One Shot Fic: Correct Us 1/2
This was written for help_lisa.
Title: Correct Us
Author: megalisa
Recipient: dalilita
Rating: M
Prompt: one shot fic (more than 5000 words) - House & Cuddy romantic pairing, fluffy and/or angst, smut, happy ending...set near the end of Season 3. Somebody brings House and Cuddy closer.
Summary: Someone from Cuddy's past comes back to say goodbye. House is intrigued.
Many thanks to my silent editor :)
HHHHHHHHHH
He was checking his watch to time exactly how long she had been yelling at him. He had stopped listening to her about five minutes into her monologue and was now alternating between staring at her fancy clad - and heaving - cleavage, her glossy and fast moving full lips, the frown between her feisty, cloudy blue eyes and the perfume emanating from her luscious locks every time she’d shake her head at him. Coconut and citrus he was recalling from his close examination of her during their plane trip back from Asia.
She was intoxicating.
The party kept going on around them. It was the utmost formal spring auction benefit; in other words, Cuddy believed it was PPTH’s most important public event of the year. The lobby was transformed and everybody from donors to board members, from contributing medical professionals to professors was in attendance. And House, as always, was reluctant to comply with the usual requirements to make the hospital appealing, even though Cuddy had reduced his participation to the basic minimum. At least he showed, she thought, and he was looking half decent in what was probably the only suit he owned as opposed to the standard required tux. His latest rebellious efforts were noticeable in the tie missing from his open collar shirt. It had the potential to divert her from the current task: getting him on that stage. She had already managed to stop the massacre from his many interactions, his so-called games, with anybody he could get a hold of since he had step foot in the hospital that evening. He had told her he was suffering from the worst case of boredom and she should be happy he had even showed up in the first place. “What else am I supposed to be doing?” He’d asked.
At some point, his attention diverted from her as his ever-observant-self started to detect an abnormality in the background. He raised his hand at her, indicating for her to stop her diatribe.
“Why is there an old man staring at your ass?”
Cuddy rolled her eyes and raised her eyebrows at him. Of course he wasn’t interested in what she had to say. Of course he would only care about the way she looked in that salacious silky silver gown she was wearing. There was no doubt in her mind that he thought she was simply stunning. She could tell he had noticed everything there was to notice the second he laid eyes on her, when she made her appearance and mingled at the party. He had been sitting at the bar scanning the crowd and had stopped gulping on his drink for the moment it took to fully register the spectacle of her presence.
“What else is new? Your eyes are always glued to my ass. Stop looking at my reflection on the clinic glass doors! And pay attention to what I’m telling you!” She continued her list of reprimands and instructions.
But House was becoming more intrigued with each step the old man took towards them.
“Good evening, kiddo!” They both heard in the middle of their spat.
At that moment, Cuddy froze, breathing cut, unable to utter another word, her face reflecting all the emotions she was going through. Her shock and wide eyes soon made room for a warm, large smile as she recognized the voice and turned around.
Of the many questions going through House’s head, the one he couldn’t mute: why had he never seen that pleased and eager expression on her face for him?
“Professor Sumner!” Cuddy said looking radiant as she reached for him. He held her hands and allowed her to press them onto his chest. She rose towards him on the tip of her toes as he leaned to salute her by kissing her cheek, lingering far too long for House’s liking.
“Come on Lize, none of that formality between us. How has my smartest and prettiest student been doing? I hear you’re this big shot Dean of Medicine now.” He stared confidently into her eyes, smirking warmly, knowing he had stroked her ego. He looked around. “Not too shabby!” She couldn’t repress another wide smile and on top of this, House could actually measure from the spark in her eyes how much praise from this man affected her. “I knew you’d be a star somewhere along the road, sooner than later.”
House couldn’t help but notice the familiarity between them and how Cuddy’s whole body seemed free of any of the tension he’d sensed earlier during their spat. She was rejuvenated, apparently excited, and he felt completely excluded from the twosome. He also wasn’t a fan of the contact that was still going on or the way they were literally drinking each other in. This man was clearly in-the-know of what was underneath her dress and she was too appreciative of his well groomed handsome figure all tuxedoed up.
“I’ve been pretty good. So what brings you to my hospital, Tom?”
“What? You don’t think of yourself as a good enough reason?” He teased. She laughed. And why was she blushing? House wondered. It was in that instant House decided to hate him. This guy was making her laugh, complimenting her at the same time with no holds barred. He visually was all that, and he knew what he was doing. In being this forward without hiding behind false pretenses and head scratching innuendos, he’d had more response in the last couple of minutes than House had in a decade. Just because House knew Cuddy was his number one fan for challenging banter, didn’t mean he wasn’t threatened by her responsiveness to the obvious straight forward flattery.
Cuddy sensed Thomas felt uncomfortable chatting with curious ears around. “Come on, let’s go to my office and catch up.” A puzzled look appeared on her face. What was he doing here and why did they need to be somewhere private to talk? She was now concerned, which didn’t go unnoticed by either House or Thomas.
“Gotta say kiddo, you were stunning back in your Uni days, but I never thought you’d turn out this gorgeous. Look at you!” He tried to change the mood, holding out his arm for her.
She took his arm, leaning towards him, and their bodies seemed to be in sync as they walked away. She was beaming beyond reason and she looked more beautiful than House had ever seen. And it wasn’t because of him. At that moment, he decided he had to know more about the man who had just swept his boss off her feet, making her forget about the most important function of the year and the fact he was next on stage.
As Cuddy was led away towards the clinic entrance, House’s name was called into the microphone, cutting short his intent to follow her. He reluctantly made his way on stage and delivered a sharp and effective speech. There was no way he would waste time at a task that held no interest to him, nor would he make a scene that would prevent him from pursuing his new goal that involved Cuddy.
No later than eight minutes after Cuddy left him, he was situated outside Cuddy’s office. He stood in the dark, attempting to eavesdrop on a conversation he was desperate to be privy.
‘Lize’ and Tom were sitting on her office couch, his back to the door, allowing House to see every single reaction from Cuddy. They were close, too close. They were still touching each other. Cuddy was holding his hand on her lap, an obvious concerned expression on her face and making no efforts to hide it. He hated the way she seemed completely at ease and unguarded with this man. He hated she didn’t feel that way with him, but he hated even more seeing her in such distress. For all their bantering and hurting, he possessed a strong protective urge for her that made him wish he could do something about her current pain. After all, if there was one feeling he was familiar with, it was pain, both physical and emotional.
Cuddy’s eyes were turning red and she started to sob, covering her mouth with her left hand in an attempt to hold herself together. Professor Sumner tilted his head and brought his large hand to her face, stroking away the few tears that had fallen on her cheek. She looked up at him and reached for his hand; her expression seemed to mirror his. House could read her lips uttering a frail “I’m sorry” and guessing from the weak smile she was returning, he was trying to ease her pain. The news wasn’t good, House imagined. But he didn’t have long to speculate before he saw their bodies draw closer to share a peck on the lips, which lead them into a lingering hug.
House’s cane-free hand turned into a fist. He then retracted to the back of the clinic hall where he observed them getting to their feet and heading for the door. The odd pair said their goodbyes and Cuddy held onto the clinic door for an instant watching him pass the hospital main entrance to leave. Her head fell a bit. She looked beat, and he heard an indescribable noise coming from her. She was crushed. She must have decided against going back to the party, preferring to be alone in the quiet comfort of her office.
House broke the silence, making his presence known from the dim lit reception area.
“So what’s the deal with hands-on teacher? You look like a cheerleader crushing on the quarterback around him.” A startled Cuddy made her way back inside her office. He followed her.
Cuddy waited until she was seated at her desk to respond. She was either still flustered by the conversation, or blushing from his implication, but she stated boldly: “That actually sounds about right. Well, except you’d need to replace cheerleader with straight-A student…oh and quarterback by hotshot, handsome professor of endocrinology slash publicized specialist slash founder of the Sumner grant slash ….”
“OK, OK, I got the message. Funny, I always pictured little Lisa Cuddy falling for the biggest jerk on campus, never took her for the hot-for-teacher type.” House told her with a knowing subtle smirk, his eyes boring into hers, deliberately flirting to test her.
“You’ve always been the most brilliant jerk on campus or elsewhere, but it seems you haven’t read all the pages of my book.” Cuddy retorted a bit amused and daring; she was quite pleased with what she was implying. “It’s sweet I can still surprise you. It almost makes you look endearing and less offensive.” She smiled shyly before toning down her optimism. “That is if I didn’t know better.”
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
“He’s sick.” There was no point in lying. She knew he would eventually find out and she was not interested in turning this particular matter into one of his games. Cuddy grabbed the file he’d left her, to list a few of his symptoms. House was tilting his head left and right showing his disinterest. When she stopped, he raised his eyebrows for potential juicier details. “He wanted to see me one last time while he was still feeling strong enough to travel.”
“Strong enough to schtup you one last time sounds more like it!” House said salaciously. Cuddy looked appalled, yet amused. He continued. “That’s too bad. You think I should inform him you don’t make house calls for the Make-a-Wish-Foundation? Trust me; I learned that the hard way.” Cuddy’s jaw dropped and he could see how troubled she was by the whole situation and how she hesitated to respond to his derision. When she didn’t, House knew she was more affected by the recent news than she’d let on. This was when, out of nowhere, before his brain even registered what he was suggesting, before he was even aware of something that bothered him in the medical history he had just heard, he offered to take a look at the case.
“First of all, there’ll be no ‘schtupping’ involved, only a goodbye dinner. Second, why would you even want in on this? Third, the diagnosis is pretty clear and I have a bad feeling about this. You’re up to something.” House’s face immediately displayed a ‘duh’ expression.
“That’s me: genius handsome doc by day, Machiavellian spy by night.” Cuddy rolled her eyes. “I didn’t stick around long enough to get the dirt on college Cuddy. You think I’d let the occasion pass me by?” He quipped, hiding his real motivations with a devilish smirk and sparkling eyes. Cuddy was nervous and torn, but whatever he was going to find out, she knew he wouldn’t stumble into anything embarrassing enough to use as leverage against her. Right? She wanted to give Tom another shot. Maybe House could work up his magic and bide him more time. She’d have to convince him though, as he wanted no more treatment. She intended to sway over dinner.
“Alright House, you’ll have a new patient by tomorrow evening.” She declared coming around her desk to get closer to him. He knew he was in for the ‘Not To Do’ check list. “I know you have your ways but please…”
“I know!” He didn’t let her finish. He clearly knew this was no ordinary patient to her. The earnest look in her eyes was telling him so.
She reached out to the side of his arm, pressing right over his elbow as he looked at her move. He was always surprised to find himself in contact with her, unable to let himself fully appreciate her touch.
“Thank you for doing this House, it means a lot. I really value your opinion and your help.” He nodded and sensed a shift in her. She was back in charge. “Now I have to go back out there and try my best to make it seem like I’m having good time for the rest of the evening. Otherwise we won’t get replacements when you break the hospital toys.”
He gave her a false pout and she smiled weakly at him, a smile he returned in a diluted, yet genuine way.
His next mission was to figure out if he could actually save the guy and possibly hopefully some sort of progress with Cuddy.
-----
House was visiting a patient, not just any patient, but Cuddy’s ‘friend’. Never mind the team giving him the third degree about why he wanted to be the one performing the few tests, never mind Wilson going all House on his ass until he’d figured who was his patient and why he had taken such and interest in this case, House was looking at the bigger picture. What he needed to do was to get close to the man and squeeze out any information about Cuddy he could possibly get from him.
What surprised him the most was how Thomas Sumner seemed unbothered by his questions. It was as if he didn’t know anything he said would be held against Cuddy, or he had a feeling House wouldn’t cross a certain line. Or, maybe even more disturbing for House, the man was proud to talk about his ‘Lize’ because he knew her enough to be certain she could take care of herself and deal with whatever came her way. He wasn’t protective or too careful, which indicated that he knew she would hate to be smothered or looked upon as weak. This meant the man knew Cuddy, and he knew her very well. House envied this. Despite his own knowledge of his boss, the many facts and figures that were documented in his mental folder after years of observations, the deductions were not from an intimate and unguarded relationship with her. Sumner had firsthand knowledge, and House wanted to be a part of Cuddy’s circle on this level. Except that was already the case, on some level. Unfortunately, his stubborn pride and fear of getting hurt were blinding him and preventing him from getting quite where he wanted with her.
Tom had been in observation at PPTH for over a week and he’d gotten almost used to the daily visit from his new doctor. Cuddy had spotted them together a couple of times. She would usually go up to his room to check on him when she’d get a break. She was sporting a wary look on her face that would disappear the moment she’d enter his room and he’d smiled warmly at her. By the end of the week, she spotted House lingering outside his room spying on them having lunch.
She exited his room when they were done as she needed to go back to work; she didn’t even pretend she had not spotted House.
“Stop nagging him House and stop snooping around for information. Just stop harassing the poor man! Do your job or don’t, but don’t come up with unnecessary tests to create opportunities to follow your already wrong motives.” House pretended to be offended. “And you have other cases too. They’re piling up on your desk. You need to take care of it all.” Cuddy looked back at Tom and said unconvincingly, “Be good boys, don’t do or say anything I wouldn’t.” And she turned to House, somewhat wavering, before she turned to walk towards the elevator. “He’s all yours!”
“She was a bold kitten back in the day. It’s now been replaced by a bossy lioness, I see,” Tom said proudly and kindly. “Yet, for an educated eye, it’s impossible to miss the ever-present fiery free-spirit. Or those legs of hers!” Tom noted adoringly. He glanced at House and said jokingly. “Poor Doctor House, you never stood a chance.”
House faked offense and offered his opinion while screening his chart for any changes from the previous night. “She’s a nightmarish, big-assed bureaucratic wench!”
Tom was chuckling.
“I didn’t think a man on his death bed would find anything to laugh about,” poked House.
“As much as you don’t want to believe this, I’ve made my peace with dying.” House started to pay attention. “I’ve had a long and full life. I’ve made a few mistakes. I’ve known love and passion, I’ve had two beautiful and wonderful kids who are doing quite fine, and my professional achievements speak for themselves. I’m done! Most people can’t boast for half of this.” House looked down knowingly. “What we’re doing here is simply me granting Lisa a little more time to accept the reality. Let’s not kid ourselves. We both know, no matter how much of an immense brilliant genius you are, you can’t cure me.”
“First, I really am that massive…in every possible way. Second, why would Cuddy need time to adjust to the bad news to begin with? And last, why would you even come to her to take your last breath?”
“You really don’t get it do you?” House was startled. “For a smartass you’re a little slow.” Tom taunted mildly. “How long have you been working for her? A little over a decade, correct?” House nodded. “See this is what I’m talking about: you’re slow. And you shouldn’t be.”
“You’re becoming incoherent. I’m starting to think you might need a psych consult and believe me, I’m not big on faith healers.” House saw Tom retreat. “I gathered quite quickly that you two did the nasty way back when, though I didn’t think Cuddy had it in her but…”
“I’m here because of her, because Lisa was the best thing that happened to me. And I think we both know there’s way more to her than meet the eyes. She’s got it all and then some.”
“Oh yeah! Cuddy’s a real fireball. No wait! That was college Cuddy. Administrator Cuddy is a teasing icicle.” Tom gave him a cut the crap look.
“You can deflect all you want, but the very fact we’re here talking about her makes my point.” House stared back as if he’d been caught with both hands in the cookie jar. “This wasn’t just about a middle aged professor having a mid life crisis and screwing his student. She was the most complicated, maddening, obstinate, intelligent and gorgeous little lady I had ever met. To this day, it’s still incomprehensible to me how I managed to hold her off for so long before I caved. Or how I could have ever let her go.”
“Oh come on! What a load of crap! Just admit you had the hots for her. You hung in there so when you’d actually got the chance you wouldn’t feel too guilty for cheating on your wife and breaking your family.”
“This is where you’re wrong,” Sumner said. “There was no family to break. My wife and I had been separated for almost five years, we lived apart - she lived with her new partner who she actually left me for - and although it took a while for the kids to adjust, things were working. What Lisa and I shared was what allowed me to move on.”
“How did she play you?” Tom was smirking. As much as House hated it, Tom had him. He had him because he’d been able to have his shot with Cuddy, whereas House couldn’t after their first night together. House wanted to know everything.
“She managed to be my PA even though she was never supposed to be taking my class. Some students would skip class, haze others and drink themselves to oblivion for sport. Apparently she made it her mission to audit every possible class she could before she was even a real med student. She had some weird vices she had that one,” he recalled, gazing afar while grinning. “I found out too late to do a damn thing about it. She was in deep on all my projects and research. Plus, by then, I don’t think I wanted her to go away.”
“Still, you didn’t have to sleep with her.” Even House couldn’t buy his own bullshit. Of course he’d sleep with her.
“Believe me, I tried to resist. But she knew I was particularly attracted to her. She would seize any occasion to take advantage of me and prove to me that any resistance was futile. I would eventually cave; she was so certain of it, even when I was set in my position. I can still recall her smug face and laugh when I would deny her what she wanted. It actually spurred her on to come at me stronger…For six months! That’s more than two hundred days I held my stance and didn’t budge. It was torture!”
“Yeah I’m sure you were in agony that you eventually got into her pants. Gimme a break!”
“You don’t know what it’s like, how she can be. She’d cancel workshops at the last minute, driving me crazy because she supposedly had a frat party and ‘it was going to be wild’, she’d show up in my classroom on the arm of the worst male student-he was a complete tool- just to piss me off and worry me into thinking she was destroying herself. She’d jog by my place every Sunday to make sure I’d get a reminder of what I was missing out on; she’d argue about medicine with me, challenge my work, and correct me in the middle of my courses…”
“What a bitch! She has not changed a bit!” House said sarcastically, mocking Tom and yet secretly pleased and proud to hear more about this conniving Cuddy. “What was the actual deal breaker…or doer? Get it? Do-her?” House gave an exaggerated wink, hiding behind jokes.
“You’re an ass.”
“Tell me something she doesn’t know.”
Tom was silent for a moment too long for House. He shook his head, raising an eyebrow, indicating he was waiting for the rest of the story.
“One evening before finals, it was summer time - I’ll never forget, it was the warmest night of the year - she showed up in my office at the university with a look of resolve I’d never seen. It was late and we were alone. It was suddenly very hot. I was sitting on my couch reviewing mock finals when she came close to me and…she took off her coat.”
“Annndddd?”
“She was sporting the sexiest attire I’d ever seen: a schoolgirl outfit.” House’s jaw dropped. And she wore the cutest curly ponytails…No mercy!”
House was studying him, incredulous and aroused. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
“I don’t even wish I were kidding. I’m telling you, she was the most precious and vicious thing I’d ever laid my eyes on.”
“Annnndddd?”
“And, I think you can pretty much figure out what happened next,” he said. “It lasted the rest of the school year.”
Oh boy, this was going to give House fantasies for life, in addition to the hot releasing showers and desks reveries he currently enjoyed.
“What happened?”
“She ended things shortly after starting school in the fall. She became distant around the time I told her I was going to get a divorce. The minute I said I wanted something real with her, she bailed. She explained how she didn’t want to be the reason for my family implosion. To this day, I wonder if she was sincere or using it as an excuse. I wonder what I could have done to keep her. I don’t think I ever got over her.”
House was pensive. He was thinking about how he had her once. It felt like a lifetime ago, and that one night of passion after months of friendly foreplay had gone by way too fast. As intense as it had been, they had not appreciated each other enough during the time they shared, probably because they couldn’t get enough of each other in that one night and they thought they’d get more chances. Their relationship was cut short by an administrative decision surrounding his future before they ever had the opportunity to evaluate their options.
Of course he would never openly admit any of it. Hell, he was barely acknowledging it to himself.
As if to put an end to his reverie, Tom drew House’s attention back to him. “Hey, I’m not telling you this so you can sulk.” House looked confused. “You’re a stubborn jackass! But I’ve seen you two. What the hell are you waiting for? Wasting all this time, this potential? I’m a dead man, but you’re alive, and for whatever reason you seem to be the one Lisa Cuddy wants to play doctor with. So what’s it going to take?”
“Actually I think a nurse outfit would suit her even better.”
“You do realize that your deflection enhances my point, right?” Tom said.
House left.
-----
“So when should I expect the naked visits to start in my office?”
“What?” Cuddy paused a second before comprehending the meaning behind his words. “He told you?” She looked mortified. “Willingly?”
“Hi, Greg House! What did you expect?”
“How did you do it this time? You explained that sexual stimulation makes you a better doctor somehow?” House grinned.
“The trick might not have worked had he been suffering from something completely unrelated to nephrology, which conveniently happens to be one of my specialties. I convinced him I needed to know everything about his sexual history to treat him.” House made up the context for his conversation with Sumner, unwilling to reveal his game.
She covered her face with her hand, sinking in her office chair.
“Oh don’t get shy now Cuddy, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Especially not after what happened in my shower after that talk, believe me.” He winked at her. “It brought in a whole new wave of voluptuous young Cuddys - yes, plural - to sex things up for me.” She looked appalled, and yet he could detect a tiny grin that told him she felt flattered he’d so openly confessed his fantasies about her for once. Her embarrassment was fake modesty. “Oh come on Cuddy, as if you’ve never used the old memories of us for yourself as well.”
“You’re an ass.”
“Perhaps, but I happen to be quite certain you’ve never regretted that night, not even once over the past twenty years.” He lowered himself towards her, palms on her desk. They gazed at each other intensely. “Even when I drive you crazy, you actually think about it more.” Her lack of reply gave her away. She composed herself and raised herself with her elbows.
“I seem to recall the dude known around campus as the 15-minutes-no-sleep-overs-man -including foreplay and shower- spending a lengthy night making sure the memories would stick.” He stopped grinning smugly, admitting defeat at the evidence she provided that their time together back then was much more than a random one night stand for him too.
They exchanged a look of longing. Yet neither could bring themselves to make a step, say a word more and cross that line they’d been dancing around for years.
Cuddy was the first to deflect. “How is he doing?”
“You know perfectly well.”
House wasn’t going to pretend that he didn’t know what she was doing, why she had appointed him this non existent case, why she was allowing her personal feelings to take over her medical judgment.
By the look on her face, he knew he’d upset her by pointing out her irrationality. But he couldn’t help himself. He couldn’t stand false pretenses. He was the one who would bluntly make her face the truth about herself, whether she liked it or not. This was enough to temper their frisky give-and-take.
“I have a meeting with a donor shortly. I wouldn’t want to bore you with that. See you Monday.” She dismissed him quickly. House’s shoulder slumped. He’d come into her office in a bantering mood ready for some of their usual fun and he was now leaving certain to have unintentionally killed two birds with one stone. Her optimistic disposition for the weekend was certainly a goner and he was quite confident she would not be able to stop herself from reflecting on their own college history. Also, in a way, he’d force her to take a look at the reality of the situation: Tom was not going to recover and she’d better prepare herself for this outcome.
He left her office.
PART 2/2
Title: Correct Us
Author: megalisa
Recipient: dalilita
Rating: M
Prompt: one shot fic (more than 5000 words) - House & Cuddy romantic pairing, fluffy and/or angst, smut, happy ending...set near the end of Season 3. Somebody brings House and Cuddy closer.
Summary: Someone from Cuddy's past comes back to say goodbye. House is intrigued.
Many thanks to my silent editor :)
HHHHHHHHHH
He was checking his watch to time exactly how long she had been yelling at him. He had stopped listening to her about five minutes into her monologue and was now alternating between staring at her fancy clad - and heaving - cleavage, her glossy and fast moving full lips, the frown between her feisty, cloudy blue eyes and the perfume emanating from her luscious locks every time she’d shake her head at him. Coconut and citrus he was recalling from his close examination of her during their plane trip back from Asia.
She was intoxicating.
The party kept going on around them. It was the utmost formal spring auction benefit; in other words, Cuddy believed it was PPTH’s most important public event of the year. The lobby was transformed and everybody from donors to board members, from contributing medical professionals to professors was in attendance. And House, as always, was reluctant to comply with the usual requirements to make the hospital appealing, even though Cuddy had reduced his participation to the basic minimum. At least he showed, she thought, and he was looking half decent in what was probably the only suit he owned as opposed to the standard required tux. His latest rebellious efforts were noticeable in the tie missing from his open collar shirt. It had the potential to divert her from the current task: getting him on that stage. She had already managed to stop the massacre from his many interactions, his so-called games, with anybody he could get a hold of since he had step foot in the hospital that evening. He had told her he was suffering from the worst case of boredom and she should be happy he had even showed up in the first place. “What else am I supposed to be doing?” He’d asked.
At some point, his attention diverted from her as his ever-observant-self started to detect an abnormality in the background. He raised his hand at her, indicating for her to stop her diatribe.
“Why is there an old man staring at your ass?”
Cuddy rolled her eyes and raised her eyebrows at him. Of course he wasn’t interested in what she had to say. Of course he would only care about the way she looked in that salacious silky silver gown she was wearing. There was no doubt in her mind that he thought she was simply stunning. She could tell he had noticed everything there was to notice the second he laid eyes on her, when she made her appearance and mingled at the party. He had been sitting at the bar scanning the crowd and had stopped gulping on his drink for the moment it took to fully register the spectacle of her presence.
“What else is new? Your eyes are always glued to my ass. Stop looking at my reflection on the clinic glass doors! And pay attention to what I’m telling you!” She continued her list of reprimands and instructions.
But House was becoming more intrigued with each step the old man took towards them.
“Good evening, kiddo!” They both heard in the middle of their spat.
At that moment, Cuddy froze, breathing cut, unable to utter another word, her face reflecting all the emotions she was going through. Her shock and wide eyes soon made room for a warm, large smile as she recognized the voice and turned around.
Of the many questions going through House’s head, the one he couldn’t mute: why had he never seen that pleased and eager expression on her face for him?
“Professor Sumner!” Cuddy said looking radiant as she reached for him. He held her hands and allowed her to press them onto his chest. She rose towards him on the tip of her toes as he leaned to salute her by kissing her cheek, lingering far too long for House’s liking.
“Come on Lize, none of that formality between us. How has my smartest and prettiest student been doing? I hear you’re this big shot Dean of Medicine now.” He stared confidently into her eyes, smirking warmly, knowing he had stroked her ego. He looked around. “Not too shabby!” She couldn’t repress another wide smile and on top of this, House could actually measure from the spark in her eyes how much praise from this man affected her. “I knew you’d be a star somewhere along the road, sooner than later.”
House couldn’t help but notice the familiarity between them and how Cuddy’s whole body seemed free of any of the tension he’d sensed earlier during their spat. She was rejuvenated, apparently excited, and he felt completely excluded from the twosome. He also wasn’t a fan of the contact that was still going on or the way they were literally drinking each other in. This man was clearly in-the-know of what was underneath her dress and she was too appreciative of his well groomed handsome figure all tuxedoed up.
“I’ve been pretty good. So what brings you to my hospital, Tom?”
“What? You don’t think of yourself as a good enough reason?” He teased. She laughed. And why was she blushing? House wondered. It was in that instant House decided to hate him. This guy was making her laugh, complimenting her at the same time with no holds barred. He visually was all that, and he knew what he was doing. In being this forward without hiding behind false pretenses and head scratching innuendos, he’d had more response in the last couple of minutes than House had in a decade. Just because House knew Cuddy was his number one fan for challenging banter, didn’t mean he wasn’t threatened by her responsiveness to the obvious straight forward flattery.
Cuddy sensed Thomas felt uncomfortable chatting with curious ears around. “Come on, let’s go to my office and catch up.” A puzzled look appeared on her face. What was he doing here and why did they need to be somewhere private to talk? She was now concerned, which didn’t go unnoticed by either House or Thomas.
“Gotta say kiddo, you were stunning back in your Uni days, but I never thought you’d turn out this gorgeous. Look at you!” He tried to change the mood, holding out his arm for her.
She took his arm, leaning towards him, and their bodies seemed to be in sync as they walked away. She was beaming beyond reason and she looked more beautiful than House had ever seen. And it wasn’t because of him. At that moment, he decided he had to know more about the man who had just swept his boss off her feet, making her forget about the most important function of the year and the fact he was next on stage.
As Cuddy was led away towards the clinic entrance, House’s name was called into the microphone, cutting short his intent to follow her. He reluctantly made his way on stage and delivered a sharp and effective speech. There was no way he would waste time at a task that held no interest to him, nor would he make a scene that would prevent him from pursuing his new goal that involved Cuddy.
No later than eight minutes after Cuddy left him, he was situated outside Cuddy’s office. He stood in the dark, attempting to eavesdrop on a conversation he was desperate to be privy.
‘Lize’ and Tom were sitting on her office couch, his back to the door, allowing House to see every single reaction from Cuddy. They were close, too close. They were still touching each other. Cuddy was holding his hand on her lap, an obvious concerned expression on her face and making no efforts to hide it. He hated the way she seemed completely at ease and unguarded with this man. He hated she didn’t feel that way with him, but he hated even more seeing her in such distress. For all their bantering and hurting, he possessed a strong protective urge for her that made him wish he could do something about her current pain. After all, if there was one feeling he was familiar with, it was pain, both physical and emotional.
Cuddy’s eyes were turning red and she started to sob, covering her mouth with her left hand in an attempt to hold herself together. Professor Sumner tilted his head and brought his large hand to her face, stroking away the few tears that had fallen on her cheek. She looked up at him and reached for his hand; her expression seemed to mirror his. House could read her lips uttering a frail “I’m sorry” and guessing from the weak smile she was returning, he was trying to ease her pain. The news wasn’t good, House imagined. But he didn’t have long to speculate before he saw their bodies draw closer to share a peck on the lips, which lead them into a lingering hug.
House’s cane-free hand turned into a fist. He then retracted to the back of the clinic hall where he observed them getting to their feet and heading for the door. The odd pair said their goodbyes and Cuddy held onto the clinic door for an instant watching him pass the hospital main entrance to leave. Her head fell a bit. She looked beat, and he heard an indescribable noise coming from her. She was crushed. She must have decided against going back to the party, preferring to be alone in the quiet comfort of her office.
House broke the silence, making his presence known from the dim lit reception area.
“So what’s the deal with hands-on teacher? You look like a cheerleader crushing on the quarterback around him.” A startled Cuddy made her way back inside her office. He followed her.
Cuddy waited until she was seated at her desk to respond. She was either still flustered by the conversation, or blushing from his implication, but she stated boldly: “That actually sounds about right. Well, except you’d need to replace cheerleader with straight-A student…oh and quarterback by hotshot, handsome professor of endocrinology slash publicized specialist slash founder of the Sumner grant slash ….”
“OK, OK, I got the message. Funny, I always pictured little Lisa Cuddy falling for the biggest jerk on campus, never took her for the hot-for-teacher type.” House told her with a knowing subtle smirk, his eyes boring into hers, deliberately flirting to test her.
“You’ve always been the most brilliant jerk on campus or elsewhere, but it seems you haven’t read all the pages of my book.” Cuddy retorted a bit amused and daring; she was quite pleased with what she was implying. “It’s sweet I can still surprise you. It almost makes you look endearing and less offensive.” She smiled shyly before toning down her optimism. “That is if I didn’t know better.”
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
“He’s sick.” There was no point in lying. She knew he would eventually find out and she was not interested in turning this particular matter into one of his games. Cuddy grabbed the file he’d left her, to list a few of his symptoms. House was tilting his head left and right showing his disinterest. When she stopped, he raised his eyebrows for potential juicier details. “He wanted to see me one last time while he was still feeling strong enough to travel.”
“Strong enough to schtup you one last time sounds more like it!” House said salaciously. Cuddy looked appalled, yet amused. He continued. “That’s too bad. You think I should inform him you don’t make house calls for the Make-a-Wish-Foundation? Trust me; I learned that the hard way.” Cuddy’s jaw dropped and he could see how troubled she was by the whole situation and how she hesitated to respond to his derision. When she didn’t, House knew she was more affected by the recent news than she’d let on. This was when, out of nowhere, before his brain even registered what he was suggesting, before he was even aware of something that bothered him in the medical history he had just heard, he offered to take a look at the case.
“First of all, there’ll be no ‘schtupping’ involved, only a goodbye dinner. Second, why would you even want in on this? Third, the diagnosis is pretty clear and I have a bad feeling about this. You’re up to something.” House’s face immediately displayed a ‘duh’ expression.
“That’s me: genius handsome doc by day, Machiavellian spy by night.” Cuddy rolled her eyes. “I didn’t stick around long enough to get the dirt on college Cuddy. You think I’d let the occasion pass me by?” He quipped, hiding his real motivations with a devilish smirk and sparkling eyes. Cuddy was nervous and torn, but whatever he was going to find out, she knew he wouldn’t stumble into anything embarrassing enough to use as leverage against her. Right? She wanted to give Tom another shot. Maybe House could work up his magic and bide him more time. She’d have to convince him though, as he wanted no more treatment. She intended to sway over dinner.
“Alright House, you’ll have a new patient by tomorrow evening.” She declared coming around her desk to get closer to him. He knew he was in for the ‘Not To Do’ check list. “I know you have your ways but please…”
“I know!” He didn’t let her finish. He clearly knew this was no ordinary patient to her. The earnest look in her eyes was telling him so.
She reached out to the side of his arm, pressing right over his elbow as he looked at her move. He was always surprised to find himself in contact with her, unable to let himself fully appreciate her touch.
“Thank you for doing this House, it means a lot. I really value your opinion and your help.” He nodded and sensed a shift in her. She was back in charge. “Now I have to go back out there and try my best to make it seem like I’m having good time for the rest of the evening. Otherwise we won’t get replacements when you break the hospital toys.”
He gave her a false pout and she smiled weakly at him, a smile he returned in a diluted, yet genuine way.
His next mission was to figure out if he could actually save the guy and possibly hopefully some sort of progress with Cuddy.
-----
House was visiting a patient, not just any patient, but Cuddy’s ‘friend’. Never mind the team giving him the third degree about why he wanted to be the one performing the few tests, never mind Wilson going all House on his ass until he’d figured who was his patient and why he had taken such and interest in this case, House was looking at the bigger picture. What he needed to do was to get close to the man and squeeze out any information about Cuddy he could possibly get from him.
What surprised him the most was how Thomas Sumner seemed unbothered by his questions. It was as if he didn’t know anything he said would be held against Cuddy, or he had a feeling House wouldn’t cross a certain line. Or, maybe even more disturbing for House, the man was proud to talk about his ‘Lize’ because he knew her enough to be certain she could take care of herself and deal with whatever came her way. He wasn’t protective or too careful, which indicated that he knew she would hate to be smothered or looked upon as weak. This meant the man knew Cuddy, and he knew her very well. House envied this. Despite his own knowledge of his boss, the many facts and figures that were documented in his mental folder after years of observations, the deductions were not from an intimate and unguarded relationship with her. Sumner had firsthand knowledge, and House wanted to be a part of Cuddy’s circle on this level. Except that was already the case, on some level. Unfortunately, his stubborn pride and fear of getting hurt were blinding him and preventing him from getting quite where he wanted with her.
Tom had been in observation at PPTH for over a week and he’d gotten almost used to the daily visit from his new doctor. Cuddy had spotted them together a couple of times. She would usually go up to his room to check on him when she’d get a break. She was sporting a wary look on her face that would disappear the moment she’d enter his room and he’d smiled warmly at her. By the end of the week, she spotted House lingering outside his room spying on them having lunch.
She exited his room when they were done as she needed to go back to work; she didn’t even pretend she had not spotted House.
“Stop nagging him House and stop snooping around for information. Just stop harassing the poor man! Do your job or don’t, but don’t come up with unnecessary tests to create opportunities to follow your already wrong motives.” House pretended to be offended. “And you have other cases too. They’re piling up on your desk. You need to take care of it all.” Cuddy looked back at Tom and said unconvincingly, “Be good boys, don’t do or say anything I wouldn’t.” And she turned to House, somewhat wavering, before she turned to walk towards the elevator. “He’s all yours!”
“She was a bold kitten back in the day. It’s now been replaced by a bossy lioness, I see,” Tom said proudly and kindly. “Yet, for an educated eye, it’s impossible to miss the ever-present fiery free-spirit. Or those legs of hers!” Tom noted adoringly. He glanced at House and said jokingly. “Poor Doctor House, you never stood a chance.”
House faked offense and offered his opinion while screening his chart for any changes from the previous night. “She’s a nightmarish, big-assed bureaucratic wench!”
Tom was chuckling.
“I didn’t think a man on his death bed would find anything to laugh about,” poked House.
“As much as you don’t want to believe this, I’ve made my peace with dying.” House started to pay attention. “I’ve had a long and full life. I’ve made a few mistakes. I’ve known love and passion, I’ve had two beautiful and wonderful kids who are doing quite fine, and my professional achievements speak for themselves. I’m done! Most people can’t boast for half of this.” House looked down knowingly. “What we’re doing here is simply me granting Lisa a little more time to accept the reality. Let’s not kid ourselves. We both know, no matter how much of an immense brilliant genius you are, you can’t cure me.”
“First, I really am that massive…in every possible way. Second, why would Cuddy need time to adjust to the bad news to begin with? And last, why would you even come to her to take your last breath?”
“You really don’t get it do you?” House was startled. “For a smartass you’re a little slow.” Tom taunted mildly. “How long have you been working for her? A little over a decade, correct?” House nodded. “See this is what I’m talking about: you’re slow. And you shouldn’t be.”
“You’re becoming incoherent. I’m starting to think you might need a psych consult and believe me, I’m not big on faith healers.” House saw Tom retreat. “I gathered quite quickly that you two did the nasty way back when, though I didn’t think Cuddy had it in her but…”
“I’m here because of her, because Lisa was the best thing that happened to me. And I think we both know there’s way more to her than meet the eyes. She’s got it all and then some.”
“Oh yeah! Cuddy’s a real fireball. No wait! That was college Cuddy. Administrator Cuddy is a teasing icicle.” Tom gave him a cut the crap look.
“You can deflect all you want, but the very fact we’re here talking about her makes my point.” House stared back as if he’d been caught with both hands in the cookie jar. “This wasn’t just about a middle aged professor having a mid life crisis and screwing his student. She was the most complicated, maddening, obstinate, intelligent and gorgeous little lady I had ever met. To this day, it’s still incomprehensible to me how I managed to hold her off for so long before I caved. Or how I could have ever let her go.”
“Oh come on! What a load of crap! Just admit you had the hots for her. You hung in there so when you’d actually got the chance you wouldn’t feel too guilty for cheating on your wife and breaking your family.”
“This is where you’re wrong,” Sumner said. “There was no family to break. My wife and I had been separated for almost five years, we lived apart - she lived with her new partner who she actually left me for - and although it took a while for the kids to adjust, things were working. What Lisa and I shared was what allowed me to move on.”
“How did she play you?” Tom was smirking. As much as House hated it, Tom had him. He had him because he’d been able to have his shot with Cuddy, whereas House couldn’t after their first night together. House wanted to know everything.
“She managed to be my PA even though she was never supposed to be taking my class. Some students would skip class, haze others and drink themselves to oblivion for sport. Apparently she made it her mission to audit every possible class she could before she was even a real med student. She had some weird vices she had that one,” he recalled, gazing afar while grinning. “I found out too late to do a damn thing about it. She was in deep on all my projects and research. Plus, by then, I don’t think I wanted her to go away.”
“Still, you didn’t have to sleep with her.” Even House couldn’t buy his own bullshit. Of course he’d sleep with her.
“Believe me, I tried to resist. But she knew I was particularly attracted to her. She would seize any occasion to take advantage of me and prove to me that any resistance was futile. I would eventually cave; she was so certain of it, even when I was set in my position. I can still recall her smug face and laugh when I would deny her what she wanted. It actually spurred her on to come at me stronger…For six months! That’s more than two hundred days I held my stance and didn’t budge. It was torture!”
“Yeah I’m sure you were in agony that you eventually got into her pants. Gimme a break!”
“You don’t know what it’s like, how she can be. She’d cancel workshops at the last minute, driving me crazy because she supposedly had a frat party and ‘it was going to be wild’, she’d show up in my classroom on the arm of the worst male student-he was a complete tool- just to piss me off and worry me into thinking she was destroying herself. She’d jog by my place every Sunday to make sure I’d get a reminder of what I was missing out on; she’d argue about medicine with me, challenge my work, and correct me in the middle of my courses…”
“What a bitch! She has not changed a bit!” House said sarcastically, mocking Tom and yet secretly pleased and proud to hear more about this conniving Cuddy. “What was the actual deal breaker…or doer? Get it? Do-her?” House gave an exaggerated wink, hiding behind jokes.
“You’re an ass.”
“Tell me something she doesn’t know.”
Tom was silent for a moment too long for House. He shook his head, raising an eyebrow, indicating he was waiting for the rest of the story.
“One evening before finals, it was summer time - I’ll never forget, it was the warmest night of the year - she showed up in my office at the university with a look of resolve I’d never seen. It was late and we were alone. It was suddenly very hot. I was sitting on my couch reviewing mock finals when she came close to me and…she took off her coat.”
“Annndddd?”
“She was sporting the sexiest attire I’d ever seen: a schoolgirl outfit.” House’s jaw dropped. And she wore the cutest curly ponytails…No mercy!”
House was studying him, incredulous and aroused. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
“I don’t even wish I were kidding. I’m telling you, she was the most precious and vicious thing I’d ever laid my eyes on.”
“Annnndddd?”
“And, I think you can pretty much figure out what happened next,” he said. “It lasted the rest of the school year.”
Oh boy, this was going to give House fantasies for life, in addition to the hot releasing showers and desks reveries he currently enjoyed.
“What happened?”
“She ended things shortly after starting school in the fall. She became distant around the time I told her I was going to get a divorce. The minute I said I wanted something real with her, she bailed. She explained how she didn’t want to be the reason for my family implosion. To this day, I wonder if she was sincere or using it as an excuse. I wonder what I could have done to keep her. I don’t think I ever got over her.”
House was pensive. He was thinking about how he had her once. It felt like a lifetime ago, and that one night of passion after months of friendly foreplay had gone by way too fast. As intense as it had been, they had not appreciated each other enough during the time they shared, probably because they couldn’t get enough of each other in that one night and they thought they’d get more chances. Their relationship was cut short by an administrative decision surrounding his future before they ever had the opportunity to evaluate their options.
Of course he would never openly admit any of it. Hell, he was barely acknowledging it to himself.
As if to put an end to his reverie, Tom drew House’s attention back to him. “Hey, I’m not telling you this so you can sulk.” House looked confused. “You’re a stubborn jackass! But I’ve seen you two. What the hell are you waiting for? Wasting all this time, this potential? I’m a dead man, but you’re alive, and for whatever reason you seem to be the one Lisa Cuddy wants to play doctor with. So what’s it going to take?”
“Actually I think a nurse outfit would suit her even better.”
“You do realize that your deflection enhances my point, right?” Tom said.
House left.
-----
“So when should I expect the naked visits to start in my office?”
“What?” Cuddy paused a second before comprehending the meaning behind his words. “He told you?” She looked mortified. “Willingly?”
“Hi, Greg House! What did you expect?”
“How did you do it this time? You explained that sexual stimulation makes you a better doctor somehow?” House grinned.
“The trick might not have worked had he been suffering from something completely unrelated to nephrology, which conveniently happens to be one of my specialties. I convinced him I needed to know everything about his sexual history to treat him.” House made up the context for his conversation with Sumner, unwilling to reveal his game.
She covered her face with her hand, sinking in her office chair.
“Oh don’t get shy now Cuddy, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Especially not after what happened in my shower after that talk, believe me.” He winked at her. “It brought in a whole new wave of voluptuous young Cuddys - yes, plural - to sex things up for me.” She looked appalled, and yet he could detect a tiny grin that told him she felt flattered he’d so openly confessed his fantasies about her for once. Her embarrassment was fake modesty. “Oh come on Cuddy, as if you’ve never used the old memories of us for yourself as well.”
“You’re an ass.”
“Perhaps, but I happen to be quite certain you’ve never regretted that night, not even once over the past twenty years.” He lowered himself towards her, palms on her desk. They gazed at each other intensely. “Even when I drive you crazy, you actually think about it more.” Her lack of reply gave her away. She composed herself and raised herself with her elbows.
“I seem to recall the dude known around campus as the 15-minutes-no-sleep-overs-man -including foreplay and shower- spending a lengthy night making sure the memories would stick.” He stopped grinning smugly, admitting defeat at the evidence she provided that their time together back then was much more than a random one night stand for him too.
They exchanged a look of longing. Yet neither could bring themselves to make a step, say a word more and cross that line they’d been dancing around for years.
Cuddy was the first to deflect. “How is he doing?”
“You know perfectly well.”
House wasn’t going to pretend that he didn’t know what she was doing, why she had appointed him this non existent case, why she was allowing her personal feelings to take over her medical judgment.
By the look on her face, he knew he’d upset her by pointing out her irrationality. But he couldn’t help himself. He couldn’t stand false pretenses. He was the one who would bluntly make her face the truth about herself, whether she liked it or not. This was enough to temper their frisky give-and-take.
“I have a meeting with a donor shortly. I wouldn’t want to bore you with that. See you Monday.” She dismissed him quickly. House’s shoulder slumped. He’d come into her office in a bantering mood ready for some of their usual fun and he was now leaving certain to have unintentionally killed two birds with one stone. Her optimistic disposition for the weekend was certainly a goner and he was quite confident she would not be able to stop herself from reflecting on their own college history. Also, in a way, he’d force her to take a look at the reality of the situation: Tom was not going to recover and she’d better prepare herself for this outcome.
He left her office.
PART 2/2