Nothing is ever simple if it's worth pursuing. I hope you enjoy the chapter. If not, it maybe due to lack of interjection. Please read and review….

Recap: "Alright, I'll be in touch," Anita said as she stood up, slipped her coat on and grabbed her coffee cup. "Cheer up, this is good news for you."

"I know," House seemed somehow disappointed. Anita nodded and left. House sat there staring at the photos wondering what to do next. If he told Cuddy what he found, she'd kill him for investigating her boyfriend and worse, probably wouldn't believe any of it. House glared at the photos and realized he had to talk to Dr. Nolan before he made any moves.

He called his shrink and asked to meet as soon as possible. Dr. Nolan sensed House seemed a little panicked and agreed to meet for dinner that evening midway between Princeton and Mayfield. House sighed with relief and shoved the offending papers and photos into the envelop and closed his eyes as he realized Cuddy needed to know as soon as possible.

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"So what do you plan to do about the report, I mean?" Dr. Nolan asked House over dinner. House shifted somewhat uncomfortably on his side of the booth.

"I'm not sure just yet but that's why I wanted to see you."

"I know," Dr. Nolan smiled. "So what does your gut tell you to do?"

"To warn her."

"Okay. Why?"

"So she knows what she's dealing with," House reasoned.

"Annnndddd?" Dr. Nolan prompted.

"So I can break them up," House confessed.

"So why do you want to break them up?" Dr. Nolan took a stab at his salad and crunched on a full forkful.

House rolled his eyes, "well, we've established I want her to be with me.

"Yeah, and…" Nolan said.

"Annnnd, I can't just sit back and watch her make a big mistake."

"So how is staying with Lucas a big mistake?" Dr. Nolan pursued.

"What, are you crazy? The guy's done time!"

Dr. Nolan looked up quickly, "For drugs! It's not like he's a killer or a pedophile."

"Still, I know Cuddy and she would have like, a major problem with an ex-felon sleeping in her bed!"

"Explains the lack of a college education," Dr. Nolan said with a smirk.

"Actually, Lucas graduated while he was doing time. He got a degree in sociology." House said mirthlessly.

"So you think Lucas's past needs to be exposed? The guy made a mistake fifteen years ago…when he was in college." Dr. Nolan added.

"Still, if he hasn't told Cuddy about this, then he's hiding it from her." House countered.

"Anything else?"

"What do you mean?" House asked innocently.

"You told me you want Cuddy to know about Lucas's past but what about your own?"

"Hey, I've never done time!"

"Thanks to Cuddy," Dr. Nolan reminded House. The time Cuddy lied on the witness stand saved House from arrest and jail time which House had faithfully told his psychologist months ago.

"Yeah, but that drug-related crime was for me, I didn't try selling it to college and high school kids," House responded.

"So Lucas did a stupid thing. The difference is he was half your age when he did it. You were well into your forties. How are you going to share this information with Cuddy without her hating you for it?" Nolan had finished his salad and was buttering the bun that came with the bread basket.

"Butter will kill you, you know. You need to lose some weight, Doc."

Dr. Nolan nodded, "I know. Stop deflecting and answer the question."

House mulled it over and reached for a roll and buttering it richly. "I was thinking Wilson could help me out with this."

"Doesn't matter, Cuddy's going to assume you're behind it and you are. We both know it."

"Well, what should I do?" House looked sadder than Nolan had seen in a while.

"Well, you could ask her."

"What? You mean walk into her office and ask her if she knows she's slipping with an ex-con?" House said sarcastically. Nolan rolled his eyes.

"Do you think that's the best way to do it?"

"Well, obviously not since you're bugging me about it," House looked away. "You think I should go to Lucas?"

"That would be an alternative worth exploring," Nolan hinted. "I mean, Cuddy might have a totally different reaction if she learned it from Lucas instead of you."

"True. If I tell her, it'll drive her deeper into his arms and if Lucas tells her she'll probably hug him."

"Not the response you were hoping for?" Dr. Nolan smiled at House causing House to roll his eyes at the comment.

"Look, I don't want Cuddy to get hurt but I also don't want her stuck with a guy who's not worthy of her…"

"Which is why you've never pursued her in earnest, right?" Dr. Nolan interjected. House instantly shut up and stared as if he had been slapped.

"You don't think I'd be right for her?" House asked softly.

"I don't know her. I only know you and from everything you've told me about her, I can only assume she's been there for you through thick and thin…"

"Because she feels guilty about cutting off my leg muscles!" House nearly shouted. It was Dr. Nolan's turn to roll his eyes.

"I don't think that's the real reason but I'm only venturing a guess based on what you've told me. I think your Dr. Cuddy cares about you but your past antisocial behavior is what has driven her to stop waiting for you to make a move."

House weighed Nolan's words and hesitated to speak. "What's going on in that head of yours, Greg?" Nolan asked.

House resisted the urge to clam up. "I don't know how to handle this. That's why I called you."

Dr. Nolan smiled and reached forward over the table patting House's arm, "You made the right call. You're reaching out for help and that's what I'm here for. What do you want to do?"

House swallowed hard at the realization he had made himself completely vulnerable to Dr. Nolan and continued to spill his feelings, a very new exercise he knew was cathartic yet terrifying.

"I'm not sure but I do know it's more than not wanting to be alone, I want to be with her, only her." House said barely above a whisper.

"So how are you going to do that?"

"I'm going to have to talk to Lucas," House presumed.

"That's a good way to approach the situation," Nolan agreed.

"Is that what I'm supposed to do?"

"Well, it certainly isn't about manipulating her. That's what's the most important part."

House looked at Dr. Nolan and the psychologist smiled at him. "You get it," Dr. Nolan said comfortingly. "You're on the right track."

"Thanks," House said shyly. "What about sharing this information with Wilson?"

"Well, consider why you would want to tell him. Is it to have him tell Cuddy?"

"No."

"Good. Just make sure you clarify why you're telling Wilson this information about Lucas. He needs to see what you're doing and understand why," Dr. Nolan explained.

"Yeah, okay. I'll think about it but I'll get a hold of Lucas, first."

"I'm proud of you, House." Nolan smiled.

"So what's for dessert?" House deflected with a slightly embarrassed smile.

"I'm thinking pecan pie sounds like a diet killer," Nolan grinned back.

"Works for me!"

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House felt his stomach flutter a little at the prospect of speaking with Lucas directly now that Lucas was practically living with Cuddy.

"Hello?" Lucas answered with a hint of surprise in his voice. Obviously he had recognized House's phone number.

"Hey Lucas, I was hankering for some ginger ale with lemon and thought you might feel up to buying me one."

"Yeah, sure," Lucas said still sounding confused. "What's up, seriously?"

"I need to talk to you about something."

"Lisa?"

"Nope."

"Okay….well…uh you want to meet today?" Lucas sounded hesitant.

"Lunch time?"

"Yeah, that works for me. Where?" Lucas asked.

"How about here, at the hospital?" House asked not so kindly. "You can meet me on the roof."

"As long as you're not going to throw me off of it," Lucas joked. House vaguely agreed having allowed himself the pleasure of considering the idea.

"You're safe. See you at noon, rooftop, today," House said before snapping his cell phone closed. Lucas stared at his own phone and felt a sense of worry creep up his back.

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House got to the roof a little early and sat back against the wall waiting for Lucas. Lucas showed up right on time.

"You see Cuddy on your way up here?" House said quietly.

"No, she has a meeting with a donor," Lucas shot back. "So what's this about?"

House tossed a crumpled piece of paper shaped like a ball at Lucas who caught it easily. Lucas frowned with puzzlement but began to unfold the paper ball and reviewed the contents printed on the page. He looked up at House with a glare.

"So you know," Lucas said.

"Does Cuddy?"

"How's that your business?"

"I'll take that as a 'no'," House said with a smirk.

Lucas looked a little angry and began to act agitated. "So what, you're gonna tell her I went to prison? It won't change anything between us, you know."

"If that were true, you wouldn't be here trying to convince me of that. You'd have already told her yourself." House shot back.

"Guess I'd better tell her before she hears it from you."

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe she'd prefer to hear it from me," House wasn't being serious but he knew if he did tell Cuddy she'd hate his guts. He needed Lucas to spill the facts first. That would let him comfort her if Cuddy reacted as he hoped she would.

Lucas looked mad. "I'll tell her tonight. Can you at least let me do that?"

"Nope. Sorry. I have a meeting with her this afternoon. I think I should tell her myself." House had absolutely no intentions of doing this but wanted Lucas to have to do it well before he was prepared to, no glasses of wine to soften her resolve, no flickering fireplace to lessen the concerns.

Lucas began to pace back and forth. "You know, Lisa's going to hate you for telling her."

"I'm well aware of that," House admitted. "But she'll hate you too."

Lucas began to sweat at the prospects. "Fine. I'll tell her. Be cool, man. Just let me have the chance to tell her myself." House grinned evilly.

"You had plenty of chances to tell her…" House began but Lucas cut him off.

"You had me investigated?" Lucas yelled. House stopped speaking and stared at the agitated man before him.

"Well, all's fair in love and war," House stated. Lucas stared at him.

"So you'd hurt Lisa just to get me out of your way?"

"She'll get over it," House said confidently.

"Man, you are a son of a bitch! I didn't want to believe her but she's right. You don't care who you hurt. As long as you're right." Lucas said harshly as he stormed to the doorway. "You're an asshole, House."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," House shot back. Lucas left quickly and House sat against the wall reviewing Lucas's comments. Had Lisa Cuddy told Lucas House was an ass? Obviously. Was she right? Obviously. Was Lucas right about hurting Cuddy in order to win her? Obviously. But House knew he had to do this before Cuddy moved in with Lucas and he had her too far gone to back out.

House struggled to get up and followed Lucas out the door. Pressing the elevator button for the second floor, House rode down with every intention of watching from the lobby balcony to see if Lucas did in fact meet up with Cuddy as soon as possible.

House waited patiently as he positioned himself with a view of Cuddy's office door as well as the hospital clinic. He spotted Lucas sitting on Cuddy's couch in her office. Actually, he didn't see Lucas as much as recognized the sneakers the detective wore. House moved around on the balcony angling for a better view. None was forthcoming. "Lucas, you are too easy," House murmured to himself. He flipped out his cellphone and placed a call to Wilson who answered on the first ring.

"Wilson, were are you?"

"My office, why?"

"Need you to meet me on the balcony. Gotta tell you something," House said cryptically.

"Is it important?"

"Yes."

Wilson sighed heavily, "Okay. I'll be there in a few minutes."

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Got some exciting details coming up to help House and Cuddy reunite. Hope you enjoyed the story so far. Really love your reader reviews and story comments. Can't wait to hear more from you. Thanks for reading and don't forget to spell out your thoughts. Love Huddy forever!