Do No Harm

Chapter 2: Crossing the Line

The first time House and I did had sex we were both really drunk. I woke up the next morning in his bed not knowing what the hell had happened. As it turned out, House didn't either. I thought he'd be weirded out by all of this and that he'd try to pretend that it was just some kind of dream. But he didn't. After we shared a semi-awkward "hi," his gaze drifted to my right nipple, which was peaking out from under the covers, and he stared at it. Usually, when the men (and women) I slept with looked at my body like House did that morning, I felt embarrassed. I wasn't worth staring at. But the way House looked at me; I started to think maybe I was. When he looked at me again, House leaned over and kissed me. We had sex again, this time sober and that's when we made it a regular thing on my trips out. But I made a mistake this time. As I snuck out of his bed at 6am a few weeks ago, I realized that I cared about House. Little did I know that caring would turn into love and that love almost would almost me apart.

I'm a surgeon. I'm hardcore. I make it a point to stay detached and uninvolved except behind closed doors. I am consumed by what I do. I am in love with that adrenaline rush I get when I'm trying to save a life. Up until today, saving lives was all that mattered. But then I got that phone call.

When I heard what House had done, my heart nearly stopped. He had almost killed himself trying to remember what his brain couldn't. That's why Cuddy looked in his chart. She didn't even question the validity of the paperwork. She just told me I should come as his wife.

I forgot to mention that didn't I? We're married. It seems like I'm suffering from memory loss too because I have no idea how or when we got married. But it had to be legally binding regardless. Otherwise I wouldn't have been called. But still needless to say I dropped the phone when Cuddy told me.

House and I have a good friendship. Why would we mess that up? Especially considering the fact that I wasn't looking for love or marriage and neither was House. I mean we're both doctors. Work consumes our lives and as far as sex goes, it was completely natural. Two human beings in high steak situations, spending lots of time together in close proximity, it was inevitable. But in spite of everything, despite avoiding attachment and feelings I started to care about him.

When we became intimate those feelings increased in spite of my better judgment. But sleeping together also brought us closer. We've gone from being colleagues and casual friends to colleagues and really good friends. But somewhere along the way the line between friends and lovers become blurred and now we both stand to get hurt.

Cuddy looked up from something on her desk. "It's alright, Mark. I was expecting Dr. Grey. Come in," She said motioning to Caitie.

Caitie stepped inside and closed the door, "Where is my husband?"

"He's upstairs in his office resting."

Caitie scoffed, "I highly doubt that. You know him; he can't until this puzzle is solved."

Cuddy sighed softly, "I know that. But maybe you can help him now that you're here."

"I can try. But with the change in our relationship he might not let me."

"Well there's only one way to find out."

When Caitie got to House's office, it was empty. She could see the empty chair as she peered through the glass pane. Instead of immediately going after him however, she pushed open the door and went behind his desk before sitting in the chair herself. She took a breath and leaned back into the leather seat, forcing herself to calm down. Normally, Caitlin Grey was not like this. She was detached and calm most of the time because that was what was required in her job as a surgeon.

But today, Caitie was on the other side of the line. She was no longer a treating physician. She was considered a "loved one" and that completely sucked. Despite her best laid plans, Caitie knew that she cared about House way more than she should have. And now she would have to struggle to keep it together, lest she kill him for being so incredibly stupid. Somewhat calmer, Caitie rose and was about to go search for House somewhere else when she just happened to spot a corner of a piece of paper sticking out of his top desk drawer closest to the TV. Opening the drawer, Caitie moved to push the paper back in. But an automatic glance at it made her stop. After staring for a moment, she pulled it out and looked at it.

In her hands, she held a marriage licensed issued to and signed by Dr. Gregory House and Dr. Caitlin Grey in Atlantic City approximately three months ago. The paper had two folds in it as if it had been stored somewhere else before being put in a drawer, which meant that House had moved it, which meant he had to have known. But why hadn't he told her? Looking at the license again, Caitie began to remember the night that it was issued.

Flashes of brightly colored cocktails, a light lemon satin and black lace bra and panty set from Agent Provocateur, the dress she had worn that day, the sound of slot machines, the feel of his lips on hers, the alcohol they drank all raced through her mind. Though she couldn't remember the entire night Caitie did remember the inside of the chapel, what the person conducting the ceremony looked like, and some of what had been said. But when Caitie had woken up the next morning she had chalked all of those little snippets up to some kind of strange dream. Only it wasn't a dream after all. It was real.

With a new resolve, Caitie left her bag by House's desk and went to go find him.

House was watching Amber through the window in her ICU room. Just mere hours ago, she had been drinking a cosmopolitan in Sherry's bar with him. And not long after, she had stupidly followed him onto the bus which landed her here. No one was any closer to figuring out what was killing Amber and that only served to frustrate him even more. He was even considering deep brain stimulation at this point. Time was running out and he had to figure out what was going on or Wilson's girlfriend would be dead.

"Greg?" said a voice breaking into his thoughts.

House looked toward the source of the speech, "Grey," He said in a surprised yet slightly annoyed tone of voice. "What are you doing here?"

"Cuddy called me. She's worried about you."

"So she sent the almighty surgeon to scare me. Like you could scare me," He scoffed.

"Cuddy didn't call me as a surgeon, Greg."

"Why are you calling me Greg? You always call me House."

"Wives don't generally call their husbands by their last names."

He froze momentarily, "Husband?"

"Yes," Caitie replied quietly. "How long have you known?"

"Since yesterday," House admitted with a sigh. "I found it in the book I brought on the plane. I must have stuck it there after we went back to the room."

She nodded, "Let's go back to your place."

"I can't. I have to stay."

"You have a cracked skull Greg."

"I know that Caitlin," He shot back imitating her doctor-like tone.

"You need to rest."

"I have a patient to diagnose!"

"I can see that. But you won't be any use to anyone passed out in coma."

"We don't have that much time."

"So I've heard. I'll help you."

"You can't help me."

"Why not? I've helped you before many times. Nothing has changed."

"I-I have to do this for Wilson," He said almost inaudibly.

"So let me help," Caitie replied, touching his arm. "Please."

House looked down at her. She could be so cute when she was sincere, "Ok," He relented. "You can help."

Caitie leaned up on tip-toe and kissed him softly, "Your place?"

"Yeah," He said turning away from the window.

"We'll figure this out, I promise."

R/R please!