The Down Low

Plot

Drug dealer Mickey collapses while negotiating a sale, and his partner Eddie brings him to Princeton Plainsboro for treatment. Mickey refuses to share personal information needed for his care because a major drug deal is pending. As his condition worsens, the team investigates on their own. Eddie takes Thirteen to a warehouse to inspect the drugs; they are nearly caught, but Thirteen pretends to be a prostitute and they escape.

Thirteen, Chase, and Taub play a practical joke on Foreman by leaving a fake paystub showing Thirteen earns more than him. Foreman complains to Cuddy, who refuses to negotiate. The three later confess the joke to Cuddy and ask her to pay Foreman extra from their salaries to keep him from resigning. She agrees, then reveals Foreman never mentioned leaving.

Foreman laughs at their gullibility. Meanwhile, House and Wilson compete for the affection of new neighbor Nora. House makes her think they are a gay couple. When Wilson tries to explain, Nora thinks Wilson is jealous.

Wilson eventually announces a "marriage proposal" to House at a restaurant, causing Nora to resent both. House bugs Mickey's room but finds the signal jammed because Mickey has his own bug. Mickey is an undercover cop who has been spying for 16 months and fears blowing his cover. House diagnoses Hughes–Stovin syndrome, an untreatable autoimmune disease causing multiple aneurysms. Thirteen comforts Mickey, saying he did the right thing not blowing the case.