Autrhor's note: This is one of the chapters I edited.

***Edited***

The soft jazz music played incessantly while House and Wilson shared a brandy by the bar, away from all of the "straights". The lights were festive and the ballroom had been ruffled and bowed in gold and blue. Both doctors look dapper in their black tuxes, even though House had clearly decided that his five o'clock shadow was considered formal enough for a Hospital charity event. His hair hadn't exactly been combed either, but people from the hospital already knew what an ass he was and were going to avoid him anyway, so why look too nice, he thought. He had to admit, the dinner was delicious and the Artisan brandy was hitting the spot. He'd be sure to complain to Cuddy about how bored he'd been and how awful everything was anyway though. Couldn't give away that he enjoyed himself even a little bit.

Speaking of Cuddy…House glanced over to where he had last seen her, schmoozing with the donors and found that she had moved. At the bar across the way, House spotted her in her red dress splendor. As usual, Cuddy's confidence showed through in her chosen wardrobe. It clung tightly to her curvy frame and there was plenty of cleavage. A smile tugged at the corner of House's mouth, but disappeared when he noticed that that confidence had earned her the attentions of a handsome man who seemed to be flirting with her. A second look at the man's body language and House wasn't so sure he was flirting. His blue eyes narrowed. Judging by Cuddy's body, though, she hadn't noticed what House did, yet. She was clearly relaxed and smiling.

"Who's this clown?" House wanted to ask, but kept silent knowing that Wilson would merely deduce that he was jealous. He looked for another way to bring him up when Wilson saved him the trouble.

"Looks like Cuddy has an admirer." He said, clearly trying to make House jealous.

"Are you kidding? He hates her." House grumbled, "He's rubbing his chin, standing like he wants to lean away but has a reason to be closer, his arms are crossed, and that's the third time he's shifted his weight since you mentioned him."

Wilson took a closer look, and gave a 'Huh', as I he realized what House had said was accurate but then said, "Either that or you so desperately want him to hate her so that you can hide your burning jealousy. They're both laughing," Wilson pointed out, "Why would he be over there if he hated her?"

"That's the question, isn't it?"

Wilson just rolled his eyes, "You're trying to cover up your jealousy and I'm not falling for it. You're going to sit around ignoring your girlfriend at a social event and then wonder why she flirts with the handsome stranger."

House gave him a sidelong glance, "That's not a handsome stranger and she is not in to him. She likes to tease me from afar, makes the sex more interesting."

"I wish you'd keep that stuff to yourself."Wilson sighed, "But you should ask her to dance, she was clearly hinting about it at dinner."

"If I play hard to get-"

Wilson cut him off, "Stop changing the subject and ask her to dance before that guy does."

Across from the bickering men, Elliot Haydon leaned close to Lisa Cuddy after they shared a laugh, "I'm sorry, I'm not much of a gentlemen, here I am yammering away and I don't even know your name."

"Lisa," Cuddy said, with a smile.

"Elliot Haydon," He said in return, "You work at the hospital?" He wanted to know.

"Yeah," Cuddy said, but before she could tell him what she did, he spoke again.

"As a nurse."

"No, I'm a doctor." She told him, slightly taken off course by his assumption. Nurses were rarely found at charity events and even only the department heads were invited.

"A doctor?" He seemed surprised.

"With an M.D. at the end of my name and everything," She said, attempting to make the awkwardness into a joke.

"What kind?"

"I'm an endocrinologist, but I spend most of my time at a desk these days."

"You're a secretary?"

Once again, finding his questions odd, she took a sip of her wine, "Uh, no, I'm the Dean of Medicine." She told him, putting a twinge of pride behind the statement.

For a moment, she thought she saw his eyes flash coldly, but if they did, he recovered almost immediately, "That's incredible."

That's better, she thought but then reconsidered. 'Incredible' wasn't necessarily positive.

"How long have you been at it?"

"Feels like a lifetime," she said, suddenly unwilling to open up any further.

"Who was your predecessor?"

Another sip of wine and a scan of the room, perhaps looking for an excuse to have to leave the conversation, "Dr. Phillip Janson, he retired."

"Ah, I'll bet there were a lot of applications for such a position."

"I'm sure there were." Cuddy answered, carefully.

"Probably only a handful of women."

"Not a big surprise that there weren't many." She said.

"I don't think so either. Probably a lot of men applying though."

Cuddy was getting uncomfortable, "I mean, it's tough to get a position like Dean of Medicine if you're a woman." She said, testing the waters and now actively looking for excuses to walk away without being rude.

"Hmm," Was all Elliot said in return.

There was an awkward silence but before Cuddy took her leave, Elliot spoke again, "Lisa PHD, M.D. Dean of Medicine, you're rather impressive. A female Dean of Medicine, taking jobs away from men."

Cuddy scoffed, "I don't know about that." She said, feeling her hackles raising.

"Apologies, I'm only teasing you."

More wine.

"Allow me to make it up to you with dinner tomorrow night?" Elliot offered, his voice softening.

"Oh, I'm afraid this event will make my regular workload triple. It's great for the hospital, but it's a mess of paperwork. I'll only have time for microwave soup if I'm lucky." Then, before he could say another word or suggest that they exchange numbers or something like that, she excused herself, "It's been great to meet you. I do have to show my face to a few more donors, have a good evening."

***Edited***

With that, she was gone, with Elliot looking after her. House glanced at Wilson, "Even you had to notice her body language. That conversation went sour." House observed.

Wilson tilted his head, this time sincerely agreeing with House, "You aren't curious as to why?"

"Indeed I am." House started toward the Dean without a warning to Wilson who had to follow quickly behind to catch up with House's head start.

They intercepted her before she reached the group of donors which was fine since she had actually already spoken to them that evening, "Cuddy, did you take up that escort job again, I thought we talked about this."

Cuddy pursed her lips and lifted an eyebrow and Wilson jumped in before House could say anything else really insulting, "Who was that guy?"

"Not sure, his name is Elliot, but I didn't stay long enough to find out much else." She told him.

"Not enjoyable company, eh?"

"Or is he a bad tipper?" House interjected.

"He was trying to wake the feminist dragon, but I kept her at bay. I may make an exception for you though," She directed the last statement at House.

"How so?" Wilson asked, ignoring House and Cuddy's banter.

"Assumed I wasn't a doctor and implied that having this position stole the job from a potential male Dean."

"Ah yes, misogyny is always a scream at parties." House quipped.

"Made me wanna scream." Cuddy said.

House stopped listening as Cuddy and Wilson continued talking. He was focused on Elliot, who was still staring at Cuddy, who was still staring at Cuddy with a steely gaze.