Wilson and Cuddy had an idea, it was the annual charity event coming up and it was going to be a Bachelor Auction. Knowing full well that House would only grudgingly come to the event, and even then he would only stay for a few minutes, Cuddy and Wilson had a plan; Cuddy was to engage House in a bet of some kind and make sure he lost, the price being he had to be the auctioneer at the event.

When House came barging into her office for the 'meeting', Cuddy began to discuss his patient manner and the fact that he constantly belittled and put down his staff. House replied that he did it because they were idiots, but Cuddy countered this saying "You don't do it because you need to, you do it because you want to, and you couldn't stop if you tried!"
"Wanna bet?" House replied.

It was on! House had to last 3 full days without insulting a patient or a staff member, if he won he got off clinic duty for a month, if Cuddy won he had to do something for her for a night (she wouldn't go into specifics!).

Cuddy was taking no chances, she had sent a memo to all staff telling them of the bet and getting them to deliberately annoy House so as to help her win. Everyone was enjoying the fact that they could annoy House and he wouldn't say anything back and they had bets on how long he would last.

House was going crazy not being able to insult anyone and although he had made it almost to the end, he was about to explode. It was the end of his shift in the clinic when 13 came over to him and asking him to have a look at the patient she was examining in the clinic and House lost it:
"No! I bloody well can't, you're a doctor, albeit a crappy one, do it yourself!"
Unfortunately for House, Cuddy was in her office and at the sound of his voice popped her head around the door and said simply,"You loose."
"No..no..no! Come on, my shift ended already!" He whined.
Cuddy just smiled and said " Wear a tie."

So, the night of the auction was upon them, and House was not looking forward to it and had tried, unsuccessfully, to weddle his way out of it. He was going to have to do it.

House began by reading information about the men, that Cuddy had written for him, as they walked down the 'catwalk', but he gradually sunk into the role and began adding in his own jokes here and there, actually insulting the men but getting away with it as everyone was laughing with him!

Cuddy couldn't believe it, House was actually very good at this, he had really taken to it and the bids were flying in for the men, some reaching $2000!

House got to the last name on the list: Greg House. He just looked at Cuddy in the crowd and gave her a 'do you think I'm stupid' look when Wilson walked on to the stage and announced, "Greg House. Ladies?"

House was stunned and just stood there, until a nurse yelled: "seven dollars"
'seven?! are you kidding me' thought House.
He decided he was going to give this some welly and so began strutting down the 'catwalk', to much cheering and laughing. He struck stilly poses and because of this his bid prices increased and increased, Cameron spearheading the bidding war.

Cuddy stood in complete shock - she had thought he would have refused or just stood there, this she had not expected! She knew she was attracted to him, and now she could have the perfect opportunity to go on a date with him and she couldn't even speak. But her tongue suddenly became unstuck when House turned and shoot her a cheeky grin:
"eight hundred" she yelled.
House grabbed the mic from Wilson:
"Sold, to Dr Cuddy for $800" He said, grinning at her.

As the band began to play, the bought bachelors joined their buyers and Cameron stood, mouth agape, as House made his way over to Cuddy. 'Why did he do that?' thought Cameron.

Cuddy was asking herself the same question and found herself blurting out:

"What was that about?" when he reached her.

"This way I get to annoy you for a whole night, which I can spend staring at your 'assets', AND I get to piss off Cameron. It's a win, win, win situation." He half-joked.

"You stare at me all the time, what difference would there be?" Cuddy countered, eliciting a chuckle from House.

They made their way over to a table, and found themselves surrounded by Wilson, Foreman, Cameron, Chase, 13, Kutner and Taub and it was slightly awkward, what with her being their boss and all. Plus the fact that Cameron was shooting glares at Cuddy over her wine glass! House glanced over at Cuddy and as her blue-grey eyes met his crystal blue ones, he understood their message straight away: 'anywhere but here' they pleaded with him.

Not wasting any time, and to the surprize of everyone at the table, House asked Cuddy to dance and they made their way to the dance floor with 7 pairs of eyes following them.

Cuddy had practically jumped out of her seat when he had asked her to dance, so grateful to get away from the table. I t wasn't until House put his cane down and they began dancing, him holding her close that it hit her:

"Wait a minute?! You can dance but you won't take the stairs?!... Aren't you in pain?" Her voice softened.

"Nothing I can't handle." He said, as he twirled her and then held her close again, smiling at her for worrying about him.

House was thankful that it was a slow song as he could manage that with his leg and even though he had brought Cuddy on to the dance floor to get away from the stares and glares, he knew that he had also wanted to dance with her and it had given him the perfect reason.

Everyone was staring at House and Cuddy dancing, I mean, it was House and Cuddy. Wilson was especially shocked as firstly House had stopped the bidding at Cuddy when he would have known Cameron would have bid higher and secondly, House was DANCING! This is BIG thought Wilson as he watched, amazed, as House led Cuddy very gracefully across the floor.

Dancing with House is great thought Cuddy, the way he holds me close, but not too close and tight, but not too tight, and the fact that they still felt comfortable to chat even with their bodies pressed together. As they continued dancing, their bodies began less rigid, Cuddy's grip on House's shoulder relaxed and his hand moved lower (unintentionally) and rested on her lower back. Cuddy became aware of House's hand on her lower back, far enough from her a$$ to look respectable, but Cuddy sort of wished he would go for an a$$-grab so that she could pretend to be shocked and outraged and slap his hand away, but somehow she just knew that he would not, not here, not now.

As they continued dancing, Cuddy saw House's inner-turmoil written all over his face: He was trying not to look at her breasts! She was amused by this as he would usually objectify her and openly stare at her, but here he was dancing with her and trying not to offend her by leering at her. Cuddy decided she could have some fun with this and couldn't wait until he slipped up and glanced downwards at her breasts which had be further enhanced by her push-up bra and low cut dress.

As House battled with himself, trying not to look at Cuddy's lovely full breasts right under his nose and instead tried to keep his eyes on her face, and because of this inner battle: to look or not to look!, the pain in his leg was going un-noticed, for now.

When House thought Cuddy had looked away, he quickly glanced downwards, when Cuddy let out a laugh. He looked up, embarrassed to have been caught when she said:

"Wondered how long you could last." she grinned. "Longer than I expected." she smiled.

"Well you can't not notice those puppies!" He snarked.

"Correction, YOU ALWAYS notice them!"

"Well, you always do show them off so well with all those low-cut tops and push-up bras." He shot back as Cuddy laughed.

As the first few bars of a new song began, a donor cam and asked to cut in, leaving House to limp back to the table as Cuddy began to dance with the young donor. When House reached the table, Wilson questioned him:

"What was that?"

"Nothing." House gave his usual reply to personal questions.

"That was SOMETHING," said Wilson. "You stopped the bidding at Cuddy and you danced! You DANCED!"

"As I told Cuddy already, I get to annoy her for a night, stare at her 'assets' AND I get to piss off you know who." he said indicating Cameron.

"Just the same as a normal day for you then." Wilson countered.

In reply, House walked away from the table, towards the bar to get a drink.

Cuddy definitely preferred dancing with House rather than the donor because this guy was openly leering at her cleavage, expecting her to kiss his a$$ the whole time to keep him donating money and his hands didn't stay still, they were moving all over her back and she didn't like it one bit, but grinned and bared it as she knew his money was very valuable to the hospital. As they danced, Cuddy spotted House at the bar and silently pleaded with her eyes for her to come and save her, to be her Knight in Shining Armour.

House began to limp towards them, when Wilson appeared at Cuddy's side, asking to cut in. Cuddy was relieved she no longer had to dance with the donor with the roaming hands, and was glad Wilson had come as her Knight In Shining Armour, but still wished House could have got there first.

"Thank you." she said to Wilson while looking at House over his shoulder and thanking him too.

"So, having a good time tonight?" Wilson asked with a knowing smile.

"Yeah, I am." She said with a smile watching House make his way back to the table and talking to his fellows and former fellows.