House sits up abruptly, eyes narrowing as he studies Chase with them, and eventually moves to stand up out of the familiar seat of the office chair and limp across the room to the equally familiar whiteboard. It's devoid of print, even devoid of leftover residue from dry erase markers. Not much interesting, lately.

Which is maybe interesting in itself, considering everything else.

"Five words," he says, counting off on the fingers of one hand. "I'm. Not. Dead. You. Idiot. Two words probably would have been just as efficient."

There's little heat behind the insult, however. The exit wasn't long-planned, barely pre-meditated, but it was executed with a distinct lack of desperation, and without a moment's regret. It was believable. It was believable because at any moment, it might really have gone the other way.

Cameron's kind voice had been proof of that.

"Idiot," he repeats. Chase will know what it's for. Not for believing House's final bluff as Dr. Greg House. For believing that something comes after.