Two months had passed since the surgery. Two months of living virtually without pain. For the most part. Two months of learning how to walk again and run even. Of watching his life change before his eyes. House stared at Cuddy through the glass panes of her office. She sat at her desk, fingers grazing a brown file folder and strands of curled dark hair falling over her face. House knew that she would do anything for him. Rationally he questioned her motives, but unconsciously he knew. Everything she put up with from him, every time she put herself or her career in jeopardy to protect him; he knew was for the same reason he kept her secrets or monitored her moods. House tapped lightly on the door and she looked up from whatever grant proposal or billing report she had been obsessing over and motioned him inside.
"What's up?" She sounded tired. He shrugged at her question and fell into a seat in front of her desk.
"Just wanting to see how you are." Cuddy was caught off guard. Since he had come back to work after his surgery she had noticed a shift in his demeanor. It was subtle, barely noticeable to the casual acquaintance, but she knew. He had softened. However, his newfound sensitivity did not include expressing concern for another persons wellbeing, and was not generally directed toward her, aside from occasionally thanking her, once again, for healing him.
"I'm fine."
"Did you take the test yet?"
"What?" Cuddy asked, but of course already knew what he was referring to. "You know I don't need you to keep on top of my schedule for me. I'm perfectly capable—"
"Did you take it?" He asked again more forcefully.
Cuddy clenched her jaw and shook her head. "When I get home."
"Why wait," he said and produced a brown paper bag from his jacket pocket. He tossed it in front of her and the early pregnancy test spilled out into her lap. She picked it up carefully and turned it over in her hands.
"I wanted to do this in private."
"We are in private." He waived his hand around her empty office.
"I mean in private without you."
"Well that's stupid," he said. "If it's bad news you're gonna cry and if it's good news your gonna want to hug someone."
"In either event I don't want you around. This is none of your business House."
"None of my business?"
"Yes none of your damned business. Whatever is happening with me and this baby or not happening as the case may be has nothing to do with you." House flashed a hurt look in his eyes for a brief moment then straightened.
"Are we leaving at around six?" Cuddy broke his stare.
"Um, actually I was planning on taking off early," she said. "Why don't you get Wilson to drive you home? Or better yet run it yourself, that seems to be helping you." House's ice blue eyes darkened slightly.
"Because my leg is stressed in the evening, making it harder to run, and because Wilson's naked body against my back doesn't quite give the same effect. He's all hairy and rough."
Cuddy blushed and glanced up to make sure no one standing around her office heard him. It wasn't what they would think but try explaining that to them. This hospital staff was worse with gossip than a supermarket tabloid.
"Fine," she said. "Six."
