Okay people, here's chapter 4... I deleted the one I posted last week so this is brand new. Hope you'll like it better!

I'm gonna change the structure a little: in the first 3 chapters I was very descriptive, now I use more dialogues...

Any input on that? By the way, I'm very comfortable with criticism and corrections, that's how we get better right? So bring it on ;)

Chapter 4 – Missing

It was Monday evening and House was distraught. Dr Nolan had managed to make him talk but House didn't learn anything from the psychiatrist as Cuddy was concerned. He had tried to call Wilson again but the oncologist didn't answer the phone, and House got his voice mail every time he tried.

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Meanwhile, Wilson had had a horrible day, trying to put his fear that something had happened to Cuddy aside, both looking after Rachel and seeing patients. That day at the hospital had been weird for everyone: House not causing trouble and limping around, annoying the hell out of their boss for the past month had made the workplace quiet enough, but on that particular Monday, Wilson had been like a shadow and Cuddy had been nowhere to be seen. Things were quiet, and unsettling. The team had no case, so they had all the free time in the world to speculate on the reasons for Cuddy's absence.

At 5pm, Wilson took Rachel, holding her tight in an attempt to soothe her and himself and got out of the hospital. He finally arrived home and was in front of his porch, fiddling with his apartment keys both because he was nervous and because he knew Rachel loved that clinking sound.

Once Rachel fell asleep in her crib, Wilson got agitated, browsing frenetically his papers, going through his drawers. After twenty minutes spent looking everywhere, his house was upside down, in a post hurricane or police house search kind of way, files covering the floor, the ungodly mess matching his state of mind. Wilson was confused, worried sick, so he focused on his mission, on what he was desperately looking for. When he finally found the little piece of paper with a phone number on it, he exhaled a relieved sigh, took his phone and started dialing.

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"Huh... hi... it's huh... Wilson, you know, House's friend..." he said hesitantly and nervously.

"Yeah, I know who you are, I remember. What's up?" the man replied, sounding friendly yet surprised.

"I need a favor" he began, his voice regaining a little confidence.

'This should be interesting' Lucas thought.

"Huh... I don't mean a favor per se". He took a deep breath and said, more firmly "I'll pay, but I need you to find someone, Lucas"

"Okay, who? Has Greg lost the number of that hooker he liked so much?" Lucas deadpanned and one second later, the PI laughed at his own joke.

"I need you to find Lisa Cuddy" he said in a grave tone. There was a heavy silence and then Lucas spoke again, all trace of humor vanished.

"What's going on? How long has she been missing???". His voice had immediately become serious, he sounded deeply concerned, which seemed odd to Wilson since he didn't even know Lucas and Cuddy had actually met.

"Look, she went to visit House at... I mean, she was..." he stuttered, not sure he wanted to disclose any details about House's privacy.

"Spit it out" he said seriously. Lucas was a happy-go-lucky guy, but at that moment, he was not joking.

"House is at Mayfield psychiatric hospital" Wilson replied, reluctantly.

"So I understand she went to visit him at Mayfield and never came back?" remaining impassible, the PI was analyzing the information Wilson was giving him.

"Yes, last time she called, she was driving, she was upset, and there was a storm there, I'm afraid something happened to her" he explained, his voice breaking.

"Did she take her baby with her? Maybe she went on holidays or something, or visiting her parents" he suggested.

"How did you know about Cuddy's baby? House told you?" Wilson asked.

"Can we focus here?" Lucas didn't want to tell the oncologist that he had been occasionally checking on Cuddy. He wasn't a creepy stalker, he just liked her and was very happy when she finally got what she wanted. "So, is the baby with her?" he repeated patiently.

"No, that's what worries me: she left the baby with me and she would have called if she had decided to get away. She's been missing for a day and a half, I don't know what to do" he panicked.

"Did you call the authorities, hospital in the area, the..." he began asking, interrupted by a very annoyed Wilson.

"No, I just sat on my ass, did a little praying too..." he snapped.

"Okay, sorry, I get that you're worried, but it's routine questions, I need to gather all the information I can" Lucas replied calmly.

"I know. Sorry about that, I just..."

Lucas shrugged, not really interested in anything other than Cuddy's case.

"You said she was upset, what was that about?" he inquired.

"It's not relevant, but she went to visit House so I wasn't that surprised that she was upset. What I'm surprised about is that you even need to ask. You spent time with the guy, right?"

"Hmm" he processed, "I thought you two were okay, you're a bit harsh on him. You think her disappearance is related to him, that's he's somehow responsible" he quietly noticed.

"No, I don't know where she is or anything, I just know that last time we spoke, I heard her sobbing, even if she tried to hide it" he revealed unwillingly.

"From what I saw, she's not an easy woman to break, he must have outdone himself..." Lucas thought aloud.

"It's not actually his fault, it's mine" Wilson revealed guiltily.

"How has it anything to do with you?" Now Lucas was really intrigued.

"That's their business, it's personal. Look, she went to Mayfield psychiatric hospital, House is in rehab there. You know everything you need to, just please find her" he pleaded.

"I'll do some research and I'm going there right away. Don't worry we'll get her back" the PI said reassuringly.

Wilson was taken aback by his dedication. He wondered if Lucas didn't have a soft spot for Cuddy by the way he sounded, he felt something was going on, but he didn't know what.

"Lucas, how well do you know Lisa? He asked, really puzzled.

"Not that well, we had lunch together at a diner once, we talked, I actually kinda stalked her" he said with a little nostalgic sigh. "I liked her" he admitted.

"Okay, so you're concerned, I'm glad actually, you'll do anything you can to find her".

"I'll keep in touch, you were right to call"

"Another detail: I don't want House involved. You don't have to talk to him, do you? I think I'm going to call him and tell him she came back and she's okay. I don't want him to check himself out of rehab, he needs it" Wilson said tiredly.

"I'm sorry but I need to know at what time she left exactly and..." Lucas tried to explain but he was interrupted by Wilson.

"You could ask Nolan, not House" the oncologist suggested.

"Who's Nolan?" the PI asked.

"My friend from college and House's psychiatrist, he's the last one who talked to Lisa, you don't have to talk to House"

"Okay, I'll do my best not to bump into House but I need to warn you: if somehow he sees me, he'll know everything because I'm not a good liar" he admitted, in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Oh, we're in trouble... okay, I'm going to call House to tell him that she's home. I'll talk to you later, and please call me as soon as you learn anything, no matter what time it is, okay?" he insisted.

"Okay, don't worry, we'll find her" Lucas said, ready to hang up but quickly added "oh, wait! I need Dr Nolan's cellphone number"

At that moment, Rachel began to fuss. Lucas heard the baby crying and he smiled sadly. 'I promise we'll find your mommy sweetie' he thought, determined. After Wilson gave him the information he requested, the PI hung up and immediately called the psychiatrist.

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"Dr Nolan? I'm Lucas Douglas, private investigator, Dr Wilson gave me your number"

"I assume you're calling regarding Dr Cuddy..." Nolan responded, not at all surprised.

"Yes, I'd like to discuss your last encounter with Lisa Cuddy, do you think we could meet somewhere outside the hospital in, say, two hours?"

"Outside the hospital... I assume you don't want House to find out. And by 'you' I mean Wilson" he suggested, connecting the dots.

"Precisely, I don't need to convince you of the fact that House needs to think that Dr Cuddy is safe. If he knew, he would leave Mayfield to look for her and there's no need to make things more difficult"

"I agree. There's a diner called 'Lou's diner' ten minutes away from Mayfield: let's meet there at seven"

"Okay, great. I'm on my way, see you then" Lucas hung up, looked for the Cuddy file he had from when House asked him to look for information about her, picked his car keys and got out of his apartment.

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Wilson was in his apartment pacing up and down when he heard Rachel crying. He picked her up and rocked her gently, trying to calm her and himself. He warmed a bottle for her and fed her. Then he settled in his couch with the baby on his lap, thinking over and over of the last conversation he had with Cuddy. He didn't hear his cell until the third ring and when he answered, it was House on the phone.

"Wilson, has Cuddy come home yet?" he asked in a worried tone Wilson had never heard from House.

"Yes, she picked up the baby and went home" he lied, convincingly.

House paused for a minute and said "I tried her cell, she didn't answer"

"And that surprises you?" he said, annoyed. "What did you expect?" Now he was angry, he didn't have time for this, and he needed to hang up should anyone call about Cuddy, be it Lucas or the police.

"Why are you so mad? It doesn't make sense" House started to analyze Wilson's behavior.

"You're unbelievable, the question itself is insensitive: did I mention that I didn't sleep last night and that I had to deal with both the baby and the patients? House, I'm just tired, okay? Please just let me sleep it off, now that I don't have to look after the baby. I'll call you on Thursday to chat. In the meantime just get better all right?" he explained, trying to be convincing.

"Right. What did Cuddy say about being late? Did she talk to you...? I mean did she look mad, did she mention me?

"No, actually she came, took Rachel and told me she was tired and that we would catch up at the hospital tomorrow morning"

"That's it?" House asked, skeptical.

"That's it. Now please House, get some rest and try not to start a mutiny at the hospital. Nolan is a good doctor and he can help you. You'll be fine"

"Yeah, whatever. Goodnight Wilson"

"Night House" and with that he shut his phone and sighed deeply.

TBC - I'm almost done with the fifth chapter. I'll update tomorrow...