Chapter 7 - History Repeats Itself

House cleaned up after dinner, letting Cuddy relax in front of the TV. He threw the last of the white cardboard containers in the trashcan and watched her silently from the doorway to the kitchen. She seemed oblivious to his presence as she sat there on the couch, holding a glass of iced tea in her hands, a blanket draped over her lap. He thought about the events of the night, wondering what would have happened if he hadn't decided to follow her to the restaurant. What if… He didn't want to think about any ending to the evening other than Chris Johnson lying on the pavement cupping his jaw in his hands, staring wide eyed, terrified by the cripple standing above him. But, what if? Just how far was Chris Johnson willing to go to claim what he thought fifty thousand dollars entitled him to?

Cuddy looked over her shoulder at House, snapping him back to the present. He shook the dreadful thoughts from his head and limped lazily toward her.

"Come on." He told her. "It's late we should be going to sleep." He held out his hand, offering to help her up from the couch.

Cuddy just smiled up at him. "We?" She asked.

"Yes, we. I'll sleep on the couch, but I am not leaving you alone tonight. What if he shows up here?"

"House, I think you are more than just a little paranoid." Cuddy didn't want to argue. She had had a rough night and she really did just want to go to bed. But if she hadn't said anything, relenting so easily would have looked suspicious.

"I didn't kill the man." House retorted. "I knocked him down. What if, somehow, and I know it's a long shot, he got up and followed us?" He didn't say it to scare her. He just wanted an excuse to stay another night with her. Of course, he would never admit that it was that simple.

"He didn't follow us."

"Do you want me to leave?" House gave her the opportunity to send him away.

"No." She said simply and shook her head in defeat. She stood from the couch and walked to her bedroom. House stayed behind in the living room. He looked at the couch, wondering how he would possibly sleep comfortably there. It was not nearly long enough for him to stretch out on. He turned off the TV and lights and sat on the couch. It was going to be a long night knowing he was only a few steps from a sleeping Lisa Cuddy. Being in the same house and not being able to feel her next to him would be torture.

Just as House was about to lie down and turn in for the night, Cuddy reappeared in the living room. She looked purely angelic in her white night gown, her face free of makeup, and her dark curls cascading around her shoulders. She glided with ease across the living room and stood in front of House, this time offering him her hand. He took it without objection, and she pulled him to his feet. Without a word, she led him out of the room and down the hallway. She walked slowly, so he could keep up painlessly without his cane.

"I am not going to have sex with you." House stated as he followed her through the doorway to her bedroom, easing his own discomfort with his sarcasm.

Cuddy smiled at hearing those words for the second time in two nights. "I'm not asking you to." She answered him in the same way she had the first time. She released his hand and pulled the covers back on her bed. She climbed in, taking the same position she had before, leaving room for him to join her. "I'm just asking you to sleep with me." She added with a wink.

House let a small laugh escape him as he took his place beside her. They curled up together, holding each other in their arms, each needing the other for reasons they would never admit, and they fell asleep without saying another word.

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Cuddy stormed through the front doors of Princeton-Plainsboro, her irritation evident in her stride. She had overslept and had barely gotten to the hospital on time. House had better already be here! She thought. He had left before the alarm clock went off, and he unplugged it before he left. The audacity of that man! She screamed internally as she reached her office. The door was slightly ajar. Something wasn't right, she knew she had locked it before leaving the night before. She pushed the door open and was not surprised to find House sitting at her desk waiting for her.

"House! How dare you do that to me?" She yelled at him as she closed the door behind her.

"What, you're not happy to see me?" He frowned.

"You unplugged the alarm clock." She stated firmly, barely above a whisper.

"Just returning the favor." He said shrugging. "Don't worry, I have everything under control."

"Get away from my desk!" She ordered.

"No, really. Everything is under control. I even got rid of the duo plaguing the hospital with their presence. I sent the Johnson kid home an hour ago."

"You've been playing administrator all morning?" She asked. "I swear, House, if you screwed anything up…"

"Oh, don't worry, Cuddy. I left all the real work for you. I just thought I'd be nice and get rid of the creep before you came in. Joshua and Daddy are both gone." He told her, obviously proud of himself. "Your welcome, by the way."

Cuddy took a seat in the chair that House had just vacated. "Thank you." She was thankful that she wouldn't have to see Mr. Johnson again. "You are now relieved of your duties here. Go find some work to do."

House left the office, but he was not in search of work. He put his hand in his pocket and smiled. He had his Gameboy, and he figured Coma Guy could use some company.