Intrigue

When Benjamin suddenly collapses after making a rare and generous donation, House and Dr. Chi Park are convinced that his extreme altruistic behavior may indicate a deeper medical disorder. With no definitive explanation for Benjamin's loss of consciousness and unresponsiveness to treatment, House pushes just the right buttons to recruit former prison doctor Jessica Adams to volunteer her time and expertise to the case. Benjamin then makes a bold but life-threatening offer that could save another life, and the team must diagnose his disorder before he puts his own life on the line. Meanwhile, Adams and Park test each other's outlook on generosity and gratitude, and Thirteen's guilt conflicts with her pursuit of personal happiness.—Fox Publicity

A shabbily-dressed man is learning about the services provided at an employment center. He asks about drug rehab and childcare and then leaves. After he walks out an employee notices an envelope on the ground. It is a check from the man, Benjamin Byrd (Wentworth Miller), in the amount of $1 million. She chases him down the street where he promptly collapses.

Park (Charlyne Yi) isn't happy that House is taking the case. She thinks Byrd was probably just dehydrated. House is hoping Byrd will cut him a check so he'll have the the funds to get his team back together.

House has added Dr. Adams (nm095114) to the team, somewhat to her surprise. He's hoping she'll volunteer her time.

Byrd is given an ultrasound. During the test he tells Adams and Byrd he's a millionaire who decided to give away virtually all of his money and live a life of poverty.

So far Byrd's only symptom is the unusual generosity. Foreman walks in and immediately figures out what House is up to. House tells him he's had conversations about Chase and Taub about coming back but Thirteen isn't returning his calls. He tells House there are two options: Discharge Byrd or accept that his symptom is altruism, in which case he cannot accept his money. House tells them to discharge him.

Thirteen drops by the hospital to tell House she's not coming back. She wants to leave the country with a new girlfriend and enjoy her life. He's going to keep trying.

Park runs one final test on Byrd. He experiences an abnormally fast heartbeat.

Adams buys Park a coffee and she seems unable to accept it without paying her back. Long QT is the next guess and House volunteers to give Byrd his next test.

House gives Byrd a sob story about his budget and he immediately offers a $1 million endowment.

House asks Wilson whether he's allowed to accept money from a man who is sick. Wilson says no. Wilson has a patient near death who needs a kidney.

During another test Byrd tells Park that his wife and kids left him when he began giving away all his money. He tells her that he doesn't believe his own family should come first. Byrd's arms begin to shake.

Park and Adams continue to argue over Byrd's generosity and the fact Park can't take a gift. Adams suggests Echovirus and House goes with it.

Thirteen agrees with House that she was wrong to try and push him out of her life. It sounds like she's coming in.

Adams tries to give Park shoes she got as part of a two-for-one special.

Wilson tells House that Byrd heard about his terminal kidney patient and now wants to donate one of his organs. Wilson wants to take and House points out that he had just made the opposite argument when House wanted to take his money. They bring Foreman into the discussion and speak with Byrd himself.

Byrd tells Foreman he knows the risks and simply wants to save someone's life. Foreman gives his approval.

Thirteen drops by and agrees with Park that Byrd probably has Whipple's Disease. She defends the diagnosis better than Park and House agrees. After Park leaves Thirteen says that she's just wants to be happy.

While Park runs Byrd's Whipple test she admits to getting Adams a job interview to even things up from the shoes. She says getting things make her feel "icky."

During Byrd's transplant surgery he becomes unstable and the procedure is stopped.

Certain that he gave Byrd something to cause the arrhythmia he experienced during surgery, Foreman takes House off the case. House protests vehemently but after Foreman leaves admits that he was right.

Adams tells House that she wants to give Park something just so she can win. House says she's going to have to up the ante. House has an idea and calls Thirteen and asks for a favor.

Outside Byrd's room Thirteen runs into his wife. She says she needs to feel like Byrd loves her more than other people.

Thirteen pretends that she is also in need of a kidney. Byrd says she can have one of his. When she points out he only had two, he smiles and says he'll remain on dialysis for a few years until he is able to give away the rest of his organs and save three or four more lives.

House and his three-doctor team can only come up with Porphyria as a possible diagnosis. The start him on hematin.

Thirteen is struggling with the guilt of knowing that she has the skills to help people but wants to walk away to "have fun."

Wilson tells House his kidney patient died a few hours earlier. While talking to Wilson, House finally figures out that Byrd's thyroid has been the problem all along. He had Plummer's Disease and House realizes he made it worse by giving him unnecessary tests when he first arrived. Byrd will be fixed by removing a nodule in his neck.

House talks to Byrd after his surgery. Byrd wants to be with his family and House tell him he's healthy.

Adams pays Park's $4,000 car repair bill. Park says "I give up" and thanks Adams. Afterwards we see that this was a ruse to get Adams to pay for House's car repair.

House watches Thirteen leave the building with her girlfriend. He calls her back in and altruistically fires her, basically giving her permission to enjoy the rest of her life.