"This is all your fault, you know. I can't believe how immature you are," she rolled her eyes. It had been a long week and House had done nothing to help it. She had been on edge before she had even heard about the elevator and had a feeling she was being harder on House than she would have been, even if he did deserve it.
"You're not allowed to get like that for another two weeks," House said, trying to act uncaring.
"Stop! That's creepy House," she seethed, knowing he was referring to when she was due to start.
"I'm just saying," he shrugged innocently, "Besides I'm only responsible for myself being stuck, I didn't ask you to get on. You did that all on your own Dr. Cuddy." He tried to hide his grin.
He enjoyed nothing more than angering Cuddy. It had something to do with the way she flushed, her eyes sparkled in a wild way, and her anger almost had her shaking. He enjoyed seeing her get that passionate about anything, especially things that involved him.
"We wouldn't even be here if you'd do your job for once," she snapped. Standing up once more, she started pacing around the small box.
"I do my job, it's all that extra stuff that I don't do." He whined. He would never understand how someone who could solve all the cases other doctors weren't capable of was subjected to treating patients that a nine year old could diagnose.
"That extra stuff is required, by all the doctors employed in this hospital. House you are no different, you have to do the hours. I've already given you less than most," she said, the last part softly.
They sat there quietly for a moment, only the noise from the TV keeping the silence at bay. Suddenly there was silence.
"Dammit," House yelled, slamming his hand down on the side of the couch. "My batteries died."
Cuddy just laughed, "Serves you right. That's what got us here in the first place."
"So you really give me fewer hours than the other doctors?" House asked, mostly making conversation. He vaguely remembered that Cuddy was slightly claustrophobic and really didn't want her to start to panic.
"Not all of them, only some. I give your team fewer hours than you, considering how they make up most of yours." She added, not feeling near as mad as she should. She sat down next to him again.
"They need more. I can't use my clinic hours as punishment when you're cutting them slack," he said, making it sound like this should be obvious.
"They don't need to be punished, House. They keep your ass out of trouble," she laughed gently, bumping his shoulder with hers.
"You would think that if they were working on the elevators we would be able to hear them." He got up and limped closer to the wall.
"Maybe they're still trying to figure out what's wrong?" She suggested, enjoying the fact that he was as uncomfortable as she was. She watched him shoot her a doubtful look and sighed. "Is it that bad having to interact with me?" She asked, trying to sound like she was joking instead of hurt.
"Only when you're nagging me," he mocked. He knew he'd just hurt her, but it was better that she get hurt over his words, than the other ways he could hurt her. He had spent so many years trying to protect her from not only him, but herself as well.
Cuddy sighed, blinking away the early traces of tears. "When did we become like this Greg?"
The use of his first name made him look quickly in her direction. She hadn't called him Greg since she hired him. Things were getting too close for his liking. He knew she would be drilling him for answers and reasons to all their quirky ways.
"We used to get along, I mean I know we've always argued, but things never used to seem so cold." She was opening up and it scared her. She hadn't meant to let her guard down, but this might be her only chance to talk to him. He couldn't run away or slam the door in her face. He had to react.
"It was the surgery," he said plainly. His mind was already starting to wander into the depths of this conversation. He knew where things were headed and tried to come up with reasonable answers faster than she could shoot off questions.
"Oh," she said quietly, feeling the tears starting to fill up in her eyes.
