Author's Note: Wow, I'm on a roll! I couldn't help but finish up this part in the story. I had it laid out in my mind already, after all. Dramadramadrama. More to come in the near future, thanks all readers!
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House walked into a meeting room, his cane rendered completely silent by the carpeting. He eyed the familiar two: the Head of Diagnostics, Dr. Lisa Cuddy, and the old man beside her, Dr. Harold Stoeckl. The latter was clearly eying the former's breasts, the observation of which made House smile. It wasn't the Dean's fault that Dr. Cuddy was wearing a see-through blouse with the top three buttons undone.
"Good morning lady and gentleman!", he said heartily, his mood heightened by the pleasant effect of the Vicodin he had just taken. Dr. Cuddy seemed surprised at the change, and Dr. Stoeckl's attention was temporarily redirected.
"Have a seat, Dr. House", the latter said, smiling, gesturing to the seat opposite the pair.
Swinging his cane, House obliged, sliding into the black leather. His crumpled black dress shirt nearly camouflaged in the material. He smiled brightly at both of them, especially Dr. Cuddy, who, he was pleased to see, was astonished. House noticed her gaze traveling down to his hand.
"You're married?", asked Lisa, her mouth dropping open as she stared at the silver band on his left ring finger. Quickly glancing at the Dean, she shook her head. "I'm sorry, that was inappropriate", she corrected, though she kept staring at it. She noticed House's beam widen, and was briefly reminded of the Cheshire Cat.
"Oops, must have put it on the wrong finger by accident, silly me", he said lightly, popping it off his finger and dropping it into his pocket.
Now Lisa was really confused. She wasn't sure if he did it on purpose to get a reaction out of her, or whether he really was married (!!!). She couldn't remember if he was wearing it last time. She didn't think so. Closing her mouth, she straightened. "Yes, well then, let's get started", she said, clearing her throat. Lisa felt her eyes stray to the pocket in question, however she determinedly kept her gaze forward.
The whole process had taken a while, and House was itching to take a few more Vicodin, as soon as he was out of sight. He watched the Dean hurry past him, turning down the hallway to do whatever Deans of Medicine did.
"House!"
He turned around at the call, and, seeing that there were only two people in the hospital that could have called him, spotted Dr. Cuddy with her head out the door, fingers curled around the door frame. She beckoned to him, and disappeared.
Curious, he took a few haltering steps toward the door, his hand retracting from his pocket with nothing in its grasp. "Yes?", asked House, his mind whirring as he thought of why he would be called. There could be only a few options, and only one of them was G-rated.
He took another step in, and Dr. Cuddy closed the door behind him. Turning, she half-sat on the oblong table. "I'm not supposed to tell you this-", she started, taking a deep breath.
"Then I don't think you should, Dr. Cuddy", said House, backing up to turn the doorknob.
Dr. Cuddy rushed forward and grabbed his wrist. "Wait."
House's eyebrows raised, and he let go of the knob. This would be interesting.
She took another breath. "You're getting the job", she said in one rush.
"That's great", said House, raising his eyebrows further. "Is that all, O Future Boss of Mine?"
"On... one condition."
He turned to grab the doorknob again. "No."
Once again, House felt the doctor's fingers curl around his wrist, and it wasn't to take his pulse.
"Just... hear me out, House."
Sighing, he let go for the second time, leaning back on the door. He really wanted his Vicodin at this point.
"You... have to tell me... what the circumstances were... I mean, how you got...", Dr. Cuddy made an awkward motion to his cane.
"Got what?", he asked, playing dumb.
"Your cane, House. How you got your cane." Her eyes travelled downwards, and he couldn't tell if she was thinking about it, embarrassed, or both.
"Then I don't want the job. Good day, Dr. Cuddy", he said, making a mock bow. He quickly turned the knob, and rushed out the door. This time she didn't try stop him.
