Disclaimer: I don't own the characters

This fic starts at the end of "Help me" it is my first fic so please be gentle!

I Think we're OK.

They finally drew apart and looked into each others eyes, House stroked her cheek and smiled 'Let me clean up this glass and then I suggest we find somewhere a little more comfortable' He placed a lingering kiss on her lips then reached down awkwardly and picked up the two pills he had dropped threw them into the toilet. He scouted around, found, then emptied both pill bottles and flushed them away.

'Want some help?' Cuddy asked

'I think it's time I started cleaning up my own mess, but you can order us some food, numbers are under the phone, your choice, I'm easy' he said

'I had heard that about you' Cuddy replied as she headed out to the lounge.

'All true' he quipped back.

The doorbell rang, just as House came out carrying a big black rubbish bag. 'I got it' he said as he put the bag by the door.

Minutes later sitting around the small table in the kitchen, eating, making small talk, Cuddy could tell House was becoming more uneasy by the minute, he was avoiding her eyes, drumming his fingers on the table 'He is over thinking this' she thought 'I wish I knew what is going on in that head of his'

'What makes you think that this can work' he said suddenly his eyes locking on hers across the table 'I'm a drug addicted cripple, with mental health problems, I have had only had one serious relationship and that ended in disaster. What makes you think I can do this? I need to know what you want from me' he put his head in his hands 'I'll hurt you, you know that'.

'I'm sure we will hurt each other at times, House but this can work if we both want it enough, question is what do you want?'

'I want to be worthy of you, you know how screwed up I am, sure right now I could promise you the world, but it just wouldn't be true, I still have a lot of work to do.'

Cuddy got up and walked around the table took his face in her hands, she looked into his eyes and said 'House I love you' she put her fingers to his lips as he went to reply 'It's a statement House, not a question, it does not require an answer. I am going to use your shower and curl up a have a sleep, Mums down to help with the shift so she will look after Rachel tomorrow. I am just too tired to drive home'

'Sure take the bed' he got to his feet and hugged her tight and kissed the top of her head.

Chapter 2

House sat staring into space, using the whiteboard in his head, to try and make sense of his feelings, he could not remember a rollercoaster like this, he was an expert at repressing his emotions but now they overwhelmed him. During the previous 12 hours her had experienced; sadness, pity, helplessness, anger, rage despair, followed by relief, hope and yes love, but now he was paralyzed by fear. He reached for some pain relief and it occurred to him, he was still dirty and he could feel the ooze from his shoulder wound. He got up and went to the bathroom to survey the damage, realizing when he got there, no mirror! He went to his bed room and smiled as he saw Cuddy,wearing one of his shirts, sound asleep with her face buried in his pillow. He crept around so as not to wake her as he got a clean T-shirt and boxer shorts and headed to the shower, he showered, put a makeshift dressing on his shoulder and headed back out to the lounge. He looked at the couch planning to crash there, when suddenly he stopped 'To hell with it' he muttered to himself, turning off the light and heading down the hall. Daylight was creeping through the gaps in the curtains as House slipped into bed beside Cuddy. Cuddy murmured something in her sleep and turned and snuggled against him. 'Great' House thought 'She thinks I'm Lucas!'

'You OK House?' she asked sleepily

'I'm fine go back to sleep'

'k' she replied

Several hours later House awoke, the pain in his leg would not let him rest; he was paying for the activities of the previous day. He lay and watched her sleep for as long as he could bear it, whether it was the pain or the overwhelming desire to touch her that drove him out of bed he wasn't sure. He grabbed his shoes, socks and his jacket and went to the lounge to finish dressing. He scribbled a note and placed it on the pillow beside her before he headed out the door.

Cuddy woke to the smell of coffee, she rolled over to see the note "Back soon" with a little stick figure drawn underneath holding a cane. She looked at the clock, it was almost midday, House was obviously back from wherever he had been, and she could hear him in the kitchen. Cuddy headed to the bathroom, on the wall was a new mirror and on the vanity a clean towel, face cloth and a new lilac toothbrush. The shower caddy housed shampoo and conditioner, for long hair and French vanilla body wash. Cuddy felt the emotion well up, with House, his actions always meant more than his words. Cuddy washed and cleaned her teeth, and placed her toothbrush next to his, and went looking for him.

'Good timing' House said looking at her with a rare smile 'thought I was going to have to come and tip you out of bed!'

'Did you get any sleep?' she asked

'A few hours, which is not too bad for me, all things considered?'

I didn't even check you shoulder last night' she said guiltily

'Eat first. Coffee?'

'Thanks'

House had cooked omelets for them and they ate making small talk, the atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable.

'I'd better ring Mum, to check alls OK with Rachael, she'll be wondering when I'll be back' said Cuddy. She returned a few minutes later "They're going out for lunch then home for a sleep, both of them, poor Mum, I hope she hasn't overdone it, helping me shift and looking after Rachael'

'Do you need to go?'

"No I said I'd be home when they woke up so around four will be fine. Let me check your shoulder, do you have clean dressings?'

"Over there' said House 'I had to buy some till I can pilfer some from work on Monday.'

Cuddy rolled her eyes 'Take off your shirt, so I can see what it needs'

House took off his shirt and removed the makeshift dressing, while Cuddy washed her hands and opened the dressings, he sat while she cleaned and redressed the wound, and taped it into place.

'Have I got the tape to tight?' Cuddy asked

'It's fine'

'You don't seem comfortable are you sure your ok. Just how much pain are you in?' she asked concerned watching the pulse in his neck hammering away.

'Cuddy' he said softly 'You are standing very close to me wearing nothing under that shirt, I presume?' she nodded. Their eyes locked 'Believe me pain is the last thing on my mind'