To all of my readers,
I cannot apologize enough for abandoning this community for nearly half a year. For those who have read my profile, you know that I am a senior in high school. Since early spring I have been struggling with the process of applying to colleges. This has stressed me like nothing ever before and has taken my mind hostage. I had terrible writer's block when writing my application essays, never mind with fanfiction. However, the process has officially come to an end, and all that is left for me to do is sit back and wait for an acceptance letter. Again, I am so sorry for leaving you all hanging.
Many of you have sent me encouraging private messages and emails. I thank you all so much for the amazing support and from now on will reply and interact like I once did. I appreciate everyone that reads my stories.
That being said, sweetpants is back! Expect updates and new stories to be added on a regular basis. Also, I would like to thank my fabulous beta Wonderlandbaby. She has stuck by me through these hectic months and has helped my writing like no other.
I am looking to find some fresh minds to proof read my material, however. I am confident in the way Wonderlandbaby and I work together but I think it is important to receive different opinions from a mixture of writers. I know quite a few of you have offered to give me a hand before so I would like to take up a couple of offers. Please, let me know if you're interested.
Sincerely,
Gabriela (sweetpants)
Pitch black met electric blue in a fight for dominance. Every muscle fiber in both of the men's bodies contracted into an almost unbearable strain. Each of them stood perfectly erect with their feet planted to the floor in wide stances, preparing for battle. The criminal stood with his handcuffed hands clenched in front of his stomach and head, arrogantly, tilted back.
House could barely hear a thing. His ears only recognized the sounds of Cypher's daunting footsteps and Cuddy's accelerated breathing. She was practically panting with fear. She was desperately trying to get him to move, to retreat. He refused. House, as always, stood his ground. Pushing Cuddy behind him, he discreetly hooked his cane onto a closed door beside them.
His most vicious, drugged, and emotionless glare came nowhere close to the way he was watching his boss's attacker. He all but snapped his teeth at the man approaching them. The doctor's body stood perfectly rigid with even the hair on the back of his neck standing at attention. Everything he felt was natural. The thing most precious to him needed protection. He would stop at nothing to grant her that peaceful security.
As rapist and Diagnostician became transfixed with each other, Cuddy trembled silently with her back against the wall. Her fright was of Cypher, however, she wasn't comfortable with House's aggressive demeanor either. He wouldn't harm her. Of this, she was certain. But she had been on the other side of that ice cold glare. It was beyond disturbing to think about. The devil didn't seem the least bit affected. He simply continued to stare into House's dead eyes, only looking away for a moment to smile at her. The Dean of Medicine's reaction was to direct her vision onto the floor submissively. The memories behind that sickening smirk would forever haunt her. Another thirty five feet and he'd be as close as he'd been the night before.
"Good morning, beautiful."
House, literally, growled at the criminal's audacity. The greeting was shouted. There was still quite a bit of space between the opposing parties; apparently, not enough.
"I see you still in the afterglow. It suits you-"
"Shut the fuck up." The officer walking cautiously behind the prisoner had just about heard enough from Cypher. It didn't stop him, however. He continued to eye Cuddy up and down.
House felt the steady trembling behind him. She was panicking. Her arms wrapped around her stomach protectively as her face grimaced in emotional pain. Screwing her eyes shut, the Endocrinologist attempted to calm her rapidly beating heart. Her demon completely disregarded the officer's warning, and continued to verbally harass House.
"You must be her man, huh?" His eyes shifted to his victim, "Why are you bothering with this pansy? He obviously doesn't fulfill your needs."
House took a small, limp less step towards the on-coming criminal. It was enough for Cypher to redirect his remarks to House. He was just a few feet away now.
"You should loosen her up a bit, man. It wouldn't have hurt as much had she not been so deliciously tight." He licked his lips for theatric effect.
The doctor's jaw locked into place. His nostrils began to flare as he took forced, deep breaths. It was all he could do to prevent himself from executing the man before him. It wouldn't be murder; simple retaliation. The warped logistics within his mind saw it as nothing more than correcting a wrong. He didn't deserve to live. He shouldn't have the right to reminisce torturing Cuddy so happily. Starting from his damaged leg, pain crept up, throughout his body. It was excruciating to think of what she had gone through. The agony stronger than detox could ever be.
It was happening, again. The pain destroyed every one of his emotions. Any second now, he would combust and hurt the closest thing to him. Though this time, a desperate Dean of Medicine would not be his victim. This time, his victim wouldn't be a victim at all. The person before him was the devil's advocate. He wasn't sitting meekly beneath a hospital shower with a critically sick child in his arms.
Time slowed as the criminal further advanced down the hallway. All humorous insanity had left his face as he stared back at House. It was as though Cuddy didn't even exist. Not once did he look in her direction. The two men were entirely focused on each other. There wasn't a thing she could do about it either. Even if the woman wasn't completely paralyzed with psychological damage, she'd been helpless.
And then it happened. For the second time in two days, Louis Cypher drew first blood. When he finally reached we're the civilians were standing, he kicked one of his legs backward, effectively striking the male officer's groin. In that same instance, he swung his cuffed hands at the guard's face, splitting the policeman's skin and sending him toppling to the floor.
His enemy's action of violence was all House needed to explode. He lunged towards Cypher as Cuddy shrieked out his name in warning. He tackled him to the ground, landing perfectly on top his foe. The Vicodin addict began throwing punches aimlessly at the handcuffed and helpless man. It was a rather different scenario for the rapist.
House was possessed. He couldn't stop himself from continuing to pound his fists at Cypher. Flashes of Cuddy's injured body circulated throughout his head. All he saw was torn porcelain skin, and lifeless grey eyes. Each plea of help and frightened look she gave him from the night before came rushing from the back of his mind, to his hands, and back towards his heart to further fuel the suffering he was creating.
He kept up his assault well after the prisoner lost consciousness. It was impossible for him to stop. Even his angel couldn't put an end to the violent rage. She kept a safe distance from him, but pleaded shamelessly to stop. The consequence of House's attack on her enemy would be endless.
"House, stop! Please, you're gonna kill him!" It was fruitless.
"Dr. House! Stop!" A booming voice shook the hallway. Before Cuddy could even turn her head to whom created such a powerful demand, Office Walsh was carelessly lifter off of Cypher. In a matter of seconds, Officer Nolin was beside Cypher checking his vitals and audibly praying while several other officers' swarmed around their fellow, fallen patrolman.
Cuddy began to hyper ventilate as the number of people around her, tripled. She had no one to run to. Her savior remained preoccupied with the elder officer. He was screaming at the doctor to calm down. It seemed liked forever until House's drug like trance broke and his eyes scanned the area. His frightened orbs didn't seem at ease until they met the scared, grey eyes of his boss.
Finally, he began to breath and attempted to gently break away from Officer Walsh's hold. The older man had House pinned up against the wall with his bad leg twisted awkwardly; assuring that the doctor would not be moving without his consent.
At the same time, the guard in which Cypher had knocked down began to gain consciousness as Officer Nolin called for the paramedics. She shouted that the rapist had a pulse but it fell on deaf ears. The doctors were too busy with diagnosing each other's locked gazes. The Dean of Medicine silently begged for her companion to come closer, but not for a second was House freed from the human barricade.
Commotion buzzed around the couple, but neither noticed. Just his nurturing stare was enough to calm Cuddy's rapid breathing. He didn't even need to touch her in order for her to feel the warmth he offered. The power held within his baby blues was incomparable to anything else in the world. She couldn't deny that unique shade of blue if her life depended on it, and wouldn't trust her life with any other color. Her discomfort with their distance border lined physical pain. She needed to be with him.
It took timeless minutes for the turmoil to end. Officer Walsh didn't slowly release his hold on House until both the guard and Cypher were removed from the hallway and receiving medical attention. The other men in blue dispersed, as well as Officer Nolin. House, Cuddy, and Officer Walsh were the only ones remaining. Silence filled the thick atmosphere as the policeman took a small step away from the male doctor. It was as though Officer Walsh felt he was interrupted something. The longing look House sent towards Cuddy was one meant for privacy.
The Diagnostician lowered his defensive shoulders and closed his panting mouth. The flaring of his nostrils continued as the adrenaline slowly left his overworked body. Crystal blue eyes filled with worry as they pleased to a grey storm of admiration. His internal panic was unnecessary. There had never been so much love in Cuddy's eyes. Her gaze begged him to disregard his fearful shock and move towards her. She was not afraid of him. His violent actions had not shaken her. She understood that he was not harmful; to her, at least. The way he stood so proudly gave her the vision of a god, not a villain.
House looked back at the officer for permission before advancing in the direction of Cuddy. She met him nearly halfway and went straight into his arms, burying her face into his chest. He squeezed his watering eyes shut and grabbed hold of her dark curls. He wished to give her more time to adjust, but it wasn't the time or the place. He gently broke away from her embrace by gripping her shoulders and stepping backwards, allowing his hands to run down the length of her arms, and finally taking hold of her hands. Cuddy nodded her understanding and allowed him to redirect his attention to Officer Walsh. However, she did not release one of his hands from her own.
The policeman looked from House, to Cuddy, to the floor, to the ceiling, and then to the wall. He was searching for the proper way to address the situation. All of the doctors' happiness and second chances rested upon the officer's shoulders.
"So, Dr. House," he made eye contact with the other man. "Cypher attached Officer Albrecht, and turned to charge towards Dr. Cuddy, forcing you to defend both her and your safety.
House lifted his eyebrows in surprise. There was an absolute sincere look on Officer Walsh's face and he could feel Cuddy looking up at him with her mouth slightly open. For the first time ever, was luck going in his favor? He stuttered to find the right words; politely clearing his throat to participate in the lie all three were willing to create.
"Yes, sir. That's what happened." He watched the policeman's stern exterior soften into a sympathetic smile.
"Well, then. I guess that'll be a good enough statement regarding the matter. I'll take care of the rest." With that, the man in uniform stepped aside to allow them to continue down the hallway and finally exit the building.
She slipped her hand into her employee's as they walked in silence without even bothering to look at each other. He was ashamed of what he allowed to occur, and she was upset by the fact she adored the action. Fear and love had wracked both of the objective individuals' emotions too quickly. Neither knew how to manage their new found attachment. Their mutual feelings had always been there, but openly expressing their bond was something new. Twenty years of close separation and this awful occurrence had their secret affections bursting from within them. Embarrassment flushed both of their faces as they entered Wilson's car.
"What happened?!" The Oncologist's eyes were wide with bewilderment at the sight of House's bloody hand.
House didn't respond as he pressed a napkin from the glove compartment to his red knuckles. Anger bubbled up at the memory of Louis Cypher. The unconscious state he'd pounded him into hadn't healed any of his distress over the matter. He didn't think anything ever would.
"Just drive to Cuddy's. I'll tell you everything there." It was a short, negotiable statement.
It was also enough. Wilson granted the request for time and quickly made the war towards New Jersey's suburb; all the while analyzing his two best friends' state of mind. Besides him, the Diagnostician seemed on edge. Quick glances in the rear view mirror, however, showed his boss to be peacefully gazing out the window with a content look in her eyes. It didn't make sense, but he requested their privacy until the car ride had concluded.
Once they returned to Cuddy's house, he bombarded House with questions when their female companion used the bathroom. He nearly shouldn't have asked.
"You did WHAT?!"
"Shh." The immature, older doctor made a dramatic show of shushing Wilson's loud mouth. It was pointless to disturb his woman with a replay of what occurred at the station. It was over and she was home, there was no reason to mention the incident.
"House!" Wilson was mock whispering now. "Do you have any idea how bad this is going to look in court? Cuddy's got enough to worry about!"
"Oh would you relax, nothing happened. The cop you saw broke it up, and isn't gonna say anything. The boys in blue aren't exactly known to like rapists, ya know." The statement earned himself an eye roll.
"That's not the point. House, life goes on. No matter how many people you beat up or keep away from Cuddy, these things are going to happen. You can't react like an animal every time someone goes near her."
"You weren't there. He was --"
"--acting like a psychopath, which is exactly what he is! You protected her, I get it, but punching him in the face was unnecessary. He's in jail. His punishment, for now, is enough."
"NOTHING WILL EVER BE ENOUGH!" His boomed throughout the household. His temper snapped and had him continuing the rant in which his subconscious had been creating ever since first seeing the damage done to Cuddy's body. "Having him raped, tortured, and burned alive in prison wouldn't be enough. He could die and slip into the deepest circle of hell, and that still wouldn't be even a fraction of what he deserves."
Wilson remained quiet as his best friends' eyes swelled and reddened. Tears were filling the Diagnostician's eyes as his breathing quickened. A moment passed between them. Wilson had always been the one House allowed to see him vulnerable. Once again, he sought guidance from his right hand man. He whispered the only thing that ran through his mind while defending Cuddy's honor.
"He hurt her." Never had Gregory House sounded so sad.
"House," Cuddy called. Wilson watched as she entered the room as quietly as a mouse. His best friend screwed his eyes shut to lessen the wetness within them. However, the older man did not turn around. He didn't even acknowledge their boss. "House, I'm okay now. You don't have to be mad."
"I'm fine," The lie was muttered. Both of his friends watched him limp into the living room without saying another word. His silence was more disturbing to them than any awkward confrontation. Cuddy tried to go after him, but Wilson gently stopped her.
"Give him a minute, Cuddy. He's not used to this." Her face cringed in discomfort as she looked towards the empty hallway. She wanted to go to him so badly. Her heartbeat became erratic every time they were apart. But Cuddy remained where she stood. House, her House, her best friend, and the love of her life had sacrificed everything he stood for today, for her. He had saved her and nurtured her. He had cared for her in a way she had never been taken care of before. In every way, shape, and form, he had been there for her. Now, she would return a fraction of his devotion, and give him his needed distance. No matter how much it pained her, she would do right by him.
The Oncologist redirected his boss to the kitchen table to console her in a way only he could. He began conversations as serious as to what was going to happen once she returned to the hospital to as ridiculous as the upcoming season of American Idol. Wilson sat beside her like the loyal friend he was and began to cure her in a way House never could. He had her participating in a non-bantering conversation and laughing at his light hearted jokes. Her mind was slowly healing and normalcy was coaxing the true Cuddy out from hiding.
Down the hall, House sat on the couch with his elbows resting upon his knees and his head buried in his hands. Hot tears burned his palms as the stress that had been dominating his body since the night before was finally being released in liquid form.
