Journalist Fletcher Stone (guest star Michael O'Keefe) collapses at his editor's retirement party and hits his head on a table. When he comes to, his sentences don't make sense, and he is rushed to Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. Since House and Stacy are out of town defending House's Medicaid billings, the team struggles to solve the case on its own. Meanwhile, House and Stacy realize they still have feelings for each other, and when a storm comes through Baltimore, their return flight is cancelled and they are forced to share a hotel room together - further turning up the heat between them. Frustrated since he thinks he's speaking normally, Fletcher tries hopelessly to communicate with Foreman, Cameron and Chase, but they can't decipher what he's trying to tell them. As his organs rapidly deteriorate, the team enlists House's help to help crack the code to try to save Fletcher's life before it's too late.

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