And we have reached it. The penultimate chapter. I just want to say thanks for sticking with me and reviewing this story. I really hope that you like the fluffy almost wrap-up of Itsy Bitsy Spider. :) We're almost done folks!

Disclaimer: I still don't own House.


Everyone's pagers went off at the same time. Kutner glanced at the screen of his. "Spider bite?"

Cameron could have smacked herself for missing it. "Of course."

Looks of relief were shared all around.

"Come on." Foreman said, herding everyone along like children. "Let's go fix our bosses' boss."

But by the time they got there, there was nothing left to do. Nurses were buzzing around busily attaching wires and handing syringes and Wilson was standing over Cuddy's bed. Cuddy was awake and smiling at Wilson wearily, who had a huge look of relief on his face.

Cuddy spotted the six doctors and waved them over. "Hey guys."

"You got bit by a spider?" Chase asked, stepping around a nurse.

Cuddy shrugged, then winced as her shoulder twinged. "I guess so. That was kind of stupid of me. I'm allergic. Hey, has anyone seen House?" The doctors exchanged pointed looks.

"No." Taub said carefully. "Not for a while."

Cuddy's face fell slightly. "Oh. Ok then."


Cuddy was released later that evening, shoulder swathed in bandages and a bottle of medicine to flush out the rest of the toxins. House knew this, of course. He had ordered it. He sat in his office, leaning back in his chair and staring at the ceiling when a knock sounded hesitantly at his door. He swiveled around and drank in the sight of Lisa Cuddy, standing framed in his doorway.

"Hi House."

House quirked an eyebrow. "Hello. How's your shoulder?"

"Fine." Cuddy made her way across the room as House swiveled back to his original position. "House?"

"What?" House sounded weary, as though he knew what was coming next.

"Did…" Cuddy suddenly felt very foolish. What on earth was she doing here? She clasped her hands together and stared at her knuckles. "Did you mean it…all that stuff you said?"

House felt himself pale. She had…heard?

"What stuff?" he asked, knowing it was futile.

Cuddy gave him that look. The look that said, oh-please-I-know-you-know-exactly-what-I'm-talking-about. Damn. "The stuff you said when you…held my hand by my bed."

House got to his feet. "I think you were delirious and all that medication made your girlish romance fantasies seem real." He pushed past her, hell-bent on escaping the awkwardness that was sure to come next.

"So you didn't mean it." Of course. Why should she have expected…

It was her voice that stopped House with his hand on the doorknob. The disappointment and hurt that layered her words stuck him to the core. He slowly turned and instantly wished he hadn't. The features on her face were struggling to arrange themselves into her usual composed mask, but were failing miserably. He could see the defeat and sadness on her face plain as day. He swallowed. It killed him to cause her that much pain.

"I lied." he mumbled. "Just now."

Cuddy's heart almost stopped. Had he said… "Wh-What?"

House twiddled his cane. "I meant it, alright? There." He turned back to the door and twisted the handle.

Cuddy was across the room before he had time to leave. She grabbed his arm. "House…"

House froze again. Escape was only a jerk of his shoulder and a short walk away. However…everything he'd ever wanted was a simple pivot. Happiness. The conundrum of his life. He didn't deserve to be happy. He didn't…

House slowly pivoted and looked down into Cuddy's suddenly nervous eyes. It gave him a small jolt of confidence knowing she was just as nervous as he.

"Um…" Cuddy clearly didn't have any idea how to go about this. House felt a small smile tug at his lips.

"Yes?" he asked in an agonizingly slow drawl. They were so close House could see an image of himself reflected in her irises. His heart sped up. Was this really happening? Was he really going to kiss Lisa Cuddy and hope that it actually went somewhere?

Cuddy looked up at her own face reflected back at her in House's crystal eyes. Was House going to…kiss her? No, this couldn't happen… She knew that. But then why was every fiber in her being aching for House to close the inches of air that separated their faces?

House swallowed hard and slowly slid his hands to her shoulders, letting his cane fall to the ground with a soft thud. He was going to do it. Dear god. He cupped Cuddy's chin in his hand and slowly, ever so slowly drew her face towards hers. Cuddy's lips parted ever so slightly and she felt his lips barely brush against hers. It was like a dam had broken. And the two doctors pressed their lips together as everything they'd tried to quash since college came flooding back.

Suddenly, House pulled away and looked at her. "Hey Cuddy?"

Cuddy looked up at him. What on earth could possibly be so important to make him stop kissing her? "What?"

"I'm glad you're not dead."

Cuddy smiled. "Me too, House. Me too."


And...we're done. Did you like it? It always makes me so sad when things are almost over. Please click on the review button and tell me your thoughts! Happy Thanksgiving!

xxAllTheWorldsAStagexx