Again, I'm really sorry for being this late. Hope you guys are still there and interested. I couldn't update last week because I've been very busy due to my college. I promise you that I will try my best to update fast. Hopefully within this week. Also one of the guest reviewer said that I should get myself a beta which I think is absolutely correct but I am having a really tough time figuring out which one to choose. Please PM me the names of some good betas. I'm sorry but till I get one my work will be unbetad for a while so please bear with me I will try my best to reduce grammatical errors and write shorter paragraphs. And lastly special thanks to otto-tis-eratai for the lovely PM that made me get off my ass and right a chapter. Okay so now I will shut up and let you enjoy chp 4!
Disclaimer: House MD belongs to David Shore and Fox. I don't own it.
The days after the breakup passed rather uneventfully. House and Cuddy had successfully been avoiding each other.
The only way they communicated was by House's team.
She busied herself with her daughter and he buried himself in his work.
Wilson couldn't help but feel bad for both of his friends.
House was definitely crankier and meaner in the last few days but he was still damn good at his job.
Cuddy had a rather busy morning one day. She was in the midst of signing papers when Mr Ford who was one of the most important members of the board gently knocked on the office door.
She looked up and smiled at him. Mr Ford was a very warm and friendly old man. He reminded Cuddy of her own father sometimes.
Mr Ford entered her office and stood near her table,
''You seem very busy today Lisa.'', he said
'' Oh it's nothing. You tell me what can I do for you?''
'' Its just that Lisa I'm here on behalf of the entire board. We wanted you to do something for the hospital. But I don't know how to ask.''
''What, are you firing me? Did I do something wrong? ''
Seeing that Cuddy was almost on the verge of crying, Mr Ford smiled and replied.
"Of course not Lisa! God, why would we do that? You're the most capable person to run this hospital.''
'' Then what is it that you want me to do?''
"Lisa its just that I know you and Dr House recently broke up and both of you are taking it hard but there is a medical conference held in Ohio and…''
'' I'm sorry to stop you but what has it got to do with Mine and Dr House's breakup?''
" Its just that the our hospital is one of the participants and the we registered it almost a year back and it cannot be taken back.''
'' I don't understand what you're trying to say?''
" The conference is majorly about Diagnostics.."
At this Cuddy paled and she realised what would come next.
''…..and as you know ours is the best diagnostic department in not only the country but in the world and this conference requires the dean of medicine and the head of the department of diagnostics to go together.''
''But Mr Ford you know as much as I do that Dr House doesn't attend these kind of conferences even when there is no personal conflict.''
'' I know Lisa, but I would request you to please make Dr House go to the conference. Bribe him, Blackmail him, do anything that you need to do. I know this is going to be hard considering your personal history but you need to do this for the hospital because the conference will provide a great amount of publicity for the hospital.''
''But Mr Ford I don't think I can convince him to go. I am afraid I cant help you with this.''
Mr Ford frowned deeply and said
'' Lisa I didn't really wanted to hurt you by bringing this up, but the other members of the board are starting to talk. They are saying that you have mellowed out towards Dr House in the past few years and that you are losing your edge. I don't believe in them. I believe that you are still that 30 year old pretending to be a 32 year old woman to get the job and I believe that you are damn good at keeping your personal and professional life separate am I wrong in believing so?''
Cuddy was shocked to hear all this but she somehow managed to collect herself and answer,
'' Yes sir, I am capable of keeping my professional and personal life separate and No, you're not wrong in believing in me. I will not let you down. I will try my level best to convince Dr House to attend the conference.''
''I did not expect anything else from you Lisa. Here is the information about the conference'', he said handing her the information leaflet and turned around to leave; but Cuddy called out to him.
''Wait you knew about me faking my age and still hired me as dean back then?.''
To this he simply smiled and left.
Now Cuddy was left alone with her thoughts. How would she convince House to go with her? She had to figure some way out. Convincing House would be any day better than losing her job.
She just couldn't afford to lose her job because it would affect not only hers but Rachel's life too.
She got up from her desk and walked towards House's office.
When she reached his office she saw that. House was absentmindedly bouncing his oversized tennis ball while deeply thinking about the patients possible disease with the symptoms scribbled all over the white board.
The team was not in the room. They were probably running some tests. Good. She thought. The more private, the better.
''Tough case?'', she asked.
That, brought House back to the real world. He looked up and saw Cuddy standing near his desk. She looked as pretty as ever.
''Yeah. What can I do for you Cuddy?''
Now that was straightforward, thought Cuddy.
'' How do you know that I'm here to ask you to do something?''
'' Can we please stop this? Who are you kidding Cuddy? You know as well as I do that we both have been avoiding each other. So you wouldn't come to me until and unless it was absolutely necessary and important. So please get to the point.''
Cuddy took a deep breath and stated,
'' Yes you are right. Actually the board informed me today that you and I are supposed to attend a medical conference in Ohio. I know you wouldn't want to but can't help it.''
'' Oh Cuddles! Don't tell me you really thought that I would come with you.''
'' No I didn't. Tell me what do you want House. Is it a new TV? Or a month off clinic duty?''
House really wanted to say You but decided against it. He shook the thoughts out of his head and said, '' You've got nothing that I want.''
Cuddy stared at him for a while. She said,'' House, please think about it. I am requesting you please.''
'' Oh wait THE Dr CUDDY of PPTH is requesting me something so isn't it the goal of my life to do what she says?'', he replied.
Cuddy was at a loss of words. Why did he have to make everything so difficult for her.
The only thing left to do was to beg him to come which she really thought she would until she realised that she couldn't fall that down. She knew for a fact that losing her job was definitely better than losing her self respect. She just sadly stared at House and left without a word.
In that instant House realised that this time it was more than just the conference. If she herself was so desperate for him to go in spite of the obvious awkwardness then she must be having a good reason because otherwise she herself would have avoided going anywhere with him at all costs. He knew he had hurt her unintentionally.
Oh god it seemed he would always be the poison of their relationship. Poison! That's it, the patient was being continuously being poisoned by his spouse even when he was at the hospital hence he didn't seem to improve but only get worse.
He walked out of the room to tell the team about his diagnosis.
Meanwhile Cuddy had to attend many board meetings but she remained distracted throughout.
She kept thinking about the consequences of House not coming to the medical conference with her.
Finally it was time for her to go home, so she went down to her office to grab her stuff.
When she entered her office, she saw a small piece of paper neatly folded on her desk. She opened it up and saw what was written in it, she smiled and folded the note, kept it in her bag and left for home.
''Is that offer of a new TV and a month off clinic duty still valid?''
I know this Chapter sounded too cliché . As in, many fanfiction authors have written something like this: House and Cuddy go on a trip, forget everything and jump back into each others arms. This is not what's going to happen in this fic because that's not how things work. They will get together, don't worry but there's a long way to go there. Hopefully I can make this fic different from the others. So if you guys have any unusual ideas do PM me.I will try my best to keep updating but don't get angry on me if I don't update within a week. As I said I will not abandon this fic. Also please read and review. They guilt me into writing faster!
Thank You: Guest(MegA),the power of cats, Anny Rodrigues, Xautumn-sunraee X, palmi, CacauHousemaniaca, Reader, Iena, Abby, otto-tis-eratai and all those people who have read, favourited, followed or reviewed this fic at some point of time.