Chapter 4

When she got to Rachel her cries had attained a heart breaking intensity that was not normal, something was wrong. As she walked into the yellow nursery, she was too distracted to even turn on the light, using the light from the bright night light that cast a golden pool across the floor to the crib. The loud cries had stopped, but she heard the snuffling cries of Rachel consoling herself as she turned her head and sucked her fist. Cuddy reached down to pick her up and almost recoiled at the heat radiating from her. She was burning up. "Oh sweetie", what is wrong she whispered in concern picking her up to comfort her with cool mommy hands as she raced to the light.

The doctor in her was no where to be found, she was just as panicked as any new mother, as she found the baby thermometer and took Rachel's temperature. She was flushed and her left ear was cherry red and hot. An ear infection she thought, but was still concerned at the temperature of 102. She had had a little runny nose earlier that day, but not much of a fever. She found the baby's acetaminophen and administered it to Rachel hoping it would soon bring her temperature down.

House walked in the room behind her looking over her shoulder and listening to her concerns. "Did she have repertory symptoms?"

"Just since this morning, a little runny nose, no fever this morning but it's 102 now. What are you thinking RSV?"

"No, not the right time of year is it? Could be any viral, that's gone to her ears. Although in the ear it could open the door to bacteria. Has she had a sore throat? How's her appetite?"

"It's been okay, maybe a little off," she confirmed.

"Do you have an Octoscope?" House asked.

"Yes, Cuddy confirmed, wondering why she hadn't thought of it. She went to the draw of the nursery table. Both she and House checked Rachel's ears and only the left was a little inflamed.

"Give the acetaminophen time to bring the temperature down and then if you are still concerned in a the morning, you should take her to the hospital and get a culture, but you know it's not much you can do but let it run it's course and give fluids."

She nodded, knowing all this, and appreciating that he was explaining it all like she was any other worried mother instead of acting like she had been rendered an idiot. She turned to him even though grateful for his understanding, she wished it could have started a few minutes sooner.

"Don't give me that look. I'm a selfish pig, I know. Does that a surprise you?" he said spreading his hands out in apology. "We were so close," he rasped" I didn't think another minute would make that much difference."

"You were close." Cuddy said shaking her head. "It seems like the noise itself, would have distracted you."

"Noise?, he said stretching his eyes. Your noise was pretty much deafening. It's been over twenty years and I haven't forgotten."

"House," she protested trying not blush and refusing to be distracted.

"Don't be embarrassed. Me likey," he said suggestively, knowing he was very much using distraction for both of them.

Cuddy gave a long suffering sigh. House, was House, he hadn't been magically transformed, and she would hate it if he had been, but it didn't mean she didn't want him to try to be his best self in certain situations. She put her hand on his chest as calming touch and looked directly into his eyes. It was similar to the quelling look she gave him at work, but it had a certain softness as well as a request for discipline, which caused him to respond subconsciously.

"There are times when Rachel just comes first, House. Would you say a minute or two wouldn't make that much difference if a smoke detector went off, or if a patient was coding?" She did not want to belabor the point, House was perfectly capable of understanding, it was just a matter of how much he wanted to.

"Not all of this is on me. You could have insisted I stop, especially if you thought her cry sounded different than usual."

"You're right," she said, glancing down for a moment and accepting her responsibility. This is new to both of us. I guess I didn't want to ruin it for you, but I did anyway."

"You had definitely left the building", he said touching her cheek with his finger. "That's what it's all about for me, you being there, not just your body. But ruin it, mission impossible. " he said huskily and this time the look in his eyes did cause her to blush.

"This has been twenty years in the making, you wanted fairytale perfection, I just wanted you."

She leaned against him kissing the base of his throat in a tender way. It was nice to have someone to lean on, to turn to when she was stressed or worried. It was mind blowing that the person that usually caused her stress, could now help disperse it as well. In that moment as she relaxed into House's arms she felt herself giving in to her need to depend on someone and rejecting the voice that said 'you can only depend on House in spots'. As long as they were in one of those spots right now she could lean, and she had to admit it felt very good. But she knew House, had been through a lot, and she wasn't giving him a free pass, but she would need to be careful, this was going to be a balancing act.

"Do you want to go back to bed?" she asked.

He shook his head "No let's cuddle on the sofa," he said leading her toward her living room. "Next time we are in bed, I'm going to need at least twenty minutes of your undivided attention. They were on the sofa for a few minutes, when House looked towards her fireplace. " I didn't get a fire.'" he teased his mouth pouting.

"No you did not just go there, Greg House.", she insisted indignantly. She was surprised he would bring up the time he had interrupted her date with the Lube guy. Although to think House would maintain any boundaries at all was just plain foolish.

"What you didn't hear me" he challenged. "Where's that Octoscope."

"You didn't need the fire", she retorted, poking punishing in his chest.

"You just always have to win an argument Lisa Cuddy," he shot back, "But as long as you do it by saying the right thing. It works for me." he smiled as he pulled her onto his lap. Positioning her on the side of the good leg. " Doing the right thing would work as well. No, bed right now but I can think of something else you owe me."

he said archly.