1/3
Dr Lisa Cuddy lay back on her couch, her glass of wine in her hand. She had entered medicine with all the hopes and dreams a young doctor could have. Helping people had been her main reason, as had the ability to save more lives.
So far she seemed to be screwing things up in that department.
Actually no, that wasn't true. Most of it was House's fault.
One hundred million dollars. She kept thinking of how many lives it could save. How much good it could do.
She couldn't hate Gregory House. She'd certainly tried to for years. Arrogant, cranky, narrow-minded bastard.
The doorbell being pressed insistently got her attention. Apart from that, it was going to give her a migraine.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Opening her door to reveal Gregory House standing on her doorstep was not among her favorite fantasies. Especially tonight.
House held up a bottle of Jack Daniels. "We're in mourning, remember?" Without waiting for an invitation, he limped his way in, noting the opened bottle of wine. "I see you've got a head start on me." He sat down on her couch as if it was his house. "I can't let you have all the drunk fun."
"What are you doing?" She stood, her arms folded and glaring at him.
"This, Dr Cuddy, is called sitting down. A novel idea." He let his gaze wander over her, zeroing in on her lower half. "Plus, I get the added bonus of a very nice view of your legs."
Cuddy frowned, sitting down opposite him and crossing her legs. "I'm really not in the mood for your adolescent games."
House sighed, setting the bottle on her coffee table. "I'm sorry I cost you one hundred million dollars."
She paused, her eyes widening. This was new. Disturbingly new. Maybe the wine had gone to her head. "Did you just apologize to me?"
"Don't get excited about it. At least that sort of excited." House was pleased to see her trying to comprehend him. Maybe he'd been going at it from the wrong angle all these years. Perhaps to really have fun with her, he needed to confuse her.
"Why did you come here? You've never apologized to me for anything before."
"Maybe I've never seen anything mean so much to you before." Take that, Dr Cuddy.
Cuddy arched an eyebrow. This was not good. Things were getting out of her control. Lisa Cuddy needed to be in control. "Who are you and what have you done with Gregory House?"
House gestured to the bottle. "I'm not drunk yet." Yes, this was certainly going his way.
She went into the kitchen, bringing out a glass and a corkscrew. "Knock yourself out." Drunk House was easier. If there was one thing she'd learnt over the years of knowing him, THAT was it.
"I haven't liked you lately, Cuddy." House poured himself a drink. He thought if he was going to get drunk, he might as well piss her off too. Gregory House found both of these pleasant pastimes.
Cuddy picked up her wine glass, a grim smile on her face. "You've never liked me."
House just watched her, wondering where she'd gotten an idea like that. After all, he'd make it perfectly plain over the years that he did indeed like her. "That's not true. I don't like anybody. But out of everybody, I don't not like you the least."
Cuddy blinked, her hand tightening around the wineglass. "Well. As soon as I fully understand what you just said, I'll say thank you. I think."
"Don't."
"Excuse me?"
"Don't thank me. Things get uncomfortable between us when we have something important to say." House sipped his drink. "Let's just get drunk and forget it."
"Why didn't you like me around Vogler?"
"Behold the master of the subtle subject change."
"Answer the question."
"You'd probably make a good dominatrix. As for Vogler's little period of hell, you acted like a puppy dog. I never thought I'd see you at that level."
"Go to hell."
"That's just where we've been during Vogler's reign of terror. Do keep up, Doctor Cuddy." He watched her turn a nice shade of fuschia.
"I was NOT a puppy dog."
"You are the most stubborn, arrogant, driven women in possession of thighs and funbags like that I've ever met, and you turned into this little puppy following Vogler around and doing his dirty work. You even admitted to me that you didn't like doing it." House narrowed his eyes. "It was rather pathetic actually."
"I wouldn't have HAD to do it if you'd just stop acting like a stubborn, arrogant jerk!"
"What? Because I don't wear a lab coat?"
"Among other things!"
"Money obsession. Ka-ching!"
"Go to hell."
"Said that already, Cuddy." House's eyes trailed upwards, watching her cleavage rise up and down as she took angry breaths.
She stared down at him. "Do you purposely try to annoy me?"
"Of course. Life would be boring if I couldn't annoy you."
"I'm sure you'd find someone to annoy."
"Wouldn't be the same." That was certainly true. To begin with, he'd definitely be out of a job already.
Cuddy glanced at the bottle of Jack Daniels. "Are you sure you weren't drinking before you came here?"
"It isn't as much fun getting drunk alone."
"I'm flattered." Cuddy leant back and watched him for a moment. Her eyes ran over his lanky frame. Zeroed in on his leg. The cane. Her decision that…
"Why do you always pick on me?" House asked.
She was startled out of her reverie and looked at him. "Excuse me?"
"I'm always the one you're picking on." He narrowed his eyes. "You know, in some situations, that means you really like me."
"We're not in third grade."
"Aren't we? Gee, things have seemed that way lately."
"Why are you being so…affectionate?"
"What?" He was perplexed. His Dr Cuddy didn't say things like that. This was new. And uncomfortable.
"Well, let's put it this way. Affectionate and nice…for you."
House looked around. "Oh, I'm sorry, were you talking to me?"
Cuddy stood up. "You know, this was a bad idea. You should go."
House stood up in front of her. "You really want me to go? We haven't finished the bottle yet."
"I'll finish it myself."
"That's not fair."
"Life isn't fair." She really needed him out of her house. Away from her. Far away.
"Why do you hate me so much?"
Cuddy took a step back. "What is the matter with you tonight? You're acting so…normal. It's really…creepy."
House quirked an eyebrow. "Creepy?"
"Whatever. Just go, House."
"No."
"Excuse me?"
"I said no. Fighting with you gets the blood pumping. I'm feeling pretty good right about now."
"What kind of good?"
"Do you really want me to answer that?"
"Please…please leave."
He stopped. It had been many years since she'd sounded like that. Pleading, trying to keep herself cocooned in that little Cuddyworld she never let people in.
Well fine, he'd let her. This was dredging up ancient history. Very uncomfortable ancient history.
"Fine. Go back to hibernating in your world without real people." He'd go back to his…whatever it was. And what the hell WAS the matter with him tonight?
Cuddy stood, arms folded, just staring at him. He started to stride out the door.
"You, Dr Cuddy, have got to let go sometime. Mourning period was declared over a long time ago."