Disclaimer: Characters belong to Fox and David Shore

A/N: This is my second Huddy story and it is set around Halloween time in season 6. As I start, 6x05 has just aired so I am basing the story on what we know till that point. I will probably end up bumping the rating to "M" when we get to those scenes. Please review and tell me what you think.

Title: Haunted Huddy

Chapter 1: The Cuddy Situation

House was sitting in the DDX room waiting for one of his idiot fellows to actually come up with a semi-intelligent diagnosis on their latest patient. He was still waiting to have his license reinstated so he was actually really trying not to be a total ass until he could resume his rightful position as the all powerful and fearless diagnostician of PPTH.

House had already read the folder before the DDX, it was waiting for them on the conference room table. He was finding it a little odd that Cuddy was no longer hand delivery the patients files. This was the third time in a row so there was obviously a reason behind it. While he watched Foreman listing the symptoms on the white board he let his mind ponder the situation a little further. Mostly so he didn't berate Forman for touching his things, he knew he could be such a child like that but, damn it, those were his markers and his white board.

House refocused back to the Cuddy situation. Well there were many reasons for her not to personally delivering the patient's folder. The main reason, probably, was because she didn't have to convince Foreman to take cases the way she did with him. After all, she had complete control over Foreman. Technically she was supposed to have complete control over him but he knew that although she was the boss, he wore the pants in their working relationship.

The other reason that House couldn't get out of his head is that she was probably avoiding him. Actually, the more he thought about it, he had seen very little of Cuddy since his return. Granted, it was now Foreman's responsibility to get her signature on any "risky" procedures but the more he thought about it, the more he realized that she was making herself pretty scarce around him. He needed to get to the bottom of that. He needed to know why.

"The patient had an asthma attack prior to collapsing in a fun house, it's not MS, I think we should treat him for anxiety, monitor him overnight, and send him on his way" Foreman's booming voice snapped House out of his reverie. "He has been struggling with Asthma his whole life, he has never collapsed before, it has to be something degenerative" Cameron said defending her MS diagnosis. "He is 18 years old, I doubt he scared himself sick."

"Fine, Cameron test him for MS then administer anti-anxieties and monitor him overnight in the sleep lab. Check for sleep apnea and monitor his breathing. House, since you can't have any patient contact, can you check out the fun house and see if anything environmental may have triggered the event."

He knew Foreman would never order him to do anything and he thought about refusing him but then an idea hit him so he conceded. He could use this fun house to test his Cuddy avoidance theory. He quickly exited the conference room and headed for the elevators and Cuddy office. Yes, he thought, as a smile slowly emerged on his lips, this was definitely one of his more cleaver plans.

Chapter 1 – Part II

House was crossing into the clinic and pulled out his cell phone to call Wilson. "Wilson, I need a favor."

"Wow, House, I am so honored that you actually thought of me" Wilson sarcastically retorted. Their relationship was built on House needing favors from Wilson and Wilson complying.

"Now dearie, don't get your panties all up in a bunch because I didn't do the dishes last night, I am not asking for one of those kind of favors." House said that part loudly mostly to see if he could get a reaction out of the nurses working in the clinic. It worked. He got a few annoyed yet curious stares.

Wilson had a lot of things on his plate at the moment and tried to get House to get to the point. "What do you need House, I'm busy?"

"Perfect, I need you to stay busy" House responded. "If Cuddy calls you for any reason, mostly to talk about me, or to ask you to meet me somewhere, just explain that you really can't today and that you're sorry"

Wilson was immediately concerned and no longer was interested in rushing House off the phone. "House, what are you going to do?" Wilson asked with a note of caution in his voice

"Come on roomie, if I told you that would spoil half the fun." House flipped closed his phone leaving Wilson speechless and confused on the other end. He then put on his best 'hurt puppy dog' face as he gently knocked on Cuddy's office door.

Cuddy looked up and was shocked to see House there. Wow, he really must have changed if he isn't bursting through my door without knocking. She waved him while keeping her eyes glued to the screen of her computer. She still felt a little awkward since his return. She tried to have a heart-to heart with him a few weeks ago but the cooking class lady sort of freaked her out. Then Wilson dragged her into the toilet clogging scenario when he was convinced House was using again and that just made her feel more awkward around him. The biggest reason, though, was the secret she was keeping from him. Well, the secret she was keeping from House, Wilson, the team, and everyone.

House limped slowly into her office with a very lost look on his face. He didn't say anything right away and instead made his way over to the chair in front of Cuddy's desk. Cuddy looked up and asked "Is everything okay, House". She didn't mean for it to come out so gentle she was actually trying to distance herself from him but he looked so sad and lost that her true concern for him was clear in her voice.

"Well, not so much" House said. "I want to tell you something, well, ask you something actually but I want to know that what we talk about stays within the walls of this office". Oh God, here comes the heart-to-heart, I am not ready for this.

"Of Course, House" Cuddy was able the mutter as she pushed her keyboard under her monitor and sat back in her chair, making eye contact for the first time since he walked into her office.

"Our patient collapsed in a fun house, and Foreman wants me to go check it out for environmental toxins." House began in a slow deliberate voice. He could see the confusion on her face as her head started to tilt to the left and her eyes started to give him that quizzical look that he secretly found so adorable. "The problem is, I am not so comfortable in uncontrolled environments just yet. My mind is still in a really fragile state and spending the afternoon in a place where its sole purpose is to confused the mind between what's real and what's imaginary just makes me a little nervous"

He could see concern wash over his face when he finished. She was about to speak when House continued "I just thought, well, if you not too busy" he paused here for affect "that maybe you would go with me."

Wow, watching her expressions as she processed was really quite remarkable. He watched her face as it transitioned from understanding and sympathy to fear and uncertainty.

"umm" she uttered, stalling of course, but she wasn't really sure what else to say.

Think Cuddy, come up with a good reason. She had no board or donor meetings and just had some clinic hours scheduled in the afternoon. It really wasn't a very good excuse but maybe House would take the bait and understand that she really didn't want to go.

"well, I am supposed to be in the clinic this afternoon, maybe Wilson might be a better choice"

So predictable! House thought. He started to feel the excitement that always came over him when he knew he was on the verge of getting her to succumb to his request. Now he just needed to play the guilt card.

"Well, I know Wilson is really busy today and he has done so much for me already since I got out that I don't want to push my luck and get thrown out of his place."

Wait for it House, wait…and there is was, the look of submission.

"umm, okay, just give me five minutes and I will meet you by my car."

House got up slowly to play even further on her sympathies. He whispered "thanks" and turned toward the door. If only she saw the devilish smile that was plastered on his face as he slowly limped out of her office. Mission accomplished!