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"Can't you really do anything without me?! You're pathetic! Are you sure you've finished any medical university? I want five different diagnoses in thirty minutes, or your patient will be dead. YOU will be dead."
House stormed out and after a few seconds disappeared behind the elevator door.
Cameron sighed.
"What are we doing now?"
"What can we do? You've heard – five diagnoses in half an hour. And I'm pretty sure that jackass already knows what's wrong." Chase looked at his partner and smiled a bit. "Well, I guess we don't have much choice. Any sensible ideas?"
Cuddy woke up shortly before noon. She still felt a bit dizzy, but much better than the day before. She recalled House's evening visit. It must've been a dream… he would never do anything like that. Oh God, I'm now dreaming about House. I must be really sick!
She got up, took her dressing gown and went to the kitchen. On the table she found a short note and some meds. She reached for a note.
"Eat breakfast, take the pills, go back to bed. No work today, remember! I'll come after work. If you need something, call me. H."
She smiled. Plan D was working. She was really impressed. Nice House was something she had been waiting for since they met in Princeton-Plainsboro a few years ago. They had studied together, but it was an old story and they'd never come back to it.
She made herself a cup of tea and some toasts. Breakfast – done, she thought, reached for the pills and swallowed them. What now? She took House's note and groaned. She hated lying in bed. She went back to her bedroom, took a few books and a blanket and went to the living room. She comforted herself on the sofa and started reading. Maybe being sick is not so bad…
When Foreman came into the conference room, Chase and Cameron were yelling at each other and didn't even notice his presence.
"Hey, what is going on here? Shut up for a while!" He grabbed Cameron's hand. "What are you two doing? And where is House?"
"We can't find a sensible reason for patient's symptoms."
"And is this really a reason to murder each other?"
Chase sit down, and then stood up again.
"This place is a complete mess! Cuddy is out sick, Cameron is pregnant, House is furious heaven knows why and Wilson is too busy to talk to him."
Cameron kicked him, not even trying to do it subtle.
Foreman looked at the two with a pure shock on his face.
"Cameron is what?"
"I didn't want anybody to know yet." She gave Chase an angry look. "I didn't want House to know."
"Well, then you should be more careful." Foreman smiled and went out. "And don't worry, I'll be silent as a grave."
Wilson came to Cuddy's office about one o'clock and was a bit surprised when he didn't find her there.
"Is Cuddy at work today?" he asked her secretary.
"No, I'm sorry, Dr Wilson. She's out sick and probably won't be back till the end of the week."
"Oh. I didn't know. Thanks", he said and went back to his office. She didn't look well yesterday, I should have sent her home. He looked at his watch. I'll call her, he decided. Maybe she needs something.
He reached for his cell phone and dialed Cuddy's number. She answered after the first signal.
"Um, hi, it's Wilson."
"Oh, hello! That's great you're calling."
"Your secretary told me you're sick"
"Actually, it's just a common cold, but House made me stay at home for a few days."
Wilson was surprised.
"Did you say 'House'?"
"Hard to believe, isn't it? He's trying to impress me and behaves like a caring nanny – or rather like a worried husband. For the first time I was probably more shocked than you, but I got used to it. People usually get used to convenience quite quickly."
They both laughed.
"So I guess you don't need anything. I wanted to help you, but your… nanny will certainly take care of everything."
"Yeah… Thanks for calling, and for being worried. I have a pair of true friends… I've never thought I could call House like that."
"People change, you know."
"Don't tell House about this discovery," she warned him. "He would probably try to prove you wrong."
"Point. No one will never know about our conversation. So get well and come back quickly. We miss you."
She smiled. Hasn't House said the same thing? Maybe they really miss her.
"Thanks once again and, I hope, see you soon."
"Bye." He put the phone down.
When House came in the evening, she was half-lying on the sofa, watching some stupid romantic comedy. She looked at him, smiled, said "Hi" and returned to the movie.
He sat down on the back of the sofa near her head.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Better."
He placed his hand on her forehead.
"You're still hot. Have you taken the meds?"
"Yes, of course, daddy. I'm better, really. I've just made some tea. Would you like?"
"I hate green tea." He grimaced. "Don't stand up, I'll bring it myself."
"You're lucky," she smiled. "This time it's earl grey."
"Hooray. I won't have to pretend I like it."
He went to the kitchen and came back with two cups of tea.
"Here." He handed one of them to Cuddy.
"Thanks." She was still a bit surprised. People changes but… House was different. He had never done anything for anybody..
She took a sip of her tea and decided not to think about it any more. Not now. He had been behaving strangely since that stormy night. Maybe a lightning struck him then? It was the only explanation.
She noticed that he had switched the channel.
"Hey, I was watching it!"
"I don't understand how can you watch these stupid movies. They're all the same – poor girl, rich boy, eternal love. They make me sick."
"I'm already sick," she remarked. "And don't be so strict. I don't want to think much today and this one doesn't require much thinking."
"I'd never guess you like romantic comedies."
"Why not?" She laughed. "I'm only a woman dreaming about a brave knight."
"Well, ok. But you'll be the one to blame if I die before the happy end."
"You don't have to watch it," she remarked.
He didn't move.
When the film finished two hours later, House stood up.
"Time to go to bed. Come on, I'll sing you a lullaby."
Cuddy didn't answer. He looked at her and smiled. She had already fallen asleep.
"I told you I wouldn't carry you to bed," he whispered and covered her with a blanket.
He left her a note, as always, and went home.