Chapter 4

Three minutes? Cuddy's eyes flicked downwards at House's cane and her first thought was that he definitely wasn't going to make it through the lobby and into their seats in three minutes flat. Her second thought was that if the theater workers shut them out, House would probably give them his bitter cripple lecture and voila! Open sesame.

Still, she couldn't fight back a mild look of concern.

"Are you going to make it all right?" This time, it was the friend part of her that was asking, and not the administrator image that she usually so proudly held up.

House quickly analyzed Cuddy's glancing looks. As if reading her concern, and ignoring the one that she plainly stated, he replied,

"I'm a cripple." He held up his cane. "People who don't know me, pity me. Watch this."

There was already a long line, and currently, House and Cuddy were at the back of the line. He nonchalantly jammed his cane into the couple in front of them. The two of them turned around immediately, glaring, and looking as if they could maul someone.

House was a brilliant actor. His timing, his facial expression…everything was right on. As soon as they turned, he put on his surprised, Oh-I'm-Terribly-Sorry- Face. "Oh! Pardon me!" He said, putting stress on the pardon.

The couple's expression quickly changed.

"Oh, no, no! We're sorry, there probably just wasn't enough room! Here- would you like to go ahead of us?"

Now, House was on a roll.

"Well, if your sure that's alright. It's just-" But House didn't even need to finish, the couple was already pushing House and Cuddy forward to the front of the line, and the people in the line, merely glanced at House and his cane and let him do so. At the front of the line, House let a triumphant flicker of a smile come through, as he looked quite smug with himself.

Cuddy rolled her eyes, having seen this act before. How long ago was it--eight months? A year? House had used his ever-present cane to win some very heartfelt (and guilty) apologies from unwitting hospital patients who didn't already know who he was.

But this time around, Cuddy was secretly glad House was able to virtually eliminate their waiting time in line.

A very neatly dressed usher greeted them in the concert chamber.

"Your tickets, please, Madame?" he asked with perfect composure.

Cuddy numbly handed both tickets over, trying to remember the last time someone had called her 'Madame.' Maybe House...but sarcastically, which obviously didn't count. It was refreshing to be called 'Madame'--how fancy and polite it was. But strangely enough, it also made her feel terribly old. She was in the act of turning away from the young usher when he suddenly noted, "You two are the perfect picture of togetherness, aren't you?"

"What?" Cuddy froze, looking from the usher to House in perfect shock. She turned to House almost accusingly, thinking he was behind the remark.

"Please tell me you didn't ask him to say that. Are you trying to torture me?"

House looked unnaturally shocked for about 15 seconds. His expression rivaled Cuddy's. He turned to face her, still rather speechless. But inside, something seemed to glow with happiness? No, happiness was too strong of a word.

He'd settle with...less miserable.

"It was all him." House quipped back, pointing his index finger at the usher.

He quickly analyzed the kid. Had to be early 20's at the most, kind of scrawny, but tall. Lanky. The kid was smiling for goodness sake. And while he, House, was relatively pleased at the remark, he had to hide it. But, at this point, House was pretty bad at hiding it. He usually said a quirky comeback, but this time, said nothing.

"Onwards!" He remarked, lifting his cane and pointing towards the seats. He had gone slightly ahead of Cuddy. And a small, genuine smile flitted through his face as even his irregular gait seemed to be lighter in step.