House limped slowly down the corridor of Princeton Plainsboro teaching hospital, his cane tapping rhythmically on the polished floor. He bag knocked gently against the back of his legs as he walked, the assortment of unneeded equipment making a soft clicking sound as it rubbed together. He pushed the glass door of his office open, smiling as he clicked the lights on, grabbing himself a cup of coffee from the side as he did so. The room was empty, so he dropped into his chair behind the computer and rested his trainer-clad feet on the desk. He heard his door open and turned his penetrating gaze to the short brunette that had just walked in.
'House? We need to talk.' House took his feet from the desk and surveyed her over the top of his coffee mug.
'We do? Or do you just wanna talk so I can stare?' The woman slapped him, hard. 'Ouch! What was that for?' House shouted at her, rubbing the side of his face vigorously as a red mark blossomed under his palm.
'House! Lucas found out that I slept with you!' House just stared.
'And…? That was over two months ago! And anyway… why did you tell him? I don't see it of gross importance.'
'We were having a bonding session! As in: tell me the stupid things you've done. I won't mind. He minded!' House let out a low chuckle. 'It's not funny. This was us trying to make up after having a fight. Now he hates me!'
'I can see the logic behind that. No Cuddy wait!' He called after her as she made to storm out. He scrambled to his feet and lunged for her arm, his fingertips momentarily brushing her jacket.
'House. If Lucas ditches me, I swear you will be the first person to know.'
'It was hardly all my fault! You were drunk! And why should it matter anyway? If Lucas loves you the way he says he does he won't care!'
'That's the point House! He does care!'
'Then he can't love you as much as he says!' Cuddy glared at him and stalked out, ignoring House's mingled insults and pleas from behind her. House grimaced and dropped into the chair, letting out a strangled groan and resting his head in his hands.
'Damn it.' He muttered, mentally cursing himself for not being more tactful with the woman he harboured a secret, or not so, attraction for.
-----X-----
Cuddy slumped into her chair and sighed vocally, letting it ring out in the still air of her office. Tears trickled as slowly as oil down her face, their final destination the sleeve of her soft red jumper or the hem of her black skirt. She picked up the photo from her desk and slid it from the frame with trembling fingers. Tears dropped onto the glossy surface, beading and sliding down it as she trembled with sobs. She gently flipped her phone open, dialling his number from memory.
'Lucas?' her voice quavered, and she strengthened it, forcing the quaver away.
'Lisa… I told you. It's over between us. You betrayed my trust and I can't forgive you I'm sorry.'
'Lucas please… it was a stupid mistake!'
'Lisa. It's over.' The dial tone sounded, burring in her ear as her vision clouded over again. She coughed once, for the fourth week in a row the cough burned her throat and she reached for a tissue, holding it up to her mouth, wincing as she looked at it, red blemishes on the creamy white expanse. She sat in the chair, her unruly curls hanging lank where she'd pulled them in her distress. She reached for the phone, tempted to phone that ass House, or Lucas, to give it one more try. She decided to do neither. Weighing the phone in one hand, she chucked it as hard as she could towards the door, smashing against the wooden fame and breaking on impact. Wearily, she stood up and walked to the broken phone, kneeling down and sweeping the broken phone into one hand and dispensing it in her bag. She stood slowly, coughing again, the jerking causing tears to leak from her eyes like before. She pushed open her door as a spasm of coughing gripped her, forcing her to double over and clutch her chest. She pulled a tissue from her pocket and held it over her mouth, crying out as she saw the specks of blood on it.
-----X-----
House sat on the sofa, a warm mug of his favourite coffee in his hand. He took a deep breath and inhaled the strong scent, feeling the warmth of it through the thick ceramic of the cup. He took a gulp of it and swallowed, feeling it run all the way down his throat. He was about to settle down when the doorbell rang.
'Coming. Coming!' He shouted, placing the mug on the floor and standing, limping towards the door. He opened it wide and saw Cuddy standing in the hall, her eyes puffy and red-rimmed from crying. 'Cuddy…? What are you doing here?' He asked, caught off guard and worried at how sad she looked.
'You son of a bitch.' She whispered, venom in every word. 'Like you don't know!' tears were welling in her eyes as she spoke, dropping unheeded to the floor. It suddenly hit him.
'Oh Cuddy…' he whispered, reaching out to her as she stood, so small and defeated in front of him.
'You stay away from me. This is your fault!' She sobbed, her head aching and her vision blurring, though not from tears.
'Cuddy…' He reached out a hand and pulled her roughly to his chest. She didn't fight him, but sobbed against his chest, turning his pale grey tee black. She felt a coughing fit coming on and broke away from him, running to the bathroom. 'Cuddy? Are you okay?' He called, but she had already vanished behind closed doors.
-----X-----
Cuddy felt the bile rise in her throat and coughed, bringing up stomach acid and bloodied phlegm. She felt another shudder run through her and retched again, bringing up nothing. She wiped her mouth with a trembling hand, standing on shaky legs. She ran the sink, filling it up with cool water that soothed her aching head and feverish skin. She unplugged it, letting the water rush away and felt a spasm of coughing take hold of her again, forcing her to grip the edge of the porcelain sink tightly to stop herself falling to the floor. She coughed until her throat was raw and the sink was speckled with blood. She could hear House outside and was thankful that she hadn't locked the door.
'Cuddy…? Are you okay?' She couldn't reply, the cough had a hold over her. He heard the knock on the door, but was unable to open it, hoping House would just get the hint already. 'Cuddy? Please answer me! Cuddy?' She hung onto the sink; the room spinning and heard the door click as it opened. 'Cuddy! Is that blood? You need a doctor.' She let go of the sink and crumpled to the ground as she began to seize.
Rawr what did you think? :)