I'd like to thank all my followers and all the readers of this story. I hope you still enjoy it. I think this chapter can "surprise" some of you but just have faith in Huddy ;-)

Chapter 11

"Hello, House!" said Tritter and came close to House. "Your doctors told me that you gonna get out of here on Tuesday. Do you remember something about this man who burnt in the building where you were?"

House looked at Tritter. There was a strange and troubling glint in his eyes. "Did you find something?"

"You didn't answer my question. Do you remember something?"

"No. The doctors hope that to be back at my place will help me recover my memory. Is there something new?"

"Yes. We finally found who the guy was." Tritter waited for House to react but this one remained still. "He was a dealer, he was a member of the gang The lions. Maybe you owed him lots of money, you fought and killed him accidentally."

House didn't say a word.

"Is that what happened?"

"I don't know. I told you I don't remember anything."

"Do you have any evidence of what you say?" Chase asked.

Tritter jumped and turned to him. "I didn't know you were here, Dr. Chase."

"The chief of the police called me and told me that it was probably a gangland killing. So why are you here?" said Foreman coldly at the door.

"Just to be sure that House didn't know anything about it. He could have seen the killer…"

"Tritter, I think you should go now. The file is closed as far as House is concerned." Foreman replied staring at Tritter.

"Well, I guess you're right." He turned to House and added: "You're lucky, House." And then: "If I may give you an advice: You should go visit Dr. Cuddy in Chicago. I found her a little depressed last time I saw her. Her new boyfriend caused her trouble. Oh but I forgot, you're amnesic! What a pity, you can't even remember what a lucky man you were to have a relationship with such a beautiful woman" Tritter said. Then he added with a wink: "Do you think I should try my luck with her?" He waited a few seconds to catch House's reaction. House managed to remain impassible and Tritter left.

"Bastard!" House whispered furious.

Foreman and Chase looked at House. They knew what it cost him to keep his calm. And somehow they admired him.

"Tritter is certainly a jerk but I think we shouldn't hear anymore from him now. You should think about your future, House" Foreman said.

"Foreman is right" Chase replied. "House, how do you feel? Are you ready to go back home?"

"It's gonna be okay, don't worry about me. And don't forget that Adams will take care of me."

"Are you kidding?" exclaimed Foreman.

"Oh you didn't know it? She proposed me to be my nanny for a few days." After a while he added: "Do you think she really believed I'm amnesic?"

"Why wouldn't she? We are the only one – with Cuddy – to know the truth."

"Mike has to leave a few days more then…"

"And what…. What are you gonna do after?" Foreman asked worried.

"Oh I don't know." House replied cheerful. "Maybe party with sexy girls, drive Monster truck… just have fun"

"House! You can't do that!"

"Why? I have no job, no girlfriend…"

"House, you need a job. I can call the Dean of the Mercy"

House didn't answer. Of course he'd have to find a job, but not here.

"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

Foreman sighed and left.

"If you need something, you know where to find me."

ooooooooooooo

Robert had booked a table in the Blue Moon a great restaurant. They were eating their main course when Cuddy suddenly said: "It's weird, I have the impression that everybody looks at me. Do you often come here?"

"I come occasionally. But I think to know the reason why you get this impression."

"Oh and why?"

"Because you're beautiful tonight."

"Thank you. But I don't think"

"And people like looking at beautiful women." He cut her off gently.

"Don't overdo it, Robert. But it's very kind of you…" she replied, smiling.

"But I'm a nice man."

"It depends…" she said and drank a little vine.

He looked at her, intrigued. "How do you mean that? Did I disappoint you? When?"

Amused, she replied: "You are always kind to me, but I'm the boss so…"

"Oh I see. It's Ambett. I know she came to your office to complain of me. I don't like stupid people. And she's stupid!"

"If she really were as stupid as you say, she wouldn't study medicine."

"But she talks too much to the patients, she explains them too much things, they don't have to know all the possible treatments!"

"They should do what you say, isn't it?" she said ironically.

"Of course, they have to! I'm the doctor, I know what they need, they don't. Ambett just creates problems with her "moral", and then "

"Then you need me to resolve your problems "Cuddy added.

"Let's say it's more complicated than it should be." Robert replied and smiled. He really enjoyed talking with Lisa Cuddy, well flirting might be more exact. They stared at each other. Suddenly, Cuddy's phone vibrated. She gave it a quick look. It was House. She decided to forget his message.

"I'm sorry. Nothing important." Her phone kept on vibrating. After a while, Robert told her: "I think you should answer or cut your phone off."

"I'm really sorry, Robert. I come back" she said and went out of the restaurant. Robert could see her on the sidewalk. She was listening with impatience, then she talked. When she came back, she seemed to be annoyed. "Nothing serious. I'm sorry, I have cut my phone off. Sorry."

"Are you sure, Lisa?" It was the first time that he called her with her first name. And he loved that.

"Yes, let's have a dessert." She said and tried to smile.

The rest of the dinner was a little tensed. Robert drove Cuddy back home. Once at her door, she turned to him: "Do you want a coffee or… or something stronger?"

"With pleasure."

They went inside, Cuddy talked with the babysitter who left and asked Robert: "Coffee, tea, vine…? What do you like?"

"A cup of tea would be great, thanks." She nodded, smiled and went to the kitchen. She started the kettle off and went to the rooms to give a look at her children. They were sleeping.

"Everything's okay?"

"Yes. They're sleeping. Here is your tea." She said, smiling, and sat on the couch next to Robert.

"You have a daughter and a son, right?" Robert asked staring at her.

"Yes. I adopted Rachel six years ago and… " her voice was just a whisper. Her look was lost far away from here.

"And?"

"And I got Ethan."

"How old is he?"

"He's fifteen months old."

"Where's his father if I may ask?"

"I… I don't know" she lied.

"I'm sorry, Lisa, I shouldn't have asked, that's none of my business"

"It's okay. And what about you?" she said trying to change the topic of the conversation. This one was dangerous.

"Well… what can I say? I'm the best surgeon of the city, I'm single, handsome…"

"And obviously modest" she added and smiled.

"Hu… You make a point!" he replied and laughed. "But you know that lots of colleagues would like to ask me out."

"Really?"

"And people begin to talk"

"What about?"

"About me and… you" he replied, smiling, looking in her eyes.

"But there's nothing to talk about"

"Oh com'on, Lisa! People like gossips. You're the boss and I'm a sexy surgeon, we often argue or talk and they see what… they want to see. I appreciate you since the first day."

"Because I'm the only one who dares to oppose you" she replied ironically.

"That's a point. But…"

"But?"

"Please, stop it. You know what I mean"

"No, I don't. I like talking with you and…

"And?"

"And I admit that sometimes it's…"

"It's not just talk, it's a game, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"But you don't play with the other doctors, do you?"

Cuddy blushed a little and Robert found her so beautiful at this time.

"They don't oppose me the way you do."

"And does it bother you?"

"What?"

"That I oppose you." He replied, staring at her, and came closer.

"No" she whispered. After a few seconds, he leaned over her and kissed her. Cuddy didn't think, she just let him kiss her. She was so confused; she so needed a man to comfort her, to take her in his arms, to share her sadness, her fears. She didn't want to be alone this night. And Robert was there. She got up, he looked at her, she could see how much he desired her. She took his hand and led him to the bedroom. He followed her, he was happy. She was so beautiful, her skin was so sweet, her lips were soft, he loved her smell, her touch, and he wanted her all, her body and her soul. And this night she would be his and he would be hers. Nothing else would matter.

"Mama! I'm awake!" Cuddy heard, still sleepy. She turned to see the clock, it was 8.00 am. Robert moved slowly. Cuddy got up and went to Rachel's room.

"Hi, sweetie. Don't be too loud, a friend of mama is still sleeping and we shouldn't wake him up, okay?" Cuddy didn't really understand what happened next. She saw a big smile on Rachel's face, even her eyes were shining of joy. Then the little girl ran to Cuddy's room, opened the door and jumped in the bed: "House! House! Captain House, prepare to board!"

"Whaa What?" Robert said sleepy. He turned and looked at Rachel. The little girl was first surprised then a wave of disappointment and sadness overwhelmed her. And she ran to Cuddy who stood at the door.

"I'm sorry, David, she just ran out of her room, I couldn't hold her back."

"Mommy! Who's this man? Where's House?" she yelled angry.

"Rachel, come with me, I'll explain you" Cuddy said and went out of the room with the girl. After a while, she came back to Robert. He was sitting on the bed. "I… I don't know why she"

"Don't worry about that, she's just a kid." Cuddy sighed and sat next to him. "She liked House very much, didn't she?"

"Yes. They were close to each other." After a few minutes of silence, she asked: "Do you want to have breakfast? I made some coffee." He nodded, they got up and just before they went out of the room, he caught Cuddy's arm and asked, staring at her: "Is House Ethan's father?" Cuddy didn't answer but he could see a huge pain in her eyes. He let her arm and followed her in the kitchen.

"I didn't want to hurt you, Lisa. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. It's none of my business."

After a few minutes, while they drank their coffee, she said: "Rachel misses House a lot. As strange as it may seem, they got along well. He played with her, he watched TV with her, he made fun of me what made her laugh… We had good time together…" Her voice ended in a whisper and there were tears in her eyes.

"It seems that Rachel isn't the only one who misses House…" Robert replied and felt jealous although he knew that House was dead.

"I'm sorry, it's just that…" but she didn't end her sentence. She looked at Robert and tried to smile. What am I doing? I slept with Robert but … but I'm still in love with House. It's not fair for Robert. I should tell him… But I can't yet, it would compromise House's future. I don't have the right to make him life more difficult that it is yet. House pretended to death just to be with Wilson until the end, it was a noble gesture and it meant a lot to him and to Wilson. I can't deny it and destroy House's life just because Robert deserves honesty. Besides I have to move on, I have to forget House, definitively. Robert is a good guy, I'm sure we can be happy together. So…

"Listen to me, Lisa" he said and took her hands. "I'm not House. And I'll never be like him. But I'm a good man. I love you Lisa and I want you to be happy. I can take care of you and of your children."

"I know, David. But… do you think you can be patient enough and let me some time to think about us, I mean to think seriously about us." And she added: "Furthermore it won't be easy at the hospital you know."

"I don't care about what people think. Only you and I matter." After a while, he said, staring at her: "Do you think you and I can work?"

"I don't know. I don't think I'm ready yet for a relationship."

He took her in his arms and kissed her gently, then he took her face in his hands, looked at her straight in the eyes and said: "I want you to give me a chance, I deserve it… and I won't disappoint you. I love you."

She held his gaze and nodded. She had to try. And she wanted to. She gave him a soft kiss and held him tight. She needed a man, she needed someone to take care of her, to be by her side. And for now it couldn't be House, so… why didn't give it a try with Robert?