The Knife and the Cane

Chapter 5- At the End of the Day

We have a problem.

The minute Thirteen read the text that popped up on her screen, she called Nora.

"What's wrong, girlie?" She asked.

"I'm such an idiot." Nora groaned.

"Talk to me."

"What would you do if you had a horrible secret that you wanted to keep from everyone, but this one man just kept pushing?"

"It depends, who is it and do I need to pick out a bridesmaid dress anytime soon?"

"Remy, I'm not stupid, the whole hospital will know before he gets to work tomorrow morning."

"So it's someone who works here?"

"Of course it is."

"Well, It comes down to trust. If you trust him, tell him. If you don't, don't."

"I trust him, but I don't know if I trust him with something that big yet."

"Now I really gotta know who it is."

"No you don't. Hey, how many clinic hours do you have?"

"Like, two."

"Thank God. Dr. House made a bet with me."

"Be like the rest of us, drop the 'Doctor' in front of his name."

"Anyway, he bet that the patient doesn't have Tourette's. If he's right, I have to take the whole team's clinic hours for a month. If I'm right, he has to start listening to me."

"You actually made a bet with House?"

"Yes? Is something wrong with that?"

"He...goes back on what he says a lot."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Foreman made a bet with him once and ended up not being able to consult in Neurology for months."

"I'll take that into consideration in the future."

"It's House, isn't it?"

"What?"

"The man you like? It's House isn't it?" Nora didn't answer. "I knew it."

"You can't tell anyone, Remy, I'm not kidding."

"I won't. I promise."

"I've gotta go check on the kid, thanks for the advice."

"Anytime. See you tomorrow."

"Night."

Nora hung up the phone and stared at the ceiling, warmth creeping up her neck. She couldn't like her boss, there was no possible way.

The next morning, Dr. House strolled into Princeton-Plainsboro, expecting to have his clinic hours worked by his newest doctor. He was pleasantly surprised to see that he was the first doctor of his team to be on time until he looked into the workroom and couldn't help but smile. Nora sat at the table, asleep, still in the same scarlet blouse and black mini skirt she'd worn yesterday. Her black hair was messier than it was when House'd left, but it was still well-put together. He set his bag down, hung up his coat, and nudged her with his cane. She snapped awake in an instant.

"Oh, Dr. House." She mumbled, running her fingers through her raven locks. Her plump cheeks bloomed with color as she realized that she'd fallen asleep.

"Morning, Sleeping Beauty." House replied, prepping the coffee machine.

"It's morning already?"

"It's about six thirty. You'd better go home and change, you've got a month's worth of clinic hours to start."