You want me to Date You?

Chapter Twenty Six

AN: I am so sorry that this has taken so long to update for you guys! My new job has been taking up a lot of my time, but I am not going to stop writing. The updates may be slower, but I am still here, I promise. Enjoy the chapter!

~~26~~

Foreman and Chase sat around the table in the diagnostics conference room when Cuddy walked in with the sound of her black platform heels and a loud huff. "Where is the best diagnostics department sixty miles from here?"

Chase shrugged as he leaned back in his chair. "We are... why?"

"We are not here. House is in Baltimore with Cameron and Stacy lying about his billings," Cuddy answered.

Foreman shrugged. "So?" he questioned. "I'm certified."

"You are not House," Cuddy corrected.

"Why did you put me in charge of the department if you don't think I can handle it?" Foreman growled.

Cuddy sighed and faced him fully. "Because Foreman. It's temporary while House cannot be here."

"What are the symptoms?"

"Seriously?" she admonished. "Are you going to try and diagnose them without seeing them, try to be just like House?"

Foreman narrowed his eyes at his boss. "I need to know the symptoms so I can tell you which hospitals to recommend them to."

Cuddy cleared her throat and opened up the file that she held in her hand. "The EMT's report states the patient struck his head and is suffering from aphasia."

"A neurological problem then. Now I know a lot of good people in that field, seeing as I happen to be a neurologist."

"You're really going to pout?" Cuddy asked.

"Not at all," Foreman answered, "Taylor's pretty good. House was going to hire him until he saw my resume."

Chase snickered to himself as he looked back and forth in between the two. This is a riot, he thought.

Cuddy sat the file down on the table and propped on arm on her hip. "The patient is Michael Thomas. He's written twelve books? Exposed three administrations? Before he exposes us—"

Foreman held up a hand, halting her rant. "I get it; famous patient needs a famous doctor. I'll contact Taylor."

"Thank you," Cuddy answered with a smile and picks the file up, turning to leave the room, when Foreman spoke up again.

"Or you could call him?" he suggested. "I could end up saying something stupid."

Cuddy turned back towards Foreman, who was raising an eyebrow at her. "Oh my lord!" she hollered. "House is easier." Cuddy tossed the patients file onto the table in front of Foreman and left the room to the sound of both been chuckling.

Chase leaned over Michael and shines a light into his each of his eyes, checking the reaction of his pupils. "Have you taken any drugs?" he asked.

Michael watched Chase's movements before responding. "I displaced my function... laid back," he replied, only to furrow his eyebrows and sigh.

Michael's wife stood at the edge of the room, letting the doctors run their tests. "He used to drink regularly, but he's been sober now for almost a year."

Foreman nodded and faced Michael. "Mr. Thomas, you think that you're talking normally but your speech is impaired." He watched as Michael looked over to his wife and he turned his head to look at her as well. "He knows what he wants to say, but when he reaches for a word his brain finds something else," he explained.