𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐄

twelve; here's to parental issues

(references to parental negligence and abuse
+... House's relationship with his father)

{☀️🌩️}

Vickie sat, for once, not at her desk, instead she sat with her back to the glass walls of the big office. In front of her, at the wide glass table, sat Chase and Cameron with Foreman opposite of them. The four of them were watching Wilson as he wrote symptoms on the whiteboard, though none of them could actually see what he was writing -Wilson has the worst case of doctors handwriting out there.

The assistant could only frown as she listened to them talk, unlike them she was not holding a file but her sketchbook.

"Patient experiences shock-like sensations," Wilson explained, capping the marker. "As well as headaches, nausea, and drowsiness."

"Shocks?" Asked Chase, seeking a clarification.

Wilson nodded, "Excruciatingly painful shocks. ER docs referred him to a neurologist, who referred him to five other doctors in the last seven days."

"Shocks could be L'Hermitte's Sign," Cameron said, her eyes examining the file, "Early symptom of MS."

"No, MRI showed no white matter lesions, and the shocks aren't accompanied by neck flexing."

House chose that moment to come in, wearing a new leather jacket. Vickie raised her eyebrows at the clothing item, noting how it wasn't one of hers, yet looked good on him.

"Good morning!" He greeted cheerily, dumping his bag on Vickie's desk. Foreman, without taking his eyes off of the file, replied, "It's almost noon."

"Really? That must be why I'm so hungry," he hummed, "What do you say, Sunshine, breakfast for lunch?"

The assistant nodded absentmindedly, eyes still examining the new item he was wearing, "New jacket?"

House pretended to flick hair over his shoulder, "It keeps me warm and cool. How does it know?"

"We're discussing your new patient." Wilson told him, his voice stern.

House was rifling through his bag, but stopped at his best friends' words, "Must be a boring discussion, considering that I haven't accepted a new patient."

"You accepted him the moment I loaned you five grand."

Vickie snorted, "You gave him five grand?"

"And you didn't?"

"It was only two." Shrugged Vickie, like that kind of money was no big deal. The ducklings were watching the exchange with rapped attention, heads flicking from one side to the other as they followed the conversation.

House, meanwhile, cut in, "Ohh, wait, wait, when I said I'd do anything for the money, obviously I didn't mean it."

"You're gonna like this. Kid's getting shocked every few minutes."

Cameron frowned over at House, "Why would you need seven thousand dollars?"

Next to her, Chase smirked, "Bad night at poker, or great night with a hooker?"

"Thank you for saving me the trouble of deflecting that personal question with a joke," House said to Chase, who smiled. Vickie snorted, knowing she had thought the same when her boss called her up.

House turned to the oncologists standing opposite of him at the whiteboard, "College student? Nitrous oxide is fun at parties. Cause the shocks, and drinking 'til you puke every night can cause everything else. Give him some B12."