It was 8:12 in the morning. Dr. Lisa Cuddy sat on the end of her bed, buckling the strap of her heels when a hand grabbed at her arm, pulling her down. A smile formed on her face as she was forced onto the bed on her back, "I have to go." She objected.
Dr. Gregory House pushed his naked torso up off the bed, getting into a better position as his girlfriend now lay on her back protesting. He kissed her opposition away and she adjusted, facing him more fully and rolling her body toward him. The kiss deepened and his hands began to wander. Their breath began to grow shallow. House's fingers brushed the hem of her pencil skirt before slipping beneath.
"House." Cuddy said, breathlessly between kisses, "I have to go."
"With the charity event tonight, it'll be quite some time before we're both naked in the same room again." House reminded her.
"Patience is a virtue." Cuddy reminded him, starting to get up.
"Teasing is a vice."
"I wasn't teasing you." She said, haughtily.
"Like you don't know what happens when you bend over conveniently in front of me."He gestured to her low cut purple blouse.
She smiled knowingly and he pulled her back down. This time, she didn't resist and kissed him. He began unbuttoning her blazer and things moved very quickly from that point on. In a few moments, she was undressed again, haphazardly. Her skirt was pushed up around her waist and her shoes remained on and she found herself wrapping her legs around House.
When it was over, they lay for a moment panting.
"At least if you're going to be late, you're going to be satisfied." House remarked.
Cuddy gave him a feigned scolding look before getting up and putting herself back together again. It was nearly nine by the time she finally drove off and House was just beginning to pull himself out of bed.
Passing the lobby and clinic, House gave Cuddy a small smile when her eyes came up to meet his. Her features seemed to relax from their strained appearance due to whatever stress was ailing her at the clinic desk station and, once again, House had to face the fact that he might just be happy and that he was possibly making someone else happy.
In his office, his team consisting of Chase, Taub, Masters, and Foreman were looking over various files in an attempt to find a new patient. They had most recently diagnosed a man who crucified himself every year for a deal with God. In the end, House had to lie to the man in order to get him to consent to treatment. All in all, not a failed case, but certainly not one that went in the annals of wild success stories. At least House thought so since the idiot still went away skipping in the clouds with an imaginary friend.
The diagnostic dance began and his team began to throw choices at him.
Wilson had just finished lunch and carried a small bottle of milk in his fist as he walked toward the main doors to get something out of his car. On his way past, he caught sight of Cuddy just outside the foyer talking heatedly to a man that Wilson didn't recognize. His face was pure anger while hers was guarded. Wilson tried not to stare as he passed.
Both stopped their conversation and Cuddy gave Wilson a tentative smile. Her arms were crossed and she shifted her weight uncomfortably. He heard the urgent voices start again as when he was out of earshot. He stole glances as much as he could while at his vehicle and his eyes narrowed when the man's hand gestures became more jerky and wide. Wilson watched Cuddy straighten and knew the man had gone too far in whatever he said. He was about to get it.
By the time Wilson was near enough to hear again, Cuddy had finished and the man stormed off in a huff. He lifted an eyebrow at her. She was clearly upset as he approached and he gave her a sympathetic smile.
"Everything alright?"
Cuddy gave a tired sigh, "I would appreciate it if you kept what you saw to yourself, but what are the odds of that?"
Wilson gave her a sidelong glance, "Pretty good. Telling House would only put him in a tizzy of curiosity so that he'd go to any length to satisfy it. Could be fun but I'm trying to keep him from screwing this up, not give him an obsession that guarantees that he screws it up."
"Thank you." She said sincerely.
"My own curiosity, however is far from satisfied," Wilson answered.
"He's an old friend."
"With friends like that…" Wilson began.
"A former friend." Cuddy amended.
"You sure everything is alright?"
"Yes, he won't be back." She assured him, even though Wilson didn't feel all that assured.
Could he really go through the rest of the day and the charity event, with his own curiosity burning, and not tell House?