Okay, first, I don't own House M.D., nor the characters in any way, shape, or form. (It's a sad admittance.)

This is an interesting fic. It starts in the present time of the chapter, but then goes to a flashback. As the chapters go on, the time between the present and the flashback grows closer until the last chapter. I don't know if that's weird/confusing or not. Um. The time frame is around the end of Season Three and continues on into Season Four, so there will be spoilers for four.

This is heavily influenced by the song Almost Lover by A Fine Frenzy. I recommend it considering it's one of the saddest songs I've ever heard. And I didn't include the lyrics because this isn't a song!fic (for once). So, all of that being said... Here's the fic. (Finally. I know, right?)

House limped his way into Cuddy's office. She looked up from her desk, watching him as he closed the door. He turned to her, a look of expectancy on his face. After all, she was the one that called him to her office.

"I'm only going to ask this of you once." Cuddy stared at him, not the least bit pleased. "Keep your penis in your pants."

House cocked his head to the side and took a further step into the room. "Care to repeat that?"

"Stop fucking women at this hospital," Cuddy told him. "Two gone in a year and a half. You're starting to get a track record."

"It would help if I knew what the hell you were talking about," House replied, the confusion clearly evident on his face.

"You're telling me you had nothing to do with Dr. Cameron's resignation?" Cuddy asked him, assuming he was merely playing with her.

"Of course I had something to do with it, but I never slept with her." House straightened, suspicious. "Why? Did she imply-"

"She didn't imply anything," Cuddy harshly cut him off.

"Well, if your little theory is correct, I guess it means I slept with Foreman too." House approached her desk.

Cuddy ignored him. "Your sleeping with Stacy drove her away pretty damn fast. I just assumed it worked the same with Cameron."

House stopped in his tracks and his eyebrows drew together. Cuddy closed her mouth and looked away from him. She sucked in a deep breath through her nose before bringing her gaze back to him. He took a careful step forward.

"You knew." His eyes were locked with hers.

Cuddy frowned. "Yeah, I-"

"She told you?" House cut her off.

"No," Cuddy answered him.

House's suspicions were growing. "You figured it out."

Cuddy gave a shrug. "Something like that."

"Why didn't you say-" House began to ask.

"And what was I suppose to say?" Cuddy stood up from her chair as she cut him off. "Why would I have even cared?"

"Exactly," House agreed. He fought the smirk that tugged at the corners of his mouth. "You hated Stacy."

"I didn't hate Stacy." Cuddy turned from him and sifted through a pile of files.

"You were jealous." The smirk spread.

"No," Cuddy denied, her back to him still.

"Admit it," House tried to stare her backside down. He hoped she could feel the heat of his stare.

"You're an adult, House." Cuddy turned, a file in her hand. "You can do whatever you want."

"But, that doesn't mean you can't be upset about it," House replied.

"I wasn't jealous and I wasn't upset." Cuddy dropped the file to her desk. "I just have a problem when your actions cause my employees to quit."

House held up a finger. "For the record, I didn't sleep with Cameron."

"Good." Cuddy seated herself.

"But, you didn't bring this up because you had a problem with it," House said, his eyes still on her.

"No?" Cuddy flipped open the file, trying to show him she was disinterested in whatever he had to say.

"No," House repeated. "You brought it up because you wanted to know."

Her tone was authoritative. "It's my job to make sure the employees at this hospital-"

"Your job has nothing to do with it," House smirked again.

Cuddy brought her eyes up to meet his. "My job has everything to do with it." She lowered her eyes back to the file and sighed. "It has a lot to do with... everything, House."

Cuddy stepped into his office. "Stacy just quit."

"Yeah?" House turned to face her as he slid on his jacket.

"Know anything about that?" Cuddy asked him, but she already knew he did.

"Nope." House shrugged and reached for his cane.

Cuddy crossed the room. "What did you do?"

"Absolutely nothing," House responded, slightly annoyed at Cuddy's accusations. "She just couldn't hack being around someone so charming all the time."

"House, we were lucky to have her here to deal with you." Cuddy sighed. "Now, who am-"

"Some second rate lawyer." House shrugged again. "Big deal, Cuddy. They'll do their job."

"What did you say to her?" Cuddy was certain she gave it away that she wanted to know out of her own curiosity.

"I told her I was madly in love with her." House picked up his backpack and slid it over his shoulder.

Cuddy didn't believe him. At least, she didn't want to. "I want you to apologize for whatever you did."

House drew back, staring at Cuddy as if she was out of her mind. "No."

"House," Cuddy tried to reason.

"I have nothing to apologize for because I didn't do anything," House said forcefully.

"Fine," Cuddy replied and headed for the door.

House let out a quiet sigh. "What did she tell you?"

Cuddy spun around, her hand on the door handle. "What?"

"For leaving," House clarified.

"She said that since Mark was well enough to go home, she wanted to be home with him." Cuddy was searching his face for any sign of remorse. "It was only temporary anyway. She didn't want the commute."

"There ya go," House offered it as the truth.

"Yeah," Cuddy agreed, almost sadly.

She turned away from him again, her thoughts wondering about what really happened between Stacy and House in Baltimore, including those the days following their trip. She knew something happened. After all, Stacy practically blurted everything out.

But, now Cuddy had to try to push those thoughts away along with the tight clenching in her chest. She didn't get angry and she didn't get jealous. Not when it came to House and his relationships anyway.