Madeline silently cursed to herself just before Cuddy opened the doors. She was extremely frustrated, considering that she was one minute late for her first day and her clothes were still crinkly-looking, not to mention the aching pain in her head that was beginning to pound. She became even more stressed when realized her dark hair was in a noticeably messy ponytail.
Just concentrate. Don’t hyperventilate this time.
“Hi, Dr. Cuddy,” she greeted, blocking her frustration out. “I’m…here Ma’am.”
She felt relief when her new boss beamed back and welcomed her in. “It’s a pleasure to see you here Doctor.”
A small rush of excitement washed over Madeline as she stepped inside the office.
One day, I’ll have something EXACTLY like this.
She noticed an unkempt man in a red T-shirt and blue jeans, and stood beside him in front of Cuddy’s desk. Madeline caught sight of the wooden cane he was leaning on and focused on it, until she realized that he was frowning at her.
“Boy, do you look like crap,” were the only words he said to her.
She was taken aback by his statement, though she wasn’t able to respond when Cuddy cut in for her.
“Stop it House. This is Doctor Madeline Barnett.” She was behind her desk as she nodded from Madeline to him. “And…you should know that this is Doctor Gregory House.”
“Bingo!” House exclaimed, annoying Cuddy as usual but surprising Madeline.
Madeline stared at him quizzically.
“Do you like cripples?” He swung his cane in her face. “We get anything we want! Including new psychopathic doctors…”
Cuddy cast him a warning glance, as he returned it with a disgusted facial expression.
Madeline was in a state of shock. This was her new boss? She sized House up, observing his taboo attire of sneakers and no lab coat. Apparently, he enjoyed being rude, brash, and haplessly sarcastic…
How was she supposed to take him seriously?!
“You’ll be working under him with his diagnostics team,” Cuddy announced.
Madeline faked a smile, but gulped, hoping that applying for this job was not a mistake. House was already looking her up and down as if she was the next disaster that the new generation had produced. He didn’t have to so cruelly remind her of that…
She glared back at him.
Cuddy inhaled slowly and smiled at Madeline. “I really do hope you two enjoy working together.” Though brief, an awkward silence consumed Cuddy’s office, leaving the new doctor to wonder whether or not she’d be introduced to the rest of the team.
All of her rushing thoughts came to an abrupt halt when a blonde-haired doctor burst through the doors, calling for House in a heavy Australian accent.
“The anemia patient is panicking,” he stated, looking slightly desperate for House’s help. “She’s practically bouncing off the walls.”
House sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes. “Make it interesting Chase.”
“She’s bleeding from the eyes.”
