Words and Deeds

"Words and Deeds" is the eleventh episode of the third season of House and the fifty-seventh episode overall. This episode concludes the Michael Tritter story arc that began in the episode "Fools for Love".

Derek, a firefighter, has just escaped a burning building when he begins to have trouble breathing and becomes delirious. He then staggers over to the burning building before being stopped by fellow firefighter, Amy. Derek complains that he is freezing even though he is within yards of the burning building.

The first diagnosis is MRSA to which Derek asks if that is what makes him see blue. Dr. Cameron realizes that this is something entirely different and House suggests male menopause (high estrogen, low testosterone levels). House orders a hormone panel. The team tests for this latest theory but Derek becomes disturbed and begins to strangle Cameron. Meanwhile, House visits Tritter and although House apologizes, Tritter ignores him and says he only cares about House's actions.

Back at the hospital, Foreman insists it must be neurological and asks to CT the brain and give a lumbar puncture to test for meningitis. House agrees and leaves and reveals that he is checking himself into rehab. Derek begins to have trouble breathing and it is discovered that he is having another heart attack. The team goes to House for advice who tells them to look at what was in common during this attack and the previous two he had: Amy was present. To test this, the team brings Amy in with Derek. Both confused, Derek suddenly goes into another heart attack. Derek reveals that his brother is dating and engaged to Amy and Cameron realizes that Derek is so in love with Amy that it is literally killing him to see her with another man: Broken heart syndrome. Rather than tell Amy his true feelings, he agrees to electroshock therapy to remove his memories of Amy - and every other memory he has. Cuddy and Derek both consent. Back in rehab Tritter then comes to visit, and admits that he is surprised to see House in rehab, though he still refuses to drop the charges against him, saying that even his actions lie.