The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine
Chapter one: It's a Wonderful Life
Lisa was tired, she couldn't help but feel that however hard she tried to fill her life with meaning the more monotonous it became. The only thing Cuddy truly valued was Rachel, her daughter, who was now two years old and getting older but she was missing it. Lucas was no help either, whenever she needed him something would come up and he would have to leave. In a way Cuddy chose Lucas because she had imagined a world in which he would have stayed home and been the devoted father while herself playing the role of the workaholic mother. The life Cuddy had imagined seemed like a dream because in that dream she was in love and had friends. The reality was very different. Wilson didn't have anything to do with her and House sent his fellows to talk to her so he didn't have to see her. It was the nail in the coffin, House made her job harder, he was stubborn and mischievous but it was their heated banter that made her job, and his, worth fighting for everyday.
"And that concludes the meeting for today, " Mr. Andrews head of the board stood noticing that Cuddy was absent minded, "Unless Dr. Cuddy has anything to say?"
She perked up, "No, Nathan I think we've all been here long enough. It is Valentines day after all, lets finish up early."
The room agreed and emptied out aside from Cuddy and Andrews. He moved over to where she was sat. Nathan Andrews was only slightly older than Cuddy and she saw him as her brother as Nathan often helped her out. He sat down next to her and sighed, "What's the matter with you?"
Cuddy let her head fall back to feel the soft leather of her high chair, "I don't think I can fight anymore."
Nathan quirked his head, "Fight whom, Lucas? Or the board?"
"I don't know anymore. I'm going home and I don't even know if he's there. Imagine that, I haven't even bothered planning anything for Valentines Day. Years I've been alone dreaming I'd have someone to make this day special and I met someone with a busier job than me! If that were possible!"
Nathan laughed but his features returned to serious, "I know you don't want me to ask but I'm going to…Do you even love him? I mean I know he loves you and he's a good man but putting aside Rachel and what you should do. Do you really imagine yourself in 30 years time married to Lucas?"
Something inside Cuddy wanted to scream no as loud as it could possibly be screamed but another stronger force made her say, "I don't know…I really don't know anymore."
Her usually strong and sensual voice became a whisper of its former vitality, "I've screwed up, Nathan. I set out to craft the perfect life and ended up isolating myself from the people I cared about."
Nathan sympathized and placed a friendly hand on her knee, "It sounds like you need to evaluate who really should be in your life at the moment. If your not happy how is Rachel supposed to be?"
Cuddy nodded and placed her hand over his, "Lucas is the man I chose because he's responsible, Nathan. I need to make it work."
At the moment Cuddy began to raise House walked past the glass doors completely oblivious to Cuddy's presence in the room. The Dean watched as House walked with obvious pain in his step. She hadn't actually seen him in days but was aware he'd been working on a very tough case. From the look on House's face, plus the tired eyes, three day long stubble and the flash of pain when he walked.
"Are you sure you're happy with Lucas? That there's no other man that you could possibly think of being with, who could have a place in your life?"
Nathan rose and hugged Cuddy, "You're like family to me, Lise. I don't want to see you mess up your life. I'm protecting you and the your job, the board is looking for an excuse to boot you out after the insurance scandal."
He began to walk out of the room taking his over coat and brief case with him. Nathan shouted over his shoulder, "Go home, Dr. Cuddy and get some well deserved sleep."
Cuddy had absent-mindedly gathered her possessions and headed to the lift. As a habit she often made her journey longer to pass House's office to see how he was. As Cuddy peered into his glass office, she saw the doctor passed out at his desk. His face was uncomfortably rested on files and books that he must have been researching. Cuddy walked quickly to the rid herself of the thoughts involuntarily flocking into her head. Once she had arrived in the empty elevator Cuddy let out a sigh of relief but the feeling didn't last long.
"Oh this day just gets better and better!"
Cuddy exclaimed as the lift ground to a halt and the lights flickered off. In anger the Dean pressed every button on the panel with no avail and proceeded to try the emergency phone but no tone or voice could be heard. Just when Cuddy was about to cry out in angst and the injustice in her life smoke began to ooze from under the elevator doors. Cuddy was paralyzed with fear for both her life and her hospital. As smoke began to fill the elevator darkness began to surround her until she felt a hand on her shoulder. Cuddy span round dropping her things and backing up to the doors of the elevator. A person began to form from the smoke and I the darkness the form took shape of a familiar person.
"My little Lisa."
Cuddy couldn't move as the figure moved ghostly towards her, "Dad?"
Her father smiled a wispy smile, though Cuddy could recognize him her father was still only made of the smoke, "Yes honey, it's me."
"How can you…" She struggled with her words, "Dad…you're dead."
The ghostly figure smiled but it was brief as he floated towards her, "I can't explain Lisa but you have to trust me. You're life isn't what it's meant to be. If you carry on like this, well…things won't end well. Tonight, you'll be visited by three figures."
Cuddy was so confused, "Are you expecting me to belief this, Dad? Three ghosts? Isn't this all a bit…Christmas Carol?"
"No!" The figure of her father shouted, "Lisa you have to take this seriously. Three figures will visit you and if you don't change your life then I can't help you anymore."
Once again Cuddy found herself lost for words, her father's ghostly face looked distressed and Cuddy reached out to his face. Her elegant and well-manicured fingers were encased in the smoke that made up his face. She sadly retracted her hand and sighed, "Who are these 'figures' that are going to visit me?"
The smoke was starting to thin, "I don't know exactly who they are but they represent your past, the present and the things that could have been or the future. I can't remember…honey promise me you'll try." Her father's silvery eyes filled with ghostly tears, "I don't want you to die of a broken heart."
Cuddy wished she could comfort him but had no idea what he was talking about, "Dad, I wont I'm with a man that loves me and a broken heart isn't a condition…"
Cuddy couldn't help but confront the irrational situation with logic it was the only way she knew how. The smoke was so thin that only an outline of the man that raised her was left. The ghostly figure leaned over to her close to her ear and whispered, "My little Lisa, don't ignore your heart."
Before Cuddy knew it the smoke had vanished and the lights restored. The doors behind her opened and people flooded in, Cuddy absent-mindedly fell out of the elevator. She floated light-headedly to her car; questions were filling her mind, was that real? Did her dead father return to warn her of the future? God, I really need a relaxing bath and a nice long sleep! Cuddy got into her car and drove home unaware of the figure watching her from the corner of the hospital. The figure whispered to himself, "The night is young Lisa Cuddy and things are only just beginning. Tonight, will be a night you will never forget."
A/N: What do you think? I'm thinking that maybe to show Cuddy alternate realities like if House didn't exist etc. I thought that would be cool but it's what you girls or guys (if there are any) think and if anyone wants to help me by giving me ideas or pairing with me on this story I wouldn't mind! All ideas are welcomed! As are reviews :D Please I really need the encouragement or the bad reviews if this is a shockingly bad idea! You need to tell me to turn back! REVIEW and I will update by lets say...Saturday night with any of you who read Can't fight this Feeling I'll update that one too!
Gabe xx