5 to 9

"5 to 9" is the fourteenth episode of the sixth season of House. It aired on February 8, 2010.

This episode shows the way the hospital works as seen through the eyes and works of Dean of Medicine Lisa Cuddy, which includes facing off against a large medical insurer. At the same time, a pharmacy technician is caught stealing drugs, and House wants to use malaria to treat a cancer patient.

Cuddy rises early in the morning to find Lucas is not in her bed. She quickly goes about her morning of tending to a sick Rachel as she tries to get ready. The nanny Marina arrives to deal with the baby, and Cuddy is about to leave for work when Lucas arrives after an all-night stakeout. Although she's late, stressed, and tired, she agrees to a morning quickie. Lucas "finishes" before she does and so now Cuddy is late, stressed, tired, and frustrated.

When Cuddy arrives at the hospital, she rushes to deal with a problem in the pharmacy. Then she goes to check into the O.R., where Dr. Hourani, mid-surgery, complains that House had bribed the plant to turn up the air conditioner to hurry him up so House's diagnostic team could use the O.R., and subsequently, he threatens to file a charge if it harms his patient's well-being.

Cuddy arrives late to her meeting with insurance executive Eli Morgan, and presents the hospital's final offer. Eli rejects it and Cuddy plays by claiming to terminate their contract with his company. She gives him until 3 p.m. to accept her offer.

Cuddy goes into the hospital board meeting and gives them the news that she does not have a contract with the insurance company. The board members are unhappy, but she defends her decision. She is confident that Eli will give in, but it is made clear that she will be fired if her plan fails.

When a doctor does not show up for clinic duty, Cuddy fills in. She deals with a cancer patient whose oncologist will not give him a prescription for breast milk, which he is sure has cancer-fighting qualities, so that he can get his reimbursement. Cuddy refuses, and the patient walks out calling her a bitch. When finished with this unpleasant encounter, Nurse Regina tells Cuddy that the vascular surgeon called in a replacement with no privileges.