Fic: Down to the Bone: Chapter One
Title: Down to the Bone
Rating: R
Warning: Sensitive and triggering material to come.
Disclaimer: I don't own House M.D. or the characters. They belong to Fox and David Shore.
Summary: Cuddy develops an eating disorder. Takes place with House's old team.
Author's Note: I need to start posting something else. I'm sick of Fade to Black. This fic was voted in second to being posted next. Again, I'd like to remind my readers that the material will be graphic and can be triggering. Please, read with caution.
“Hey.”
Cuddy looked up to see a familiar figure in her office. She stood to her feet, smiling at the man with dark hair and green eyes.
“Hi, Josh,” she greeted. “What are you-”
“We need to talk,” Josh stopped her short and stepped further into her office.
“Oh.” Cuddy frowned. “Now? We can meet up-”
“No,” he cut her off again. “It has to be now.”
“What’s going on?” Cuddy demanded, straightening her spine.
Josh approached her desk, an uncomfortable look on his face. Cuddy prepared herself for the worst.
“Listen, Lisa.” Josh paused. “I don’t see this relationship going anywhere. And... I’m going away on business tomorrow and I’d rather just get this over with.”
“You’re breaking up with me.” Cuddy’s face contorted as if she just tasted something sour.
Josh held up his hands, trying to explain. “It’s not that I don’t think you’re kind and smart.”
“Then, what is it?” Cuddy asked.
“It just isn’t working,” he told her, his eyes locked with hers.
Cuddy shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“Look, it’s not you, it’s me,” Josh offered.
“That’s reassuring,” Cuddy replied sarcastically and diverted her eyes.
“Really, Lisa, it isn’t you,” Josh insisted. “Well, I mean, you’re just not my type. I’m sure you’re someone’s type, but I’m looking for a woman who...”
Cuddy raised her gaze back to him. “Who what?”
“Who’s different,” Josh said. “I didn’t feel the click with you.” He took a step back. “I have to go. Just... take care of yourself, all right?”
“Sure,” Cuddy numbly responded, feeling completely blind sided.
“Bye, Lisa.” Josh gave a slight nod and then headed out of her office.
“Bye,” Cuddy called out after him.
Slowly, Cuddy lowered herself back down to her chair. Her eyes fell to her desk, unsure of what just happened. She thought her relationship with Josh was working out well. Of course, she didn’t consider herself to be in love with him, but she never ruled out that possibility to occur.
This was her third failed relationship in the last eight months. She didn’t understand what she was doing wrong to make men feel like they had to corner her in her office to break up with her. She didn’t understand why her seemingly well relationships kept failing.
As Cuddy was still lost in her own thoughts, House barged into her office.
“Good afternoon, Cuddy,” he greeted with mock brightness. “I need-”
“Is there something wrong with me?” Cuddy locked eyes with House.
House raised his eyebrows. “Self pitying early, I see.”
Cuddy focused on House and his presence in her office, her professional side taking over again.
“What is it you want?”
“Oh, no.” House shook his head as he crossed the room. “Let’s go back to what you were saying.”
“Nothing.” Cuddy gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “Never mind.”
House stopped in front of her desk and jammed his cane into the ground. “Of course there’s something wrong with you, Cuddy. You’re a woman.”
“What do you want, House?” she asked, placing harshness in her tone.
“Got a little problem,” House said, even though he was still curious as to what had made Cuddy upset.
“Yes?” Cuddy eyebrows shot up.
“I need blood samples,” House told her.
“Uh-huh.” Cuddy encouraged him to go on.
“From a church congregation.”
Cuddy’s eyebrows drew together, so House went on, “my patient’s mute and I need to know which scumbag in her church she got an STD from.”
“Your patient isn’t mute,” Cuddy replied, staring at House, unimpressed.
“She hasn’t spoken a word since two hours after admittance,” House explained.
Cuddy shook her head. “I don’t have the authority to demand blood samples from an entire congregation, House.”
“Call up a friend in the police department,” House suggested.
“They don’t have any authority to either.” Cuddy leaned back in her chair and folded her arms over her chest.
“They so do,” House argued.
“Not without a concrete reason, which you don’t have,” Cuddy responded. “Why do you need to know who she got the STD from? You’re really that concerned about informing him?”
“Or her,” House added. He paused a moment. “I’m thinking the sex partner may have similar symptoms and can give us some insight into what went on in their little encounter.”
Cuddy planted her hands on her desk and leaned forward, her eyes locked with House’s. “Get her to talk.”
“She won’t!” House insisted, his volume rising.
“Then, tough,” Cuddy spat back.
House frowned, cocking his head to one side. “Come on, Cuddy.”
“No,” she said. “I can’t do it. I have zero authority on this.”
“Couldn’t you lie?” House asked, insulted that she was slighting him.
“No,” she answered. “Either she spills or figure something else out.”
House leaned closer to Cuddy. “So, no really does mean no?”
“Yes,” Cuddy bitterly replied.
House eyed Cuddy up. “You should apply that to your food choices, Cuddy, because your ass is getting huge.”
With that, House turned around and limped as quickly as he could manage from Cuddy’s office. She watched him go, a frown set on her face.
Cuddy looked over from her computer when she heard the knock on her office door. She gave a wave, signaling for Wilson to enter.
“Hey, Lisa,” he said.
“Hi, James,” Cuddy replied, a tired smile on her face.
“Are you ready?” Wilson asked.
A look of confusion crossed over Cuddy’s face before it switched into realization. “Oh, I completely forgot, I’m sorry. Could we do this another time?”
“Yeah.” Wilson nodded. “Sure.”
“I’m sorry,” Cuddy apologized again. “Things were shifted in my schedule and I have a meeting in ten.”
“Really, it’s fine,” Wilson told her. “Just make sure you get something to eat.”
Cuddy forced a smile on her face this time. Wilson returned the smile and let himself out of her office. Cuddy turned back to her computer screen.
“Yeah, so my ass can get even bigger,” she muttered.
Cuddy stared at her reflection in her bathroom mirror as she stood in only her underwear. She leaned closer to the mirror, examining every inch of skin on her face.
“Maybe I’m getting old,” she muttered to herself. “I don’t think I look that old.”
She frowned as she pulled and prodded at the skin around her eyes.
“Men aren’t interested,” she continued talking to herself. “I chase them off. Maybe I’m too into my work or I use my intelligence as a defense mechanism or... something.”
Cuddy took a step back from the mirror and directed her gaze downward.
“Or maybe House is right.” Her eyebrows drew together. “Maybe I’ve been putting on weight and haven’t been noticing.” She tried to get a glance at her backside. “Maybe my ass is fat.”
She looked back down at her breasts, her stomach, her thighs. She placed her hand on the upper part of her right thigh.
“And my thighs,” she added.
Cuddy lifted her hand and pinched the flesh near her belly button.
“And my stomach.” She let out a sigh and released her skin. “Maybe I’m not as attractive as I once thought I was. I haven’t been running as much... I-”
She took a step back from the mirror and lifted her head so her eyes met her reflection’s.
“Maybe I should diet,” she suggested to herself. “Just a couple pounds to get in shape.”
Cuddy gave a nod and left her bathroom, deciding to get dressed and go for a run.
Cuddy stepped away from the lunch line, tray in hand. She was munching on a carrot stick as she weaved through the people in the cafeteria, unaware that House was limping behind her and gaining ground.
“That’s all your eating?” House asked as he popped up alongside of Cuddy.
Cuddy jumped and stopped in her tracks. She swallowed hard and glared at House. This gave House the opportunity to truly exam the items Cuddy purchased. Her tray contained an apple, a bottle of water, and a container of celery and carrot sticks.
“You scared me,” Cuddy told him. “I almost choked.”
“Good thing I’m a doctor,” House replied.
“Yeah.”
Cuddy left the cafeteria, but House kept on her tail, needing to get an okay from her, which was never a favorite task of his.
House gave her a nudge as he stepped up next to her. “Starving yourself?”
“I had a big breakfast,” she lied, keeping her focus ahead.
“I can tell,” House said. “Pancakes with extra syrup?”
Cuddy shot him a look. “The fat jokes are wearing thin.”
“That’s the only thing that’s wearing thin with you.”
Cuddy stopped for a second time. She faced House, a clear look of annoyance on her face.
“Did you come and find me for a specific purpose?”
House came to a stop as well, but he kept his distance. “Mute girl still won’t talk. She’s almost dead.”
“Not my fault,” Cuddy replied, sensing his accusatory tone.
“I need blood samples,” House insisted.
“Aren’t you infamous for snooping, House?” Cuddy asked. “Mute girl has friends, doesn’t she?”
“You wish.”
Cuddy let out a sigh, knowing House wasn’t going to just go away on his own. She held her tray with one hand while she planted the other on her hip.
“Why did she stop talking?”
“She just stopped,” he said.
“But, she can talk?” Cuddy raised her eyebrows.
“Yes,” House answered.
“How do you know?”
“Poked her with something very sharp.”
Cuddy narrowed her eyes. House shrugged.
“Accident.”
“When did she stop talking?” Cuddy shifted her weight.
“We did a full exam and then she shut up,” House explained.
“Full exam?” Cuddy repeated. “Including pelvic?”
“She mumbled something about STDs so we had to check her out and she was right,” House told her.
“Maybe she was raped,” Cuddy offered.
It all connected in House’s mind. “Damn it. I’ll get Cameron to talk to her.”
“And if she was raped, call the cops.” Cuddy wanted to make sure House kept up the legal side of their jobs as well.
House ignored her statement and pointed to her plate. “You’re really going to eat all of that?”
Cuddy swatted at his hand, but House pulled back and limped away from her. She looked down at her tray.
“No,” she answered his question even though he was out of earshot. She wasn’t feeling very hungry anymore.
Cuddy removed the bottle of water from her tray and walked over to the nearest garbage. She dumped the rest of the contents into the garbage and headed back toward the cafeteria to return the tray.
Chapter Two.
Rating: R
Warning: Sensitive and triggering material to come.
Disclaimer: I don't own House M.D. or the characters. They belong to Fox and David Shore.
Summary: Cuddy develops an eating disorder. Takes place with House's old team.
Author's Note: I need to start posting something else. I'm sick of Fade to Black. This fic was voted in second to being posted next. Again, I'd like to remind my readers that the material will be graphic and can be triggering. Please, read with caution.
“Hey.”
Cuddy looked up to see a familiar figure in her office. She stood to her feet, smiling at the man with dark hair and green eyes.
“Hi, Josh,” she greeted. “What are you-”
“We need to talk,” Josh stopped her short and stepped further into her office.
“Oh.” Cuddy frowned. “Now? We can meet up-”
“No,” he cut her off again. “It has to be now.”
“What’s going on?” Cuddy demanded, straightening her spine.
Josh approached her desk, an uncomfortable look on his face. Cuddy prepared herself for the worst.
“Listen, Lisa.” Josh paused. “I don’t see this relationship going anywhere. And... I’m going away on business tomorrow and I’d rather just get this over with.”
“You’re breaking up with me.” Cuddy’s face contorted as if she just tasted something sour.
Josh held up his hands, trying to explain. “It’s not that I don’t think you’re kind and smart.”
“Then, what is it?” Cuddy asked.
“It just isn’t working,” he told her, his eyes locked with hers.
Cuddy shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“Look, it’s not you, it’s me,” Josh offered.
“That’s reassuring,” Cuddy replied sarcastically and diverted her eyes.
“Really, Lisa, it isn’t you,” Josh insisted. “Well, I mean, you’re just not my type. I’m sure you’re someone’s type, but I’m looking for a woman who...”
Cuddy raised her gaze back to him. “Who what?”
“Who’s different,” Josh said. “I didn’t feel the click with you.” He took a step back. “I have to go. Just... take care of yourself, all right?”
“Sure,” Cuddy numbly responded, feeling completely blind sided.
“Bye, Lisa.” Josh gave a slight nod and then headed out of her office.
“Bye,” Cuddy called out after him.
Slowly, Cuddy lowered herself back down to her chair. Her eyes fell to her desk, unsure of what just happened. She thought her relationship with Josh was working out well. Of course, she didn’t consider herself to be in love with him, but she never ruled out that possibility to occur.
This was her third failed relationship in the last eight months. She didn’t understand what she was doing wrong to make men feel like they had to corner her in her office to break up with her. She didn’t understand why her seemingly well relationships kept failing.
As Cuddy was still lost in her own thoughts, House barged into her office.
“Good afternoon, Cuddy,” he greeted with mock brightness. “I need-”
“Is there something wrong with me?” Cuddy locked eyes with House.
House raised his eyebrows. “Self pitying early, I see.”
Cuddy focused on House and his presence in her office, her professional side taking over again.
“What is it you want?”
“Oh, no.” House shook his head as he crossed the room. “Let’s go back to what you were saying.”
“Nothing.” Cuddy gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “Never mind.”
House stopped in front of her desk and jammed his cane into the ground. “Of course there’s something wrong with you, Cuddy. You’re a woman.”
“What do you want, House?” she asked, placing harshness in her tone.
“Got a little problem,” House said, even though he was still curious as to what had made Cuddy upset.
“Yes?” Cuddy eyebrows shot up.
“I need blood samples,” House told her.
“Uh-huh.” Cuddy encouraged him to go on.
“From a church congregation.”
Cuddy’s eyebrows drew together, so House went on, “my patient’s mute and I need to know which scumbag in her church she got an STD from.”
“Your patient isn’t mute,” Cuddy replied, staring at House, unimpressed.
“She hasn’t spoken a word since two hours after admittance,” House explained.
Cuddy shook her head. “I don’t have the authority to demand blood samples from an entire congregation, House.”
“Call up a friend in the police department,” House suggested.
“They don’t have any authority to either.” Cuddy leaned back in her chair and folded her arms over her chest.
“They so do,” House argued.
“Not without a concrete reason, which you don’t have,” Cuddy responded. “Why do you need to know who she got the STD from? You’re really that concerned about informing him?”
“Or her,” House added. He paused a moment. “I’m thinking the sex partner may have similar symptoms and can give us some insight into what went on in their little encounter.”
Cuddy planted her hands on her desk and leaned forward, her eyes locked with House’s. “Get her to talk.”
“She won’t!” House insisted, his volume rising.
“Then, tough,” Cuddy spat back.
House frowned, cocking his head to one side. “Come on, Cuddy.”
“No,” she said. “I can’t do it. I have zero authority on this.”
“Couldn’t you lie?” House asked, insulted that she was slighting him.
“No,” she answered. “Either she spills or figure something else out.”
House leaned closer to Cuddy. “So, no really does mean no?”
“Yes,” Cuddy bitterly replied.
House eyed Cuddy up. “You should apply that to your food choices, Cuddy, because your ass is getting huge.”
With that, House turned around and limped as quickly as he could manage from Cuddy’s office. She watched him go, a frown set on her face.
Cuddy looked over from her computer when she heard the knock on her office door. She gave a wave, signaling for Wilson to enter.
“Hey, Lisa,” he said.
“Hi, James,” Cuddy replied, a tired smile on her face.
“Are you ready?” Wilson asked.
A look of confusion crossed over Cuddy’s face before it switched into realization. “Oh, I completely forgot, I’m sorry. Could we do this another time?”
“Yeah.” Wilson nodded. “Sure.”
“I’m sorry,” Cuddy apologized again. “Things were shifted in my schedule and I have a meeting in ten.”
“Really, it’s fine,” Wilson told her. “Just make sure you get something to eat.”
Cuddy forced a smile on her face this time. Wilson returned the smile and let himself out of her office. Cuddy turned back to her computer screen.
“Yeah, so my ass can get even bigger,” she muttered.
Cuddy stared at her reflection in her bathroom mirror as she stood in only her underwear. She leaned closer to the mirror, examining every inch of skin on her face.
“Maybe I’m getting old,” she muttered to herself. “I don’t think I look that old.”
She frowned as she pulled and prodded at the skin around her eyes.
“Men aren’t interested,” she continued talking to herself. “I chase them off. Maybe I’m too into my work or I use my intelligence as a defense mechanism or... something.”
Cuddy took a step back from the mirror and directed her gaze downward.
“Or maybe House is right.” Her eyebrows drew together. “Maybe I’ve been putting on weight and haven’t been noticing.” She tried to get a glance at her backside. “Maybe my ass is fat.”
She looked back down at her breasts, her stomach, her thighs. She placed her hand on the upper part of her right thigh.
“And my thighs,” she added.
Cuddy lifted her hand and pinched the flesh near her belly button.
“And my stomach.” She let out a sigh and released her skin. “Maybe I’m not as attractive as I once thought I was. I haven’t been running as much... I-”
She took a step back from the mirror and lifted her head so her eyes met her reflection’s.
“Maybe I should diet,” she suggested to herself. “Just a couple pounds to get in shape.”
Cuddy gave a nod and left her bathroom, deciding to get dressed and go for a run.
Cuddy stepped away from the lunch line, tray in hand. She was munching on a carrot stick as she weaved through the people in the cafeteria, unaware that House was limping behind her and gaining ground.
“That’s all your eating?” House asked as he popped up alongside of Cuddy.
Cuddy jumped and stopped in her tracks. She swallowed hard and glared at House. This gave House the opportunity to truly exam the items Cuddy purchased. Her tray contained an apple, a bottle of water, and a container of celery and carrot sticks.
“You scared me,” Cuddy told him. “I almost choked.”
“Good thing I’m a doctor,” House replied.
“Yeah.”
Cuddy left the cafeteria, but House kept on her tail, needing to get an okay from her, which was never a favorite task of his.
House gave her a nudge as he stepped up next to her. “Starving yourself?”
“I had a big breakfast,” she lied, keeping her focus ahead.
“I can tell,” House said. “Pancakes with extra syrup?”
Cuddy shot him a look. “The fat jokes are wearing thin.”
“That’s the only thing that’s wearing thin with you.”
Cuddy stopped for a second time. She faced House, a clear look of annoyance on her face.
“Did you come and find me for a specific purpose?”
House came to a stop as well, but he kept his distance. “Mute girl still won’t talk. She’s almost dead.”
“Not my fault,” Cuddy replied, sensing his accusatory tone.
“I need blood samples,” House insisted.
“Aren’t you infamous for snooping, House?” Cuddy asked. “Mute girl has friends, doesn’t she?”
“You wish.”
Cuddy let out a sigh, knowing House wasn’t going to just go away on his own. She held her tray with one hand while she planted the other on her hip.
“Why did she stop talking?”
“She just stopped,” he said.
“But, she can talk?” Cuddy raised her eyebrows.
“Yes,” House answered.
“How do you know?”
“Poked her with something very sharp.”
Cuddy narrowed her eyes. House shrugged.
“Accident.”
“When did she stop talking?” Cuddy shifted her weight.
“We did a full exam and then she shut up,” House explained.
“Full exam?” Cuddy repeated. “Including pelvic?”
“She mumbled something about STDs so we had to check her out and she was right,” House told her.
“Maybe she was raped,” Cuddy offered.
It all connected in House’s mind. “Damn it. I’ll get Cameron to talk to her.”
“And if she was raped, call the cops.” Cuddy wanted to make sure House kept up the legal side of their jobs as well.
House ignored her statement and pointed to her plate. “You’re really going to eat all of that?”
Cuddy swatted at his hand, but House pulled back and limped away from her. She looked down at her tray.
“No,” she answered his question even though he was out of earshot. She wasn’t feeling very hungry anymore.
Cuddy removed the bottle of water from her tray and walked over to the nearest garbage. She dumped the rest of the contents into the garbage and headed back toward the cafeteria to return the tray.
Chapter Two.