Chapter Two

Given to the Ashes

Thanks to Dyingwithdignity, RogueButterfly, greenoboe, mj0621, house's phoenix, BlkDiamond, HouseAddiction, Dr. Fantabulous, sergeant happy bunny and DrusillaBraun for their reviews! This story is only being updated because you guys said so.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in House. I'm just the overly obsessed fan that can't get enough of the few hours it's on TV.

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Cuddy was with House when the judge placed him under arrest. Tritter looked immensely satisfied with himself and Cuddy could have wiped the smug look off the detective's face if she didn't have her job and her life to worry about. She gave House's hand one last final squeeze before the bailiff led him away. If anyone noticed, no one said anything. He gave her a sad half smile before he disappeared while she was left with the breath knocked out of her. She had been prepared yet she never wanted to imagine the hospital without him there. Too late.

With a sigh of defeat but determination the only emotion that coursed through her veins, Cuddy pulled out the business card and dialed the number on her cell phone.

"Madeline Poe, Attorney at Law." Came a highly professional voice.

"This is Dr. Lisa Cuddy. I got your number from Alex, the ADA. My friend got himself into some trouble. She told me to call you."

"What case is this? I may have heard of it."

"Dr. Gregory House. He's just been arrested on a revoked bail." Cuddy replied, rubbing her temples as she made her way out of the courthouse, alone.

"I've heard of it. New guy's trying it. They're ruthless when they need a win under their belt. I'll see what I can do. Can you meet me with the client at the jail?" Madeline asked. "Say around 4 in the afternoon today?"

"I'll be there." Cuddy replied.

She wasn't kidding. She planned to be there for House every step of the way, through wind and storm and shifting sand beneath her feet. She understood that he may never know her devotion. He may never even want to have a hint. She understood that and it didn't bother her. Her affection for him ran deeper than needing him. If she knew he was okay, she would do just fine without him.

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Cameron groaned as she and Chase made their way to the diagnostic department break room. Foreman was there with their latest case. None of them felt like working. It was odd nothing seeing their handicapped boss in front of them, making snide comments and scribbling on the white wash board. The sight was endearing now that he was gone.

"I can't think." Cameron muttered.

"I can." Chase retorted, flipping open the case.

"I think it's a tumor in the brain." Foreman suggested.

"You always think it has something to do with the brain. You're a neurologist for Christ's sakes." Chase replied.

"You got any more bright ideas then?" he challenged Chase.

"GUYS!" Cameron yelled, raising her voice.

They sat back to stare at her, stunned. Cameron was probably the sweetest girl anyone would ever meet, and now here she was, her eyes glinting with anger and a touch of annoyance.

"Let's write down the symptoms, do an MRI, just like we usually do with House." She said, voice commanding.

"Who died and made you boss?" Chase asked, only half joking.

"Cuddy." Cameron replied.

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Cuddy and Wilson were meeting for coffee before Cuddy had to go to the jailhouse to meet with Madeline.

"How is he?" Wilson asked, handing her a hot cup of vanilla latte as they made their way to a table.

"Not good." She said, her shoulders drooping. "But I can't be sure. He's such a cocky smartass sometimes, you can't help but feel like everything's gonna be okay for him. It always is, usually."

"That's cause you can usually clean up the mess for him and it's the end of it." Wilson reminded her. "This time maybe you should let things run its course."

She shook her head. "He'll never survive in jail. Not in his state, not with his mouth. I can't risk it. I don't want to have to end up having him as one my patients. He was one once and I don't want to walk down that road again." She said, letting the warmth of the coffee fill her body.

"Just don't kill yourself in the process. I mean you're trying to do your job, be there for him, visit him, be there at his trial, and doing his job all at the same time. No one can't keep running like that, not even you." Wilson said gently.

He was worried about her, and about House. He never told the true reason why he tattled on House. She thinks it was because he thought it was the right thing to do, so that House could get help, but it really wasn't. It was the way Cuddy looked like when she was crying. House had targeted one of his best friends and use her weakest point against her. That had pissed him off and the more tears that Cuddy had shed, the more determined to make House learn a lesson, for benefit of him and everyone around him. Suddenly Wilson realized that it wasn't the case. What he had done, had just hurt Cuddy more and put House in a very dangerous position. He just wished he could undo everything.

"I'm not doing his job. I've put Cameron in charge of his department." She said.

"Uh he's not gonna like that." Wilson replied. "You know he only trusts you with that position."

"He doesn't have a say this time. I have a job too and I can't do everything at once since they banned human cloning." She replied lightly.

She check her watch. "Almost four. I gotta head to the jail. I'll call you later with how it goes okay?"

"Yeah." Wilson said, getting up and helping her to her feet. "Tell him that I never meant for it to go this far."

She nodded. "He won't listen, but I'll tell him." She replied softly and made her way out into the cold crispy New Jersey air that seemed to carry with it a malice that she could not keep out of her system despite being wrapped in a stylish scarf and knee length coat.

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She hated the jail. The moment she walked it she felt the pungent smell of blood, sweat, and dirt hit her full force, almost making her gag. It was hot, but when she shrugged off her coat, she almost wished she hadn't. Prisoners started to catcall to her, whistling, yelling things that were so rude she had never heard them in her life.

She knew she was pretty. She was a woman who prided in being a woman and looking like one. House often made references to her body and her butt. The men she had dated in the past told her she had beautiful eyes. She ran every morning, but right now, she almost wished she was invisible.

"Just look forward and walk like you can't hear them." Said a soft voice behind her.

She whirled to find a blonde haired woman right behind her. She was dressed in a black suit with a heavy briefcase in her hand. She gave Cuddy a gentle push in the back toward the meeting room. Cuddy drew a breath and walked forward, pretending it was another stride to her office in the hosipital.

When they got into the interview room, the woman offered her a hand and a seat.

"Madeline Poe."

"Lisa Cuddy." She replied. "Thanks for your help out there."

"No problem." She said. "I was the same way the first time I walked between those cells. Dr. House should be here any minute now."

It was less than a second when he walked into the room. With a cry of alarm, Cuddy was at her feet and at his side as she caressed his face with gentle hands.

He was bruised and battered. Black and blue marks lined his face and his limp was more severe than ever. His blue eyes lost their twinkle and he seemed to have aged a million years overnight.

The guard shoved her aside as he handcuffed House to the chair.

"Hey!" He roared at him. "Don't you dare touch her, you fat moron."

Madeline was at her feet at once. She helped Cuddy up as she whirled to face the guard.

"Don't go around pushing anyone in front of me, sir. You won't like the charges that I can bring up against you. So I'm warning you, watch you act, because if anything happens, I will know and you'll find yourself in this place as one of them and I bet they won't be very friendly to one whose been treating them like shit." She threatened.

With a glower, he scurried out of the interview room as Madeline regained her seat, and faced House.

Cuddy was not focused on this exchange. Her professional eye and touch was checking him everywhere for injuries.

"I'm still breathing." He said to her.

"Don't be such a smartass." Cuddy replied, checking his pulse and then his ribs.

"You know this really isn't a romantic place dear." He said.

She didn't answer him for once. She got up and sat beside Madeline once she was sure that he was bruised but there were not internal injuries.

Madeline started. "Dr. House. Lisa here has asked me to represent you in court for your trial. I need your consent."

"I don't need a lawyer." He said. "I did nothing wrong."

"Yes, but in the eyes of the jury they're impartial. What you did and what is being presented are two different cases."

"The cops have nothing."

Cuddy lost her cool. She slammed a fist down onto the wooden table.

"You stupid bastard!" she yelled at him. "For once would you stop looking at your own pride and fucking stubbornness and think about what you're doing to the rest of us? For once just please stop being a pain in the ass that has to go against the current and take the offer that I'm giving you. For once House, please stop being House. For once be sensible. Don't be the one that thinks you can do everyting yourself. You can't! Got it? You can't! This time you can't get out of this okay!"

He stared at her after her outburst. She was close to tears and he could easily see it. He wished he could touch her, wipe the tears away, but his hands were cuffed to his chair. He wished he hadn't put this weight and pain on her shoulders, but there was no going back.

"Fine." He said, dropping his gaze to the floor. "Fine."

Madeline seemed satisfied. "Now all I need are the details from your point of view and then we'll be out of your hair. I'll be here to talk with you some more times and then be there with you during trial."

"Fine." He muttered, still gazing at the floor.

Cuddy's hand was on his arm when he looked up. She was kneeling beside him. Her blue eyes held wet tears as she showed her emotions in a way that were totally unlike her.

"Greg." She said softly, using his first name. "It's gonna be fine."

"Don't lie." He said back to her.

"I wasn't."

"Yes you were. Lisa I know you're gonna try, but getting me out of this mess is gonna be harder than putting wings on a pig and making them fly. Sadly I'm not sure which weighs more, me or the pig. Or you could get a degree in aerodynamics and then maybe you can make wings for me to fly outta here. But that'll take a while and I might be dead by then."

Cuddy's eyes were determined. He felt himself falling for her all over again. Then he realized that he needed her. More than he knew. If only just to watch her.

"If that's what it takes." She replied.

He gave her one of his rare grateful smiles. She returned it with a loving one of her own. Words were unspoken and forgotten. Nothing they said would ever matter now. They were in sync. Neither would ever admit it though, nor would they ever speak of this affection ever again. It was done to be forgotten and being Lisa Cuddy and Gregory House, they would let the ashes have it.

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Author's Note:

Well there we go. I had to update fast, because these ideas were bothering me. I'm going through a House withdraw, can you believe it? I usually need CSI fixes. This is my first time needing a House fix. Somebody help me. I need to watch some Huddy. Grrr.