Chapter Three

Wilson made a mad dash to House's office, well as mad of a dash he could make without making it overly obvious to those around him that he was in a hurry. He walked into House's office fairly flinging the door open. "HOUSE!" but House didn't respond, in fact the only greeting Wilson received was from Houses Ducklings sitting quietly in the conference room which consisted of three pairs of eye's turning in his direction for a brief moment and then going back to their mounds of paper work, no doubt House's.

Wilson turned on his heal, and walked straight into his own office just to find House laying on his couch, his favorite ball in one hand cane in the other.

"House!"

"You sound surprised"

"No no, not at all, in fact I was just looking for you"

"Yeah, I know, the walls aren't that thick remember? So what's so important that you…"

Wilson cut him off "She doesn't love him"

House sat up as quickly as he could, "What? She told you that?"

"No, but it's obvious, House, your half way there, she loves you, she just needs to know that you are the reliable type"

"Since when have I been reliable?"

"Well ok, yeah you have a point, but House, I know you have it in you, you've proven that much just in the last few weeks. You can do this."

"Ok, so she doesn't love him, but you say she loves me… ehhhh… ok well maybe I can use that. But still how do I… " and with that House stood up and walked toward the door.

"House, where are you going?"

"To talk to an old friend…"

House found Lucas in his ice-cream truck outside a restaurant where he was obviously tailing a target. House banged his cane on the side door, "Lucas, it's me I want to talk"

The door opened part way, and eyeing his cane, "You're not going to beat me with that are you?"

"No, no, not that kind of talk, no I really do just want to talk. I'm not going to hurt you. If I was going to do that I would have done it by now."

"All right, all right, climb in."

House got himself situated and then looked at Lucas, "So… Cuddy"

"Yup, figured that's what this was about"

"Well you know I would ask you to tail her new boy-toy but I guess that would be kind 'a difficult, well maybe not if you used a mirror" House grumbled that last part.

"Lucas rolled his eyes, House, get to the point"

"What are you doing with Cuddy?"

"Just spending some time, getting to know her, she really is a fantastic woman"

"Yeah, that she is, in more ways than one, but I'm sure you know that"

"Yes, you could say that"

House only nodded

"But you love her don't you?"

"Well I've never actually…"

"Yeah yeah I got it you've never actually plucked up the nerve to actually use the word but that's it isn't it? And you've come here to see if you have a chance right?"

House just looked at Lucas, he wanted to tell him that Cuddy didn't love him, but he still didn't know for sure, so he just held his gaze.

"Look man, I get it. I know how she feels about you, and as much as I like Cuddy and believe me, I am enjoying my time with her. I know enough to see that she only loves you. She may not admit it even to herself but I know she does, it's so obvious. Just like it's been obvious since I first met you that you love her"

House could feel the blood rising into his cheeks a little at this.

Lucas continued, "Heck, half the time we're together she's talking about you. Well, complaining mostly but she is also very concerned, like I said before, she really worries about you"

"Yeah you mentioned that, so she told you all about my hallucinations?"

"Well yeah, I'm not sure if she has even figured out how she feels about that, the whole "savior" thing really has her uptight."

House just looked at Lucas. "So why are you telling me all this?"

"I'm telling you this because, I really like cuddy, she's smart, really sexy, and I love that kid of her's too…"

House cut him off "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know all her best assets, probably better than you do, and yeah the kid's cute, even kind 'a looks like her..." he faded out.

"Ok bottom line, cuddy needs a stable man in her life, right now that's me. She likes me but I don't think she could ever really love me, she loves you; I know and accept this. She wants you, but she can't have you because…"

"Because she's afraid that I'll F**k up like I usually do, yeah Wilson and I already had this chat"

"Yeah... so what I'm saying, or trying to say is that I am going to be there for Cuddy and enjoy as much time with her as I possibly can, until she tells me she doesn't need me anymore, that she has found what she has always wanted."

House narrowed his gaze on Lucas, realization dawning on him "And then what? You're just going to bow out gracefully, give up without a fight? What if I can't be that man?"

"Then I guess I win, are you the great Gregory House going to let me win?"

House growled and stood up to leave.

"Ohh, and House, by the way, to answer your question, yes, for her happiness, I would bow out gracefully. But only after she tells me it's ok. I'm not looking forward to it but I know she will, when she's ready. She loves you."