Hey, guys! Thanks for all the great reviews! Here's the next chapter.


"Mom, mom, mom, mom!"

Caleb came running into the living room, his Spider-Man bed sheet tied around him to make a cape. Rachel ran after him into the room.

"Yes, Cay," Lisa said as she tried to finish off the last paragraph in the report she was reading.

"Mom, you gotta watch," Caleb replied.

"Yeah, Mommy!" Rachel added.

"Okay." Lisa set the report on the couch and looked up at her children. "I'm watching. What are you going to do?"

Caleb leaned over to his sister and whispered into her ear. Rachel nodded and then held her arm out toward Caleb.

"Presentin' the magnifercent Cay!"

Rachel took a step back and placed her hands behind her back. Caleb looked to her and made a face, his hand now sticking out toward her. She gave him a smile as she dug into the pocket of her shorts. She pulled out a pencil and placed it in his hand before stepping back again and putting her hands behind her back once more.

Lisa smiled and leaned forward on the couch, watching with interest.

"I will make this wood pencil turn into rubber," Caleb announced.

Caleb held the pencil by the eraser at eye level, parallel with the floor. He began to shake it ever so slightly, causing the illusion that the pencil was, in fact, rubbery and not hard. Lisa's smile grew. She had never been able to do that trick.

"Ta-da!" Caleb exclaimed.

"Ta-da!" Rachel repeated.

Lisa clapped. "Great job, Cay!"

"What about me?" Rachel asked, tilting her head to the side, her pigtails swinging. "What about me, Mommy?"

"And great job assistant," Lisa added, giving her daughter a smile.

"I have one more trick!" Caleb told her.

He handed the pencil back to Rachel and she gave him a quarter from her pocket. She placed the pencil in her mouth and began to chew on the wood. Lisa frowned at her.

"Get that pencil out of your mouth."

Caleb looked to his sister. "Yeah."

Rachel took the pencil from her mouth and put it back into her pocket. Caleb looked back over at his mother.

"Okay, watch," he said. "Watch, Mom."

"I'm watching," she assured him with a nod.

Caleb held the quarter up and then let it drop into his hand as he turned his fist down and then back up again before showing his mother his empty palm.

"It's gone!" Caleb exclaimed.

Lisa's mouth fell open and she clapped again. "That was fantastic, Cay! Where did you learn that?"

"Dr. House showed me," he answered.

Her eyebrows drew together. "He showed you how to do that?"

"Yes." Caleb nodded happily.

"He gonna show me, too!" Rachel said.

"No, he won't," Caleb told her. "'Cause you're a girl."

Rachel looked to her mother, a pout on her face. "Mommy!"

"When did he show you how to do that?" Lisa asked Caleb.

Caleb shrugged. "When I was there. Was I a good magician, Mom?"

"Yes, very good." Lisa smiled at him. "Come here."

She held her arms out and Caleb went to her. She hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"What about me?" Rachel bounced up and down. "I assissant."

"A wonderful assistant," Lisa added.

Rachel went to her mother and Lisa hugged her as well before planting a kiss on her cheek, too.

"Can we watch movie, Mommy?" Rachel asked.

"Yeah," Caleb agreed excitedly.

"If you decide on one together," she told them.

"Come on!"

Caleb pulled his sister with him over to the DVD shelves. Lisa picked up her report in order to finish reading it before they put the movie on.


"Mom, where are we going?"

Caleb asked from his child car seat in the back. Lisa kept her eyes on the road as she stepped on the gas, increasing their speed.

"To the hospital pharmacy," she answered. "They close at seven."

Rachel whined and squirmed in her car seat. Lisa glanced back at her daughter in the mirror.

"It's okay, Rachel," she told her. "We'll get back home soon."

A siren sounded and Lisa saw the red and blue lights flashing behind the car. She felt her stomach sink.

"Damn it," she cursed as she slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road.

Caleb tried to turn in his seat and look back at the police car behind them. Rachel stopped whining as she tried to look back, too.

"Mommy, is that a cop?" Caleb asked.

"Yes," Lisa answered and glanced down at the time. It was ten to seven.

"But, we're buckled," Caleb replied.

"We're buckled," Rachel repeated and clutched onto the buckle of her car seat.

"I know," Lisa told them. "This is my fault."

"Are you buckled?" Caleb asked, raising his eyebrows, slightly confused.

"Yes," she answered.

Lisa rolled down the window as the officer approached. He peered in at her before looking toward the back seat.

"We're buckled!" Caleb called out to the officer.

"Very good, son," the officer said to him.

"Do you know how fast you were going?" the officer asked Lisa.

"I, uh—" She didn't know. "No."

"Fifty in a thirty five," he told her.

"I'm sorry," she apologized and then the words began to spill out of her. "It's just, my kids are sick and I need to get them antibiotics and the pharmacy closes in ten minutes and this is the first time I'm getting the chance to get them out of the house. They've been... with the fevers..."

Lisa realized she was crying. She quickly swiped at her eyes.

"I'm sorry."

"It's not safe to be driving so fast in this area, especially when you have kids in the back seat," he said to her.

"I know." She nodded. "I'm sorry."

"We're buckled!" Rachel tried to tell the officer again, sensing things weren't going well since her mother began to cry.

"Yeah, we're buckled," Caleb added, wanting to help his mom as well.

"But, they are buckled," the office agreed with her children. "And they do look pretty sick. I'm just going to give you a warning this time."

"Thank you so much," Lisa said. "I really appreciate it. Thank you."

He gave a nod and walked away from her car. Lisa left for the hospital, not wanting to wait for the cop to leave first. She really needed to get to the pharmacy. She hoped she would still make it in time since she was now driving the speed limit.

"See, Mommy, we were buckled," Caleb spoke up. "No trouble."

"That's right, Cay." She glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "No trouble."


"Done playing?" Lisa asked as she entered the living room.

Caleb was lying on the floor, staring up at the cartoons on the television. He didn't look to her as he answered.

"Yep."

"Where's Rachel?"

Caleb shrugged. "Dunno."

Lisa raised her eyebrows at her son. "Well, did she come in with you?"

"No," he said.

"You left her outside by herself?" she replied.

Caleb looked back at his mother, a frown on his face. "She was being stupid."

Lisa narrowed her eyes at him. "Caleb, you know she's not allowed to be outside by herself."

"So, she should have come in," he told her hotly.

"Do you know if she did come in?"

"No."

Lisa left the living room and looked toward the staircase.

"Rachel!" she called out, wondering if the girl had gone to her room. "Rachel!"

After not receiving an answer, Lisa headed toward the small laundry room in the back of the house, which held the door to the backyard. Once in the laundry room, she opened the door and scanned the backyard. She didn't see any sign of the five-year-old girl with the long brown curls.

"Rachel!"

Lisa frowned and slid on her running sneakers. She stepped outside and walked down the steps. She didn't see her daughter anywhere in the fenced in backyard. Lisa's eyes fell on the opened gate alongside of the house.

Feeling her heart begin to pound, she headed toward the gate and walked along the house and into the front yard. She looked up and down the street, but she still didn't see Rachel.

"Rachel!" Lisa shouted. "Rachel!"

"Mom?"

Lisa looked over to the other side of the house. Her five-year-old in a pink coat was standing there, staring at her.

"Get over here," Lisa commanded, her voice indicating anger. "Now."

Rachel walked over to her mother, her face solemn. She could tell by the tone that she was in trouble.

"Are you allowed to be outside by yourself?" Lisa asked her.

"No," she answered quietly.

"Are you allowed to leave the backyard?" Lisa raised her eyebrows at her.

She hesitated a moment. "No."

"Then, what are you doing?" Lisa locked eyes with her daughter's.

Rachel shrugged in response.

"Come on." Lisa led her to the backyard. "Time out."

"Why?" Rachel whined. "Caleb's the one who went in."

"And you left the backyard," Lisa replied. "You're not allowed to play out front unless there's an adult supervising. Let's go."

Rachel pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. She stomped past her mother and headed into the house. Lisa let out a sigh, a mixture of anger and relief, and followed after her daughter.


She opened the door and he stood there, slightly awkward.

"Hi," Lisa greeted him, smiling.

"Hey," House replied, giving her a nod.

"Come in."

Lisa took a step back, allowing him room to enter. House limped into her home and took a sweeping look around.

"Where're the demons?" he asked.

"My children are at my father's," she told him. "They're spending the night."

"And you called me because...?" House trailed off, slightly unsure.

"The kids left at about four and I enjoyed the quiet at first," Lisa began. "But, then I started cleaning, and I ate alone, and then the quiet was unsettling. And we haven't really talked in a while except when we butt heads at work and I just thought I'd call."

"When have we ever really talked before?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

"We have," she replied. "Occasionally. Do you want a drink?"

"What do you have?"

Lisa began to lead him down the hall and toward the kitchen. House followed after her.

"Water, coffee... something alcoholic."

"You keep alcohol in the house with your children around?"

She glanced back at him. "It's out of their reach."

"You're setting a bad example," he pointed out.

"I don't drink it in front of them," she said in response.

"Oh, so you just have a little nip after they go to bed." House nodded.

Lisa stopped in the kitchen and whirled around to face him. House remained in the doorway, wondering if she was going to hit him.

"Do you want something to drink or not?" she snapped at him.

He gave a short nod. Lisa walked over to the top cabinet above the sink and opened it, displaying a few different kinds of alcohol.

"Scotch," House told her, eyeing up the bottle.

Lisa stood on her tip toes, reaching for it. House limped over to her and stood behind her. He reached over her and she could feel him only inches from her as he grabbed the bottle.

House brought the bottle down and she relaxed back on the flats of her feet. He took a step back from her and gave her the bottle.

"I'll just have a shot," he said.

She shook her head. "I don't have any shot glasses."

"Why?" he asked.

She shrugged. "I just don't."

Lisa opened another cabinet and took out a glass. She poured an eyeballed amount of a shot into the glass and handed it to House.

"There's too much in here," he immediately told her.

"It's a shot," she replied.

"Well, you don't actually know that, do you?" House raised his eyebrows at her. "It's just a little too much. Take a sip out of it."

"Why don't you just drink it?" she suggested with attitude.

"I only want exactly a shot."

"You're so difficult."

Lisa took the glass and sipped from it. She frowned against the taste and handed the glass back to him. House peered into the glass.

"Now, there's too little."

With a glare, Lisa picked the bottle of scotch back up, playing his game. She put just a touch more into his glass. House smirked.

"Now, there's too much."

Lisa set the bottle back on the counter and then grabbed the glass from him. She downed the scotch and then grimaced, an involuntary shudder going through her. She placed the glass back in House's hand as he stared at her in return.

"Pour it yourself," she told him.

House was impressed. And slightly turned on. He picked up the liquor bottle and poured himself the amount of about two shots. With one go, he drank it and then set the glass down on the counter as he felt the burn in his stomach.

"Now what?" he asked.

"We could talk," she offered.

He took a step away from her. "I'm gonna go."

"Or we could watch television," she added. "Or a movie. Or—"

He closed the distance between them as his mouth went to hers. She let him kiss her for a moment before she engaged with him. Her hand slid to his stubbled cheek as his hand skimmed down her backside.

It was House that broke from the kiss. He locked eyes with her, watching her, waiting for her to give him something more. He wanted her to assure him that this was what she wanted.

"Or we could do this," she said.

House raised his eyebrows at her. "Isn't that why you asked me over?"

"No," she answered.

"Really?"

He was analyzing her. She could tell by the look on his face. She could easily stop him by putting her lips back upon his, but she was curious. She wanted to know what he was thinking.

"You're without the kids for one night in how long?" he asked. "You're looking for company. You've had how many relationships since you got the kids? Hm?"

"Two," she told him.

"Right," he agreed. "Two in five years. And the last one was when? Over a year ago?"

"It's a little unnerving that you know that, House," Lisa replied.

He held up a finger. "I'm not finished yet. You can't ask any of the single dads you know over because you worry how anything between the two of you might affect your kids. You're not calling Wilson. And that only leaves me. That was your thinking when you called me. You never wanted to talk."

She stared at him and he waited, wondering if she was going to yell at him or kick him out. Instead, she gave a slight nod.

"Then... let's not talk."

And they didn't.

His mouth crashed down on hers. She let her tongue intermingle with his as his hands possessively clutched onto her hips. Her right hand skimmed down his arm as her left hand found itself on the side of his face, skimming back until her fingers were in his hair and her thumb rested in front of his ear.

She pulled away just enough to draw in a deep breath. Her left hand went to his shoulder and he planted a kiss to her mouth before letting his lips trail up her jaw line to her ear. Her fingernails dug into his shoulder as he pulled her even closer to him. He nibbled on her earlobe and she let out a low moan.

"That feels..."

He removed his mouth from her. "I thought we weren't talking."

"It feels good."

He smirked and nudged his nose against her earlobe before sucking on the skin behind it. She felt a throbbing deep inside her and she drew in a breath to try and remain cool. Her eyes closed as House's hands skimmed up her sides.

She opened her eyes back up and turned her head towards him in order to get his lips back onto hers. He backed up a half a step as he removed his hands from her. He let his right hand slip beneath her shirt and move up over her warm skin.

Lisa's hand went to the back of his head, her fingernails scrapping lightly through his hair, her tongue back in his mouth. House let his thumb dip down into her bra, rubbing against her hardened nipple. She pulled her mouth from his, letting out a slight gasp.

"Upstairs."

"What?"

"Bedroom."

"Right."

She stepped back and he slid his hand out from under her shirt. She felt she needed to be upstairs because if things got any further, she was worried she'd be too weak to tackle the stairs. She turned and began from the kitchen.

House limped quickly to catch up to her and then slid his free arm around her waist, pulling her back into him. He nestled his face against her neck, smelling her hair, as he walked with her. She reached a hand behind her to his undamaged leg and skimmed her hand up, letting her fingernails run over his inner thigh.

He groaned against her ear and she smirked. When they reached the staircase she detached herself from him and headed up them practically two at a time. He only made it up three by the time she reached the top. She looked down at him.

"You better hurry up," she told him.

House watched as she pulled her shirt off over her head, revealing her bra to him. His tongue ran over his bottom lip as he took another step up. She smirked again and turned her back to him as she headed from his view and towards her bedroom.

"And you better be naked by the time I get up there!" he called after her.

It was painful for him to go up the stairs, but he figured, it was worth it.


She felt two small hands on her back, shaking her awake. Lisa looked over in the darkness to the source of the disturbance. The lightning illuminated the little girl, her hair messy and her eyes wide with fear.

"What, sweetie?" Lisa asked.

"It's scary outside," Rachel said, her voice quiet. "Can I sleep with you?"

"Sure."

Lisa scooted across the bed and pulled back the blankets so Rachel could crawl underneath. She curled up next to her mother and let out a whimper as a loud clap of thunder sounded.

"It's okay, Rachel," Lisa soothed her daughter as she lightly ran her fingers through the girl's hair. "Nothing's going to hurt you."

"I know," Rachel replied. "I just don't like it when it rains lots and the thunder's loud."

"But, it's not going to hurt you, sweetheart."

Rachel shook her head. "I'm not scared for me."

Lisa's eyebrows drew together in confusion. "Then, who are you scared for?"

"You," Rachel answered.

"Why me?" Lisa asked her.

"I'm scared it'll take you away," Rachel confessed, her voice in a whisper.

"What do you mean?"

"I think the rain would rain so much, it'll wash you away," Rachel told her. "Like Piglet."

Lisa smiled, recalling the DVD Rachel watched at least once a week of Winnie-the-Pooh. One of the stories was about a flood in Hundred Acre Woods and poor little Piglet's house flooded. Lisa continued to stroke her daughter's hair.

"You have nothing to worry about, sweetie," she said. "I'm not going to float away like Piglet did."

"Are you sure?" Rachel's voice rose a notch as she raised her eyebrows at her mother, unconvinced.

Lisa gave a slight nod. "I'm sure."

Rachel smiled and placed an arm over her mother. She scooted closer to Lisa.

"Mommy, I love you."

"I love you, too," Lisa replied and placed a kiss to Rachel's forehead.


House sidled up to her as Lisa headed for the Clinic. She had to pick up some paperwork before finishing up in her office for the day.

"It's Friday," House said, limping beside her.

"It is," she agreed and slowed her pace just a touch.

"Got plans?" he asked.

"Nope," she answered as she passed into the Clinic.

He followed her in. "Kids got plans?"

Lisa stopped and faced him, planting her hands on her hips. She eyed him up, suspicious.

"What do you want?"

"Why do you think I want something?" House replied, trying to portray innocence.

"First off, you're following me," Lisa told him. "Second, you actually referred to my kids as kids."

House shrugged. "Just wondering what their plans are."

"Caleb's sleeping over at a friend's and Rachel's staying home with me," Lisa answered his question, hoping that would be it and he would leave her alone.

"Doesn't she have any friends?" He frowned at her.

"Six is a little young for sleep overs."

Lisa headed toward the desk where the stack of paperwork sat, waiting for her. House followed her to the desk.

"No, it's not."

He stopped next to her and watched as she flipped through the files to make sure it was what she wanted. Lisa tried to act casual, even though she knew exactly why House was following her around. She lowered her voice as she leaned in closer to him.

"I told you that I'd let you know when I have the house to myself." She glanced around, making sure no one heard her.

"That's hardly ever," he replied.

She raised her eyes to him, a slight smirk on her face. "You miss being with me."

"I miss sex," he told her.

"Why don't you hire one of your ladies?" She suggested with a raised eyebrow as she picked up the stack of paperwork.

"You know I don't do that anymore," House said, narrowing his eyes at her.

"Maybe you should start again," she suggested with a shrug.

"Okay."

House turned from her and began to head for the Clinic doors. Lisa frowned, her eyes on him.

"Wait," she called out to him.

He smirked as he stopped. He faced her and then made his way back over to her. When he was close enough, he leaned toward her.

"Admit it," he said. "You miss being with me."

"No, I miss sex," she repeated the words he had told her before.

"We don't always have to do it at your place or mine," he replied. "We could do it here."

"House," she scolded and glanced around again to make sure no one was listening in on their conversation.

"What?" He shrugged innocently.

"You really want sex, don't you?" she asked him.

"It's affecting my work," he told her, trying to hold back his smirk. "I can't be here without picturing you naked."

"Stop it," she shushed him.

"Come on, Cuddy." He gave a gentle touch to her arm.

She drew in a breath and then let it out. She really did want to be with him. And she did think about sex with him. It had been quite a while since they had been together.

"I'll talk to my Dad about next weekend," she told him. "He's been talking about taking the kids fishing and maybe they'll make a weekend out of it."

"And then maybe we'll make a weekend out of it," he added, almost cautiously.

She smiled slightly. "Yeah. Maybe."


Lisa heard the front door close as she stood in the kitchen, unloading the dishwasher.

"Mommy!" Rachel's voice sounded from the front door.

"Rachel, no!" Her brother replied.

Frowning, Lisa stopped putting the dishes away and listened, wondering what was going on.

"Mo—"

"Shut up," Caleb cut his sister off.

"What's going on out there?" Lisa called out.

"Nothing!" Caleb answered.

Lisa heard pounding up the staircase. She checked the lasagna in the oven before heading towards the hallway. She almost crashed into Rachel, who stopped once she saw her mother. Her eyes examined her daughter, whose hair was tangled and clothes held patches of dirt.

"Why are you all dirty?" Lisa asked her.

"We got into a fight," Rachel told her.

"What?" Lisa's eyebrows drew together.

"Me and Caleb," Rachel replied. "These kids were making fun of us as we walked home from Jessica and Dan's house."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Rachel nodded. "But, Caleb's nose is bleeding."

Lisa hurried down the hallway and toward the staircase. Rachel began to follow her mother up the stairs.

"What happened?" Lisa asked as she glanced back at her daughter.

Rachel began to explain as they headed upstairs.

"We were walking home and these kids that we knew from day camp started following us and then they started saying mean things. We tried to ignore them, but Caleb started yelling back at them and then they pushed me because I was still ignoring them and then they all just started fighting and I got pushed around."

Lisa's eyebrows were drawn and her mouth was set into a frown. She was angry, worried, and upset. She walked toward the closed bathroom door and tried the doorknob. It was locked.

"Caleb?" she asked.

"Leave me alone!" he cried out from inside the bathroom.

"Open the door, Cay," Lisa told him.

"No," he replied.

"Please, Cay," Lisa softened her tone. "Your sister told me what happened. Let me take a look at your nose."

"I'm fine," Caleb insisted.

"I'm getting the key."

Caleb went to the door and unlocked it. He opened the door and stepped back, revealing himself to his mother. His nose had stopped bleeding, but there was wet and dried blood on his face. His light blue shirt was stained crimson at the top.

Lisa frowned as her eyebrows drew together. She took Caleb's chin in her hand and tilted his head up so she could examine his nose. She prodded it gently and he winced.

"It's not broken," she said.

She stepped into the bathroom and took a washcloth from the closet. She ran it under warm water and began to wipe the blood from his face. Rachel leaned against the door frame, chewing on her bottom lip as she watched.

"You don't fight with someone to solve problems, Caleb," Lisa told her son as she rinsed the washcloth before cleaning his face some more.

"They were saying really mean things," Caleb explained.

"Who?" Lisa asked.

"Bill and Tommy Eckert and their stupid friends," Caleb bitterly told her.

Lisa frowned at him. "What did they say to make you fight them?"

"Really really mean things," Rachel piped up.

"What?" Lisa looked toward her daughter.

"Well, they started calling Caleb nig—"

"Rachel," Caleb cut her off with a shake of his head. He looked up at his mother. "They were calling me the 'n' word. And saying that Rachel was an 'n' lover."

"And that you were an 'n' loving whore," Rachel added, peering at her mother with seven-year-old innocence.

"Who are these kids?" Lisa demanded and brought her eyes back to Caleb again. "Do you go to school with them?"

"No, but they live nearby," Caleb answered. "They don't like our family."

Lisa set the washcloth into the sink now that Caleb's face was clean. She brought him into a hug and he hugged her back. Rachel walked over to her mother and brother and did her best to put her arms around both of them. Lisa placed an arm around her daughter to bring her into the hug.

"Let them think what they want to," Lisa said. "They don't have to like us. We're better than that."

"It still hurts," Caleb mumbled and sniffed.

"I know." She placed her hand on the back of his head. "But, kids will always find something to pick on. Whether it's freckles or glasses—"

Caleb pulled back and looked up at his mother. "What did kids make fun of you for?"

"I was a pretty scrawny when I was young," Lisa told them. "They'd call me chicken legs or Olive Oyl."

Rachel's eyebrows drew together. "Who's Olive Oyl?"

"She's an old cartoon character," Lisa explained.

"Oh." Rachel gave a short nod.

Lisa pulled out of the hug. "Come on. Dinner's almost ready. We'll put ice on your nose, Cay, and I'll get you something for the pain, all right?"

"Okay," Caleb agreed.

"And then I'm calling the Eckerts," Lisa added.

He shook his head. "No, Mom."

"Caleb, no one should ever talk to anyone else that way," Lisa said. "Their parents need to know what their children are saying."

"What if their parents are mean, too?" he asked.

"Then, we'll make sure we stay away from ignorant people like them," Lisa replied and gave an affirmative nod of her head.


Lisa walked up to the large, white painted house at almost eight o' clock at night. The grass was perfectly trimmed, as she expected, and the porch light was on. A sign on the door welcomed her. She knocked.

After waiting for a few moments, the door opened, revealing a middle aged woman in a sweater and black skirt. She smiled politely at Lisa.

"Yes?" she asked.

"I'm Lisa Cuddy," Lisa introduced herself. "We spoke on the phone two weeks ago about our children getting into a fight."

Mrs. Eckert's thin and perfectly shaped brown eyebrows drew together. "You're Lisa Cuddy?"

"Yes," Lisa answered.

"Oh." Mrs. Eckert straightened her spine. "Well, what is it that you want?"

"I asked that you talk to your kids about their vile language, but it hasn't stopped them from teasing my children five more times," Lisa said, her tone harsh. "I've called and left messages, but you never returned any of my calls."

"I'm sorry," Mrs. Eckert told her sweetly, "But, what do you expect me to do about it? I told them not to tease your children."

"But, they still are," Lisa replied.

Mrs. Eckert shook her head. "Really, Mrs. Cuddy, I am sorry, but there's nothing I can do."

"It's Doctor Cuddy," Lisa hastily corrected her, forgoing mentioning that the indication that she was married was wrong.

"You're a doctor?" Mrs. Eckert's eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Yes," Lisa bitterly responded. "You seem to doubt everything I tell you."

"I just thought," Mrs. Eckert flustered. "Well, with your kids..."

"What about my kids?" Lisa asked, narrowing her eyes. She was quickly becoming impatient and had the urge to slap this woman in the face.

"It's just, when you called, I thought you were a nanny or something posing as Lisa Cuddy," Mrs. Eckert explained. "I didn't know that you were actually white."

"What difference does that make?" Lisa stared at her. "And what does that have to do with my children?"

"Well, you have a black boy," Mrs. Eckert pointed out, almost disgusted.

"And?" Lisa prompted her.

Mrs. Eckert let out a sigh. "I don't like interracial relationships, Doctor Cuddy, but I tolerate them. What I don't tolerate is a mother with two different colored children showing a bad example to my kids about relationships because she couldn't keep her legs closed."

Lisa was sure she was about to slap this woman in the face now. But, she thought of Caleb and Rachel and how she told them both not to solve their problems with violence.

"You and your family, Mrs. Eckert, are ignorant people," Lisa said, trying to keep her voice even. "You teach your children they are better than others because of what they look like. They, in turn, believe they are superior to people who are different. I'm guessing they get their racist comments from you. And learn that women are submissive to men as well, I'm sure, as they push my daughter around. Tell me, do you encourage them to pick on disabled children, too?"

"Get off of my property," Mrs. Eckert commanded, glaring.

"Gladly."

Lisa turned and stalked off the porch. However, she stopped and spun around, not finished just yet. She locked eyes with Mrs. Eckert to make sure her point came across.

"And if your children ever come near mine again, I swear to that God you pray to every night that I will be back on your doorstep ready for a damn war."


"You need to calm down," House told her, watching her pace as he sat on her couch.

"I can't."

Lisa clasped her hands in front of herself for a moment before placing them on her hips, all the while still pacing.

"You're shaking." He looked from her hands to her face.

She looked over at him, frowning. "I'm pissed."

"Did your kids see you like this?" he asked. "You probably scared the shit out of them."

"It was almost time for bed when I came home," she replied. "I just sent them up early."

House raised his eyebrows at her. "You leave them here alone?"

"No." Lisa shook her head. "I called a sitter." She glanced over at House as she explained. "I had some work to do at the hospital and then I decided to stop at the Eckerts' house. I talked to Mrs. Eckert on the phone about two weeks ago and nothing changed. I tried to call her again and she ignored my calls, so I knew I had to go over there."

"Why don't you sit down?"

House indicated the empty space beside him. Lisa finally stopped pacing and faced him, her hands still planted on her hips.

"House, don't you see—this is so—I just..."

"Please." His eyes were locked with hers. "Sit down."

Lisa's chest rose and fell as she breathed heavily through her anger. Finally, she removed her hands from her hips and walked over to the couch. She plopped down on the end.

"I can't believe she said those things." Lisa shook her head. "I can't believe people are still like that in this world today. At least, not here. We've changed so much—"

"But, there are people who still stay the same," House finished her thought. "People don't change, Cuddy."

She met his eyes. "It just makes me so angry that my children have to deal with shit like this. It kills me, House. It really does."

"I know," he said.

"No." Lisa diverted her eyes from him. "You don't."

"You think I don't care about any of this?" House asked.

"You don't give a rat's ass about my kids," Lisa replied, frowning.

"You and that language tonight are going to get yourselves in trouble," House told her. "And I do give a rat's ass about them. Not as much as you do... or even Wilson might... But, I see the little bastards all the time and... I think that Eckert lady is a total bitch."

Lisa studied him a moment and then gave him an appreciative smile. "Thank you."

House raised his eyebrows at her. "For calling your children bastards?"

"For caring," she corrected. "For being on my side."

He shrugged. "Well, I guess if there's anyone's side I want to be on, it's yours. Wouldn't want you start a war with me. My leg can't take it."

"Shut up," she lightly replied.

House let the moment sit for a few seconds before he stood from her couch.

"You've calmed down," he said. "I should probably go."

"Yeah," she agreed, standing. "Thanks for stopping by."

Lisa walked him to the door in silence. She opened the front door for him and House stopped just before reaching the doorway. He leaned closer to her and kissed her quickly on the cheek.

"Goodnight," he said as he stepped out into the night.

"Night," she replied and watched him go.