Title: Mending a Broken Man

Disclaimer: Angst, language, slash.

Chapter Two: Wish it Would Break

It began to rain as Cuddy filled out paperwork in her office. She was tired of writing the same thing over and over again. But the board of directors wanted to make sure that House was still capable of doing his job. The problem she was having was whether or not to tell any of them about the budding relationship between House and Wilson. She didn't care that they were in love, if that's what it could be called. All she knew was that Wilson was good for House. If the two of them wanted to share a bed, she wasn't going to object. However, keeping information from the higher ups would get her in trouble if it somehow got out that she knew and didn't say anything. Why did it seem that House always had her back up against the wall? Wasn't she the one that was supposed to be controlling him, and not vice versa?

She chewed on the end of her pen as the toyed with the idea of telling everyone. Her friendship with the doctor was already strained. Telling everyone about his personal life wouldn't really help things any. Of course, he wasn't always so nice to other people when it came to similar situations. She was about to put pen to paper when there was a knock at the door. She looked up, half expecting it to be House, even though she knew he wasn't the knocking kind. An older man walked into her office, his business suit more expensive than her own car. He looked distinguished and tough as nail while holding on to that loving grandfather appeal.

"Mr. Dixon, what a pleasant surprise," she smiled, standing up, dropping her pen on her desk. "To what do I own this visit?"

The older man took a seat in a chair across from her desk. He idly checked his watch, which Cuddy noticed was gold. She wasn't really surprised though. The higher ups always made more money and could spend it on such frivolous things like gold watches and expensive suits. She wisely kept her mouth shut. They could be using that money to fund certain projects in the hospital or to buy new equipment. It wasn't her place to tell them what to do with their money though.

"I've been hearing some interesting tails from this place lately," the man spoke coolly, his voice carrying just the slightest hint of a British accent. "I was hoping that you could sort things out for me."

"Um, sure, I'll do what I can," Cuddy answered, hoping that he didn't notice the slight tremor in her voice. She had a bad feeling that she knew where this was going. And if it turned out that she was right, then things were about to get ugly again.

"Dr. House is back to work. While he is a good doctor I can't help but hear that he's dating someone that he works closely with," Dixon said. "Now, I don't tend to frown on business relationships in the hospital. As long as the two parties don't work too closely together. I like there to be a space between them so that we don't have foolish judgments. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Cuddy nodded. "Yes, sir. But I don't-"

He held up his hand to silence her. "Now, I'm worried that Dr. House's new infatuation with his co-worker will cloud his judgment. And he is the best doctor that this hospital has, even if he's not always doing things legally and his bedside manner sucks. None of that matters to me. He saves lives and gives this hospital a good reputation. That's what counts."

"I know that, Mr. Dixon. But-"

"Wilson is also a very good doctor," Dixon continued, ignoring her attempts to interrupt. "In fact, he's one of the best oncologists in the state and I would love to keep him employed here. However, I will not sit by while two good doctors risk everything for a little fling. I want you to nip this in the bud. Either make it clear to them that they have to leave their relationship out of the office or the board will be forced to take action."

By now Cuddy's heart felt like it was made of lead and a seed of foreboding had been planted in the deepest reaches of her stomach. This was not going to be a pleasant time. "Mr. Dixon, I believe that both Dr House and Dr Wilson are mature enough to leave their relationship at the threshold. I don't think they would be willing to risk their jobs."

The man smiled. "Well, you obviously have been too cooped up in this office to see what's been going on around you. I went to pay a visit to Dr House before coming to see you. I wanted to welcome him back. Low and behold he was out on the balcony kissing Wilson while his team worked over the file of a patient. He's already slacking off in his work."

"I'll talk to him right away. I'll talk to both of them," she assured the older man. "Please, don't make any decisions just yet."

"Oh, the decision has already been made, Dr Cuddy," Mr. Dixon replied coolly as he stood from his chair. Cuddy stood too. "I want you to make it clear to them. If they don't keep their relationship out of this hospital I will be forced to remove one of them. And I don't want it to come to that. But I can't have the reputation of this hospital suffering for a small fling."

He turned a left, not even bothering to say goodbye or wish her a good day. Cuddy sat heavily in her chair, her mind buzzing with worry. She had worked with House for years now and knew that he wasn't one to buckle to authority. Hell, she had seen what lengths he would go to just to get his way. And that wasn't a road that she wanted to travel down again. After all, she had pushed too hard and already ruined a good, but somewhat rocky, friendship. She could tell House all she wanted that he wasn't supposed to fool around while on the clock. That didn't mean he was going to listen.

Then an idea came to her. She picked up her phone and made a quick call. After hanging up she cleaned up her desk, putting the stack of papers in a drawer and the pen back in the cup by her stapler. On second though, she pulled the papers from the drawer and threw them in the trash. The directors already knew what was going on and she wasn't going to waste anymore time in filling out the stupid forms. A minute later there was another knock on her door. She looked up in time to see Wilson enter her office.

"You called for me?" he asked, his voice friendly. He had forgiven her more than House had over the past few weeks. At least she still had one friend.

"We need to talk, Wilson," she told him. "And it's rather important. Please, take a seat."