AN: Okay, so since Walking into Walls is winding down and I'm thinking of abandoning The lonely touch (wrote a oneshot with the same idea called Fells Like Tonight), I decided to start a new story.
This picks up at the end of "Last Resort", so basically, what if House and Cuddy started a romantic relationship then? How would it affect their lives as opposed to ignoring their feelings? Okay, crappy sounding, but trust me, I've already got the whole thing outlined.
Chapter One
Cuddy stared at House, both their expressions calm, unlike the shocked ones that the majority of the staff wore. "You want a relationship?" She hoped her voice hadn't sounded too hopeful, or too nervous, she didn't want to seem desperate to be with him.
House blinked at her, and looked around the room; from the blood stains on the carpet, to his notes on the wall, to the phone that lay haphazardly on the floor, before looking back at Cuddy.
"I …" he stopped himself, unsure if he should give her the right answer or not.
Cuddy looked back at him, and House could see it in her eyes, she wanted him to say yes, she wanted him.
"Yes," House nodded.
"House … are you sure about this?" Cuddy went to open her desk drawer, but House stopped her.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." He warned.
"Why not?" Cuddy looked up, her hand on the pull.
"Some sneaking doctor decided to flip it over so when you open it, everything falls out."
"House," Cuddy laughed, "Come help me and I'm going to put this desk together the right way, not your way."
"Killjoy," House eased himself down into a crouch besides her chair.
"Once I open it, then I expect you to put everything back just the way you found it." Cuddy opened the drawer, the contents falling into House's lap. As he picked up a few pens, Cuddy stood, surveying the damage done to her office again.
"All this for a diagnosis?" She sighed, leaning against the desk.
"It amazes me what some people do," House abandon his job of cleaning up the contents of the drawer and stood besides her, "It was Melioidosis, but I'll assume you already knew that."
"I didn't," Cuddy responded, looking slightly annoyed, "Not that I really care since he just destroyed my office to find that out, but okay."
"This is nothing," House shrugged, "Besides, you need to redecorate."
"Oh God," Cuddy looked at him, "Last time I did that, you insisted that everything was the way you wanted it."
"Well sure, I mean, out of all your employees I'm pretty sure that I spend the most time here."
"And you will be," Cuddy nodded towards the clinic, where Wilson stood, looking around, "Go talk with Wilson, okay? I'll be out in a few moments, we can go get an early dinner."
"Sure," House went to leave, then turned, marching up towards Cuddy's desk again.
"Yes?" She turned around, "What did you forget?"
"This," House leaned down, kissing her lips gently, "I'll wait for you in the clinic Cuddy."
"Okay," she smiled to herself as he shut the door behind her, running a finger along her lips.
"House!" Wilson looked thankful to see House unharmed, "What the hell was going on in there?"
"What...?" House felt a flash of concern, he and Cuddy hadn't decided when they were going to announce their relationship to the hospital's staff, if at all.
"The guy," Wilson urged, acting like an excited little kid, "what was it?"
"Melioidosis," House replied simply, seeing Cuddy shake her head at finding the contents of the desk drawer on the floor still.
"What's Cuddy doing about her office?"
"Keeping it like that," House replied, "Though she's decided she's going to paint a large heart with my initials in it on the wall."
"Seriously House, is she redecorating it?"
"Obviously," House rolled his eyes, "Do you really think Miss 'Everything Must Be Perfect In My Hospital' is going to let her own office look like a madman just destroyed it?"
"Well, no," Wilson responded, "What's she going to do in the meantime?"
"Use my office, I bet," House shrugged, "After all, she's going to find a way to punish me for ruining it."
"You ruined it?" Wilson repeated.
"Well, since the guy who was holding the gun to my head doesn't really have an office, she's just going to pick me by default." House liked that idea, glad that he knew Cuddy would do exactly as he said.
"Aren't you going to ask her out or something?" Wilson changed topics.
"Wh...what?" House sputtered, feigning ignorance and confusion.
"Well, I was just wondering House," Wilson tried to cover for his friend's foolish reaction, "She deserves someone like you and you deserve someone like her. I think you two would be happy together."
"Soppy, soppy," House whined, "Not my type of story; though the devil and I are going to dinner tonight."
"Wait, you and Cuddy are going to dinner tonight?" Wilson looked shocked at this.
"Who else would I be talking about?" House faked a groan, "I think she's going to guilt me into ruining her precious office by making me pay for dinner."
"Well most men do that when going out with a woman to dinner." Wilson replied, stating the obvious.
"It's not a date Wilson, we're just friends." House retorted, his thoughts straying back to the kiss that he and Cuddy had just shared.
"Oh sure, friends that kiss each other," Wilson nodded towards Cuddy, who was getting ready to leave, "If you two leave this place together then rumors will fly; the good, the bad and the ugly."
"So...?" House looked towards Cuddy, "We're friends Wilson, friends go out to dinner."
"You ready House?" Cuddy slipped up besides them, "Oh, hi Wilson."
"Erm, hi Cuddy." Wilson suddenly felt awkward, knowing that Cuddy was still a bit annoyed at him for insisting that she had feelings for House and that she and him had to date.
"You're ready, right?" House looked at Cuddy, a mysterious gleam in his eyes, "Because if so, then let's head out."
"Bye Wilson," House and Cuddy both waved, heading out together, earning a few curious stares from various staff members and the few remaining SWAT team members.
"I've got to stop by my apartment quickly," House began when they reached Cuddy's car, "Do you mind?"
"Actually," Cuddy began, "I was going to suggest that we take my car to dinner then we'll swing by here and you can get your bike."
"Okay," House shrugged, "That works too, if you don't mind all the rumors that will be flying around this hospital once we leave."
"I don't care," Cuddy unlocked her car, tossing her briefcase on the seat, before getting in. "I want us to try a relationship, no matter what every other person in the hospital says."
"Brave, brave soul you are Lisa Cuddy," House got in the passenger seat and closed the door, leaning over and pecking her on the lips gently.
"Is that a good thing?" Cuddy leaned back, starting the engine and pulling out of the parking lot, "Or should I be worried?"
"Definitely good," House looked over at her as she drove, "Unless you would rather keep your professional hospital dean of medicine image."
"House!" Cuddy laughed, "What are you talking about?"
"Well, you are dating one of your employees." House replied.
"Shut up and let's go inside," Cuddy shut off the engine as they stopped outside his apartment.
"Okay," House opened the door and limped inside quickly, even before Cuddy had a chance to open her own door.
"House!" She hurried into his apartment after locking the car doors, "What's going on?"
"Need Vicodin," he grumbled, reappearing in the hallway, holding a bottle in his hand.
"You just got a refill yesterday," Cuddy snatched the bottle from his hands before he could open it, "I'm withholding your Vicodin until you ease up on the dosage."
House frowned at her, eying the bottle for a few moments before limping into the kitchen, humming innocently. He rummaged around in the cupboards, not seeing Cuddy appear in the doorway, before reaching up and grabbing a second spare bottle from in the coffee cup. Leaning against the counter, he shook the bottle, glad it was full and smiled.
"You idiot," Cuddy snapped, "You've got stashes all over your apartment."
"Duh," House looked at her, "I'm an addict Cuddy."
"And I'm a doctor too," Cuddy sat on the counter, trying to peer into various cupboards, "Where are your other stashes?"
"I'm not telling you," House reached for the Vicodin bottle in her hand, "Give it to me."
"No." Cuddy snapped, hiding it behind her back.
"I'm in pain Cuddy!" House snapped, "Give me the bottle."
"No." Cuddy repeated, "Unless you agree to a strict amount of pills each day."
"Have you ever had to live without your thigh muscle?"
"That's not the point House," Cuddy looked at him, "I know you're an addict and I know you need the pills, but this is too much."
"It's never too much for an addict Cuddy," House held out his hand, "Please, Lisa, I don't want to ruin our evening together, just give me two pills, that's all I ask."
"Fine," Cuddy snapped, tossing the bottle at him, "Take your damn pills, I'm going home." She turned on her heel, stopping at the door, "See you at work tomorrow."
AN; Okay, I've already written chapter two, but I'm going to wait a few days to see how this does review wise. So if you want me to continue, just review and say so!
KM