(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

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

He shrugs. "She's got a fellowship under one of the best diagnosticians in the country. Some may argue the world. It's the price you pay as a doctor; you give up socializing time. Don't you worry your pretty little head, she's getting paid for coming in."

Ah, people not in the business. Gotta love 'em.

[sunbaked_baker]

"I'm not," she says, eyebrow raised. "And I was enjoying myself much more before we had to come in."

She feels she deserves to be paid for dealing with this guy. It's almost as bad as Mr. Cagney.

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

He chuckles, "Why did you come in, then? Just because I told her she had to? You could have done some exploring around the city, gone to a movie...hell, found the job you're looking for. But instead, you've sat in the cafeteria all day."

Cutting through the meat of things is what he does.

"Though, if you've been friends with Thirteen for a year, you should be used to her having to come in to save people's lives at all hours."

[sunbaked_baker]

"I didn't have my car today; it's getting repaired," she says, rolling her eyes at him. "That's the only reason it's such an annoyance, today of all days, other than you."

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

He chuckles some more, leaning back a little in his chair. "I'm supposed to be here, as is Thirteen. You've got legs, right?"

He looks under the table.

"And look! No need for a cane either! There's plenty of very interesting things within walking distance of both her apartment and this fine institution. When she's done running the tests, to save a patient's life you can have her back."

[sunbaked_baker]

"You invited me here, anyway, from what I heard," she says coolly, only idly entertaining the idea of kicking him.

In his good leg, of course. She's not so far gone as to kick him in his bag leg, she'd argue, though it would be something a bad blood-cross would do.

Maybe it'd just be living up to what's expected of her.

Or giving in.

"Your 'happy to meet' me isn't exactly that."

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

"I'd have invited the entire Princeton football team in if it meant getting all my team to do their work," he says as he stands.

He sighs and chuckles again. "And they tell me I'm a self-centered ass."

And there he goes, to check on his little ducklings, and the patient.

[sunbaked_baker]

"The wisdom of the collective is greater than that of just one," she says to his back.

She read that somewhere.

And she agrees with them.

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

He turns around, smiling again.

"I told you there was a place looking to hire. Instead, you sit on your ass and whine about how I'm making Thirteen do her job. Jesus, how much more pathetically annoying can you get?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"I could be you," she says, calmly sipping her tea . "Pretending all the decency in the world as if you could pull it off convincingly, poking and prying where you aren't wanted when there's no need to, quibbling over any answer you get simply for the attention and the opportunity to make yourself feel better, to reassure yourself again that you're better than anyone else."

"That is pathetic," Rae says. "And annoying."

"And pathetically annoying."

Sunshine sets her empty cup of tea down, and stands. "Whatever they're paying Remy to put up with you, it's not enough."

What's the fine for unhealthy working conditions, in this world?

[numbered_doctor]

There's the sound of throat clearing from the doorway as Thirteen catches the tail end of Sunshine's rant. She gives the woman a fond smile before turning her attention to her boss.

"House, the results are in, and you have to come see this."

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

"Don't bring her back here," he says looking at his fine young doctor. "She's way too uppity. Don't need guests causing a scene. What would Cuddy think?"

He starts walking, not waiting for Thirteen to follow, just expecting her to.

"You're very welcome for the tea; it was lovely seeing you," he calls over his shoulder.

His attention is turned back to the case. "What is it?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"It was nice to finally meet you too! Thanks for the tea and company," Sunshine says to House, cheerfully.

Ass.

Sunshine waves to Thirteen, wry.

[numbered_doctor]

Sunshine gets one last wave before she moves to fall into step beside House as he walks, handing House the file and pointing out what has the rest of the duckings and herself all aflutter.

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

He looks at the file, nodding. The previous bit of time completely forgotten to fit the more important puzzle together, well, maybe. "And you double checked the results?"

He punches the button on the elevator, and looks over at her.

"If that really was an example of your taste in women, well, the end of your downward spiral hasn't improved your taste very much. I can give you the number of a decent call girl that could be an improvement. She talks just as much, but at least it's work-related."

Had to take the crack at Cuddy. It was right there, gleaming before his very eyes.