FIC: Halves of a Whole
Title: Halves of a Whole
Author: Kara B [aricadavidson or kara_muse]
Rating: PG
Pairing/Character: Lisa Cuddy
Warnings: None.
Disclaimer: These characters are not mine.
Theme: Syzygy - 5 [philosophy_20]
“You want to what?” Lisa Cuddy exclaimed, turning around to look at her doctor in shock. “That’s a dangerous and completely unnecessary procedure Dr. House!”
“Do you want them to die?” he countered flippantly. “Poor little kid…”
“Don’t lay that guilt trip on me,” she replied. “If you’d do some tests like any other doctor…”
“The tests have been done. I’m the troubleshooting guy remember? I take the cases other doctors can’t figure out. Or at least that’s what I’ve been told.” He shrugged again, as if he didn’t care that someone’s life was in the balance; could die if they made the wrong call.
His job was to push the limits and hers was to corral him and keep him from going too far outside the bounds of reality. They worked well together as two sides of a coin; equal but opposite forces meeting in the middle in a display of fireworks.
What they both would deny but what was true was that they needed the other. They were whole beings without each other but like cold needs heat to help formulate its identity, they too need the other to fulfill their roles.
They challenged each other; exposed faults they would rather keep hidden; face facts they didn’t want to; rocks in a tumbler, wearing on each other. The product? Two people becoming better doctors [and perhaps people].
It wasn’t love and it wasn’t hate. It was something completely unique to them and it worked.
“What should I do doctor?” House asked her sarcastically, interrupting her thoughts. Truth be told, whatever she said didn’t matter. The game, the interaction - that was the important thing here.
“Just because I’m a hospital administrator doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten how to be a doctor, House,” she growled.
“Oh, snap,” he replied, shaking his head. “You’re really in a snit today aren’t you?”
“You really don’t want to start crossing lines today.”
“I thought I’d start with the hallway and work my way up to the road and then maybe a few lines. Maybe I should forget to cross a few t’s on the patient charts… spice things up a bit for the interns.”
She fought the urge to roll her eyes. “Do you just make this stuff up on the spot?”
“Yes.”
She was surprised by the direct response. “It shows,” she retorted.
“At least I have a sense of humor.”
Cuddy shook her head. “There are days when I can see what Stacy saw in you and then there’s today.”
“Aren’t I my usual charming self today?” He asked, grinning.
“Yes, and that’s part of the problem. Sometimes I wonder how anyone can put up with you.”
“You have, for quite a few years now.”
“Don’t remind me,” she replied. “And don’t make me regret it.”
“It’s too late for that.”
She nodded wordlessly, completely in agreement on that count.
“So Dr. Cuddy, the patient?”
She was quiet a long moment before replying. “Do what you think is best, but it’s on your head, not mine.” Another lie. All the patients were her responsibility.
House hesitated in surprise. “Okay…” he said finally.
“Just don’t kill them.”
Author: Kara B [aricadavidson or kara_muse]
Rating: PG
Pairing/Character: Lisa Cuddy
Warnings: None.
Disclaimer: These characters are not mine.
Theme: Syzygy - 5 [philosophy_20]
“You want to what?” Lisa Cuddy exclaimed, turning around to look at her doctor in shock. “That’s a dangerous and completely unnecessary procedure Dr. House!”
“Do you want them to die?” he countered flippantly. “Poor little kid…”
“Don’t lay that guilt trip on me,” she replied. “If you’d do some tests like any other doctor…”
“The tests have been done. I’m the troubleshooting guy remember? I take the cases other doctors can’t figure out. Or at least that’s what I’ve been told.” He shrugged again, as if he didn’t care that someone’s life was in the balance; could die if they made the wrong call.
His job was to push the limits and hers was to corral him and keep him from going too far outside the bounds of reality. They worked well together as two sides of a coin; equal but opposite forces meeting in the middle in a display of fireworks.
What they both would deny but what was true was that they needed the other. They were whole beings without each other but like cold needs heat to help formulate its identity, they too need the other to fulfill their roles.
They challenged each other; exposed faults they would rather keep hidden; face facts they didn’t want to; rocks in a tumbler, wearing on each other. The product? Two people becoming better doctors [and perhaps people].
It wasn’t love and it wasn’t hate. It was something completely unique to them and it worked.
“What should I do doctor?” House asked her sarcastically, interrupting her thoughts. Truth be told, whatever she said didn’t matter. The game, the interaction - that was the important thing here.
“Just because I’m a hospital administrator doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten how to be a doctor, House,” she growled.
“Oh, snap,” he replied, shaking his head. “You’re really in a snit today aren’t you?”
“You really don’t want to start crossing lines today.”
“I thought I’d start with the hallway and work my way up to the road and then maybe a few lines. Maybe I should forget to cross a few t’s on the patient charts… spice things up a bit for the interns.”
She fought the urge to roll her eyes. “Do you just make this stuff up on the spot?”
“Yes.”
She was surprised by the direct response. “It shows,” she retorted.
“At least I have a sense of humor.”
Cuddy shook her head. “There are days when I can see what Stacy saw in you and then there’s today.”
“Aren’t I my usual charming self today?” He asked, grinning.
“Yes, and that’s part of the problem. Sometimes I wonder how anyone can put up with you.”
“You have, for quite a few years now.”
“Don’t remind me,” she replied. “And don’t make me regret it.”
“It’s too late for that.”
She nodded wordlessly, completely in agreement on that count.
“So Dr. Cuddy, the patient?”
She was quiet a long moment before replying. “Do what you think is best, but it’s on your head, not mine.” Another lie. All the patients were her responsibility.
House hesitated in surprise. “Okay…” he said finally.
“Just don’t kill them.”