Chapter 7: Babysitting

"House," Cuddy called after him as he made his way through the lobby, "where are you going?" she asked.

"Home," he answered clearly not in the mood to be bothered by anyone.

"How's Dr. Cicciliano doing?" Cuddy asked as she followed him.

"Look, Cuddy, I know she's your spy!" he hissed, "she's ready to do everything in her power to make me work for my reputation and I will not have that. I am brilliant; you and I both know that. I don't need some overbearing feminist coming in here and telling me how to run my department."

"Now, now House, you are going to have to learn to play nice," Cuddy smirked and turned away.

"Where are you going?" he asked as he began to follow her.

"I have another hour of clinic duty and then I have some paperwork I need to finish before I can go get Rachel." Cuddy answered.

"Am I going to see you tonight?" he asked.

"I can't guarantee anything," Cuddy sighed, visibly depressed by the idea herself.

"I can go and pick up Rachel and you can come to my place right after work," House said.

"You want to babysit?" Cuddy asked.

"The kid is growing on me," House confessed, "she doesn't argue with me, nor does she try to prove me wrong, and if I have my way she'll be a proficient pianist by the age of three."

"My daughter is not going to be a Mozart to amuse you!" Cuddy smiled.

"Music makes you smarter, it's scientifically proven, momma, you better read some books or something on this!" House said.

"Alright if you want to pick up Rachel go ahead. I'll call my nanny and tell her you'll be over there but you had better be driving your car!" Cuddy said.

"Great! Then give me your car keys!" House said.

"Why do you need my car?" Cuddy asked.

"I left my spare car seat in my other pants. My bad." he retorted.

"Then how am I going to get home?" she asked.

"The bike is in the handicap parking!" he said, "It's either you give me the car and your kid is safe and you be my biker bitch and ride my hog home woman, or, the kid gets the ride of her life!"

"I will not consent to you taking my daughter on that bike," she said with distain. "It's illegal for you to have a baby on a bike anyway!"

"Oh come on Cuddy, I'm not that irresponsible," House stated, "she's got a few more years before it's the cool thing to do, right now she wouldn't appreciate the hotness of a rad ride. We'll swing by later to pick you up. Call me when you are done."

"When she is old enough to appreciate it you will not be cool enough to drive her around on it," Cuddy laughed. "Give me till seven."

"You're probably right," House said. "That's when I'll give the bike to her."

"I beg your pardon?" Cuddy asked stunned. "My child will never ride that thing"

"Cuddy you've gotta be a little more relaxed. You're probably right, maybe it isn't such a great idea for a girl to have a motorcycle," House said looking sly. "I'll have to get her a mustang convertible instead! It will be pink and really girly, with a supercharged V8 engine and nitro boosters, with a light kit that glows blue and wicked rims!"

"I am not prepared for this at all, and I don't particularly want to think about it right now," she said sadly. "Why are we discussing this anyway?"

"Because I am going to do everything in my power to always be super cool Dr. House while you will for ever be 'ruining my life mom!'," House said mimicking a teenage girl and her disappointment. "I will totally win super cool dad of the year!"

"You know absolutely nothing about parenting House!" Cuddy smiled.

"Hey, I have seen my share of teenage girls in this clinic and so have you. You know exactly what is coming!" House said.

"Ok we are dropping this subject right now!" Cuddy said, "She's not even two yet, please stop planning her future!"

"Alright then, I'll pick up Rachel and I'll see you in a couple of hours," House said and walked toward the door.

"What about your case?" Cuddy asked.

"I know what's wrong with the girl, but I thought, because everyone seems so keen on doing the work themselves and taking all the glory that I would play with them for a little while." House said, "The team can handle it."

"House, that's a person you're messing with. She could die," Cuddy said.

"No, she'll get worse probably before any of the morons I work with figure it out but when they get the chest x-rays back I am sure we'll get a call tonight, I'll order some biopsies, Wilson will get a call for the differential and we'll all conclude its sarcoidosis." House said.

"If you already know what it is then why don't you start the patient on steroids?" Cuddy asked.

"Because I don't yet have the proof that's what the culprit is that is causing the girl's breathing issues. Besides, it's more fun when it's a cancer scare." He said.

"House honestly," Cuddy said a look of panic crossing her face.

"Don't worry, they'll figure it out. I have to go. I'm babysitting remember?" he smiled and walked out the clinic entrance.