Fic: Down to the Bone: Chapter Ten

[pokeitlikejello]

Title: Down to the Bone
Rating: R
Warning: Sensitive and triggering material.
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.

(Chapter One. Chapter Two. Chapter Three.Chapter Four.Chapter Five.Chapter Six.Chapter Seven.Chapter Eight.Chapter Nine.)



House knocked gently on the apartment door with his cane. He could hear shuffling inside before the door opened. Wilson stepped back, allowing House room to enter.

“Hey,” Wilson greeted as House stepped inside.

“Hey,” House returned.

Wilson closed the door as House looked around the apartment, scanning for Cuddy. He didn’t see her and he didn’t hear anything. He brought his eyes over to Wilson.

“She asleep?” House asked.

“Yeah.” Wilson gave a short nod and planted his hands to his hips. “Sleeping off some Clonazepam.”

House’s eyebrows drew together. “Where’d she get that?”

Wilson shrugged in response. “She’s a mess. She needs help, House.”

“It wasn’t a suicide attempt,” House told Wilson, still annoyed that he couldn’t assure him of that over the phone.

“Then, it was a cry for help,” Wilson replied. “She called me over there. If she hadn’t called me, I’d hate-”

“But, she did call you,” House cut him off. “I want to see her.”

“She’s in the bedroom.”

Wilson led House down the short hallway to his bedroom. House peered in at the small figure in the bed. She was under the covers, curled up slightly with her eyes closed. House looked back over at Wilson.

“What did she say when she called you?” he asked.

“She sounded distressed, but didn’t say much,” Wilson answered.

House nodded, his tongue running over his bottom lip. “Wanna get me some coffee?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Wilson headed for the kitchen as House entered into the bedroom. He made his way over to the bed and sat down near her feet. He shook her gently on her thigh.

“Cuddy,” he spoke quietly. “Hey, Cuddy...”

“Hm?” She stirred and a sigh fell from her parted lips.

“What happened tonight?” House asked her.

Cuddy shook her head slightly. “I don’t...”

“What?” he prompted.

“Don’t want to talk,” she clarified and sighed again.

“You tried to kill yourself,” House said.

A frown crossed over her face. “No.”

“Then, what were you doing?” he replied.

“Wanted to sleep, not think.” Cuddy rolled over in bed. “Let me sleep?”

“Yeah.”

House stood from the bed and left the room. He walked to the kitchen just as Wilson was bringing a mug to him. House took the steaming beverage from him and sipped it.

“She’s unstable.” Wilson folded his arms over his chest. “House, she needs more help than we can give her.”

“She’ll be fine,” House told him. “Let her sleep it off.”

Wilson shook his head. “You don’t understand. There were a few dozen pills out on the bathroom sink. She could have taken them all.”

“But, she didn’t,” House pointed out.

“Not this time,” Wilson replied. “Look, I don’t want to send her somewhere, but it’s what’ll be best for her. This is about her.”

House shot Wilson a look. “I know it’s about her. But, she doesn’t need that.”

“She doesn’t need what?” Wilson asked. “Treatment? Therapy? House, she has an eating disorder and she’s self destructive.”

“She won’t get better if she doesn’t want the help,” House reminded him.

“Maybe she’ll realize she needs help if she’s in a program,” Wilson said.

House limped over to the sink and dumped out the rest of his coffee, making Wilson frown. As he turned around, House caught sight of the look and gave a shrug.

“Your coffee sucks.”

Wilson let out a quiet sigh as House made his way into the living room. He sat down on the couch. Wilson entered the living room, but remained standing near the kitchen.

“What are you doing?” Wilson asked him.

“Getting comfortable for the night,” House answered and stretched out on the couch.

“Who said you were staying?” Wilson replied.

“Wouldn’t want you to take advantage of Cuddy while she’s drugged,” House told him.

“Yeah, because I was going to do that,” Wilson agreed sarcastically.

“See?” House raised his eyebrows. “That’s why I’m here. To protect all womankind. Especially Cuddy.”

Wilson narrowed his eyes at House, tired of his game. “I was going to sleep on the couch.”

“Sleep in the chair.” House nodded toward the chair across the room.

“Or you could go home,” Wilson suggested.

“Nah.” House shook his head. “I’d rather see the train wreck when she wakes up.”

Wilson stood a moment, examining House. He knew he wasn’t going to be able to get him to leave and he wished he hadn’t allowed him to come over to begin with. Wilson turned the light off and made his way over to the armchair. He took a seat and tried to get comfortable.

“Jimmy?” House said.

Wilson let out a sigh. “What, House?”

“You made plans for her to get help, didn’t you?” House asked.

“I made a few phone calls,” Wilson answered. “A friend recommended me a treatment center. She pulled some strings and a Joshua McAdams will be coming by tomorrow to talk to Lisa.”

“She’s going to hate you,” House replied.

“She can hate me all she wants as long as it helps her get better,” Wilson told him.

“Right,” House agreed, but didn’t really believe it.

He closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep.

Cuddy turned over in bed. She had a funny taste in her mouth and she opened her eyes slowly. She identified Wilson’s apartment and the previous night’s events came flooding back to her.

She sat up a little too quickly and felt dizzy. Cuddy waited a moment before climbing from the bed. She needed to get out of his apartment. Her actions were embarrassing and she didn’t want to face Wilson, she didn’t want to talk about it.

Cuddy crept barefoot to the bedroom door. She didn’t see Wilson, so she began for the front door.

“Lisa.”

Cursing silently, Cuddy turned around. Wilson was walking toward her from the bathroom. She jumped slightly as House popped up from the couch. She remembered talking to House in a dream, but as she saw him there, she wondered if it really had been a dream.

“What are you doing?” Wilson asked as he stepped up to her.

“I’m going home,” Cuddy told him.

Wilson shook his head slightly. “You’re not going home, Lisa.”

“Well, I’m not going to stay here to be babied,” she replied.

“We need to talk about what happened yesterday,” Wilson said.

“Nothing happened,” Cuddy insisted. “I was just upset.”

Wilson narrowed his eyes at her. “Lisa...”

“Don’t,” she warned as she took a step back.

He closed the gap between them. “I know you don’t want to do this, but you need help.”

“No.”

“Cuddy.” House limped toward them.

Cuddy glared at him. “Stay out of this.”

“You called me last night,” Wilson went on. “You were asking for help.”

“I...” Cuddy shook her head. “No, I wasn’t. I was just-” She glanced over at House. “-upset. But, I’m fine now. I’m going home. I have things to do.”

“Exercise,” House spoke up.

“No,” she shot him another look.

“How do you expect to get home?” Wilson asked her.

“Walk?” House lifted his eyebrows at her and she glared for a third time.

“I called someone to see you,” Wilson explained. “He wants to talk to you.”

“Who?” Cuddy demanded, her full attention back on Wilson as she felt her anger rising.

Wilson took another step closer to her. “It’s a program-”

“No!” She stepped back again.

“Lisa-” Wilson wanted to reason with her.

“I need to leave.”

Cuddy turned toward the front door, but Wilson grabbed her at the wrist. He held her there as she struggled against him. House watched, surprised at just how forceful Wilson was being about this.

“You’re not leaving,” Wilson told her. “Not until you talk to him. Joshua-”

“No!” Cuddy continued to try to get away from him. “James. I didn’t ask for this.”

“You didn’t have to,” Wilson replied. “I’m doing this for you. Please. Just talk to him.”

“You’re going to make me go into treatment,” she argued. “I can’t do it.”

“Lisa...”

He grabbed her by the other wrist, keeping her facing him. House continued to watch, not wanting to get involved. Wilson made eye contact with Cuddy.

“I’m not letting you go until you agree to stay.”

She struggled a little more before letting out a cry of frustration.

“Fine! Fucking fine! I’ll see him.”

Wilson released her and she shoved past him as she went into his bedroom. She slammed the door closed behind her. House looked to Wilson.

“Way to go,” House said. When Wilson didn’t respond, he added, “you shouldn’t go about it this way.”

“And how would you go about it, House?” Wilson responded.

House shrugged in return. Wilson headed for the kitchen.

“I’m going to make some breakfast and coffee. Hopefully she’ll eat something.”

“She’ll just take the coffee, if anything,” House called after him.

Wilson entered the kitchen and began to make a fresh pot of coffee. House limped his way down the hall to the closed bedroom door. He tapped lightly on it.

“Cuddy...”

House tried the doorknob and was surprised to find it unlocked. He opened the door slowly, not wanting to make a sound and get Wilson’s attention. He knew Wilson wouldn’t invade her space right now, especially with Joshua coming, but House didn’t care.

He stepped inside to see Cuddy curled up on the bed, her back to the doorway. He could hear her sniffling as he closed the door softly behind himself.

“Go away,” Cuddy spoke up.

“It’s me,” House told her.

“I know,” she replied. “He’s in the kitchen.”

House approached the bed. “He’s hoping if you’re in an environment where you see other women getting better, you may want that, too.”

She sucked in a shaky breath and refused to respond to him. He stopped next to the bed.

“You really don’t want to go, do you?” he asked her.

“No,” she answered and wiped the tears from her face.

“I’ll get you out of here,” he said.

Cuddy sat up and looked over at him, thinking she misheard. “What?”

“I’ll sneak you out,” he went on. “We’ll take Wilson’s car.”

She stared at him, unsure. “Why would you do that for me?”

“I think you’re sick and need help,” he told her. “But, I think Wilson’s wrong about this.”

“You mean it?” She lifted her eyebrows. “You’re not just going to dump me off at some treatment program or hospital?”

“Did you lose your ability to trust along with your weight?” House replied.

“Since when have I ever trusted you, House,” Cuddy responded as she climbed off the bed and began for the door.

“Hold on.” House passed by her, stopping her. “I’ll make sure we’re clear.”

He opened the door and stepped out into the hall. House looked to the kitchen to see Wilson cooking.

“I’m heading out,” he called to him. “I don’t want to see this freak show.”

Wilson glanced over at him. “It’s not a freak show, House.”

“Not to you,” House snapped back.

He waved Cuddy out of the bedroom as Wilson went back to scrambling eggs in the pan. She headed toward the front door and House limped behind her. He swiped Wilson’s keys from the table beside the door and followed Cuddy out.

“Hurry,” Cuddy called back to him as she headed for the staircase barefoot.

“No elevator?” House asked as he painfully limped down the stairs. He pulled out his Vicodin.

“It’d take too long to get the elevator,” she replied. “Besides, it’s only three flights.”

Once outside, Cuddy stepped gingerly, trying not to hurt her feet on the rough and pebbly pavement. House kept up pace behind her as they went toward Wilson’s car. He pressed the button on the small black controller to unlock the car doors and Cuddy climbed into the passenger seat.

House got in on the driver’s side and started the car. He pulled out and drove off, seeing his motorcycle in the review mirror as he went. They traveled for several minutes in silence before Cuddy spoke up.

“So... where are we going?”

“I don’t know yet,” House told her.

Cuddy looked back out the passenger side window. “He’s going to be mad.”

“Then, he never should have called me in the first place,” House replied and pressed harder on the gas pedal.

Chapter Eleven.