"No offense, Eric, but I don't think he likes you very much. He might be happier hearing from one of us." Not herself, Amber noted ruefully. Thirteen, maybe. But she wouldn't push her into House’s arms-- not until the patient reached critical status, anyway.

But since House was out of reach, working together to treat Casey was the next best thing. Eric had screwed up with her in the first round, raising her expectations high for the diagnosis they hadn't confirmed, and if he’d messed up once he could easily do it again. But because he had misled Casey, he might be the only one to get her to listen again.

His comment surprised her. "I didn't think you would." What would House do, anyway? Come up with a better diagnosis than Miller-Fisher, to start with. Then he'd insult the patient copiously, both to her face and not. Eric hadn't done the former and the latter was not his style, as far as Amber knew. When they’d worked with the Mirror Syndrome patient, Eric had made a point of being polite, even when he’d gone on his rants complaining about the quality of the medical attention, mimicking Amber. Huh. Now there was food for thought. When she made her own complaints and Eric listened patiently, was he humoring her in the same way? "And the patient-cruelty tactic works only with House."

The elevator was straight ahead, but Amber turned, going for the stairwell. It'd be faster. "You should apologize to her, tell her you were wrong."