Here's the first of a couple of twists in the Luddy/Huddy pathway. Hope you enjoy enough to review.
"What did you talk about? Work?" Wilson guessed. The look on House's face confirmed Wilson's suggestion.
"Yeah, but she couldn't really keep up her end of the conversation so we just …"
"Yeah, yeah, I know!" Wilson interrupted House as his hands flew up to cut off any detailed descriptions of what he walked in on.
"Not that I'm not loving this conversation into my sex life but how about we find out what the hell's happening that has the legal team in Cuddy's office," House snapped.
"Fine. I'll check it out and see if she'll tell me anything," Wilson offered.
"Good. let me know what you find out," House said as he got up and left.
Wilson dropped by Cuddy's office for two reasons: first to ask her to lunch if only to have House see them and worry that Wilson might mention House has been seeing a hooker because she looks a lot like Cuddy; the second, to check out the new flower arrangement on her desk. He couldn't put his finger on it but somehow Wilson thought House might be the one sending Cuddy the flowers. Still, no sunflowers ever did show up so perhaps the florist had the wrong number and left the random message.
Cuddy was busy. The hospital's legal team and a board member were standing around her desk and Cuddy looked agitated. Wilson hovered for a few seconds outside her door trying to ascertain what was going on just as Cuddy noticed him. She nodded to acknowledge him then shook her head as if to tell him "not now." Wilson nodded and left.
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Foreman, Chase and Thirteen were waiting on House to run through the latest news on the two cases Cuddy had fobbed on House. The over-weight man with job stress was not doing well. The young equestrian was improving and her seizures were briefer in duration.
House, meanwhile had nothing else on his mind but Cuddy. Strolling into his office, he bellowed for Foreman and Chase to come front and center.
"I need you to break into Cuddy's house," House said calmly.
Foreman rolled his eyes. "Again?"
Chase glanced at Foreman and stared at House. "Seriously? You want us to bust in your boss's house?
"Yup." House said with a smirk.
"How does this have anything to do with our two cases?" Foreman asked.
"It doesn't but it does affect our department and more importantly, me!" House said calmly.
"No friggin' way!" Chase snapped.
"I'm your boss! You can work with me or you can not work for me, the choice is yours, Chase."
"Cuddy is way scarier than you are," Chase stated clearly.
"She's a woman! And, I'm coming with!" House enunciated.
Foreman rolled his eyes at Chase, "This conversation has a familiar ring to it."
"As long as I don't have to go through her underwear drawer, I'm in," Chase retorted.
"Don't even think about doing that, that's my turf. Cuddy's bedroom is off-limits to all of you but me." House said a little too quickly. Chase glanced at Foreman in time to see Foreman smirk.
"You have anything for me to do?" Thirteen interrupted.
"Yeah, call me if Cuddy stops in," House said. "Obviously we don't need you telling Cuddy or Wilson where we're going, Capeesh?
Thirteen sighed heavily and left to check on the case patients. Foreman watched her leave and glanced back at Chase while shaking his head back and forth.
"Didn't we break into Cuddy's house when her handyman fell off the roof?" Chase asked Foreman.
"Yes, and House spent way too much time in Cuddy's bedroom if I remember correctly," Foreman whispered a little too loudly. House glared at Foreman but led the way.
The three men left in Chase's car and were pulling into Cuddy's driveway within fifteen minutes.
"Foreman, you knock on her door first. If no one answers, wave to us," House commanded.
"Why can't we all go up there?" Chase asked innocently.
"Because Cuddy's boyfriend or nanny might be home," Foreman answered.
"Why are we breaking in her house again?" Chase questioned.
"Lawyers." House said bluntly.
Chase looked confused. "I don't get it."
"Well, you are blond but let me spell it out for you. Cuddy's office was crawling with lawyers yesterday and I need to know why." House said as if it were obvious.
"You think this has something to do with our department…or just you?" Foreman asked. "Shouldn't we be ransacking her office instead?
"Can't," House quipped. "She hasn't left her office much and well, you know how women get when you go through their stuff…."
Chase bit his bottom lip. "That's just great."
"Go on, Foreman. Wave if the coast is clear." House gestured to get him to leave. Foreman sighed and slammed the door. He approached Cuddy's home and rang the doorbell. No response. Foreman then knocked hard. Still no answer. Foreman looked back at the car and shrugged at House and Chase.
"Looks like nobody's home," Chase said. House nodded and they got out of the car and headed across the lawn.
"Guess you don't have a key," Foreman taunted House. "Think she still leaves a key under the plant?"
House stared at Foreman but nevertheless bent over and moved the flower pot directly next to Cuddy's front door but the key wasn't there.
"Looks like Cuddy anticipated your move," Foreman sounded a little too pleased.
"Yeah, well, lets try this one!" House leaned over and moved two more pots and found the key hidden under the third plant.
"Told ya," House looked confidently at the pair. "Now lets see what this fits in?" House tried the key and it worked. "Taa-daaa."
Foreman and Chase followed House into Cuddy's home.
"You take the kitchen," House gestured to Foreman. "Chase, take the living room, I got the bedroom."
House took his time going up the stairs and paused at Cuddy's bedroom doorway almost afraid to enter as if Lucas might be napping on the other side of the threshold. Exhaling slowly, House entered Cuddy's bedroom and glanced around. He stared at her bed and tried not to let himself imagine Lucas sleeping next to Cuddy. He turned around and sat on the bed then pulled open her bedside table. Reading glasses, hand lotion, Kleenex, pens, notepad, aspirin, butterscotch candies. Butterscotch? He didn't know she liked them.
House moved to the other side of the bed and carefully pulled open the bedside table afraid of what he might find. The drawer was practically empty. Kleenex, pencils and a phone book. No sex toys, no condoms, nothing. Still, nothing to prove Lucas had left any personal items in the drawer. House smiled to himself. The smile disappeared as he glanced at her closet. He got up and walked to the closet slowly.
Opening the door to the walk-in closet, House could smell her perfume faintly inside. Wow, Lisa Cuddy certainly liked shoes! He noticed she was very neat and tidy with everything categorized by type. Blouses grouped together, followed by skirts followed by dresses followed by slacks. All sweaters neatly folded and stacked. Shoes lined many flat surfaces. He reached to a high heel black pump and glanced inside it: Size 6 and ½. Placing it back in its place, House observed all shelves and sighed with relief there were no men's clothes to be found. Lucas hadn't appeared to move in…yet. House grinned. One last place to check.
House headed to Cuddy's dresser and noticed the jewelry box and perfume bottles neatly arranged on the counter. He glanced back to make sure neither Foreman or Chase were within view. Satisfied he was alone, House picked up a sleek bottle and removed the lid to sniff the perfume. It smelled wonderful, like his Cuddy. Glancing at the name on the bottle, House memorized the name: Chanel #5.
Lifting the lid on the jewelry box did nothing to reveal if Lucas was a roommate yet but House was enjoying snooping through this woman's things. He gazed at the assortment of earrings, necklaces and rings. Everything was dainty, small, feminine. Nothing large, nothing garish, nothing but fine jewelry, no junk or costume jewelry. Taking note of the number of emerald items, House made a mental note it had to be her birthstone. Good to know.
Lastly, as if saving the best for last, House began going through the dresser drawers. Starting at the bottom, House found nothing but night clothes, t-shirts, socks and hosiery. No men's wear. House was giddy with relief. He allowed himself to open the top two drawers and found the assortment he was dying to see: panties and brassieres. Pale pink, lavender, red, black, powder blue, ivory, plum, burgundy many edged with lace, not one boring white bra or granny panty to be found.
"Enjoying yourself?" Foreman's deadpan voice cut through House's solitude.
"Who doesn't want to go through Cuddy's lingerie drawer? Don't tell me you haven't thought about it, Foreman!" House teased. Foreman looked away slightly embarrassed.
"Did you find anything downstairs?" House countered. "Anything involving lawyers?"
"Nothing, at least not as interesting as what you've been reviewing," Foreman said slyly.
"Think she'll miss these?" House asked as he pocketed a pale pink panty. Foreman rolled his eyes.
Chase was sitting deep in thought reading through a stack of documents and pages piled in a drawer at small sofa table in the corner of Cuddy's living room.
"Did you check her computer? House asked.
"There isn't one," Chase replied without looking up. "But I think I may have found something."
"Give!" House moved forward quickly. Chase handed over what he'd been reading. Foreman moved closer.
House grabbed the papers and began skimming them. "No shit!"
"What?" Foreman asked. Chase glanced at him with a stark expression. House's expression of shock slowly grew into one of concern. "Is it bad?"
"It's not good," House said absentmindedly as he continued skimming the papers. "On the bright side, it has nothing to do with my department."
"Maybe we ought to get out of here," Chase prompted. Foreman nodded and moved to the door. House was motionless and continued reading.
"Go on, wait in the car," House said. "I'm almost done. I'll lock the door, now go."
Chase and Foreman didn't need to be told twice and quickly let themselves out.
"What the hell did you find out?" Foreman asked tersely.
Chase looked nervous as he spoke, "It looks like Lucas is married."
"So?" Foreman sounded unfazed.
"So his missus is going after Dr. Cuddy."
"No shit!" Foreman was surprised.
"That's just what House said," Chase teased.
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Now that House knows what should he do? His team knows and they'll have to keep quiet. Poor Cuddy.
