CHAPTER 1 – "ARE YOU STUPID? DON'T YOU THINK SHE'S HOT?"

It's early morning and Taub, and Cameron are in the differential room waiting for House. House enters the room with a chart and throws it on the table scarring Cameron, who stares at him.

He looks around. "Our Mirror Syndrome guy is doing better… except for 'extreme bitch syndrome' he got from one of the nurses… don't let them go near him anymore." he stops "Where's Thirteen, Foreman and Kutner?"

"Well, you send Foreman and Kutner to search the guy's place… which is 3 hours away. They're not back yet and Kutner had an emergency and Thirteen… "Cameron's interrupted by Thirteen storming into the room.

"Sorry I'm late" Thirteen sits.

"You… "House steps closer to her enough to make her look up. "Are never late. You are avoiding the patient. Why?" House grins evilly.

Thirteen ignores him. "A Mirror Syndrome patient mimics the personality of whoever is with him… that's why this entire treatment you volunteered to do lab research" Thirteen looked at eye open wide. "You…. "House points at her.

"Go stick a needle in the patient. He needs a new IV fluid". Thirteen stands up and House follows her smiling ear to ear. Thirteen has been a mystery to him ever since she was hired. That was his chance of finding out something about her.

House and Thirteen enter the patient's room while Cameron is in there doing something. He pushes Thirteen forward. "Go ahead." Thirteen moves close to the patient while still putting her gloves on, uncomfortable. "Talk to him."

Cameron gives room for Thirteen and stares from House to her.

"Uh... you might feel a little pinch"

"Come on. Make him feel comfortable." House encourages her. Cameron crosses her arms and looks at the patient intrigued.

"I've done this procedure dozens of times. It's completely..." she's cut off by the patient.

"My god. You are incredibly hot."

"I'm not here, deal with her." Says House disappointed. Thirteen smiles and glances Cameron who's standing in front of her holding back a grin.

"Are you an idiot? Do you not think she's hot?" The patient says mimicking House's speech.

"I'm not the alpha here. She is. She's my boss." Cameron presses her lips tight to avoid laughing.

Thirteen looks at the patient's hand. "The rash is back." She says.

"Increase the drip" House realizes his tone is bossy "If... you think that's the right thing to do." Thirteen looks at House and starts walking towards Cameron.

"This is so frustrating." The patient says, still mimicking House.

"I don't think that's me." She says shooting House an amused stare and smiles.

House leaves the room annoyed yanking Cameron away from the room.

"Ouch" She slaps his hand. "What are you doing?"

"Get in there, see how he's doing." He says pushing her.

"We were just in there."

"Well, apparently, it's impossible to see anything else while I'm in there. I'm a blinding white hot light of power." He rolls his eyes and explains "I'm not interested in how he's doing. I'm interested in how she's doing. So get in there and tell me how he's doing. The guy mimics whoever he thinks is the alpha in the room. I can't be in there."

"You think he'll mimic her if I'm in there with her? You think she's the alpha between us?"

"You're a powerful, dominating woman, but who knows?" He says cynically imitating her skeptical look.

Cameron goes back into the room and stands on the other side of the bed to draw some blood.

"House sent you back here to check up on me, didn't he?" Thirteen says casually checking his vital signs.

"Don't worry, my lips are sealed." Cameron smiles at Thirteen. "Just… stay here for a while. House is looking at us"
Thirteen looks outside and sees House stalling and sighs unhappy.

"God, he is right." The moment the patient starts talking both girls look at him and then to each other without knowing who he is mimicking. And then to both girls' surprise he looks at Thirteen and continues "You ARE gorgeous". Thirteen goggles her eyes and looks at Cameron to see her jaw dropping. Cameron gasps between awkward smiles and confused nods. "I… I… I don't think Dr. Hadley is gorgeous. I mean, she is gorgeous, but I don't… I mean, what are you…" Cameron can't come up with absolutely anything to say. Now she's just waving her hands, stuttering with incredibly blushed cheeks. She would never in her wildest dreams expect this result from House's tryout.

"It's ok… I…" Thirteen nods trying to alleviate the situation but for Cameron's desperation the patient continues talking.

"Yes, I'm so sorry, I don't usually eye someone up like that, I just… I'm really attracted to you." The patient says in a sweet voice imitating Cameron. "I… I'd love to take you out… sometime… I mean, that's if you're interested." Thirteen nods while she listens speechless. Cameron looks at her exasperated. "Please, don't… answer that" Cameron now is freaked out.

She clears her throat and continues. "Okay, I think we're done here!"

"Yeah" Both girls storm out of the room and come across House, still waiting outside the room even more intrigued by both doctor's strange glance.

"Nothing on the biopsy. " Thirteen speaks awkwardly.

House seems more interested than ever. "And how is he?"

"His fever's at 106..." Thirteen continues antsy. Cameron is just standing there staring the empty space with her mouth open.

"I know. But how is he? Bitter? Sexually frustrated?"

"He's delightful. Loves the smell of freshly baked rhubarb pie and isn't afraid to love. Also, his rash is coming back." Thirteen walks away and Cameron just stands there incapable of moving. House looks at her daring her not to report to him.

"What she said" Cameron tries to hurry and escape from House but he hinders her with his cane.

"What just happened in there?"

"Nothing."

"Who did he mimic? Was it YOU?" House asks with an incredulous voice and suspicious eyes.

"I guess you'll never know" Cameron says that scooting away from House.

Both girls spend what is left of the day avoiding House and they don't go back to the patient's room together anymore. Cameron finally manages to sneak out and disappears. House hunts Cameron around the building while Thirteen is wondering what happened to her.