Dr. Foreman believes an uncooperative homeless woman is faking seizures to get a free meal ticket at the teaching hospital. But her homelessness strikes a personal chord with Dr. Wilson, and he grows determined to keep her from falling between the cracks. Her worsening symptoms prove to be a complex mystery for House and his team, but the mystery of her identity and medical history may hold the answers to saving her life. Just as the team suspects she has contagious meningitis, the woman goes missing, only to be tasered by the police, who bring her back. But House deduces the taser may have proven yet another diagnosis, with dire results. Meanwhile, House has an audience of two medical students who are learning how to do case studies.

A severely broken arm reveals a bizarre case of bone loss and ends the comeback plans of major league pitcher Hank Wiggen. House suspects Hank is lying about using steroids as his condition worsens. When Hank's kidneys start to fail, his wife offers to donate hers, but she would have to abort her early pregnancy. Forced into an impossible solution and admitting failure as an addict, Hank tries to take his own life. House and his team must soon isolate and fix the problem if this pitcher's life and career can be saved. Meanwhile, Foreman dates a pharmaceutical representative, and House is stuck with two tickets and goes on a "date" with Cameron to a monster truck rally.