Set in Princeton, New Jersey, the best medical research is studied and performed at the Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. And there is one doctor in particular who brings fame to the hospital-Dr. Gregory House.
Recently graduated medical stud...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Nausea. Insomnia. Irritability. Smoker. Fluid-filled lungs. Journalist..." House listed off, writing each in a tally upon the whiteboard. He looked back to find two out of three of his current team with glazed-over stares; the other member, wide-eyed and curious.
"Anyone?" House asked, agitation in his voice. He played with his tennis ball.
"Could be simple indigestion." Chase answered, clearing his voice.
"Indigestion wouldn't explain why the insomnia has persisted despite medication." Foreman refuted, respectfully.
House nodded, pondering both answers, while his newest team member stayed quiet. Bringing his eyes to hers, House's gaze froze on Madelyn who began to feel the pressure.
"Gilmore, don't be shy!" House told her, tapped his cane on her knee.
Madelyn looked around the table and knew she had to prove herself to her new colleagues:
"Well we should also be asking if insomnia is the symptom or the cause." She theorized, "If it's the symptom, we might be dealing with a respiratory infection even as simple as common flu."
The four other doctors also seemed to be pondering her statement, but were also waiting for the next half of it. Madelyn wasn't sure if they'd be interested in her opinion this soon,
"And if it's the cause, then comorbidity sleep disorders should be tested, as well as an fMRI of the pineal gland." Madelyn concluded.
Both Chase and Foreman looked at each other, and seemed to find her suggestion plausible. Taub was writing her statements down while Thirteen, who sat beside her, gave her a warm smile of encouragement. House took his time before responding with,
"Good answer!" House cheered, "If the answer I wanted was a wrong one."
"She could be right." Foreman stated honestly, pulling at his tie that was tied too tight.
"She could be right, or she could be looking past the obvious answer. Well, maybe not so obvious since you fools didn't get it right either." House said as he limped across the room a little, and took a seat next to Madelyn who was visibly nervous in his presence.
"He has that effect on people. It never really goes away, unfortunately" Chase mumbled, scribbling down something on his notepad.
House pulled out something from his jacket pocket and set it on the steel table . It was a little kitchen timer. House pushed a couple of its buttons, and tinkered with a nozzle on the back.
"You guys have 5 minutes to come up with a real diagnosis. After, I want a search list for the in-home inspection." House declared, standing up and heading over to his desk.
"In-home inspection?" Madelyn questioned, confused. House stopped in his tracks and turned around, "Are we even qualified to do that?'
"Yep, got my license right here," House stated walking back towards her and handing her a crumpled piece of paper from his jacket pocket. Madelyn unfolded it, curious. On the paper read, "I can do what I want." It was signed by House. "There's nothing about breaking and entering on the MCAT." House said.
"Well, regardless, this seems very legit." Madelyn said sarcastically, "I suppose I'll have to get one myself." House liked her response.
"Should Chase and I take care of the home inspection?" Foreman asked. House scratched his beard in what looked like contemplation,
"I want Chase to work on X-ray developments with Taub and Thirteen." House decided, "Foreman, you and Gilmore check out the house. Keep it under two hours. I know stealing is tempting well with it being biologically hard to resist for you and all. But please try."
Before walking back towards his desk in the corner of the large office, House made eye contact with Madelyn and said,
"You'll be in good hands, sweetheart. Foreman is an expert at this. He's no stranger to the whole breaking-in-and-entering kinda thing, if you know what I mean."
"Black joke, good one." Foreman snickered, grabbing his coat off the rack.
"At least be original," Madelyn joked, "Have any Latina material?"
"Sure, I'm not racist, Gilmore. Black. Brown. Yellow. I have thoughts on it all."
"I don't doubt that, Dr. House." Madelyn looked him up-and-down before turning on her stilettos to leave the office with Foreman.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because I'm Latina, and I'd hate for Foreman to be the only one being racially profiled!" she smirked.
"Your wish is my command." House snapped his fingers.
