House walked into Cuddy's office. He stared at her empty desk, annoyed that she wasn't even there to witness his temper tantrum. He had been planning his tirade the whole way to her office. He didn't really have a reason for barging in, other than the need to annoy her.
"What do you want House?" a weary voice asked from the side of the room. Cuddy was in no mood to deal with her day-to-day responsibilities, let alone him.
He turned towards her voice, but instead of finding the venomous Lisa Cuddy, Dean of Medicine, he found the fellow doctor curled up on her couch red eyed and sniffley. He studied her for a moment before saying, "Wow, you look awful."
"Thanks," she mumbled, not actually having the energy for an eye roll. "I had no idea with the way I was feeling. Was there something you actually needed?" she snapped at him, not feeling up for anything he had in store.
"I did," he smirked, almost sadly, "but I would say your needs far outweigh mine at the moment. Come on get your stuff together." He ushered her to get up and move.
"Why?" she asked, skeptically. "I don't even want to move." It was true. She had been feeling down for days, but this was the first one she had been unable to fully function.
"Exactly, you're going home," he said firmly. "Now move it." There was no teasing in his gaze or malice. He was being serious. He enjoyed their banter. Just because he liked to pretend he couldn't care less, didn't make it true.
"I can't go home. I've got too much to do today," she said, not really meaning it. She wanted nothing more than to curl up, away from prying eyes, and sleep until she felt better. Even if it was House, the idea of someone insisting she go home more than justified her leaving work.
"And you're getting so much done sitting on the couch, nursing a cold," he quipped. She started to speak, but he cut her off again, "I know you like to think that this hospital can't survive for even a day without you, but it will. Especially since I'll be driving you home and not here to wreak havoc on the unprotected nurses in your absence."
She bit her bottom lip, looking for any chink in his plan, and then nodded. He was being nice and she was too sick to figure out why. She decided just this once to trust him. If it turned out he was screwing with her, she could always blame her naivety on feeling ill.
"Good get your stuff together. I'll be back in just a few minutes, have to tell the children that Uncle Wilson will be babysitting," he said, sarcastically. On his way out, he ran into Wilson, who was heading towards Cuddy's office. "Nope boss is sick sorry."
"Is she okay?" Wilson asked, eyeing her office. "Does she need anything?" He started to head towards her office, regardless, but was blocked by House.
The diagnostician rolled his eyes at Wilson's good doer nature. He led him towards the pharmacy instead, writing on a prescription pad as they went. "She'll be fine, she's going home soon. So, I need you to watch the team today. You know keep them out of trouble, or at least from calling us."
"Us? What's going on?" Wilson asked suspiciously. He wasn't sure what House was up to, but had a feeling it was anything but Cuddy's best interest.
"Nothing," House said shrugging. "I offered to drive Cuddy home. She's just not feeling good." He hated having to explain his actions, even less so when they were classified as somewhat noble.
"Why are you being nice to Cuddy?" Wilson was starting to wonder what was going on in his friends head. Was it possible that he was truly looking out for their boss's well being?
"No reason other than bothering her at home when she's sick seems like more fun than doing it at work. She can't order me to the clinic if she's in my debt." House grinned at Wilson, trying to play off his motives as pure bargaining tactics. He didn't need anyone knowing that he wanted to make sure that Cuddy was actually resting.
He passed the prescriptions over to the pharmacist who eyed him suspiciously. "They're not for me," he sighed. When the pharmacist just stared at him, he practically yelled, "Look at them you moron, they're not even things I would want to take."
The pharmacist glanced to Wilson waiting for approval. Wilson nodded, not even sure what House had actually written. He was too distracted with the change of behavior, his friend was expressing. "Just don't be too hard on her House; she will be back to work."
House rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically. "I know that. Can't I just be being nice?" There was a hint of hurt sincerity to the words, but he scowled hoping Wilson would overlook it.
"No," Wilson laughed. "Not unless there's something in it for you." He walked off down the hall, shaking his head.