House's POV:

Three weeks after the date I finally get back to my restaurant. It's been crazy, a patient a week and they all had to become sick on a Thursday or Friday! Why? The only thing I look forward to is my one indulgence night and patients have to ruin it. Tonight I brought Esther's file I just want to wrap up a few things. Cameron has given me a load of mail that I supposedly have to read. What can I say, I'm in big demand. I limped through the doors and Sam waved before hurrying over.

"Hey Dr. House, long time no see"

"I'll say Sam; I hate it when patients decide to get sick on a Thursday or a Friday. It's annoying and ruins my plans of getting the best steak in town."

Sam laughed and said the table was free. I nodded and made my way over to the table before collapsing in my usual chair. I stared around taking in the crowd and sniggered at the guy picking his nose and the two gay guys. I sighed then pulled out Esther's file. I stared at it for a while before opening it and getting to work. I had just finished when I heard her voice.

End House's POV

"Finally, it's over."

House looked up to come eye to eye with Lisa Cuddy. He raised his eyebrow and nodded "Yeah I just had some lose ends to tie up."

Cuddy nodded, House raised an eyebrow "What are you doing here?"

"I don't know, I didn't have anything in the fridge and decided I wanted to come out and this is where I ended up."

House shrugged and said "Well take a seat."

Cuddy looked at him suspiciously, He smirked "I don't like company here as a general rule but your company is better than most."

Cuddy smirked and nodded before dropping into the seat opposite him. She slid Esther's file towards her and opened it. House rolled his eyes and ripped open a letter. They sat there reading like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Sam smiled slightly at the sight, House always came alone, it was good to see him with company. He made his way over and stood waiting to be noticed. House looked up and saw him "Sam can we get a bottle of red and two orders of my usual."

Sam nodded and walked away.

Cuddy raised her eyebrow at House. He shrugged "They make the best medium rare steak and Caesar salad."

"I would have liked to have picked my own meal but I guess I'm stuck now."

"Pretty much, yeah." House smirked

"Thanks"

"Welcome"

Cuddy rolled her eyes and asked "Why here?"

"Apart from the food?"

"Its expensive, plush and you could get a good steak anywhere cheaper."

"Contrary to belief I am not cheap and I do like nice things, this place gives me good food and a chance to read my mail and catch up on patient files without any annoying interruptions plus it's interesting to watch the people."

Cuddy snorted at the cheap comment before nodding. Sam came and poured them some wine.

House picked up his glass and swirled it around before taking a sip.

"So Dr. Cuddy, how did your date go?"

Cuddy narrowed her eyes at him and said "It all ended when I walked out."

"Yeah I figured that but I wanted to know why?"

"He was a pompous ass and after you came over he went on this huge bitch about you and I finally got sick of it. What exactly did he do to you to make you threaten his manhood?"

House grinned and nodded "Good times, he referred me this patient but then tried to interfere by stopping me test and various other things, all in all, he pissed me off."

Cuddy laughed and shook her head "You are impossible."

House smirked nodded annoyingly "I try my best. So you left you date on my behalf, nice."

Cuddy rolled her eyes and said "It's always about you isn't it?"

Before House could answer, Sam appeared with dinner. House smiled at him and said "Stand by dessert may be wanted."

Sam smiled and said "Yes sir." He walked away as House put a dollop of seeded mustard on his plate before offering it to Cuddy. She accepted it warily.

House smirked and commented "Its not poisonous I promise and the steak is medium rare."

Cuddy raised her eyebrow "Medium rare? House I do believe you have had a decent upbringing and here I was thinking you never grew up."

"My dad was into that sort of thing and I did grow up I just like to retain my childhood." House held his chin high in defiance. Cuddy shook her head and for a while they ate in silence.

House was chewing when he looked up and what he saw made him swear.

Cuddy looked up in surprise when she heard him swear. He nodded to the door and commented wincing "I forgot Stacy knew this was my Friday night hideout."

Cuddy looked around and saw Stacy purposely striding over. She groaned, it was perfect that Stacy came looking for House tonight. Cuddy looked back at House and hissed "What did you do?"

House glared at her and said "Nothing, I'm honestly not sure why she is here."

Cuddy looked at him unbelievingly, he opened his mouth in defense but Stacy beat him to it.

"Greg!"

House groaned and looked like he was in pain.

"Stacy!" House ground out.

Stacy looked at Lisa in surprise and smiled a thin smile. "Hi Lisa."

Cuddy grimaced and gave a fake smile and said "Hi Stacy."

House winced "Um why are you here?"

Stacy glanced at him "I was asked by your team where you were as your patient's condition has deteriorated rapidly."

House frowned "What patient?"

Stacy looked at him strangely "The one you are treating."

House shook his head "I finished and treated all my patients yesterday."

Cuddy looked him and Stacy in confusion, Stacy stared at him "Well ring the crew but I'm passing on the message as I knew you didn't want your hideout busted."

House stared at her before replying "No you wanted to catch me by myself possibly have dinner with me because I never let you come here with me before!"

Stacy blushed but shook her head "Nope I was doing a noble thing anyway I'm just gonna go."

House nodded and turned back to his meal. Stacy rushed out looking upset. Cuddy looked at House carefully he looked up.

"Don't, I will be fine."

Cuddy nodded "I figured. You gonna call?"

House nodded and flipped his phone open, hit a speed dial and put it to his ear. Cuddy heard him get on to Cameron. He barked a few orders then flipped it shut. He grimaced at her "My patient was allergic to the medication and the new overseeing doctor is a rookie and panicked. The stooges were only going on what they had been told; they assumed it was bad because of the way it was presented"

Cuddy smiled at his long suffering look. They finished eating in silence and decided against dessert.

House stood and gathered up his things. Cuddy did the same. They paid and left. House nodded to her in the car park "If you're ever in need of the company on a Friday you can always drop in, you are better company than most but don't tell anyone, Wilson knows but he also knows it is death to intrude."

Cuddy nodded "Thanks."

She knew that was the closest House would get too asking her out.

Review Replies

Friendsholic: Thanks

ImSoSMacKED: Thanks I'm trying to keep them in character it's my sort of warped POV I pick out really tiny things.

HouseAddiction: Sorry it took so long ;)

A/N OMG that took me forever to write, writers block and I have this other story happening but its really in the development stages but I have been paying heaps of attention to it and everything else was sort of neglected and then today I opened this and was like hey I can write the end of this chap. Yay me. Anyway please R&R