House sat in Wilson's office telling him about exchange him Cuddy had earlier that morning.
After hearing House's take on Cuddy and how there was obviously something or someone on her mind, he responded simply, "You're an ass." And he got up and sat behind his desk.
House looked at him in amazement, "You're seriously going to tell me that this doesn't intrigue you in the slightest?"
"Uh yes, that's what I'm telling you. Get a life House and stop interfering with Cuddy's." Wilson turned his attention to his paper work.
House got up and stood in front of his desk. "Oh come on Wilson! Someone is schtupping our good doctor and you act like it's nothing!"
"To me it is nothing House. And I say good for Cuddy! The lady works hard, runs this hospital, puts up with you incessant crap…. hell if anyone deserves to a trip to pleasure town, it's Cuddy!"
Wilson noticed the uncomfortable look on House's face. A realization suddenly flooded over Wilson.
"You're not just intrigued by this… you're jealous." Wilson looked House in the eye.
House, being caught off guard, shook off his friends comment.
"What? Don't be stupid, I just find it interesting…"
"No." Wilson interrupted pointing his pen at House, "You find it irritating. I saw your face when I mentioned Huddy having relations with someone…you like her…" Wilson's voice trailed off in amazement.
"My, my…I guess the tin man does have a heart."
The two men just stared at each other for a bit.
House broke the silence with a child like response, "Yeah and if only the idiot Oncologist had a brain. Since when did you start popping more magic pills than me?" House began to pace, wondering why Wilson's words had effected so much. He swallowed his current feeling of doubt and turned back to Wilson. "You're imagining things Wilson."
"Am I? House, you obsessively talk about her, make crude comments about her cleavage, her tight skirts and how you can tell if she is wearing underwear or not.."
House interrupted his friend's rant stepping up to the front of his desk and planting the bottom of his cane on top, as if to make a steak through the mahogany surface. "First of all Jimmy, I never refer to her breast as cleavage, I prefer the term fun bags or boobies." He smiled at Wilson.
"And secondly, I've grown tired of this conversation. So if you're not interested in helping me get to the bottom of this, then I'll go it alone." House headed towards the door to leave.
"You're deflecting, that's not like you." Wilson yelled at him as the door shut behind House.
"You're an idiot and that's so like you!" House replied through the door, making sure it was loud enough so that everyone in the hallway could hear. He hated to admit it, but the thought of Cuddy being romantic with anyone did make him cringe….but why? Sure he was attracted to her, but that was it, right? His conversation with Wilson made him very uncomfortable, and Maria's little comment didn't help any. He was now questioning himself and he hated that!
House made his way to Cuddy's office, it was almost lunch time and wanted to catch her before she left, maybe get a few more clues as to who was occupying her thoughts. He kind of hoped he had imagined the other "man" on her mind. Maybe she was thinking of him?? Nah, but there's only one way to find out. Cuddy, here I come.
VVVVVVVVVVVV
Tap tap tap. House tapped his cane lightly on the Cuddy's door. She looked up, "Crap!" she thought to herself. Well, at least he knocked this time. She took a deep breath and nodded for him to come in. Cuddy straightened her top and put her game face on. No way was he going to get to her this time.
House quietly walked in, taking his time and gingerly sitting down on a chair in front of her desk. They both faced each other and sat in silence all the while looking each other in the eyes. After what seemed like an eternity in uncomfortable silence, Cuddy started to feel uneasy and decided to speak.
"So House, what can I do for you?" Her words were cool and calm, her posture relaxed.
"I'll show this son of a bitch I can play this game and be just as controlled as he is." But she could feel her insides tying into knots…she just had to get through this conversation and not let him see her sweat.
House took a second, looked around her office and replied just as coolly.
"Oh Cuddy," His eyes became fixated on her. "I just wanted to stop by and explain my comments from earlier. I realize that you may have perceived them as stepping over the line a bit, especially when mentioning..you know..us, those many years ago. But I…you know me, I see something that's puzzling to me and I try to find an answer for it."
Cuddy looked at House in amazement, her face showed slight signs of a smile.
"Oh ..kay…this is a bit unexpected. Are you apologizing House?"
"Nope." His answer was quicker than she'd like. Cuddy frowned a bit and House noticed. House realized that he needed to play it cool if he was ever going to get the bottom of Cuddy's current mood change.
"I can't apologize for the way I am, you should be used to my all loving personality…"
Cuddy shook her head, fighting a laugh that was creeping into her.
House continued, " But I'll admit that I could have possibly gone about it in a slightly, less abrasive way." Not sure why she did it, but Cuddy got up, walked over to Houses side and sat on the front end of her desk. House enjoyed the view she was giving him, noting how her black V-neck hugged her breasts and the black skirt clung to her womanly curves. Cuddy noted the change in Houses demeanor but still played it cool despite feeling very warm at the moment. She sat facing him.
Cuddy put her head down, chuckled a bit at the current situation and looked up at House.
"That's probably the nicest thing you've ever said to me House…I realize it wasn't an apology, but thanks just the same. It's nice to know that I am not just a punching bag for you." She smiled at him and gave him an endearing look.
"Oh Cuddy, it's just for fun, I don't mean 50 of the crap I spout out..well except for boob and ass comments. But those are meant to be compliments." House gave her an "honest to God look" and she just shook her head giving him a "what am I going to do with you look."
"And no matter what I say or do or kill, you and the Tin Man will always be my friends."
"Tin Man?"
"Oh yeah, that's my new pet name for Wilson….don't ask."
"Yeah, I think I'll have you keep your little bromance to yourself."
They smiled at each other and House couldn't help but notice the look on her face. It was the same one she had when he interrupted earlier. House suddenly realized that there was a good chance that Cuddy was thinking of him when he interrupted her earlier.
Now House was the one feeling his insides knotting up. This feeling was a bit foreign to him, especially when it involved Cuddy.
A long awkward silence followed and the room seemed to shrink inside, making it difficult to breathe. Both were feeling nervousness in their stomachs and both were determined to ignore it. Neither wanted to give in. An House was fighting an over whelming feeling of running his hands over her long legs, or maybe being so close that he could feel her breath on his skin. As if by luck, House's pager went off, breaking off both their gazes. He grabbed it and looked at the code.
"Uh, gotto go." House's words were stammered as he awkwardly got up. "Patient.. dying, gotta go, uh, play doctor."
Not knowing how to react, Cuddy struggled but responded. "Uh yeah, ok. I guess I'll talk to you later House."
House was already walking to the door when she responded but turned around when he reached the door way.
He wanted to make one of his boob or you look like a hooker in that outfit comment, but he didn't…he just couldn't. Something had changed in those few minutes in her office, Cuddy noticed his gaze on her and could tell that he was searching for something to say.
But all he got out was, "Have a good Cuddy." She smiled and nodded and watched him walk out of her office.
Cuddy brought her hand up to her cheek, feeling the intensive warmth of her skin, House had had an unexpected effect on her. She let out a sigh and sat behind her desk, her mind now racing.
"What the hell just happened?" she said to herself.