Setting: Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, the diagnostic office. Dr. Gregory House, Dr. Allison Cameron, and House's team—Dr. James Wilson, Dr. Robert Chase, Dr. Eric Foreman, and Dr. Lisa Cuddy—are gathered around a whiteboard filled with notes and medical diagrams. Carl Gallagher, still on the gurney, is resting while the team discusses his case.
House: (pointing at the whiteboard) Alright, team. We've got a teenager with tonic-clonic seizures, a past riddled with substance abuse, and normal test results. What don't we know?
Foreman: (studying the board) We've covered the basics—electrolyte imbalances, drug interactions, metabolic disorders. Nothing unusual there.
Chase: (frowning) What about autoimmune disorders? Sometimes they can cause seizures that don't show up on routine tests.
House: (nodding) Good call. We've considered that, but the autoimmune panels were negative. Anything else we've missed?
Cameron: (interrupting) What about his psychological state? Could his behavior and stress be contributing to the severity of the seizures?
House: (raising an eyebrow) Ah, so we're leaning toward a psychosomatic cause. Could be. But if it were just stress, his tests would still show something.
Wilson: (looking at Cameron) How's he been emotionally? Any significant recent trauma or changes in his life?
Cameron: (hesitating) His family life has been chaotic. His father's been absent, and he's had a lot of run-ins with the law. But he's been stable lately. I don't think it's just psychological.
House: (grinning) Alright, let's assume it's not just stress. We're missing something. What if the seizures are a symptom of something more insidious? Like a hidden infection or a rare condition?
Cuddy: (walking in) If it's a rare condition, we need to dig deeper. What about his neurological function? Did we check for any unusual brain activity?
Chase: (looking through the notes) We did an EEG. There were some anomalies, but nothing definitive.
House: (smirking) We're getting warmer. Let's run a more detailed neuroimaging study. We might be missing something subtle. And while we're at it, recheck his cerebrospinal fluid. Sometimes it holds the key to rare infections.
Cameron: (nodding) I'll arrange for that. And I'll talk to him again, see if he's mentioned anything new or unusual that we haven't picked up on.
Wilson: (concerned) Allison, are you okay? You seem really invested in this case.
Cameron: (forcing a smile) I just want to make sure we're doing everything we can. He's been through a lot, and I want to help him.
House: (watching Cameron) Cameron, you're too close to this. It's good you care, but don't let it cloud your judgment. We're dealing with a medical mystery, not a personal crusade.
Cameron: (firmly) I know, House. But he's important to me. I won't let that affect my work. I just want to find out what's wrong.
House: (sighing) Fine. We'll figure this out. Foreman, Chase, get those additional tests ordered. Cuddy, if you can, keep an eye on him while we wait for results.
Cuddy: (nodding) Of course. I'll make sure he's comfortable and keep track of any changes.
House: (looking at Cameron) And Cameron, try to relax. We're not letting our personal feelings get in the way. We're solving this as a team.
Cameron: (nodding) I understand. Thanks, House.
As the team disperses to carry out their tasks, Cameron stays behind, watching Carl with a mix of hope and apprehension. She knows that House's methods are unconventional and often abrasive, but his brilliance is unmatched. For now, all she can do is wait for the results and hope that the puzzle pieces will come together to provide Carl with the help he so desperately needs.
