Was it jealousy?
I am fine emotion. Nearly no one is immune from me. My targets usually expose their weakness in seconds usually with a glance or a sharp intake of breath. But I remember every face and I never forget a broken heart. Before you think badly of me, just remember I – Jealousy -- do more for spontaneity than a thousand cupids could ever dream to do. Take for example my latest pet project, one Dr. Gregory House.
Dr. House likes to imagine himself immune from emotion but his eyes betray him more than his lips ever could. He can't help himself. I'm present in his life across various shades of intensity. A pale gray for his "ducklings." A soft, shade of charcoal represents his feelings for his good friend, Dr. James Wilson but only in a platonic sort of way. Dr. Wilson is his singular guy friend.
But we've struck the real pay dirt and reached the darkest most intense level of jealousy to be found in Dr. House's psyche when the name of Dr. Lisa Cuddy is mentioned. Funny thing is, House refuses to recognize me but I won't let him get away it for too long.
You see, Dr. Cuddy is in love with Dr. House but no more so than Dr. House is with Dr. Cuddy. He's been in love with her for years and deep down fears she pities him in his present condition. It's his immense sense of pride over his physical defects that cause him to fear her rejection. He's an idiot as Dr. Cuddy has so aptly told him on many occasions.
These two senseless, cowardly lovebirds have tested my patience for too long and I have decided to torture these two into confessing their feelings. It is great fun for everyone around them to speculate on their closeness but few know these two have done little more than share a kiss over the past 20 years. So how will I do it? Lisa Cuddy is a soft soul with a tough will to be taken seriously. Similarly, Gregory House is a fragile soul with an armored exterior fearful of being seen as vulnerable to love. These two idiots need a push. Enter one handsome, tall, 42-year-old attorney named Andre Fournier. Did I mention he has a lovely French accent? Mais oui.
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Andre Fournier waited somewhat impatiently to be announced to Dr. Lisa Cuddy one warm spring morning outside her office. He bore bad news in the form of a lawsuit and was pleasantly disarmed to find himself momentarily speechless at the sight of a petite, svelte brunette with the most elegant face he'd ever seen. Her large pale blue eyes and full mouth garnered his full attention.
Dr. Lisa Cuddy's expression quickly shifted from frown to calm demeanor as she glanced over the lawsuit filing her administrative assistant handed her seconds before Andre Fournier followed her in the larger office.
"Doc-tor Lee-za Cud-dee, ah pray-zoom?" Andre purred.
Cuddy couldn't help herself as she tore her eyes away from the dangerous document and found herself somewhat entranced by the lovely accent of the attorney before her.
"Yes?" She uttered. She extended her left hand in response to his extended left hand, noting no wedding band on his third finger. Andre quickly made the same mental notation of her third finger as he reached for her hand and pulled it to his lips in a soft muzzled kiss. Cuddy found herself surprised as a wave of goosebumps rose on her arms in response to his warm breath and soft lips grazing her hand. Recognizing the lawyer's practiced charm and smooth moves, Cuddy allowed herself to slip into slightly flirtatious mode and blinked slowly before staring into his eyes a little too long.
"What may I do for you?" Cuddy stated in a pleasant tone. Fear was not to be found.
"I am sorry to meet you under such strained conditions, but my client is suing your hospital for surgical errors causing him much pain and discomfort."
"Yes, I see that you have filed your case already," Cuddy murmured.
"I do apologize if this is a surprise to you. Perhaps we could take this discussion to a more relaxed location?" Andre flirted. "Would you care to discuss this matter over dinner tonight?"
Cuddy found herself flustered. "I don't think that would be appropriate at this time."
"I'm sure we can handle this matter quickly and perhaps avoid a lawsuit? No?"
"Well, that would be up to our lawyers," Cuddy said carefully. "I will schedule a meeting with our attorneys and your client as soon as our legal department has had an opportunity to review your case filing."
"Very good, Dr. Cuddy." Andre smiled. "I will look forward to seeing you again."
"Thank you, I'll be in touch tomorrow," Cuddy smiled back at the handsome Frenchman.
"Au revoir, Madame Cuddy."
"Good afternoon, Mr. Fournier."
Cuddy watched as the attorney once again raised her hand to his lips and kissed it again. She felt lightheaded and a little surprised at herself. The attorney turned slowly and walked to her office door, turning back to smile at her and exiting backward. "Madame."
"What just happened? Cuddy whispered to outloud. Her knees shook slightly as she lowered herself into her chair and stared through the french double doors to her office. Was it the accent? The dark blonde hair? The green eyes? For a Frenchman he was certainly taller than most but not too tall.
"Who the hell was that?"
Cuddy's head snapped up. Dr. Greg House was standing before her with a look she couldn't quite describe but clearly not a happy one.
" What?"
" I said, who was that guy?"
"An attorney."
"…And?"
"And what?" Cuddy said crossly.
"From the look on your face I'd say you're hot for frenchy. Are you?"
"Oh please!" Cuddy rolled her eyes. "You're an idiot! How do you know he's French?"
"I heard him laying it on thick with your admin. That and his smelly cologne wreaks of French sex."
"You're disgusting."
"And you're in lust! You know I do a pretty decent French accent myself. 'Allo, ma Leeza, bay-bee. Voulez-vous couchez avec….'"
"Did you want something or are you just here to annoy me?" Cuddy cut him off, standing abruptly behind her desk breaking eye contact and shuffling papers around in an attempt to hide her blush.
"Well, I was going to ask you to let me cut open this kid's head but this is infinitely more interesting…"
"What?" Cuddy cut him off.
"Yes, indeedy do. You want him and judging from his smarmy face, he wants to give you "le wood."
"Go away, House. I have work to do and so do you."
"You haven't answered my question yet."
"No I am not hot for him, he's suing the hospital…"
"I mean can I cut open the kid's head?"
"Go away, House. And, no, you can't. Find another way."
"What's frenchy's name?"
Cuddy glanced at the case document on her desk, "Andre Fournier. Why?"
"No reason. Just curious." House let his eyes roam down her body and back to her face. "Just curious."
"Goodbye, House."
"Au revoir, Madame Cuddy," House purred.
Cuddy tried to hide the small smile but House saw it anyway. House exited the office and stopped off in front of the young chubby woman sitting behind Cuddy's assistant's desk.
"Hey, if that French attorney calls Cuddy, let me know," House groused to the administrative assistant.
"Why should I?" She said without looking up, her body language ignoring him should her boss glance up to see the two of them conversing. Her hand slid across her desk slowly, palm up.
"Oh for the love of....fine! be that way you greedy...!" House dropped a twenty-dollar bill on her desk. She snatched it quickly cutting him off.
"That's more like it. I'll page you when something happens. But spying will cost you a lot more" House raised his eyebrows at her plucky yet deadpan tone.
"You're making a fortune off me!" he whined.
"Well save the money, grow a pair and ask her out, you big chicken!" This admin snarled.
"Yeah well…you're ugly." House sneered and spun off to hobble toward the elevators.
The admin smiled to herself knowing she won the round and the twenty. Cuddy didn't need to know everything going on in the hospital.
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Should I continue this storyline? This is my first story. I've got some great ideas for Andre to drive House green with jealousy and Cuddy into his arms.
