Don't Stand So Close To Me
After dinner, Cuddy and House sat down to watch TV together. Cuddy had barely said a word to House during the rest of dinner. She wasn't really as mad that he forgot about the holiday as much as that she had spent so much time looking for his present and he couldn't even remember her. It wasn't that she didn't think that House didn't really like her as much as it was just that she wished he would show it to her sometimes. Of course, she didn't even really know if House could show too much emotion at all.
House was watching her out of the corner of his eye. She was sitting next to him on the couch with her arms wrapped folded in front of her chest and his arm on top of the couch behind her head. He could tell that she was trying not to let him know that she was mad, but she still had that pouty look on her face. When a commercial came on, House leaned over and started kissing her neck. Cuddy quickly stood up.
"I just remembered that I have a lot of work to do, House," Cuddy said. "I want to get it done tonight so that I can go out with Natalie tomorrow."
"You're choosing lunch with Natalie tomorrow over sex with me right now?" House asked her. He wanted her to admit that she was angry at him. "Or was it your plan to have dinner with me tonight and sex with her tomorrow?" Cuddy sighed.
"Can you please just go home?" Cuddy asked him. House shook his head no and patted the seat next to him to motion to her to sit back down. Cuddy just looked at him.
"Why do I have to go home?" House asked. "I will just watch TV here and I will meet you in your room when you are done. That seems like a fair deal to me."
"I am just not in the mood," Cuddy said. "I will call you tomorrow." Cuddy needed time to vent her anger to Natalie before she dealt with him anymore. Cuddy started walking towards the kitchen and House got up and followed her.
"Are you mad at me?" House asked trying to sound innocent. Cuddy thought about lying, but then decided to tell him the truth.
"Do you know what Monday is?" Cuddy asked him. House pretended to think for a moment and then shook his head no. "It is February 14."
"It's the one month anniversary since the first time I rode you at my place," House said confidently.
"It's Valentine's day, House!" Cuddy screamed at him. He could remember what day he did me where, but he can't remember a day that happens every year, Cuddy thought to herself.
"So?" House asked her. "It is just a made-up holiday."
"It is supposed to be a day you show how much you care about the one you are with," Cuddy said. "What is so wrong with that?"
"Shouldn't you show that you care everyday, not just on one day of the year to prove to others that you like this person so you are sending them flowers?"
"I guess it shouldn't really shock me that you would have a warped view on this," Cuddy said.
"Wouldn't you rather me send you flowers on a day when I do not feel forced to do it?" House asked. "Wouldn't that show you better how much I care for you?"ouse House
"Why can't you do both?" Cuddy asked.
"I used to give Stacy flowers on Valentine's Day and you saw how that worked out," House said. "It's not like that proves that a couple's love will last forever. I can send flowers to anyone and that doesn't prove my feelings for anyone."
"You just don't get it, House," Cuddy said. "Will you please just go home?" House nodded his head and went to go get his coat. After he put his coat on, he went back into the kitchen. He walked up to Cuddy, who was standing in the same spot staring at the floor, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He then turned around and left.
Cuddy was still a little annoyed at him for forgetting, but she smiled a little knowing that he wasn't mad at her for throwing a fit about something that he thought was stupid. She went over to the sink and did the dishes.
As House drove home, he had a big smile on his face. He couldn't wait to see the smile on her face when she finally realized that he didn't forget. He also knew that she would probably punch him for acting like he didn't remember. House picked up his phone and called Natalie.
"May I help you, Dr. House?" She asked when she picked up after seeing his number on the caller ID.
"Are you going to lunch with Cuddy tomorrow?" House asked. He didn't know if Cuddy was lying when she told him that when she told him to get out. Natalie confirmed to him that she was having lunch with her.
"You have to remember not to tell Cuddy about my plans," House reminded her.
"I know," Natalie said.
"You also have to make sure when she complains that I think that Valentine's Day is stupid that you don't bash me," House said. "You need to try to convince her that she shouldn't be mad at me." House knew that if Natalie said how mean it was for him to say Valentine's Day was not important, than Cuddy would never get in the car with him on Monday.
"I will try, but that doesn't mean she will listen to me," Natalie said. "She may still come after you with an ice pick." Natalie knew she really needed to try her hardest to not ruin House's plans because she knew how happy it would make Cuddy.
"Just don't be a man-hater tomorrow," House said. "Speaking of men, you doing any right now?"
"Goodnight, House," Natalie said as she hung up the phone.
House drove to Wal-Mart to get some supplies for their trip. He loaded up on junk food like beef jerky and Doritos. He also grabbed some bagels and bananas so that Cuddy wouldn't starve to death. He bought some toothbrushes and shampoo because he wasn't planning on telling Cuddy that they would be staying overnight until they got there. He thought about buying her something to wear to bed, but then decided that she didn't need to wear anything because he would keep her warm.
While he was standing in line at the check-out, a pretty woman in her late 20's came up behind him. She gave him a big smile when he looked at her. I still got it, he thought to himself.
"You don't really have a lot of food in there for a real meal," the woman said to House as she looked at his cart. She batted her eyelashes at him.
"I am a doctor, so I don't really have enough time to sit down for a meal," House said.
"You're a doctor?" The woman asked thinking she might have hit the jackpot.
"I help transgendered people make the switch," House said. "I know from personal experience how hard that can be." House saw the woman look him up and down. She then gave him a weak smile and looked away from him. He wanted to know that he could still pick up women, not actually pick them up.
