Title: Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)
Summary: Cuddy learns that Charlotte has picked herself up, dusted herself off and learned to wear sunscreen.
Disclaimer: Even people as tan as the cast of House need to wear sunscreen.
Dr. Lisa Cuddy, Endocrinologist, ruffled through the papers on the nurse's station. She signed her name and slipped them into a folder and handed it back to one of the nurses with a smile. She turned to leave and ran into Dr. James Wilson.
"Planning a trip?" He asked with a smile
"Yeah." She smiled back "And I'm just making sure my patients are taken care of."
"Where are you going?"
"To visit a friend." She supplied and started to walk down the hall towards her office
"Where?" Wilson followed her
"California. What's it to you?"
"Just wondering how long you'll be gone."
"About a week." She slipped into her office and to her dismay, Wilson followed her in.
"I've known you two years and you've never taken a vacation." Wilson looked at her suspiciously.
"It's important that I go." She shrugged and reached for her briefcase.
"Do you need a ride to the airport?" He offered
"No, a car is coming to pick me up." She slammed her briefcase on her desk and looked at Wilson with pleading eyes. "If House asks where I'm going, lie. Tell him I'm off searching for Santa Claus or something."
"Ok." Wilson laughed "I got it. It's private."
"Thanks, Wilson." Cuddy smiled as she turned off the desk lamp. "Make sure he doesn't do anything crazier than normal while I'm gone. I don't want to come back and hear he's been fired again."
"Got it. On House Patrol." Wilson nodded and stepped out of the office. "Have a good vacation."
"Thank you." She laughed "I'll try."
*
Cuddy exited the gate and looked around. No one was there to get her because only one person knew she was coming, but it didn't stop the little bit of hopefulness she felt deep in her chest. With a sigh, she pushed past waiting families and made her way to the baggage claim.
After she secured her bags, she headed over to the car rentals and waited in line. Impatiently, she looked at her watch and tapped her foot, obviously annoying the round man in front of her. With an apologetic smile, she stopped her foot and let her hands ball into fists. She really didn't want to be late.
After more waiting and some haggling, she made her way out to the parking lot to find the conservative, maroon four door sedan. After throwing her bags in the trunk, she sped out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell. Hopefully she wouldn't miss it.
*
Cuddy had only been gone a few hours, but House had already managed to get himself in trouble with the soon-to-be retired Dean of Medicine. Wilson mentally cursed himself as he made his way down the hallway towards House's office.
"What were you thinking?" Wilson announced himself at House's door.
"That today is a particularly sunny day." House spun around in his chair and answered without missing a beat
"So you thought you'd go outside and find a cliff to jump off of?"
"No," House frowned. "A bridge. Good cliffs are rare in this part of New Jersey."
"I can't believe you. We, as doctors, have standards to live up to. Codes and ethics to guide us."
"What are these strange terms you speak of?" House raised an eyebrow
"Cuddy is gone three hours and here I am, trying to talk sense into you. She should never leave again because clearly, I can't do it." Wilson collapsed on the chair in defeat.
"So what would be so important that our favorite Dean of Medicine-to-be would leave in the middle of reviews…" House wondered out loud.
"I don't know." Wilson shrugged.
"You do know." House accused
"Something about hunting Santa Claus." Wilson replied nonchalantly
"In California?" House eyed him and Wilson's eyes got round. "That's what I thought."
"So you know what she's doing?"
"I have a feeling I know what she's doing."