A/N: Thank you reviewers! You are so amazing! Especially, those who review all the chapters, a special thank you to you. Keep it up, please…

Chapter Ten: Evil

You're weightless, semi-erotic

You need someone to take you there

Saying, "why can't we look the other way?"

Why can't we just play the other game?

Why can't we just look the other way?

"Cuddy wants to go on a date." House overdramatically announced by way of greeting as he shimmied his way into Wilson's office.

"You know if I were a different kind of man I would jump up on my desk and do an I knew it, I am awesome, finally dance." Wilson smiled up from his paperwork as he watched House take a seat in one of his guest chairs.

"If you became that kind of man, I believe a swift bash of my cane to your shins should take you down quite nicely." House warned waving his cane in the air for effect.

"Well played… So since it is clearly not to see my celebratory dance why are you telling me this?" Wilson asked curiously before he began to tease. "Are you actually in here for advice? You really like her, House. I knew it."

"I don't want to go on a date. I told her no." House responded as if that was the only acceptable answer, and purposely ignored Wilson's prodding.

"Oh." Wilson piped in a little less jovial, "But you went on a date with Davidson."

"That is exactly what Cuddy said. If I had known by going on half a date with that boring woman, I would be setting some kind of precedent. I never would have gone. That date was useless, anyway. I didn't even get any tail." House snapped at Wilson before he took a lighter tone. "Well, at least none from Lily. Okay, maybe that date did have its purpose."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait. Is that your way of telling me you slept with Cuddy?" Wilson stammered as what House said clicked into his mind.

"I figured after what you overheard last night you would have assumed. Wilson, keep up man." House said with a shrug as if the whole thing should have been obvious to Wilson.

"Way to bury the lead there, buddy. I cannot believe it. You two finally did something right. My plan really worked." Wilson sat back in his chair to take a moment of triumph before he realized he had figured out why House was in his office. "I see what this is about now. You are about to ruin this. You need to take her out on a date and not do whatever you are thinking of to screw this up. House, seriously take her on a date."

"Why? You do that whole dating thing to get some. I have already gotten." House wondered. It made Wilson a little sad and a little comforted at the same time that House almost seemed sincere about wondering why he should bother to take Cuddy out.

"You really are such an asshole." Wilson half laughed.

"Thanks, it is my most prized quality." House almost grinned in response.

"You do it for her, jackass. You do it because she wants it, apparently enough to ask. You care about her…" House looked like he was about to interrupt and Wilson put his hand up to stop him before threatening. "Damn it, after all this don't try to deny it or I swear I will take that cane from you and make you a human tripod."

"I already am a tripod. My member is so big it needs its own zip code. It's right across it tattooed 9021 House." House quipped as he took his hands out in front of him and displayed his supposed size to a laughing Wilson.

"Well, now you are just sad and lying. Seriously, let me put this in terms you can understand. You slept with Cuddy. It was obviously good or we would be in here having a completely different conversation. If you want this to keep happening and I know you do, you are going to have to stop being a selfish bastard all the time. You will need to do something for her occasionally. Like go on a date. Otherwise, sooner rather than later she will cut you off from the Cuddy loving." Wilson seriously advised.

"The Cuddy loving? You have been hanging out with me for way too long. I like it." House observed.

"I really have. Just take her out to dinner, House. It does not have to be a big deal. You have to eat anyway. I know you are capable of eating with another person. You eat with me all the time. Cuddy is a lot nicer to stare at." Wilson tried to make his case.

"Aw don't sell yourself short your eyebrows always give me plenty to gawk at."

"I am serious House. Take her out. Anywhere with real napkins and waiters will do. If you need my help I am happy to set something up for you." Wilson practically pleaded hoping that this once House might actually take a shot at something that would be good for him.

The thin line Wilson's mouth made let House know that anything else Wilson had to say on the subject would just be a rehash of the points he just made. House wasn't exactly swayed by Wilson's suggestion but he was considering what his only friend had said. However, the date thing had not been the only thing House had been thinking about since the morning.

Cuddy was a mom. Cuddy had a baby. The reality of Cuddy's baby crying and interrupting his morning fun was wholly different then when he had thought about her with a kid in the abstract. If he wanted Cuddy, she came with a baby. A baby who since he was now banging her mom House knew he should probably start calling by her name. House somehow did not see that happening anytime soon. House hated to admit it, but he needed the often-dreaded advice from Wilson. His friend resources were bare and he only had one option for advice when Cuddy was the problem. House hoped he could get what he needed from Wilson without having to really talk about it with him. Since House was unwilling to open up about well anything.

"Cuddy has a baby." House randomly declared hoping Wilson would be Wilson and start with the words of wisdom without House having to explain why he had brought it up.

"Okay that was an abrupt subject change." Wilson observed.

"Well, I was done hearing about your idiotic take on dating and segueways have never been the strong point of my act." House reasoned.

"Okay, so I am guessing this is your way of asking to talk about Cuddy being a mom?" Wilson astutely put together what House was getting at.

"No, this was my way of starting an elaborate kidnapping plan. I have an in now, and Cuddy pulls in quite a bit of income. A nice healthy ransom could fund my relocation to Tahiti. From my own personal experience, I know your over the phone kidnapper voice can't be beat. I thought you would want in on this action. I am thinking like a 95/5 percent split. It seems fair to me." House used the most familiar weapon at his disposal his sarcasm.

"House, I know Cuddy having Rachel in her life has been hard for you to accept. Now that you two are… Well, whatever you are, I am sure it is even harder. I figured you would freak about this sooner or later."

"I don't freak out. I accept the damn kid. Why does no one believe me?" House grumped.

"Why did you bring it up?" Wilson wondered. "There is no way you would start me down this subject path unless well… unless... You were in your own House way freaking out."

"I am trying for once not to be…" House started to answer but couldn't quite find it in him to finish that particular sentence. To say he was trying to be anything for Cuddy was admitting far too much. "This kid thing… It is weird. It is unnatural. It is not me. Yesterday, I was alone, and it was all about hookers, booze, and other awesome things. Today what am I, boning a single mom? Do I need to start wearing sweater vests? Or, working in a garage I don't have. It really doesn't compute."

"It's not just a random single mom, House. It is Cuddy and try as you might to convince me and yourself otherwise it is not just about sex with her. You care about her and by extension, I know in your own way you care about Rachel. Even if it is just in relation to what that baby does and who she is for Cuddy. My advice for now is let her deal with Rachel, and you just take things one day at a time. You don't need to change. I know Cuddy is not expecting you to. You attempting not to immediately screw this up is really all I think you can currently handle." Wilson wisely intoned.

"What does that even mean? May I suggest a little more porn, and a little less Oprah for you, Wilson?" House complained.

"It means this thing between you and Cuddy is brand new. For now, you should just focus on her, while respecting that she has other obligations. It means take her out on that date and don't screw this up by being too in your head and too big of a tool." Wilson explained ignoring House's typical little digs at him.

"Okay, I have gone way past my Wilson has serious face on consumption. I am out of here. The next time I see you it's all about beer, monster trucks, and girls going wild. I can't take much more of this bullshit."

"Done deal, House," Wilson laughed as he watched House leave his office.

"Call Guadalupe and tell her she needs to stay late tonight." House flamboyantly announced as he pushed the glass door to Cuddy office open with the tip of his cane before making his theatrical entrance.

It was early afternoon, and Cuddy was more than a little surprised to see House coming through her door. For her, the night before with him and even the following daybreak together seemed like a lifetime ago. When Cuddy had finished tending to Rachel early that morning, House was dressed and nearly out her door. He had not said much as he left her home. House left her with a chaste kiss on her cheek and a vague mumbling about needing to get ready for work, even as she lightly protested.

Cuddy knew House was full of it and would not be showing up to work for hours. He could stay if he wanted and he did not want to. His need to retreat did not really shock her. The only question was how much he would retreat and how dire the consequences would be. She knew he was aggravated about Rachel interrupting the moment, or maybe just contemplative about it. She was not completely sure. In her worst-case scenario, House leaving abruptly was his way of letting her know he was seriously rethinking everything about his capability of trying something with her.

Cuddy let him leave without any real fight. She knew just as well that confronting House right then would have left him feeling cornered. Confronting a cornered House was something akin to swimming by a shark when you have a gushing open wound. It was not a good idea and you are pretty much guaranteed to be eaten alive.

She figured that if House followed his typical MO, he would ignore her for a while. Maybe a day, maybe a week, in her more morbid thoughts he would ignore her forever in the hopes she got the clue. Then when one of them couldn't take it anymore they would have some kind of blow up over something stupid. The blow up would make things get worse, or in rare occasions better, but either way it would get them back into familiar habits.

However, House coming inside her office right now all animated and full of life was a shock. It was not what Cuddy expected at all. He didn't seem sullen or like he was out for a fight. It seemed out of place to her, but who was she to pass on this miracle, so Cuddy went with it.

"House, what are you talking about? Who in the hell is Guadalupe?" Cuddy seamlessly got in the role expected of her and pushed off all the questions the non-professional side was screaming at her to get answers about. Scary questions, like Hey, do you still want to do this? And You implied you were okay with Rachel but did you really mean it?

"The chick you pay to make sure the kid doesn't play with the stove while you're here being a professional pain in my ass." House explained as if it should have been obvious to her.

"The kid, huh well that's better than Mowgli, or crying shitting blob, I suppose. One-step at a time. House my kid's name is Rachel and my nanny is named Maggie not Guadalupe." Cuddy lightly admonished.

Cuddy tried to be stern but she was unable to completely hide her underlying happiness. House was here. He wasn't running. House wasn't freaking out. He was being normal, well normal for him… From the way she thought this conversation was headed he maybe wanted to do something with her tonight.

"Okay fine so call Maggie, and tell her she needs to stay late to watch Rachel."House emphasized the names in an extra sarcastic tone.

"Right, why exactly would I be doing that?" Cuddy flippantly asked battering her eyes as if she had no idea where House was going with all of this. Suddenly, all the worries of her morning were gone.

"I am taking you on a date." House declared with a confidence he didn't quite feel but pulled off regardless.

"A what now?" Cuddy asked slightly taken aback. Cuddy thought House might want to see her tonight. Nevertheless, just that morning he had pretty much told her he would never take her on a real quote, unquote date. Yet, here he was asking well more like telling her plain as day with no room for interpretation.

"This was your idea, if you don't want to go…" House immediately backtracked. He was doing this for her but if she didn't want it, there was no need for the fuss.

"I want to but you said…" Cuddy began to explain her shock.

"You should know better than to listen to what I say. It is a one time offer, Cuddy…" House cut her off. He really didn't want to hear aloud that he was actually changing his mind about something. Especially, when the only explanation as to why was he was willing to do so was that he was doing something for her.

"Okay, I will call her and see if she doesn't mind staying late tonight, or maybe I will call my Mom. I will figure it out." Cuddy quickly agreed knowing that she needed to show she was enthusiastic about this before House took the opportunity to change his mind back.

"Good." House succinctly responded.

"Any chance, you will let me in on what brought on this change of heart?" Cuddy asked pretty much knowing his reply would be a big fat no.

"None, at all." House answered with a shake of his head.

"So, I should send Wilson some thank you flowers?" Cuddy grinned knowing this had the smell of Wilson meddling all over it. For once, she was actually cheerful about the interference.

"I am taking you on a date and you want to send Wilson flowers. I am hurt. HURT." House mockingly cried.

"I can only assume he had a part in changing your mind." Cuddy argued knowing it was the truth.

"I am about to change it back." House warned.

"Alright, alright I don't need to know. Well, will you tell me where we are going?" Cuddy tried a new tactic to get different information from him.

"To dinner," House vaguely uttered.

"More specifically?" Cuddy prodded as she stood up from her desk chair making her way over to where House was standing in the middle of her office.

"Nope. All you need to know is you should wear something tight, short, and obscenely low cut. Let the twin's breathe." House sincerely instructed looking down at her exposed chest as he spoke. "A little more breath than you are giving them now."

"That gives me nothing. You would want me to be dressed that way even if you were taking me to McDonald's." Cuddy breathily replied her tone changing ever so slightly as she got closer to House.

As Cuddy stood in front of House's lanky frame (his eyes burning into her skin) little flashes of their previous night together rushed into her mind. Pictures and sensations of long roaming hands, naked skin, and the electric crackle of finally having him bubbled up to the forefront of her mind. Oh man, this thing between them was even more dangerous than she originally thought. Cuddy loved it.

"I would actually prefer you naked, but I do see your point." House countered stepping even closer to her as he caught the far off look in her eye and instantly knew where her mind had gone.

"If that is your plan to take me to some place with a happy meal let me tell you right now I will shove my high heeled foot so far up your…." Cuddy half-heartedly threatened.

Cuddy knew that she had to go against her instincts for once. Her instincts were telling her just jump him where he stands. Her instincts had just had a glorious drink of water after a years long drought and they weren't in the mood to reason. She thought being mostly fake angry would work to diffuse the situation, to change her focus. She was wrong. Somehow, she felt even more aroused as she bickered with him.

"So picky, I am not taking you to anywhere with a drive thru window so relax your balls please..." House growled as he reached out his hand and ever so discretely rubbed the inside of her arm with the pad of his thumb.

"Okay, good. I really need to get back to work. I give up on trying to get something out of you I know you will never reveal. What time are you picking me up?" Cuddy quickly retreated stuttering a bit, as she spoke. She took a step back from him and his arm fell to his side, the moment broken. She realized that being close to him in her office held all sorts of tantalizing possibilities. However, none of the thoughts going through her mind about what she wanted to do to House was good for her job status.

"7:30." House confirmed accepting her retreat even though she could tell he was disappointed.

"Okay, see you tonight." Cuddy confirmed before taking in a few deep calming breaths.

Cuddy watched House take a few steps towards her door. She felt her smile widening as she realized she had a date tonight. Cuddy actually had a date with House. She was going out with House. She had slept with House last night. This was actually happening. Her heart suddenly lurched in her chest. She was not used to equating this feeling of fulfillment with House. Suddenly, the end of their encounter seemed like it really lacked something. House had just done something amazing for him, and she had not really done much in return to show her appreciation.

"House wait, come here." Cuddy abruptly commanded waving him over as she made her way over to the corner of her office.

"Why?" House groaned.

"Damn it, just get over here." Cuddy sternly ordered.

House took one look at the glare in her eyes and limped his way over to where Cuddy was standing.

"This better be good..." House warned.

Cuddy cut off the rest of his reply by pushing him up against the wall of her office (as far away from prying eyes as she could get). Then before House knew what was happening Cuddy's mouth was hot and hard on his. House instantly responded to her kiss his mouth opening to let her inside, as they eagerly went at each other's mouths. Cuddy allowed herself a few beautiful moments of doing what she wanted before she pulled herself back into the real world.

"Not that I am complaining, but what was that for?" House asked when she finally pulled her mouth off his.

"Positive reinforcement… A thank you…." Cuddy alluringly explained as she took the pads of her thumbs and gently wiped the lipstick from his face.

"I am not a puppy." House whined even as he let Cuddy wipe his mouth. He tried to take her thumb into his mouth but she pulled back. Instead he watched a little awed as Cuddy precisely wiped her own mouth clean without the use of a mirror with the same hand that had just taken care of his lips.

"That is debatable. Now go do your job." Cuddy patted his chest before stepping completely away from him.

"I would rather do…" House turned his head to inform Cuddy who was now behind him pushing lightly on his back to get him to leave.

"Me, I know. Show me a good time tonight and I promise the positive reinforcement I show you would make Pavlov blush." Cuddy sexily promised giving him an extra tap on the back as she slowly pushed him out the door.

"And if it is crappy time?" House wondered.

"You will probably still get laid. Now get." Cuddy honestly conceded.

"That is the answer I was looking for!" House proclaimed as he allowed himself to be ushered out of her office.

Song Credit: Evil, Interpol

Next Up: Date night. Want to see it in a hurry? Review, please and thank you.