You were sitting on the examination bed in Exam Room 1 in Princeton Plainsboro Hospital, kicking your legs absentmindedly as you waited to be seen. You were slightly nervous - you didn’t know what was going to happen, as you didn’t go to the doctors often, and hadn’t been for a couple of years. After a couple of minutes, you zoned out, staring blankly into space as your mind wandered.

You were startled out of your thoughts by a sudden snap of fingers in front of your face. You flinched back, instinctively bringing one hand up to shield your face. You quickly realised there wasn’t an imminent threat and brought your hand back down, smiling self-consciously. The man who’d snapped his fingers was probably a doctor, although he wasn’t wearing a white coat. But no one other than a doctor would look so comfortable and sure of themselves in a hospital. He had startlingly pale blue eyes, a serious expression, and walked with a cane, although you didn’t stare. You had the feeling he wouldn’t appreciate you mentioning that.

*The man stared at you for a second appraisingly, taking you in, before looking away and sighing. *

“I’m Doctor House. What seems to be the problem?”