The Better Words

By Lomeinie

Rating: PG

Spoilers: The Softer Side

Summary: This is how Cuddy should have answered House's question.

Disclaimer: Me don't own and me has made no money off this. Sue me not please!

A/N 1: Any recognizable dialog in this story was taken straight from House Season 5 episode "The Softer Side" as written by Liz Friedman. A/N 2: This story is unbetaed.

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Cuddy entered House's office to find him sitting behind his desk, lost in his thoughts, and looking as he often looked when he was usually trying to solve one of his cherished puzzles. She stopped beside his desk and when House didn't move to acknowledge her, she wondered if he knew she had come in. He could be that lost in his thoughts to have not noticed she knew, but she spoke anyway. "Starting tomorrow you'll come to my office for your fix."

House still didn't look at her when he spoke, and his voice sounded so defeated. "I'm done with the methadone. I screwed up."

"The kid's parents wanted that MRI," Cuddy pointed out.

"I knew he didn't need it. I did it anyway. That's what got him sick." House finally looked in Cuddy's direction a little

She walked a little further around his office and stopped."You just solved a case that no one else could solve."

Finally getting up House said, "I created a case. I played nice because I was in a good mood, because I didn't hurt."

"You don't need your pain to be a good doctor," Cuddy replied.

"I'm not interested in good," House retorted.

An accusation left Cuddy's mouth before she could stop it. "You're afraid to be happy!"

House watched her closely asking, "Why do you care if I'm happy?"

Cuddy broke eye contact with him, looking down for a second but was looking at him when she said, "I care because. . . because I consider you to be a friend. I care because I can't stand to see if you pain." Then as she watched his eyes went from looking utterly defeated to that of what she had later realized was angered hurt but for that moment she took it as him going on the offensive.

House's tone was a harsh mocking, scathing tone as he said, "You consider me to be a friend and you can't stand to see me in pain. What a load of complete crap when for years you've ignored or have been the cause of it by your indifference to my pain."

Cuddy's eyes soften with sadness, "I can't change what I did or didn't do about your pain in the past, House. However, you've found something that takes away your pain here and now - if you don't have to be in pain now, not with the methadone." She emphasis her point by offering him the dose again. "Please take it."

House took it from her, and promptly dropped it in his trash can. He grabbed his cane from nearby, and with one last look at her he said, "For better or worse, this is the me you get." He then limped out of his office, leaving her in the dark before she could say another word.

-- end

A/N 3: When I started writing this it was with every intention of making this a little LESS depressing and sadly I did not succeed.