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Chapter Twenty Two - MIA

The sterile scent of the hospital clung to the air as House briskly walked through the fluorescent-lit main entranceway and towards the elevators. Today was a good day.

Echoes of his chess victory against Arin last night fueled a sense of triumph and while outside the cloud bank treated New Jersey's masses to a downpour that should have by rights cooled things off but instead had served only to make things wet. Very wet. House himself was in a chipper sort of mood. He hummed to himself as he walked, his cane clicking rhythmically along in time with his song. Nearing his office he pushed open the door and taking off his cap and jacket shook off some water droplets before hanging both up on the coat stand.

"Goooood morning people." He announced merrily to the present team members as he made his way to the coffee pot and began making up the brew. "What a wonderful day it is. Coffee?"

Cameron and Chase stared at him in a kind of  stunned silence. They had only arrived moments before him and still hadn't managed to so much as take off their jackets. Foreman was still nowhere to be seen.

"It's not even 9am..."Chase said. "It's like 8:30..."

"What? Don't tell me...you don't drink coffee before 9am because your English sensibilities will only accept tea?"

"I'm Australian." Chase rolled his eyes.

"Sure you are. So what then? Are you implying that you're surprised because I don't show up on time for work?" House asked, glancing over his shoulder as he placed the filter paper and began spooning coffee in.

"No of course not..." Cameron quickly began while Chase said "Uhh yeah?" In the sort of way one expects to hear the phrase 'Well Duh!'

House for his part only smirked and continued making the coffee. "Yeah, well don't get used to it. I have plans today that necessitate an early start, that's all."

"Plans?" Chase asked as he traded his jacket for his lab coat.

"You mean with our patient?" Cameron asked conversationally as she slid into a chair at the conference table.

House gave a slight smirk, clever that one. Observant aren't we Cameron. He thought as he filled two mugs and raising one to his mouth took a sip before bringing the other to the brunette who took it, the look of surprise back on her face.

"I mean with MY patient." He corrected and drank again from the mug. He leaned casually against the bookcase behind him and for a moment looked contemplatively at the whiteboard over his mug. Scant details on it was a stark reminder that this case wasn't going the way they normally did. Hopefully by this afternoon he would be able to correct that, have more to write on it at the very least.

The room meanwhile seemed to buzz with curiosity, and Cameron couldn't resist probing further when it became clear that House had turned introspective and would not be commenting anything else without asking.

"About that...our..." her eyebrows shot up as House pointedly raised his. "Ok Your patient. Are you going to share with us what's going on there or...?" she inquired, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

House chuckled to himself, relishing the intrigue he had sparked. He let the question hang unanswered for a few moments while he sipped more coffee. Finally he said,  "Nope." definitively.

When Cameron looked mildly outraged he rolled his eyes and added "No need to get your diagnostic panties in a twist Cameron. It's become a personal matter, that's all. Nothing that concerns our little team here."

Chase, still adjusting to the early morning banter, raised an eyebrow. "Personal matter? You usually avoid those like the plague."

House shot him a knowing grin. "Well, there's a first time for everything. Now, unless you're all planning a mutiny, I suggest we focus on our respective objectives for the day. Cameron you've got the mermaid to deal with and I'll need someone to run interference if I call. Chase I have three hours of clinic duty that you're going to cover and after that...well just make sure you look busy if anyone comes looking. It's the cases that pay the bills remember."