back in her chair and told herself that she was a big girl and that he was an ass. A blatant freudian ass.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Chapter 13- Wanderlust

The jeans and T-shirt were too big. Even with the belt she wore to its tightest notch she had still to pull them up and had been forced to turn up the bottoms three times for her converse to peek out. The black Quicksilver T-shirt was large and loose at the neck and kept sliding down her shoulder slightly so her bra strap was on display. The dark colour of the garments that were clearly not hers made her look paler and slightly washed out. She didn’t care one iota for any of these fashion faux pas. The fact that the tall boy beside her had brought her something to change into that wasn’t the hospital gown or the clothes Robyn had forced her into the day before, made her feel a million times better.

In fact, as she walked beside her companion and sipped at the bubbly liquid in her hand, she felt the best she had since before this whole saga had begun. The drink was cool and soothing. Zen had been sweet rather than grumpy with her and the tests were done now. She felt sure that House had insisted that only one of his team had come to deal with her that morning. She wasn’t sure how to feel about it but was sort of grateful. It made it easier to deal with. She had felt groggy from the medication the nurse had given her and Cameron had been very kind and efficient. She glanced down to the taped gauze on her arm and considered the crazy Doctor. Why had he done that?

For a little while she had sat considering that and then growing Tired of bed she had asked the nurse if she could go for a walk with Zen. The woman had agreed so long as she stayed inside the building. That was fine. She was on the clock, counting down the small increments of time till her release.

As they walked along the corridor from the hunt for working vending machines (that had ironically started the whole thing off the day before) Arin couldn’t help but smile.

Looking at her the boy returned the smile with one of his own. “I’m glad you are feeling better.” He told her and leaned in for a kiss.

Arin returned the kiss and nodded. “I’m sorry about yesterday…” she stopped as he held a hand up. Apparently the explanation was unneeded a second time.

Looking down Arin considered the clothes she now wore and frowned at the streak of orange on the otherwise dark top, “ugh these plants are everywhere just now. They were in the mall, in here…” she dusted the pollen off of herself vigorously and shook her head at the smudge it left behind. Not enough for anyone but her to notice but it annoyed her nonetheless. She dusted her hands off and scowled at him while he laughed.“What! What’s funny?” She demanded but smiled.

“You,” he told her, chuckling and putting an arm around her. “That’s an old T-shirt, it's fine.”

Together they walked back to the room pausing only to notice that Robyn was now alone, her mother off on a call somewhere with some sort of emergency at the designers she ran. Instead of going into Arin’s room they both chose to go in.

Climbing up onto the end of her friend's bed Arin crossed her legs and made a face while Zen passed the girl a grape soda. “You’d have thought your parents would have brought you something else less hospital sheek than that gown.” She teased.

Robyn made a properly disgusted face. “Apparently it’s easier for the doctors to examine me in this and that it’s rude to bring your own clothes in when they need to control the environment in order to promote healing.”

Arin chuckled and zen laughed as he settled down in the visitors chair beside the bed. Robyn looked up at Arin sheepishly, “you’re...not mad I told Doctor House about you are you Arin?” She asked.

Arin sighed deeply and looking at the pathetic puppy dog eyes of her raven haired friend. She relaxed her body language. “No,” she said, a half truth, “I’m not mad.”

Immediately Robyn brightened and began to babble about how lucky Arin was to be getting so much attention from some, as she put it “seriously hot” Doctors. Half paying attention Arin simply nodded along and let her do what she did best; gossip, neglecting to point out that she had only had the attention of the woman doctor today and thus, none of the ‘hot’ ones… unless Robyn had not told them something.

===

The elevator on the sixth floor binged and the doors opened to reveal the looming figure of one Doctor House. Clad in stonewash blue jeans and a rumpled green t-shirt, he limped out, turned to his left and headed down the corridor. His destination lay in the far east corner of the floor, where the hallway opened up onto a central nurses station with the patient rooms surrounding it. At present it was relatively quiet, had the apparent luxury of having had its air-con fixed and, best of all, resided five floors and multiple corridors away from Cuddy. In hindsight, he should have more of his patients housed here in ‘limbo’ as it was affectionately known as while the powers that be, namely attendings such as himself, decided if you were going home or for long term care in another area of the hospital. Ignoring the nurse who womanned the station and looked more interested in the latest cosmo quiz, he crossed over to his patients room and opened the door.

House scanned the room and swore under his breath when it became apparent that Kiddo had vanished; he even checked the bathroom. A glance at the chair he had spent hours occupying the previous day told him that she had either procured some clothes or they had a naked girl running wild around the hospital. Leaving the gown where he found it, House made his way back out and to the nurses station. A quick bang on the counter with the handle of his cane soon got the woman's attention.

“Where’s my patient?” House demanded, not giving her the chance to get over her shock.

The nurse blinked in confusion. “She’s...in her room. I saw her ten minutes ago.” She stammered.

“No,” he declared with a roll of his eyes, “I was just in there. Try again.”

The nurse quickly looked through the paperwork she had that showed patients being taken for scheduled tests or appointments. She looked up. “I assure you Doctor House. She was back in her room. I saw her with the boy. She asked to go for a walk earlier but they were back ten minutes ago.”

“Great, so you just let a patient who is supposed to be under
observation
go for a constitutional. What kind of crappy service is Cuddy paying you for.” In normal circumstances, House would probably not have been too bothered, unless of course the patient was in a life threatening condition. However, those patients generally stayed put because they were too sick to get out of bed. Unfortunately, Kiddo would be walking out the front door at 2pm, regardless of the state of her health.

As the young woman stammered her apologies, an older man in nurses scrubs, who glared at House in a manner that said he had dealt with him before, approached. He placed a hand on the woman’s shoulder. “Doctor House, if you are going to be rude to my staff I will be forced to call Doctor Cuddy. Now, your patient asked Doctor Cameron if she could stretch her legs this morning and Doctor Cameron said she could after breakfast, so long as she stayed inside the building and had someone with her, orders which we and her followed.” He pointed in the direction of Arin’s room.

“Perhaps if she isn’t in
her
room, I would suggest you try
her friends
across the hall. I’d see no reason why she can’t be allowed to visit there. Now if you’d like me to put out a call for your missing patient then by all means I will do so, but I’ll remind you that you are the attending physician. It’s your job to know where your patient is as much as it is ours.” He nodded his head with the final word and crossing his arms waited for House to respond.

“Yeah, and if you had followed the instructions left by
the attending
, he wouldn’t have arrived here to find out that she is not where she’s supposed to be,” House barked as he cast both individuals a dark glare. “So sure, call Cuddy. See how well she reacts when she discovers her nurses are not following the attending’s instructions.”

Calmly the nurse ignored him and said “do you want me to look for you Doctor? And if she’s not there put out a call?”

“Prft,” House scoffed. “You guys can’t be trusted to follow basic instructions. How can I expect you to do something as difficult as look inside another patient's room.” With that, House stormed off towards the mermaids room. If he did not find Kiddo in there then he’d… He laughed internally at the idea of him calling Cuddy to complain about the nurses. That really would make it opposite day. Instead he’d have his lackies go find her and bring her back. While he slipped off to the changing rooms to do something evil like swap the female nurses diet pills with the man’s protein supplements.

===

Arin absently scratched at her right shoulder under her neck and pulled the T-shirt back up into place. Zen’s and Robyn we’re laughing about something while She was considering her reaction to House the night before and how calmly she had been able to suppress it for a while with Cameron that morning. Well almost, after the female doctor had left she had locked herself in the bathroom and had a small meltdown to herself.

As she considered this, movement caught her eye and she looked up and watched the aforementioned diagnostician enter her room across the hall and look around. As he went to look at the bathroom she quickly got up and closed Robyn’s blinds.

It wouldn’t buy her much time, but it was a few minutes to psyche herself up. She climbed back onto the foot of Robyn’s bed and got comfy. When she realised that both her friends were staring at her. “The light was annoying me,” she explained then realised this did not make them look away. She must have missed something else. “what?” She asked.

“Oh come on Arin, he sat with you for like five hours...are you telling me you didn’t notice.” Robyn rolled her eyes.

“Notice what?” Arin asked slightly testily,

“Doctor House,” Robyn said exasperatedly as though this was the obvious topic of the last few minutes conversation. She coughed and rubbed her chest. “ I mean, like, He was so nice and charming and he smiled. I mean, like, he’s a proper silver fox. I mean...let’s be straight he’s not like a hottie hot or anything but he’s got that kinda rugged older man vibe. You are honestly telling me you didn’t notice?”

Arin pulled a face. “Honestly, I’m not sure the version of him you got was the same as the one I did. Besides, I think I prefer him for his mind,” she said.

“Ew.” Robyn stated wrinkling her nose. Her expression turned to one of horror however and she pressed her hands to her mouth. Staring at the doorway.

Arin didn’t turn but closed her eyes and took a deep calming breath. Round six...ding.

House opened the door to the mermaid's room and was bombarded with her high-pitched prattle before he even had a chance to get a visual. Apparently, she considered him a silver fox, who knew? However, Kiddo’s response that she prefered his mind was far more interesting. Stepping inside allowed him to see all three friends, with the one of interest sitting cross legged on the foot of the bed. He took in the baggy quicksilver t-shirt and the ripped blue jeans that had been rolled up several times. Not naked it would appear. He gave a quick glance in the direction of the boy. His clothes, House suspected on surveying how he had attired himself. An amused smile played on his lips as his brain automatically provided something witty.

“Oh look, he was a sk8er boi, she’s going to say see you later boi, for she’s going back to her own room.”

“Afternoon House.” Arin said with a slight shake of her head as though she didn’t find him amusing. She didn’t turn to look at him. Suddenly there was swift movement from under the covers and Arin doubled over for a second holding her stomach. “Ow!Robyn, what was that for?”

Robyn for her part glared at her friend. “You can’t, like,  just refer to him by his last name like that. It’s disrespectful and rude,” she hissed as though he wouldn’t hear her. She was slightly breathless.

Zen scowled darkly at House while Arin moved slightly looking uncomfortable now. “I’ll thank you not to kick me if you don’t mind,” she said still rubbing the offended area. She did look up at House then. “What can I help you with?”

“If you’d been paying attention, you’d have heard me say that your going back to your own room,” House said before turning to look at the boy. “Kids these days, don’t listen to anything you say.”

Arin sighed and looked at the panicked look on Robyn’s face. It was the same one she used when her grandmother found her report card. “Relax Robyn..” Arin said seriously. “He’s not going to get you into trouble. He’s not even your doctor.”The raven haired girl nodded and looked at the boy as if for reassurance.

Arin frowned. “Breathe Robyn,” she said and the girl took a wheezy breath in as if she had actually been holding her breath.

“Oh relax, Princess. How could I possibly get you in trouble?” he said in a soppy tone that he knew would melt one girl and ice over the other.

Zen looked mildly annoyed at House’s response to Robyn. Arin made a gagging sound but the raven haired girl seemed to be drinking it in. She put a hand up to her chest and smiled at him. Then she started to cough and Arin stood from the bed.

Zen poured some water into a glass choosing to ignore House while Arin went to the bedside table. She moved the glass of water Zen held out to their friend and handed the girl an inhaler. “Breathing before water, Zen,” she said quietly and watched as Robyn thankfully put the inhaler in her mouth and pressed it.

House stood back and watched the contrasting approaches to the mermaid’s predicament playout. On one hand, the idiot villager who probably thought enlightenment meant burning more candles, and on the other, the practical witch that knew half her craft resided in the brain and the other...well that was in the brain too. If this was the haplass oaf society had lumbered her with, then no wonder she coveted his brain. It must have represented a metaphorical gold mine. Full of intellectual stimuli and more metaphor.

Turning back to House while Zen once again offered Robyn the water Arin said “you’re upsetting her. She’s scared you’re going to get her in trouble for us being in the room and you’re making her panic.”

“Don’t worry little mermaid, it’s only Kiddo here that’s in trouble,” House said before pointing towards the door with his cane. “Room. Bed,” he added

One hand on the back of her neck and the other over the place Robyn had kicked her Arin rolled her eyes and moving past his cane took a step towards the door. “Come on then.” She told him.

Zen, satisfied Robyn was sipping water now, spoke quietly to her a second, his eyes on House then moved to follow.

“Where do you think you’re going, Sk8er Boi?”

Zen scowled at him. “I’m going with her,” he said defensively nodding at Arin who had now walked into the hallway and was opening the door to her own room. She disappeared inside.

“Guess again,” House replied as he moved out of the room. “You’re going to stay here and be Sebastian to her Ariel.” He pointed his cane towards the mermaid and, because he knew an argument would be forthcoming, said, “I’m her attending and I get to dictate when she can have visitors. And since she’s about to have a consult with said attending, you can either swim in the hallway or join Ariel in her little grotto.”

Zen frowned at him. “You know calling her a mermaid isn’t funny. She nearly drowned in that fountain.” He spat at House. Robyn began to cough again causing the boy to glance at her. His expression softened and he moved back to her bedside. “Sorry...just...calm breaths ok. You and Arin and I will be out of here by this afternoon. Don’t worry.” He said reassuringly as he sank back into the chair. He glared at House again as if demanding that the older man hurry the hell up.

House watched him go and brought out his phone to call Cameron. That kid was not going anywhere today. “Great sea king Triton,” he said the moment the dial tone cut out. “Your little mermaid is still having fantasies about walking on the surface.”

Cameron sighed on the other end of the phone. “Acute inflammation, cough and wheezing?” She asked.

House smirked when he heard the response. Who knew that Cameron gained the ability to figure out his metaphors while pissed off at him. “Well done. Now you’d better make sure she stays under the sea.”

“I’m on my way up. I know it’s a mountain to ask of you but since you’re obviously there, is there any chance you could make sure her breath sounds are equal on both sides and let me know so I can organise a nebuliser treatment?” Cameron asked.

“Nope, since you guys all chose the clinic over dealing with our patient, I just happen to have my hands full. Enjoy.” House hung up the phone and limped over to enter the Kiddo’s room.
 
===

Arin stood inside her room and leaned against the wall looking out the window at the people walking back and forth. Robyn’s room didn’t have windows and was smaller than hers. And for the first time Arin realised that the thought of spending the night there rather than here made her feel claustrophobic, as though her throat was closing. She coughed and swallowed to rid herself of the sensation.

The area above her left hip ached where Robyn’s heel had made contact. She rubbed the spot guessing that the girl hadn’t meant to kick her as fiercely as she had. The strict upbringing of Robyn’s family meant that any time adults were involved Robyn reverted to a frightened school girl, and acted as such. No doubt she was trying to correct what she perceived as a lapse in Arin’s social protocol. She could hear his cane on the floor get closer and let out a slight shudder. Shields up, go to red alert.

House entered the room and gave his own patient a wolfish grin. “So, now that we are alone...” He let it hang in the air as he closed the door behind him and drew the blinds shut. “Let’s get down to the business of your test results and the matter of just how rare that little body of yours is.”

Arin continued to look out of the window, effectively ignoring him. “Well, since the rare is your thing I’d hate to disappoint you.” She said evenly still holding her side. Inside she suppressed a shudder. He was easier to deal with this time but still…

“First and foremost,” House began, sitting back down in what was becoming his usual spot. “You have AB- blood.” He stopped to see if she would react.

“Ok.” She said with a quick glance at him. “I take Bio. I know what blood types mean. So?”

“Good, then you’ll know you have the rarest on the planet.That's interesting and something you should know in case you’re ever in an accident or something.” It was not strictly true, but he had deliberately tabled the intellectual bait.

“In the united states maybe, on the planet. Doubt it.” She said looking back out of the window her position unchanged. “Besides I thought Rh-null was the rarest on the planet? Anyway I assume you have more than that since typically you don’t test for blood type.”

That’s my clever girl, House thought. Part of him pondrring if he was becoming weirdly posessive of this one. He dismissed the thought a's nonsense, after all the question had not been a gimmie and showed that she must have done a certain degree of study into the field to know about Rh-null. That was interesting. He didn't care about her, he cared about her quirks. Perhaps he’d feed her more veiled medical questions just to see how deep she had gone. “True. Only about fifty people on the planet are Rh-null. Though no known cases in the US. How are you feeling today?”

”Fine.” she responded.

He sighed, as if he had expected this answer but expected more of her. ”You know, you haven't answered me about your own health properly once. How is it you can answer a random medical question pertaining to random fact but when I ask you how you feel you avoid the question with some ineffectual automatic response answer.”

Arin sighed and ignoring His comments scratched the back of her neck with the hand not holding her left hip. “You’re stalling...why?” She asked turning away from the window to look at him, her expression questioning as her eyes roved over his face looking for an answer. Carefully she walked to the bed and sat down on the foot of it facing him in the chair. She made a slight face of discomfort as she sat.

House watched her movements and did not fail to notice the way she held her hip or the wince of pain she tried to hide when she sat. It must have been a rather forceful kick she’d received for it still to be hurting. “And you’re deflecting.”

She shrugged and with an eye roll House continued. ”You didn’t take the Ativan, yet you seem calmer today. Do you feel calmer?”

Arin frowned at him. ”I already answered you, I'm fine. Get to the point.Why are you insisting on this.”

”Crazy intrigues me.” 
She glared at him and he smiled holding a hand up. “I mean it in an endearing way, you don’t act the way teenage girls are supposed to act. It’s interesting.” She didn’t bite, he sighed and added.  “Well, on top of your rare blood type we can add your rarer iatrophobia.”

“Let’s not talk about that,” she said and waved her hand in a ‘next’ gesture. She scratched her neck again and offhandedly rubbed her right forearm while she waited.

House tilted his head slightly. Had she been scratching her neck more than was socially acceptable? It couldn’t be a nervous tick as he would have observed it the previous day. He kept his eyes fixed upon her in case she should do it again. “Of course one of my lackies thought you were faking and could put your temperature and heart rate up and down at will. Bit of a lame party trick if you ask me.”

“Yeah,” she scoffed, “If only.” She muttered, the intensity of his gaze on her was too much, like a flood light. She blinked and looked away from him with a slightly awkward cough. “That it?” she asked the floor between them.

It seemed that either the bait had not been tasty enough this time or that she had eaten her fill. Although… he thought for a moment… could he have put her off due to the fact that he was now observing her more closely?

Arin raised her eyebrows at him expectantly and rubbed her forearm across her knee. “You know this suspense isn’t helping my heart rate right?”

“Do you think you have a problem with your heart rate?”

Her breath caught, and she stiffened. She continued to look at the floor between them, “Will you hurry up and tell me what your stupid tests showed already.”

“Getting a little antsy in your pantsy are we?” House asked, deliberately poking for a response.

She scowled at him then. “House,” she said in a tone very reminiscent of one Dean of medicine. She rubbed the back of her neck again and then put the back of her hand on her forehead as though she were a southern belle about to swoon.

House almost burst out laughing. Had she deliberately tried to sound like Cuddy? As if that was going to work. Cuddy used that tone with him on a daily basis and it never got her any more than a witty remark at best. “Did you know that there are actually some cats that are allergic to humans?”

Arin stared at him. “And 60% of the human brain is fat. Which is why you can literally call someone being a total dick a fathead.” She countered. Before he could respond she held a hand up and continued. “Here, let me use that in a sentence…’Doctor House is currently exhibiting the example of being a fathead.” She looked pointedly at him.  A slight flush was starting to spread across her pale features. Made more noticeable by the fact she wore a black shirt.

House tilted his head. She had actually just called him an idiot. Today was getting weirder by the hour. What would be next? Wilson pranking him? Cuddy doing something unethical that caused him to shout her name in an indignant manner? He shuddered at that last thought. Time to take a swipe at something more sensitive. “There was once, still is for that matter, a popular myth that humans only use about ten percent of their brain power. Einstein even attributed his intelligence to the fact that he was able to use more than said figure. Of course we’ve since proven the whole thing to be hocum. Regardless, the fact remains that some of us are just a darn sight more intelligent than the rest.” He paused to examine her facial expression.

Arin sighed and rubbed her forearm with another awkward cough, then rubbed her throat wincing as though it still hurt. “You’re stressing me out.” She told him. “What’s your point?”

“Do you want the Ativan?” he asked, she shook her head and he added, “my point is, could you imagine being one of those people who have a high intellect, but choose to dumb themselves down to the level of mermaids and crabs. I know it would drive me insane. Leave me craving the mind of another intellectual.” House looked pointedly at her when he finished.

Arin watched him. Her breathing was quiet but her chest rose and fell slightly faster than was normal. If he were watching her respirations he would notice, she knew. She stared at him and swallowed, her words slow and careful. “I’m sure that a lot of people find themselves in a myriad of situations that requires them to act in a certain way.” As he watched her she grew more and more awkward. Finally she sighed. “Look...if you’ve got something to ask why don’t you just try you know...asking?” She shrugged then scratched her neck and shoulder again uncomfortably.

House watched her chest rise and fall more rapidly. She hid it well, but he knew her respiratory rate had increased. He had half a mind to pull out his stethoscope when he saw her scratch at her neck again. There was something wrong and he knew it. Abandoning his inquiry into her social camouflage, he rose from his chair and made a b-line directly towards her.

Arin blinked at him, “what?” she asked as her eyes tracked his movement around the bed.

House ignored her and stretched out a hand to push her head aside. His eyes fixed upon the spot where she had been scratching. “Hold still,” he commanded.

She froze in place as he looked at her neck and then squirmed slightly under his touch. The skin he could see without the voluptuous T-shirt covering her was red and covered in scratch marks. “What?” She repeated.

“Either you got into a fight with a cat, or you’ve been clawing that one spot on and off for at least an hour. Now, lose the shirt.”

Arin turned her head to look at him. “Uh no,” she said with another obvious flush of embarrassment. Apparently the ‘it’s ok to get naked in front of the Doctor’ message hadn’t been taught to her as a child, no surprises. She rubbed her forearm again.

House rolled his eyes. He seemed to have done this more with this one kid than his last ten patients combined. “Aside from the fact you look more like a Vans girl than Quicksilver, I need to see how far that rash extends… honest.”

Arin looked at him, her expression showing some part of her was almost desperately trying to convince her brain to trust him. She heaved a sigh and shucked the shirt over her head in as fluid a motion as she could. It got caught as she tried to pull her hands and head through it at the same time. “Well this is great.” Her mumbled tone said from inside the folds as she sat in a soda stained white bra. “Little help.”

While the sight of the girl stuck with a t-shirt half over her head amused him, it did not help him examine her. Grudgingly, House took hold of the black material and hauled it up over her head. “Now sit still,” he ordered, as though his act of assistance merited complete compliance.

Arin came free of the attacking cotton poly blend coughing as though she had inhaled it. Her eyes watered slightly, she made a fist and coughed into it looking at him. She nodded.

Pushing her hair out of the way, House looked at the full extent of the rash. It started round the back of the neck, continued over her shoulder and down both arm and chest. He reached over, took a pair of gloves from the dispenser and pulled them on. Running his fingers over the spot in her neck that she’d clawed, he applied pressure. A frown formed on his face and he reached over to the tray and picked up her tumbler of water. Pouring the contents back into the jug, he motioned to press it against the rash.

Arin looked down at her chest and made a slight noise of concern seeing the skin, realising what he was doing she sat upright her spine completely poker straight. She waited in silence staring straight ahead, a frown forming on her features as she waited for him to finish his examination. Her chest and throat felt tight. “ That wasn’t there earlier.” She said hoarsely at him.

“The funny thing about rashes is that they spread like..” he paused as he placed the glass against the rash and watched it disappear. “...well, rashes. Sorry, the facts and the metaphor are one and the same in this case. The good news is that my team was completely wrong when it comes to your diagnosis.” He set down the glass and pulled out the in ear thermometer he had procured for dealing with her today.

Arin swallowed hard and looked at him. She appeared to be holding her breath, a feeling of trepidation evident in her expression.

He ignored her and stuck the device in her ear. When it beeped he removed it and checked the display; 100.6°F. “Move your head up and down then from side to side.”

“House?” she asked looking at him for some form of reassurance. Her heart beat hard in her chest to the point that she could hear it in her ears as she struggled to keep the rising fear in check.

“When I’m doing the doctor thing, you’re supposed to do as you're told. Now, go like this,” he said and demonstrated the head movement. “You get the diagnosis and chatter bit after I’m done.”

She turned back to face the front. Her throat was dry and it hurt to swallow. She did as he asked and moved her head up and down as he had and then turned it from side to side. Looking back up at him she raised her eyebrows expectantly. “I thought you weren’t going to patronise me?” She asked.

“And you weren’t supposed to act like an idiot,” he replied, casting up the other half of their agreement. However, the increasing hoarseness of her voice had begun to give him cause for concern. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his stethoscope. In the silence he was sure he could hear a wheeze in her breathing. He could only hope she didn’t go schitzo on him this time. “Take a deep breath,” he said as he pressed the device to her lungs.

Arin took the breath, then paused as the air didn’t come easily. She shook her head as he made eye contact with her and moved the device to another part of her chest. She did so, wheezing inwards. This was worse, it forced the air left in her lungs out but she couldn’t then get a breath in to replace it. Just like yesterday. The feeling was the same but this time it was more intense.

“Lift up your chin,” he told her as he listened to her breathing. Short gasps now. Internally he swore. Externally he said, “try again.”

She coughed as the pressure began to form a tight band across her stomach and neck; the breath in made a whistle sound now.

“You’re having an asthma attack. I need you to relax,” he said letting the bell drop and pushing the ear pieces back around his neck. He moved to the door.

She could hear House calling for help at the now open door. Her heart thundered as he came back into view with an oxygen mask. He pressed it to her face as she tried to swallow, feeling as though a lump had formed in her chest. “Can’t…” she barely whispered, “can’t...breathe.”

“Hey! Look at me…” he said sternly and locked eyes with her, “ you’re ok. Try to relax.”

She tried and shook her head as nurses rushed in with a cart. How could she possibly relax! Was he stupid? Part of her mind screamed at him but the other part tried to do as he said, trying to make her breathing calm and not erratic.

House moved, abandoning his job of holding the mask in place. He clicked his fingers at the nurse for a syringe. “Hey, Kiddo,look at me,” he said again as he reappeared at her side. He took hold of her arm and swabbed at it with something cold. “I’m giving you epinephrine,” he explained, pulling the cap off of a small syringe with his teeth. She winced as the tip bit into her flesh. “It’ll open your lungs and help you breathe.” He pressed the syringe and then removed it once empty, handing it off to one of the nurses.

Peripherally he could see the boy and the mermaid with Cameron in the hall as the female doctor kept them from rushing in. He ignored them, and pulled the stethoscope back up into his ears. Dropping to one knee in front of her, he lifted Arin’s chin and listened. “How do you feel?” he asked.

Arin shook her head slightly, wheezing still as the air came in and out like she had been held under water. She was pale, sweat covered her in a sheen and her eyes were unfocused. She felt dizzy and the sort of sick she associated with rollercoasters. She swayed slightly, the room spun and her eyes closed. She was aware of a sensation of falling, falling what seemed like a long distance until something caught her and her sense of equilibrium shifted again entirely. She felt drained and sick.

House caught the girl as she fainted and began to push her back. “Cameron,” he said, seeing the young Doctor now in the room. He stood, bracing the kids body against his own. “Help me move her back.”

Cameron moved forward and did so, looking quizzically at her boss as the older, greying doctor kept hold of the teenager and positioned himself so he was sitting opposite her but still able to keep her upright as she came back around. She was about to suggest that they lie her back when Arin’s hand seized part of House’s arm.

The girl clung to the arm of her saviour as he held her upright. He frowned and then motioned for his fellow to pass him the discarded Oxygen mask which he then brought up to her mouth and nose. She weakly, instinctively, pulled back but he pressed it to her and held it in place.

Arin could taste the air, it was a weird sensation. Her head felt fuzzy, she had a vague idea that she was in a position that she didn’t want to be in, and that she should move.

House shot Cameron a warning look as if daring her to comment but continued to hold the girl. After a few seconds of this, he tilted his head, clearly listening to the girls now calming breathing, he moved the tips of his fingers down the arm she held onto and pressed them against her wrist. “Too fast…” he muttered to no one in particular and glanced at Cameron again. “Get me 0.5ccs lorazepam,” he said, his voice steady and low, the sort of tone Cameron had only heard him use the one time when Wilson had developed a bad migraine. He was using the chemical name and gave a quick glance to the girl in front of him as if he were waiting on her reacting to it.

Confused again, Cameron did as he bid. The lone nurse, still in the room shot her a look but had the sense to make herself scarce now that the danger seemed to have passed.

Arin was aware of the cold sensation on her skin again, and then another pin prick like a bee sting. It briefly called for her attention but a wave of woozy calm seemed to wash over her and she gave up protesting, closing her eyes and letting the oxygen sweep in and out with each breath. She went limp and felt the thing holding her brace her slightly more and then tilt her onto her side into the cool texture of the cotton bed sheets.

“Good girl,” a far away voice said but she may have imagined it.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Chapter 14 - Rules of acquisition

When she felt more stable, who knew how long later, she could hear the weird droning sound in her head turn into voices.

“Do you want me to..” one said and was interrupted by the second.

“..Nope.”

”But I don't mind..” One tried again

”Will you sit down, you're making me uncomfortable with all your standing and pacing.” One responded sounding irritated.

A creak of a chair and silence for a few moments, then...
“So you just want to wait…”

”Pretty much.”

”How long are you going to sit there...”

“It’s been twenty minutes, Cameron, we can wait for a few more,” one interrupted, dismissively.

“But you don’t..”

“Shh,”

“House..”

“Shhhh!”

She knew the second voice. She felt her forehead furrow and slowly her eyes fluttered open. The room moved in and out of focus until she realised that House was sitting in a chair at the side of her bed. So close that she could reach out and touch him without stretching if she had the mind to.  She frowned again, he was sideways, his chin resting on the handle of his cane as he watched her intently. It was then she realised that he wasn’t sideways, that She now lay on her side on her bed with her head resting against her arm in a sort of pseudo recovery position. An oxygen mask held in place by elastic across the back of her head.  The room had a funny sort of rainbow like glow around the edges.

She lifted her head from her arm and glanced at the other speaker, Doctor Cameron gave her a small reassuring smile. The rest of the room appeared empty. How had she gotten here...Her brain tried to match up the sudden gap in her memory. Without thinking she put a hand up to the mask.

“Ah ah ah,” House said and reaching out took her wrist gently, returning the hand to the bed top. “Careful now… just lie still and take some deep breaths. You’re going to feel a bit groggy.” The girl frowned but did as he said. He seems satisfied. “Good. That’s good,” he said in a reassuring tone. “Now can you tell me where you are?”

The question confused her apparently and she looked around again then put her head back down. She cleared her throat to speak. “Arkham?” She asked,

Cameron looked concerned and opened her mouth but House was smiling.

“You wish Kiddo. Ain’t no batman going to swoop in and rescue you here..” he said, amusement clear in his tone.

Cameron seemed to relax as Arin gingerly lifted her head again. “What…” she began trying to push herself up. Strangely House Stood and helped her.

“You went into what we here doctor folk call respiratory distress,” he said, helping her to sit up properly. “How do you feel?” Then as if a thought struck him he added, “describe how you are currently.”

Arin took a few experimental breaths and swallowed once or twice. “My throat feels dry...my chest is tight but not as tight. I’m a little dizzy.” Her brows knitted, “I have a rash?” She asked him.

“Pretty much,”he said, as Cameron handed the girl some water. She pulled the mask off to drink. “Your Diagnosis is inconclusive,” House replied as he studied both her expression and physiology. “I want to admit you. We need to do a head CT and probably a lumbar puncture to rule out some other things.” As she handed the water back to Cameron he held the mask back up to her. “How’s your head?”

Arin seemed confused again and coughed into the mask and then tried to pull it down against his hand. “I want to go home.” She said her jaw clenched as her eyes prickled. It was all too much.

Geez, this kid was like a record that had a divot on its surface that the stylus could not cross no matter how many times it ran the groove. “No, home is for people that are well. People who don’t have respiratory distress, fevers of unknown origin and rashes. No dice, Kiddo, I’m sorry, you're staying put and getting whatever tests and treatments we deem necessary, until such time as you’re well. And no, you are not the one who’ll be making that decision. No matter how fine you think you are.”

The rise of panic stopped and she laughed lightly. “Don’t you think you’re slightly biased about that particular point?” Her eyebrows knitted again. “I feel drowsy…” the room swam again. House’s hand steadied her.

“Easy,” he said, “lie back.” He was watching her closely as though he expected her reactions. She struggled slightly but didn’t have much fight to pull back from him. He guided her back against the pillows and took hold of her wrist; looking at the watch on his left arm.

She watched him, feeling a small surge of panic again that didn't break the surface. “You Sarah Connor’ed me, didn’t you.” She asked accusingly. Her thoughts felt sluggish.

Cameron stood watching the exchange between the two in grim silence her pen poised over a clipboard waiting for House’s orders.

House released her and turned to the female doctor. “Oh, aren’t drugs fun. Cameron, do a head CT. If it comes back clean, do an LP. I want all the bloodwork redone… again. I want to find out what’s playing chicken with us and what coup it’s running off to hide in.” He then turned back to the kid. “Yeah, I Sarah Connor’ed you, but with good reason. Now, I need to do some more tests to figure out what’s wrong with you. Just say yes now and we can run with verbal consent.”

Arin frowned at him and pulled the oxygen mask off. “You promised no Sarah Connor.” She said. Her slow brain tried to rationalise this in a way she could deal with. She struggled to stay focused. “I don’t think I like Ativan…”

“Oh, that was last night. This is this morning, you didn’t specify that it was supposed to be an all the time promise," he said, but not unkindly, as though he didn't like the fact he had done it to her.  "Now, do the smart thing and let me figure out what’s wrong with you before it decides to terminate you.”

There was a silent stand off between the two. Cameron watched in interest. This was new ground for her. House wasn't a meet the patients sort of guy and when he did, in occasions such as this when a patient was difficult he usually brow beat them into his way of thinking. Yet he wasn't here.

Arin looked at him calculatingly. “Question…” she said.

He sighed, "this isn't Arkham but it's not Baltimore either, Kiddo. There is no you get to ask things and maybe I’ll change my mind, it’s not a Quid pro quo set up," he said but rolled his hand in the air for her to continue.

She swallowed and frowning tired to articulate the muggy thoughts in her brain. “Every test you do gives you an answer right? To a question in your head. You get all of the answers, even the ones that seemingly don’t fit and try and put them together and make a picture. That's when you know what the puzzle is...but not till that point...That’s how it works right? Your head?

Cameron stared her mouth slightly agape; she seemed genuinely interested in House’s response and didn’t move while both women waited.

House cocked his head as he listened to the kids description of how she thought his mind worked. It was quite impressive for someone her age to have even an inkling into such matters. She was turning into one interesting gal. Still, he had no intention of revealing his secrets to her, or to anyone for that matter. The magic circle could get quite prickly over such matters. “Sorry, Kiddo, a good magician never reveals his secrets… at least not when the audience is still hungry for more.”

Arin took a breath for strength and her mind made up played her gamble. “Ok...let’s try it this way, you want your answers then fine you can have your tests but…” she held up a singular finger. Her hand was shaking. “ ...for every answer you get, by which I also mean for every test you get, I get one too.You wanna play Lecter to my Starling so be it...maybe it should be a quid pro quo set up, House. So that’s what I’m offering. I keep some control and a distraction, you get what you want. Take it or leave it.”

Ok, interesting,House thought as he surveyed her. The door having been opened, whether she had meant it or not, he decided to stride through it before it slammed shut, “done.” While he admired her ballsiness, she had practically just consented to any and all tests he could think of, so long as he answered her questions. How often did he get blanket consent for his hair brained ideas? While she had shown glimmers of intellect, he doubted she had the ability to ask him anything too probing. Besides, even if she did, like test results he could always lie.

She blinked at the quickness of his decision and considered him. This was a stupid play but it was the only way her mind could think of to try and claw back some level of control. In one of the books she had read about phobias and fear it had told her that to truly conquer a fear one had to first understand it and then accept it. She hadn’t ever been able to do that till now. And now there he sat for all intents and purposes the personification of her fear, sans the obligatory white lab coat. She sat forward as if to get up.

“Hang on...before you whip out your celebration dance for the ‘You consent, I’ll consent thing’ understand that I mean for the tests you just mentioned that’s it. If you want any others you’ll need to barter for them, and while I give my word verbally…. I want yours in writing...right now.” She said and then closed her eyes as a dizzy wave made her lean to the right slightly and put out a hand to brace herself.

Well, that was a bit of a let down, House thought. Inside his head the confetti cannons had just been wheeled back into their shed. “You can’t add clauses onto an agreement you proposed after the other party has agreed,” he stated firmly, hoping to salvage his blank cheque. “Rule of acquisition number 16, a deal is a deal.”

“Given the spoken or verbal…” again a wave of dizziness and she stopped closing her eyes against it for the second time, “...nature of this it would have been prudent for both parties to fully understand the clauses in play before agreement was rendered.” She smiled. “Rule of acquisition numbers 19 and 69 Satisfaction is not guaranteed. And Ferengi are not responsible for the stupidity of other races... In short you should have waited till I was finished.”

House smirked, this really was like a Ferengi negotiation. “Just remember rule number 8. Small print leads to large risk.”

Arin laughed. She felt way too relaxed now...dumb drug. The laugh turned into a cough and again the dizziness. “Rule 76…” she said, “every once in a while, declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies.” She put her head back into the pillow suddenly aware she was still sitting in her Jeans and bra. Her cheeks flushed and she lifted one arm to cover the bra and the other her torso. “I think I lost my shirt…” she muttered with a slightly confused look.

House considered her position for a moment before stating, "rule 35, peace is good for business." Granted that idea was based on the assumption that the fragile peace they were brokering lasted. Then again, rule 34 stated war is good for business. Perhaps it all came down to how he managed either situation. For he was under no illusions, he was never going to reach the end of this diagnosis without causing Kiddo to go nuclear again.

Cameron picked up the gown from its position on the chair and pushing by House helped her into it, casting a glare back at the Male Doctor as if he should have dealt with this sooner. She stepped back and looked down at Arin. “Do you want some help to take the jeans off?” She asked.

Arin shook her head, her eyes now closed. “I’m dizzy…” she said in the sort of spaced out way someone used when mildly sedated.

House turned his attention to Cameron, "go round up the other duckies and take her for a head CT. Then do the LP and bring the results of both to my office." He thought for a moment, recalling the poor show that had been their last differential, "and make sure you each bring one good idea that does not involve stress induced fever caused by yours truly."

Arin’s eyes snapped open and clumsily she sat up again. “No.” She said loudly, firmly and swallowed hard as if a wave of nausea had overcome her. Her eyes felt heavy and it was an effort to remain sitting up as the room spun.

House shifted his gaze from doctor to patient, well that must have been the shortest ceasefire in history. His expression hardened into one Cameron recognised. Looks like the firebending was back on he thought. "You don't get to say no. We just made a deal."

Arin looked at him, she took a shakey breath and closed her eyes as the motion again made her dizzy, “No, I gave
you
...verbal consent. Not
her
.
You
.” She said

"Yes… and she's my underling, my lackie, an extension of me. You give me consent, as the attending and I send her and my other dogsbodies to go and do the grunt work." He gave her a crooked smile, "welcome to the dog eat dog world of capitalist medicine."

Again, Arin shook her head and swayed slightly in her seated position. “I don’t care.
You
,
yourself
or no deal and since
you
haven’t got any paperwork to prove I consented to anything…” she trailed off either because she wanted to leave the threat hanging or because of her current state, it was unclear. Cameron reached a hand up to steady her and she shrank back from it slightly, causing the young doctor to drop her hand and look at House with a mix of confusion and concern.

House rolled his eyes, "come on, they're effectively part of me." He scratched the back of his head as he searched for a suitable metaphor. "Think of me as a hydra. They're just some of my many heads. When they get cut off, I just grow some more."

The corners of Arin’s mouth twitched. Her eyes still closed. “In that vein, my cronies are part of me too. Why don’t you CT Zen and do the other test on Robyn and let me know how that works out.”

Cameron smiled and bit her lower lip as if to stop herself laughing out loud, she looked at House with an expression that clearly indicated she was waiting to see what he would do.

House weighed up his options. Go to the clinic and deal with today's collection of feigned heatstroke morons, or for once actually deal with his own patient. He sighed internally. Kiddo at least had some interesting quirks about her. "Fine," he growled, trying to make it sound like he was making a significant concession. He turned to Cameron, "fetch me a gurney and some heavies so I can take Kiddo down to radiology."

Arin opened her eyes. “I can walk…” she insisted.

Cameron raised her eyebrows in a way that questioned if he was serious, however she did exit the room leaving them alone for a few minutes.

"Right, like Icaris could fly. Not a chance, Kiddo. You're getting a first class seat on one of our gurneys as I ain't picking you up when you keel over. Non-negotiable," he emphasised. If she was going to draw hard lines, he sure as hell would too.

Arin sighed. “Does it have to be a gurney?” She asked and visibly flinched when Cameron, alongside the Male Nurse from earlier, pushed back the door to its full extent and entered the room wheeling a padded stretcher, the noise of the wheels trundling against the floor seemed to make her pale further.

"If you'd rather, I can make a call to the psych ward and see if they have one of those upright ones? Then you can travel like a real Arkham inmate." After he said it, House pondered whether the hospital actually had one of those gurneys. Wouldn't that be a fun way to transport his patients about.

Arin shook her head as if this was worse and watched Cameron and the Nurse put the gurney at the side of her bed leaving a minimal gap between the two padded surfaces, and put the breaks on the wheels. The nurse turned to smile at her.

“Ok honey, you want some help to scoot over here?” He asked then frowned at her odd attire. Half hospital gown half huge jeans and converse. He raised his eyebrows at House.

House glanced down at the girl’s denim clad legs, as though only just noticing she was wearing jeans. "Better lose the sk8er boi duds, Kiddo. We don't have patients clad in hospital gowns just because we lack fashion sense."

Looking at him for a few seconds Arin too glanced at her jeans...well Zen’s jeans and then with a sigh leaned forward and pulled her converse off her feet. Making sure her gown covered her body properly she then undid the belt buckle and wrestled her way out of the jeans where she sat, the ordeal took about a minute and left her feeling weak and shaken. She didn’t remove the huge socks she wore however, the heels half way up her ankle.

Watching the girl struggle out of the jeans confirmed to House that enforcing the gurney had been the right call. She did not have the energy to walk. While he could have sent for a wheelchair, he also had an ulterior motive. Something had clearly happened to this kid at some point in her life to cause the iatrophobia. At some point she must have suffered some sort of trauma related to doctors or a hospital to cause it. Unfortunately, it was clear that she herself did not know. So the option to barter for it was non-existent. That left him with only one option. Expose her to as many different situations that occurred in a hospital or in the company of a doctor to see if anything triggered a response. With any luck, he would be able to narrow it down… or cause the kid to relive the memory. Then he could barter for it.

With the nurses help she slid herself over onto the gurney and seemed to collapse back into the less welcome pillow, staring at the ceiling as if the whole thing had exhausted her. She could feel the panic at the edges of her mind but each time it surged it was dampened. Like a wave crashing against an invisible barrier. The drugs effect she assumed.

“Her O2 stats are still a bit low.” Cameron said over her shoulder to House as she moved some of the reconnected wires off for easier transport.

"Then bring the oxygen tank," House said in a tone that stated it should have been obvious.

Arin looked at him. “I don’t want it…” she said weakly.

"Unfortunately, oxygen is another one of those non-negotiable things. If you don't have any, you might as well be a Ferengi with no latinum.”

As with an apologetic look Cameron held out a nasal cannula for her. She let the female doctor slide it over her head and behind her ears and in place. The girl then sighed and lay back again. “I’m not going to get to go home today am I?” She asked no one in particular as the nurse raised the sides of the gurney, causing another flinch, and indicated to House they were ready to go.

"Sorry, Kiddo, but you're stuck here until I figure this thing out. Maybe if you're good I'll get you some earplugs." House then looked at the nurse. "Engage," he said as he pointed his finger in the direction of the door.

The nurse shook his head but gave the gurney a shove forward. Arin’s hands flew up from the blanket now covering her and gripped the sides of the wheeling monstrosity tight enough for her knuckles to go white. She closed her eyes and tried to get the sensation of moving while laying flat to feel normal. Her head turned and opening her eyes she sought him out, the way a worrying mother looks for her child in a playground when she’s lost sight of them. The drug seemed to be keeping the worst of it at bay, however the panic was evident in her eyes.

Cameron glanced between the two, teenager and grumpy man and frowned slightly as if the interactions puzzled her. She made a note to ask him about it later as they made their way to radiology.

House followed the procession, leaning heavily on his cane. His eyes fixated with the kid, looking for any hint of a reaction to the situation. However, bar her white knuckles gripping the rails, she gave him nothing. Meaning he could probably take white-water gurney ride off of his list of possible traumas. It looked like he would just have to try something else. In that vein, it was a good thing they were heading to radiology. Those confined scanners had set more than their fair share of people off. He would just have to wait and see if they did the same thing to Kiddo.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Chapter 15 - Out of the frying pan into the scanner

Watching as their friend was wheeled away the other two of the teen trio sat in the room opposite and contemplated. The girl in the bed moved a steaming mask away from her face and said. “See I told you so...she’s totally just doing it for attention, she is jealous that I’m getting all the attention so she has to go do it too.” She put the mask back.

The boy looked torn. “Really? How can you think that? Arin’s not like that, she hates hospitals.”

“Yeah...like so she says...think about it...every time she’s like oh I have a sore throat or you’re like oh you’re warm she makes this big song and dance about it…like it’s basic attention seeking 101. Gawd Zen…”

The boy frowned. “Why would she?”

“Uhh duh so we can be all like ‘OMG you totally need to go to the doctors, you’re so brave here let us like do stuff for you and junk.’ I mean come on...as IF anyone has that many sore throats and stuff...like I had a really sore throat like a year ago remember and I was like floored...for like a week...she doesn’t even miss a day of school and it’s not like her appetite goes down.”

The frown on the boy's face deepened as the girl continued. ”And last night he was with her for like ever and she did a whole dramatic performance about it. Wouldn’t even talk to me when I tried to find out what was going on and brought her the soda. She got him to send me away.” The mask went back on for a moment then was taken off again

“And Arin like sat here totally fine until Doctor House came in, I gave her a little push with my toe and she was all ‘Oh my god Robyn you’ve wounded me’ in front of him...why? Attention! I’m telling you.” She nodded and put her mask back on leaving the boy to watch the trio of medical staff wheel their companion away. He didn’t answer because well...he didn’t know what to think.

***

House sat in the control room and watched as the images from the CT scan flashed up on the screen. Unfortunately, like the MRI, lung function test, strep throat test and blood work before it, he got bupkis. No meningitis, no obvious head issues, nothing. It seemed he was now four for four in the null results category. Only this time, he really didn't like it. They had symptoms a plenty, yet not a damn thing showing up in any of the tests. What was wrong with this kid? Absentmindedly he began twiddling his cane as his brain struggled to come up with any concrete theories. Given her complete lack of inoculations and the rather generic nature of her symptoms, there were just too many possibilities to narrow it down. Hence the need to run the tests, except… The vicious circle that Kiddo's case was quickly devolving into served only to irk him. A bit like the girl herself. He let out a long exhale. If the LP came back negative, he was going straight for lunch. Perhaps Wilson would prove a useful distraction for an hour or so.

Cameron sat peering at the monitors as the machine scanned. Nothing out of the ordinary so far. She kept glancing sideways at her boss then fixing her eyes forward again. Finally as the machine started the final scan cycle she raised her eyebrows and said. “So...you agreed to be the one doing this…” she trailed off. “...I just mean well the nurses said you had a rather big argument with her and she was desperate to get rid of you but now this morning…” again she trailed off as if expecting him to respond and fill in the blanks for her.

"I argue with everyone, especially patients. Usually they come around to my way of thinking. And if the nursing staff say big, it probably only registers as small on the House scale."

Arin for her part lay as still as she could, the calming effect of the injection House had given her was starting to wear off. Her head felt clear again and her chest didn’t hurt anymore. She looked at the camera and raised her eyebrows. “Ground control this is Major Tom. Can I get out yet?”

House chuckled and pressed the intercom button, "we're on the last scan now, Kiddo. So just hang tight for a few more minutes." He decided not to tell her that the scans had been a complete waste of time.

“You keep calling her that” Cameron said with a smile.

"That lady from human resources came around again and insisted I start calling my patients by name. Apparently, it makes them more human and me more likely to care. She just never specified what name I had to call them."

“Aha,” Cameron’s smile widened. “You like her don’t you.” She asked

As the female doctor glanced at her boss any of the two looking would see via the monitor Arin roll her eyes and let out a huge sigh. The sort of sigh that accidently made scans fuzzy because it moved the patient. “Easy for you to say.” She muttered obviously not thinking the sound would be loud enough for the microphone to pick up.

When the last scan came through all fuzzy and completely useless, House jabbed the intercom button, "for someone who wants out of there, you're sure making life difficult for yourself. That last scan is fuzzier than Fozzie so we're going to have a do-over. So hold still this time or I'll have my heavies fetch the kiddy restraints."

His words seemed to have the opposite effect. Arin swallowed and shuddered. Her whole frame moving in the scanner again. She glanced at the arm now containing the IV line House himself had inserted on her insistence Cameron not be allowed to. She recalled the warm feeling spreading over her legs and torso as the dye was injected for this...the skin was itchy and she felt slightly sick.

“My arm itches from the inside.” She told the non corporeal narrator, “and I feel sick” this was a new part of their relationship, where she told him how she felt. As they went. So far it just made her feel stupid, like she was whining.

That's probably just a reaction to the dye, Kiddo. Now relax in there or we'll do the whole lot again." Internally, House hoped it wasn't. With no positive results from the tests, a new symptom would be the next best thing. Except there would be no way of knowing which it was until the dye had completely left her system.

Cameron peered at the screen as the last set of scans came up “No swelling or inflammation in the skulll...sinuses look good…meninges look clear of inflammation too.” She moved her hand and pointed to an old injury site “Foreman was right, look that was a hairline skull fracture. That would have been a whopper of a concussion.”

"Yep.. just another waste of Cuddy's money on a diagnostic test that showed nothing. God we're going to be popular at the monthly budget review." He glanced at the fracture sight. "You're right. One big fat concussion that happened six months ago and tells us nothing about her current condition."

Rising from his chair, he limped over to the control room door. He'd had enough of this. Time to get the Kid out of the scanner and to her appointment with a nice sharp lumbar puncture needle.

***

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Chapter 16 - Human Pin Cushion The procedure room was a mix of grey and yellow. A patchwork of tile, with the smell of disinfectant. It was quiet here, when compared to the rest of the hospital she’d seen thus far. The heavy metal door was closed over and muffled the rest of the world outside. This was an older part of the hospital House had explained. Hence it’s more macabre and dated look and while he hadn’t needed to take her here to do his next test, he had figured it was one of the quietest places he could find for her. It was way up there on his list of hidey holes to eat lunch, or so he said. She wondered if he was being kind or trying to freak her out further. He kept watching her. It had taken 40 minutes and what seemed to Arin to be a ride around the entire hospital, before they had finally settled here. And now she found herself alone in the room with House, lying on her side hugging a pillow with her knees up to her chest.  The only sound coming from him clanking around and their breathing. She considered what was about to happen to her and instantly felt as if her throat was constricting. So instead she refocused her attention on the large clear bag Cameron had hung on her new silver stand. A drop of liquid slowly splashed into the channel collection part of the system. It vanished into the tube running down the side of the slightly stiff bed she lay on and into the IV line in her left arm. Her gown still covered her front, but the sterile air on her back was cool and gave her skin goosebumps. She swallowed and tried to stop herself shaking. Part of her mind telling her that House, situated behind her, could see her pants, or rather Zen’s boxers. She tried to ignore the fact that this was not the worst part of the situation.For his part, House managed to remain professional and resisted the urge to make commentary about the boyfriend’s underwear. Or at least as professional as he ever got. There was no way he would succumb and start using the patient’s name as Cameron had. Arin Rae had forever been nicknamed whether she liked it or not. Besides, She had only protested mildly by rolling her eyes each time he used it. As his patient lay under the calming effects of the injection and surprisingly hypnotic bag of saline, he paused to consider. He’d purposely trekked her through the hospital, trying to elicit some kind of response. He’d gone on until his leg burned, but had only succeeded in making her look mildly paler. No freak out; bummer. With care he prepped the instruments needed to carry out the LP.“Do I have to do this,” she asked interrupting his reprieve without moving, hugging the pillow slightly tighter. "Sorry, Kiddo, but I need some positive test results so I can diagnose what's wrong with you. Don’t worry, I’m a pro. Just lie still and I'll make this as painless as possible." It was a lie of sorts, LP's were notorious for being one of the most painful diagnostic tests going. Arin took a deep breath through her nose. The bed under her smelled of cleaning fluids and cotton. Alone in the very quiet room with him she was struck by how gruff his tone was actually at points. The lack of noise made her feel slightly calmer, slightly more in control. Then there was the short stubby syringe House had slid into the tube in her arm. With a promise that it wouldn’t make her drowsy; just relaxed. She swallowed again, rather than going dry this time her mouth almost felt like she had too much moisture. It was the sort of feeling you get before a really bad bout of vomiting. She cast around for something to say “I thought that an LP was notorious for being one of the most painful diagnostic tests there was?” she asked and swallowed again, “I’m scared.” That last part just sort of fell out of her mouth before she could stop it. She was glad she couldn’t see House’s face.House frowned as he sat down on the rolling stool and slid back into place behind her. It was not the first and it certainly wouldn't be the last time he heard a patient say they were scared. Yet he had not expected to hear it from this one. Which was ironic, given that she had iatrophobia, thus he himself and everything around about scared her by default. However, given the tone she'd used, he suspected that she hadn't meant to say it out loud. Why couldn't she have said this in radiology when he had Cameron on hand to deal with her? "I'll try and do this as quickly as possible," he said in a tone that, for House at least, sounded moderately comforting. He waited to see if she would react as he pulled on the latex gloves with a snap and flexed his fingers. Showtime. Arin closed her eyes at the sound and swallowed yet again. She nodded in a curt, stiff sort of way.It was only when he started to rub the iodine onto her back, did he ponder the fact that she'd practically lifted his internal commentary on the LP straight from his head; practically word for word. He ought to sue for plagiarism. She flinched away from the sudden cold wetness on her back and then seemed to catch herself and held still. Her whole body was tense and she trembled visibly as she waited. It was like having the sword of damocles hung above you and awaiting your own demise. House watched her shaking body with interest as he prepped the anesthetic needle. “I need you to remain as still as possible,” he said, trying to sound serious but at the same time calming. How the hell did Cameron manage it? “Sorry,” Arin said and tried to stop the movement.  Picking up the first hypodermic he held it to the light, checked it and said brightly, “ok, just a little pin-prick,” before inserting it into her back. It would serve to numb the general surface area before the second penetrated deeper to numb the muscles.  “I already feel sick…” Arin muttered then stiffened slightly again despite herself as the needle went into her back. She hissed through her teeth. It stung.House felt the corners of his mouth twitch as she so effortlessly played along. One down, two to go, he thought as he withdrew the now empty syringe and sat it down on a tray. He waited momentarily for the first dose of anesthetic to take effect, before picking up the second needle. “Ok, nice deep breath, here comes number two. Just try and relax,” he said as he inserted the second hypodermic deep into the muscles around her spine. The area around the injection site was relatively numb by this point, at first it felt like pressure then nothing for a millisecond before it began to burn slightly. “Ow…” Arin hissed again through her teeth, unsure of what else to say “Ow…”“That’s it, keep breathing,” he found himself saying. It took slightly longer for the second injection to empty, but soon House removed that one too. Again he waited for it to take effect, watching her all the while. “Ok, number three’s going to go in and it’ll have to stay there for about two minutes so I can collect enough fluid. Try not to move.” “Yeah..easy for you to say.” Arin said through her clenched teeth as she anticipated the third and scariest needle. “Your not the one playing human pin cushion.”Again the twitch at the corners of his mouth. Using his free hand House walked his fingers down the correct vertebrae, between L4/L5 and finding the right location picked up the long, thin needle and expertly pushed it into the kids spine until he felt the tell tale ‘give’ that indicated the needle had past the ligamentum flavum. She reacted then “Ow…” she said. “...I feel... ow, I feel it.ow!” Arin said slightly breathlessly and screwed her eyes up pulling the fistful of pillow tighter in her hand. And this was after she’d been given two doses of anesthetic. “You’re doing great, Kiddo,” he soothed. Taking himself slightly by surprise. He frowned and shook his head before continuing, “I’m going to push the needle further in, it’ll feel similar to that last push. Just keep breathing.” He paused a second and let her catch her breath. “Ok...pushing now,” he added in a tone indicating he was warning her and pushed until there was the second 'give' that indicated the needle was now past the dura mater. She made a sort of yelping sound muffled by the pillow.“That’s it, it’s in,” he said and strained to hear the response from the girl as she muttered it into the pillow. It might have been “whoopie.” But he couldn’t be sure. The sarcasm was evident nonetheless. House withdrew the stylet from the spinal needle and put the sample tube in place. “Don’t forget to keep breathing,” he said briefly, glancing up at her as he waited for the drops of cerebrospinal fluid to collect.“Yeah, because it’s not like breathing is part of the reason I’m in this mess,” Arin muttered but took a slow breath and let it out carefully. She repeated this breathing exercise again. After two and a half minutes, he’d collected a large enough sample. He prepared to remove the needle. “Who so pulleth out this needle from this spine, is the trueborn doctor of this patient.”Incredulous...that was the word for the feeling she had under the fear and pain and now swimming dizziness. She lifted her head ever so slightly from the dive like tuck she was in and tried to glare at him, the motion sent the whole room spinning like a colourful top. The nausea welled up and her head pounded. “You..” she began as a small bubble of what she would later only describe as hysteria escaped her, “what?!” She laughed. “Aren’t you more Gaius or Merlin than Arthur…” she asked. She closed her eyes, feeling a bit giddy. “Hey! hold still!” he admonished as the girl trembled again, this time for opposing reasons. Yet House had to stifle a laugh as he removed the needle. The last thing he needed to do was shake too and end up paralyzing the kid. “Done,” he said and sat the needle down on the tray next to the sample, “you did good, Kiddo.” Picking up an antiseptic wipe, he cleaned the residual iodine from her back before cleaning and applying a dressing to the insertion site. He stripped off the gloves with a satisfying crinkle and tossed them into the bin.Arin let a shaky breath out and slowly uncurled herself. She didn’t try and sit up but shifted more onto her back and off her left hip which had gone sort of numb from the constant pressure of her weight. Gingerly she tried to get flat on her back.“Here, let me give you a hand,” House said as he carefully helped her to lie down flat on her back. “You’ll need to stay like that for a minimum of ninety minutes.” “I thought that was a myth,” she asked, “Pffft yeah, what would you know? Tough, I'm the attending, I decide.” “If I’m the attending do I get to decide next time?” Arin asked. “No, because if you were the attending then I’d be the dean and I’d still have seniority.” She pulled a face but let him help her. As she lay staring at the ceiling, scared to move, she realised her back didn’t hurt persay, it was numb but the sensation she could still remember. Her heart beat furiously in her chest like she had just ran a sprint.He turned to start packing away his sample for transport to the lab only for him to feel a need to emphasize his point. “I mean it, Kiddo. You try moving before I say so and you can expect your back and head to be in for a serious world of hurt.” He fetched a blood sample kit from the trolley and sat back down on the rolling stool. “Right, time for human pin-cushion round two,” he said, emphasising the point by snapping a new pair of gloves into place. She shuddered at the noise. “You’re going to compare the blood sample proteins and stuff to the spinal fluid right?” she asked, her voice cracking slightly. Her mouth, so full of moisture half an hour ago felt dry and uncomfortable now. She stared at his gloved hands warily. “Clever girl,” House praised watching her a moment longer. Lifting her arm he slipped a tourniquet around her bicep and pulled it taught. Locating the vein with three quick taps, he picked up the much smaller needle and slipped it inside.“ I didn’t even feel that…” she said in wonder.“Save the praise, I know how awesome I am,” he said, switching the vial.She scoffed and rolled her eyes in response and was silent as the second vial filled. “So...you got your tests.” She said eventually. The wave of dizzy hit her again as the blood came out.  “Mmhmm,” House responded without looking at her. “Do I get my quid pro quo now?” she pressed.He didn’t reply, simply removed the needle and pressed a cotton ball against the puncture mark. With his free hand he undid the tourniquet and tossed it onto the trolley. “Hold this,” he said, indicating the cotton ball. Standing up, House collected his various samples and headed for the door. Opening it, he poked his head out, “yo, Cameron,” he said to the female doctor, “take these down to the lab and page me when the results are in.”Feeling mildly ignored Arin held the small cotton ball to her arm and went back to staring at the ceiling, twisting her neck made the headache worse.Cameron sitting outside with Chase stood and took the samples from House, “How is she?” She asked.“Feeling like a packet of mint lifesavers,” House said with a smug look.The Aussie Doctor gave House a critical look up and down. “Cameron says she’s only letting you touch her?” he asked with interest.“Given that all three of you struck out the other day, does that surprise you? Don’t worry when we get a new patient you’ll get back into bat.” He then did a double take,“aren’t you supposed to be in the clinic?”Chase looked mildly sheepish. He put his hands in his pockets “Ahh...Cuddy...sent me to make sure you weren’t doing anything untoward.” He shrugged. “Hey, consider it a favour. She was livid when she found out that Miss Rae was our patient...she was ready to storm up here and murder you. Foreman and I convinced her it was an easy case for you and that you’d been actually,...” he trailed off. “Really unYou like about the whole thing...you know like actually spending time with the patient.” Cameron had walked away with the samples. Leaving Chase to their Boss’s whims. The blond man shrugged again and peered behind House. “Need some help to move her back to her room?” He asked. “Hmmm, un-me like you say,” House scratched the stubble on his chin. Cuddy must have had something unavoidable to do if she’d sent Chase to relay the message instead of storming down the corridor and yelling “HOUSE!” at the top of her voice. In a way, while she typically annoyed the hell out of him and tried to curtail his madcap ideas, he did feel sort of cheated. Hearing her shrill voice yell at him like that was actually rather amusing. What was the point of having to suffer the lecture if he didn’t get to watch the clown on the unicycle that preceded it. “Maybe I should start doing some other un-me like things, such as letting you guys go home early tonight.”Chase seemed unsure what to say to this and just smirked, “Yeah right, next you’re going to tell me you are not playing this kid. You’ve got what you wanted from her, now you dump her on us and never see her again, iatrophobia or not.” He made a motion with his hand, “come on then let’s get her moved.”Arin meanwhile lay feeling...well stupid really. She could clearly hear the conversation, and she understood what Chase meant. Had House played her? She felt like she had gotten to a place where he was moderately better to deal with,  less terrifying than the white coats because he wasn’t like them exactly. In reality she knew nothing about him...she suddenly felt very naive, very young and very alone. Despite what House had said she wanted to roll into her side and curl back up with her back to the door this time, it felt safer somehow. She started a breathing technique to try and get a grip on herself. Why should she be surprised really? “Dr Chase, I’m surprised at you,” House replied in mock mortification, “I would have thought you of all people would have been familiar with the rules of acquisition.” Before Chase had a chance to respond, he continued, “rule number 16 clearly states that a deal is a deal.” He then shook his head in disappointment. “Tut-tut-tut, I’m so disappointed in you.”  Chase looked confused. “Okay…” he said bemusedly. “Wait, seriously! You never watched Star Trek Deep Space Nine?” if it was at all possible, Chase had just fallen even lower in House’s estimation. He rolled his eyes at having to explain the meaning of yet another one of his metaphors. For once, just once, he would like for one of his team to listen and immediately understand exactly what he meant. Perhaps he should pack Kiddo off to medical school and then hire her. At least she seemed to have a firm grasp on pop culture.  “It means I’ll be sticking around until it’s time to take the kid back to her room, in,” he looked at his watch, “eighty-five minutes. So you can go back to the clinic and work that time for me as punishment for failure to adhere to rule 33.”Inside the room Arin smiled and chuckled softly to herself. Not so alone after all perhaps.Chase blinked at House incredulously and turning around walked away a half frown, half confused look on his face.House thought for a moment as he watched the Ausie walk away. “Chase,” he called out after him. When the blonde haired man turned to look at him, he added, “go get her two cans of full fat, full caffeine coke.”Turning back around Chase walked to the other end of the hall and the vending machine, he was back in about two minutes with the chilled cans clutched in his hands. He held them out to House,his expression saying clearly he didn’t expect to be paid for them.House took the cans and, true to form, turned his back on Chase without the offer of payment. Which was fair do’s. Rule 3 clearly stated that you should never pay more for an acquisition than you had to. “Now go to the clinic,” he called out as he re-entered the small exam room and pushed the door closed with his foot. It made a ‘snick’ sound. Sitting down on the rolling stool, he held one of the cans out to the kid, “you should drink this.”“If it’s the sunkist, you can forget it.” She said without looking at him. “Your in luck today, Kiddo, this is the good stuff. It’ll add inches to your waistline and, more importantly, help with the headache.” Arin looked over at him and the can of soda. “How am I supposed to drink that?” she asked. She was pale, he noted, but it was a fair point. With the cafeteria and its stash of straws too far away, he was left to improvise. Rooting around in one of the cupboards he found some surgical tubing and a pair of scissors. Ripping open the tubes packaging he cut off about a foots worth and walked back to where Kiddo lay on her gurney. Opening the can of soda, he dunked the tube inside. “Hey presto, one can of soda complete with sterile straw,” he said and placed the can on the now empty tray inline with her head.Again with a smirk Arin moved the straw to her mouth and took a drink from the can. She had to hand it to him he was fairly industrious. She drank deeply the first time only really realising how thirsty she actually was. Then the sweetness made the nausea worse and pulling a face she pulled away from the makeshift straw.“Easy there, Kiddo, that aint no kiddies drink,” he said with a smile while he opened the second can. Perhaps he should have warned her not to try and drink it too quickly. Rolling her eyes, Arin considered him for a few moments. “Do I get my quid pro quo now because you got your tests?” she asked again.“I just gave you soda, that’s even better than a little bit of quid pro quo,” House chanced. He was never a fan when he had to answer questions in exchange for tests. It didn’t happen often, but invariably he would be asked something personal and would have to pull out one of his multiple choice backstories. He must have about as many of them as the Joker by now. He rolled to her side and picked up her wrist.Arin made direct eye contact while he counted. “Rule 16, a deal is a deal,” she said calmly. She shifted her legs slightly realising her skin was beginning to feel cold, however, she couldn’t cover herself with the blanket at the foot of the procedural bed she lay on without sitting up…catch 22 situation. “We should have signed a contract instead. Rule 17 states that while a contract is a contract is a contract, it only applies amongst Ferengi.” He signed internally, resigned to the fact that he would indeed have to hold up his end of the deal. While he could easily have played her, he would have been boned if he needed more tests. In fact, wasn’t there an unofficial rule that stated, after you've exploited someone, it never hurts to thank them. That way, it's easier to exploit them next time. He let go of her wrist and, as if he had read her mind, pulled the blanket over her to the waist. “Shoot,” he said, sitting again “I signed your consent forms that’s enough for a ferengi,” she said and then looked thoughtful and looked him up and down. Her eyes lingered on his shoes and then his cane a moment, travelling up they rested on his jacket and lack of white coat. “I could overhear you and Doctor Skippy,” she said and seemed to consider her words carefully. “Why are you sticking around since you’ve got what you wanted. It’s not your Modus Operandi by anyone’s reconing, so what gives?”Nice try, Kiddo, House thought and he smirked. You innocently sneak a question in there and only after I answer and go to ask one of my own, do you declare that you had not stated that was you first question. “I’ve seen Aladin too, Kiddo, I know how that scam works. That counts as your first question if I answer it.” Arin smirked. “Of course,” she said clearly feigning innocence. However, part of her mind considered his words. Was he indicating that he would be answering more than their allocation of tests to questions and if so what would be the trade off? She tilted her head back further and turned it to look at him and considered him calculatingly. Well that was easy, House thought. Not only had he rumbled her, but she hadn’t bothered to change the question. “We made a deal in keeping with the rules of acquisition. Besides, I need to keep you sweet in case I need more tests. Your not close to the point that I, as your attending, get to start making your medical decisions for you.” Deciding to leave the ‘worst memory of childhood’ question for when he might have a use for such information, House asked, “why do you hide your intelligence?” Ahh and there it was. Obvious question really. She sighed and stared at the ceiling again. “Aren’t I supposed to get three questions before you get one? Or did you forget that part? What makes you think I’m hiding my intelligence?” She asked House laughed, “Yes, and No, I didn’t forget, that’s your three. And sorry, Prince Ali, but this guy with the stick knows that you’re really Aladdin. You get squat for question four, unless you answer me and then make it an official question.”A slight sigh again, she looked annoyed at having been caught out but was quiet for a moment, this time as if she were trying to think of how best to answer him. She turned her head again to look at him. “Ok…” she lifted a hand and held it up one slender finger pointing up. “To answer your question I need you to answer two unofficial ones of mine, if you’re not happy with that, I’ll give you two in return. Question the first...why do you as standard not spend time with your patients?” She waited, looking at him.To House, this sounded suspiciously like the whole wishing for more wishes malarchie. He thought for a moment. Did he have more than just two questions for her? Answer, yes. “It’ll cost you those two questions.” Arin nodded as if she had already accepted that,“Patients annoy me,” he replied, intentionally keeping his answer direct and straight to the point. “Ok, and if you had to be with them, like there was no choice, no get out or other option, they were it, you had to be with them for every day for the rest of your life. Being alone all the time not an option, death or the life of a hermit also not an option. No other get outs including not diagnosing them so they die either. What would you do to make that more tolerable?” she asked.  Well, that certainly sucked the fun right out of it, House mused. His first option had been slit his wrists, followed by not bothering to diagnose them so that they died. As if to answer her question, he fished in his pocket and pulled out his vicodin bottle. Tipping out two capsules, he tossed them into his mouth and swallowed. “In case you missed it, I’d give myself a permanent high.”If this answer shocked her she didn’t show it. In fact she seemed to almost expect it, “Well, that’s highly inappropriate to say to a teenager but ok, let’s go with, you’d do something to numb yourself from it. In your high you don’t need to think about things too deeply. You can go day to day without having to probe too deep below the surface only to find that the surface is actually as deep as it gets.” She looked at him a slight frown pulling between her eyebrows. “Do you understand?”House cast his mind back to the analogy he’d made about witches and villagers. It seemed that his theory had been correct. This witch was stuck living amongst them and so had dumbed herself down to their level. However, that raised the question, “why do you bother hanging around with the idiotic villagers? Last time I checked, King Radovid wasn’t burning every witch or sorceress he finds. Surely there’s plenty of other witches you could go hang around with. You guys could even form a lodge or something dumb like that.”Arin smiled. “Covens. Witches form covens. That counts as a question if I answer it,” she warned. “Of course,” House said, waving a hand as an indication he wished her to answer. “You also need to drink that soda and keep that neck still.”“Well, that’s an oxymoronic thing to say,” she said putting her head back to the 12 o’clock position and pulling the straw back into her mouth. She sipped again then removed it. “I tried. The other witches weren’t much different than the villagers,” she said adopting his metaphor. “...basically the same sort of alienation thing happened. It’s easier being with the villagers. You don’t need to think, really. It’s like becoming Amish, but sometimes you kinda miss the light switch.”While the analogy made perfect sense to House, it would only apply if the kid was a lot more intelligent than she let on. And by a lot he meant a lot a lot. While her psychiatric file had said she was clever, it did not indicate prodigy clever, which she would essentially have to be for her explanation to make sense. This gave him a problem, as it meant that she was either lying, or not telling him the whole truth. He already knew her family had some serious money behind it, so if she was not lying, it raised the question of why her family had not done anything about it. He might need more than the two questions he had left to figure this one out.“It’s your turn,” he then said, hoping to buy a little longer to decide on a plan of attack. Arin turned her head to look at him again and gave him the same calculating glance from head to foot. “What’s your medical specialty,” she asked. The question caught House slightly by surprise, but he gave no outward indication of it. The kid had gone to all that trouble to barter for some questions and then this was what she asked? Each to their own he supposed. “Nephrology, pathology and infectious disease,” he replied, before taking a swig from his coke can. Arin seemed to ponder this quietly. He thought carefully before he asked his own question. While the psychiatric file had only labeled her as clever, he was willing to wager that she did not know what it said. In that respect, it was time for a good old fashioned bluff. “Given that it was noted you were a prodigy at a young age, why did your family never do anything to ensure you were catered for appropriately. They certainly don’t lack the money.”  Arin frowned at him, the repaired head wound from yesterday making this slightly harder than it should have been. She couldn’t see where he had gotten the information from. “It’s a rather large jump to go from exhibit A is hiding how intelligent they are to, Exhibit A is a child prodigy.” She took a breath and closed her eyes, as if she were about to jump into a swimming pool. “It also depends what you mean by catered for appropriately. If we go in the direction that a child prodigy is defined in psychological literature as a person under the age of ten who produces meaningful output in some domain to the level of an adult expert.” Arin took another breath. “To your point about catered for, it wouldn’t matter since prodigiousness in childhood is not always maintained into adulthood. I mean, researchers have found that gifted children fall behind due to lack of effort and then it evens out because they don’t put the effort in and coast. Middle of the road students, despite their intellectual gifts.So prodigiousness in childhood is not a strong indicator of later success and tends to have been relatively forgotten about in teenage years, or by my age, according to most.”“To cut through your deflective pile of psychological bullcrap, you already admitted to being a witch amongst villagers. So while you might not be reaching the intellectual highs you could have, you already argued that the other witches and the villagers have more in common with each other than they do with you. Now, since we’ve established that you were labeled a prodigy as a child and that your family is well-off, maybe I should rephrase the question. Why have you been left to choose between a bunch of idiots and a bigger bunch of idiots, rather than be around those that can intellectually stimulate and challenge you. And no, that's not a different question, it’s just a restatement of my original one that I want an answer to.”Arin shrugged. “I tried to,” she replied indignation colouring her tone. “My parents died when I was 4. I was labelled, as you so astutely put it, at 6. My grandmother did everything she could to encourage my ‘gift’. She took me to a gifted and talented art class.” Arin rolled her eyes at the memory and looked at House.When the older man simply raised his eyebrows in a go on’ gesture she elaborated. “Utter disaster, I have utterly no artistic ability, zero, ziltch. I just don’t get it…Colour rules and boundaries for expressing what is apparently supposed to be your soul? No thank you.”  She shrugged. “Music was the next obvious thing. That worked out better, music was easier. But again there was the issue of what was acceptable to play so it was limited. But in the end it didn’t matter. People don’t like you to be clever, especially not when you are younger than them. And not if you’re a child and their an adult, that’s almost worse. Moreover, when you are actually with people who are supposed to be as clever as you, well, they all think they’re the most clever, obviously, and they need to prove it so they act accordingly. They are all perfectionists. Gifted children often associate even slight imperfection with failure. So they don’t take risks or, like….actually DO anything and if they do they tend to be acting out against helicopter parents or whatever. So they are rebels which is tiring and if not then they niche themselves, maybe one or two areas...that’s so boring. Depth but no breadth. Like a plunge pool. It’s…” she seemed to search for the right word. “...constricting.” Looking at him again Arin seemed to consider him with a deeper calculation. As if noticing something about him for the first time. “I want the pool to be wide enough to move about in. Does that make sense?” she added.Well... that was certainly more than he’d been expecting. Perhaps the loss of some spinal fluid had loosened her tongue somewhat. “Guess the store must have been all out of smart people with all of the perks and none of the drawbacks.”Why the hell was she telling him all of this? It was like the hole in her spine had turned a key and unlocked her tongue. She took a sip of soda, more for something to do than anything else while her mind tried to work it out. Her cheeks had flushed slightly. He took another swig from his can as he pondered both her and his fourth and final question. “Where does your interest in medicine come from, given that you have iatrophobia?” he finally asked. Arin for her part considered this question for a few minutes. The silence stretched and eventually she shrugged. Did she have an interest in it? In a lot of ways it felt like, at least to begin with, akin to someone with arachnophobia looking at images of spiders. Yet, as time went on it became an interest in something alien, like space exploration. She pondered what to do about this question. Would he know if she lied or just shrugged it off? She looked at him, yes he would. She had told him more than she would ever have considered telling him 24 hours ago. Maybe even 12 hours ago. But he had seen her freak out. Gotten the truth out of her and hadn’t made light of it or attempted to cure it. Which was part of the worry she had secretly held, she realised. He also hadn’t scoffed at her proclaimed intellect, which she knew her own friends often did…however...how would he respond to the lie. She watched him again and with another shrug said,  “I don’t really have that much of an interest.”“Oh, no, no, no, no,” House replied as he heard the lie roll of her tongue. “You were doing so well. You drank the soda and remained relatively flat on the gurney. Answered the questions about your intellect and family. And then spoiled it all with that poor excuse for a lie. This will not do, Arin.” A smile formed on his face that would send most people running from the room. “Now, why don’t you try again. And don’t lie this time, I’ll know.”She laughed. The first proper laugh she could remember having since the morning before the mall. In fact, the first proper laugh she could remember having for a long long time. She doubted Robyn or Zen had ever called her out like that. They didn’t notice when she told that sort of lie. To make literature references in response...Her chest tightened as she struggled to breathe and laugh at the same time flat on her back as she was. “Hey, hey, don’t die on me, Kiddo. You still owe me an answer. And I don’t think the national edition of the times and international edition of the herald accept personal ad’s from the afterlife.” Arin struggled to control herself. A full three minutes more it took her to calm down. She looked at him. “Ok, Doctor Lecter, how about because it’s the unknown? How about yours?” She was chancing her mit. House laughed internally. This street rat didn’t give up, did she? “I’m afraid you’re all out of questions, Kiddo. However, I’m not willing to accept a whitewashed answer such as ‘because it’s the unknown’. Lot’s of things are the unknown, why the medical field in particular?” She smiled at him “Regardless it was an answer. Which means you are out too, Hannibal. If you wanted specifics you should have asked a more specific question.” The bottom of her back twinged suddenly in a sharp painful cramp feeling, “ow…” she said out loud her body automatically trying to curl up away from the pain. She tried to roll onto her side. When he saw her try and roll onto her side, House shoved his cane out over her chest. “It keeps itself on its back, or it gets the cane again.”The cane startled her slightly and the ache of pain stabbed again. The anaesthetic was wearing off clearly. “It hurts,” she told him and pushed the cane away.House got up from his stool and crossed over to the medicine cabinet. Finding a suitable painkiller, he crossed over to the girl’s IV stand and injected it directly into the line. “Next time, tell me you’re in pain instead of trying to do something stupid.” He sat back down on the stool and took a drink from his soda.She watched him warily as he got up and moved. She flinched slightly as the hypodermic was pushed into the line and could feel her heart rate increase. Slowly she took a deep breath and tried to get herself under control. “I didn’t know I was until then, I’m not used to telling people when I’m in pain,” she said, slightly more hostility in her tone than she felt.House winced internally at having elicited her jagged tone once more. And it had been going so well. Perhaps in this instance, doing the normal doctor thing of simply fetching and administering the pain killer, followed by the normal House thing of passing derisive commentary, had been a mistake. Maybe answering her question would convince her to keep the Bat'leth sheathed for now. He might still need more tests. “When I was fourteen, I was living in Japan. I went rock-climbing with this kid from school. He fell, got injured and I had to bring him to the hospital. We came in through the wrong entrance, passed this guy in the hall. It was a janitor. Friend came down with an infection and doctors didn't know what to do. So they brought in the janitor. He was a doctor and a buraku; one of Japan's untouchables. His ancestors had been slaughterers, gravediggers. And this guy knew that he wasn't accepted by the staff, didn't even try, didn't dress well, he didn't even pretend to be one of them. The people around that place, they didn't think that he had anything they wanted, except when they needed him. Because he was right; which meant that nothing else mattered, they had to listen to him.”Arin felt her body relax as the painkiller House had given her took effect. Her breathing eased too, she hadn’t realised that the pain had been building so much over the last ten minutes. Maybe the laughing had caused her to tense? “So you became interested in medicine because you wanted to be right?” she asked After he had finished, House sat and listened to see if the kid’s breathing had returned to normal. Again, he disapproved of her trying to con him out of questions. Who did she think she was, him? “That nugget will cost you a question,” he replied. Rolling her eyes Arin sighed, “fine. Quid pro Quo.”“I already asked it,” he said, curious to see whether or not he had a new symptom or if she was just being difficult.Another eye roll was his answer. “I don’t know what else you want me to tell you. I have no reference for it, it’s curious. Like having a sort of multidimensional Rubix cube, I guess. There’s just so much of it.” She lifted her arms and moved her hands as though she held such a puzzle between them. “We are like this random collection of bones held together In a way that makes no sense, by forces we don’t understand. Packed with meat and animated with electricity. Parts of us are fragile and susceptible to so much it’s literally terrifying how fragile we are.” She dropped her arms again. “...but we also heal more quickly than anything else on the planet. We are living but also full of living parts like a weird ecosystem,” she paused and considered if maybe she was drunk. Oh well in for a penny. “I haven’t had to think about it before but I guess if I am being pressed to answer you, you could say it interests me because medicine is like the human equivalent of exploring the amazon or the oceans or the galaxy. It’s right there, but it’s immense, unknown and it scares me.” Whatever answer House had been expecting, that had not been it. His suspicion it seemed, about her having an interest in medicine, had been wide of the mark. This wasn’t interest, it was fascination. And by the sound of it, not just about medicine, but also the fear of it; her fear. If he was not careful she could turn into another Johnathan Crane. Wait, scratch that. How cool would it be to have his very own Scarecrow. If ever he had a problem getting consent from a future patient, had Cuddy yelling at him to go to the clinic, or in need of some amusement at Wilson’s expense, he could just send her in and hey presto problem solved.She pressed her head back into the pillow, her cheeks had flushed red. “Great, I sound like a crazy person at best and at worst, a Batman villain,” she said.A grin spread across House’s face. It looked like she was already accepting of her role as a Batman villain. “Give me a call if you ever start advertising your services. You know, after you get out of Arkham.”“You’re so not helping me feel less like a headcase here, thanks.” “At least being a headcase is interesting. Your turn.”She waited a beat or two of silence. “I guess I should ask the obvious question.” She said. “Why nephrology?” She sipped from the can at her side and watched him expectantly.The second she said the phrase ‘obvious question’, House rolled his eyes and took a drink from the soda can. Why did it always come back to… He paused mid thought when she said, ‘why nephrology’. That certainly was not the appropriate follow up to that statement. Medicine not personality. He might have to eventually recategorize her fascination as obsession. “Kidney’s are cool.”Arin digested this answer while she sipped some more of the soda. “Why was that the obvious question for you to ask?”“Well, the nurses and your team made a big deal about how you only take on the rare cases. How you have the whole diagnostics department, which Doctor Foreman assures me is one of only 7 in the US, and was one of the originals. So it’s kind of a no brainer why pathology. You like the rare and the difficult cases. Which the first two equates to. The other bit didn’t really fit with that. But, clearly weird...personal preference of the organ is the answer,” she smirked. Something about the kid’s answer did not sit right with House. While it did not sound like a lie, for she genuinely seemed like she wanted the answer, it should not have been the obvious question. He’d encountered far too many people since the infraction and the first question any of them had asked was related to his leg/cane. Hell, even people he spoke to on a semi-regular basis led with that. It was no longer a case of, ‘Hey, Greg, how are you?’ rather, ‘Hey, how’s the leg?’. Not your leg, the leg. Like it ceased being his. Needless to say, it irked him no end. Hence, a question about his field of specialty was never the first. So why had she asked it? “How old were you when they labelled you a child prodigy?” She asked next. Great, House thought. Now she’s trying to play the, ‘I’ll ask you what you asked me’ game. Still, unless she had the ability to pry deeper, he would not have to resort to fabricating something off the cuff. Maybe he could be the bastard child of some Yakuza boss today. “About the same as you, six maybe seven,” he eventually replied as he watched her. He should let it go, he knew but that wasn’t the sort of man he was. Taking his gaze away and looking instead at the handle of his cane he bounced it a few times then said, “if you see a guy missing an arm, you can’t help but wonder what happened to him. Human curiosity at its best. Same applies if they’re in a wheelchair, or walk with a cane…” He let the sentence hang for a moment. “You don’t ponder why they became an insurance salesman, or a carpenter or why they chose a particular medical specialty. At least not until you’ve exhausted the obvious…”“Are we ruling out the idea that they picked insurance, because their careers as superheroes were cut short by new legislation?” she interjected, tilting her head backwards again to look at him. “Straighten that neck,” House said curtly, slightly annoyed at having been cut off. “I want to know why you really thought that was the obvious thing to ask. Unless, of course, you tried to lie to me again.”Arin rolled her eyes again but did as he said. “Sorreee,” she muttered, then added, ”I already answered that question. Why wouldn't it be the obvious thing to ask if you're trying to get a better understanding of the person you're stuck with, who embodies your worst nightmare come to life?” Despite his warning, she craned her neck again to look at him. ”Would you rather I had asked what your worst memory from childhood was?” “Like I said, see the man missing an arm and the first thing you ask yourself is, how did he lose it? So why did you decide to skip that question?” He pondered the possibilities himself and deduced that the obvious answer was that she’d already asked one of his team. She’d already indicated that Foreman had told her about diagnostic departments. Maybe one of them had all to eagerly talked about his leg. Probably Cameron, under the idiotic belief that by understanding her doctor’s issues, she would be able to trust him to help her. Or some other such bullshit. Arin continued to look at him, again her brow had furrowed. Her eyes darted to his cane then back again and her expression cleared, as if she were only just understanding what he was asking her. ”I don't see why it's relevant.” she said slowly then shrugged. ”You having a cane doesn't impact on your ability to a) be my doctor or b) annoy me. And, out of everything else about you it's not exactly high on the list of interesting things.” she paused to watch him. ”You have a cane, so what?”If not for the fact that she sounded so genuine, House would not even have considered believing her. Yet having already rumbled one of her lies, she had either considerably upped her game in that department, or was actually telling the truth… The idea that anyone, let alone a sixteen-year-old kid, could lie to him so convincingly, did not compute with him. He was virtually a human lie detector. Which meant he was left with the latter… the truth. Could he really have met someone who took a so what attitude to his cane? Not sure exactly how to react to this, House said again, but without the bite of the last time “straighten that neck.”  With a sigh Arin again returned her head to its flat position and warily added, ”you're not going to hit me with it again, are you? Because that would be really unsportsmanlike.”“No,” House replied swiftly, “and that counts as a question.” Before she could protest, he asked, “out of the whole village, why sk8er boi and the mermaid?”Indignation colouring her tone Arin said, “you know she could have died, right? The pump was actually pulling her hair in and under when I got to her.” She shivered at the memory. “She’s not going to get to go home today is she?” she asked House.“That’s not how we play the game, Kiddo. You have to answer a question before you get to ask one. Quid pro quo and all,” House said. Apparently his new friend was either a slow learner or, much like himself, did not care for rules. Much like Anakin Skywalker… did that make him the emperor? He smirked internally. He could totally own being one of the most powerful Sith Lords of all time. Only he wouldn’t blow it.  Arin rolled her eyes. “I knew Robyn when we were little, she’s fairly easy to be around because she doesn’t expect much from you. Just turn up and offer comment on her outfit and let her play dress up from time to time. Zen transferred in middle school, he was alone and out of place, so I asked him to sit with us. He’s a nice guy, he stuck up for me and helped me when I was…” she stopped talking suddenly and bit her tongue. Too much almost. But now it was left hanging. “He helped me,” she added lamely. Hello, what have we here, House thought as he listened to her try and cover up her Freudian slip. Another avenue to probe perhaps? Unfortunately, he would have to wait his turn. “Your question, Kiddo,” he said, hoping it was going to be the one regarding the mermaids fate. Arin didn’t disappoint. “Is Robyn going to get to go home today?” she asked again. “Not a chance,” House replied and, given that it had been a bit of a gimmie, added, “she got given a nebuliser treatment earlier today because her breathing wasn’t up to scratch. physically she’s fine, no real injuries, that sort of thing but her lungs are weak. My guess is a lingering infection, Which is probably what caused her attack in the first place along with the pollen count. She’ll be admitted, probably here for another five days. And if Cameron has any sense get a higher steroid inhaler for her troubles.” He gave her a moment to digest the news before asking, “what was it the sk8er boi helped you with?”Arin sighed. “I don’t really want to talk about that.” She said. Her refusal to reply did not come as much surprise. However, it virtually indicated that it was something worthwhile for him to find out.“There was no restriction put on what questions could be asked. So I want the answer.”“I don’t feel very well,” she said, though a clear avoidance of his question it was the truth, her head did hurt and while she had slept a little the constant noise and emotional up and downs of the day so far had made her exhausted. She was pale and felt warm. She looked longingly at the now empty can of soda wishing it was still cold. His question forgotten for now, House got up and stood at the side of the gurney. Taking a pen light from his pocket he loomed over the Kid and clicked it on. “I’m going to check your pupils, hold still for me,” he said.Apparently interested in the fact he was explaining first, Arin nodded and did as he asked. Once he had confirmation that the Kid knew what he was about to do, House shone the penlight into each of her eyes in turn. Her pupils were responsive enough. “Do you have a headache or do you feel nauseated?” “Both,” she admitted blinking and frowning as the light went away and her eyes returned to the correct dilation for the light level of the room.“Ok, I’m going to take your temperature then measure your pulse. Is that ok?”“Why have you decided to ask first? You didn’t bother last night.” she pointed out, “Last night I was doing everything I could to try and get you to see sense and consent to my tests,” he replied. When she gave no hint of objection, he pulled out an auditory thermometer and inserted it into her ear. She jumped slightly and pulled a face as the ear thermometer went in. It was better than the one he had used the previous night but still the sensation was odd. When it beeped, he removed it and checked the reading; 100.9F. The temperature was up again. He considered her as she turned her head and lifted it slightly from the gurney to try and get a look at the reading. “No, test results are for doctors, not patients,” he scolded absently and turned the device out of her line of sight.With a slight huff sound Arin put her head back into the pillow a scowl on her face.Somewhere outside an alarm went off indicating some sort of code. Muffled yelling and shouts accompanied it. Fever as a stress reaction...his thought died mid process as he placed two fingers over her pulse point and felt her react suddenly under his touch. She physically jumped and gasped as if he had been hiding and just yelled Boo and grabbed her from behind. He frowned down at her as under his grip on her wrist he could feel her heart thundering. Even with forewarning, it seemed that taking this kid's  pulse was enough to set her off. He kept a hold on her wrist but readied himself to stop her if she tried to do something stupid like bolt from the room. Her heart rate had clearly spiked since he’d touched her, so he was forced to wait for it to settle down before he could get even a semi-accurate reading. Arin tried to pull her wrist back from him as a sudden surge of fight or flight reaction gripped her body. When she couldn’t She sat upright the movement causing her back to ache and her head to throb more. Another wave of dizziness engulfed her and she closed her eyes to stop herself being sick. When she sat up he used his free hand to  push her back down to the gurney. She went easily enough, thankfully onto her back and with little resistance. In the end, her pulse settled at 105bpm; tachycardic. He released his grip on her wrist. “Your heart’s beating too fast, we need to slow it down. I’m going to help you roll onto your side. I want you to pull your knees up to your chest and hold them there. On three. One… two… three.”Arin nodded at His explanation and managed to turn relatively unaided. As she pulled her knees back up she felt the thunderous beating in her chest and head start to lessen. She took A slow breath and felt embarrassed again. “Sorry…” she said, I’d say don’t worry about it, happens all the time, but that’d be a total lie.” He waited and watched her carefully, thoughtfully, “...you’re quite a rare specimen you know. True iatrophobia isn’t exactly common. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered it, not to this extreme at least.” Gently he picked up her wrist again. “Referring to me as a specimen isn’t helping with that you know.” She said in response. Her pulse was better. Not great but better. Carefully he replaced her wrist on the gurney. If his words offended her he didn’t care. He looked at his watch, it had been an hour since he had finished the LP.  “I think it’s time we moved you back to your room. Let you get some rest.” Reaching into his pocket he took out his phone and paged Cameron. Arin sighed, looking at him from the gurney she felt a small wave of panic and sadly added. “Last question. You’re not going to let me go home today are you?” she asked him. “You’re going to admit me aren’t you?”House smirked at her, “in your condition, no way. But if you’re good I may keep you company again. That's two you owe me, Kiddo.” He could hear her groan even over the door opening and his lackeys entering.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Chapter 17 - Village People

Sometime later, Arin opened her eyes and blinked, momentarily confused by the grey roof tiles above her. She hadn’t meant to drift off. Her hand itched and made her look down at the line still in her hand. The tubing ran up to the bag of saline and a smaller bag on the silver hook that hadn't been there when she had fallen asleep. She hadn't meant to sleep...the last thing she could remember was the trip back through the hospital to her room. Watched the ceiling lights above her flick past overhead. Internally wrestling with the feelings of panic that threatened to engulf her and trying to tell herself that she didn’t feel exposed. By the time they had parked the gurney beside her bed and it was time for her to move, she felt wrung out, like an old dish cloth. 
 
She had settled into the bed again and closed her eyes for just a moment…a few seconds reprieve…while House and his flunkies talked in hushed voices, casting glances at her every few moments. Sleep was so welcome…but the thumping of her heart seemed like it would never slow. She closed her eyes and listened to it, trying to force deep relaxing breaths.  Turning her head towards the window she saw the deep blue of the sky outside unhindered by clouds. How long ago was that? Her neck was stiff from the alien pillow and mattress. 
 
“How’s your head?” A voice asked from the bottom of the room. The girl sat up slightly on her elbows to look quizzically in the direction it came from. House looked up at her from the chair at the bottom of her bed and the medical journal he was reading. His shirt and jacket from earlier were missing, the slight difference seeing him in the dark jeans and a band t-shirt that she couldn’t make out was somehow startling. He wore a pair of silver wired spectacles which he peered over and met her dark brown eyes over the top of the glossy paper. He held her gaze for a moment and waited.
 
“What are you still doing here?” She asked groggily and pushed herself further up, reaching for the water at her bedside.
 
“I work here.” He told her. 
 
She rolled her eyes. “I mean, why are you still in my room? Don’t you have an office to sit around waiting for your patients to wake up from naps?”
 
He gave a sort of half smile. “Normally yes, but with you, I feel like I need a front row seat just in case I miss something.” he folded his journal and put it down on top of a small stack of papers. Apparently, he was in for the long haul.
 
She picked up the water pitcher and felt her hand shake slightly. Concern blossomed across her expression. She felt so weak. Her eyes moved upwards hearing the squeak of his shoes on the linoleum floor. 
 
In two strides, House was at her side. Gently he took the pitcher from her and filled the small cup with water which he handed to her. 
 
“Thank you.” She said and sipped. 
 
This caused him to raise his eyebrows but not comment other than to say “You’re welcome.” She seemed calmer in his presence. As she drank he checked the readouts on her vitals. 
 
“What time is it?” She asked. 
 
”Late afternoon by now.” He said without diverting his attention. Satisfied he stepped back and observed her for a moment. “ You spiked a fever shortly after moving back to your room. I've started you on some steroids and some broad-spectrum antibiotics. I thought it best to let you sleep.”
 
She continued to sip her water until the cup was empty. When no conversation was forthcoming he added. ”The blood work showed a slight increase in your white blood cell count this time, coupled with fever it means infection. The LP was clean. …” she raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything so he continued. “Your temperature is better. Sit forward for me.” He visually inspected the rash on her neck. The inflammation was down and the skin looked relatively normal. “The rash looks better. The meds seem to be working”
 
Again nothing as forthcoming. Frustration flared, had she decided to give him the silent treatment or what? “Cat got your tongue?” He huffed and stalked back to his seat.
 
Arin watched him go, carefully considering his expression. Was he annoyed with her? “No.” She said. “Just thinking.” 
 
House lowered himself into the chair, careful of his bad leg. Frustration turned to relief and then quickly to Surprise. He hadn’t counted on actually wanting the rapport they had established to continue but in the moment where he wondered if she had reverted to the same standoffish relationship of the previous evening, he found that he didn’t want it to. 
 
Her test results were normal which should have been boring but although he now had something to go on, a marginal white blood cell count elevation, something still didn’t sit right with him regarding her. The medicine was almost secondary to the intrigue of the iatrophobia and once he had scratched the surface of that there seemed to be many more unaccessed layers. 
 
“About?” He asked finally. His interest was genuine. 
 
Arin puffed air between her cheeks in a manner rather reminiscent of the way House himself sometimes did. She seemed to be considering carefully something that she was unsure if she should put into words. The girl gave him another appraising look and then went back to looking at the cup in her hands. 
 
“Do you want to ask about your meds?”
 
She shook her head. 
 
“Do you have questions about what happens now?” 
 
Again she shook her head and looked up at him again. He felt the flare of frustration but quelled it. 
 
”Well come on Kiddo, spit it out. What are you thinking about” he said.
 
“I’m thinking about what you said, about why you chose to become a doctor.”
 
If this wasn’t what he expected he didn’t show it, simply readjusted his leg and leaned back in his chair to consider her. “I already answered that question.”
 
“It’s…not a question…it’s more of a thought process.” She said.
 
“Go on.” 
 
“I’m wondering about what you actually said. About why you decided to become a Doctor.” 
 
“Right. You said that…you’re going to have to elaborate more if you want me to confirm or deny anything.”
 
“You said it was because of the time you were in Japan. The way the buraku Guy was treated. How you did the same, when you first saw him you like everyone else ignored him until they realised they needed him.”  
 
He waited, feeling his brow furrow slightly as he wondered where she was going with this.
 
For her part She seemed to consider if she should continue or not, it was a struggle to decide but it felt like she couldn’t stop herself now, she weirdly felt more awake around him somehow and it was too difficult to bite her tongue as she normally would, “You asked me earlier why my family hadn’t done more to nurture my gifts. Were you asking as a stab in the dark or did you ask because empathetically you knew I would respond, because yours didn’t either?” 
 
There was a pause between them, she was acting differently. Some sort of subtle change. House turned his cane in his hand. “I’ll bite. Explain your thought process on that one. Then maybe I’ll respond” 
 
She looked at him then, if her expression had been confused when he had asked her to explain what hurt or how she was feeling this was like a lowering of shields. Her expression relaxed for the first time since he had met her and became contemplative, without the defensive undertone.
 
“14 years old…” she began. “…don’t understand why you piss people off without meaning to just by telling the truth.  There’s power in that, being able to tell when people are bullshitting. But it’s more of a curse than a gift, spending years seeing everyone around you just always…lying, to themselves, to each other. Pouring out of them list a second language.”
 
“Everybody lies, what’s the point.”
 
“For some people, it’s enough to keep the fact you know someone is telling you nonsense to themselves. But you…you and I both know you can’t help yourself. You don’t care what is socially acceptable. So you call people out on it or you correct them.” She held her hands up and looked at them then traced the line of her arm with her eyes to the IV line. 
 
“God turning your brain on made you long-winded,” House rolled his eyes and entire head on his neck. “ I assume you're going somewhere with this.” 
 
“If you’d let me finish.” Arin scowled. “Can’t be a villager, ignored by the other Witches because you're atypical and they assume they are better than you anyway so why bother? So you can't fit in and use them as camouflage, it’s too stifling. But it’s the same with other witches…too slow or too focused on the social constructs that limit their thinking as well as yours, when you point it out you become as much a heretic as Galileo. But without the regard of the court of your peers. So you can’t be a witch… so you end up being nothing, just a big ball of ass hole-like behaviour that rubs both dichotomies the wrong way. Until you see something you totally could be. ” She shrugged and dropped her arms to look at him again. 
 
He met her gaze with a stoic expression. The cane now stationary in his hand. “Which is?”
 
“You’re a Warlock who lives in the cave outside the village and is generally scary enough not to bother but more or less ignored by both villagers and other witches, until the harvest dies or someone gets sick then they come to your cave with fruit and gifts and the plea for help they can only get from you. You help them, they praise you and give you stuff, forget about you and leave you alone to do your own thing until the next crisis.”
 
She shrugged and then all of a sudden, as if she was only just realising what she had said and who to, the defensive energy snapped back into place. Her cheeks flushed pink, embarrassment again, not fever.
 
House watched her, Well, that was certainly… interesting, he thought as he listened to the last words of the girl's rather profound rant. Many an individual had tried to psychoanalyse him over the years, some of the best trained at that. Typically they got hung up on the fact he was an ass, or unethical or, in more recent years, his leg. They constructed a version of him that they could use to blame all of his behaviours and characteristics on. Blame trauma or some other such excuse. Yet with only modest information, this kid had built up a fairly accurate profile of him…by using herself as a template. 
 
“This is what you were processing while you were unconscious in the throws of a fever?” He asked. 
 
The teen before him squirmed noticeably under the scrutiny of his gaze. And once again he found himself reevaluating the Rubix Cube as it changed colour on him. It seemed that both her psychiatrist and maybe even himself had underestimated just how ‘clever’ this girl actually was. “Well?”
 
Arin shrugged, and busied herself with the cup again. 
 
“Why?”
 
“You don’t make sense to me. I’m trying to understand my current situation and logically understanding your part in it and by extension you, allows me to gather the pieces I need to make a context...” 
 
“So you’re through being idiotic?”
 
“For now I guess so. At least in some ways, I doubt you’ll consider everything not idiotic if it doesn’t fit with your own opinions.”
 
“I thought you were pretending to be a villager.”
 
Arin looked up at him again. “Glamours don’t work on people who can see through them.” She said simply. Her brown eyes locked with his blue ones. 
 
He could see the wary nature in her but recognised something else. Something that he saw in the mirror every time he took a good look at himself. This was a lone wolf meeting another situation, like calling to like. Resonating between them. Despite her friends and her efforts, she was lonely. And now she found herself recognising the same thing he did and trying to create a reference point from it. 
 
“Not bad kiddo.” He said, with no more commitment than that. However, he did contemplate her for another long moment. “you’re sixteen right, just finished sophomore year?” He added. 
 
Arin nodded. 
 
Frowning and thinking out loud, House continued. “No more metaphors, no diversions, no deflecting… straight shooting down the middle. Ok?”
 
The girl again watched him and gave the same barely perceivable nod. 
 
“Just exactly how clever are you?” He let that hang in that air a second. “More than your average teen that’s obvious, if you know how to look. You hide it well kiddo but like calls to like as you said. So what...are you an A+ student clever? gifted and talented class clever? Mensa clever?” He paused. “I’d normally ask if you even know but something tells me you do. You know exactly.”
 
She sighed and looked at him as though he were asking her to open a box she had locked and didn’t want to. “Why does it matter? No one cares.”
 
”It matters to me, ” he said, staring at her, giving her nowhere else to look but at him, and then, without meaning to “I care.” He managed to conceal the shock he felt, where had that come from? When he managed to focus on her again he found she looked...upset? 
 
” Do you?” She asked him. “Or do you just want to build another lock pick to get in at me since you've nothing better to do?” 
 
”That's...not fair,” he said harshly. 
 
”Isn't it? You say you do but you don't care really, just like they don't. They want me to be their stupid but dependable friend, you want me to be the mildly annoying puzzle that's keeping you from whatever else you don’t want to do. Why does it matter to you? You've got what you wanted from me, you’re at the treatment point. That’s it, you're done. Back to the status quo without a backwards glance and without a care for what you’ve done. They are the same.” she didn't seem angry, not really but very tired. 
 
“You know the parable of Pandora’s box?” She asked but didn't wait for him to confirm.  Before he could reply she gave a deep sigh, her expression became stoic, her tone taking on a quotation style. “In only a few short meetings it is clear that the patient's behaviour is atypical. I  find her to be empathic, curious, and strong-willed. The further assessment shows the patient Possesses a clear sense of self-definition and purpose alongside a High intelligence quotient and an Inherent intuitive ability. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children administration took some convincing, however, displaying a score of 149, placing the patient within the ‘highly gifted’ category. It is my recommendation that a school more suited to her needs would allow for better development and bereavement to continue unobstructed.”
 
“Eidetic?” House asked after a few moments of silence, when she nodded he added “That’s not in your file. He just said you were clever.” She shrugged as if she had no explanation. “And so he had you sent to Scotland?”
 
Again Arin shrugged. “It was supposed to be a school where I could get encouragement and explore my gifts”
 
“And that didn’t happen did it?” He asked. 
 
“No.” She said with a bitter tone. 
 
He considered her. “So you made your Grandfather bring you back?”
 
The girl sighed. “No exactly, I sort of made a bit of a nuisance of myself. Coasted academically but was enough of a pest that they decided that the grief and upheaval were doing more harm than good. The school recommended I go home.”
 
A look of understanding crossed the doctor’s features. “Which is what you were betting on. You knew the adults wouldn’t listen to your opinion so you made sure they would make the suggestion for you. Am I right?” She looked at him then and he explored her expression a moment before nodding his head. “Interesting.”
 
The girl shifted uncomfortably but he continued to watch her. “Was the grief genuine or all part of the manipulation?”
 
“Are you asking me if I’m a sociopath?” She asked. 
 
“Manipulative yes, sociopathic…well not sure about that, but my money on no.” He shrugged. “I’m trying to understand you better.”
 
“Yes. The grief was…is…genuine.” 
 
House pondered this a moment as the girl played with a stray thread in the blanket across her knees. “For your Grandmother…but not for your parents?”
 
“I don’t really remember my parents, I have vague hazy memories about them but nothing really concrete. My Grandmother, she was all I had really. After she died Grandfather threw himself more into his work, travelling a lot more. He always made sure there were staff to take care of the house and me I guess but it just…wasn’t the same.” She gave another bitter laugh “How could it be”
 
There was silence a moment before House responded. “Sounds lonely.” He waited for a second and added, “That’s when you started self-harming?”
 
Her gaze flicked to meet his so quickly that he raised both eyebrows, suspicions confirmed it seemed. “How did you..?”
 
He nodded his head to her legs under the blanket. “I saw some scarring on your thighs during the set-up for the LP, it looked like it was mostly around the front and old but if you know what you’re looking for those sorts of scars are hard to hide.” 
 
Arin lowered her gaze again and a short silence fell between them. House, for his part, took in the girl’s reactions and considered his next comments. 
 
“That’s what the skater boi helped you with, wasn’t it? Did he see you do it or did he see bleeding and put two and two together?” 
 
“The later,” Arin said. She looked up to meet House’s gaze again. “Are you going to have to tell someone?”
 
“Like who?” He asked. 
 
She shrugged.
 
 “Like someone from psyche?” He continued and when she gave a slight nod he turned it with a serious look of his own. With all of her other behaviours exhibited so far, he probably should. They would likely have a field day…and yet something stopped him other than the fact that he still didn’t have his answer yet. Instead, he said, “That depends, are you still doing it?”
 
Again she met his gaze and shook her head firmly. 
 
“Do you feel the urge to do it still?” 
 
“When I do I play the guitar instead.” She said quietly, causing him to tilt his head at her. 
 
“Show me your hands.” He said and stood to limp the short distance between the chair and her bed. 
 
Reluctantly, as if still wary his touch would burn her she did as he asked. 
 
House gently took her left hand in his own and turning it over began to examine her fingertips. “Interesting coping strategy.” He said and released her. “What happened to your Grandmother?”
 
“She died,” Arin said with a frown. 
 
“Yeah, I got that I meant why, what was the cause of death?”
 
“I already told Cameron and Chase when they asked me all of those questions.” 
 
“Yeah, tell me this time.” 
 
“She just died. One second she was fine then next she dropped to the floor. Aneurysm. Burst…”
 
“You were there?” 
 
Silently, as if she didn’t trust herself to speak, the girl shook her head. 
 
“I’m sorry.” He said and as rarely as it happened, his words were genuine. “There would have been nothing you could have done…if that helps.”
 
“I know, it doesn’t.” She said in response. 
 
He nodded and watched her quietly for another moment before moving back to the chair. Lowering himself into it he rubbed at his leg absently and helped himself to a Vicodin from his pocket. 
 
The two of them sat in an awkward sort of quiet for some time before surprisingly, the girl chose to break it. 
 
Arin considered the Doctor before her in his chair. “How do you deal with being…awake all the time.” She asked. 
 
He glanced at her and assuming she wasn’t talking about the sleep cycle and circadian rhythms considered his answer. “I find things to distract me. The medicine helps with that. I take on rare and interesting cases because they aren’t common and therefore aren’t boring. I look for puzzles and then I look to solve them.” He gave a slight smile as he watched her form her next question, preemptively he added. “And before you ask, the puzzle isn’t always because the symptoms are rare. Sometimes they are just weird. Occasionally I take on cases because the patients themselves intrigue me.” 
 
“Which is me I guess.”
 
“You got it Kiddo. Though you turned out to be much more interesting than I initially gave you credit for, even if your symptoms themselves aren’t all that interesting. I’ll give you that much.” He gave a crooked sort of half smile. 
 
This time Arin returned it with a sort of bemused look. “Well, I’m glad I have been of entertainment to you.”
 
House frowned. Was that all, entertainment? Perhaps it had started that way but now? Now he wasn’t so sure. He shook his head.  “I wouldn’t say that exactly.” 
 
Whatever he was about to say next died however as a knock from the door interrupted and the glass rolled opened behind the blinds. Another Doctor Arin didn’t know, put his head around the opening, his gentle expression took in the room and then fixed on House. 
 
“House.” He said, indicating the outside of the room with his chin. “Can I have a word?”
 
Arin watched with interest as her roommate carefully gathered his cane and got to his feet. “Certainly Doctor Wilson.” He said, his expression unreadable. To Arin, he said, “Have another short nap Kiddo, I’ll be right back.”

He left the room, closing the door behind him, leaving Arin to flop back into her pillows. She watched the ceiling for a few heartbeats then turned her head to watch the silhouettes of both men walk away from the room.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

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.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Chapter Nineteen - Awakenings

It was almost a mercy a few hours later when the Nurse entered to check Arin’s vitals and give her the medication House had prescribed. The Nurse had frowned at Robyn and suggested that perhaps hospitals had visiting times for good reason and it was time both of them got some rest. 
 
Robyn smiled prettily at him which Arin had to admit was certainly a skill given the unflattering nature of the hospital gown and robe her ebony haired friend wore and when that hadn’t elicited the response she had wanted begged for another fifteen minutes. 
 
The Nurse frowned again and crossed his arms giving Robyn a had no nonsense look. Only then, reluctantly, had she sighed dramatically and gone back to her own room.  
 
Carefully Arin started a breathing exercise while the nurse clicked his tongue and fussed over the bedsheets and half eaten trays of dinner from them both. Whether it was a mixture of the relentless heat or the quality of the food itself it seemed neither Arin nor Robyn had been very hungry. She lay staring at the Black King chess piece as the man worked. 
 
“You sure there isn’t someone we can call for you?” The nurse asked kindly as he rolled the blood pressure cuff startling Arin out of her reprieve. She turned to look at him and blinked stupidly.
 
“Uhh sorry. I wasn’t paying attention. Can you repeat that?” She asked 
 
He gave her a kind smile, a genuine smile, the sort that crinkles at the eyes. 
 
There is a knack to smiling, Arin considered as she watched him. The pulled back baring of teeth or the polite turn at the corners of the mouth are easy enough to fake but the eyes, everyone always forgets that part. 
 
“I was wondering if perhaps there was someone we can call for you. Your friend's parents wanted to stop in earlier when I came on shift but Doctor House had said you weren’t to be disturbed while he was in here.” His eyes flickered to the abandoned chess set as if he wanted to say something further but he did not comment on it, nearly continued “Visiting hours are over but I thought maybe there was someone you could talk to? The phones there of course but if it’s… difficult I’d be happy to call them for you first?” 
 
She searched his features again, he said it in such a way that seemed to indicate he had experienced difficulties telling his parents or guardians about being somewhere they wouldn’t expect, maybe the hospital or some small brush with the law in his younger days. He smiled reassuringly at her. 
 
With a slight sigh Arin collected herself as best she could and gave a small shake of her head “Uhh…no. No thank you.” She said evenly.
 
He looked even more concerned and opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off with a shrug and  tried to explain concisely “I appreciate your concern. My Grandfather is my only relative and he’s out of the country just now. I left a message for him but my phone got broken in the accident so I had to call his private cell because it’s the only number I remembered. He doesn’t check it very often. Anyone else I called would just result in a panicked reaction that wouldn’t change my situation or help it in anyway.” She raised her eyebrows as if asking if this information was enough to put his concerns to bed.
 
“I see.” He said carefully as if he didn’t exactly but recognised the line of questioning was not going to go anywhere. He busied himself making a note of her vitals on her chart. Finished he clicked his pen and pocketed it “Well if you do decide you need anything I’m Nurse Kimura but you can call me David. I’ll be on duty tonight so just give a buzz any time and if you do decide to make a call the phone is right there.” He smiled again and replaced the chart on the foot of the bed before leaving the room.
 
Arin watched him go and when the door slid shut released the breath she had been holding. She flopped back into her pillows and stared at the ceiling tiles. She was beginning to know the holes in them by heart. Minutes passed, the silence punctured only by the now familiar sounds of the equipment and the hospital backdrop. 
 
The ceiling tiles acted as a plain canvas for her thoughts. As she lay there, her mind started to wander, contemplating the unfortunate and frankly random series of events that led her to this point. The morning of the incident at the mall She had been dreaming about the night her parents had died. It was an old dream and happened from time to time but try as she might she couldn’t remember the details. Not exactly, more like emotions and impressions of things. It was understandable she reasoned that a small part of her could remember what had happened that night, but she had only been four…if she really strained, conscious as she was, the overwhelming sense of fear was all that she could really muster. Fear that was deep rooted and bordered on abject terror. That was it. Despite this it was as if her subconscious mind leaked small portions of memory out during the REM stages of sleep as a sort of pressure release and then wrapped it all up tight again. Would it do the same for these events when this was all over she wondered?
 
She sighed, she should have known the day wasn’t going to go well after that dream, it never did. But no way in the seven universes could she have imagined it would go so far array. Unbidden, the image of Robyn floating face down in the water crossed her mind. It was a sort of ethereal moment that would have been well placed in a horror movie.  She shuddered, feeling cold and shook her head as if to clear it, like an etch-sketch. 
 
How could  it have gone so weirdly in the wrong direction? The trip to the mall had started out fairly standard, Robyn trying on three different outfits, making her change her clothes into something ‘more fashionable’ before they went. Zen grinning at them both and holding her hand as they traipsed into shop after shop. Not for her of course, though she could always find something to look at in the windows of shops that they passed but “couldn’t possibly be seen dead in” such as the non clothes shops, the ones with CDs, music, games, books especially.  Zen knowing when the endless amount of fashion was getting too much for Arin to cope with and leading them all to get refreshments as respite. That was how it went. That was the mall routine.  
 
Hanging out with them, being with them both like that, good and bad aspects of it all was her safe space. The easy to be place where she wasn’t judged, where she didn’t need to think, just comfortably exist. That's what she wanted. Besides… they had been having fun before it all went wrong…hadn't they? A strange empty feeling gnawed at her chest. She plucked at the blanket over her as if the action could serve as a physical manifestation of her frustration and willed the feeling to go away. She turned away from the ceiling and watched the forming clouds glide through the royal blue sky through the window. The moon's glowed softly bathing the silent clouds in its embrace. A moon-bow was forming. Watching the world outside offered some solace from her thoughts momentarily, a gentle reminder that life continued outside these walls. She watched it until the scant clouds turned into a steely blue and gray fluffy blanket and the sky above them began to disappear. Rain… she thought briefly, looking away.
 
Her gaze flicked to the empty visitors chair that had been taken up so much the last few days by the enigmatic diagnostician. Gregory House. Strange name for a strange person. He terrified her and yet, despite everything he represented and how annoying he had proven to be there was something about him that had made the time he had spent with her both insufferable but also, strangely compelling. 
 
She actually found herself missing his presence. He had become a constant in the spiral of anxiety and stress that was the hospital. She pondered this and what real conversation with him would be like when she wasn’t worried that he was a Doctor. The chess game had absorbed that feeling of panic almost completely and when it was over the Anxiety and fear of her surroundings flooded back but not so much the fear of him…which made no sense. He was unpredictable, unconventional and nothing like she expected, she couldn’t anticipate his thoughts or his actions. Apparently she liked that about him, she reasoned. The constant strategising, as if the whole world were some giant game to be played, solved and won called to some part of her. Maybe the same part that spent time looking through medical journals and watching lectures online. Maybe the part of her that clearly was insane? 
 
She wasn’t sure but in that thought and in that moment she couldn't help but wonder what he was up to if he wasn’t here bothering her. He didn’t have any other patients to occupy his time that much she had gathered. So What did House do when he wasn’t in the hospital or throwing soda cans over random strangers he had just met? Did he have a family? A partner and kids? Somehow she doubted it. People without families, people on their own, had a way about them that she recognised in him. 
 
She pondered briefly how different the entire episode would have been if she had been Robyn, with her parents and grandparents in attendance. House definitely would be staring down the barrel of a lawsuit that was for certain in such a circumstance. 
 
 She puffed air between her cheeks. In truth she probably could have tried harder to contact her Grandfather but really, what was the point? She had learned from experience that often it was easier to deal with things on her own than involve the great man himself. Not that it was likely she would get him anyway but rather some assistant or akward intern only a scant few years older than her that would fall over backwards in an attempt to endear themselves to her grandfather using her as the proxy.  Arin sighed again and turned to look at the phone thinking about what the Nurse, David had said. She bit her lip. 
 
She could of course have called the housekeeper, but then again that would only have served to have the woman in more of a flap than she herself was and they weren’t that close really. The only thing worse than a suck up would be the employment obliged. Then ultimately she would have called the Grandfather and the assistant or intern whatever would come into play. Double the problem with less of the solution. The last thing Arin wanted was more stress in an already stressed to the max situation. But there was actually one other option…
 
She sat up, her feet dangling over the side of the bed and reaching over picked up the handset and dialed, she gripped the plastic in both hands and held the phone to her ear as if the weight of the thing was too much for one hand alone. It was late at night here in New Jersey and an hour ahead where they might still be. The answer came by virtue of the fact the call went to voicemail. Now she was trapped if she didn’t leave a message then the unknown number would cause alarm bells and then she would lose control of that situation as much as she had this one. The beep that indicated she could leave her message blared in her ear making her physically flinch. 
 
"Uhh. Hi. I mean Hello, Hector," Arin began, exhaustion weighing heavily on her voice, she cleared her throat, "It's me, obviously. I assume you aren’t home yet so I hope I'm not disturbing your vacation."
 
She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts before continuing, "So umm I’m not at home…we were at the mall, Robyn had an accident.” Quickly she began to explain. “She’s ok,I mean she's not ok, she's fine, she’s going to be okay. I hit my head trying to help her, it's not bad so, like, don't panic. Anyway they’re keeping her here for observation, me too I guess…that’s where we’ve been for the last 48 hours."
 
Her grip on the phone tightened, "And yeah, I should have called sooner but my phone's broken, i left a message for Grandfather but I don't think he's checked his personal phone yet." Or even remembered he has one for family use…she thought. She took a deep breath, "I don't know if you'll get this message tonight, but I wanted to let you know what's going on especially if you come home and I’m not back yet.” 
 
A hint of vulnerability crept into her voice as the beep sound warned her she was out of time and the message was about to cut out, "I…I’m in way over my head here, I really wish you could just…come get me…I…” whatever she was about to add died on her lips as the message cut out. For a moment she held the phone handset in her hand and listened to the dial tone then gently placed it back on its stand.
 
 A slight weight seemed to have lifted from her in calling someone. David was right it seemed. She settled back into the bed, hoping for a peaceful rest before the morning brought the impending sense of gamblers remorse. 
 
***
 
Hours later Arin lay tangled in the sheets, her mind unable to find the calm needed for sleep. It seemed almost ironic she mused as she shook the slightly damp material out to try and get comfortable. She could just imagine what House would say if she were exhausted and sleep deprived with dark rings around her eyes come morning. She rolled her stiff shoulders absentmindedly, he would probably decide that it was some symptom of something other than her dislike for the sterile environment and the scratchy hospital gown making it challenging to settle into a comfortable position and just turn off.
 
Glancing towards the semi open door, she noticed the soft glow of the corridor lights casting gentle shadows on the walls. The rhythmic beeping of the machines both in her room and those she could hear close by in the quiet space provided an eerie soundtrack to her restless night, further amplifying her sense of isolation. Everyone else seemed to be asleep. Why did it elude her? She felt more in control than the first night and she had managed to get some sleep then. 
 
She considered. Maybe the looming appointment with House in the morning, the sense of anxiety and uncertainty over that, was serving to add to the insomnia. It was a gamble she had played for. But now, as the reality of the impending exam sank in, the stakes felt too high, and she was unsure if she was truly ready to face the consequences. 
 
Another half an hour later and it was clear that unlike the previous night exhaustion was not going to claim her. The sterile environment offered no solace, and her mind, if it would not be allowed to rest, craved stimulation. Was desperate for it, it seemed. Like a desperate thirst. 
 
Again Arin shifted in the uncomfortable hospital gown, the fabric itself wasn't bad per say it just wasn’t what she felt comfortable in. She rolled and stretched. Now on her side her eyes landed on a folded wad of paper resting on the floor beside the bedside table. Curiosity piqued, she pushed up onto her elbow and reached down for it and unfolding it revealed an article on local immunotherapy. Confusion washed over her – why would this be here? Did House leave it on purpose? She sat up further, half remembering that Robyn had picked it up from under the chair and promptly dropped it as if it were poisonous. House must have left it by accident when he had collected the pile of papers he had been reading when she woke up. 
 
The words from the abstract danced before her tired eyes, and despite herself within moments she found herself drawn into the world of potential treatments as the researchers outlined their method and conclusions, it was well written and fairly compelling. As she read, Arin's initial annoyance transformed into fascination. The article delved into the intricacies of local immunotherapy as a potential treatment option for allergies and asthma associated symptoms. Basically targeting specific areas of the body's immune response with local sources that shared some of the allergens associated with the symptoms themselves. Like the old wives tale that a teaspoon of local honey every day would desensitise you to pollen and hayfever symptoms. It seemed nonsense yet the article argued that just as allergies could develop from long exposure to certain things so could, in turn, treatment. 
 
Settling back into the pillows she continued reading. Much of it, especially the intricacies of the medicine behind the discussion, was way above her understanding but she followed along as best she could. Maybe she would ask House about it in the morning.  
 
Fully intending to put it on the cabinet beside her and try again for sleep she reached for a drink of water as she finished the paragraph she was on. Her eyebrows pulled down into a frown, the article was now passionately linking lowered immune responses as a symptom of an allergic response causing fever and in some cases white blood cell count changes. That seemed strangely familiar. Absently she slid the water glass onto the table and continued reading. 
 
She didn’t have any allergies, yet as she considered a lot of her symptoms did seem to link together as the researchers suggested would be seen if their theory was correct. Lowering the article and allowing it to drop onto the blanket on top of  her knees Arin stared at a spot of moonlight on the wall. Just as she had when she had played chess with House hours before she began processing the events that had led to this moment. Replaying them in her head over and over like they were parts of a persistent puzzle piece waiting to be solved but try as she might the final solution just wasn’t there. 
 
She rolled the article and clenched it as she considered what to do. There was something missing…something obvious that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. She made a noise of frustration. Now what? she could sit here and make herself more and more annoyed or, an idea formed. If she were awake anyway and couldn’t sleep she could take a walk. A short one where she maybe happened to retrace her steps to see if it jigged anything loose in her minds eye. 
 
With the article still in hand, Arin carefully slipped out of bed and reaching up her made sure the gown was well secured. The hand not holding the article she closed around the mental pole of her IV stand and careful of the tubing gave it an experimental push. It moved silently along the floor at her bidding. Perfect. Quietly bringing it with her she walked to the door and poked her head out into the corridor. 
 
The space was deserted except for some staff quietly moving like ghosts here and there. None paid her any heed however, so emboldened by this and partly not willing to stay still much longer lest they did notice her she moved away towards the elevator bank. The soft padding of her footsteps barely made a sound, the IV stand gliding along the linoleum like a hot knife through butter. 
 
Arin felt her heart rate increase as she jabbed hurriedly at the call button and waited. What would happen if one of the staff noticed her? She wondered she wasn’t exactly sure what the rules were about being out of bed but House hadn’t seemed happy last time that much was certain. What would the night shift people do if they decided  that she wasn’t supposed to be there? Would they tell her off? March her back to bed? She wasn’t exactly sure what time it was she realised, casting around for a clock, but it must have been really late by that point as it had been getting on when she had called Hector. She doubted somehow patients were permitted to wander freely at night.

The elevator binged obscenely loud causing Arin to jump despite the fact she had been watching the numbers change as the carriage moved towards her call. She took a breath to calm herself as the door opened and quickly she darted inside. Her hand hovered over the button for the ER back to where this all started but then she hesitated that wasn’t exactly accurate was it? It had started somewhere else technically. She pressed a different button instead and followed the faint memory of the previous day's search for soda, eventually arriving at the vending machines where she had first met House.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Chapter Twenty - When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

The soft glow from the machine's display illuminated Arin’s face in coloured light as she stood there watching them, the gentle hum of the refrigeration units within seemed almost melodic. Without any coins to use she opted instead to backpedal to the leather sofa and sit down. Looking around at the empty corridor the teenager contemplated that first meeting with House. She leaned back and closed her eyes.

“you know”

House’s voice said again in her mind

“…they stopped making that stuff in the mid nineties after they realised what the long term effects of radiation was on the Chernobyl babies.”

Arin could see him sitting there speaking to her she looked at the imaginary can again in her head. Heard herself ask

“Sunkist?”

“Yeah, That thing almost contains enough waste for it to eat through the can. Be warned not all mutations grant super powers. Take my advice, toss that one in the trash.”

She opened her eyes, almost shocked not to find him sitting there. The memory had been so vivid. Looking around she tried to think of the best way to approach a search for something that she didn’t know she was looking for. Maybe if she could pinpoint the differences between then and now that would help. 
 
Ok. She thought what was the same now as had been then and what wasn’t. She was dry for a start, difference. She left as lost and anxious then as she did now, similarly. She had soda then, difference. She looked down at the hospital gown. And at her sock clad feet. Clothing difference. The socks distracted her a moment, maybe should have put her converse back on.
 
Some ten minutes later and Arin still was no further forward. She lay on the sofa on her back now her hands clasped across her stomach and the IV tubes carefully arranged over the arm to where the stand was parked staring at a different set of ceiling tiles. Oh how she was beginning to loath the things. 
 
“One of these things is not like the others…” she muttered almost mockingly out loud in a singsong voice. “…one of these things just doesn’t belong. Can you tell which thing is not like the others…” she tilted her head back to look at the vending machines and felt her forehead furrow. Carefully she sat back up as the final line of the song died on her lips. The plant pots. The plant pots on either side of the vending machines had housed large orange blossoms when she had been here with House, she was sure of it. Now however they contained a green tree like thing. 
 
Again she replayed the memory of sitting here with House through in her head. Straining for the exact details of the conversation. He had mentioned the plants she was sure he had…

“you know, they stopped making that stuff in the mid nineties after they realised what the long term effects of radiation was on the Chernobyl babies.”

“Sorry” Arin said out loud as if she were speaking her line in a play of sorts. House in her head continued

“It’s like those pots of botanical nightmares over there both relics of the USSR's nuclear programme.”

Getting to her feet Arin padded across one of the pots and bent down to inspect it. The floor and wall  itself was clean but a dull orange smudge on the paint told her she was right. She ran a hand around the inside rim of the pot brushing aside the top layer of soil. A small amount of orange came away from the underside of the pot rim. She rubbed it across the four fingers of her hand with her thumb. Pollen. 
 
The flowers had been replaced here, wilted maybe, but she was sure the same flowers were present in the ER corridors where her argument with Zen had happened. The argument that had escalated into the first breathing episode. She wasn’t asthmatic, House’s lung function test had proven that so she had reasoned that what the ER doctor had said was correct, given the stress and the situation it was a panic attack. She had a fever too, so that made sense…But what if it didn't, what if it HAD been an asthma attack. 
 
Her heart rate sped up slightly as she considered, absently rubbing the dust off her hand. 
 
That explained the first attack…not the fever so table that for now. What had been the second issue? The respiratory distress with House, in her room. Immediately she felt herself deflate. There were no orange flowers in her room. Theory burst.
 
Sighing heavily She straightened and brushed her hand down the side of her gown to dust off the last of the orange from her skin when a memory of dusting orange pollen from Zen’s shirt came flooding back. 
 
Slowly she repeated the gesture. She was wrong. The respiratory distress wasn’t second, the rash was…after they had been walking through the fourth floor corridor and she had noticed some of the pollen on the shirt. 
 
Grabbing the IV stand she quickly walked back to the elevator and into a carriage that appeared almost immediately. Less than five minutes later she was standing in front of another vending machine, solitary this time, looking at the pot of orange blossoms. They had wilted slightly.  A fine powder stained the floor around them. The same powder that had ended up on the shirt Zen had given her, which caused the rash and led to House's examination. 
 
Arin watched quietly as a man in overalls and wearing headphones pulled the orange plant out of the pot, disposed of it in a bag in his trolley and then began cleaning the wall. He then replaced the plant with a green one like the one she had already seen, mopped up the orange powder and soil mess on the floor and continued on his merry way. He gave her a slight nod of acknowledgment as he passed but seemed otherwise lost in his music and task. She watched him go and after a few moments walked contemplatively back to her room.
 
***

As the elevator binged open and admitted her back to the floor her room was on the nurse, David, stood at her door his arms crossed. Clearly he had just been in looking for her and finding her gone had been about to investigate further when she had appeared.
 
“And where have you been?” He asked sternly as she reached him. 
 
“I couldn’t sleep so I decided to go for a walk.” She said. Not exactly a lie. 
 
He tssked and ushered her back into bed, fussing with the IV stand and checking the line in her hand. Satisfied with it he reattached the monitors. “You really shouldn’t go wandering off like that, especially by yourself and certainly not at night.”
 
“Sorry.” Arin said absently. Half her mind still on her puzzle and only partly paying attention to him. He was checking her vitals now and tssked again.
 
“Your heart rate and temperature are up again. Doctor House won’t be happy with either of us if he finds out.” He gave her a rueful smile. “It’s late, try and get some sleep. Do you want me to bring you something to help?”
 
Arin shook her head and leaned back into the pillow. “No thank you.” She said.
 
David watched her a moment longer and then gave a slight sigh. “Try and sleep.” He said again and reaching over turned the lamp off and retreated from the room. 
 
In the darkness Arin stared at the ceiling again. After a few minutes she pushed the covers back and got out of bed to rummage in the cupboard. She found Zen’s tshirt quickly enough and bringing it back to the bed turned the lamp back on to examine it. The smudge where the pollen had been was almost indistinguishable now but she was sure that’s what it was. Positive of it. She had pulled it over her head when House had told her to loose the shirt so he could examine the rash. She had got stuck, breathed in the pollen on the shirt before House had freed her, unbeknownst to them both.
 
Now that she thought about it, the pollen was also in the ER corridor where she and Zen had argued. But also, those flowers or ones very like them had been at the mall by the fountain. Her face had an odd dreamy sort of expression as one by one each piece slotted together.
 
Carefully she folded out the crumpled article and read the section that had given her the idea again. Much of the medical aspects they went on to discuss were beyond her but the path it helped her paint was certain and clear.
 
“Firstly, the flowers at the mall, hours around them I start to react…” she whispered out loud. “…but it didn’t become a problem because…” she faltered,  thinking. “…because…because of the fountain! The water washed most of it off me. Oh god that’s probably what triggered Robyn’s asthma attack in the first place.” 
 
She ran a hand over her hair. Then what?
 
“Then we are here, and here I come into contact again. Adding in the stress and panic… covered in it and surrounded by it… I have the first attack and faint, but the fever isn’t from this time…” she jabbed her index finger at the passage discussing fever as a symptom of built up contact. “…fever is a reaction to the first time. Then House annoys me but I don’t have another reaction till the next day when I come into contact with the flowers again.” That didn’t make sense. Her face fell slightly as she reread the article section on treatment. “But why did it take so long?”
 
Glancing to the foot of her bed again Arin crawled the length of it and picked up the chart. Maybe there was something there that could explain that? Flicking it open she read through it, briefly noted with some annoyance she had been referred to as both anxious and hostile in what looked like House’s writing and looked for the various drug names listed. Her finger moved down the page and stopped on amoxicillin. The antibiotic for the elevated white count that meant  infection. According to the article allergies could account for that too. Acetaminophen was next, the painkiller for her head, what came after must have been the Ativan and the stuff House had given her before the CT and LP. That left prednisone which the article referred to as a steroid which could be given to refuse inflammation and immune response but also for breathing problems. That could be the reason for the delay in response maybe. The last name she didn’t know, diphenhydramine. 
 
Her frustration grew, knowing that answers were within reach but she couldn’t access for lack of understanding of one drug was horrific. 
 
You utter moron, idiot. This is what happens when you don’t understand things. This is the result of being a villager, are you happy now? She fumed internally. After another few moments berating herself she did the only thing that made sense, she got back out of bed and hurriedly walked out into the corridor straight for the nurses station taking her chart with her.
 
The soft sound of her footsteps in her socks and the faint hum of medical equipment created a backdrop of white noise, as if the hospital itself was speaking to her. Egging her on. 
 
"Excuse me," she said softly as she reached the nurses' station. David turned his attention to Arin, looking somewhat surprised to see her awake once again. He looked slightly disappointed as if he took her inability to sleep personally. He had no idea of the churning anxiety and frustration within her  which now kept her awake. And probably a good thing too Arin thought as she watched the nurse's calm and reassuring expression. If hebdid he would likely have called someone more senior or gods forbid House himself!  
 
"Oh, dear, are you still having trouble sleeping?" the nurse asked, his voice stern again but filled with concern.
 
“ Yeah sort of” she said somewhat dismissively as if that wasn’t really important at that moment. “but that’s not why I’m here, I have a question that I’m hoping you can answer for me," Arin replied, holding her chart up as if this explained her presence. 
 
The nurse frowned. “I’m not sure your supposed to be reading your chart.” He said “What do you need help with?"
 
"I had a question about one of the medications” she continued, ignoring his mild chastisement of her reading the chart. She opened it to the medications section. “Here It mentions that I'm getting these medications, amoxicillin, prednisone, acetaminophen…” she trailed her finger down the list again as she showed him and stopped on the stand out. “This one, diphenhydramine. What is that for?" Arin inquired, her voice tinged with curiosity and desperation. She held her breath, hoping, needing, the nurse would provide the missing piece to the puzzle.
 
His face softened with understanding. "Ok I get it, you’re feeling worried about the medicines. Right, you know the rest, yes?” He asked and waited for her to nod before answering, he typed into the computer he was at and then said “Ok well then diphenhydramine is an antihistamine.” He glanced at the screen again and then back to her chart and flicked back a page or two before nodding to himself. “ It seems to have been given to you as a mild sedative to help you sleep.”
 
Arin frowned. “Sleep? But you said it was an antihistamine.”
 
“Yes, it is, it’s used primarily to help relieve allergy symptoms but one of its secondary uses is as a mild sedative because It tends to make you a bit drowsy, however..." He checked her chart again. “You only got one dose of that. I can ask the doctor on call if you want another to help you sleep?”
 
Mildly stunned looking Arin shook her head and took her chart back. “No, no that won’t be necessary. Thank you for your help.” She turned again back to her room, her mind reeling.
 
“Okay…” David said confused at the abrupt way the conversation had ended, he leaned over the desk as another nurse padded quietly to the station. “Are you sure you're ok.”
 
“I’ll be fine.” Arin told him absently without looking back as she continued back into her room. Her eyes widened with realization. An antihistamine. As a mild sedative, but why?
 
The answer came quickly, House. Of course it was House, when he had worn her down and she had agreed to his tests, he had prescribed it to her because he had upset her. He had given her it to help her get some sleep and in doing so…
 
“…inadvertently treated the Allergy symptoms.” 
 
She sat on the edge of her bed. The steroids had been doing the trick since. “I’m allergic to the pollen.” She whispered to the room. “I’m allergic to the pollen.” She started to laugh quietly. Leaning sideways into the pillows and pulling her feet back up onto the bed. Presently The hospital room grew quiet as Arin's breathing steadied and she calmed from the euphoric feeling of finding the answer. 
 
When David checked on her only minutes later to check she really was ok he found she had finally drifted off to sleep.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Chapter Twenty One - AMA

The sun did not materialise come morning. Instead dull thunderous clouds had rolled in to take its place. Ironically this had not served yet to make it any cooler, but rather seemed to have trapped the heat in. The rain was heavy and battered against the hospital room window casting a shadow across Arin's face as she sat awake in the visitors chair, dressed in her (or rather Zen’s) own clothes anticipating the arrival of the nurse for her morning vitals check. The gown sat folded on the made bed.

Absently she gently scratched the IV site where it still resided in her hand. She had removed the rest of the monitoring equipment but did not dare attempt to pull the line out herself. The events of the previous night and her newfound clarity about her condition had given her the resolve to take matters finally into her own hands but that was maybe a step too far.

With trepidation she turned her attention to the sound of movement outside the door and bit her lip when at precisely 7 am, a blond haired woman in pink scrubs entered.

Arin sized her up as she maneuvered a rolling basket stand into the room and did a double take at the empty bed before checking the chair. "Oh.” She said in surprise.

“Good Morning.” Arin said, she tried for nonchalant but what came out was a wavering tone.  She cleared her throat, almost convinced the woman would hear the thundering sound her heart was making in her chest from across the room.

“Good morning” the woman smiled warmly. Her surprise quickly reined in, “I’m Carol, I’m here to do your vitals and give you your meds…Is that ok?” She trailed off uncertainty colouring her tone once more.

Arin considered her and whether or not the caring demeanor was a job requirement.

Carol gave a small frown as the unscripted scene before her continued and she noted the monitoring equipment had been removed. She didn’t wait for Arin to answer her question but instead continued “You took off the monitors.” She noted the folded gown. "And look dressed for the day.” Her tone became mildly scolding “You were just moved from observation to inpatient status. You’re not scheduled to be discharged. Has your Doctor authorised this?” She asked absently picking up the chart to look at it, no one had indicated such a thing at handover.

“I doubt it. But I don’t think it’ll matter in a second, and I won’t be needing you to check my vitals this morning or the medication.”

Carol looked up and raised her eyebrows “Really?” She asked skeptically “Well it says here that you still need both and you do look a good bit flushed sweetheart.” Her expression softened somewhat “Are you still feeling unwell?"

Arin hesitated a moment, trying to work out how best to deal with this woman. She had to say this calmly and with the right hint of authority so she wouldn’t be dismissed. "I’m feeling fine, thank you. Much better in fact. I removed the monitoring stuff because I have been doing some thinking, and I've come to a decision.” She took a breath and squared her shoulders. “I’d like to go home this morning. Immediately actually so…I’d like all treatment to stop and to leave please.”

Carol blinked at her again. “You’d like to sign out against medical advice?” She clarified.

So that’s what it was called. A bell rang in her head as the memory of Harrison, her grandfather's assistant, explained what having medical proxy would mean and how she could and couldn’t use it if her grandfather was not available. Colour flooded her cheeks as the realisation dawned that technically she could have left any time she wanted when House was not in the room trying to stop her. She clenched her fists and swallowed trying to maintain her calm confident demeanor. “Yes, thank you.”

The nurse’s expression became strangely sympathetic "Are you sure about this? Leaving the hospital against medical advice is…is a big big decision.” Her tone told Arin that she wasn’t entirely being taken seriously. “Maybe we should wait and discuss it with your parents or your Doctor…" she trailed off as she checked the file again and came across the medical proxy sticker and then the name of the attending, she visibly blanched.

Arin felt herself frowning, ignored the parents comment but nodded firmly, fixing a steely determined expression on her face. "Yes, I am 100% positive and no I don’t want to wait and talk to Doctor House. I'm ready to go home."

The Nurse seemed to consider Arin's request carefully as if she was unsure what to say exactly. "I…understand your desire to take control of your health, but I don’t have the authority to let you leave.”

“Then please can you get someone who does.” Arin asked.

The nurse put a hand onto the basket she had rolled in as if needing to make sure it was still there, grounding herself maybe Arin wondered watching her.

“I would need to get the attending on call to discuss this with you.”

With a slight sigh Arin raised her eyebrows. “Then please do.”

“Yes of course… I'll be right back."

She left the room hurriedly and Arin released the breath she had been holding. Leaning back into the chair she closed her eyes and tried to take a couple of calming breaths. In, and, out. Her head throbbed in time with her heart beat.

“I’m right, I’m right, I’m right.” She whispered to herself, part of her knowing and part of her needing the affirmation.

A short while later Carol was back with a slightly tired looking woman wearing scrubs and a labcoat, her ginger coloured hair tied up in a messy knot.

"Good morning, Arin” she said in the sort of noncommittal way that indicated she had literally just been told Arin’s name seconds before entering.”I’m Dr. Hernandez, I'm the attending on call.” She picked up the chart and flicked through it only pausing for a moment, noting House’s name no doubt, before she continued  “Nurse Morgan informed me that you'd like to discuss signing out against medical advice."

Arin swallowed the creeping feeling of panic and willed herself not to grip the chair arms. She had to hold this together, now wasn’t the time to flip out on this woman and end up whoever knows where. She slowed her breathing as much as she could, squared her shoulders and firmly but politely said "Yes, that's correct.”

“And can you tell me what’s made you think this is the correct course of action?”

Arin frowned despite her internal promise to remain calm. She wasn’t sure how to say ‘oh I diagnosed myself last night,I’m good to go now, thanks’ without it sounding childish and contrived. Instead she went with the more petulant sounding “I have the right to make my own medical decisions as per my guardians instructions, despite my age. This is within my power to request."

Dr. Hernandez studied Arin for a moment, considering the situation. Her dark eyes seemed concerned yet distant as though she did not want to be drawn into some sort of drama that wasn’t really her concern and was worried this would become just that. She gave a small sigh "You're only 16, Arin. Are you sure you are fully aware of the risks and responsibilities that come with making this decision?"

Arin nodded again, unwavering. Her heart beat furiously in her chest and she was thankful that she had taken off the monitoring equipment. She swallowed "Yes, I understand the risks. I've thought it through. And I’m not going to change my mind.”

Dr. Hernandez sighed again, and pushed a hand to adjust the dark rimmed glasses she wore back into position. She had to acknowledge the level of Maturity that the teenager was displaying. This wasn’t the typical tantrum or screaming match of demanding to go home that she had expected when she had been summoned. In a sort of detached way she said “You know Doctor House isn’t going to like this…you should wait for him to come in to talk about this. It should only be a couple of hours. And it says here you are due to have a full physical exam with him anyway this morning.”

Arin raised her eyebrows. She wasn’t sure why it surprised her that he had put the outcome of their bet on her chart, why wouldn’t he? But the threat of it looming over her caused a flare of panic. She pressed her lips thin and adopted the same no nonsense tone that she had taken in Cuddy’s office with the lawyer. “I was unaware that I had to continually justify my actions once I requested the sign out. I don’t want to wait any longer and I would appreciate you respecting my autonomy. Unless I need to talk directly to Doctor Cuddy…”

Hernandez frowned as if she didn’t like the change of tone. She watched the girl a moment longer then gave a tired shrug. It wasn’t her problem really and she had been on duty for nearly 48 hours straight.

“Alright, have it your way. I respect your autonomy. I'll make sure you receive the necessary prescriptions and instructions for your continued care outside the hospital. I'll also bring the Against Medical Advice forms for you to sign." She put the chart down. “Wait here I’ll be back shortly.” She made a beeline for the door.

“Thank you.” Arin said the wash of relief she felt was immense and left her feeling mildly punch drunk. She clasped her hands together in her lap and took another calming breath

“Oh and just between us…” the woman’s voice said, breaking into the moment's reprieve. She had paused in the doorway “…if House was my attending I’d be looking for an escape route too but you’ll have to move quickly if you want to avoid him entirely. He can get petty if things don’t go his way.” She gave another shrug and exited taking the nurse with her.

Arin wrung her hands, feeling a sense of worry and uncertainty bubbling below the surface. What would House do if he found her gone? She hadn’t really considered how he would react. And technically she was going back on her word about the exam, she had bargained and lost, was she really going to just walk away without a backwards glance? Somehow it felt petty and she wasn’t sure why but something about it didn’t sit right with her.

She squirmed in her seat and considered, really she was desperate to get away from this place, it was becoming oppressive again since she had worked things out even more so. And what did she owe House? Fine they had managed to strike some sort of bond to converse during her time there but really beyond that they were strangers to one another.

Should she have told them about her suspicions of the Pollen? Should she tell him? or would that simply lead to more questions and tests. It seemed unlikely they would believe her and while she was so sure,

I’m right, I’m right, I’m right!

she had to admit that in the light of day the entire thing seemed somewhat unlikely. Certainly it was not the most obvious of explanations. She sighed, House had been right about one thing at least…there had been something medically wrong. She felt her cheeks burn with that thought. Never, she decided then and there, would she admit that to the man himself.

Despite her unease a smile formed on her lips. If she left without saying anything to him, he wouldn’t know the answer. Would that bother him or would he just decide she was stupid and discard her, out of sight out of mind. Somehow she thought the former more likely. Immediately a surge of guilt hit her. Letting loose a sound of frustration Arin brought her hands to her head and pushed them through her hair. Was she really not going to leave this hellscape now that she knew she could for the sake of upsetting House! Essentially Lucifer himself!? And if she was wrong…

I’m right, I’m right, I’m right!

At 8:30 am, when Dr. Hernandez returned with the required forms she still hadn’t decided what she should do on the House front but she knew she had to leave before she became undone entirely.

“Arin?” Hernandez asked, shaking her from her reprieve. She blinked hard and focused on the Doctor.

“Sorry.” She said sheepishly realising that she had finished removing the IV and was now offering her a clipboard and pen. She took it and willed her hands not to shake. As  she signed her name, a mix of emotions washed over her leaving her feeling confused and exhausted.

"That’s it. " Dr. Hernandez assured her. "Just remember to follow up with your regular doctor."

Arin nodded gratefully, not bothering to correct that last part. "Thank you for understanding."

Hernandez nodded. “No problem. Is there anything else I can do for you just now?”

“No I don’t think so…” Arin began as she collected her meager possessions. “Actually yes… could I use a phone? I need to organise a ride home.”

“Sure.” The woman said, gesturing out the room, “Come use one at the desk.”

Arin followed, casting a glance at the door opposite where Robyn it seemed was being roused by Carol. She would need to tell the girl where she had gone but first she needed to make another quick phone call.

The handset at the desk was well worn which made sense considering how much it must be used. She  dialed the same number she had last night and waited. This time it was answered immediately and before she could so much as utter a greeting the voice on the other end was talking, frantically almost.

“I’m fine, I’m absolutely fine.” She said when there was a break in the torrent. She heard herself laugh slightly, her eyes prickling at the sound of the familiar voice on the other end even if it was telling her off.  “No, not Princeton General, I’m at Princetonplainsboro but I’m getting to go home.” Roughly she rubbed her hand across her cheeks just in case and turned her back on the staff member at the computer nearby.

“I’m sorry I worried you. No I’m fine just a bump and some bruising.” She glanced up as if sure someone would overhear and correct her loudly.  “Listen I know it’s early and you just got back but I just signed the discharge papers and Zen is at the thing with his dad, so…could you maybe come pick me up?” She listened again. “No, I don’t think they need anything else…ok. Yeah, I’ll go let Robyn know and meet you outside the main entrance? That’s fine it’ll probably take me a bit to talk to her and then get outside. I don’t mind waiting.” Her eyebrows shot upwards at the next part. Too quickly she was saying “Uhhh no, no I'll wait outside!” She collected herself and added “but maybe we bring flowers for Robyn later….I’ll explain properly when I see you.”

She listened. “That’s fine, an hour is perfect. Yeah outside. But please…. just …something discreet ok?” She nodded and then added as a sudden thought hit her “oh and Hector could you bring me a sweatshirt or something…I don’t have a coat.”

***

Pausing for a moment to watch the person strip the bed in what only minutes ago had been her room Arin frowned. Really she needed to go but... She sighed, took a deep breath and pushed open the door to Robyn's room. She wasn't looking forward to this conversation, knowing Robyn's tendency to be dramatic and sometimes difficult.

She was mildly surprised to find Robyn had not gone back to sleep after the nurse had left, it was early for a non school day for her after all. But there the raven haired girl lay on her bed with a bored expression, flipping through a magazine. As Arin entered, Robyn's eyes flicked up, her expression turning from boredom to mild interest.

"Hey, Arin," Robyn greeted, her tone tinged with a hint of curiosity. "What brings you here? Like, finally realized how boring your own room is without me around?" She stopped noticing Arin’s attire and wrinkled her nose in clear disgust. “Urgh, like, what are you even wearing. Isn’t that Zen’s clothes again? Why aren’t you still in this poly cotton nightmare?” She plucked at her own hospital gown and gave Arin an accusatory sort of look, as if she had changed clothing to purposefully annoy Robyn.

Arin managed a weak smile "Actually, that’s what I’m doing here, I have something to tell you," she replied, stepping further into the room, sliding the door closed behind her. She casually checked the clock on the wall and leaning on the foot of the bed, her hands on the frame pondered how to start to explain all of…this. She rocked a little nervously on the balls of her feet considering her next words.

Robyn raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Oh? Do tell. Is it something scandalous? Hah.” She shook her head “Did you like manage to sneak out and smuggle in a secret stash of snacks or something? Like spill already."

Arin chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Not quite. I, uh, I'm leaving."

Robyn's expression shifted, a mixture of surprise and confusion crossing her features. "Uhh sorry what?” She blurted out , her tone slightly harsh.

Arin frowned slightly, not sure how to take her friends reaction. “I’m leaving, I’m going home. Hector is coming to pick me up.”

“You’re Leaving? Like after all the fuss they were making about you? you’re just fine now and getting to go home!?”

Arin sighed inwardly, bracing herself for Robyn's inevitable reaction. “Well not exactly…” she began but was interrupted as the other girl continued in a mild rage.

“Urgh this is so unfair! Like You get all the attention and then just leave me here? How can you do this to me? When you know they are keeping me for another day and Zen’s away and I’ll be all by myself because you won’t be here and won’t come back to visit me! GAWD!”

"Well I didn’t know they were keeping you here another day.” Arin said tiredly.

“Uhh Like yeah that other doctor said my U2 status weren’t right yet so they,  like, need to keep me till that is normal which is at least another day but that’s so not the point!.”

Your O2 stats

Arin corrected quietly in her head.  “It's a long story, Robyn. But basically, I’m  leaving because I’ve decided not because they will let me. It is called leaving against medical advice."

Robyn's eyes widened, and her tone turned incredulous. "Wait, stop the bus! Are you serious?”

“Uhh…yeah?” Arin asked not sure how she could

Possibly be making a joke that sounded similar.

“Well then, like, can I leave too?”

“I don’t think so. You’re not old enough to make medical decisions yourself. Your parents need to do that.”

“That’s not fair!”

Unsure how to respond, Arin shrugged. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

Robyn took a slightly wheezy sounding breath. “So what? You're just going to bail on me like that? Is this because you don’t like doctors? I mean if you didn’t like them so much why make such a fuss?”

Arin held up her hands in a placating gesture. "I didn’t make a fuss, House made a fuss. But that’s not the point, and I know it sounds stupid, but trust me, I've thought about it a lot. And I just need to be out of here. It's... complicated."

Robyn narrowed her eyes, her skepticism evident. "Complicated? That sounds like a cop-out, Arin. Are you sure you're not just scared of the doctors poking and prodding you?"

Arin sighed, feeling a pang of guilt at Robyn's words. She knew there was truth to them, but she couldn't fully explain the complexity of her decision to someone who hadn't been in her shoes. "It's not just that, Robyn. It's... it's a lot of things."

“Sounds like you’re just doing it for attention.” Robyn pursed her lips and flicked her hair. “ Like no offense babe but come on, you have to see how that looks from my side. I almost
drowned
and somehow you end up here too? I didn’t get one on one time with my doctor like you did. Ugh you’re so selfish!”

Arin blinked at her, the sound of her heart pounding in her chest which had become almost like a back track to her existence over the last few days stopped suddenly. Just for a split second. It caused a pang of something she couldn’t place in her chest in its stead. “I’m selfish?” She asked quietly.

Robyn studied Arin for a moment, her expression almost cold. “Uhh yeah!"

Arin felt a surge of frustration rising within her. She wanted to lash out, to defend herself against Robyn's accusations, but she knew it wouldn't help. Instead, she took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. A deep heat surged up into her face. Her cheeks hurt slightly from the sensation.

"I understand why you feel that way, Robyn," Arin replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "But this isn't about attention or selfishness. It's about me needing to take control and make my own decisions."

Robyn scoffed, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest. "Yeah, well, I need my so-called friend here with me, not ditching me because she's scared of some doctors."

Arin felt a pang of guilt and sadness wash over her at Robyn's words. Taking a step closer to Robyn's bed, she reached out a hand, wanting to comfort her despite the tension between them.

"I'm sorry, Robyn," Arin said again, softly, her voice tinged with regret. "I didn't mean to make you feel like I'm abandoning you. I just... I need to do what's right for me right now."

Robyn's eyes roved up and down the miserable looking figure before her. Pale and tired and washed out looking in the black clothes. She sighed imagining what her grandmother would say and softened her expression "But, like, why do you have to leave right now?" she asked, her voice becoming pleading. "Can't you stay just a little longer? Until they release me too?"

Arin sighed, torn between her own needs and her desire to support her friend. She knew Robyn needed her, but she also couldn't ignore the overwhelming urge to leave, not when freedom dangled like a carrot now just within reach.

"I’d stay if I could.” Arin replied, her voice filled with genuine regret. "But i just can’t ok. I will explain later i promise but right now that’s all i have. " she shrugged.

Robyn's bottom lip trembled slightly. "Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But you like better come visit me when I get home and bring me the biggest bestest present imaginable."

Arin laughed slightly, her eyes prickling with the weight of the emotions she was wrestling with. She nodded "I promise, Robyn. So big your going to need a new room to keep it in."

The other girl was all smiles again. “Fine but not clothes ok! Just…no.” She waved her hand at Arin as if declaring her a lost cause and made a face.

“I promise, no clothes.” She made a cross over her heart.

“Jewelry is acceptable. Ooh like I saw this beautiful pair of diamond hoops at the mall. Maybe daddy will buy me them for you know…” she waved her hand again at herself and then the room this time.

“Maybe.” Arin said, raising her eyebrows.

“Well if not there’s a starting point for you.” Robyn gave a smile and went back to her magazine.

Watching her friend for a moment Arin felt herself frowning. Something was different but she could exactly put her finger on what it was. It was almost as if, the coloured filter on a film had been removed or swapped out for another. She shook herself as if that would solve the issue.

“So where are you getting picked up?” Robyn said with a slight glance up from the glossy pages of her magazine.

Her voice seemed to startle Arin, who jumped slightly. “Oh uhh Hector is picking me up at the front entrance.” She said quietly.

Robyn nodded “fair enough. You’d maybe better go then.” She nodded at the clock.

Turning Arin watched the time a second and sighed, rolling her shoulders. She looked back at the other teen. “I’ll call you tonight?”

“Sure.” Robyn said, watching Arin back towards the door.

With a tentative smile Arin slid the door open, stepped out into the hall and was gone, the door sliding closed behind her.

Robyn was left alone in the room. She rolled her eyes and flicked the page in her magazine in a bored fashion.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Chapter Twenty Two - MIAThe sterile scent of the hospital clung to the air as House briskly walked through the fluorescent-lit main entranceway and towards the elevators. Today was a good day.Echoes of his chess victory against Arin last night fueled a sense of triumph and while outside the cloud bank treated New Jersey’s masses to a downpour that should have by rights cooled things off but instead had served only to make things wet. Very wet. House himself was in a chipper sort of mood. He hummed to himself as he walked, his cane clicking rhythmically along in time with his song. Nearing his office he pushed open the door and taking off his cap and jacket shook off some water droplets before hanging both up on the coat stand.“Goooood morning people.” He announced merrily to the present team members as he made his way to the coffee pot and began making up the brew. “What a wonderful day it is. Coffee?”Cameron and Chase stared at him in a kind of stunned silence. They had only arrived moments before him and still hadn’t managed to so much as take off their jackets. Foreman was still nowhere to be seen.“It’s not even 9am…”Chase said. “It’s like 8:30…”“What? Don’t tell me…you don’t drink coffee before 9am because your English sensibilities will only accept tea?”“I’m Australian.” Chase rolled his eyes.“Sure you are. So what then? Are you implying that you’re surprised because I don’t show up on time for work?” House asked, glancing over his shoulder as he placed the filter paper and began spooning coffee in.“No of course not…” Cameron quickly began while Chase said “Uhh yeah?” In the sort of way one expects to hear the phrase ‘Well Duh!’House for his part only smirked and continued making the coffee. “Yeah, well don’t get used to it. I have plans today that necessitate an early start, that's all.”“Plans?” Chase asked as he traded his jacket for his lab coat.“You mean with our patient?” Cameron asked conversationally as she slid into a chair at the conference table.House gave a slight smirk, clever that one. Observant aren’t we Cameron. He thought as he filled two mugs and raising one to his mouth took a sip before bringing the other to the brunette who took it, the look of surprise back on her face.“I mean with MY patient.” He corrected and drank again from the mug. He leaned casually against the bookcase behind him and for a moment looked contemplatively at the whiteboard over his mug. Scant details on it was a stark reminder that this case wasn't going the way they normally did. Hopefully by this afternoon he would be able to correct that, have more to write on it at the very least.The room meanwhile seemed to buzz with curiosity, and Cameron couldn't resist probing further when it became clear that House had turned introspective and would not be commenting anything else without asking."About that…our…” her eyebrows shot up as House pointedly raised his. “Ok Your patient. Are you going to share with us what’s going on there or…?" she inquired, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.House chuckled to himself, relishing the intrigue he had sparked. He let the question hang unanswered for a few moments while he sipped more coffee. Finally he said, "Nope.” definitively.When Cameron looked mildly outraged he rolled his eyes and added “No need to get your diagnostic panties in a twist Cameron. It's become a personal matter, that’s all. Nothing that concerns our little team here."Chase, still adjusting to the early morning banter, raised an eyebrow. "Personal matter? You usually avoid those like the plague."House shot him a knowing grin. "Well, there's a first time for everything. Now, unless you're all planning a mutiny, I suggest we focus on our respective objectives for the day. Cameron you’ve got the mermaid to deal with and I’ll need someone to run interference if I call. Chase I have three hours of clinic duty that you’re going to cover and after that…well just make sure you look busy if anyone comes looking. It’s the cases that pay the bills remember."Cameron and Chase exchanged puzzled glances, but House, with his usual air of mystery, strolled off to his inner office finishing his mug as he went.Foreman's arrival, looking uncharacteristically disheveled, interrupted the brewing curiosity."What's going on?" Foreman asked, eyeing his two seated workmates suspiciously."Just enjoying the simple pleasures of life, my friend," House replied, returning to the outer office before anyone could answer, a file in his hand. He looked Foreman up and down with a sudden spark of interest. “You look like you’ve seen better days…late night?”“No.” Foreman said, slightly defensive, “Not that it’s any of your business.”“Hey, just making conversation.” House said in a placating sort of tone, his smile was still in place. Gesturing towards the coffee he added "Want some? it’s freshly brewed.”Foreman looked at the pot suspiciously then at Cameron, drinking from her own mug. “Sure.” He said evenly and went to help himself.“Good, and my advice?” House saidForeman turned to look at the caustic doctor with an expression as if he had considered the coffee too good to be true.“Next time you plan on spending the night with your one night stand make sure they have a coffee machine first.” House finished and grinning pushed his way out of the office and into the corridor, humming again as he went and leaving Foreman to gawp after him and make hasty excuses to his amused colleagues.***Exiting the elevator, House was still in a good mood as he made for Arin’s room. He anticipated this wouldn’t be easy but he was prepared for that. Yet, as the door swished open, a greeting died on his lips, an unsettling emptiness met him. The bed, crisply made, bore no trace of occupancy. House's eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign of the patient he expected to find."Gone! Again!?" he muttered to himself, a beat of annoyance breaking through his sunny disposition. The room, eerily silent, offered no answers.His eyes narrowed as he spotted a cleaning staff member coming out of the room next door."Hey you, Where's the patient from this room?" He demanded, his cane tapping impatiently.The cleaning staff continued their task but did look up, seeming unfazed by House's abrasive tone. They merely shrugged "How should I know? Left I assume. I just get told to clean the room, not why or where the people went."House's jaw clenched, useless, pointless… he fumed and stormed down the corridor to the nurses station. The air of frustration that clung to him was palpable as he confronted the nurse on duty. His words were calm and cutting as he spoke, enunciating each syllable.“While I hate to be a broken record with this question, I really have to say this is becoming almost negligent on your part.”The nurse blinked at him and he sighed realising he was going to have to elaborate “My patient is missing…again. That makes at least twice. I don’t want to keep playing hunt the patient so I’m asking if you can be a sport and reset this particular game for me.”Again the nurse blinked at him. He raised his eyebrows and a hand to rub his forehead a second.“Ok let me help you here, adolescent female, approximately 5,5, dark hair tonn of attitude…should be attached to an IV and in bed in room 604. Ring any bells?”The nurse checked the computer screen. “She’s gone.” She said simply.“Yesssss.” House elongated the word almost sarcastically “I can see that. I know she’s gone What I’m asking you is Where has she gone?” He growled, becoming more and more impatient.Dr. Hernandez, the night shift attending, with a glare that could cut through steel and undeterred by House's infamous demeanor approached from behind them. Overhearing the conversation she gave a short sigh realising her hope of missing the drama on this one was now as unlikely as her getting out on time to go home. "The patient in question, Miss Rae, signed out against medical advice this morning. She made the decision to leave." She said coming to a stop by House’s elbow and calmly sifting through her paperwork. She began slotting folders into waiting trays, ignoring him.House's brows furrowed, a storm brewing in his icy blue eyes. “She did What!? Against medical advice?!” He whirled to face Hernandez "That's utterly preposterous. Where does she think she's going?”The ginger haired doctor shrugged as she finished her task. “Well I’d expect home? But then that’s just a guess.”“Obviously.” House growled dangerously low, “On who the hell’s authority was she discharged!?" He demanded.Hernandez, her resolve unwavering, looked up then, met House's gaze and calmly handed him a cardboard folder the last from her stack.He snatched it from her scowling dark and opened it. The Kiddo’s chart that was to be expected…eyes roving the recorded vitals and information he honed in on the signature in the discharge.“You?!” He read the page again and flicking back a page or so added “What gives you the right to discharge my patient?!”“I was the attending on duty.”“Screw that! She’s my patient!!” He raged.“Yes and She's exercising her right to make decisions about her health. I provided her with the necessary information, I explained the risks and she still chose to leave."“You explained the risks…” he mocked then his eyes narrowed as he read something from the pages. He checked his watch. "How stupid are you? She still has a fever.” He said pointing at the page with his index finger. “You let her go with a fever?!”Still with a calm demeanor, Hernandez replied, “lots of people recover from fevers at home.”“Pfft right. And how many of them are hospitalised because of the fever and have it not respond to treatment? Do they just pop off home and feel better after a nice nap? I don’t think.”"That’s what AGAINST medical advice means House.” Hernandez bit back, her calm approach beginning to crack. “She signed the necessary forms.”“Clearly she was delirious! she hadn’t finished the treatment prescribed.” He interrupted.Hernandez put her hands on her hips and pursed her lips. “She seemed lucid enough to me. She wanted to leave. What was I supposed to do? sit on her?”“YES!” He roared incredulously. “If that’s what was needed, that's exactly what you should have done. Or called me!”“Don’t be ridiculous.” The woman shook her head.“Did you see She was due a full physical exam and further tests.”“Yes of course”“Then what the hell! Surely that should have told you She was in no state to go home!”“AGAIN House, she left Against my advice. I did advise her to follow up with her own GP." Hernandez said with a small shrug.House, unimpressed, growled, "Oh you did? Well That's just perfect, except she hasn't got one! Idiots."He glared at her then shook his head, irritation turning into anger. "Where did she go?"While the Doctor began an answer “I already said Hone I would…”He put a hand up to stop her speaking, glancing up at the corridor as realization dawned on him. “Forget it.” He interrupted not really caring what Hernandez was saying. “When did she leave?”“About half an hour ago.”Checking his watch again and with a dissatisfied grunt, House retreated, leaving the nurses' station in his wake. His good mood utterly shattered and his mind, a tempest of concern and annoyance (mostly annoyance) now shifted to finding the elusive Arin before she slipped through the cracks of his diagnostic prowess.***
Entering the pink painted hospital room he found Robyn, the supposed bff of the elusive Kiddo. The fact that the mermaid was in her bed exactly where she was supposed to be somehow made him more annoyed. She was alone however. Damn, he thought.She sat under the blankets looking kind of disheveled as if she had not long woken up. A hair brush in her hand and her long hair over one shoulder. A magazine lay open in her lap.He fixed his piercing gaze on the dark haired girl taking a smug sort of satisfaction at the fact that she had jumped at his abrupt entrance."Where is she?" House demanded, not bothering with the soft and gentle approach he had been using with her thus far. He had no time or patience for pleasantries. His eyes bore into Robyn, seeking any sign of hesitation.Robyn, caught off guard by House's sudden intrusion and tone, stammered, "Uh, who?”“Don’t give me that. You know exactly who.” He said.The girl made big eyes at him and opened her mouth with a slight shake of her head to deny any knowledge of anything when House interrupted. His temper flaring. “Don’t even bother.”Robyn raised her eyebrows in question.Dangerously low he continued “Normally your sort I don’t even interact with if I can help it. But I haven’t got the time or the energy to waste on whatever dramatic teenage beauty queen angst you decide to serve up. I need information that I know you have. So Word of caution Princess, while playing dumb as a carrot might work for you with everyone else you and I both know that you are a juvenile manipulative schemer, so do us both a favor, cut the crap and answer my question."The change in the girl's demeanor was almost astounding. If he were not in a rush, House would have found the whole thing fascinating. She sat back into the pillows, pursed her lips and surveyed the man before her then flicking her hair back over her shoulder began to brush it out. She didn’t balk at his description.“She, like, left obviously.”"I can see she Left. I want to know why? Did you have something to do with this?"Robyn scoffed, "Ehh No, she just said she was going. I don't know why. She just said it was complicated. I didn't ask. I’m not her keeper.”“She came in here to tell you she was going didn’t she?”“Well, like duh.” Robyn rolled her eyes.Fury flashed across House's face. "And let me guess you made it all about you? Made her feel bad for abandoning you right? Why didn't you stop her?"Robyn, growing defensive, shot back, "Like i told you I’m not her keeper. She gave it the whole desperate to be away from doctors vibe didn’t she? When she’s in that mood there’s no point arguing with her she’s totally stubborn. And so what if I did?. Like I was the one who had the accident not her. She isn’t supposed to be here so I didn’t give her the attention. So sue me, like I warned you she would run off first chance she got it’s totes not my fault." She went back to brushing her hair.“Where did she go.” House spat back at her.Robyn sighed and didn’t stop brushing this time. “Home I’d expect.”He was sick of people telling him that. House leaned in, his eyes boring into Robyn's. "Where's home?”“Where she lives obviously.”Fighting the urge to rip his hair out House brought the hand not holding his cane to his forehead and rubbed. “How do you get there!” He demanded“Like you call a car? The driver takes you.”He stared at her a moment, eyes scanning her face. There was no hint of sarcasm or irony there at all. “you’re serious…” he breathed and blinking shook his head, his faith in the future of humanity now shattered. “I mean How is she intending to get there? Is the boyfriend coming for her?"Robyn hesitated for a moment, and then said,
“Uhh no, Zen’s Dad has him away to a thing or something today. He won’t even be here to visit me today. Like how selfish of her to go home and leave me here alone all day. Like no she totes called Hector.”“Who’s Hector?” House asked impatiently.“Urgh will you stop asking me questions! I need to get to 100 on each side and You keep making me lose count.” She said waving the brush as she started again, mouthing “one…two…”House snatched the brush from her.“Hey!!”He towered over her scowling darkly and she froze under his gaze.“Who. Is. Hector.”“He's, like, the butler, he’s a really old guy that works for her Grandfather.” She squeaked. Her breathing hitching up a notch as a modicum of panic began to sink in.Well, now you have some inclination of how that feels. He thought but his annoyance peaked. "You're seriously telling me she has a butler on staff, and I'm hearing about this now?"Robyn shrugged, unapologetic or not sure what to say he didn’t know.House, irked by the unexpected complication, grumbled, "And you couldn't have mentioned him earlier. How very convenient.""Like what!? He doesn’t work for her he works for her Grandfather.”“Why didn’t she call him earlier?”“Like how should I know? Ask her!”“You know. Because you make it your business’s to know. Trading in secrets and gossip that’s your thing. Tell me why didn’t call him earlier.”“Urgh I don’t know ok! He was on vacation," Robyn retorted, "and he's like the help isn’t he? Not exactly conversation-worthy."Again disgust at the brat before him caused him to shake his head “Where, exactly, is he picking her up?”“She said the front entrance.” Robyn said looking mildly worried now at House’s demenour.“How long ago did she leave here?” He demanded.“Uhhgh I don’t know ok!!!! Like ten minutes before you came in? Not even, I can’t believe you didn’t see her in the corridor.”He had just missed her…she had been avoiding him. If he had checked the room opposite first instead of waging war at the nurses station…anger at himself, at Arin, at Robyn flooded him. Still scowling, he regarded the teenager.“Why are you even friends with her? You clearly don’t value the relationship.”“Our friendship has nothing to do with you, you weirdo.”He stared at her. “It’s the name isn’t it. You’re friends with her because of the association. Because of the wealth. Your parents make you do this?”The girl again pursed her lips her jaw clenched and returned his scowl with one of her own.He searched the girl’s features another moment. “She’s going to wake up to you one day you know, and when she does I hope she gives you all of it back in one helping.”Without another word, House dropped the brush onto the bed and left Robyn's room. As quickly as his bad leg would allow he headed for the main entrance to catch up with her.

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Chapter 23 - Check MateHouse's long strides took him through the hospital's hallways like a torpedo, some staff members barely managing to maneuver themselves out of his way as he passed yelling “Move!” At them and leaving them confused and flattened in his wake.His leg burned, crying for attention, but he ignored it as he pushed through the automatic doors leading to the entrance walkway before they were even fully open. The relentless rain had turned the world outside into a monochrome blend of gray, the hospital's walls standing as a lone fortress against the downpour. Yet the air was hot and heavy and smelt like heat. Squinting through the sheets of water, House cast his eyes across the people, searching.There was no way he was going to find her in this. There was too many people and it was too drenched…this was a waste of time.Furious with himself he turned back to go back into the building and out of the corner of his eye only just spotted a lone figure sitting a few meters away in one of the benched Perspex shelters in the pick up area.She wore the jeans and skater boy t shirt from her last escape attempt he noted but no coat, the Perspex roof and sides providing her shelter from the rain. She seemed calm, almost serene, amidst the chaotic weather. He couldn’t believe his luck!“Hey!” He yelled at her. His voice literally drowned out in the rain. He glanced upwards at the sheets of gray cloud then back at her. With a heavy sigh, House turned the collar of his jacket up, hunched his shoulders and hurried towards her. Arin sat watching the water rolling down the clear walls, waiting for Hector. The sound of hurried footsteps caused her to look up just as the new arrival in her space shook off the water from his hair. She sighed and raised her eyebrows as she recognised him. “you're really committed to this, huh?"House turned his collar down again and ignored her question, opting instead to say “And where exactly do you think you’re going?” He gave her a clinical look up and down. She was damp, the baggy black shirt clinging to her where the rain had soaked through and her hair was wet. Her cheeks were flushed a deep pink colour. Great. He thought. Just great.After a few seconds Arin gave another sigh, this confrontation was inevitable it seemed.She turned, met House's piercing gaze and with a mixture of determination and trepidation said “I’d have thought that was obvious and if you’ve tracked me here then you know by now I signed out and I’m going home.”House gave a short, mirthless sort of disbelieving laugh. “Bzzzzt wrong answer kiddo. You're not going anywhere other than to an exam table in that hospital and maybe if your lucky a first class trip back to bed!" He declared.Arin swallowed once as if this had been what she expected and raised an eyebrow. "I’m serious. I'm going home. I don’t need any more tests.”He gave her another look up and down. “Uhh you sure about that? I’m serious too. Now come back inside with me.” He made a sweeping gesture with his free hand. A sort of let’s go movement that she ignored.“I mean it House, I’m going home. I figured it out.”The older man scoffed, a smirk playing on his lips. "Figured what out? Figured out how to irritate me before 9am? Figured out that you skipped out on your meds this morning and it’s showing? Or figured out that you are now sitting in the rain like a drowned rat?"Undeterred, Arin scowled at him and shot back, "if you’re going to be like this then I’m not going to bother talking with you anymore. I'm going home and there’s nothing you can say that is going to change my mind. I’m leaving on my terms.” She turned away from him, could hear her heart thundering in her chest but forced herself to be calm. The sound of the rain helped, she focused on the drumming of that outside the shelter instead.House, raised an eyebrow his good hand going down to rub at his leg. "Do you actually hear yourself right now? Leaving on your terms? Are you really this stupid? If so I have to say I’m disappointed I was beginning to think better of you.” The throb from his leg caused him to grimace and with nothing else for it he sat on the bench by her side, angling himself so he could look at her and fished in his pocket for a Vicodin.Arin half glanced back and watched him sit and pop the pill. Her expression softened. “Look…” she started turning fully to face him again“…don’t take this the wrong way ok? But that place…” she nodded her head up at the hospital looming ever present behind them. “…you…it all just scares the bejeezuz out of me. I can’t stay here any more. Please try to understand I’m not being stupid.”“That’s the iatrophobia talking.” House grummbled still rubbing his leg. “ I understand alright, I understand you’re scared but we can deal with that. I can treat that.”“Like you’ve managed to treat me so far?” She asked quietly.House felt his jaw clench “I’ve treated you as much as you’d let me so far. If I’d have treated you like any other patient you’d have been restrained to the bed and loaded with Ativan so that I could treat you properly. This is my fault for actually trying to give a damn about you as a person.” He fumed.Arin gave another tired sigh, as if she were trying hard to contain herself. After a brief moment where only the drumming of the rain filled the air she finally ventured “ look, believe it or not I really do appreciate your concern and everything you’ve done to try and help me.”House made a scoffing sound.She ignored him but her tone did become more irritated “I mean it! But please, just listen when I’m telling you it’s not warranted ok?”House sighed, his head shaking and she continued.“I mean There's probably ten other people in that building right now who actually need the particular brand of crazy you apparently call help. I’m not one of them, I’m fine.”“You’re fine?” He asked and watched her a second longer before reaching a hand out the short distance between them and touched the back of his fingers onto her forehead. His mouth formed a thin grin line "Fever says otherwise Kiddo. ”Scowling at him Arin raised a hand up to bat his away and pulled back from his touch. “It’s not related.”“Oh sure, it’s not related. It’s just one of the main symptoms you’ve shown since arriving here and it’s not getting better with IV antibiotics or steroids.”“I already told you, it isn’t because of what’s wrong with me.”“But there is, by your own admission, something wrong with you.” He said expectantly. Check…Arin blinked looking momentarily stunned, “..what? No that’s not what i… look the fevers aren’t new ok! I already told you they just happen sometimes, they aren’t that bad.”“But it’s not supposed to “happen sometimes!” Fevers are a symptom of something. Idiopathic fevers are only called that because the person trying to diagnose them and failing are idiots.” He flared and then took a second to try to calm himself.“So you then?” Arin shot back arcidlyHouse pinched the bridge of his nose. “Noooo because YOU wouldn’t LET me examine you remember? You went crazy on me and ended up on the floor.”“You’ve taken my temperature since that.”“Only to…” he started and then stopped. “You know what? Fine…” he said putting his hand into his inside jacket pocket. He retrieved an ear thermometer "Let me check. If it is like you said and it’s not ‘that bad’ then fine you go. But if you're still running a high fever, you stay.”Arin, glanced at the thermometer and then back at House. "Your fervent medical tactics won't work this time. I've made up my mind."Ignoring her assertion, House continued with his argument, a mix of irritation and genuine concern. "This isn't any sort of tactics; it's about your health. I know you're scared but I’m telling you seriously not because I’m bored or whatever else you think. You're not well, you need to be examined and properly treated."Arin rolled her eyes. “You sound like a broken record.”“Better that than sounding like a stupid record.” He growled still holding the thermometer.Arin scowled at him “a stupid record? Really that’s the best you could do?”He stared at her, resolute and she threw her hands up in exasperation, her patience wearing thin. "Fine, if it makes you feel better check it. For all the difference it’s going to make. I’m telling you that I've made up my mind." She turned her head for him.Quickly lest she change her mind House placed the device in her ear and pressed the button. The seconds felt like an eternity as he observed the digital display. It beeped and he triumphantly displayed the thermometer to her "You see? A hundred and three degrees. And I bet you still have that headache.” He pocketed the thermometer again and tilted his head down to look at her as she stared pointedly at the ground at her feet. He nodded to himself more than her “Thought so. Take it from an expert Kiddo you need medical attention."Arin, unfazed, spoke with quiet determination. The only outward sign that she was beginning to lose her control the fact that she hand clenched her fists. Her tone was clipped and sounded almost rehearsed "Thank you for that. As I said I appreciate your concern, Dr. House, but I've made up my mind. I need to do this my way."House's frustration grew as he realized his attempts were futile no matter what he said. He knew yelling at her wouldn’t help, it would only serve to cut the tense communication they currently had to nothing."Look, listen to me. You're making a mistake. You're not a doctor, you don’t realise how much your particular situation is affecting your health.”Arin looked up at him again, fronwning “My particular situation?”“Yes! By god having never seen a doctor? No medical records…no vaccines? You’re lucky you haven’t run into a serious problem by your age!”This seemed to hit home somewhere, he could see it in her face as she looked away at her feet once again. Carefully keeping his tone calm he added “Besides You can't just leave. You agreed to the chess game. You owe me that examination."This time a way smile tugged the corners of her mouth. “Your right.”“Wait…what?” He said suspiciously. No way that worked.“I said you’re right. I agreed to the chess game and your terms and i agreed to your examination. I just …didn’t say when that examination would take place and neither did you.”“Oh come on!” House retorted incredulously “you know fine well that wasn’t part of the deal. You know I meant today.”“You didn’t specifically state that.”“It was implied.” He glared at her.Arin shrugged and turned her attention back to the rain. “You didn’t specify. So yeah I owe you that examination but it’s up to me when you get it.”Undeterred, House changed tracks again and continued to press. "You can't just walk away without knowing what's wrong with you. What if your symptoms worsen?"Arin, still wearing a subtle smirk, replied, "I appreciate your concern, House. But I've made my decision. I have a plan if it happens again."House, irritated by the turn of events, grumbled, "And Your plan involves ignoring the opinion of a medical professional? Smart." His tone dripped with sarcasm.Arin, not yielding, countered, "My plan involves treating it myself if it happens again."“Treating what!” He yelled throwing his hands up. “Treating something you think you have diagnosed with no evidence of it being that? You’re an idiot.I should have had you restrained to the bed when I had the chance.”Arin recoiled from his tone and the comment as if he had slapped her and instantly he regretted saying it. He could see her close down on him. He scowled, trying to pull the frustration back from boiling over. "Look I’m sorry…I shouldn't have said that. Try to seem this from my perspective huh? It looked to me like You're being reckless. Leaving without a proper diagnosis is foolish."She ignored him and they were left in a charged tense sort of silence that was broken only by the drumming of the rain.Minutes passed and the rain continued its relentless assault, neither spoke. He was so close to her that she could almost feel the anger and annoyance that seemed to pulse around him. Part of her wanted to say something, but was there left to say? She couldn’t tell him now, he wouldn’t listen or believe her. He would call her stupid again.Just when she had all but made up her mind to try and explain her theory to him a sleek, black Mercedes sedan, its headlights slicing through the dreary downpour, pulled up. Recognising it Arin got to her feet."You're making a mistake," House growled again , realizing the futility of dissuading her and the fact he was out of time.Arin, undeterred, stood her ground. "It's my mistake to make."House, shook his head in a disgusted sort of fashion "So, what's your grand plan, huh? Just keep ignoring the symptoms until they floor you?"The driver, Hector, stepped out and opened a large black umbrella. He wore a black overcoat over a well-tailored suit that House assumed was benefitting of his role. He exuded an air of sophistication with neatly combed hair, meticulous and slightly haughty.Arin refused to meet House’s gaze, focusing on the driver instead. "I'll manage."She stepped forwards, the driver waited for her to approach looking worried.House watched him took, in two minds about going to talk to him, maybe he would see some sense. However he decided not to bother, did not get up to follow or speak to the butler, he grumbled loudly at her back instead "Just remember, when it gets worse, you had a chance to do it right."Arin paused, turning to face him one last time, responded almost kindly. "I'll remember. Thanks for everything, House."House, defeated, angry and yet still concerned, muttered a final warning. "I hope I’m wrong and you live to regret this Kiddo.”She raised a hand and walked towards the car, briefly spoke to the driver and slid inside. The driver closed the door and paused a moment looking at House with mild frown and hint of disdain (for the doctors rain stained and disheveled appearance no doubt) then got in himself.House, left sitting in the shelter, couldn't shake the feeling that he'd lost more than just a chess game prize. His eyes tracked the fading tail lights of the Mercedes as it merged with the somber hues of the stormy morning. The relentless rain mirrored the turmoil in his thoughts.With a scowl etched on his face, he rose and stomped back into the hospital, water droplets trailing behind him like a defiant aura. NotBothering to hurry himself or caring about getting wet.Entering his office, he tossed his now wet suit jacket and shirt onto a chair and sat behind his desk. He Rubbed vigorously at his leg and was in the process of emptying two Vicodin into his hand when he caught sight of the folder on his desk. Arin's medical file……He stared at it for a moment, pondering whether to dismiss it into the abyss of bureaucratic paperwork or delve into the mystery that continued to elude him. Tipping his pills into his mouth he threw the file across the desk into the billing tray and leaned back in his chair to let the Vicodin take effect and wash the pain and frustration of the day away.***A month or so later, as he returned to his desk from refilling his coffee mug, the team off to deal with his newest case he caught sight of a folder still in his tray.Cameron was definitely slacking…he thought as off handed he picked it up and flicked through the pages. Realizing what it was the ghost of the frustration he had felt watching the kiddo drive off bubbled from within him and he was about to put it back when he found himself contemplating her assertion that she had figured an answer out.She hadn’t told him, he didn’t give her the credit to assume that maybe she actually had worked it out……how could she have?House's eyes scanned the clinical details, his analytical mind seeking patterns and connections. There was nothing he could put his finger on. Not enough information to make a guess with. But she hadn’t turned back up in the ER or clinic…if she had appeared at another ER he would have heard when they inevitably called him, which they would. Having his name attached to her scant medical records would allow him certain access should she turn up again. He didn’t think she would however.With a sigh House closed the folder and picked up a book from the collection behind him. He opened it revealing a hollowed out box inside.Taking a key from inside he opened the bottom drawer in the set under his PC monitor. Inside 16 folders of varying age sat in suspension files labeled "Unsolved” 16 Cases where he had either failed to get the answer in time or had somehow got a treatment but not the answer.He picked up a sharpie and a post it from the desk and wrote the number 17 in the top corner of it and the words “Unanswered. Owes me a physical exam” and stuck it to the file.He then placed it inside the drawer and closing it, locked it again. Now was not the time for this. Now He had a different patient to deal with.

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Hey folks, so apologies this isn’t an. Update just a wee note to say I’m working on the next part I promise :)Meanwhile, a few people have asked if I would do a Q&A session for those who are following. I know it’s often a while between updates and I appreciate everyone who is following along and commenting :) if this is something people would like please let me know :)

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Hello, so this is not an update! Sorry I promise one is in the works. Instead this is an invitation to everyone who agreed/commented or messaged me asking about a Q&A. So…comment with your questions and I’ll answer as many as I can between now and the next up date :)