Disclaimer: I do not own House MD and in no way profit from writing this fan fic.
Previously in "Weak By You" Cuddy leaves PPTH -
"You ready to leave?" House stood behind her.
Cuddy nodded, then turned to face him, flashing a glimpse of that smile.
"Yeah. I am."
...
The weeks that followed washed over as a wave of events and emotions.
The days were exciting and entirely unscheduled, and as time went on it became a comfortable pattern.
Cuddy spent most all of her time with Avery, and, although she was constantly busy and sleep deprived, for the first few months she was the happiest she'd ever felt.
She was so content now that the memory of those nights, spent in the shadows of the hospital room, fearing for Avery's life, seemed almost distant.
The nightmares that used to reoccur in her mind slowly faded, and by the time Avery learned to walk, and she was back at work, they became happy dreams, unclouded by past experiences.
It was when things started to seem normal, that Cuddy was so suddenly taken aback by the abnormal challenge that entered her life.
...
The hospital clinic was instantly lit up, as the presence of one little girl made everyone smile.
Two-and-a-half year old Avery had just learned to walk, and was now hobbling her way past the nurses' station to meet her mom just a few feet away, by the elevators.
House appeared, exiting an elevator, and watched as the little girl approached.
He limped up to Cuddy and stood beside her.
"When was the last time you took her for a check-up?" He asked immediately.
His voice caught Cuddy by surpirse. She turned to look at him and then back at Avery.
Compared to the excited faces of the nurses, he looked serious. Too serious.
"Um, about six months ago I took her to a pediatrician."
The way he was standing bothered her. His body was stiff, tense, as if he was worried.
"...Why?" She turned around completely to face him.
House didn't answer but continued to stare at the little girl.
Cuddy felt a quick flash of uneasiness wash over her, but she dismissed it.
House was always looking for symptoms in people. Any people.
She assured herself that that was the only reason he seemed so focused on watching Avery.
However, House hesitated to answer, and it made Cuddy second guess whether she was missing something that House saw.
"What is it?" She repeated her question, irritated more than worried.
Cuddy watched House's face closely, but he didn't notice, too deep in thought. It was the way he looked when he was thinking about his patients, right before he realized something pivotal.
She realized, a second late, that nurse Brenda was holding a sniffling Avery in front of her.
"Oh!" Cuddy took Avery from the woman gratefully, wiping a few tears from the little girl's face.
"She tripped." Brenda told her with a small smile, "She's not hurt. Just a little scared."
Cuddy felt guilty that she hadn't noticed, but wrapped her arms around her daughter and set her on her hip.
"House?"
He set his jaw in a hard line, leaned against his cane. "Can I see her for a sec?" He asked suddenly.
"Huh - ?"
House put all his weight against the cane, and with his free arm he gently unwrapped Avery from around Cuddy's waist.
Cuddy and Brenda watched intently, curious, as he sat the little blue eyed, brown-haired, toddler on top of the nurse's station desk.
"Kick my hand, 'kay?" House put his hand, palm facing away from himself, in front of the little girl's left leg.
She stuck her lower leg out to tap his hand. He brought it closer to her leg, pressing it towards her.
"Push." He instructed.
She did her best to push his hand away with her leg.
He did the same thing with her right leg.
Then he tapped his hand just below her left knee cap.
Her leg kicked out, jabbing the air instantly. A quick reflex.
The same cause and effect occurred with her right leg.
House nodded slowly.
"Good job." He finally announced.
Avery sniffled, still recovering from her little tumble before.
House smiled, eying the jar of colored lollipops next to where Avery was seated.
He reached his hand into it and pulled out a red one.
"Here." He added. He slipped the wrapper off and held the candy out for Avery. She took it in her tiny hands, a smile playing on her face.
House picked her up off the counter and handed her back to a confused, but smiling Cuddy.
"What was that for?"
House shook his head. "Nothing."
She eyed him suspiciously.
"Just checking something." He amended.
"Checking for what?"
"You might want to get her to a physical therapist."
Her smile turned to a frown.
"What?" Cuddy demanded. "Why?" She was annoyed. He wasn't making sense.
"Because."
"Because?" Cuddy echoed. "House! Make sense!" She pleaded.
"Just do it, Cuddy." House exhaled. "Because."
...
Thanks for reading! Reviews are really helpful. Yay! I'm back from my trip, however the next week is pretty busy so I'll do my best to keep up more regular updates as best I can. I hope you're enjoying the story so far :) Thanks.