Hi! I'm really sorry that I haven't actually written another chapter. I've added a bit to the end of this chapter because it was still stuck in my head, and I haven't been able to write anything else until it goes away, and it's too short for it's own chapter.
It was the rumble of an engine, again, that this time woke Cuddy from a restless slumber on her office couch.
She sat up and rubbed her eyes, glancing over at the clock on her desk she realised that she had actually slept for about three hours longer than she had intended. Deciding to take a shower in one of the locker rooms, Cuddy went to the emergency outfit stash in the corner and left her office.
The engine outside rumbled again, followed by something that sounded suspiciously like children's laughter. Rolling her eyes and not wanting to think about what House was doing this early in the morning she headed towards the elevators.
Contrary to popular belief House didn't actually hate children; it's usually the children that hated him. The scruffy guy with the limp made them understandably nervous. However, sometimes there were a few who were far too trusting and curious to be afraid of him. The boy of about eight who was currently sitting on House's bike pushing every button his short arms could reach was a perfect example of that.
'Billy will you hurry up?!' said the even smaller girl standing next to them wrapped in the three coats her parents had insisted she put on before going outside.
'NO!' shouted Billy, starting an argument that rose in volume so much that a few people poked their heads out of the hospital entrance to see what was going on.
After about the third screaming fit from the girl, that House eventually learned was called Sophie, he decided his ears were about to burst and putting two fingers in his mouth, House produced an ear-splitting whistle which made the two arguing children shut up straight away.
'How about I take Billy here on a quick spin, and then I come back, you can have a go and I can get on with what I was doing?' House decided he was getting a bit annoyed and wanted to get back to his thinking.
'Okay!' she said excitedly, jumping up and down.
Stepping out of the elevator, the first thing Cuddy heard was children's voices followed by the sound of a familiar engine revving. Rolling her eyes she grabbed a coat from her office and headed towards the front doors greeting the nurse who was at the desk.
She squeezed past the few people who were standing at the doors, 'What's going on?' she asked Nurse Brenda who was standing with a slightly amused expression on her face.
'House again.' She stated simply, not taking her eyes of the strange sight of House interacting with children.
Sighing, Cuddy made her way over to where House was now arguing with a little girl at the front of a line of children who were looking expectantly at House and his bike. 'I am not a pony for hire! Go away!' he growled at the line in front of him.
Standing a few feet away with her arms crossed, she cleared her throat before he made some of them cry, cocking an eyebrow as he looked up she asked with a grin, 'Having fun?'
Putting on a false cheerful expression House sat straighter on his bike and performed his regular once over of her. 'Yes thanks, you?'
'Well I was until I came out and found you with a group of impressionable children. You haven't cursed yet have you?' she asked looking slightly apprehensive about his answer.
'NO!' House answered, slightly appalled at her lack of trust in him, and his innocent look would have worked if the children hadn't all shouted 'YES!' at exactly the same time. She raised her eyebrows and looked at him for an explanation, 'Maybe just a little one.' He looked sheepishly at her before glaring at the group who were starting to get cold.
'I think maybe it's time for you guys to be getting inside before you catch a chill.' Cuddy started to herd the group away from House amid protests and complaints.
Shooing them inside, she turned round to see him watching her. 'You've been working none stop since the other day.' He stated.
'And?'
'I think I remember telling you, you need to relax,' He stood up and started his familiar limp towards her. Stopping a few feet away and leaning in closer, he dangled his bike keys in front of her face. She opened her mouth to start and object but he beat her to it, 'and I think it's time for another distraction.' He grinned his most charming grin and Cuddy failed to contain her own.
'Fine.' She agreed and swiped the keys from his hand and edged round him towards the waiting bike. She turned around when she got there and opened her mouth to say something but closed it again when House wasn't where she left him.
'House?' she called, looking around.
'Yes?' she whirled round and had to grab onto House's arm to stop herself from falling over. 'Easy there.' He smirked and used the opportunity to grab Cuddy round the waist under the illusion of keeping her steady.
'Where were you?' she asked pulling herself away from his wandering hands, and straightened her jacket.
House didn't say anything, just carried on smirking and pulled his hand out from behind his back.
Cuddy frowned in confusion at the red helmet in his outstretched hand. 'Wha..?' she managed to get out then frowned again.
'It's a helmet,' he explained as if talking to a small child, 'you put in on your head,' he limped towards her and put it in her hand, 'and it stops it stops your brain falling out when you fall off learning how to ride a motorbike.' He leaned down and looked her in the eye, she had a slightly glazed look on her face. 'Helooo?' he waved his hand in her face and she snapped out of her trance and focused on him.
'What?' she asked.
'You kinda zoned out for a sec.'
'Yeah, I'm fine,' she scowled, putting the helmet on a nearby wall, 'I am not learning to ride that thing.'
'Why not?' he asked, taking a seat on his bike and gesturing for her to sit in front of him.
She didn't answer, just eyed the bike warily but moved towards him anyway.
'Cuddy just get on the damn bike.' House was starting to get annoyed, 'You enjoyed it last time?' he waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
She rolled her eyes at him and swung her leg over the seat in front of him, ignoring the way House leered at her leg as it went through his field of vision. Even gladder she had trousers on for once she settled herself on the seat and purposefully squirmed against him, drawing a faint hiss from the diagnostician. She squirmed again and grinned when he repeated the noise, but she gasped when he placed both hands tightly on her hips and growled in her ear, 'Sit. Still.'
She didn't respond, just enjoyed the way his hands felt on her and waited to see what he would do next. He took her smooth hands in his larger, rougher ones from where they rested on her thighs and put them on the handle bars. She could feel his heartbeat through her thin layers, and the heat radiating from him making her lean back into him.
'The bike needs to be in neutral,' he started instructing, his voice rumbling through her, 'squeeze the clutch,' his left hand tightened round hers, 'put it in 1st gear, release the clutch and turn the throttle towards you.' His breath whispered across her cheek and she shivered slightly. They started moving forwards and she lifted her feet at House's prodding and put them on the foot pegs while he kept his down to steady them.
A crowd of bored hospital staff had gathered round the entrance again and watched their boss and most hated colleague navigate through the homemade track.
'You think this is good for her, spending this much time with him?' Amber asked anyone who was listening.
'She's a grown woman, and she knows what she's getting into with him.' Wilson answered. 'She makes him a better person, not that he'd admit it, but she does.'
'I hate to admit,' Nurse Brenda said from her position against the door frame, 'She does look happier than I've seen her in a long time.'
They rolled to a stop and Cuddy missed the warmth coming from House when he sat up. She hopped off the bike and he pulled it to rest on its stand. House turned on the bike and sat sideways, raising an eyebrow at her slightly troubled expression.
She bit her lip and moved toward him a few steps asking, 'Why are you being nice?'
That he wasn't expecting and he frowned slightly. 'What?'
'Why are you being nice?' she repeated looking slightly worried and confused.
'Does it matter?' he asked not liking where this conversation was headed.
'Yes.' She squared her shoulders and looked him directly in the eye.
House shrugged and decided there was no point in putting his answer off, 'Maybe I'm tired of being a miserable bastard.' He sighed and looked down. He continued in a quieter, sadder voice that Cuddy had never heard from him before, and it made her soften, taking another step forward so they were toe to toe. 'Maybe I don't want to be on my own anymore.'
Cuddy was silent for a few moments before she moved forward. He opened his legs and looked up as she stepped between them. She stopped centimetres from him and took his hand, rubbing small circles with her thumb. She looked into his eyes and saw the desperation and loneliness he usually kept hidden from everyone. Reaching up she cupped his cheek and leant forward, resting her forehead against his and closed her eyes. She felt rather than heard the sigh that came from him as he tipped his head up and nuzzled her nose with his, 'Liseā¦' he started, and a shiver ran through her at the long forgotten, but familiar name.
Cuddy let go of his hand and brought it to the side of his neck and rubbed her thumb behind his ear. His hands went to her hips automatically as they both tipped their heads closer, their breath mingling. His hands slipped under her shirt and tugged her the millimetres closer so the entire length of her was pressed against him and their lips finally came together.
House's lips were soft but with a hint of urgency and want as one of his hands travelled to the small of her back and pulled her even closer. She moaned deep in her throat when his tongue travelled over her bottom lip and she parted them willingly as he angled his head to deepen the kiss. Their tongues ran over each other slowly and possessively making both of them moan and tighten their grips even more. A few minutes passed before the need for air became too much and they reluctantly pulled apart, but only far enough to rest their foreheads together again. They both smiled but neither could see with their eyes still closed.
House linked his hands behind her back and nuzzled into her neck, 'Do you know how long I've wanted to do that?' he asked a little breathlessly, placing a couple of soft, warm kisses against her neck.
Cuddy wrapped her arms around his shoulders and leaned into him, 'Probably about as long as I have.'
House and Cuddy's peaceful moment was broken a few minutes later when a throat cleared behind them.
'Yes Wilson?' Cuddy asked as though her and House kissing in the car park was normal.
'Oh, nothing,' Wilson replied innocently, as he failed to hold back a grin, 'just that you guys have created a fire hazard,' he pointed behind him to the crowd gathered at the hospital entrance, and House leaned round Cuddy to glare at them, 'and you've got a phone call.' He added, looking at Cuddy.
'Oh God.' Cuddy groaned, turning back to House who was still glaring at Wilson's retreating back.
'You called?' he joked grinning at her. She glared at him and continued as if he hadn't spoken, 'What are we going to do?'
'Well I,' he started, turning to sit back on his bike, 'am going for another spin-'
'Oh no you're not!' Cuddy exclaimed, reaching over and taking the keys from him, 'you are not getting out of it.' House just sat there and pouted childishly, 'you are coming back in there with me, I am not facing them on my own.' She crossed her arms and waited for him to get up.
'Fine,' He huffed grabbing his cane and starting to limp towards her, 'you are evil.' He added, limping past her.
'And you love it.' She replied, turning to walk beside him.
