A/N: The reviews on my last chapter were amazing! Thank you, awesome people!
Chapter Eight: A Save Situation
Open your eyes and let me in
I swore to God I'd never swear again
And we all fall down
Yeah we all fall down again
It was nearing eight fifty when Cuddy finally admitted to herself that there was a distinct possibility that House was not going to show up. When she got home, everything had gone so smoothly. It had never been easier to get Rachel to sleep. The little girl was out cold before she even finished her bottle. She had timed the delivery of the pizza perfectly it arriving about fifteen minutes after House should have been there. Even House himself had left them on such a positive note. Cuddy swore her lips were still tingling from the kiss they shared in his office. Everything had been going so well.
So of course, he wasn't going to come. Things had seemed on track between them, and she had felt so happy. She should have known by now that this was always when House became House and ruined everything. All Cuddy was left with was a peacefully sleeping baby safely tucked away in her room, a specially requested pizza uneaten on her counter, and an anger brewing deep inside of her.
She heard the clock in her hall strike nine and she swore it sounded like the clanging chimes were mocking her. Ding, you're an idiot. Ding, what were you thinking? Ding, House stood you up. Ding, feel this brutal rejection.
Knowing House as well as Cuddy did she guessed he was probably passed out somewhere in a scotch and vicodin induced semi-coma. It was strange that Cuddy actually hoped that was the case, because the other most likely alternative was he engaging in various nefarious acts with some moderately priced hooker.
Cuddy was beyond emotions at this point. She was so angry that she had some how gone past it and was being remarkable devoid of emotion. She was eerily calm. She wasn't crying, or cursing, or showing any outward emotion. She just went about her end of the night routine completely on autopilot. She started turning off the various lights in her house. She shoved the stupid pizza in her fridge before hitting the lights in the kitchen. Cuddy then made her way into her living room. She was just about to flip the light switch when she heard a knock so distinctive to her (after hearing it so many times before at all hours of the night) that she knew exactly who was on the other side of her door.
Cuddy contemplated for a second not answering the door at all. House was over an hour late with no call, nothing. If this was how he was going to be than she didn't need him, or his train full of baggage. The more optimistic side of her soon made its way to the surface noting that though he was late he was here now. For House that meant something, it meant a lot. In addition, she knew if she didn't answer he would keep knocking and then Rachel would wake up. Oh who was she trying to kid. House was at her home a few feet and a wooden door between them and of course, she was going to answer the door!
"Well how nice of you to finally show up." Cuddy sarcastically began as she opened up her door to an almost contrite looking House. She noted that he was leaning heavily on his cane. After a beat, she decided she had not quite gotten her anger across well enough so she narrowed her eyes and added, "Ass."
"I am…" House started as Cuddy moved to the side to let him in her home.
Once House was fully in her hallway, Cuddy closed the door behind him automatically locking it.
"You are…" Cuddy prompted her face still narrowed as she turned around to face House.
House did not say anything back even after her prompting. Instead, House and Cuddy both ended up in a silent staring contest. Cuddy was trying so hard to read House and like most of the time, she was getting absolutely nothing from his face. It was beyond frustrating for her. She just wanted to know what in the hell was going on in that head of his. Here he was an hour late. Now he was apparently mute and just looking at her with this unreadable expression on his face. She was about thirty seconds away from kicking him in the balls and calling it a night.
Meanwhile, House knew he should say something. Cuddy was clearly unhappy. She was so easy to read sometimes, especially if what she was feeling was anger. The flush of her cheeks, the huff of her breath, and the way she was absently tapping her foot gave away just how annoyed she was with him.
He knew a normal person would apologize for being late. However, he knew that she knew him and she couldn't possibly be expecting an apology. Cuddy knew more than most that he prided himself on not being a normal person. He tried to think of other things he could say to her. Something he could say or do to chip away at her icy exterior. The first thing he came up with was to tell her, hey, I am here now and that has to mean something. However, after he said it in his head he realized how cheesy that sounded. Not to mention, it came far too close to admitting something he was nowhere near ready to say aloud.
House was completely out of his element. If he were one to admit to such emotions, he would say he was terrified about this little meet up. It had taken him an hour of not leaving his house when he knew he should have, two scotches, and an inner voice repeatedly calling himself a wussy chicken shit before he managed to hop on his bike and take the short ride to Cuddy's place. He really did not know what to do now that he was at Cuddy's, but he refused to keep remaining silent lest she figure out how hopeless he actually was at all this. He went with the second idea that popped into his mind.
"Oh, screw it. We both know I am not going to apologize." House announced as he began to move towards Cuddy.
In an instant, there was a swirl of activity around Cuddy. This left her too out of sorts to reply to House's statement. First, she heard the loud thump of House dropping his cane to the floor. Then his lean hands gripped her shoulders and his large looming body began pushing her backwards. In a few short steps, he had her completely pressed up against her door the wood digging slightly into her shoulder blades. House had his body pushed snugly against hers. The jean on his legs rubbing against the bare skin that her skirt did not cover, her breasts smashed against his chest, which was creating a wonderful friction. Cuddy's whole body was on full alert buzzing at his close contact. House's hands now danced along her back slipping between her and the wood of the door. Soon he was gripping her more tightly and lifting her body up slightly so she was on her tiptoes making her mouth more accessible to him. This all facilitated his end goal, which was for him to push his mouth insistently against hers.
As soon as Cuddy opened her mouth to allow him to deepen the kiss, she had a realization. When House was like this, all take charge, confident, capable, and I have to have you now it was irresistible to her. No matter how she had felt about him in the hours, minutes, or seconds before as soon as his mouth was on hers it was impossible to do anything but kiss back.
Quickly tongues tangled, lips mingled, and hands roamed freely and the buzzing Cuddy felt upgraded to lightening shooting inside her body. After indulging for a few glorious minutes, Cuddy was breathless and unbelievably turned on. She very reluctantly pulled her mouth away from House's. She placed her hands on his chest and gave him a little push forcing him to take a step away from her. She pulled in every bit of inner strength she had to get out what she knew she needed to say.
"I asked you hear to talk, House." Cuddy managed to get out after a few breathless tries.
"I figured that after the talking there would be this anyway. Why not just skip to the good part." House replied with a shrug of his shoulders. His yearning blue were eyes burning into Cuddy's giving away how affected he was by their kiss, and it caused another shiver of something to jolt through Cuddy's body.
"If you want a good part, the good part, we have to talk." Cuddy affirmed her voice now holding much more confidence as her breathing returned to normal.
Cuddy grabbed House by the hand and then slowly and silently they made there way into her living room. She let go only when she got to the edge of her sofa.
"I could have made my way on my own. You know Cuddy, I am not an invalid." House grumped.
Cuddy laughed inwardly noting that he only said that after he had willing walked hand in hand with her. It was almost as if he only said it when he realized he had to keep up his grumpy bastard reputation.
"Oh, I know it. I have never known an invalid to work a door… or me for that matter as well as you just did. Now sit down, and let's talk." Cuddy bantered her tone light and flirty hoping to get him in an agreeable frame of mind.
House sat down while smirking at Cuddy the whole time. He was clearly happy with her comment. Cuddy followed suit sitting down on the other cushion next to him.
"Somehow I feel like if we talk the chances of the good part drop substantially for me." House observed as he turned his body slightly to look at Cuddy.
"Well, if you plan on saying something horrible and assy then yes I guess I can see your point. Otherwise, I think we will be just fine." Cuddy agreed with him somewhat.
"Exactly and when do I not end up saying something horrible and assy, as you so aptly put it?" House asked.
"House, it doesn't need to be a long talk. I don't know, maybe you could forgo being a dick just this once, you know for the sake of getting laid."
"How short are we talking here?" House wondered, as if somehow the length of the conversation was directly proportional to how long he could keep his colorful comments to himself.
"It would be a lot shorter if we stopped talking about whether or not we should talk." Cuddy responded letting a little exasperation seep through in her voice.
"Fine, talk away…." House finally relented.
"I just… I need…" Cuddy began not entirely sure of the best way to phrase what she needed to say.
"Ah ha, I knew it! You have no idea what to say. You just want to pretend to be grown up. You think that we have to have some big meaningful talk because I don't know you saw it on Oprah or some crap. Cuddy, we don't have to talk. So let us go back to making out. Honestly, it is something we both excel in."
Cuddy couldn't help the smile the involuntarily spread across her face at House's round about compliment about her kissing skills. The moment was brief. She fixed her face into a more serious one before finding the words she needed.
"I do know what I want to say. I just need to know if we do this. It's not just a…" Cuddy paused thinking carefully over how she wanted to finish her sentence, "A momentary thing."
"What do you want like a promise ring? Do you want me to tattoo Cuddy 4 eva on my chest? Who exactly do you think you are talking to here, Cuddy?" House mockingly quipped.
"Believe me, I am aware that I am talking to the jerky House I have known for far too many years. I just want the knowledge that if things progress…" Cuddy started to explain.
"You mean if you let me screw your brains out. Like I tell all those horny teenagers looking for birth control in the clinic, if you're too embarrassed to say the word sex, you shouldn't be having it." House corrected interrupting her mid sentence.
House was not content to have Cuddy beat around the bush. If she was going to force him to have this awkward conversation, he was going to make sure she stepped out of her comfort zone and say the words instead of just implying them.
"You are such a romantic." Cuddy laughed while simultaneously rolling her eyes at House.
"I try." House boasted knowing she was being sarcastic but taking the compliment anyway.
"Anyway, I don't want to have sex with you if it is just a passing thing." Cuddy proclaimed putting extra emphasis on the word sex purely for House's benefit. "I am not asking for commitment, declarations, or anything else I know you are incapable of giving. I do not even want that from you. I just need the truth as you see it. I can make my decision from there."
"You don't want to be humped and dumped. I get it." House observed taking in what she had to say with a calm that was surprising to even him.
"You are killing me with your sweet words." Cuddy quipped but she was secretly happy that he wasn't making a bee line for her door at this point.
"Listen, Cuddy. You want the truth as I see it here it is. Truth is I cant imagine a scenario where you finally let me in your pants for the first time in twenty something years and I don't want to do it again… and again…. and well, again. Like the great Dr. Suess once said, I want to do you here. I want to do you there. I want to do you everywhere."
"Really, Dr. Suess said that?" Cuddy giggled.
"It was one of his lesser known books. So, is that good enough for you?"
"Maybe," Cuddy breathed out in a sultry tone that let House know it was definitely good enough.
Cuddy began to lean in, closing the little space that was between them. House started to meet her half way. Right before their lips touched Cuddy abruptly pulled back.
"What the hell, Cuddy?!" House grumbled as he straightened himself back out at her last second pull away.
"Wait one more thing." Cuddy apologetically exclaimed as if something had just occurred to her.
"Damn it, this is why I don't do this. This is the beauty of hookers. I swear I have never had to work so hard for a little something something." House complained his patience level having just reached its limit. Cuddy was all over the damn place, up, down, up, down. Suddenly the need to escape over took him.
"Shut up, House. Get over yourself. I just have one more question." Cuddy scolded.
"Oh I am on the edge of my seat."
"Stop it. Stop being an ass." Cuddy reprimanded.
"I fail to see where the question in that statement was. You know maybe it is time for me to get the hell out of here." House declared.
House started to stand up and Cuddy's arm sprung out, grabbed his wrist, and yanked him back down on to sofa with a firm tug. They had gotten this far, there was no way Cuddy was going to let him run away now. She kept a tight hold on his wrist and as soon as his butt hit the cushion, Cuddy spoke up.
"Are you still planning on dating Lily?" Cuddy grumbled.
"What?" House asked bewildered.
This was Cuddy's big question. This was why she hadn't kissed him? To ask him something he had already admitted to her days before at his place. She knew he hadn't gone on another date with her. House didn't understand what Cuddy was doing.
"That was my question you impatient idiot."
"You think I am still dating Lily?" House questioned just to clarify what was going on in her head.
"Well, the last I heard was that message she left you that clearly stated to me that she wanted dessert." Cuddy snarled her jealously extremely clear to House and suddenly it all clicked in his head as to what she was doing.
"I told you that night I never called her." House offered.
"You told me you hadn't called her not that you wouldn't." Cuddy explained.
"You are so jealous." House said with an amused grin.
"Like you have never been…" Cuddy defensively protested.
"Not like this…" House returned now openly laughing at her.
"Okay, um how about how you C-blocked any guy who showed a modicum of interest in me your entire senior year of Med School. Then in recent years, there is how you freaked out when you thought I was dating Wilson. You went so far as to try to ask me to a play and pretending to buy a condo from his ex-wife to get information…" Cuddy clearly and concisely made her list.
"Wilson told you about that!" House exclaimed.
"He did. That still leaves us with you remembering your patient because he and I made out two years before he became your case. Then there was you interrupting my date with Don, not once but twice with things that clearly were unnecessary…"
"Okay, enough. Although I do have to say that you remembering all those times says something about your feelings for me." House responded.
"Are you going to answer my question?"
"You are driving me nuts, woman. No, I don't plan to go on another date with Lily. Happy?" House practically shouted.
"Why?" Cuddy asked her curiosity getting the better of her. "And you need to try and keep your voice down or you will wake up Rachel."
"Are you kidding me right now? If this is your way of trying to entice me to stay, you suck at it."
"This is the last thing I promise." Cuddy said rubbing the inside of his wrist that she was still grasping in soothing circles with her thumb.
"If you are looking for me to tell you it had something to do with you, you are in for long wait. It had nothing to do with you. She just happened to be an extremely busty, extremely dull dud." House informed her, his frustration with her evident.
"Okay." Cuddy whispered.
"Okay?" House questioned wary at this point that this was really the end of it.
"Yeah, thank you for answering. Thank you for not leaving." Cuddy sincerely replied.
Cuddy knew she had pushed him pretty far and needed to do some damage control. However, at the end of the day, she got the answers she needed and he was still next to her. Overall, she felt she had been quite successful. Now she just needed to get him back to a better place. She knew of one sure-fire way to do that and the benefits for her were immense so really it was a win/win.
"Well Cuddy, excellent job. This has created such a lovely mood." House huffed.
"Whatever." Cuddy smiled as she released his wrist and crawled closer to him.
"What are you doing?" House asked his frown turning into a slight smirk as he watched Cuddy get on her knees on the couch before throwing her leg over his lap to straddle him.
"I am getting your precious mood back," Cuddy whispered before lowering herself down on to his lap. She made sure to wiggle her hips a little, as she settled down on him. She bent her head down and caught his lips between hers giving the soft flesh a few playful bites. House's aggravation quickly disappeared as Cuddy worked her seductive magic. House's mouth left hers and he started to kiss her neck nibbling and licking as he made his way down her lean throat.
"Guys are so easy." Cuddy breathlessly added as she felt other parts of House begin to stir under her bottom.
That comment got her a nice sized bite on her neck, as House dug into her flesh with his teeth just hard enough to sting but not so hard that it wasn't still tinged with pleasure. Cuddy yelped at the payback and House laughed into her skin.
"You better show me just how easy you can be lady." House looked into her eyes as his hands busied themselves with unbuttoning her blouse.
To be continued…
Song Credit: A Save Situation, The Format.
Next Up: Things well, continue. Okay, I am going to admit fully that was a not nice place to end this chapter. In my defense, I do have a question to ask. I had planned to change this to an M rating from the beginning but then I thought maybe I don't need to. I figured you could decide for me. So smut, or no smut, that is the question. It won't really change where the story is going so really it is just a matter of detail. If you don't care either way, that is fine too. Review please clicky, clicky.
