Title: Our Secrets
Category: Romance, Hurt/Comfort
Rating: M for later chapters
Setting: episode 9 season 3 "Finding Judas"
Summary: Cuddy has been keeping a big secret. Her mother has been keeping an even bigger secret. What do they have to do with House? And more importantly, what do they have to do with Cuddy's new assistant?
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the TV show House MD.

Author's Notes: This storyline is taken from another show. I just reworked it into the House MD universe. I have not written the Tritter storyline, or House's pills etc into this story so it didn't happen. Lot's of other storylines will be missing as well, such as Chase/Cameron romance. Medical information may be wrong as well as I am not a Doctor.

Chapter One:

"It's a good thing you failed to become a mom, 'cause you suck at it!"

House words echoed in Cuddy's head had she sat in her office crying. He was in pain, and he lashed out. A part of her knew that she shouldn't take it personally. But this was personal, more personal then House could have known when he said them.

She wanted to close her eyes and erase everything. Erase House's words. Erase the pain, the real pain, the pain that she had tried to bury for so long but that come flooding back with House's words.

A sudden knock at her door startles her. She doesn't want company. She just wants to leave and forget.

"I'm busy" She tries to say calmly but her voice breaks and gives her away.

"Are you okay?" asks Wilson, concern evident in his voice.

Cuddy shakes her head and takes a short breath. "Yeah, sure."

"Uhm…" Wilson begins "What I meant by 'Are you okay' is 'What the hell did House do'?"

"It's not what he did it's what I -" Cuddy pauses, afraid of saying too much. She bites her lip and shakes her head slightly. "…It doesn't matter"

Wilson looks at her for a moment before asking "Did he say something?"

"Wilson…" Cuddy begins

"Seriously? What did he say? Because I know that he's said or done something. I've seen him be an ass to you a thousand times, but I've never seen it get to you"

"Guess I'm just having a bad day…." She trailed off with a sniff "When this case is over, I'll – I'll head home"

"Cuddy—"

"-Really, I'm fine."

Wilson stepped back and nodded. "Okay. But if you want to talk, you know where I'll be"

Cuddy offered him a very small smile as thanks and watched him leave.

As soon as she could no longer see him, she let a brief sob escape her lips. She had to pull herself together. She had kept this secret for 20 years, and she had just come so close to spilling it. She couldn't let that happen. She wiped her eyes with the pad of her thumb. She needed to think about the little girl upstairs who still needed her. She couldn't live in the past.

Not when it hurt so much.

-

it was early the next morning as Chase left the hospital. The case had been solved and after helping Cameron and Foreman complete some paperwork, he was finally ready to go home and rest.

As Chase walked towards his car in the hospital's underground car park, his eye caught something bright yellow. He did a double take when he realised that right in front of him was a yellow Bugatti Veyron 16.5. Chase wasn't that knowledgeable about cars, but he did no a good car when he saw it.

He walked over to get a better look and that's when he noticed the young woman leaning against the driver's side door.

The woman looked like she was in her early twenties. She had long black hair which was draped over one shoulder. She was wearing cut-off jeans and a short sleeve white top, a pair of sunglasses sitting on top of her head. Chase had to admit that she looked very attractive.

"Hi," Chase said, offering her a big smile "Is this your car?"

The woman looked up and him and smiled back. "It is. You into cars?"

Chase half shrugged "Not really. I just know a good, expensive car when I see one"

"Yeah, it does alright" replied the woman with a small chuckle. Then she pushed herself off her car and took a few steps towards Chase. "So, are you a patient here?"

"Oh, no-no," Chase replied quickly, shaking his head. Not sure why that question needed to be answered so quickly. "I work here. I'm a doctor."

"Oh"

"I'm actually just finishing my shift, but can I help you at all?" Chase asked.

"No thanks," The woman replied and pointed a finger to the main elevator of the car park. "I'm kind of waiting for someone. But I'm sure I'll see you around"

"Ah, yeah. Well bye." Chase gave her one last smile before heading back to his own car.

He had to admit that there was something about her that was intriguing, and while a part of him wanted to stay and talk to her more, another part of him was tired and he needed to go home so he left.

-

After Chase had driven off, the woman went back and leaned against her car. She grabbed her car keys out of her pocket, running her thumb over them lightly.

She had to admit that the doctor she had just spoken to was cute, but she really was waiting for someone so she didn't have time to stop and chat.

It was at that moment that another car pulled into the car park. The woman waited until the owner had gotten out and was walking towards the elevator. It was the person she had been waiting for.

"Hey!" The woman called out. The person turned and looked at her. "You're Doctor Cuddy's assistant right?"

"Um yeah. Can I help you?" He asked.

The young woman grinned and held up her keys. "How would you like a new car?"

To be continued…