"So...what? You're going to let that kid suffer until somebody else figures it out?" Foreman considered the other explanation--that House might decide to rub Foreman's competence in the new fellows' faces. That was a compliment he didn't need. They'd certainly resent him, then, and that might make it all the more difficult for Foreman to try and earn their trust. Nobody would tell him about House's insane plans if they saw him as usurping their places. He wasn't part of House's game of elimination, and it would be best if he didn't look like he was begging for House's attention. On the other hand, the patient needed treatment, and Foreman wanted to show the candidates that he needed to be taken into account.

"I haven't lost my edge," he said, and then he frowned thoughtfully, entirely for effect, one hand stroking his goatee. He needed time to figure out how to treat the boy without getting in House's way. "On the other hand, it looks a lot like you're lost without me. What did you do while I was gone? Go running to Chase and Cameron for ideas?" No--even Chase and Cameron had more of a backbone between them than to let House use them like that after they'd left Diagnostics. That wouldn't stop House, though. Foreman smothered a grin, imagining the situation. "I bet you bounced your theories off the first person you could get to sit still--whether they had a clue what you were talking about or not."