How the Other Half Lived
"What you want, you run away from. What you need, you don't have a clue."
-Gregory House
By: Ophelia Forbes
Disclaimer: The ones you don't know are mine, the ones you do aren't.
Summary: It was time to go, she had to go, but will he stop her? Is he ready to lay everything down the line, to finally forgive and move on…for her. And will she let him?
Spoilers/Timeline: Christmas is COMING. Supposedly, this is the first week of December.
Warning: I have never been inside a strip club…nor do I wish to. Oh, and they're going to be a little OoC here.
Chapter Twenty: I Kissed a Girl
House and Tim looked up to see Wilson standing by the door, hands on his hips with Cuddy standing next to him, eyes wide and mouth slightly open. Tim's hands immediately slipped away from his leg and she stood up, recovering faster than he could it seemed. She skipped over the bench, holding on to her purse.
"Finished kicking the rat-bastard already?" she asked enthusiastically.
"Uh," Wilson stammered, glancing at Cuddy. "Yes, we…who are you?"
House's eyes met Cuddy's as she stood there, mouth closed now. "She's the bride I ordered for you. What do you think? Does she look Mrs.-Wilson-the-Fourth material?"
Wilson's brows furrowed, "What…" then his eyes widened. "Oh." He turned to Cuddy who visibly took a deep breath. "Cuddy?"
"Oh my god," Cuddy sputtered out, finally managing to find her voice. "Were you just groping each other? Here? Right here, I my hospital? Are you two insane?"
"No, I was groping him," Tim said, click-clacking her way up the steps that lead to the doors, bouncing on each step until she met Cuddy and Wilson at the door. "And you said its empty here anyway plus, I know I am insane, I don't know about him, but I have an idea…"
"Oh my god," Cuddy repeated, eyes wide, torn between acting appalled and furious.
"No, technically," House interrupted as he took out a pill from his breast pocket. "She was molesting me, mommy. Aren't you going to punish her? I feel so used. She touched my special place." He grinned before tossing a pill in his mouth like an M&M.
"Oh, and you're saying you didn't like it?" Cuddy spat. "I cannot believe you! No, wait, I can." Then she turned to Tim, "And you, what in the hell is the matter with you? I told you to work or call your theater, not screw around with my employee."
"Wow, possessive much?" House teased, puffing up his chest as he stood up, ignoring the stiffness he felt. With as much grace as he could muster, he headed for the group, less bouncing like the way Tim did, but he reached them nonetheless.
"Take it easy, Lee," Tim was saying soothingly before he could reach them at the door. "Greg and I were just talking…"
Cuddy shook her head, almost taking a step back. "Then what were you doing with your hand down his crotch?"
Wilson flinched at that while House grinned proudly, watching the two women as they stood in front of each other. He wondered if they've fought over a man before, maybe that hobo-Roman or that kitchen-rat Sam or…the other one whose name he couldn't and definitely didn't care to remember. A part of him hoped for a catfight.
After all, he was a man with a penis and an ego, what was better than two hot chicks fighting over him? Damn, he was good.
"Hm, testing the goods?" Tim said and had the grace to blush, but it only made Cuddy frown more and somewhat dangerously. The woman sighed, "Come on, Lee. I'm kidding."
Cuddy pinched the bridge of her nose, "When I called you, I needed a friend not for someone to entertain my wild-ass doctor who already has a bordello of hookers on payroll!"
"Hey, they're not that many," House grumbled, pretending to look offended. "I'm at least three away from counting as a bordello."
"Shut up," Cuddy spat. "Get back to work. Your patient needs her attending and I already told you, House, I don't want to see you today! Get out."
"What?" House whined. "I'm all geared up here, get me the hair-pulling, the rib-kicking, the clothes-tearing, the spitting, the hissing! Catfight, fight, fight, fight!"
"House," Wilson said warningly, shaking his head slightly.
Leave it to Wilson to stand quietly at the sidelines, ever intent on playing the good guy, but House knew him well enough to know he would have paid big money to watch a catfight. He was every bit as much a pervert as House only he was a good boy because he was hiding it.
"Oh," Tim said, somewhat girlishly and she held her hand out cheerfully as if Cuddy wasn't standing a foot away, stewing in rage. "So you're the James Wilson Lee-la has been talking about all these years?" She held out her hand, "Pleasure."
Wilson's eyes met House and he gave him a smirk, telling him 'I told you so'. It wasn't hard to miss Tim's boldness and obvious bitch-tendencies. "I'd say the pleasure is all mine," he said, taking her hand in a gentleman's touch. "But it seems House should say so rightly first."
"Oh, you," Tim said teasingly. "Lisa tells me you're quite a catch."
Wilson's cheek pinked, "Huh, well…thank you…?"
"Oh, god," Cuddy moaned, hand covering half her face now and House could see her body tensing by the minute but then again, he felt his own body tense as well.
Cuddy thinks Wilson was a catch. Then what the hell was he? Dried fish?
"My best friend seems to have forgotten her manners again," Tim said alluringly as her hand remained in Wilson's. "I'm Artemis Theodoratus, but I don't give a rat's ass for my name so it's Tim on the tin, darling."
"Yes, of course," Wilson said, slipping easily onto his smooth doctor god moves. "I'm Dr. James Wilson, Dr. Cuddy's Head of Oncology. It's nice to meet you. Greg has informed me about your theater. I have tickets to the coming weeks' show."
"Oh?" Tim said as their hands separated. "Well, better toss it in the bin then, sweetie, my theater doors are open for Lisa's special friends anytime."
Wilson grinned, "Wow, that's great. Thank you, that's so kind of you, Miss—"
"Tim, darling," she said, winking. "Miss only works for my bitchy-dried up ghoul teachers when Lisa and I were in school together."
"You and Lisa went to school together?" Wilson asked, interested now.
"Yes," Tim smiled at Cuddy who was still covering half her face, eyes closed. "Imagine your boss in a white blouse, patent leather Mary-Janes and a plaid skirt."
"Tim," Cuddy said, dropping her hand.
The corner's of Wilson's mouth twitched while House tried not to laugh as an unbidden image of Lisa Cuddy wrapped around a pole with the aforementioned outfit including glowing white ruffled panties danced in his mind merrily. It was one of his fantasies not too long ago, one that he's used more often than Wilson would believe for some manly rituals.
"Yes, dear?" Tim asked, smiling.
"What were you two doing here?" Cuddy asked, patiently this time.
"It's not what it looked like," House said, serious now. "We weren't playing the piano. We were really having wild monkey sex."
Tim turned to face him, dark black hair whipping around with her rapid movement. She slapped him on the shoulder, "You said you wouldn't tell!"
"Someone had to," House said, grinning stupidly. "Besides, boinking the Dean of Medicine's best friend should help knock back a few Clinic Hours, right?"
Tim batted her lashes, "Oh, Greg, are you saying you're just trying to use me?"
"I would not," House said, feigning disgust. "If I wanted to use someone, I'd use the Dean of medicine herself. That fabulous ass of hers hasn't been touched in quite some time."
He knew he was reminding her of their conversation which was enough to get that sinister smile back on her pretty red lips. "Which reminds me…"
She turned to Wilson and Cuddy. "Dr. Wilson, I was wondering…are you busy tonight?"
House stopped, she wouldn't…
She would.
"Uh," Wilson started. "I…"
"Yes," House said loudly. "Dr. Wilson and I were planning to tap some ass tonight so, sorry. Yes, he's busy tonight."
"Oh," Tim said, turning to House, looking crestfallen.
House savored the look of defeat on her face.
"I'm sorry," Tim said to Wilson, hand on his arm. "I honestly did not suspect that you—Oh, dear—that you and Greg were," she shrugged. "Were a couple."
"What?" House and Wilson exclaimed at the same time.
"You-you have it wrong, Miss," Wilson stammered, turning beet red. "Greg and I aren't—er, aren't a-a couple. We're straight, very straight."
"Tim," Cuddy said gently.
"Oh," Tim said. "I thought since Greg said…"
"Greg said nothing," House said loudly. "In fact, Tim was just saying a lot of things…"
"Yes," Tim said, smiling again now that they were all together. "Dr. Wilson, if your prior engagements are breakable, would you like to join Dr. Cuddy at Trattoria Uma? I think that cute little Italian bistro fifteen minutes from Lisa's place would be lovely. Especially on winter, they serve the most divine hot cocoa even my Manhattan couldn't beat."
Son of a…
House gripped his cane as Wilson's eyebrows jumped high on his forehead. Cuddy stood, mouth open again, staring at her best friend. "Tim, what are you…"
"Dr. Wilson?"
"Uh…well…"
"She's kidding," Cuddy insisted to Wilson, grabbing his arm. "Tim is just a little…bored."
"I wasn't, Greg and I were just discussing some prospects for you to—" she glanced at House then at Wilson before smiling at Cuddy. "Have dinner with…"
House glared at Wilson who looked at him, confused.
"And of course, with or for desert, whichever you'd prefer, fuck."
"Artemis!" Cuddy had turned ten shades of red by then.
Tim sent an angelic smile at Cuddy before turning to Wilson, "What do you say, Dr. Wilson?"
"Oh, that's really…er," he started rubbing his hands together in front of his stomach. "But, ah…" his eyes drifted to House who was sure to look at him murderously. "That's really-uh, really—uh, lovely…?"
House shifted his cane beside him as Wilson looked at him, as if asking.
"No, not lovely, I mean…ah," he turned to Cuddy, alarmed now and obviously worried he might have offended her. "I mean, no, not-not lovely, I mean, I'm sure it'd be, uh, lovely, but—" his eyes followed House's cane that moved another inch, across from him and closer now. "No, I mean, it won't be lovely—" his eyes fell on Cuddy again. "I mean…"
House would have taken sympathy—or perhaps glee—over the fact that the Oncologist was now quite obviously in distress about his answer to the rather unconventional invitation, but no. This was not a particularly funny moment for House.
He wasn't jealous, of course not, but this was Lisa Cuddy. He wasn't about to risk losing his best friend over the hospital black widow, of course. He had his own interests to look out for.
Then again, the image of James Wilson writhing in Lisa Cuddy's bed did make him unconsciously hold his cane a little bit tighter, making the backs of his knuckles turn deathly white.
"Dr. Wilson, are you all right?" Tim asked, innocently. "I mean, I'm sure Dr. Cuddy won't mind…"
"Won't mind?" Cuddy seemed to have finally found her voice again. "Artemis, that is enough. You have embarrassed me and yourself and Dr. Wilson—"
"What about me?" House whined purposefully. "She," he pointed at the still smiling and angelic Tim. "In all her evil gory-glory, that scarlet woman molested me!"
"Again, as if you didn't enjoy it!" Cuddy hissed viciously then turned to Wilson. "Dr. Wilson, I am so sorry for my friend's behavior. Very much like Dr. House, she's been hounded by the Greystone Park since the eighties a number of times already. They believe she'll be a fine specimen for character studies…"
"Darling, you're mistaken," Tim said, soothingly. "They've been hounding me since my dimwit of a mother brought me into the world. Honestly, of all people, I think you would know this…"
"Artemis, seriously," Cuddy said and the warning was thick in her voice.
Tim stared at her until the corners of her lips drooped into a sad pout. "Okay, okay…I'll behave."
Cuddy crossed her arms over her chest. "Apologize to Dr. Wilson."
"She's very much evil, you see if she can control me like this," Tim said to Wilson. "You'll excuse me for being so bold, wouldn't you?" she set her sea-green eyes on him piteously. "I'm just looking out for my friend, you see I really want her to get screwed already…"
"Damn it, Tim," Cuddy said before she could stop herself.
House stared at her as Tim grinned at Cuddy began rubbing her temple. She sighed, "Wilson."
"Uh, yeah?" Wilson stammered, out of his sputtering self now.
"Come on," she grabbed his arm softly. "Leave them. If they want to have sex, let them. They will, eventually anyway, and you best not see it. I wouldn't know who'd be worst…"
"Hey!" Tim and House said at the same time.
The diagnostician glared at the visiting woman who was staring at the other two who were now linked hand to arm. This was her fault. Her, her big mouth and idiot planning.
This was why he always hated crazy bitches.
Cuddy tugged softly on Wilson's arm, "We have some planning for Joseph Eckley for now so will you, please Wilson?"
"Oh for the love of God," Tim whined, throwing her hands up. "Fine! Dr. Wilson," she slapped Cuddy's hand away. "I'm sorry for my…trucker-whore-ness. I just love winding Lisa up and if you were built in any way like me, you would find it quite enjoyable as well. I'm sorry."
She said it with such sincerity, House was left confused whether she meant it or she was just a damned good actress. Scarlet woman indeed.
"And Lee-la," Tim said and Cuddy looked at her, somewhat appeased now but not completely as she stared at her with a grave look on her face. "I wasn't even touching your man-boy's family jewels, okay? If I was, I didn't know, maybe they're just that small…"
"Hey!" House growled. "You wanna prove that right here?"
Tim laughed, tossing her head back. "And to prove to you I am not interested in your Diagnostician…" with that she turned to Wilson, grabbed the sides of his face and pressed her lips to his in a crushing kiss.
House stood, shocked as well as Cuddy while Wilson stood awkwardly, eyes wide while the woman's lips were pressed to his. It lasted a few seconds until Tim pulled back, her thumbs wiping the red splotches of lipstick from the corners of his lips, smiling. "There."
Wilson stood, dazed, hand gripping the doorframe, the other, Cuddy's shoulder as she stood, eyes wide, frozen. House stared at her.
"There," she said, wiping her below her bottom lip. "All done, no harm, no foul. It was a rule during the forties than movie kisses weren't to last more than three seconds, I think I made the cut. Who says I didn't know Hitchcock, eh?" She turned to Cuddy, hand on her hip. "Lee?"
Cuddy stared.
"Oh for the love of…" Tim moaned. "Do I have to kiss you to prove a fucking point?"
"Yes," House said immediately. "You know, just to prove you're not into me."
"No," Cuddy said, reaching across them all to slap House on the arm. "Shut up. Get to your team or get your scrawny ass to the clinic."
"Scrawny? You insult me!" House moaned. "I'm fit."
Wilson snickered, "House, come on."
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Dr. Wilson," Tim purred, making Wilson blush. "And I must say, you have the softest lips I've ever kissed…well, for less than three seconds."
Wilson rubbed the back of his neck shyly. "Thanks…"
"He puts petroleum jelly on them and Nivea Cherry flavored lip balm for girls before going to bed," House snarked, not at all pleased he only got molested and Wilson got a kiss.
Not that he wanted to kiss Tim, the old bitch, but Cuddy was standing pretty lonesome and their kiss from few nights ago hadn't been so bad.
"Tim, stop harassing the man," Cuddy chastised. "Wilson, I'll see you and please, at least let House do an hour today? You two, if you're scheduled, I need to finish the last of Dr. Eckley's papers and termination proceedings before handing them off to HR."
Wilson smiled, "Yes, Lisa. I'll make sure House doesn't kill his patient."
Cuddy smiled before turning to House with a frown, "Dr. House."
House grinned, "Yes, Dr. Cuddy?"
"Get to work," she said before turning, hooking a hand on Tim's arm and dragging out.
"Bye-bye James!" Tim said with a giggle. "I hope to kiss you again soon!"
Wilson waved, shyly. "You too…uh, Tim…"
They both watched as the two women walked away. House even shuffled out, watching as Tim playfully jumped out of Cuddy's grip, only to earn herself a pinch on her forearm to which she exclaimed loudly and dramatically, "Ow! Abuse! Abuse!"
"Wow," Wilson chuckled, "She's a little firecracker, isn't she?"
"She's a little cracked, yes," House muttered. "But you smooched with her so…who really knows how cracked?"
Wilson frowned, "Come on, we've got to see your team."
"No we don't," House protested.
"Okay," Wilson sighed. "So, what were you doing letting Cuddy's best friend grope you?"
"Hey," House said, raising one hand in a sign of surrender. "Can I help it if chicks dig me?"
Wilson snorted, "If you don't stop getting friendly with Cuddy's best friend, yes, she'll be digging you a grave, House."
The taller small stared at him, "Why?"
"You really want me to say it?" Wilson sighed. "She likes you and she was jealous."
House grinned, looking immensely pleased with himself. "Cool, huh?"
Cuddy was jealous—jealous—after seeing a woman, her best friend no less, with her hand on his crotch. And it was so out there, so blatantly obvious that it was enough to let her lose her legendary sense of control that could have rivaled the former military prison Alcatraz.
That was beyond awesome.
Wilson rolled his eyes, "Grow up."
The image of Lisa Cuddy wrapped around a pole emerged again and House felt a sudden stirring he knew Wilson wouldn't want to know about.
He smirked, "Way ahead of you."
-o0o-
"Shut up," Cuddy hissed as Tim screamed abuse again as they exited the entrance of the Ivy Hall. "Of all the most insane things you could have done, you do this."
"Which one?" Tim asked as Cuddy latched on to her arm again, dragging her across the lobby, ignoring her staring employees and visitors.
"Groping my Diagnostician and kissing my Oncologist," Cuddy spat in a low voice, jerking her arm lightly to prove her point. "God, you are worse than him."
Tim rolled her eye, "Of course I am. Honestly, Lisa, you're underestimating me which is very much not like you. So, I groped your man-boy, it's not like I slept with him. No marking of the territory needed. He's still your tripod, I wouldn't dream of stealing that from you."
"And my Oncologist?" she didn't bother acknowledging the well placed words Tim had laid. There was no romantic interest between her and Greg House, not anymore of course since the rat bastard pretty much played her only to go home with one of his hookers. Fat chance she was letting him anywhere near her breasts again.
Tim always did say Hell hath no fury like Lisa pissed off and she was definitely pissed off about so many things beyond the breast and table incident. The man was simply infuriating.
And to see him getting too cozy with Tim, her best friend, was another reason to want to strangle the man-child with her bare hands. The heartless bastard just wasn't stopping.
She had to do something and the first thing on her list was to get Tim the hell away from him and his stupid piano and his stupid charms. Stupid, stupid, stupid—there was no way she was letting him hurt her best friend.
Yes, she was doing this for Tim. It wasn't as if she was still interested, of course not.
"Cute in a tragic sort of way," Tim said, letting herself be dragged along. "Didn't you mention his girlfriend just died?"
"Yes, so please, Tim, no games," Cuddy said quietly, pulling her into the Clinic now.
Tim scoffed, "I may be a bitch but I am not heartless, Lisa. Give me more credit, I am not Barbara the Barbarian Bennett nor do I ever wish to be."
Cuddy froze, her hand latching on tighter around Tim's arm, making her wince.
"Dying arm," Tim said, prying her fingers off slowly. "Lisa?"
Cuddy stood there, frozen, staring in space with wide eyes. One of the nurses walked by, carrying a folder then stopped, watching her curiously. It was the same nurse who showed her the photograph. "Dr. Cuddy, is something wrong?"
"She's not having a seizure. I think…" Tim said, this time, holding on to Cuddy's arm. "She's fine, really."
But their voices were nothing more than just a distant sound as Cuddy stood there, frozen, wondering how she had not thought about it before deciding to go back home. How could she have not thought about it sooner? She should have and now she was stuck.
"Lee?"
Shaking her head slightly, Cuddy turned to the nurse. "Yes, Brenda?"
"Uh, you have Clinic today," Brenda said, looking unsure. "But you only have an hour and we're below capacity so…are you sure you're okay, Dr. Cuddy?"
Cuddy smiled, "I'm fine, but Dr. Wilson and Dr. House are currently at the Ivy Hall—don't ask—so if you see them, please, remind them of their hours."
"Yes, Dr. Cuddy," Brenda said. "Oh, and Dr. Taylor is in Exam Room Three working his hours, but he said he'd like to talk to you soon about Santa Claus."
Cuddy nodded, smiling wider. "Oh, right. How could I forget? I have a feeling this Christmas will be better than last year's. Dr. Taylor and I want the kids to have fun."
"You always do," Brenda smiled. "I'll be working on shift that night, by the way. Little Andy says he's got a surprise for you."
"Does he?" the Dean replied. "Well, I should go visit them today. I haven't come by in a while."
"Yes, he's been asking about you," Brenda said, grinning. "And Cody called about your desk. The delivery was delayed this morning due to some accidents, but she said they're on their way now."
Cuddy nodded, "Better clear out my old one then."
"I really don't know why," Brenda mused. "That's such a lovely desk. Why would you want to replace it?"
"It's my old one from Med School," Cuddy answered. "I'd rather have it in my home than here where it might get damaged like the other one I had."
Brenda frowned, "Oh, yes. Blood spatter isn't something I'd like for something so beautiful."
"Exactly," Cuddy turned. "I'll get right on my Clinic later, I'll have to deal with my desk first."
Grabbing Tim again, she pulled them both into her office, waving at Cody.
"Your new desk will be here in a few minutes, Dr. Cuddy," Cody said. "I've paged someone from Tech to take care of your computer."
Cuddy smiled, "Thank you, Cody. You are the best."
"You're welcome, Dr. Cuddy," Cody blushed as she got back to work.
"I just threw up in my mouth," Tim moaned as she slipped into the office. "Why are you so fucking nice, you two-faced bitch?"
"Exactly what you said," Curry smirked. "I'm two-faced. Or maybe I just like treating my good employees properly, but that would just be insane, right?"
"Of course," Tim said sarcastically. "What do you think about 'Little Drummer Boy'?"
"It's a nice holiday song, why?" Cuddy asked, wondering what was happening with Tim's head now. "You don't like the holidays."
"Yes, I do," Tim said, defensively.
"No," Cuddy said, shaking her head. "You don't like holidays, you like getting wasted on holidays."
Tim shrugged, "And the presents aren't so bad either—if you're hooking up with the rich tasteful ones rather than the losers."
"And you know just how to pick 'em, don't you?" Cuddy teased. "Whatever happened to that duke you were dating…from Denmark, was it?"
Tim rolled her eyes, "Stupid pansy. He was nice, smooth and lovely at first…but god, he was worst than a woman! Son clingy and uptight, it's annoying. I want…I want a—you know, I want a man…like-like…"
"Dante," Cuddy offered. "That model you dated?"
"He was not a model," Tim spat. "You honestly think I'd date a model? Are you out of your fucking mind? It'd be like dating an actor, only fucking lower! He was an artist. He was very into Warhol."
"Ah," Cuddy said. "My bad."
Tim sighed, "Anyway, I'm planning something different this year…just a small thing."
"Like?"
"A choir teacher called me a few days ago," Tim began, fidgeting with her thumbs as she took the seat in front of Cuddy's desk and Cuddy moved to her own seat. "He formed a choir of some sort in a small orphanage down in the East Village. He wanted to see if he could…get a show and I said I would think about it."
Cuddy smiled from her seat, "Really? What, like for charity?"
"Yes," Tim said, shrugging. "The kids are mostly young boys and girls who have no families and or were abandoned. I'm not much into charity except for that Amnesty International thing we have, but what do you think?"
"I think it's great," Cuddy said with no hesitation. While she was very much into charity, apart from the yearly donations they both sent for Amnesty International, the only thing remotely close to charity Tim ever touched were the public charity events for celebrities and well-known socialites around New York. Cuddy always insisted she join some sort of group, but Tim always insisted she was too busy.
Tim wasn't selfish, she was far from it, but it was true that her main problem was time.
"Good," Tim smiled. "I was thinking about doing a show, a few days before Christmas or something. It's very sudden, but it's going to be a one night thing. We'll post posters, get some of the old hags on the Upper East Side to come in, get some media in…I think it might work if we have enough resources."
"Christmas is two weeks away," Cuddy said, frowning. "You can probably get the families from the Upper East Side, but media? I mean, yes, they'll come—you are, after all, Tim Theodoratus, but what about the kids? Are they ready?"
Tim nodded, "They are. They've been trying to get someone to pick up their show, but as always, the shows are booked. I'm booked but all your stupid charity talk has gotten to me. I'll announce it, declare that I am willing to give the money back for the tickets to those who don't want to watch. The tickets spent for the show will all go to the home as well as money of those willing to donate. It's very…messy, it could get stupid, but I think I have enough people to get on it."
"Sounds good," Cuddy said, smiling. "You have my vote and donation. If you want, we can have people around here know about it. I've got some donors from New York who might be interested…and I'm sure Dr. Wilson will want to help out as well."
Tim smiled, "Oh, Lisa, that sounds great and speaking about Dr. Wilson...he does have the softest lips I've kissed in three seconds. And he's not bad looking too."
"Tim."
"I'm not kidding," Tim said, trying to appear as honest as possible. "In fact, Dr. James Wilson looks like he could be a sweet guy…"
"He is," Cuddy said, gritting her teeth. "But honesty, Tim, he hasn't had that good of a year. I don't even know if he's ready to date and," her eyes narrowed. "What the hell was that about anyway and what were you and House doing?"
"We were just talking," Tim said, sighing. "We were talking about potential guys who would be suited to take your fake re-virginity away."
Cuddy groaned, "You and House?"
"Well, he was there," Tim shrugged. "And I was there. What else were we supposed to talk about? Dogs? His cane? Although I did come close to touching his…"
"Oh god," Cuddy moaned, holding her head and closing her eyes. "What were you even doing with your hand…there?"
Tim laughed, "Nothing, but did you see his face? Fucking priceless, I have to say." Cuddy gave her a look to say she was not amused. "Okay, okay. While talking about your potential bonkers, we got to talking about…me and him, you know?"
Cuddy's eyes widened, "No, you didn't…"
"Easy, easy!" Tim said, holding her hands up. "I was just teasing, for fuck's sake! We were talking about Wilson and I started teasing him about his best friend and your best friend hooking up being something perfect once you and Wilson do hook up. It was all play, darling and to be quite honest, he didn't seem interested at all."
"Tim, are you insane?"
"Yes."
"I can't believe you."
"Which part?" Cuddy got up, ready to pounce on her from across the desk, but she stood up, hands up. "Okay! Okay! One, he wasn't interested in me and fucking two, he was pretty pissed about the thought of you and Wilson!"
The only time Tim was ever scared of Cuddy was when she was really angry or, in rarer times, jealous. And today…
Of course, Cuddy wasn't jealous. Dr. House and Dr. Wilson were her employees not toys suited for Tim's games and plays. No, she wasn't jealous. This was simply of her interest as their boss. Nothing more, nothing freaking less…
Cuddy stopped, hands laid flat on her desk, breathing deeply in and out and trying to will away the image of House and her best friend tangled together in her sheets. Instinctively, her hands clenched into fists, her knuckles resting hard against the dark surface of her desk.
Bad, bad, bad, bad image…and Cuddy didn't like it one bit.
"Geez, you still know how to scare me. Fuck. The man was jealous, all right?" Tim said, easing herself back into her seat. "He was jealous. Plain and simple and you know what…"
Cuddy watched her smile, "So are you."
"What?"
"You're jealous," Tim said knowingly. "And you were jealous when you saw me near his family jewels. You were and still are jealous." She laughed. "And I always told you green was not your color, honey. How right was I?"
Cuddy felt her cheeks burn, "I was and am not jealous, Tim, but he is my head of Diagnostics, he is, I begrudgingly say so, brilliant and he is a screwball. He's distracted enough by his toys, his stupid human puzzles and his hookers, I don't need you adding to that."
"Hookers," Tim quirked a perfectly shaped eyebrow curiously, "As in he pays for sex? You're weren't kidding or being bitchy?"
Cuddy felt a bubble of anger start again at the pit of her stomach, "Yes, and I saw him with one of his own three weeks ago, the smug bastard."
"Red looks good on you," Tim commented off handedly, motioning to her cheeks. "And what do you mean you saw him with one? As in you saw him…" she made a motion. "You know…"
Cuddy almost gagged, "God no! Are you crazy? No, no. He brought one in as a fake patient and I saw them, preparing to leave together in his office…and let me tell you, a lot of preparing was happening all right. She was probably good at her job. He would want nothing but the best…"
"The man has standards," Tim said, nodding then stopped at Cuddy's look. "Right, I mean, I'm sure she was a skanky-loser-whore, okay?" She shook her head. "Well, this feels like the fifth grade all over again…"
"Shut up," Cuddy snapped, irritated as a recon image played in her mind again, the tattoos making another replay. "It's the stupidest thing he's ever done, bringing it here. Stupid arrogant smug bastard…"
"Wait," Tim said. "You said you saw them…you didn't say anything? How do you know she was a hooker? Was she like…"
"Because she was!" Cuddy cried, her frustration at the situation eating at her. "It was obvious she was and he brought her here to be his fake patient and she came and they were together and they left together and I didn't say anything when I saw them because I was standing outside his office like some idiot because I was dumb enough to walk up and thank him for getting my stupid desk and I hate him because he's an idiot and he pisses me off and can't do anything about it because he's a goddamned good doctor and…"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Tim said, standing up. "You're turning red and not the good kind so, honey," she moved around the desk and behind her, her hands landing on Cuddy's shoulders, rubbing soothingly. "Let's not lose our heads, okay? You're too pretty. Now, breathe…"
Cuddy didn't.
"I said breathe," Tim gripped her shoulders tightly, digging her nails into the soft fabric of her blouse, right into her skin with a death grip.
"Ow," Cuddy complained then did as she was told. "That hurt."
"Shut up and breathe again," Tim commanded. "You were running your sentences like God didn't invent the space bar so, breathe, honey and then talk because I didn't know what the hell you were saying except 'fake', 'stupid', 'goddamned' and 'doctor'. Breathe."
Cuddy did again, "I did lose my head."
"Yeah, you did," Tim affirmed in a soothing voice. "Now tell me what you were trying to say."
"I was coming up to thank him to get my desk and I saw them," Cuddy said, sighing. "And then it just clicked, you know? He will always be a bastard, he will never want anything more than hookers and I was an idiot for thinking the desk meant something."
"Did you want it to mean something?"
"No, not really," Cuddy lied. "But it's…it's kind of a comfort to be reminded once in a while that he knows he's human, right? I mean…I know he is, sometimes I don't think he does."
"Why are you angry about the hooker?"
"I wasn't jealous," Cuddy said stubbornly, clenching her fists only to receive another painful grip.
"I didn't say you were," Tim pressed. "I'm asking why."
Cuddy pouted slightly before answering. "I…I'm angry because he's so much better than that."
"How?"
"He's an ass," she muttered. "He has a problem with pain and Vicodin—no, plain and simple, he's got a drug problem—he is a pain, he doesn't listen to anyone and he's emotionally crippled. He is all of that and more, but he's not a terrible person. He's brilliant, he's funny…he plays music and he cares, in his own way. Paying for sex, paying for some human contact…it's not him. He's more than that…he deserves someone who will care for him, love him despite everything and just…be there with him. He doesn't believe it, he probably never will, but he deserves someone and, there is someone. I'm sure of that."
"How are you so sure that there is someone for him who will love and care despite his flaws?"
"They're not flaws," Cuddy answered immediately. "They're not. It's who he is. And I am sure because…because…I'm just sure, okay? He'll hate me, he'll call me naïve for thinking and saying so, but I'm sure. There's someone."
"Do you…"
Cuddy shook her head, "I can't do this. I'm sorry." She stood up, straightening her lab coat and her blouse. "I can't, Tim…I have a lot to do today before we leave."
And she didn't want to think about anything to do with Greg House. The man was a plague enough, he invaded her thoughts and her every day life, she couldn't let him get involved with her conversations with Tim anymore. She just couldn't.
Tim smiled, pulling her into a hug, the chair between them. "I understand."
She pulled back, "Thank you."
"Anytime."
Cuddy turned to her desk and began emptying her drawers as Tim went back to her seat in front of her. She needed to empty her desk and wait for someone to dismantle her computer and set it up again later. Her desk needed to be emptied.
The new one will be there soon.
-o0o-
House lay on Wilson's couch, twirling his cane in the air while the Oncologist did his paperwork for his patient who was about to enter a Clinical Trial. His iPod lay on his chest, playing 'Minnie the Moocher' with him singing along obnoxiously. Unknown to him, the Oncologist had put on a pair of ear plugs and was now working in absolute silence.
Between scribbling his notes and findings on appropriate lines, Wilson let his mind think about the last couple of days' events. Of course, House was acting more obnoxious than usual with his curiosity and the fact that Cuddy seemed to be ignoring him, but all in all, he wasn't as Wilson thought he would. A part of him thought maybe it was due to the fact that Cuddy threw a paperweight at him and the fact that the one stealing her attention away was a woman.
Like he would ever admit he was jealous…of course not, not House.
Then there was Cuddy who was being too aloof with the whole lying-stranger thing. It did slip past Wilson that Cuddy wasn't too keen about keeping him away and he had his suspicions, but of course, those suspicions would have to stay low until Lucas finds something in New York again. It was shock enough to Wilson's system that Nathan Winslow lied about having a brother, but then a voice in his head—that sounded suspiciously like House—chanted, Everybody lies.
Of course, it was true and right so Wilson found himself wondering if there was really something to be worried about. He truly hoped not.
In his mind, the same voice, nagged that this was something to do with Amber, that like House's previous argument on his father's funeral, he was afraid of losing someone else. It was a truth, Wilson was afraid to lose House, but in his mind, it was also true that he was also afraid to lose Cuddy because over the years, she'd began to matter more in his life.
Over the years, Lisa Cuddy had learned to worm her way into his heart up to the point now that she wasn't just his boss now, she was his friend and someone he had learned to care deeply for. She'd been there for him in so many ways, however small.
She'd been there when Julie and he were having problems, giving him as much time and space as possible while wordlessly standing by his side as he went through the motions. Her soft voice conveyed her sadness for him when she found out he had moved out, telling him she was there if he needed her. She was also there when Amber died, bringing food she cooked herself to his place and tidied up when he could barely move or do anything for himself. She was there to talk him through his sorrow and mourning.
Wilson had asked, weakly and in tears, if she'd lost anyone like Amber. She said no, but she could imagine how it must be. The pain had been in her voice that somehow now left him wondering if she'd been honest with him.
Was she? He wondered.
That was why he had made it a point to be there for her as well, after he was back as Dr. James Wilson, to be there for her when she needed someone. She didn't really have a someone, that was something he noticed and decided he could be that someone.
Everybody needs someone, right? House would have to learn to share, somehow.
Lisa Cuddy barely took care of her self as it was, Wilson would do that for her, whether she liked it or not. He wasn't about to lose another.
And this was the exact reason why Wilson was agonizing over why she needed to be careful around Nathan Winslow. There was something about the man. He was too smooth, too perfect and on top of that, a damned good liar.
Wilson didn't want to thing of the fifty-thousand ways this could go to hell.
He decided he would need to talk to Lucas as soon as possible.
The slamming of a cane on top of his papers shocked him out of his reverie. He looked up, startled to see House grinning dangerously down at him. His mouth moved and of course, he couldn't hear a thing.
Before he knew it, House raised his fist and it came barreling towards him. He jumped back, bringing his chair with him. Unfortunately, the force was enough to knock his chair sideways and send it toppling over to the floor.
He didn't hear it, but he was sure there had to have been a sick crack when his head met the floor of his office.
Groaning, he pulled out his ear plugs, "House, what the hell?"
"I asked you if you'd join my experiment and you didn't answer," House said innocently as he limped towards him. "I took it as a yes."
"And what experiment would that be?" Wilson asked from his position from the floor.
House made no offer to help him up, "About how far you could jump with your chair when I pretend I'm going to punch you in the face."
Wilson glared at him, still making no move to get up. "You could have killed me."
"That was part of the experiment too."
Wilson sighed, "Shut up and help me."
"Can't," House said, shrugging. "Too crippled for that, I'm useless that way."
So he lay there, "Why are you doing this?"
"I was bored."
"Don't you have a patient?" he asked.
"She's dying."
"Really? What happened?" Wilson asked, curious.
"We think its some incurable genetic disease without a cure," he shrugged. "The usual."
"Have you confirmed it?"
"My minions are at it," he said then sighed happily. "Minions, my minions…don't you just love the sound of that, Jimmy?"
"Yeah," Wilson said gruffly as he tried to get up. "It's like legion when I hear it in the middle of Satan's and of demons. About the same feeling, yes, Greg."
"You're ugly when you're jealous, Mr. Oncology Ward," House said snottily. "Something you and Lisa-funbags have in common."
"Don't call her that," Wilson chastised weakly, now sitting with his legs folded in front of him, knees on his elbow.
"Oh, did I hurt Jimmy's feelings when I made fun of Lisa?" House mocked, making mewling sounds. "God, you're a pansy…why am I friends with you?"
"For a lot of reasons, like," he thought for a moment. "Right, the fact I'm the only one who can stand you without being paid to."
House frowned. "You are a mean person."
"And you are a ray of sunshine," Wilson said, rolling his eyes then held the back of his head. "My head hurts, thanks to you."
"Poor Jimmy," House continued to mock. "Want me to call Lisa to kiss it better again?"
"Yes."
He watched the frown descend on the Diagnostician's face.
"I'm kidding."
"Of course you were," House muttered. "Since she kissed you yesterday, of course you're kidding…"
Wilson had to laugh, "And you call me pathetic." House gave him a look. "I'm not kidding. You're so transparent, what happened to you? You've got walls all over yourself that could rival Fort Knox, now at the very mention of Cuddy kissing me, you get uptight and transparent. What the hell happened?"
House opened his mouth then closed it again, very much like a fish.
"You know what?" Wilson said, shaking his head slightly. "I don't want to know. My head is throbbing but I will say this…kiss her. Because it's obvious you want to do it again and yes, I can't blame you. I've said it before, she's a beautiful, smart, funny and, most of all, tough enough to handle you. She's a match for you so…go out there and kiss her again."
"Do you hate me? You really want me to die?" was the swift retort but it was obvious his heart wasn't in it. "I thought we had something deeper, Jim."
"Of course we have," Wilson said with fake sincerity. "But Lisa would be better for you, House. Trust me, she looks much, much better in Victoria's Secret than me."
It was a joke, of course, but House gave him a look.
"Not that I've ever seen her in-in anything like-like, you know, uh," Wilson rubbed the back of his neck. "Like…like that."
House grinned, "You're so easy to trip."
Wilson chuckled, relieved. "Of course I am."
House twirled his cane, looking thoughtful.
"You know what?" Wilson asked, hand still on his neck. "I smacked my head pretty bad. I'm going to need to head to the Clinic. You can clock in with your hours while I get checked."
House frowned, "Are you out of your mind? I'm not going down there."
"I'll come in and pretend to be your patient, since you did this to me," Wilson said tiredly. "And think of it this way…you'll earn some points in Cuddy's good graces. It might make up some of the things you did and she might jus lift than ban she has on you."
"Since when did her banning work on me?" House grumbled.
"Since I noticed you're in here instead of in her office tormenting her," the Oncologist said knowingly. "Come on, a few runny noses, a crotch rot or two…I'd think that's a small price to pay if it'll get you ringing Cuddy's doorbell, right?"
A lecherous grin appeared on House's face.
"Come on," Wilson said as he pushed himself up. "Earn some points, don't mention Lucas or that weird Winslow guy and make comments about the usual like her breasts or, heaven forbid, tell her she looks nice today. Just earn your points with your Clinic and…who knows?"
The cane twirled high in the air before it landed with a slight thud on it's rubber tip. "You're buying me dinner for this."
"Scout's honor, House," Wilson said with a grin and they both headed out and they filled the gaps in their conversation with talks of a Christmas bonus DVD of Monster Trucks with instant replay and some inside view of the Gravedigger.
Wilson smiled to himself, more than satisfied despite the throbbing in the back of his head.
He wasn't one to toot his own horn but, damn, he was batting a thousand today.
-o0o-
"Dr. Cuddy."
Tim and Cuddy looked up to see Brenda at the doors, her head poked in. "Yes?"
"There's…well, there's something you'd want to see," Brenda said, bouncing slightly.
Now her day was just getting better…
She suppressed a sigh, "Who is it? Tell me it isn't House…"
"It's Dr. House," Brenda said, grinning. "But…not what you think."
Cuddy got up, motioning for Tim to stay and she headed out of her office. She raised an eyebrow at Brenda who just grinned at her. "Dr. Wilson came in for some…treatment. He fell of his chair."
"And?"
They headed out the Clinic where Wilson was standing at the desk, writing on a patient file. House was nowhere to be seen. Cuddy gave Brenda a look.
"Exam Room Two."
Cuddy suppressed another sigh and made sure not to roll her eyes. Whatever House had hatched up, it had to be worth it if it was Brenda, but a part of her was wondering if, just maybe, her head nurse had just cracked and decided to join the darker side.
She sure as hell wasn't the Archangel, but House was certainly darker than her.
Heading to the exam room, she opened the door without knocking only to walk into House.
And a patient.
The patient was a baby, held by her mother, and she was pink and fluffy all over with her bonnet, her peeking onesie under her coat, cute little mittens and somehow matching cute pink cheeks. She was giggling as her mother held her, giggling as House rubbed the tip of her nose with the tip of a stuffed teddy bear's nose, making soft sounds.
"Oink," House rumbled. "She's two but she won't know the difference until she's five, four if you're lucky and she's smart."
The mother laughed. "She's pretty smart."
"Oink, oink," House rumbled again, and the baby giggled louder. "She's got a cold, here's a script and she should be fine in a day or two. We're that good."
"Thank you," the woman chuckled. "You're very good with kids…"
"Oink," House went, subtlety avoiding a response and the baby giggled. He handed the mother a slip of paper and she stood up.
"Say 'bye-bye, doctor'," the woman held on to her daughter's hand and waved it at House. "Say 'bye-bye', Annie…"
House handed her the bear, "She's not that smart yet. Oink."
The woman just smiled, "Thank you, Dr. House and happy holidays."
House nodded and the woman stood up, only then spotting Cuddy. She smiled brightly, "Oh hello, uh…"
"That would be Dr. Lisa Cuddy," House said, looking at Cuddy as if daring her to comment with his eyes digging into hers. "She is my boss."
"Oh," the woman said, smiling. "Well, hello. Dr. House was just checking my Annie. She's got a bit of a cold, but being a first time mom…I was just a bit paranoid."
Cuddy smiled, shaking her head. "No, you're not being paranoid," she smiled as she met the baby, touching her mitten-covered hands. "There's no such thing as being too safe when it comes to babies, especially at such a prone age." She ticked the baby's belly, eliciting a new bout of giggles from her, making her clap her hands soundlessly.
"Finally, a doctor—well, apart from Dr. House," she glanced at the doctor behind her. "Who understands…this whole baby thing has just been driving me insane…I always seem to worry."
Cuddy nodded understandingly, "Completely natural, Mrs..."
"Ballard. Angela Ballard," she smiled. "Are you a mother too, Dr. Cuddy?"
"Oh, no," Cuddy tried not to flinch. "No, but I'm around babies well enough to understand."
"Oh," Angela said. "You should be. Annie doesn't easily take to strangers very well and you and Dr. House are an exception."
Cuddy smiled and ignored the stabbing pain she seemed to feel from the bottom of her stomach that immediately spread all over her body. "Thank you."
"We'll be going now," Angela said. "Say 'bye-bye', Annie."
The little girl giggled again as she walked past Cuddy, twisting around in her mother's arms and leaping a little enough to catch a lock of hair from Cuddy's shoulder. She giggled and flailed her arms, as if waving, her cheeks pink with glee.
Cuddy waited until the door was shut behind her to look at House. Her eyes met his and she couldn't help but feel the rest of the few weeks animosity and hostility slip away in pieces. She'd been so angry, so ready to fight him but from what had taken place just moments ago, she felt none the strength to fight now—may it be that rare moment seeing House with a child or just her feeling the exhaustion of being so angry for so long.
Or the sadness that was slowly creeping into her heart again, hearing the words the woman had just said, remembering what House had said before he kissed her.
The factors were too many that she decided not to bother and just stood there, staring at him, wondering why she was there at all, wondering she couldn't seem to find any words to say.
As always, House beat her to it. "Okay then, boss." He got up, walking past her with the patient folder in his free hand.
The alarms went off in her head and she turned just as he was at the door, "House."
Don't let him walk away again.
He stopped but didn't look at her. "Cuddy."
"I…" the words seemed stuck right in her throat.
Say something, anything.
She stood there, staring at the back of his head.
Anything stupid would work too, just say something…
"Right," he said and opened the door. "Yeah."
And with that, he walked out, closing the door behind him, leaving her in the empty room alone.
-o0o-
"Dr. House checks out," House said, slapping the folder on the desk in front of Nurse Braindead-Brenda. "The boss lady let me out early."
Wilson looked up, "You're done?"
"Yeah," House said, tossing the folder aside.
"You've barely got an hour in," Wilson complained.
"My, Dr. Cuddy," House said loudly. "I had no idea you ran out of hormone pills this week. You should have asked me, I could have snuck you a box across the border."
Wilson frowned, "What?"
"Nothing," House said, popping a pill in his mouth. "You would probably get offended—gay jokes and all. I'm such an insensitive jackass." He turned to Brenda. "Dr. Cuddy will be taking over Exam Room Two, she's in there. You can send a patient in."
"What?" the nurse said. "What did you do?"
"Nothing," House spat, grabbing a folder, "Is there a Cole Dandridge here?"
A distinguished looking man in a suit stood up and House decided to rethink his action. "Dr. Taylor will be with you shortly." He grabbed another folder, "Riley Thomas?"
"House, what are you doing?" Wilson asked, rubbing his temple.
"Doing my Clinic duty," House said just as a teenager dressed like a goth, stood up. "Exam Room Two, please, Dr. Cuddy is waiting." He tossed her the folder and motioned with his cane. "Dr. House is definitely out. I've got some porn up in my office that needs my undivided attention."
Limping out, he didn't wait for Wilson who was immediately submitting his excuses to the Nurse and sending out his apologies. In a predictable five second count, Wilson was with him, following him out the glass doors of the Clinic.
"House, what was that about? What happened in the Exam Room?" Wilson asked, ever curious. "House?"
"Nothing," House muttered. "But you owe me dinner. I did my job, I was a good boy to mommy and she saw me play nice so there."
"She saw you play nice…"
"Yes," House said, rolling his eyes. "So you owe me."
"She saw you play nice, isn't that a good thing?" Wilson asked.
House glared at him, "No."
Wilson sighed. "House…."
"Oh, look, it's," he glanced at his watch. "A quarter to-leave-me-alone. Go away."
"House."
Suddenly, remembering the tender look in Cuddy's eyes then replaying the scene with Angela and Annie Ballard and the kiss they'd shared, House decided he had had enough. A feeling of anger surged back in, seemingly like the one he had just felt in the Clinic only more violent, gripped him and the walls that would now be known as Fort House Knox came up.
He swung his cane, blocking Wilson on the chest. "Dr. Wilson, I think I hear a dying patient scream for you so unless you don't want to get acquainted with my little, little Greg then I suggest you leave me alone."
"What? House…"
House glared, a look he knew Wilson would understand as back off. "Leave me alone."
Ignoring the confusion and the questions on the Oncologist's face, House walked away and left him. He wasn't one for emotions and all the tangled mess he'd thrown himself into was now starting to rub him the wrong way. The situation, whatever it was, with Cuddy, was now grating on his nerves.
He wasn't emotional, he didn't care about earning points for affection or attention, he didn't like doing what he was supposed to do and he didn't share tender moments with his boss. House wasn't any of that and he didn't want it.
He walked away, it was easier.
If let Wilson have his say, he knew he would adamantly insist this was him closing off.
Of course it was, House just didn't give a shit.
-o0o-
"I can't believe you brought me here."
Tim laughed as they slipped past the velvet ropes. Music was thumping all over, people—mainly men in business suits—were everywhere. It wasn't crowded, not like a club, but it had a fair amount of people in it which was a consolation of sorts for Lisa, perhaps. The music wasn't too loud and the lights were dimmed, the walls were a deep alluring red while the lights were in strips of white, yellow and purple flittering about the room in different directions.
They had their coats checked—well, Tim had their coats checked while Lisa stood staring at the woman checking their coats. She was African-American wearing a black lace bustier-corset, with the back tied in zigzag laces at the back, stopping just above her rear end where her black lace panties with matching garter belts hung suspended, leading to some fine looking lace-topped fishnets. She looks liked she walked out Victoria's Secret catalog showcasing some expensive lingerie. She was gorgeous.
Lisa wasn't pretending she hadn't seen someone like that, but Tim knew she had been out of the wild for some time now and was just soaking it all up again. It was like going back for them, really.
"How did you even find this place?" Cuddy asked as Tim laced their arms together, heading right for the stage where an audience of men was watching as four women strutted and danced on stage wearing corsets, bustier, fishnets and lingerie much like the woman at coat-check.
"Didn't you hear, darling?" Tim smiled. "Burlesque is all the rage these days. We don't like strippers in bikini now, we love them in fine lace, corsets and fishnets!"
The stage was filled with red curtains, the design seemingly inspired by Opera National de Paris with the red velvet lined with golden yellow tassels and gold embroidery that snaked up a fourth they way up. The floors were shiny in black, the lights at the edge reflecting in a burst of soft golden yellows, illuminating their dancers enchantingly.
The place was elegant which suited the finely suited men around who were sharing drinks and ogling the women as they danced, dressed provocatively and alluring them into slipping bills into their lace and satin numbers.
Tim sat beside the catwalk, waving her fingers at a passing dancer who smiled seductively at her and stopped, falling on her knees and bending back, moving her body up and down with her head thrown back. Tim clapped and pushed a bill into her the lace top of her stocking.
Cuddy watched, entranced as she watched the dark haired woman who looked like she was in her twenties, smile at Tim with her deep crimson lips stretching open to reveal perfect white teeth. She was beautiful, in the most enchanting ways and she continued to dance in front of them, moving her body around the floor, earning some whistles from the other men in the room.
Tim waved the woman forward who immediately slinked low, arching her back low while her leg wrapped around the bottom of the pole behind her, her boot clinging securely as she stretched herself to meet her customer halfway, intricately avoiding the lights without touching them.
"You know somewhere we can go?" Tim whispered seductively. "My friend and I were hoping for a private show…"
The woman pulled back, smiling. "Would you like me to bring someone for your friend?"
Tim looked around, catching the eye of a redhead dressed in an emerald green number. She smiled and waved her over. "Her."
The woman smiled, "For tonight, I am Tatiana."
She sounded American, but Tim didn't give a fuck. "Beautiful name, and the other one?"
"Whatever you want," she heard someone whisper in her ear and she turned to see the redhead towering over her with her breasts and her height.
"Perfect," Tim smiled. "Lead the way."
She turned to Lisa who was staring at her in shock and in question. "Come on, darling," she cooed into her hair as she pulled her up. "We've got our show."
Tim didn't give her time to question as she pulled her up, bringing her to meet her height and suddenly, crashed their lips together. Catcalls and whistles fled about the room and applause erupted in all directions.
Tim pulled back with a grin, satisfied that she'd left Lisa shocked enough to be pulled blindly into the direction of the VIP lounge. She needed her shocked to agree to come with them.
And just as she predicted, it worked.
-o0o-
Here are the delayed last notes and replies:
Anyway, I'm back. First off, if I ever need to give the first half of my summer a title, it's gotta be: Weeks of Hell.
Seriously. I've been having a lot of hectic weeks. You're probably not interested but I'm writing it anyway.
Last week, as you guys noticed, I had to push my brain into updating and I have to admit, writing under pressure in one hour was a total bitch. I was really scared shitless about replying because, gosh, it was a hurried, unchecked chapter with, I'm sure, a lot of errors!
Uh, anyway. My week consisted of: an impromptu family reunion, my big brother leaving again and a death in the family.
The reunion was insane, like all other reunions, the brother thing was bittersweet—meaning I wanted to strangle him and at the same time hug him…the death in the family was probably the highlight.
It doesn't sound much but here's the ticker: my great-aunt who died was ONE-HUNDRED and THREE Years old.Not kidding and to some of you that may not be unusual, but I gotta say, that's a freakin' first for me. Yikes. If I ever do reach that age, I probably won't because I'd kill myself.
I'm not scared of dying, it's the getting old part that freaks me out. It's not about the vanity thing, it's really about the scary things old people go through like getting sick, deteriorating, losing the senses…ugh. That's just scary for me.
Nyeah.
Anyway, REPLIES:
houselover1 the skin falling off was total melted-brain moment. Glad you liked it! And also, thank you for reading and reviewing my other fic, With a Little Help from My Friends—my very first piece for anything resembling comedy. Thank you so much!
smartxblonde I'm happy you liked that chapter, even if I didn't. I hope you enjoyed this update. It might not be as fun, but you know…hee. I've got my ups and downs.
Rugbygirrl I see the quest for the elusive Tim is still on? Hee, good luck on that. I hope she's believable enough for you to find the real one *smiles*. We could all use a Tim of our own. I hope this chapter, with half of the gent's club scene in, was okay…the fun starts next.
joraco14 I'm glad you like Tim and House together—sometimes I weigh in whether I'll end up having you guys run after her with pitchforks, but thankfully, that hasn't happened yet. Yay!
jaded27 Hee, I adore jealous Cuddy—if you've seen Saviors. I love it when the claws come out. Meeee-ow!
kyrie If you've read Ch. 20 ^ then I hope you're happy you guessed half right on who caught them. Hee. Tim's turning out kind of crazier, huh? And I have to say…I really can't picture Nathan as Chase…hee, but whatever you like, hun, it's totally okay. Chase is a cutie anyway.
ceciilee yay! If you've read the Ch. 20, like kyrie, you got it half right too! I hope you enjoyed this new Chapter. Thanks so much for reading!
Kuro tenshi thank you for your review! I'm so glad you're liking the story so far. Please, stick around, my twisted head just came up with a lot more twists and insane turns.
DoctorLisaCuddy Ohmygod. You want Nelise. There are VERY few people who want Nelise around so I am congratulating you for being happy about Nelise. I think Nathan's okay, he's not House, but he's okay to me. I mean, House is awesome, but I say he needs to feel what it's like when another boy REALLY wants to play with his toy. That's something awesome to watch! I'm very happy someone is actually happy about Nelise. Don't worry, he'll be back…soon-ish. I'm so sorry about the play-by-play scenes. I love those too but it's eating at my time and the chapters away. Hee. My limit I think… LOL naughty. You ship Tim and Lisa too! Hee, I hope you liked their small encounter on this ep. It's nothing big, but a smooch is a smooch, right? Hee.
Tingz Oh, hun, you just joined the "Make her blush like an idiot" Club around here. Thank you so much for your kind review. I'm really glad you're enjoying my story. Hee, and thank you for liking Nathan. I think not much people who read this do…Oh, well. Your thoughts and suggestions are in mind, I promise and like you, I am a fic addict as well—for House, MD ones. We should start a group: HFAA—House Fanfic Addicts Anonymous. Sound good? Teehee…
yoleah A lot of you seem to love Tim and House together! Hopefully, you'll like the more scenes they'll have because trust me, there will be more between them! Also, thank you for reviewing my other one-shot fic, With a Little Help from My Friends. I really appreciated that, thank you always for taking the time to review stories. Thank you very much.
ItsNevrLupus It is getting fun, huh? Tim likes to get her kiss on. And hands.
Emzy as always…hee.
Kakashifangrl1012 Hee, Tim's getting whorish? I guess. She's kind of a bitch-whore with a heart, I guess. So far, I'm enjoying writing her. She's freaking awesome. The Gent's Club scene, who catches Cuddy? Hee, wouldn't it be funny if it was Wilson? You'll see. I hope not to disappoint, but I'll tell you it's nothing big. Just a random encounter with someone from the hospital. And about the new ep (that I almost killed myself over because of the LONG wait) WOOfreakinHOO on House and the Bachelor Party. I don't know what'll happen, but I am freaking sure the whole wedding's on. Someone's gonna get a ball and chain, that's something I think WILL happen. We'll see. Should be awesome, hee. - - - and as for correcting my grammar, totally okay. It's what we do—get bothered by grammar. I swear, I'm trying to check my updates as much as possible, but it's just hard sometimes. Well, silly me, I don't have a beta, but I promise, I'll try checking my words sooner and better so there wont' be much mistakes, okay? I'll try harder. Thank you, you're not bitchy at all. I get like that sometimes too. - - - - about With a Little Help from My Friends - - I honestly don't know how to answer your question since I've never been high or around people who got eye. That was totally just a guess. Thank you for a reviewing!
TO those who reviewed With a Little Help from My Friends:
Hi everyone, those who read my very first try at comedy. I really appreciated your reviews, they were more than I had initially expected—in fact, I expected you guys might not like it. Thank you so much, you made me so happy, all of you!
Random:
Ohmyfreakingod. Did you guys see Lisa Edelstein's pictures from FHM? I mean, it's in French, but who gives a crap? The woman is gorgeous. She turned me gay for her. I'm her gay-bird. Seriously. I'm totally gay for her. I've never been into mags like FHM or those sexist magazines, but God, I was willing to break that for her. Did you see it? Lisabians, Lisa fans, you HAVE TO see it. Forty-freakin-two my ass. She doesn't look 42! I can only dream to look like that NOW and I'm not even past 20. Lisa is gorgeous.
Like, whoa.
Note: I felt uber stupid for expecting you guys to return for the replies so I decided to send my replies via PM's for those who used their accounts. I don't want to look like some assy snob since after all, you guys and your reviews a lot. Thank you so much.
Much love, xoxOphelia
I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry
Note(after the repost): I edited some things, but don't worry, you didn't miss anything big.