Chapter Text
House grumbles all the way to the car, Wilson attempting to chat with him, to ease the suffering for everyone else. The whole team makes their way to a minibus, intended to take them on a glorious trip to New York City. While the trip was only roughly an hour away, House feels the need to express his thoughts very loudly concerning the reason in which they were going. Cuddy, tired of his complaining already, gives him the options of going, or three months of clinic duty. Having House properly shut up for the time being, with Wilson dragging their luggage behind them, they all enter the bus.
It was a tight squeeze, forcing bodies to collide and bags to go flying. Thirteen, desperate to avoid the madness, runs towards the back, Taub in tow. Chase, fumbling his way through the crowded seats, resolved to sit himself towards the front, headphones in check the moment he say down. House, still moaning about the small spaces and room for his leg, took up the front row with Wilson. Cuddy stood at the front, remaining them again for where they were going, and why. Apparently, the NYPD and New York Medical Examiner’s Office had its yearly medical check-up and discussion, and no hospital in New York was going to do it. Someone went haywire for every hospital in the state, and they were pulling out the big guns, hearing about the Diagnostics Department’s reputation. Cuddy was more than happy to oblige, sending House and the team out immediately after a horrid week of arguments, death threats and misconduct, unusual even for them.
The trip seems to last forever, the views changing drastically as the change interstate. House and Wilson continue with their lover’s discussion, laying on top of each other like lovesick puppies. Chase and Taub sleep, heavy snoring coming from Taub. Thirteen entertains herself by placing pins on Taub’s clothes and hair, seemingly pulling them out of nowhere. The small suburban houses change into towering skyscrapers and bustling city walkways. The bus seems to take many turns, going from left to right and right to left every minute or so. The screeching tires and the yelling of pedestrians wake Taub up, sending pins flying. Startled, he shakes his body in a desperate attempt to get rid of the foreign objects, which only proceeds to spread the pins over his body.
Thirteen laughs in the background, munching on her health snacks, unlike the others. House and Wilson ignore the ruckus behind them, sharing a giant bag of lollies between them. Chase decides to join the world of the living, attempting to steal the bag, and to the despair of himself, fails. Taub joins Thirteen in laughing as they both imitate the others in the bus, including each other. The Empire State Building towers over several buildings surrounding it, and those who had not seen it before become more and more excited as they approach the building, and their hotel.
The NYPD had been kind enough to book rooms at a prominent hotel in the heart of the city. The luxury of the accommodation does not suit the ragged look of some of the doctors, naming House and Chase. The younger members scurry off, enjoying the views and grandness that the hotel offered, leaving House, Wilson and Taub to slowly lug their luggage to the floor. Fortunately for the three elders, luggage boys littered around the lobby, collecting and dispersing bags as they go. Sirens blare outside, pedestrians hog the sidewalk. The constant noise and disruptions that New York offers is much different to that of Princeton, much different to what most of the team is used to.
Chase comes back with two handfuls of lollies, three already in his mouth. Thirteen races over, the whole jar in her arms. Together, the two of them sprint for the elevators. Wilson glares at House, silently telling him to get his ducklings under control. Sighing at his lover’s silent argument against him, House limps over to the little ducklings, snatching a handful out of the jar as the three enter an elevator. Unimpressed with none of them, Wilson and Taub attempt to catch up to the three childish doctors. Stringy music plays in the lift, with the two squashed in-between businessmen and poshly-dressed ladies alike. Taub becomes lost in the crowd, jousted and thrown against the wall. Knowing of House’s disapproval if one of his team members were injured while they were away, Wilson stalks the crowd, grabs onto Taub’s lapel and drags him down the corridor towards the rooms.
Four rooms were presented to them, all high-end suites. House bags the one closest to the door, Wilson entering it after him. A game of rock-paper-scissors occurs between the remaining three members to the room next to them, with Chase loosing. Sulking his way into the room, Thirteen races for the last one on the corridor, leaving Taub the last suite. The large open spaces of all the rooms reveal the city life of New York City. House immediately closes the blinds, and latches himself into Wilson’s personal space, hugging into him and squishing him against his body. Taub gazes out his window, the beauty of New York stunning him. The spa bath slowly fills as Thirteen waits for it, enjoying the new bathroom appliances. Chase jumps on the bed, feeling the soft fabrics around him and the sounds so familiar to Melbourne surround him.
Night falls quickly, with the occupants getting ready to meet the Lieutenant at a local fancy restaurant. Cab filled to the brim with passengers, they embark on their journey. Lights flash with every second that passed, a multitude of colours and mixtures. Wilson moved his body closer to House in an attempt to get Chase off of him, the gum-chewing Australian annoying him. House snickers, letting him fall against the headrest. The roads become busier, the closer they get. The rustling of clothes and tyres squealing against the pavement cause irritation among the passengers, until they suddenly stop. They’ve arrived at their first meeting.