it had been a long day.

being a doctor wasn't easy - and unfortunately, apples alone weren't enough to keep away the toughest patients.

because what's funner than four hours of clinic duty - four long hours of explaining the simplest conditions to a bunch of morons and convincing bimbos that it isn't possible to get pregnant from a toilet seat. and then on top of that, the case that house's team of diagnosticians - that you were unfortunately a part of - had been on top of for a week and a half? she died. they couldn't fix her, despite all their promises.

whose fault was it? whose mistakes caused it - even if they wouldn't talk about it out loud? yours. and who had to break the news to the mother of two? you did.

what's funner than that?

it was a mission enough to deal with house's bullshit all week long - some days it just hit harder than it should've. his insults dug deeper, hit right where it hurt. his judgement for your mistakes was just a tiny bit sharper.

there was something heavy in the air. losing a patient was always tough - especially for you and the rest of house's apostles, cameron, chase and foreman - but this time it was somehow worse.

you didn't really take it well. you didn't really forgive yourself for it - the blame, guilt and shame weighting you down for hours on end.

you weren't made of iron. you broke sometimes, too. but honestly - you couldn't even remember the last time you did.

so it was high time for that.

house had already clocked out - 5 pm sharp, earlier if possible. but it had been a long day for him, too, and he barely made it two steps outside before he realized he had forgotten the key to his motorcycle up in his office. no big deal. he took the elevator up, pushed open the glass door to his office and the diagnostics conference room -

and there you were.

answering his mail for him, accepting patients, like you had a tendency to do when things got slow and cuddy got mad at him for not doing it himself.

but even he could sense it. something was off this time.

he stood quietly by the door of his very dimly-lit office, leaning against his cane, watching you.

and then, after a while of silence, he spoke up -

"look up."