I would really like to thank people for their feedback. It seems amazing to me that I can write my little fic all the way down here in New Zealand and you people would do me the honor of reading it. Thanks again.

Chapter Six

Monday morning dawned bright and clear. Shortly after nine Dr Gregory House walked through the doors of Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. The fact that he was nearly not late, and that he almost looked well, not miserable caused some raised eyebrows as he stopped at clinic reception to collect his messages.

Nurse Brenda Jones handed him some slips of paper, which he nonchalantly looked through and promptly filed in the rubbish bin over her shoulder with great accuracy.

'You dont think I sit here taking messages, for you to completely disregard them' she said annoyed.

'Sorry but it looks like thats exactly what you do to me, but where would we be with out Cuddys little paper pushes; All those rainforests still standing' he muttered as he walked toward the elevator

'Dr House we have a waiting room full of patients and you are on duty here' she called after him thinking 'great no Dr Cuddy, Ive got no chance to get him in here!' To her surprise he quipped back over his shoulder,

'Line em up Ill be back in five.'

True to his word five minutes later he was back in the clinic and actually seeing patients. Brenda secretly rewarded him by trying to at least give him the most interesting patients, but as everyone knows on a Monday clinic its lots of crutch rot and runny noses most of which she tried to direct to the other doctor on duty. Until he caught her.

'Wait up, whats with the chart switch?' he asked suspiciously

'Dont know what you mean'

'Yes you do' he met her eyes staring her down 'you have one pile for me and one for him and theyre not in the order they arrived'

'Dr House, I run the clinic' she threw her arms in the air 'here swap if you like.'

He picked up the other pile of charts and flicked through them. Looking more horrified by the minute. 'Ill stick to mine thanks' He said taking the next chart from his pile. 'Mr. Sajart, this way please'

Brenda smiled, it was Monday and the waiting room was nearly empty and it was just past twelve. Amazing she thought Dr Cuddy wont believe her eyes

Then there was one chart left she handed it to Dr House 'Why cant he see it?' he said as Doctor Johnston came to stand beside him.

'I dont mind' the fresh faced young Dr said 'Ive seen Mr. Stewart before'

Something in Brendas manner caught Houses attention; she wanted him to see this one in particular.

'I got it, boss will be here soon, like her to catch me working' he said to the younger doctor, who smiled amiably and went on his way.

'Whats so special bout this one?' he asked the poker faced nurse.

'Who said it was special?'

'Oh cut the crapp' House said rudely challenging her with one of his intense blue stares.

'Mr. Stewart has been in six times in the last three weeks, I think he is really sick'

House picked up the chart and flicked through it reading the other doctors notes 'As opposed to the four other Doctors that saw him, two saw him twice, who think his panic attacks are caused by stress'

'His wife said he wasnt stressed when he had the first one, but now of course he is stressed about the attacks'

'The meds should have helped by now' House mused aloued as he fished through the lollipop jar trying to find a red one in vain.

'Mr. Stewart, if you would like to come this way Dr House will see you' Brenda said shoving the chart under Houses nose, to her surprise he took it without complaint, wonders with never cease she thought, looking at her empty waiting room. She reached in her drawer and took out a red lollipop and placed it on the top of the jar.

Earlier that morning the board of Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital was sitting around the large table, reviewing the latest budget predictions that Dr. Cuddy had produced for them.

Outstanding work Dr Cuddy the chairman Bill Ryan was saying 'I cant recall the hospital being in a better financial position than it is at the moment' there was a murmur of approval and agreement around the table. 'As there appears to be no general business I shall call the meeting to a close'

'Excuse me Bill, I know it is not on the agenda, but I have a personal matter I would like to discuss with you all' Lisa Cuddy said confidently

'Of course Lisa, the floor is yours' said the chairman.

Here comes the engagement announcement thought Wlison he wondered how his friend, House really was really coping, he and Sam had called around on the way home from the airport the evening before, and at first he had thought House was just not answering his door, but they had let them selves in and he was clearly out. Wilson had just been relived not to find his friend drunk or stoned, lying in his own vomit as had happened numerous times before. He wished Cuddy would just get this over with so he could just go and check on his friend.

'I feel I should inform the board that I am in a relationship with a Doctor, who is a member of our staff' she had everyones attention; you could have heard a pin drop. Wilson looked confused.

'As of Saturday, Dr Gregory House and I are in a relationship. I feel it is important that you all know this up front, as I sure some of you will have concerns and I would like to address them here face to face' she looked pointedly at John Anderson, who hated House and had been trying to get rid of him for years.

'You expect us to believe it hasnt been going on for years!' Dr Anderson said in an outraged voice.

'Yes, John I do, because it hasnt, I am not the type of person who would be in a relationship that I would feel I had to hide from the world'

'One look at James Wilsons face is all the proof I need' boomed Dr. Madeline Johnson. James indeed looked stunned.

'You dont seriously think you can be in a relationship with the lunatic and be

his boss, do you Lisa?'

'I take exception at that term, John, I do think we can continue as is' she answered 'but if I do not have the board unanimous support I will look at other options'

'You'd give up your career for this man?' Bill Ryan asked astounded

'No Bill but I am certainly willing to change jobs if need be, I have offer from Merseyside on the table at the moment, they have been headhunting me for years'

'How dare they!' John Anderson was outraged that the larger hospital he couldnt stand would have the cheek to try to steal their dean of medicine.

Wilson sat and admired the way Cuddy handled the whole situation, now they were all scared of loosing her, John Anderson had even accused her of trying to steal House away with her, which nearly made Wilson burst out laughing.

'You would certainly loose the percentages I was able to gain for the hospital a couple of months ago John, Dr House and his department are the main thing that sets us apart from our competitors, I cant speak for Greg, but I have had no indication that he is thinking of a change of employment'

'If you leave he might' said Anderson

'He is very much his own man, he will make his own decisions' she replied

'It would be a backward step in your career Lisa, you would not be dean' Bill Ryan said

'No Bill, but its three times the size of Princeton and their dean is 60 years old, it could even be a smart move' she replied

Madeline Johnson held up her hands 'Dr Cuddy you have my complete and utter support, to loose you over this matter certainly would not be prudent of this board, I say we vote now on this matter and put it behind us'

'You think she will be able to control House?' Anderson said outraged

'Grow up John, we all know shell have more leverage over the man than shes ever had, Id hazard a guess, we'll get more work out of our maverick diagnostician than we've had in years' Madeline said giving Cuddy a look that made her blush

'If you vote it will need to be unanimous, I can not do my job with people making innuendo and back stabbing me' she looked pointedly at John Anderson 'Would you like me to leave the room?'

Cuddy left and the board voted unanimously to keep her. The recalled and congratulated her. After they left Wilson sat thinking over the last hour or so. Cuddy was perhaps the smartest people person he had ever met, maybe her and House could actually work.

'Are you OK James?' he hadnt heard Cuddy come back in

'It was a big gamble Cuddy doing all this, what if he gets cold feet? You know how he is' he said worriedly

'If he does we will deal with it, I know its not going to be easy, but I love him and we have promised each other 100 percent. Thats why I did this. I want him to know that Im proud to have him on my arm, he has spent too much of his life feeling he doesnt measure up when its just not true. What is it Wilson?'

'He is one lucky man Cuddy!'