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 Twelve. 

 She counted them all, taking a deep breath between each; they were
carefully measured and painstaking. Particularly painstaking in fact. 

 It took until the tenth that she felt the fault. The underlying problem.
The agony tearing up her leg and into her hip. She swore under her breath
and considered popping a couple of pills right there. 

 Then again, showing up out of the blue like she was and popping pills in
the entry way of a hospital would draw the worst sorts of reactions.
Reactions she couldn't draw if her plans had any possible hope of coming
true. 

 She stopped at the large circular desk and her hand rose on its own. She
didn't even have to tell her body anymore when it needed the help. It had
its own rules; yet another reason why she was there. 

 The woman behind the counter looked up expectantly. Her gaze wasn't angry
and disgruntled. Helpful, if anything. She smiled up at her. "Can I help
you with something miss?" 

 She nodded, her almost bleached blond hair falling in her eyes. "Where
can I find Dr. Cuddy?" 

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 "That's it? That's your argument?" 

 "Seems like a good one." 

 "If I thought for a second you wanted to help him, you'd have carte
blanche. You're doing this because it's fun." 

 Dr. Gregory House lifted his right hand and made a forceful downward
motion with it. The woman staring at him, one very disgruntled Dr. Lisa
Cuddy, rolled her eyes. It had been only two month since her star doctor's
miracle bullet hole wounds. Obviously not long enough for him to forget he
needed a cane. 

 House himself realized he'd made the motion and slammed both hands down
on her desk. "Does nobody in this hospital have anything better to talk
about than my motives? My motives have nothing to do with the case." 

 "Your motives have everything to do with your judgment." 

 Holding out his arms like Christ himself, House was almost yelling now.
"For the first time in years I've got no opiates in my body, now you
question my judgment." 

 Cuddy wasn't sure if he was trying to visually illiterate or if he was
really drug free, but she couldn't risk it. "24 times a year you come
storming into my office spouting that you can help someone. Only you never
say those words, you say something like his pancreas is going to explode
because his brain is on fire! You come here with medicine, not with
platitudes." 

 Her employee sighed heavily, "I didn't want to bore you with the
details." 

 " There are no details, you've a hunch. House, you don't use hunches, you
always have reasons. This hospital doesn't exist for your whims. I'm
sorry. As of 7 am tomorrow morning, I'm sending your patient home." 

 Shooting House her patented `I'm done with you' look, she busied herself
with a file. She knew he'd find another way to figure out this case, or
his patient would be sent home. 

 Sensing he'd lost the battle, House straightened and turned, heading out
the door. He didn't even bother with the usual parting remark. He was
simply too angry for it. Pushing past the glass barrier, he paused outside
of Cuddy's office, desperately searching his mind for the next great idea.


 His eyes ghosted over the clinic doors and he couldn't help but wince. He
still had a few hours of honest work before he'd be subjected to that
torture. That thought in his mind, he turned to head towards the stairs. 

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 Back at the welcome desk, the woman followed the receptionists pointing
hand to a set of swinging doors just to her left. The words of the one she
sought were printed on them plain as day and she smiled. Thanking the
receptionist, she started her painful journey. 

 She almost made it when her leg gave out. The pain, having throbbed in
rhythm for so long, jumped to attention. She stumbled a few steps to the
left and quickly regained her balance. 

 The joint was still out of place. The woman straightened her stance and
pulled the offending appendage beneath her. Her weight slowly shifted and
She felt the bones popping in to place. 

 He back now straight, she saw a man exit Dr. Lisa Cuddy's office. Her
eyes were curious on him. He seemed out of breath and moving very fast.
She could have thought about his looks or his mannerisms but the pain was
bad. Real bad. She needed to sit. Taking another few shaking steps
forward, she made it to the doors and opened them. Another set stood
between her and Dr. Cuddy. 

 She would have knocked, but knew she really didn't need to anyway. Toeing
open the door with her left foot, she leaned on the handles and almost
hopped in to the room. Dr. Cuddy didn't even raise her head. 

 "I said no House. That wasn't me just being smart." 

 "Then I suppose I'll just have to get an apartment here. I was sort of
hoping I could stay with you, but-"

 Dr. Cuddy's eyes flew up and her mouth dropped when she saw who exactly
was standing in her office. Cuddy stood. "Brat?" 

 The woman smiled brilliantly, suddenly very happy and relieved she'd
decided to do this. "Hi sis." 

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