A Word Dr Cuddy

He waited outside the patients room. The new nurse in this wing studied the man waiting. She knew him, not personally by reputation. He was an enigma, like young House, older House was as sill unreadable as he had ever been.

Although a little rougher around the edges. He lent heavily on his cane and

waited. Then She exited the room.

"I've been thinking about you." He studied her face, watching it light up, she smiled softly, he mused, she had barely aged a day, since the day he met her she was still perfect. She always would be.

"You lied." He watched the change, her face immediately shutting down, he watched the light dim from her eyes, not enough time for him to figure it out.

She crossed to the desk, "I didn't lie, I simply chose not share completely irelevant facts." Her face was a little flushed, internally she was repremanding herself for opening up so quickly, he'd always had this effect on her.

"Like the fact that you lied." She looked at him scathingly. "No wonder I couldn't place his face, you were practically swallowing it on the dance floor." He grinned at the change on her expression. The outraged, flushed face, the eyes that glittered furiously.

"I was not." She replied indignantly.

"The cool uncle, he donates the money and the nephew gets the write off. Of course by write off I mean he gets to put your ankles..." He was jealous, every guy Cuddy had, every date she went on, slowly chipped away at his fortress. He knew he should stop now, but he didn't care any more.

"This is exactly why I didn't mention our one date two years ago." She snapped.

"Was it my T-Shirt?" He joked, pouting. The way of hiding the pain. That and the sarcasam.

"Because you are an obnoxious ass, because you would have spent the whole time..." She tried to continue. Feeling the anger eb away, she had to maintain that if she were to win this argument, truth be told she enjoyed being this close to him. She could smell his aftershave, and feel his heat.

"That's very smart, because this way I spent my whole time completely focused on the patient." He retorted, mocking her, trying to keep the smile off his face, he loved this banter, he just loved being with her.

She knew he'd gotten her on the back foot, she went on the defensive. "How did you even remember him? We were only at that party for like 10 minutes."

"So is this a new health plan? Service the dean of medicine and you get free health care for a year?" He contiuned his reckless rant. He kept on at Cuddy, hoping she snapped, he may love these little banters, but he loved when she was angry more. Then he saw the smile on her face, and was suddenly uneasy. "Why are you smiling?"

"You remembered him BECAUSE he made out with me." She felt the glee rush through her, now it was her on the offensive.

"I'm good with faces." He tried to palm her off, and continued on his weakend attack. "So this plan, is it open to anyone? Is there a co-pay?"

She laughed, "You're lousy with faces."

He looked at her, caught of guard, how did she know so much about him, it pleased him. Quickly he shook off that feeling, and contiuned battering the Dean. "Don't make this about me, this is your humiliation. How much for private room coverage." Secretly he knew he'd lost, her next sentance confirmed it.

"Get over me."

"Give me a break! You hired me..." Slightly panicked, he was slipping down this slope faster than he anticipated.

"Because you're a good doctor who couldn't get himself hired at a blood bank, so I got you cheap." She leaned into towards him, raising her eyebrows, as if inviting him to retort, then when none came she turned and began to walk away.

"You gave me everything I asked for, because one night I gave you everything you..." He limped after her.

Quickly she turned, a finger in the air, the hostpital staff already had rumors running around in every wing about the Dean and the head of Diagnostics, they didn't need Gregory Houses statement. It would ruin her credability. "Stop starting at my ass when you think I'm not looking, showing up at restraunts where I happen to be on a date and fantasizing about me in the shower. That ship sailed long ago House. Get over it." She turned and walked away, it felt good but something, deep inside ached. Again, one of them was walking away. His mention of that 'one night' had brought back those memories of that 'last morning.' She remembered that afternoon, sititng in the chairs half dazed, then starting when she heard his name, she looked up, Greg House stood there, splendid in his red graduation robe. It was then she let the tears flow, watching him walk of the stage, she let Greg wallk out of her life again. And now

she was doing the same.

He yelled after her, knowing he couldn't catch up. "If you're still referring to your ass, I think that super tanker sailed would be the more precise metaphor."

She turned and laughed, then walked back down the corridor.

House stood there, willing her to turn back, his smile on his face, he watched the dean of medicine walk down the corridor, lab coat flaring out after her.

He said out loud, "this is not over Dr Cuddy. This is far from over."

Then he turned and limped back to his office, to wait.

Reviews, comments etc welcome. Thanks, Mambo.