CHAPTER ELEVEN

"Let go of me, House," Cuddy demanded. She was seething now—a rarity in her dealings with House. She'd been angry before, but never as intense as now.

"I won't leave without dealing with this," he told her.

Having her in such close proximity, he found it only a little easier, yet the powerful craving that surged through him grew harder and harder to quell.

"Leave?" she asked. "Deal with what?"

House shook his head, a million thoughts running through his head, but he never grasped the exact words to clarify his feelings—and intentions.

Suddenly, she grimaced in pain and looked at her arm.

He frowned curiously and followed her gaze, shocked at seeing his fingers dug too tightly around her forearm. Without a word, he led her out of the room into the hallway.

"House, you're hurting—" She was silenced when he forcibly held her back, his grip still holding her securely, so that he would not be trailing her irresistible scent.

They took the stairs up to Wilson's office so fast that Cuddy tripped a few times, but House always caught her and continued the ascent.

"Damn it, House!" Cuddy said exasperatedly as they reached the fourth floor and headed to the end of the hallway, though he ignored her pleas.

By the time they approached the office, Bella had the door open and they quickly entered.

"What's wrong, Greg?" Bella asked as she closed the door behind them.

House let go of Cuddy; he rushed to the patio window, while she stood at the door beside Bella.

"This maniac just broke my forearm," Cuddy stated, rubbing her arm to alleviate the throbbing.

"I did not," House replied.

Cuddy beseeched, "What is your problem?!"

Bella approached Edward, who was standing between the desk and the patio door, and put her arm around his waist.

"Greg?" Edward asked Bella's question again, wondering what had happened between the two.

"Cuddy, I'm going home tonight, but there's something I need to do," House told her.

"That's no explanation why you treated me—"

Cuddy stepped back against the wall when House took one step forward. She was frightened, more so than ever before. She looked at Edward, who knew exactly what she was feeling. He whispered something quietly to House then broke away from Bella and stood protectively in front of and beside Cuddy. Instinctively, Bella stepped beside House, waiting for whatever was about to come.

Edward, watch me, House thought, looking at his 'blood brother.'

House spoke as he took slow, deliberate and careful steps closer to Cuddy. "You are the first person that I've, uh, had trouble with since last summer. I've always thought you were hot, but this is something entirely different," he snickered, looking directly into her eyes.

But Cuddy didn't take his attitude lightly. Returning his glare, she noted the hungry look in his eyes, which made her shiver. She stepped to the right into the corner, cowering as if a gigantic Funnel-web spider from Australia were a foot away from her, its fangs snapping for the prey before it.

"I don't want to leave without knowing whether or not I can control this," House continued.

"What are you planning on doing, House?" Cuddy asked, her voice slightly quivering.

"Nothing, as long as you don't breath or bleed all over the carpet."

Now, he was two feet from Cuddy, and Edward was still blocking her. The only view House had of his prey was her wide, petrified eyes peering around Edward's shoulder.

"If I go home without killing you. . ."

"Greg!" Edward warned.

". . . then I'd consider this trip a success." House never took his eyes off of Cuddy as the space between them narrowed, while it appeared to him that the wall was slowly swallowing her to non- existence. "I just have to know."

"You have to know whether you'd kill me?" she asked, her voice rife with fury.

Her eyes now blazed with an infuriating anger, and she was incredibly incensed—at House and the situation. Suddenly, it struck her that she could no longer hold back, regardless of the unknown consequences. She rushed toward House, but was amazed at Edward's strength when she was forced back against the wall again.

"Bella, hold onto me," House said, although he didn't realize she already was holding onto his shoulders tightly and effectively. "Cuddy, with every breath you take, I can taste it. I can even hear your blood streaming through your veins. I can taste your blood, too."

Hot, stinging tears filled Cuddy's eyes at his words. "That can't be possible."

"Your heart is racing now. I'd say your pulse is about 180?" House stated surely.

A single tear fell down her cheek, and the rage built up again. She lunged at House, taking Edward off guard for a millisecond. She was already beside Edward when he grabbed her waist but didn't pull her back.

"How could you DO this to me—to Wilson—your MOTHER?!" Cuddy screeched, her arms raised up offensively.

Bella tried to step in between House and Cuddy, but Cuddy's fists were pounding on House's chest before she could. He drew his head back and away from her assault. Looking at her husband for instruction, Edward took a single step away from the two doctors, and allowed whatever would happen to happen.

"You BASTARD!" she wailed. "You DIE and come back . . . a monster!"

House held on to her shoulders and stretched his arms out as far as possible, taking every single well-deserved blow she gave him.

"I did it to protect you and Wilson and my mother . . ."

Cuddy no longer heard House, for her ears were ringing too loudly as her blood rushed to her head; her heart hammered inside her chest. She continued to pulverize him for five minutes before she lost her strength and fell to her knees, still crying and mumbling incoherently.

Looking ashamed at Edward and Bella, House knelt in front of Cuddy and pulled her into him; keeping his hands flatly on her back. She threw her arms around his neck and cried for another five minutes.

When her dry-hiccups finally slowed and she gained control over herself, she pushed away and looked over House's face. She was surprised at seeing his eyes filled with pain.

"I'm sorry for hurting you," House said softly and genuinely, pain also conveyed in his voice.

"I . . . did I hurt . . . you?" Cuddy asked, straightening his jacket that had become disheveled.

"Nah, only my pride."

Cuddy laughed insanely, wiped her wet face of her tears, and gave him one final punch, though not as hard as the others.

"Ow!" House exclaimed as he stood and looked down on her. "What was that for?" He held out his hand to her.

Taking his hand trustfully, she allowed him to pull her up. "That's for being a bastard," she answered, pulling down her t-shirt over the waist of her jeans.

He grinned. "Wow, if I got hit by everyone who thought I was a bastard, my whole body would be one big bruise—well, if I were human."

Cuddy shook her head and returned his smile. "Are we okay now?"

"It depends. Are you going to hit me again?"

A/N: Sorry it's been a week. This chapter was hard to come up with and write. Oh, and aside from the face that I started work on Monday!!!!! I promise I'll work more often.

I realize I left out House's struggle with being so close to Cuddy, but that will be covered in the next chapter.