House Was Already a Legend, Duncan Was Not Yet

New Jersey.

Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital.

Two adjoining offices, one large and one small, separated by a glass door—the legendary Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital's one-of-a-kind Diagnostics Department, created specifically for the legendary Dr. House.

In the larger outer office, or rather, the conference room.

Three doctors in white coats sat there bored.

"A childhood iodine deficiency disease, nine letters."

A handsome white doctor sat there with a newspaper, doing the classic crossword puzzle. Having run into a problem, he muttered it aloud.

"Cretinism."

At the conference table, a Black doctor sat sideways, one hand on his knee and the other lightly tapping the table. He seemed lost in thought, but upon hearing his colleague's muttering, he gave the answer without even looking up.

The handsome white doctor thought about it, pursed his lips, and agreed.

Not far away, a beautiful female doctor sat at a computer desk, handling emails.

Ring, ring.

The landline in the small office suddenly rang.

"I'll get it."

As she spoke, the beautiful doctor rose, pushed open the glass door in the partition, entered the smaller office, picked up the receiver, and answered.

"Hello, is this Dr. Gregory House? I'm Dr. Adam Duncan from New York Medical Center."

"Hello. This is Dr. House's office. I'm Dr. Allison Cameron, and I work for Dr. House. It's a pleasure to hear your voice, Dr. Duncan."

As Cameron spoke, she turned to look at her other two colleagues.

The handsome white doctor and the Black doctor had both looked over the moment they heard Dr. Duncan's name.

"The pleasure is mine."

Adam smiled on the other end of the line. "Dr. Cameron, an outstanding immunology specialist. Dr. House is truly lucky to have you working for him."

"You've heard of me?"

A slight curve appeared at the corner of