Rachel's chapter :) With beta-reading done by Erin, who typing it up right now and rephrasing and changing spelling. I mean come on. Unmunsk? What the hell? Amongst my dear. And small embellishments also :)

'HOUSE!' Cuddy was shouting again, probably for the 90th time in that day alone. 'HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY! YOU. MUST. HAVE. MY. CONSENT. TO. DO. A. SURGERY!'

'But it saved their life, they're alive aren't they? I mean, they aren't downstairs in the cooler are they?' House argued, I mean, in his opinion, he hadn't done much wrong. Maybe a tiny little thing like a completely rash and dangerously invasive brain surgery.

'There was a thousand in one chance of survival you ass! They could have died!'

'Lucky they were the one then!' House grinned.

'You take me to the limit House!' Cuddy raised her voice, turning round in an effort to force House to leave her office.

'But what would you do without me?' House asked, trying to tease Cuddy into yelling again; he enjoyed it when she yelled. It made her look kinda, well, a lot, sexy.

'Well, the hospital would have more money. We wouldn't have to payout for all those lawsuits you cause us, at least two a year.' Cuddy started counting them off on her fingers.

'Okay, okay. I get it! I'm a nuisance, point made and proven.' Cuddy turned her back to him and returned to sifting through the mountain of paperwork that was tottering on the top of her desk. She was hoping to at least restore order to part on the pile that threatened to overflow onto her chair and the floor first before heading home after a long day. Then she would sit down with a glass of wine and try to sort the rest of it. She doubted she get to sleep before eleven at least. Oh what joyful fun! She suddenly jumped up when she felt the presence of House behind her, his warm breath on her neck. He was so close to her his hands were straying along her waist and he was almost breathing in her ear. She could feel the tiniest breath he took, feel the warm exhale of air softly ruffling her hair the smallest amount possible. Cuddy turned, aiming to tell House to get lost and actually do some work; but as she turned she found herself staring into his blue eyes, and, for the first time in a very long while, lost her train of thought.

'You alright there Lisa?' House asked, moving closer until they were mere millimetres apart by that point. 'Maybe there's something you want me to do for you, if you get my drift.' He raised his eyebrows suggestively. Cuddy was on the verge of telling him; for maybe the 100th or so time that she completely and categorically refused to sleep with him. But as the words formed on her tongue, her heart began to question her mind. Was that what she really wanted anymore? A knock on her office door suddenly startled them from their silence. Hearing no answer, the person outside decided to take a peak inside. And so, James Wilson, oncologist, stuck his head round the door, only to see House and Cuddy standing extremely close together. He tried to edge both silently and quickly back out, hoping not to disturb his colleagues but…

'Wilson!' House shouted to his only friend. 'Get your oncological ass back in here now!' Cuddy took this opportunity to take a small step back, creating distance between her and House, looking enquiringly and Wilson.

'Hello Wilson, what is it you would like?' Lisa asked him cautiously, straightening out her jacket with a practised motion.

'Um… one tiny little exploratory surgery to try to get a biopsy from a lump on my patients lung?'

'Yes, of course you can, not like some people. Here.' She scribbled her signature on a consent form and handed it to Wilson.

'Thanks.' Wilson backed out of the room with a curious half smile.

'Right then,' House grinned as Wilson shut the door with a muted click, striding across the room. 'Where were we then?'

'House, just get out. Now.' Cuddy said softly, starting to feel just a little stressed now. She placed her cool hands to her temples and rubbed her fingers in slow circles in the vague hope it would fend off the oncoming headache that she knew would cripple her. Suddenly, House appeared in front of her with a worried expression plastered on his face.

'Are you alright Cuddy?' He asked her anxiously.

'No, you've given me a headache. Please just fuck off and go away.' House placed his hand to Cuddy's forehead, noticing that she had a slight temperature. His mind raced on, listing all sorts of infections, diseases, conditions and syndromes this could be a symptom for.

'I think you need a doctor, so of course I can't possibly leave.' House smirked, sarcasm lacing his voice.

'What did I expressly tell you to do, House?'

'I know, I know… fuck off.' House raised his cane-free hand meekly.

'Why don't you then?' Lisa muttered, definitely pissed off now.

'Because I don't want to.' He smiled innocently.

'What do you want to do then?' She felt her temper becoming shorter and shorter as she tried to keep it in check.

'This…' House strode towards her, placing the hand that wasn't gripping the cane behind her head and pulled towards him until they were face to face. He dipped his head down and brushed her lips with a tender kiss that sent tingles down her spine. He tried to raise his head again, but Cuddy caught a hand on the back of his neck and held him there.

'Still want me to fuck off?' House asked softly, raising an eyebrow.

'No.' Cuddy answered plainly with one word.

'Goo-' But House's words were cut off as Cuddy grabbed roughly at the hair on the back of his neck and pulled his head down until their lips crashed together. House dropped his cane to the floor, ignoring the muted clatter as it hit and wrapped both his arms around the younger, shorter woman. They stumbled across the room until her back rammed against the wardrobe door and House fell against her.

'Get your coat; you're coming back to my place. Now.' House whispered huskily in her ear. Cuddy automatically reached behind her back for the door handle, fumbling for the catch that would grant her access to her coat. She felt it give and pushed back against it, feeling the door open and scrabbling around inside for her coat, pushing some other things she never used to the side. House moved his good leg forward but felt it catch on his cane and fell forwards into her, pushing her inside. Cuddy called out as she started to fall. She waited for the pain and the disorientation that came with a hard fall, the thud as her head hit the back of the wardrobe. But it never came. Cuddy fell onto something very cold and very wet, something that was white and seeping coldly through her top.

'HOLY SHIT!' She shouted as she felt the icy liquid soaking the low V-neck tee she was wearing in a violent shade of red. She felt it all too soon soak through into her bra. She gave a shudder and was aware of House lying on top of her.

'Where the hell are we?' House asked quietly, removing his head from Cuddy's cleavage.