Chapter 4 - The Morning After

Cuddy stirred as sunlight began to shine through the window and warm her skin. She woke feeling remarkably well rested. She yawned and stretched her arms behind her, trying to convince her body to wake up. She jumped when her arms made contact with a body next to her. She had nearly forgotten that she had slept the previous night with Gregory House beside her. She sat up, briefly startled that he was still there, in her bed, and sound asleep. He looked so peaceful, that Cuddy couldn't resist watching him sleep for a moment. He breathed easy and his face was soft, almost expressionless, with just the slightest hint of a smile. On anyone else, the smile would not have been visible, but it was a strange occurrence for this particular expression to appear on House's face. It made Cuddy wonder what he was dreaming about. She smiled down at him enjoying a moment when House unknowingly revealed his softer side.

Cuddy was appreciative for his company the night before, but she definitely didn't want to face him first thing in the morning. She slowly and carefully got out of bed and made her way to the kitchen. She needed a cup of coffee. Hopefully it wouldn't wake him. The coffee brewed and Cuddy did not hear a single sound from her bedroom. House was still asleep. She took her coffee to the table and sat down. Thoughts were swirling through her mind. How am I going to face him? I am so embarrassed. How did we end up in bed together? I have to get out of here.

Cuddy wasted no time getting ready for work. She hurriedly dressed and gathered her things. Before leaving, she did not set the alarm clock for House. She would forgive him, just this once, if he overslept. The longer she could put off facing him, the better.

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Cuddy strode through the doors of Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital with an air of confidence about her. Though it was forced, it had the desired result. No one spoke to her, no one stared, and she did not have to hear a single word about the interaction between her and House that the entire staff had witnessed the day before. For that, at least, she was grateful.

She made it the entire way to her office without any interruptions. She unlocked the door and was about to lock herself inside, when her eye caught Wilson's reflection in the glass windows. His back was to her. She could have sneaked into her office, unnoticed, but inevitably he would show up there, curious about House's wellbeing and such. Might as well get it over with.

"Dr. Wilson." She called to him, getting his attention. He turned to face her. "I need to see you in my office as soon as you have a minute."

"Sure." He said and joined her at the entryway.

Cuddy opened the doors and allowed Wilson to enter first. Once inside, she closed the door and locked it behind them. She left the blinds drawn. She didn't want to risk anyone overhearing or inadvertently walking in on the conversation that was about to take place. She was about to be more honest than was probably wise.

"What's going on?" Wilson asked, taking a seat when Cuddy collapsed into the chair behind her desk.

"I want to tell you what happened last night, before House makes up some elaborate story, and gets you thinking something totally untrue." Cuddy began. She shifted in her seat before continuing. "We went to the bar. And we fought. The night was absolutely disastrous. What else would you expect, right?"

"Right. Did he tell you anything?"

"More than he ought have." Cuddy answered vaguely and laughed to herself. "He didn't deny talking to the coma patient. Anyway, I got drunk. He had to drive me home. I'm not proud of it, but that is what happened. I could barely walk, and he stayed with me."

"Whoa. Back up a minute. He stayed with you? Did you two…"

"No. Nothing happened." She reassured him. "Turns out neither of us felt much like being alone, and he just stayed with me. He is asleep at my house right now."

"Wow. So how is he? How are you?"

"I'm fine. I don't know how he is. I made sure I didn't wake him this morning. It would have been too awkward. I'm so embarrassed. What happened last night, that wasn't me, and he will never let me live it down. You're my friend, Wilson, what am I going to do?"

"Cuddy, I'm blown away. I don't know what to tell you. Knowing House there is no telling what he will do. He will probably pretend like it never happened. Maybe you should do the same. He'd be an idiot to use this against you."

"Thank you, Wilson. Listen, I made him promise he wouldn't mention it at work. After the display we put on yesterday, and all. Just don't tell anyone ok? Don't let him know you know." Cuddy pleaded.

"Sure thing." Wilson rose from his chair and left the office. Cuddy believed, that for once, he recognized the gravity of the situation and would actually keep quiet about it.

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Cuddy had been immersed in paperwork for the better part of the morning. She was focused on her work, and hardly thought about House after the conversation she had with Wilson. She was so engrossed in her work that she was startled and nearly jumped out of her chair when House burst through the door.

"I need your signature." He said throwing a file onto her desk.

"What is it now, House?" She asked taking the file.

"Twelve year old boy. He has a Craniopharyngioma. He needs surgery. If we do it now, we should be able to save his eyesight."

"You're sure?" Cuddy asked examining the file.

"It's confirmed. The tumor is benign, but he is already nearly blind. The kid needs surgery."

"Fine, House." She signed the authorization forms and handed the file back to him.

He turned to leave. When he reached the door he looked back over his shoulder. "I was two hours late, by the way. I overslept this morning. I don't think I'm going to have time to do my clinic hours. What do you say? Let's call it even. I mean, I was scheduled for two hours of clinic, and you didn't set the alarm clock. It's only fair."

"Fine, House. Go." She pointed at the door and he left. So much for him pretending last night didn't happen.

Fifteen minutes later, Cuddy was in the observation room above the O.R. It hadn't dawned on her, but as she should have expected, House joined her. He was a diagnostician after all. He was not the neurosurgeon.

"You're looking quite perky today." House said as he approached her. His eyes were fixed on the deep vee of her shirt.

Cuddy rolled her eyes. "Don't start, House."

"What?" He asked innocently. Then he added sarcastically, "You look exceptionally fantastic. Can't I complement you after a wonderful night together?"

"If we had had a wonderful night together, sure. But if I remember correctly last night was quite disastrous."

"Ah, you were drunk." He said dismissively. "The way I remember it, you were begging me to go to bed with you by the end of the night."

She shrugged. "Must have been my impaired judgement. And I could have been certain that by the end of the night, you were the one calling it a date." She paused. "Do you like me House?" She challenged him. She was grateful when he didn't answer. She wasn't sure she was ready for the answer to that question.

House's mind wandered. So what if I do? Would that be so hard to comprehend? Greg House and Lisa Cuddy, star-crossed lovers, destined to fail…but it would be oh so much fun to give it a whirl.

Cuddy's mind wandered. He is so infuriating. He is an egotistical pain in the ass. But last night…were the things he said true? Does he really care for me? The House I saw last night, I liked that House…If only he were like that more often…

The two of them stood side by side, silent and oblivious to the other's thoughts, observing the operation that was taking place in the room below.