They were on their way to Mayfield. Wilson was driving and Cuddy was sitting next to him. She was staring out of the window but she wasn't looking at the landscape, she was gazing into space. She was thinking. About him.

She was excited. She hasn't seen him for 2 months. She hasn't heard his voice because he didn't even called her. He called Wilson a few times but not her. That's why she was afraid to come here. She's thought it was clear enough. He didn't want to see her. But finally Wilson managed to convince her. He told her that everything will be okay. He said House couldn't make the first step that's why Cuddy had to. She has to be the braver one. And so... she was here.

She was so absorved in her thought that she didn't notice when Wilson stopped the car.

'Cuddy?' he asked silently.

She was so still during the whole trip. He knew that she was somewhere else and didn't want to frighten her. He was waiting a few second but he didn't get any answer so he tried again this time a bit louder.

'Cuddy?'

That gave her a start when she heard his voice.

'Hmm?' she asked and turned her head in the direction of the voice.

'Cuddy, we have to go inside.'

'No.' She said simply and quietly. She looked him in the eyes. She seemed to be lost.

'What do you mean NO?'

'I mean I haven't. You have to. I'll stay in the car. He is waiting for YOU.' Her voice stayed calm but he could feel the pain in it.

'No, he is waiting for both of us.' Cuddy averted her gaze from him and stared at the building.

'Oh, come on! He doesn't even know that I'm here.' she said with a bit hurt in her voice.

'Okay, it's true but he will be happy to see you.'

'Happy? Are we talking about the same person?'

'Well... maybe not in the customary way but yes. I think he will.'

Cuddy didn't answer so he was waiting a bit then he continued:

'Somewhere deep inside he want you to be here. He is just ashamed of himself because of what he did... because of his announcement on the balcony of the lobby.'

Cuddy turned her gaze back to Wilson.

'He shouldn't.' she began barely audibly. 'I was an idiot. I was frustrated and I overreacted what he did. If I haven't taken it so seriously... If I've handled this situation as the other ones earlier, everybody would has believed that he was just jerking around me again like he always did...' she said then lowered her head.

'Lisa, stop blaming yourself! If you hadn't overreacted his action, who knows when it would has turned out that he needed help.'

She didn't react so he continued.

'Cuddy... it was necessary because he finally admitted that he had to give up taking Vicodin. You know as well that it's a big step from him.'

There was a little break then Cuddy turned her face back to Wilson and she broke into a light smile. 'Thank you.'

He smiled back at her.

'Shall we go inside now?'

She nodded. They stepped out of the car and departed towards the building.


It was Wilson's Wednesday. He visited House once every second week.

He was sitting in his room and waiting for the nurse who comes to say he has a visitor. These occacions were the highlight of his life since he was in Mayfield. Earlier he thought that the mentally handicapped people were very interesting because their mind was functioning so differently. And he likes people who differ from the normal. But since he was here he didn't find them so good company anymore.


Wilson was sitting in an armchair in the visitors room and Cuddy was walking up and down. She was still nervous. Her high heels made an annoying noise on the floor. Knock-knock-knock-knock...

Wilson rubbed his temple. 'Can you stop, please?'

'Sorry.' She said then went to the window. She looked out at the garden.

'This place is so bleak and cold. It's terrible.'

'Cuddy, it's a mental hospital not a doll party. Maybe it's the part of the therapy. Don't you think?'

'Maybe. But it's still scary. If you aren't crazy when you come here, you will...'

She didn't finish the sentence because she heard that the door opened. They both turned their gaze in the direction of it. The tall nurse stepped in first followed by House. When he saw Cuddy who was standing at the window he frozed. He couldn't move. As if he was hipnotized by her view. He just stared at her.

Cuddy plucked up her courage and took one step towards him.

'Hi' she said and gave him a diffident smile.

He didn't answer. There was perfect silent in the room.

Cuddy didn't know what to do. She turned her face to Wilson and asked him with her eyes to help her out of this awkward situation.

House followed her gaze and that was the moment when he realised that Wilson was there too. He looked at his friend's face for a few seconds then without a word House suddenly turned around and left the room.

Wilson looked at Cuddy and he could see the pain and desperation in her eyes. He felt guilt and he was angry with House at the same time.


His heart was beating fast in his chest.

Why is she here? Why did Wilson bring her with?

He wasn't ready to meet her. Not yet.

Wilson was right House felt ashamed of himself. But not because of his behavior.
He didn't want her to see him like this.

Everybody thinks that he isn't interested in other's opinion but the true is that he is. Not everybody's of course but there are two people he cares about what they think about him.
He was afraid that when Cuddy notices these crazy people here, she realizes this is rather a loony bin than a rehabilitation center. He thought she would take him for a fool.

But she was here. She has seen everything that House wanted to hide from her.
She was here. And damn, she was beautiful like always. And she smiled. It was a barely noticable smile but it was there. He missed this smile so much... and her sparkling grey-blue eyes... and her voice... Damn, he missed her so much.

He didn't imagine their first meeting like that. He screwed it up. He hurted her. Again.

And he hated himself for this. He has seen the worry in her eyes. He was afraid of that. She felt sorry for him. And he couldn't stand that look... He couldn't help he had to run away.


She was troubled but she didn't cry. Wilson didn't know what to say her to comfort her.

They were sitting silently in the car for about ten minutes when Wilson's cell phone started to ring. He looked at the screen. The caller ID was totally unknown for him. He didn't want to talk to anybody, he wasn't in that mood but he thought it was maybe one of his patients so he decided to pick up.

'Dr. James Wilson.'

'It's me.' he heard his best friend's voice.

'How could you...' Wilson started but he interrupted him.

'How is she?'

'You are an a$$.'

'Just like you. I told you I didn't want to meet her!' He sounded to be really mad. Rather at himself than at him but Wilson couldn't know that. Finally he took a deep breath to calm down and continued.

'You shouldn't have brought her here.' Now Wilson could hear the guilt in his voice.

There was silent for a few seconds, followed by another deep breath.

'I just... just tell her I'm sorry.' he said before hung up the phone.