Dangerous Liaisons: Catalyst: Chapter Five
Title: Dangerous Liaisons: Catalyst: Chapter Five
Pairings: Gen. for now. House/Wilson/Cuddy friendship.
Rating: R
Chapter: 5/8
Warning: Takes place in Season Four.
Disclaimer: I don't own House M.D. nor the characters.
Summary: Cuddy enters a relationship and isn't prepared for the damage that is to come.
House swung Wilson’s office door open and stepped inside. “Cuddy called in sick.”
Wilson looked up from his desk. “So?”
“I should go investigate,” House said and seated himself on the couch.
Wilson narrowed his eyes. “House.”
“What if the Dean’s playing hooky?” House asked with as much innocence as he could muster. “What kind of example does that set?”
“And what if she’s sick and you waste half your morning for nothing?” Wilson returned, raising his eyebrows.
“Like she’s actually sick.” House dropped his act, frowning, and rolled his eyes. “She’s probably lounging around in bed with Magnum.”
“You need to get over it,” Wilson told him and looked down at the chart on his desk.
“Nothing to get over,” House replied.
“Right,” Wilson agreed quietly, half distracted by his work.
“Want to go throw grapes at the janitor?” House asked, almost hopeful.
“No, I’m not a jerk,” Wilson said, not looking up. “Besides, I have actual work to do.”
“Write me a prescription,” House commanded with nonchalance.
Wilson lifted his head. “No!”
House shrugged. “Just seeing if you would.”
“Don’t you have work to do?” Wilson asked, wanting House out of his hair for the morning.
“I can’t bother Cuddy,” House began, “she’s not here to make me work in the Clinic, and I don’t have a case. I’m tapped out.”
Wilson sighed. “Well, annoying me isn’t the best use of a morning.”
“It is when Cuddy’s not here,” House said in response.
“You know what?” Wilson feigned his interest. “Maybe you should go to her house. I think you may be right.”
House perked up a bit. “Really?”
“No,” Wilson shot him down and looked back to the chart.
House frowned and then let a puff of a sigh escape from his lips. With the help of his cane, he lifted himself to his feet and left Wilson’s office.
________________________________________
“Where were you yesterday?” House trailed after Cuddy as she headed for her office.
“Sick,” she answered over her shoulder and picked up her pace.
“You have no symptoms.” House sped up as well. He wasn’t going to give up and simply leave her alone.
Cuddy stopped and swirled around. She gave a pathetic dry cough without much attempt and then took off again. House was still on her tail.
“Where were you really?” He was going to wear her down. He vowed it.
“Sick,” she called back to him.
“You were with P.I. Boy,” House accused.
Cuddy let out a heavy sigh as she stopped for the second time. She turned to face House. “I was sick. Don’t you have a patient?”
“Yes,” House answered quickly and continued on. “However, this is the greater mystery.”
“The greatest mystery of all will be when you wonder why I fired you because you weren’t doing your job,” Cuddy attempted to be menacing, but she doubted she was pulling it off.
“No.” House raised his eyes to the ceiling and then brought them back down to her. “That seems pretty cut and dry.”
“Go.” Cuddy put extra strain on the word.
“PMSing?” House leaned in and whispered. Cuddy glared and House drew back. “Not PMSing? That would be even more interesting.”
Cuddy shook her head and took off for her office once again. She made it through the first door and almost thought she could manage to lock him out of her office. However, he was fast, even with his limp, and followed her through into her office.
Turning quickly, Cuddy stood grounded. House stopped and opened his mouth to make a wisecrack. Before he could utter a word, however, Cuddy had her hands against his chest as she gave him a shove towards the door, nearly knocking him off balance.
House’s mouth remained open in surprise. “Jesus, Cuddy-”
“Get out.” Cuddy pushed him towards the door, not caring about him or his limp. “Now.”
House attempted to hold his ground, but he was doing a poor job of it. “Is that any way to treat-”
“I swear to God, House.” Cuddy yanked open her office door and shoved him out. “You ruin my life.”
“I ruin-” House was cut off by the door slamming closed in his face.
Cuddy pulled the blinds down and locked her office door. House stood there and then turned away from the door. Cuddy’s secretary was staring at him.
“What are you looking at?” House snapped at her before taking off.
________________________________________
House burst into Wilson’s office, causing Wilson to jump in his office chair before looking up at House with an annoyed stare.
“What the hell is up with Cuddy?” House asked, completely ignoring Wilson’s current feelings.
“What’d you mean?” Wilson’s eyebrows drew together.
“I mean,” House emphasized, “what the hell is her problem?”
Wilson shook his head and pulled a stack of papers from his desk drawer. “I don’t understand. She seemed fine when I spoke to her five minutes ago.”
“Well, she’s not fine.” House began to pace in the small confines of the room. “She practically bit my head off this morning.”
“What did you do?” Wilson set the papers down on his desk.
House stopped and faced Wilson. “Why do you always assume I did something?”
“Because you’re you,” Wilson answered and picked up his phone receiver.
House bit his bottom lip, mulling over his thoughts. “You think something might have happened between her and Prince Charming?”
“That’s a new one,” Wilson commented on the nickname and punched in numbers on his phone.
“Think they broke up?” House asked, peering at Wilson.
“I don’t know, House!” Wilson figured to let his call wait and returned the receiver to the console. “Though, if they did, I can understand why she’d be upset with you.”
“Why?” House asked almost cautiously.
“You’ve been pestering her and Neil since they started dating,” Wilson said. “If I was dating someone and the bonus package was you, I’d think twice.”
“But, you already have me, Jimbo,” House replied.
“All I’m saying is that to an outsider, you’re tough to put up with,” Wilson told him. “And don’t call me Jimbo.”
________________________________________
Wilson made his way down the stairs, a manila folder in his hand. He stopped on the landing when he saw Cuddy approaching the stairs.
“Dr. Cuddy,” Wilson greeted and began towards her.
She stopped on the second stair and gave him a tight smile. “Wilson.”
“I was just coming to see you.” Wilson extended the folder. “I need your signature.”
“Oh.” Cuddy took the folder and flipped it open.
Cuddy scanned the papers inside and then pulled her pen from her pocket. Wilson watched, eyeing her up and wondering if what House had claimed was true. Cuddy scrawled her signature across the bottom of the first page and handed the folder back to Wilson.
“Thanks.” Wilson smiled.
Cuddy continued up the stairs as Wilson went down the rest of them. He stopped at the bottom and turned.
“Lisa?”
She swiveled around on the landing. “Yeah?”
“House seemed worried,” Wilson said, wanting to clear things up. “He thought you were angry with him. Or upset, maybe.”
Cuddy paused a moment and then shook her head slightly. “Right. I’m just messing with him.”
“So, you’re okay, then?” Wilson asked.
“I’m fine.” Cuddy gave him a smile and continued on up the second set of stairs. She wasn’t going to go into her break up with Neil. She felt it wasn’t the time nor place.
________________________________________
Cuddy rubbed tiredly at her eyes as she padded across her hallway and to her front door. She fastened her robe tighter around herself and peered through the peephole. Letting out a sigh, she unlocked and opened the door.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, the exhaustion in her voice taking the edge off the anger that was present.
“Where’s Neil?” House tried to peer into her home, but she blocked his view.
“Working late,” she replied flatly. “What do you want?”
“I haven’t seen him in about three days,” House said. He gave up on looking into her home and brought his eyes to hers. “And you haven’t been yourself.”
“No?” Cuddy placed her hands on her hips. “Who have I been then?”
“Some tired bitchy woman,” House answered. “You know that lady on-”
“House, what-” she paused for emphasis, “do you want?”
House produced a chart from the inside of his coat. “Look this over?”
“Why?” Cuddy ignored the outstretched chart.
“‘Cuz,” House dropped his tone to mimic a bored teenager.
Cuddy snatched the chart and flipped it open. House tried to see into her home again. Cuddy scanned the chart over and then brought her eyes back up to House, brow furrowed.
“This isn’t even your patient.” She sighed and handed the chart back. “It’s Wilson’s.”
“No wonder I was so confused.” House took the chart from her. “Thanks, Doc.”
“Goodnight, House.” Cuddy shut her front door and quickly locked it.
Chapter Six.
Pairings: Gen. for now. House/Wilson/Cuddy friendship.
Rating: R
Chapter: 5/8
Warning: Takes place in Season Four.
Disclaimer: I don't own House M.D. nor the characters.
Summary: Cuddy enters a relationship and isn't prepared for the damage that is to come.
House swung Wilson’s office door open and stepped inside. “Cuddy called in sick.”
Wilson looked up from his desk. “So?”
“I should go investigate,” House said and seated himself on the couch.
Wilson narrowed his eyes. “House.”
“What if the Dean’s playing hooky?” House asked with as much innocence as he could muster. “What kind of example does that set?”
“And what if she’s sick and you waste half your morning for nothing?” Wilson returned, raising his eyebrows.
“Like she’s actually sick.” House dropped his act, frowning, and rolled his eyes. “She’s probably lounging around in bed with Magnum.”
“You need to get over it,” Wilson told him and looked down at the chart on his desk.
“Nothing to get over,” House replied.
“Right,” Wilson agreed quietly, half distracted by his work.
“Want to go throw grapes at the janitor?” House asked, almost hopeful.
“No, I’m not a jerk,” Wilson said, not looking up. “Besides, I have actual work to do.”
“Write me a prescription,” House commanded with nonchalance.
Wilson lifted his head. “No!”
House shrugged. “Just seeing if you would.”
“Don’t you have work to do?” Wilson asked, wanting House out of his hair for the morning.
“I can’t bother Cuddy,” House began, “she’s not here to make me work in the Clinic, and I don’t have a case. I’m tapped out.”
Wilson sighed. “Well, annoying me isn’t the best use of a morning.”
“It is when Cuddy’s not here,” House said in response.
“You know what?” Wilson feigned his interest. “Maybe you should go to her house. I think you may be right.”
House perked up a bit. “Really?”
“No,” Wilson shot him down and looked back to the chart.
House frowned and then let a puff of a sigh escape from his lips. With the help of his cane, he lifted himself to his feet and left Wilson’s office.
________________________________________
“Where were you yesterday?” House trailed after Cuddy as she headed for her office.
“Sick,” she answered over her shoulder and picked up her pace.
“You have no symptoms.” House sped up as well. He wasn’t going to give up and simply leave her alone.
Cuddy stopped and swirled around. She gave a pathetic dry cough without much attempt and then took off again. House was still on her tail.
“Where were you really?” He was going to wear her down. He vowed it.
“Sick,” she called back to him.
“You were with P.I. Boy,” House accused.
Cuddy let out a heavy sigh as she stopped for the second time. She turned to face House. “I was sick. Don’t you have a patient?”
“Yes,” House answered quickly and continued on. “However, this is the greater mystery.”
“The greatest mystery of all will be when you wonder why I fired you because you weren’t doing your job,” Cuddy attempted to be menacing, but she doubted she was pulling it off.
“No.” House raised his eyes to the ceiling and then brought them back down to her. “That seems pretty cut and dry.”
“Go.” Cuddy put extra strain on the word.
“PMSing?” House leaned in and whispered. Cuddy glared and House drew back. “Not PMSing? That would be even more interesting.”
Cuddy shook her head and took off for her office once again. She made it through the first door and almost thought she could manage to lock him out of her office. However, he was fast, even with his limp, and followed her through into her office.
Turning quickly, Cuddy stood grounded. House stopped and opened his mouth to make a wisecrack. Before he could utter a word, however, Cuddy had her hands against his chest as she gave him a shove towards the door, nearly knocking him off balance.
House’s mouth remained open in surprise. “Jesus, Cuddy-”
“Get out.” Cuddy pushed him towards the door, not caring about him or his limp. “Now.”
House attempted to hold his ground, but he was doing a poor job of it. “Is that any way to treat-”
“I swear to God, House.” Cuddy yanked open her office door and shoved him out. “You ruin my life.”
“I ruin-” House was cut off by the door slamming closed in his face.
Cuddy pulled the blinds down and locked her office door. House stood there and then turned away from the door. Cuddy’s secretary was staring at him.
“What are you looking at?” House snapped at her before taking off.
________________________________________
House burst into Wilson’s office, causing Wilson to jump in his office chair before looking up at House with an annoyed stare.
“What the hell is up with Cuddy?” House asked, completely ignoring Wilson’s current feelings.
“What’d you mean?” Wilson’s eyebrows drew together.
“I mean,” House emphasized, “what the hell is her problem?”
Wilson shook his head and pulled a stack of papers from his desk drawer. “I don’t understand. She seemed fine when I spoke to her five minutes ago.”
“Well, she’s not fine.” House began to pace in the small confines of the room. “She practically bit my head off this morning.”
“What did you do?” Wilson set the papers down on his desk.
House stopped and faced Wilson. “Why do you always assume I did something?”
“Because you’re you,” Wilson answered and picked up his phone receiver.
House bit his bottom lip, mulling over his thoughts. “You think something might have happened between her and Prince Charming?”
“That’s a new one,” Wilson commented on the nickname and punched in numbers on his phone.
“Think they broke up?” House asked, peering at Wilson.
“I don’t know, House!” Wilson figured to let his call wait and returned the receiver to the console. “Though, if they did, I can understand why she’d be upset with you.”
“Why?” House asked almost cautiously.
“You’ve been pestering her and Neil since they started dating,” Wilson said. “If I was dating someone and the bonus package was you, I’d think twice.”
“But, you already have me, Jimbo,” House replied.
“All I’m saying is that to an outsider, you’re tough to put up with,” Wilson told him. “And don’t call me Jimbo.”
________________________________________
Wilson made his way down the stairs, a manila folder in his hand. He stopped on the landing when he saw Cuddy approaching the stairs.
“Dr. Cuddy,” Wilson greeted and began towards her.
She stopped on the second stair and gave him a tight smile. “Wilson.”
“I was just coming to see you.” Wilson extended the folder. “I need your signature.”
“Oh.” Cuddy took the folder and flipped it open.
Cuddy scanned the papers inside and then pulled her pen from her pocket. Wilson watched, eyeing her up and wondering if what House had claimed was true. Cuddy scrawled her signature across the bottom of the first page and handed the folder back to Wilson.
“Thanks.” Wilson smiled.
Cuddy continued up the stairs as Wilson went down the rest of them. He stopped at the bottom and turned.
“Lisa?”
She swiveled around on the landing. “Yeah?”
“House seemed worried,” Wilson said, wanting to clear things up. “He thought you were angry with him. Or upset, maybe.”
Cuddy paused a moment and then shook her head slightly. “Right. I’m just messing with him.”
“So, you’re okay, then?” Wilson asked.
“I’m fine.” Cuddy gave him a smile and continued on up the second set of stairs. She wasn’t going to go into her break up with Neil. She felt it wasn’t the time nor place.
________________________________________
Cuddy rubbed tiredly at her eyes as she padded across her hallway and to her front door. She fastened her robe tighter around herself and peered through the peephole. Letting out a sigh, she unlocked and opened the door.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, the exhaustion in her voice taking the edge off the anger that was present.
“Where’s Neil?” House tried to peer into her home, but she blocked his view.
“Working late,” she replied flatly. “What do you want?”
“I haven’t seen him in about three days,” House said. He gave up on looking into her home and brought his eyes to hers. “And you haven’t been yourself.”
“No?” Cuddy placed her hands on her hips. “Who have I been then?”
“Some tired bitchy woman,” House answered. “You know that lady on-”
“House, what-” she paused for emphasis, “do you want?”
House produced a chart from the inside of his coat. “Look this over?”
“Why?” Cuddy ignored the outstretched chart.
“‘Cuz,” House dropped his tone to mimic a bored teenager.
Cuddy snatched the chart and flipped it open. House tried to see into her home again. Cuddy scanned the chart over and then brought her eyes back up to House, brow furrowed.
“This isn’t even your patient.” She sighed and handed the chart back. “It’s Wilson’s.”
“No wonder I was so confused.” House took the chart from her. “Thanks, Doc.”
“Goodnight, House.” Cuddy shut her front door and quickly locked it.
Chapter Six.