(no subject)

[numbered_doctor]

Today was supposed to have been a lazy sort of day. Thirteen had already taken the time off of work, and she and Sunshine had had plans on strolling around the neighborhood while the young doctor showed her friends the sites.

That changed, however, when her cell phone rang.

"Help us thirty-one, you're our only hope."

"House, I'm on vacation."

"You're still home, and you haven't gone anywhere, that's not vacation."

"I have company."

"The more the merrier! We'll be happy to meet your newest sexual conquest."

"She's not-"

"Ah-ah! Don't go denying it, she's the reason you've been in such wonderful moods lately."

"Fine, whatever."

"See you when you get here, Bubbles!"

Groaning, Thirteen hangs up the phone, turning to her erstwhile companion.

"Well, change of plans. How do you feel about seeing where I work?"

Comments

[sunbaked_baker]

"Oh, that's him?" Sunshine says with a mildly startled look to Thirteen, complete with pointing at House.

And then seems to collect herself, offering House a carefully neutral smile.

It's the same smile she gives Mr. Cagney when he's found something new to complain about: his coffee's not hot (lies, coffee poured by Mary is always how), his cinnamon roll doesn't have enough icing (despite always being given three times as much as normal). It's polite, and that's all it is. "I've heard a lot about you."

Internally, she's enjoying this far too much.

[numbered_doctor]

"And I've heard nothing about you," House fires back, still eyeing her.

Thirteen takes this oppertunity to motion to the other three men in the room. "And that's Taub, Kutner and Foreman."

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine can't help but grin. Mr. Cagney indeed. Some things don't change, even between worlds.

"Nice to meet you," she says, turning to the other three and giving them a smile. "Hope it's all right that I've tagged along."

He knows next to nothing about hospital protocol in her own world, much less this one.

[numbered_doctor]

The young doctor reaches to squeeze Sunshine's hand in hers gently, smiling softly.

"Unfortunately, you'll have to setttle for wandering the hospital, you're technically not supposed to be in here."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Kicked out on a technicality?" she says, amused but a little put-out.

[numbered_doctor]

Thirteen sends Sunshine her very best wolfish smile.

"Don't worry, Sunshine, I'll make it up to you later tonight."

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine snickers, but only Thirteen knows why. "I'll hold you to that."

"And you," she says, turning on House and poking him in the chest. "Don't wear her out too much, or I'll be annoyed."

[numbered_doctor]

Thirteen smirks. "And you don't want to have her annoyed with you.

"What happens then?" House fires back. "She breaks out the whips and handcuffs?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"Nothing nearly so nice," Sunshine says, trying for something of the dire tone she's heard Con use before.

[numbered_doctor]

She nods sagely.

"You should listen to her, I made a big mistake last time I chose to ignore that warning."

[sunbaked_baker]

House scoffs, rolling his eyes, making Sunshine smirk.

"I'll see you later, then?" she says, grinning at Thirteen. "I'll just hang around the hospital, since I can't exactly leave. You are my ride, after all."

Griiiiin.

[numbered_doctor]

Thirteen smiles widely.

"But of course. Stay out of trouble, you hear? Try not to get lost."

[sunbaked_baker]

"What, you expect me to get into trouble?"

Yeah, even Sunshine can't pull that off with a straight face.

"I'll be fine," she says with a smile. "Go save lives."

[numbered_doctor]

With an air of self-importance, the young doctor brings Sunshine's hand to her mouth, her lips grazing her knuckles.

"As you command, my dear."

[sunbaked_baker]

Yeaaaah, Sunshine's cheer falters a bit at that. It's a little too close for comfort.

"I'll see you later, then."

And she's heading back towards the parts of the hospital she's legally allowed to be in.

Maybe the cafeteria has decent tea.

[numbered_doctor]

Unaware of the internal panic of her friend, Thirteen smiles brightly at her friend's retreating back before returning her attention back to her co-workers.

"Right, ready to save some lives, then?"

[sunbaked_baker]

Not so much panic as quickened backpedaling.

After asking someone for directions, Sunshine finds the hospital cafeteria without much trouble. She picks up a Southern Living magazine from a side-tabled stacked with magazines, thinking she might find some recipes that might be interesting while she drinks her tea.

It's only after she starts to pour the hot water from the carafe into the cup (not boiling, so she was already wondering how good the tea would be), that she realizes she has no way of paying for the tea.

She gets water instead, since it's free.

[numbered_doctor]

It's much later that Sunshine's peace is disturbed by a certain, limping gait, and a cup of tea is placed in front of her.

"Keeping busy?"

[sunbaked_baker]

A peace offering? Sunshine smiles slightly, accepting and sipping the (oh hey, it's actually pretty good) tea.

"Not too busy," she says. There's not much for a squeamish visitor to do at a hospital, unless they can go visit someone they know there. "What about you?"

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

House's motives are never pure. His own cup, filled with coffee is sipped as he puts on a bit of a smile.

"Just the usual," he says, more modest than he means. "Saving patients one weird diagnoses at a time."

His cane rests next to him; the very picture of just a relaxed doctor, talking with a visitor.


[ooc: Thirteen-mun? PM check? :D]

[sunbaked_baker]

"Well, the usual is still new to me, apart from what Thirteen tells me," Sunshine says, breathing in the fragrant steam of the tea. "This is the first time I've ever even been in a hospital."

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

"Those scars on your hands didn't merit a trip to the ER at the very least?" he asks, a little surprised.

Interesting. Very, very interesting.

"Sorry, I notice things like that," again with the politeness he doesn't really mean, but has a good enough time faking.

[sunbaked_baker]

"They weren't nearly as bad as they look," she says into her cup of tea.

Nor was the just-visible sickle-curved scar across her upper chest that was definitely caused by a knife and most assuredly would need stitches to heal up as cleanly as it did.

Apparently.

"Well, it'd be your job to notice such things, I'd think. But at least you can take a break every so often," she smiles, with only slightly more sincerity than his politeness in her request that he stop seeking answers he's not going to get.

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

Oh, but dogged resolve is what House does best. It's nearing time to set subtlety aside.

"You been in Princeton long, or just visiting for a while?"

Or, have you been sleeping with my fellow for long, is the alternate question.

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine doesn't know how long Thirteen and Lisa have been together. And doesn't know how long they will be.

"Not too long," she says, sipping her tea. She watches his face, almost seeking to read it rather than meeting his gaze. He's completely human, this one, but he's starting to remind her of her SOFs.

And breaking down crying and saying I don't remember isn't going to work here.

"It's been good to have someone to help me settle in, though I still need to find a job. Know any good bakeries around here?"