In this Moment Pt. 2
Lisa Cuddy awoke to the sight of the room she’d wanted to see for many years. She felt the embrace of a body she had wanted to feel. This satisfaction brought a smile to her face. She turned around to the opened eyes of Gregory House.
“I can’t believe I’ve been missing this for 20 years,” House said. Cuddy smiled in agreement. When Cuddy started to sit up from the bed, House placed his hand on her shoulder, telling her not to get up. She kissed him tenderly on the lips. House felt like they were perfectly made for his.
“I don’t want to either,” she responded to his gesture. “But it’s almost 7. I need to run home to get ready for work and pick up Rachel from my sister’s house.” Lucas had persuaded her sister to take Rachel so he could have a few nights when he proposed. House assumed correctly and chose not to take that any farther, which Cuddy picked up on, and easily continued speaking.
“And you,” she continued. She looked at him with sexy smile. “You need to get ready for work too.”
“I don’t have a case this week, boss,” he said playfully. To which Cuddy responded, “You are right, but as I recall, you owe me clinic hours. And, who knows? Maybe something interesting might come in.” She was now almost fully dressed, while he was still lying in bed. Cuddy looked at him with another smile, and he playfully rolled his eyes. Her eyebrows rose. “I want you in exam room one by 9:00.”
“Okay, for you,” he responded.
“And actually seeing a patient,” she added.
“Ugh. Okay.”
There was a bit more aggravation in his voice this time but Cuddy was about to leave and wanted to sneak in a few lasting kisses. He got out of bed and headed to the closet for a spare cane. As he was exiting the bedroom, Cuddy was standing against the wall on the hallway holding one for him already. He limped to her, and snatched it from her hand quickly, hoping to catch her off guard, pulling her closer him.
“Thanks,” he said simply but with sincerity.
“You’re welcome.”
When House looked into her eyes, there was the same glimmer that had been there the night before when they shared their first kiss of the evening.
House was close enough to Cuddy that he could set his cane against the wall she leaned against seductively. He put his hands softly on her cheeks, and kissed her. He was in control this time.
He ran his tongue softly against hers. He was determined to make each touch of the lips forceful and worth savoring. Cuddy brought her hand from his butt to their mouths to stop the kiss.
“I’m sorry. I really need to get Rachel. I’ll be coming into exam room one at 9:00 sharp, and I expect to see a patient in there,” She laughed. They shared one last kiss and savory kiss. The door shut, and she was gone.
House looked at the clock. Now it was 7:15. He began weighing his options. He could go back to bed, get up again at 8:15, and do just as she said. He could also go back to bed and not show up like she had told him only to get her reaction. To know how she reprimands him in public given their new change in the relationship. But he knew she was also prepared for either one of those choices so he made a third option because House loved the element of surprise. He could NOT go back to bed, make a few phone calls, and be waiting in her parking space for her arrival promptly at 8:45 to take her away for the day.
He decided on option three. He called the hospital and informed them that Dr. Cuddy would not be coming in. Nurse Jeffrey was skeptical of the “emergency all-day dental appointment” he made up for her. He didn’t bother to call in for himself because he knew that would be even more suspicious. Next, he made a phone call to Marina asking her to watch Rachel through the night. Marina needed no excuses just money. He looked at the clock again. 7:50. He was tired from last night and decided a bath would be better for the leg that day. As he got in, he remembered last night. He soaked his leg for 10 minutes, thinking of better ways to spend the time in here. Then he bathed and got dressed for the day ahead.
As he stepped outside, he realized he had almost forgotten the second helmet for Cuddy. When he went into the house for the helmet, he looked at the clock again. It read 8:25. He grabbed the helmet out of the same closet Cuddy had retrieved for him earlier that morning. He took a healthy dose of Ibuprofen and hopped onto his bike to head to Princeton Plainsboro.
He checked the watch Kutner had given him in the parking lot, and it read 8:45. When he looked at the time, he realized that the pain he was used to feeling when he looked at that watch had dissipated. As he began to smile, his thought process was interrupted by a loud car honk and a confused face. House signaled to her to park in the empty space down the row. She rolled her eyes but went where she was directed. House met her there with his bike.
Cuddy got out of the car saying, “What was that about? Trying to make me late?”
“No, I just think the staff will get suspicious when the Dr. Cuddy’s car is parked in her parking space.” Cuddy had the look on her face that said I’m not really following you here. So he continued, “I mean it would be weird since no one is expecting you in today.”
“And why is that?”
“ They are under the impression you have a ‘dentist appointment’.”
“But really…..”
“But really, your coming with me on my bike today. I have it all planned out.”
“House, I have meetings and paperwork to do.”
“Not anymore. Do you want to come with me or not Cuddy?”
“Yes, but-“
“But nothing. We’re leaving. I have a lot planned for today.” House tossed her the helmet and she smiled and put it on. She kissed him passionately and hopped on the bike behind him.
“You never cease to amaze me Dr. House,” she said. And they sped off together for a day they had always wanted and would always cherish.