Chapter 10 – The End of the Ride

Cuddy had her hands wrapped around House's waist, as she had done on the ride up. House maintained a fairly normal speed on the ride back to Wilson's. That meant it took almost an hour to get home. It left the two of them too much time for thinking.

Cuddy was totally confused. It wasn't a heart verse brain battle but more of a brain verse brain battle. It made her think back to the time they shared at Michigan and how wonderful it had been, and how miserable she was when it ended. She wasn't sure she could put herself through that again.

Maybe when she looked back she was remembered it as more powerful than it really was.

After the moment they just shared in the park, Cuddy had complete faith in the power of her feelings and she had a pretty good idea about House's. He had looked at her like she was the sexiest women alive and he made her feel that way too. She could feel his burning desire in his lips, his hands, and his embrace. When she thought about it now, she instinctive moved her hands inside House's jacket and tee shirt so she could feel his skin on her hands as they rode. After everything he had been through and everything they had been through together, he was a different man now. This gave her faith that if they took that step again, maybe it would end differently.

House rarely smiled unless he was poking fun at someone. At the moment, however, he could not stop smiling. He had to concentrate to keep his mouth closed and behind his windshield so he didn't end up with a mouth full of bugs. Cuddy had just placed her delicate hands on his stomach as they rode in silence. Her touch was electric. It led him to start daydreaming. In each scenario he was making love to Cuddy but the location and her outfit changed in each scene. It wasn't a delusion but a fantasy. After their evening in the park, he thought maybe some of them had a shot of coming true.

Cuddy had just gotten used to the idea of an actual relationship with House when the other side of her brain reminded her that people don't change. Wasn't that one of House's mottos on life? Even though he opened up a little the last few days, would he clam up again as he did after they shared an emotional kiss last year. If he experience this year had changed him at all, then they made him more fragile than he was before. He was even more of an ass to her the last few months because of the emotions he felt.

Cuddy hadn't realized she had done it but as her thoughts became more and more negative she had moved her arms to return to their original position. House could feel the change in her body language and it steamrolled into a world of doubt for him as well.

What if she was receiving his advances but didn't really want them. She was impossible to read. He had never met a woman like her. She hadn't come to House after Thanksgiving morning, instead they were thrown together but Wilson…that manipulative bitch, thought House. He could handle putting himself out any further if she was only going to slap him back down. No, this time he would wait for her.

As they pulled in front of Wilson place, Cuddy took off the helmet and got off quickly. House stayed rooted to the seat. Aren't you going to come in?" she questioned.

"Nay" responded House. He was going to come up with some witty excuse why but somehow nothing followed his one word response. Instead, he just looked at her. It was a different look then the ones in the park. It was more of a shy fearful look and only lasted briefly before House was looking straight down the road he was about to travel.

"ok, well thanks" she responded. Then she quickly realized it sounded like she was thanking his for making out with her! Oh god, she thought, I sound like a complete idiot. Before the silence could grow she added "I need to rescue Wilson" and she turned towards to House.

House didn't even wait for her to get to the door when he sped away.

Cuddy House, Friday evening, 11pm.

When Cuddy came to Wilson's door he looked rather frazzled but Rachel seemed intact and was smiling as she one-by-one had removed all of Wilson's DVDs from their rack. She had them spread around her in a circle, she was very proud of her little adventure.

She thanked Wilson and got out of there as quickly as she could. She didn't want to have to answer too many questions about their own adventure.

When she got home she gave Rachel a bath and put her to bed. Then she sat on the couch, she was leaning on House's jacket which lay over the arm. She was waiting for him. She felt like an anxious teenager. As much as she convinced herself that it was all for the best to not pursue this any further, she still found herself waiting for him. She didn't want to go to bed with all these mixed feelings, so she picked up her phone and dialed House's number.