Every Day's a New Day
Welcome peoples! Well here's something new from me, a Cuddy/OC story…shocking I know haha! Well, in light of the recent turn of events on House I felt compelled to go this route. I'm tired of Emo House along with the fact that apparently he's the only person on this earth that can't EVER change even when he's got an amazing woman like Cuddy by his side. To all my Huddy readers…. please understand this is NOT a Huddy fic and I won't be jerking you around like other people *coughs* and although you will see House in this fic from time to time this is strictly Cuddy/OC story. So ….if your still licking your wounds after Monday's ep and not yet ready to move on to a Cuddy/OC fic….please turn back now. However, if you've read the warning label and still wish to continue….come on in! Oh, and reviews are always appreciatedJ
Chapter 1 Day-One
It had been nearly three months since Lisa Cuddy had ended her relationship with House. Three months since her heart had been ripped open so viciously she had nearly collapsed from the unrelenting pain, exhaustion and sorrow coursing through her veins after she and her sister Julia had made it back to her home on that day.
And if that had been all she had to endure, she would have been lucky. But true to form, House knew just where to poke a sharp stick. She had found out about the vicodin popping frenzy…and the hookers. She never thought someone could hurt her so much. Never thought she could become physically ill from the non-physical actions of another person.
She had wanted to die. Wanted to curl up in a ball inside of her bed and never come out. But….she had Rachel to consider and she would not let her daughter down….no matter what. No matter how incredibly heartbroken she was.
It had taken a good week before she was able to return to work at the hospital, more so from the heart wrenching sorrow infecting her body than the kidney biopsy she endured, which of course she had used as an excuse to buy herself a little more time.
But after that initial mourning period, she had put on her heart on a shelf and picked up her strong administrator face instead -determined to pick herself back up.
Of course anyone who really knew her would say she was only delaying an inevitable break down by bottling up the pain, however Lisa Cuddy was in no mood to take advice from anyone at that point and so any concerns would not have been listened to anyway.
She had been strong…so strong during those first few weeks. Stronger than she had ever thought she could be at putting on a brave face around Julia so she would not suddenly turn tail and tell their Mother about what had happened. She had been even stronger for Rachel because the precious little girl deserved nothing but the best from her mother. And then, there was of course House…the man that had caused her an unbelievable amount of pain. Even in her grief she knew she would have to deal with his feelings, his depression, his addiction, opening her door up to Wilson when he came knocking, asking her to help him get House back on his feet when she was barely able to stand.
The first time they were face to face again she had to fight back her tears. Closing off her heart to him and standing her ground because she did deserve more. It was that serious, that solemn, that grim. She had to get over him for good or risk being as miserable as he was for the rest of her life.
Even in her pain she in some strange way she took comfort that House had Wilson…the never wavering friend who was addicted to helping those in need. Taking in his best friend like a on old woman takes in a stray dog in hopes that this time, the animal will lose its taste of the wild things in life that become its undoing.
Sitting behind her desk inside the hospital nearly three months later, Cuddy turned her chair to face the windows behind her, allowing herself to witness the amazing view of the gorgeous summer morning of early July just outside her office.
She had made this a habit now since the breakup with House. Made it apriority to stop and observe all of the beauty surrounding her at least once a day in hopes that it would help to heal the wound inside of her heart. Made a priority to linger in Rachel's radiant smile and the way her daughter's high pitched and bubbly laugh could move through the vast chasms in her soul, brining along with it that incredible ray of light that could not be denied by even the most hardened soul.
It was while the she was gazing out at the sunny day where the birds were serenading each other amongst the trees and shrubs of the hospital's landscape that Cuddy heard a knock on her door before it was violently opened a second later, causing the knob to bang against the wall beside it.
Of course it could only be one person.
"Need a brain biopsy for a patient!" House shouted, limping up to her desk before placing a consent form in front of her.
And so the tedious game of working with an ex lover began once more for Lisa Cuddy.
"Did you ask the family for consent?" She questioned, her eyes leaving his gaze as she reviewed the sheet in front of her.
It was still hard for her to look at him for too long as everything they had lost still came rushing towards her.
"Of course I did. They said no, but we both know family members of our patients are morons. So please sign the damn paper so I can get out of here and do my job." He responded matter-of-factly.
There was still a hint of anger inside of his voice. Controlled and carefully hidden within his sarcasm …..but it was there just the same.
She sighed while reading over the justification Chase had written on the paper. Same old House….same intolerable SOB…happy as a clam to be surrounded by the brick wall he loved to hide behind. He was of course still using vicodin, but had cut back to a level that left him functional enough in his job so she couldn't fire him. Even though she wasn't sure she would fire him after all he had put her through.
"Thinking about skipping out early from work today?" He asked her out of the blue as she grabbed fora pen on her desk and began signing the form.
She looked up at him and said nothing, too weary from their tragic journey to question him.
"I saw you looking out the window before I came in." He explained, pointing his cane towards the three panes of glass.
His mood had turned to that awkward school boy again as he attempted to take a step towards things of a more personal level.
"Here's the form. Go and do your biopsy." She replied flatly as her own wall went up.
His jaw clenched, obviously he didn't like her answer.
"You know sooner or later you're going to have to…." He started to say, leaning on his cane before their conversation was interrupted as the open door to her office was met with another knock.
"Doctor Lisa Cuddy?" A man's voice asked causing both of them to turn in his direction.
The man standing before them was tall, with a lean but muscular build, accented even more by the well tailored suit he was wearing. His dark brown hair had a slight wave to it even though it was cut short and cropped tight to his neck, His eyes were a deep shade of blue, resembling the cool waters of the Atlantic Ocean. His face, ruggedly handsome and currently wearing a warm smile.
Cuddy guessed the man was in his mid forties, his confidence coming through in his smile and the way he carried himself.
"So you've resorted to hiring a gigolo to fufill your sexual needs now that we're through?" House questioned to Cuddy after eyeing up the good looking man.
Cuddy pushed a breath of frustration out through her nose.
"You can go now." She informed House sharply, shoving the paper he had give her back into his hand.
House snatched it from her, giving her a glare. He wanted her back, wanted everything they once had together back. But… once more, she had put up her defenses, making him feel the sting of regret all over again.
"A word of warning buddy…" He then said to the stranger as he turned to face him.
"This one can go for hours so you better bring your gigolo A game." House ended, nodding over to Cuddy before limping past the man and towards the door.
Cuddy felt the chink in her armor over his callous words but moved forward anyway.
"I'm sorry." She quickly apologized to man, getting up from her desk and walking towards him just as House had slammed the door behind them.
"Must be hard having such a close relationship with your mental patients." The man joked back to her in a light hearted manner, seemingly not bothered in the least over House's strange behavior.
His comment made her smile. It had been a long time since she had smiled at work.
"Actually that mental patient is the most brilliant doctor in this hospital." She replied back to him while feeling a strange calmness suddenly come over her.
It was a odd but welcomed emotion none the less. Even though she was not quite sure of the cause of it just now.
The man smiled back at her.
"I've often heard brilliant people can be real jerks. Something about their ego cutting off the blood supply that leads to decency inside of their brains ." He countered as his eyes continued to take in the sight of the very attractive woman standing in front of him.
Listening to him speak, Cuddy could not help but study the man's features. He was incredible handsome, but …there was something more to him, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.
And then, it hit her…the confidence she had seen in the man was also combined with a subtle kind of ease. Making him the kind of person you wanted to be around because of how he made you feel about yourself.
But that was just silly, it was just her over active imagination that had been tried of dealing with sorrow and grief these past few months placing more emphasis on meeting this man than there should have been.
"I…..I'm sorry…I didn't get your name…." She started to say, pushes her thoughts aside.
"You need to stop apologizing." The man replied, his tone softening a bit.
Cuddy took in a breath, the ease at which he was speaking to her coming forth from him once more.
"By the way, I'm Kevin Bennet, I had called you earlier in the week about donating some money to your hospital after the excellent care my sister received here." He prompted to her, while offering his hand for her to shake.
Recognition instantly washed over Cuddy's face.
"Oh yes, I remember." She confirmed reaching out to take his hand in her own.
His palms were slightly rough, but still had a softness to them, making her wonder exactly what the man before her did for a living.
"I hope it's ok that I just stopped by instead of making an appointment. Things are kind of crazy at my company right now so I have to squeeze in time when I can to meet with people." He explained to her.
Cuddy took the opportunity to question him about his line of work.
"So, if you don't mind my asking…what do you doing for a living Mister…." She started to say before he let out a soft laugh, causing her to pause.
"You don't have to call me Mister Bennet, my name's Kevin." He inform her as their hands separated.
"I own a construction company that does work all across the tri state area." He went on to say.
Cuddy furrowed her brow for moment, her mind go over the information he had just told her. Ok, so he was a successful business man, fine…., he did indeed dress and look the part, however his hands had calluses on them which could mean that he still liked to get down into the trenches from time to time when it came to the physical labor aspect of his company.
For whatever reason, she kind of like that idea. So much so that it had unknowingly caused her to smile.
"Got a secret to share?" He asked her with interest, titling his head slightly.
As his words reached her, Cuddy felt the tug on the corners of her mouth and realized she had probably just been grinning at this man like some kind of fool.
"I'm sorry….it's been a crazy day." She replied, waving her hand in front of her as if to shoo her embarrassment away.
"Well at least you can smile about a crazy day instead of murdering you staff." Kevin pointed out to her with a mischievous expression upon his face, his smile drawn lazily across his mouth.
Good-looking and funny, Cuddy thought before immediately chastising herself for thinking such a thing.
He's nice… and…. he made you laugh. So why do you feel so guilty? Her mind challenged back to her.
"Listen Doctor Cuddy, I know I may be asking a lot but I'm kind of pressed for time today and I haven't eaten yet. So, would you mind if we discussed my contribution to your hospital over lunch?" Kevin asked her as his eyes continued to study her face.
There was something about this woman that had taken him completely by surprise. Her beauty as well as her personality and that something in her smile that he could not yet put his finger on, nudging him into asking her to lunch so he could stay within her presence for just a little longer.
His offer stunned Cuddy for a moment. Her lips ready to tell him about how much work she had to do. About how many things needed her attention, but then, as her mouth opened something inside of her took over.
"That's sounds like a great idea." She replied softly, suddenly coming to the realization that spending a few minutes alone with Kevin Bennet inside of her office just now had left her feeling more relaxed and at ease with herself than she had been in a very long time.