Hospitals didn't thrive on healing patients. Not really, anyway. Cuddy would say otherwise, of course. She was very proud knowing that the statistics of her hospital and the credability of her doctors kept the place runnning. Or so she thought. In reality, hospitals run on gossip. Word passes like wild fire, and Princeton Plainsboro was no stranger to juicy gossip. They loved it. It was practically comical, seeing nurses huddled over in a corner, surgeons talking over immobile patients. The newest piece of hot dish? Gregory House was returning to his position at the hospital, and as far as everyone else was concerned, he hadn't seen the 'art work' that had set the gossip mill ablaze only weeks ago. And they were right.

"Glad to be back, House?" Wilson asked with a smug smile, looking similar to a cheshire cat. House squinted his eyes in a questioning manner, knowing full well that his best friend was about ready to burst with something to say. Wilson had visited House plenty of times in Mayfield, but he had managed to keep his mouth shut, despite the major urge to do the exact opposite. It wasn't just Wilson waiting for the newest controversy to blow up, it was the entire hospital, and they had felt like they had waited long enough.

"Out with it then, I'm not gonna stand here all day while you smile like an idiot." House informed him matter of factly, leaning on his cane and popping a few milk duds in his mouth from the box that he had stolen from the oncologist.

"What makes you think I have something to say?" Wilson asked, feigning confusion and innocence, though the too-wide smile stayed put firmly on his face.

"You're boring me, I'm leaving."

He only had to take two steps before Wilson gave in.

"Okay, okay, okay! All I have to say is this: Go visit your favorite blonde."

House knew who he was talking about right away, but as he walked towards the elevator, he called out behind his shoulder, "You know Candace Marie isn't at the strip joint on Tuesdays! God, Wilson, I don't even know why we're friends!"

He had managed to make it a little over one hour before the curiousity was just too much for him to take. In the middle of a differential diagnoses with the team, he left the office without saying a word, his brain buzzing with the need to know what the big deal was.

House had decided to keep his distance, staying far enough away that he could study her for a few moments before she would notice him lurking, but not so far away that it could be considered hiding. When he first got a glimpse of her, he couldn't help but smirk with a slight fondness.

The ER had three patients, each being tended at with a slow pace from several nurses. Cameron, the head of the department, was watching in disinterest, rocking back on the balls of her feet lightly, looking bored out of her mind. With the way her fingers twitched at her side, House could tell that she wanted to jump in and do something, but they were over staffed as it was. It was while peering at her twitching hands that he saw it. It was only a glimpse, but it was more than enough time for him to see the vague shape, and the bright flames on top of it.

He looked down at the floor, trying hard to hide a grin, though no one was looking at him. It wasn't so much that he was happy, as that was far too strong a word for House. He was merely proud of his former duckling for making such an irrational decision. He noticed that the ring that should have been on her finger was gone, and he didn't miss the symbolism of what she had been trying to say. After several more moments to collect his thoughts, he made his way up to her, his eyes shining with what could be described as nothing else but pure amusement.

"Did you miss me?"

A/N: Just a short one. My computer had completely shut down and it just got up and running, so I thought just a bit more to wet your appetites!