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Things were always busy at Princeton-Plainsborough Hospital. Nurses running through to patients' rooms, the free clinic being stuffed to the gills, people checking on family members. Just a myriad of people coming in and out.
A tallish, older, red-haired man with some streaks of greyish-white and a scowl on his face walked into the hospital. He came out of an ambulance that was parked on the edge of the lot, as he didn’t want to be noticed by passersby.
Ratchet grumbled, unable to believe that the holoform tech he and Rafael had worked on had gone so wrong. Of course, Smokescreen, of all bots, was so eager to try it out that he immediately got injured in his holoform, prompting the humans who saw him crash to call the authorities for help. The Autobots were able to get his actual Cybertronian body back to base, but realized Smokescreen’s consciousness was somewhere else.
They tracked him down to this hospital, and unfortunately, Agent Fowler was predisposed and couldn’t get him for Team Prime. So…since they needed to sneak out Smokescreen from a medical facility, who better than the team’s medic, Ratchet? Of course, Ratchet was against this, but if normal humans find out about Smokescreen being an alien, it would be a massive cleanup for Agent Fowler that they can’t wait for.
So Optimus asked Ratchet to infiltrate the hospital and get Smokescreen out before anyone realized something was wrong. Ratchet, being a doctor, was able to navigate the hospital and hopefully find the injured rookie before it was too late.
———
Knock Out was in a major dilemma. Another incident while out late-night racing. He managed to knock out the lead racer, and he spun out. Knock Out usually just drives away when this happens. But the issue is, the driver managed to snap a picture of him and his license plate as he got out of his car and snap a photo. If Soundwave or Megatron found out he went racing again when he was supposed to be working…he would get into major trouble.
Knock Out kept a safe distance and watched as the driver was loaded into the ambulance and driven to the closest hospital. Knock Out followed and used some holoform tech he was meaning to try out.
His holoform was on the shorter side, but just as handsome and well-kept as his Cybertronian self. His cherry red hair styled to perfection, his attire also a vivid red and shiny like his Cybertronian finish. He stood up…but in a bad way.
Knock Out entered the hospital and looked around for a way to blend in. He was a medic in a hospital…disguising himself as a doctor wasn’t a stretch. He snuck into a closet, grabbing a lab coat with a random doctor’s badge. He needed to find that damned racer.
———
Dr. Gregory House arrived early in the morning and was doing his best to avoid Cuddy. He really wasn’t in the mood to do clinic duty, and honestly, most of the recent cases have been so…boring. He entered his office and saw his team, Dr. Foreman, Dr. Chase, Dr. Taub, and, of course, Thirteen, aka Dr. Hadley.
They all looked at House as he walked in. “Got some cases for you.” Foreman said as he held up some files.
House grumbled, “Hopefully it isn’t as disappointing as the last few, let’s see.”
“A woman who claims to hear God after she fell asleep a week ago.” Foreman read the file,
“She belongs in a Psych ward, not a hospital bed. Next.” House dismissed,
“Two different car accident victims.” Foreman raised a brow and saw House scoff.
“Then let the ER handle it. Why would you bring me something so benign?” House asked.
“One claimed he didn’t see the driver in the car that hit him. Has been feeling sick and having seizures since.” Foreman looked at House; he could tell his boss found that a little interesting.
“And the other?” House asked,
“The car tipped over, but…the weird thing is…He’s refusing any treatment. And when we sedated him to get blood…” Foreman pulls out a small blue vial, “His blood was blue.”
House immediately leaned forward, “Giving a whole new meaning to blue blood, huh? Not gonna find out his daddy is some rich muckity muck, are we?”
“So no one is gonna address that somehow this man has deep blue blood?” Taub interjected, “What could even cause it to be that vivid a blue?”
“Maybe he’s an alien?” Chase joked, and Taub rolled his eyes at Chase’s stupid joke.
“We also saw that the seizure victim had the same blue blood on him as well…they could be related in some weird way.” Foreman explained further,
Now House was interested. Two cases that are similar but different? Blue blood? Is it even blood? Was it the reason they crashed? So many questions, and this could be a fun puzzle.
“Order bloodwork from the, not royal pain. Get a CT scan of his head to see if there are any signs of brain trauma from the crash.” House ordered, “Thirteen and Chase can try and charm blue blood into talking. Taub and Foreman do the scan.”
They all nod and go off to do what they were instructed. House gets up and grabs the blue vial… “This is gonna be an interesting one.”
————
Ratchet still hasn’t found Smokescreen. This place is too big! Ratchet began walking down the hall and bumped into someone, “Sorry.” Ratchet said in a hurry.
Wilson paused as he had never seen this doctor before. “Huh, new guy?” Wilson turned to see another redheaded doctor rushing down the adjacent hallway, which he didn’t recognize. “Did Cuddy just hire a bunch of redheads? Weird.” He said to himself as he continued to his office.
Ratchet saw Smokescreen, but he also saw two other doctors in the room with him. Scrap. He needed to get them away from Smokescreen.
Ratchet entered the room as Chase and Thirteen looked confused. “Uh…can we help you?” Chase asked,
Smokescreen recognized that scowl and grumpy demeanor anywhere. “Uh…he’s my doctor! Yeah…ain’t that right, doc?”
Ratchet nodded, “Yes, I’m his private physician.”
“Great.” Thirteen walked over, “Then you can give us his medical history and records so we can help him.”
“I must politely decline. His records are not for you to have.” Ratchet insisted,
“We can’t treat him without some knowledge of his medical history.” Thirteen argued back,
“Look, we need to transfer him. He cannot be treated here.” Ratchet insisted, “He is not your patient.”
“He’s checked into our hospital. And therefore our patient. If you have a problem with that, talk to Dr. House.” Chase argued.
“Fine. Where is this, Dr. House?” Ratchet asked, annoyed. Thirteen and Chase shrugged. Ratchet sighed, “Fine…I’ll find him myself…”
———-
Knock Out was getting fed up with being interrupted as he was asked questions he didn’t know the answers to. He huffed. Where was this asshole?! Knock Out huffed as he saw a man with a cane walking towards him. He was trying to rush past when the man grabbed Knock Out’s shoulder.
“Hold it.” House said as he grabbed Knock Out’s shoulder. “Where are you rushing off to?”
Knock Out looked up at the older man, “My patient’s room. If you were a doctor, you would understand.”
“As someone who is a doctor and actually employed here…I ask again…” House leans in, “Who are you and where are you rushing off to?”
Knock Out’s eyes bulge for a second before recomposing himself. “I most certainly am a doctor! And employed here! I am a talented surgeon!” He argued angrily.
“Unless Cuddy hired a new Cabana boy, I don’t see you as a doctor. Wearing a lab coat doesn’t make you a doctor.” House remarked,
“Sorry, I take some pride in my looks. I'd rather be a pretty boy than look like a homeless curmudgeon!” Knock Out sassed back.
House smirked, “Ok, Red, you got some bite.” House patted his shoulder playfully.
But before they could continue their banter, House heard his name being called, “House.” Chase called from down the hall. He and Ratchet rushed over to House, and some other doctor Chase didn’t recognize. “That patient with the blood’s personal doctor showed up. He’s refusing any treatment for the patient.”
“He is not your patient.” Ratchet argued,
Knock Out immediately recognized the voice. Why was the Autobots’ medic here?!
Ratchet looked over at the smaller, younger doctor…he looked kind of like…no…he couldn’t be Knock Out, could he?! Why would the Decepticons be here?!
Both red-headed doctors stared at one another for a second before turning their attention to House. House looked between the two, “Seems the Irish are invading.” House joked, “So…why does your patient have blue blood, then, doctor…” House gestures for Ratchet to introduce himself.
“Ratchet.” Ratchet stated, “He is perfectly fine. And not yours to deal with. Just release him into my custody, and we can be done with this.”
House blinked, “What? Have to return your patient to the Cuckoo’s nest?”
The joke neither Ratchet nor Knock Out understood. Chase had a soft chuckle. House looked at the two and realized his wit was not being appreciated. “Look…Ratchet, we want what is best for the patient.”
Ratchet grumbled, “I understand that. But his care is not needed here! He needs to be moved to a more… Ratchet was trying to word his sentence carefully; this Dr. House seems like he wouldn’t take a vague answer. “Secure location.”
“Secure?” Chase looked at House, who seemed even more intrigued by the second. “Well, if this is a security issue…then you can go talk to the head of the hospital, Dr. Cuddy. I bet she would love to hear how her hospital isn’t up to your snuff, Doctor Ratchet.” House said with some sass as he twirled his cane in Ratchet’s face.
Ratchet slapped the cane away, “I’m getting tired of finding all these people just to send me somewhere else!” Ratchet crossed his arms, “I don’t understand why this is such a bizarre and tedious process!”
Knock Out saw that clearly another Autobot must be somewhere in the building. Of all the times for this to happen. It’s when he’s scrambling to cover his tracks. Is this what Starscream goes through constantly? No wonder he’s such a mess.
Knock Out saw the other three doctors arguing as he tried to slip past. House clocked Knock Out trying to leave. He tipped his can out just enough for Knock Out to trip over. Knock Out looked back and saw House look down at him, “Oops.” He said in a fake condescending way.
Knock Out grumbled, “Really mature, what happened to decorum from doctors? A little bedside manner.”
Chase audibly laughed, and House shot him a glare. “Look, Red, I’m not done talking to you.”
Knock Out gets up, “Well, I’m done talking to you! I have a patient to deal with.”
Ratchet’s eyes widened…a patient? What did Knock Out need here at a human hospital? Or rather, who is Knock Out trying to find? Does he know about Smokescreen? Is he trying to locate him first before the Decepticons could attack? There are too many variables. Ratchet already needed to get Smokescreen out of here from this bureaucratic nightmare. Now he has to babysit the Decepticon medic in hopes he doesn’t do anything bad to the humans here.
Ratchet rushed over to Knock Out, “We need to talk now.” As Ratchet strong-armed Knock Out down the hall before House or Chase could do anything.
“Ok, so…I’m pretty sure something is up.” Chase said bluntly,
“Definitely, this is almost more interesting than the blue blood.” House and Chase’s pagers go off as they get a notification that the patient Foreman and Taub were scanning had a seizure during the CT scan.
“But it has to wait…we have another problem to solve.” House said as he and Chase rushed to help the patient Knock Out had been looking for.
—-----
Ratchet dragged Knock Out to a random empty room. And released Knock Out, “Why are the Decepticons here?” Ratchet demanded,
Knock Out straightened up his coat and collar. “They aren’t, it’s just me.”
Ratchet raised a brow, “So Megatron just sent you?”
“No…Megatron doesn’t know I am here.” Knock Out argued back, “Why are you here? What Prime have you doing clinic duty with humans now?”
“That is none of your concern.” Ratchet tried to shut down Knock Out’s questioning.
“From the sound of it…you got an injured bot here in holoform, and these wackos won’t let you take them back.” Knock Out deduced smugly, “Who is it? Bee? Arcee? Or maybe that newbie of yours…What was it…Smokescreen?”
Ratchet clenches his fist, “Look…how about we call a truce?” Knock Out raised a brow as Ratchet continued, “We both don’t want to be here. We both need to find someone here, and once that is done, we both can leave this hellscape.”
Knock Out hummed as he thought about it. Two sets of eyes were better than one. Knock Out tapped his chin, “Fine. I guess…I want out of here. You need whoever is out too…”
Ratchet extended a hand, and the two shook on it. “So who are you looking for?”
"So..." Knock Out sighed as he explained his plan, what happened, and why he was here in the first place. Ratchet wanted to chastise the Decepticon medic for being so foolish and reckless. But he didn’t want to give that speech twice, as he still had to yell at Smokescreen for doing something similar to Knock Out.
“So you just need his phone? You aren’t going to take responsibility for getting him injured?” Ratchet judged,
“Look…that’s the risk you take with speed racing.” Knock Out scoffed, “You actually want me to treat him? We are Cybertronian medics…not human doctors.”
Knock Out is correct, sadly. Even if they could help, they didn’t know where to begin properly treating a human. At least when Rafael got sick with Dark Energon, Nurse Darby was there to help…here…it could go south quickly. And Ratchet and Knock Out could get in bigger trouble.
—---
House’s team managed to stabilize the seizing car crash victim. Still not sure why he is seizing and what this has to do with the same blue substance that is in the veins of their other patient.
Taub and Foreman relaxed as they managed to sedate him momentarily so they had some time to think. The next thing they both saw was House and some nurses wheeling in their other patient into the same room. Smokescreen was confused as to why he was moving rooms and was asking questions that House wasn’t answering.
They settled his hospital bed across from their other patient. Taub looked at House, “House, what are you doing? Why are you moving him?”
“Since the cases seem related…let’s put the two together.” House explained,
Smokescreen was confused, “Related? I don’t know this guy!” Smokescreen pointed at the sedated man across from him. “Look, I just want to leave! You can’t hold me!”
House made a face, “Technically no…but considering you’re doctor showed up, you're both being cagey, and clearly there is a questionable substance involved in these cases…the CDC or DEA could be called to look into this…” House vaguely threatened,
Smokescreen froze…he didn’t know what either of those organizations…but getting more human agencies involved. “Look, we don’t need more people involved in this. I’m fine, really!” Smokescreen sat up, “Look, I don’t know what that guy's deal is…But I’m still not sure how this is related.”
House looked between the two and reached into his jacket and pulled out the vial. The blue blood that they extracted from Smokescreen. “We took a blood sample, and it was blue. Blood is not blue…so explain.”
Smokescreen frowned, “Uh…Autoimmune disease…” He lied badly; he heard the term from Jack’s mom, June, who is a nurse…it sounded like that could be plausible.
House raised a brow, “Autoimmune disease? Like what, Lupus?”
“Uh..sure?” Smokescreen lied again,
House looked at him with a ‘seriously?’ look. “It’s not Lupus. It’s never Lupus in these cases.” House pulled up a chair and sat next to Smokescreen, “If you keep jerking us around, you’ll make it hard to help him and you.” House points to the other man across from Smokescreen.
Smokescreen sighed, “Look. Let me talk to my doctor again…he…can explain it better.” Smokescreen hoped Ratchet could help…he realized he didn’t know enough about humans enough to keep lying.
House pressed his lips into a line. He looked at his team, "Thirteen.” He turned to his female team member. “Find this, Dr. Ratchet. Last we saw him, he was with some new surgeon.”
Thirteen blinks, not knowing who this man was or what he looked like. Chase agreed to go with her cause he knows what they both look like. The two rushed out as they went searching. Taub and Foreman were left running diagnostics and tests on the two patients. House got up…he wanted to see what Wilson was up to…maybe he had some insights on what was happening.
—----
Ratchet walked back to the room where Smokescreen was supposed to be…he was moved. Both doctors groaned, “Where was he moved?” Ratchet asked, as Knock Out turned to see Thirteen and Chase walk in. “He was moved with our other patient.” She said as both doctors turned to look at her.
Ratchet rushed, “Fine. Take us to him.”
Thirteen looked at the two of them. “Fine, we can question you both on the way.”
Ratchet huffed, and Knock Out groaned as Thirteen and Chase led them to where they moved Smokescreen. Thirteen turned to Ratchet, “So…blue blood? Some kind of drug? Chemical reaction…no one has answered it…”
Ratchet tried to remain stoic as he looked ahead at where they were leading him. Knock Out listened as Chase was subtly observing his reaction, too, as they didn’t know what his involvement was. Ratchet cleared his throat, “It…is a chemical reaction to oxidation. An experimental chemical that seems to be more trouble than it’s worth.”
Thirteen glared, “A dangerous chemical? What’s it called?”
“Energon.” Knock Out interrupted, Ratchet’s eyes widened, and he looked pissed that Knock Out spilled it.
“Energon? What does it do?” Chase asked,
“It’s an alternative experimental energy source. Used to supercharge vehicles. Its permeable through the skin and can get into people’s blood. So…the blue contaminated his blood and can have side effects towards normal, hu-...I mean people.” Knock Out tried to partially lie, Ratchet let Knock Out lie go…cause honestly…it was a good explanation.
“Huh…explains the car crashes. And…why both had it in their system…” Chase hummed,
Knock Out was still wondering how the human he spun out got Energon on him…Scrap…he remembers when he got rammed in, he got a gash, and that must have spilled some blood onto the human and got Energon in his system…Knock Out was mad…but he patched and buffed it out…now some human might die from his own negligence.
—----
House wandered into Wilson’s office as he was talking with Cuddy. Cuddy was giving him a report for the oncology department, and House annoyingly waited for them to be done. House cleared his throat to get their attention.
“Blue Blood…” House said unprompted,
“I’m sorry?” Cuddy asked, confused by the vague statement.
“I have two patients having blue blood after car crashes…seizures, fainting spells, and other myriad of symptoms.” House said, holding a small blue vial in his fingers.
Cuddy walked over and looked, “What on Earth?”
Wilson leaned back in his chair. “Chemical reaction?”
“Could be…” House theorized, “One of them had his personal physician show up, and he was being cagey. Apparently…he’s buddies with that new surgeon you hired.”
“New surgeon?” Cuddy said, confused,
“Pretty boy, bright red hair, late 20s…ish. Didn’t get a name now that I think about it…” House said, realizing,
“I…didn’t hire a new surgeon.” Cuddy said, now concerned,
House hid his confusion…but he didn’t want Cuddy unleashing a witch hunt… nothing was getting too interesting for the fun to be over. Wilson chimed in, “I saw him too…on the shorter side, really bright hair, right?”
Cuddy looked even more confused. House nodded, “Look…let my team handle this. Clearly, something is going on.”
“If there is someone faking being a doctor in my hospital, I need to know.” Cuddy said angrily,
House looked to Wilson for some help. Wilson clocked the ‘help me’ House look. “Cuddy.” Wilson said as Cuddy turned to him, “Let House deal with it. Maybe it's a miscommunication. Let’s…not jump to conclusions.”
She looks between the two of them and sighs, “If I find out there is a man masquerading as a doctor in my hospital and you two were hiding it from me…Heads will roll.” Cuddy pointed at both of them and left the office.
Wilson and House shared a look, “You'd better solve this, House, or we're both out of a job.” Wilson said, looking at his friend.
House nodded, “Yeah…this is way too interesting not to solve…”
—---
Thirteen, Chase, Knock Out, and Ratceht returned to the room with Taub, Foreman, Smokescreen, and the human patient. Ratchet explained that flushing their systems with saline and new blood should wipe out the Energon in their systems.
Taub and Foreman weren’t buying it as they already tried flushing their systems with fluids…but maybe adding blood replacement should do more. Taub and Chase left to get the blood as Foreman asked Smokescreen his blood type. Smokescreen froze as he looked over at Ratchet and Knock Out…which Smokescreen still hasn’t clocked as the Decepticon medic.
Smokescreen looked to Ratchet, confused. Ratchet sighed, “Get him type O negative.”
The other patient groaned as he looked up at the new doctors in his room. He didn’t recognize them. “The fuck is Energon?” The patient groaned out,
Knock Out panicked if this stupid human didn’t play along, their carefully crafted lie wouldn’t work! Knock Out rushed over, “Motherfucker, shut up. We are helping you. Or do I have to tell them about the illegal street racing to the authorities?”
The human man froze and looked at Knock Out, “No…you’re the fucker in the red car, aren’t you?! That’s how you know this!” The human went to attack Knock Out as Foreman and Ratchet went to pry Knock Out away from the human.
House walked in at the worst moment as the patient was agitated and could blow this whole operation. The patient was angry, “This is your fault, you asshole!”
Foreman and Thirteen looked at their boss and then back at Knock Out and Ratchet. House looked at the two as Knock Out straightened himself up. “So…you two…” points to Knock Out and Ratchet, “Outside. Now.”
Ratchet and Knock Out walked out as Thirteen, and Foreman tried to join. But then House stopped them, “You two get the blood with Taub and Chase. I got the Wonder Twins here to interrogate.”
Foreman and Thirteen walked down the hall exchanging conversation on what the hell is happening. House and the two walked to a private area. “Talk…and no bullshit this time. I want answers.”
Ratchet looked to Knock Out, and Knock Out looked back, “Do…Do we tell him?”
Ratchet looked bewildered, “No!”
“I’m right here.” House said unamused,
“Look, we cannot disclose the reasoning. It's a matter of security.” Ratchet argued,
“For you it is.” Knock Out sassed, “I don’t have those restrictions.”
Ratchet looked absolutely flabbergasted at Knock Out, “Seriously?! And tell him what?!” points at House, “You’ll jeopardize us both!”
Knock Out scoffed, “He’s only humoring us because he’s curious.” He points at House, “Am I right?”
“Oh, I would have called the cops ages ago. But this is way too interesting to figure out.” House admits,
Ratchet was bewildered, “You would rather solve a puzzle than get actual help for your patients?!”
House shrugged, “I can do both.”
Knock Out laughed, “I like this guy.”
Ratchet pinched the bridge of his nose. “If we tell you…Will you help us?”
House smiled, “Of course. I am a man of my word.”
Ratchet groaned in frustration. Knock Out shrugged, “Ratchet…we don’t have a choice right now.”
Ratchet sighed, “You do it.”
Knock Out nodded, “Cool. Well…for starters, we didn’t lie about the Energon. It’s an actual chemical that is dangerous for humans. You do need to flush the blood to fix them. Well…one of them. His patient…” Knock Out points at Ratchet, “Doesn’t need to get his system flushed.”
“Why?” House asked,
“So…do you believe in aliens?” Knock Out genuinely asked,
House blinked, “Oh god, Chase was right.”
Knock Out awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, “We are a race of bio-mechanical beings that use Energon as fuel and our blood. His patient and us right now are using a special and extremely powerful holographic technology that makes human avatars for us to use. And his actual body is too far away to reconnect to his holoform, so he can’t leave. So he had to get him.”
Ratchet nodded, “His name is Smokescreen…we have the ability to alternate our forms from robot mode to a vehicle mode. So the ‘car’ that crashed was Smokescreen’s actual body. And I just want to connect him back ot his body and be done with it.”
Knock Out looked back at House, “For me…I like street racing…typically the illegal kind. So I’m the…guy who ran him off the road, and the Energon that got on him…was my blood. And I came here to get rid of proof he had that I was…driverless.”
House listened and was just…bewildered. “So where are your…bodies?”
“The parking lot.” Ratchet elaborated,
“So…what are your other modes?” House asked,
“An ambulance.” Ratchet said,
Knock Out blinked, “An Aston Martin.”
House raised a brow, “Ok…only way I will help…I need proof of this. Otherwise, you two are a bunch of loons, and I will call the authorities.”
Knock Out and Ratchet exchanged looks, “Fine. But we need privacy.”
House smirked, “Alright… let's go.”
House walked out with Knock Out and Ratchet. They went to an empty part of the communal parking lot and waited for Ratchet and Knock Out to arrive in their alt-modes. Ratchet came first in his ambulance alt-mode, but House seemed unimpressed. But seeing Ratchet’s holoform glitch a bit to life confirmed it a bit to House.
Knock Out’s sports car engine roared as he came up the parking lot ramp. House jokingly whistled as Knock Out drove up. Knock Out transformed, which House’s face contorted into shock as a tall red robotic humanoid stood in front of him. Then he looked over at Ratchet, whose human body glitched out, and he too watched the ambulance too turn into a different giant robot.
“Believe us now?” Knock Out smirked as House looked up at the two robots.
House looked between the two. “Ok…this is officially the coolest thing. I get it now…and…well…” Knock Out and Ratchet looked at him curiously. “I need a ride.”
Knock Out laughed, “Oh? Want to ride in an alien car.”
“Do you really have to ask?” House asked,
Knock Out smirked as he transformed and opened his car door. “Let’s go, House. We got some speeding to do.”
Ratchet looked bewildered, “Are you both insane?! We have to get Smokescreen and the other patient dealt with!”
House and Knock Out sighed, “A quick ride. I’ll call my team to release Smokescreen.”
Ratchet nodded, “I will stay back to actually solve this issue…I’ll delete the photo for you, Knock Out. As a part of our deal.”
“Deal? You two aren’t friends?” House asked,
“Oh Primus, no. We’re actually enemies…allies under circumstances.” Knock Out explained,
“Tell me everything.” House was so invested in this alien drama.
“Knock Out…” Ratchet warned,
“I will tell him the basics…relax, Ratchet. House is like your other human allies…I bet he would love to meet Prime.” Knock Out teased,
House looked up as he got in Knock Out’s driver’s seat. “Self-driving cars. I can get used to this. So Knock Out…what’s the goss?” House asked as the door closed.
Ratchet grumbled as Knock Out sped off with House, hoping that the two wild cards actually kept their word.
—-----
Ratchet reactivated his holoform, and he walked back into the hospital. He went to find House’s team and the flushing of the ‘Energon Poisoning.’ And it worked. House called and told his team to let Smokescreen free, and Ratchet was able to grab him.
The other patient was doing better, and someone on House’s team ‘deleted’ the photo and sent proof. Ratchet was relieved, but House’s team bombarded him with questions. Ratchet argued to ask House since House set this up for himself. And Knock Out wasn’t helping.
House’s team released Smokescreen against Cuddy’s approval cause House was not answering her. But Ratchet convinced Cuddy well enough, and the team seemed to back up Ratchet, which surprised him.
Ratchet got Smokescreen’s holoform back into his alt-mode and the two drove off. Smokescreen looked at Ratchet, “Why was Knock Out…there?”
“Uh…another honestly random reason.” Ratchet explained as he drove back to the Autobot base. Ratchet hoped that House and Knock Out didn’t get into too much trouble.
—---
House took Knock Out to the bar he and Wilson frequented. So much so WIlson showed up after work. Wilson looked confused as to why the mysterious fake doctor was with House, drinking.
“House…why is-” Wilson points at Knock Out, “He here?”
House spun on his seat. “New drinking buddy!”
Wilson looked perplexed. “Didn’t he fake being a doctor?”
“I am a doctor. I just faked being an employee. There’s a difference.” Knock Out corrected,
Wilson was even more confused, “Ok…”
“Look, the cases were solved, and I learned a lot of new things from our buddy here. Just enjoy the moment, Wilson.” House insisted,
Knock Out leaned over to House, “Do we tell him?”
“Nah. He isn't one of the cool kids like us.” House joked,
“I can hear you two.” Wilson said, annoyed,
House and Knock Out chuckled, “Don’t worry, Wilson. Things are fine.” House insisted, “We had a hell of a time today.”
Wilson sat down, and House ordered him a drink. Knock Out finished his, “As lovely as drinking with you both was. I need to get back to my actual place of employment.” Knock Out got up and began to walk out.
“Tell Megan I said hi!” House shouted after him,
Knock Out gave a thumbs up and laughed as he left the bar. Wilson turned to House, “Who’s Megan?”
“An intergalactic warlord who is holding a secret war here on Earth.” House elaborated,
“Very funny.” Wilson rolled his eyes as he took a sip of his drink.
The two continued vibing at the bar as House smirked, now knowing the truth. There are aliens out there…and they aren’t little green men…they’re cars…and that made House even more intrigued as he now had an alien buddy.