Secrets kept

House limped towards the clinic. Dr. Cuddy spotted him and an aggravated look spread across her face as she walked up to him, a file already in her hand.

"Dr. Cuddy, always a pleasure." House said sarcastically.

"Your late, again." she said as she slapped the file into his chest.

"Well that's just because I'm so busy." he responded.

"Please, don't give me that, you have no cases."

"Well I'm trying to get to the eighth level in my game but I'll never get there if I keep having to come down here."

"Aw poor baby," she said mockingly, "Vanessa Kayton exam room three, now."

He groaned as he walked up to the room and saw a little girl who looked to be about six in the exam room staring at nothing in particular and swinging her legs as she sat on the exam table. He hoped she wouldn't be one of those little girls who asked a million questions. But the moment the girl saw him coming into the room she stopped swinging her legs and asked her first question,

"Are you Dr. House?"

"Yes." he said thinking if he spoke in monosyllables she would stop talking.

"I'm Vanessa, my mommy went to the bathroom." she said, staring at him as he sat down in the chair across the room. She didn't seem to be curious she just studied him critically, like a tiger studying its prey. He didn't know where that reference came from he thought as he studied her. She didn't look like a predator. She had denim overalls on and a pink t-shirt with white flowers on, she had shiny black shoes on with silver buckles and her black hair was in pigtails. He knew if Cameron were here she would be saying how cute she looked, but he wasn't Cameron. Then he saw what made him think of a predator, her eyes. She had that predatorial look in her blue eyes, like she was on her guard. She blinked and asked in an innocent voice "Can I play my Game boy; my mommy said I shouldn't because it's disrespectful."

He shrugged as he pulled out his own Game boy and started playing it. She let out a little happy squeal and started playing a game.

About three minutes later the girl quickly turned of and put away the game.

"Mom's coming!" she said quickly. House put away his game. A moment later a young woman with strait black hair walked into the room, a death grip on her purse.

"Vanessa, did the doctor come in yet?" She asked in a heavy accent. Vanessa pointed to Doctor House. "Ah, hello Dr. House, we came because my daughter is very sick. She keeps wheezing and coughing, coffee is the only thing that helps but when she swallows it, it hurts her so. And she keeps getting strange rashes, bumps and bruises. They're coming from nowhere." She took a breath and continued. "Please help my little girl."

"I don't wheeze that much mommy." The little girl said staring up at the mother.

"Oh I know sweetie, but you're doing it more and more." The little girl just shrugged. House pulled out a tongue depressor.

"It's probably nothing." The girl opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue. When he looked into the back of her throat he saw what almost looked like welts, or burn marks. "But that is not nothing." Then he noticed she was starting to gag. 'Hmm, her gag reflex is too sensitive.'

"Will you be able to help her?" Her mother asked him.

"Well I should, they didn't give me that degree for nothing, I think. Your daughter has to be admitted." He said as he took her file and started to walk out. Then the mother grabbed his arm.

"Are you sure we have to admit her?"

"If you want me to make her better, then yes." Then he walked out. Cuddy walked up to him.

"Here's another file House."

"Sorry Cuddy, too busy."

"What?"

"I got myself a case I'm working on. The Kayton girl."