Chapter 21

Disclaimer: I do not own House. Spoilers included through season three thanks to Television without Pity spoiler boards!.

House slowly opened his eyes. His throat felt raw. He instinctively reached a hand up to touch it and began coughing uncontrollably. Through his barely opened eyelids, he saw Cuddy. Cuddy. .

"Oh my God, House…..hold still."

She seemed a bit flustered, hesitant….afraid?

"Don't try to speak. You have a tube down your throat."

She reached in a pulled it out all the while House quelled the urge to gag. Cuddy kept one hand on the base of his neck and the other coaxed the tube out. House felt his eyes water and brushed away unshed tears. After several blinks he decided to take in his surroundings. Same nauseating walls, familiar beeps and annoying nurses moving in and out of the room. Yep, it's got to be Princeton Plainsboro…..

Cuddy's eyes couldn't hide her joy at seeing House awake…alive.

"How are you? Can I get you anything?" Cuddy sat up from her spot on the end of the bed. House saw that the sheets had been firmly pressed. He smiled. Cuddy's ass on my sheets… permanently A small chuckle escaped.

Cuddy swung around. "Are you laughing at me?" Her eyes were blazing. House rolled his in return. God, she takes everything so personally.

"No, I was laughing with you…except you weren't stay away from me huh? I know the funbags must have been feeling neglected. "He leered suggestively. "Come here" he said with the wave of a hand. "I'll take care of them for you."

Cuddy scoffed. "What the hell are you doing? Nice to see your sense of humor didn't get lost in all of this."

"Why would it? Besides I know you can't resist the Greg lovin'." Cuddy simply rolled her eyes and retorted. "In your dreams House." House scanned her blue eyes trying not to feel the pang of sadness tugging. . She really doesn't remember?

"Don't you remember this afternoon? Or for that matter whatever day it was. God, you wouldn't stop screaming my name…"

Cuddy lowered her eyes trying desperately to suppress the rising blush in her cheeks. "House…"

"What?" What the hell is going on?

The door opened disturbing the moment …thank God ….to House's embarrassment. Wilson rushed over to his best friend's side.

"God, are you OK?" House felt Wilson's needy hands touching his forehead. Wilson…come on pal…"I am fine," he stated removing his friend's sweaty hand.

"What's wrong with you people? "

The two of them looked at each other. "How long have I been out?"

Wilson cleared his throat.

"Don't you remember?" Cuddy looks worried. Too worried.

House felt his breathing quicken.

"You've been here a week. It has been one week since …"

House's eyes narrowed.

"Since what?" Don't evade the question…

"Since you were …"

Wilson interrupted to say what Cuddy could not.

"It's been one week since you've been shot by some maniac looking for revenge. You've been in a ketamine induced coma."

What happened while House was unconscious that week? Was Tritter real? What is in store for Cuddy and House in the real future?