Chapter 21

March

Wilson sat at the bar watching the golf game on the flat screen that hung down next to a sign advertising Sauza Tequila. House was late, as usual, forty-five minutes late. Wilson had just finished his drink and was counting out a tip when House slid onto the barstool next to him.

"About time."

"Patient went into v-fib just as I was leaving."

The bartender came over and asked for their drink order. They both ordered gin and tonics, Bombay Sapphire.

"What's up with Cuddy?" Wilson asked.

House shrugged. "I'm not sure. She showed up tipsy at my place two weeks ago begging for my body. I obliged and when she woke up the next morning she blamed me for seducing her. Eventually I convinced her that it had been her idea and she finally agreed that maybe we could be friends with benefits. She comes over every two to three days, we do the horizontal mambo and she leaves…sometimes."

Wilson's eyes grew wide as House told his story. "House, there's no way in hell the two of you can have sex and it not mean something. Even if it only means that the two of you have a new weapon in your arsenal at work."

"Hey, free sex, dude. I'd be a fool not to agree. Have you seen Cuddy's body?"

"Yeah, well the last time you had free sex, you moped for a month."

"I didn't mope; I was recovering from donating stem cells."

"Right…you just keep believing that. Have you heard from her?"

"Just the obligatory email asking about my health and letting me know that Daniel is still in remission and back in school."

"Nothing else?"

He shook his head. "I made it pretty clear to her that I was just after the sex."

"Were you?"

"You don't see me on a plane back to Oregon do you?"

"You haven't had any vacation time left."

"You have a point."

"Look, I don't see this friends with benefits ending well with Cuddy. I think she still has feelings for you. And you still have feelings for her. But remember, having feelings doesn't mean you should be together. You two have been there, tried that and it ended up being a disaster."

"Relationships aren't my forte, sex is and Cuddy knows that, we're cool."

"Great, you've been reduced to a living vibrator."

"Better that than a butt plug."

Wilson laughed and lifted his glass.

"Are you going home, or staying?"

Cuddy turned over in the bed and gave him a quick smile. "Rachel is on a sleepover. I don't have to pick her up until ten tomorrow."

"Great, morning sex."

"My feelings exactly." Cuddy swallowed hard and finally said, "House, maybe we ought to talk about what we're doing here."

"Oh, crap. I thought we were having free sex between two consenting adults. Does this mean you're going to start charging?"

"Funny. No, but this is the third time this week."

"I'm not complaining."

"We seem to be getting along."

"Yeah, we always get along- in bed."

Cuddy rolled her eyes and shook her head. "We've been getting along at work too."

"That's because you stopped expecting the truth."

"I learned the truth may not be all that necessary when dealing with you."

"Shame that you learned that now."

"In some areas I'm considered a slow learner." Cuddy lifted her head up and smiled. "Is that someone at your door?"

House listened and finally heard the half-hearted knocking. "Yeah. If we ignore it, they'll go away."

"House, it's pouring rain out there, it's not going to be a salesman. It has to be someone who knows you."

"Gee Watson, when did you become such a sleuth?"

House got up, grabbed a robe and belted it as he walked out to the living room. The knocking increased in volume. "Yeah, I hear you. I'm coming." He continued to the door without his cane. Opening the door he jerked at the sight of her.

"Jesus!"

"Oh, I'm sorry." She looked at the robe. "Is this a bad time?"

"Uh, kinda."

"Oh, okay. Gosh, I'm sorry." Kate, her hair plastered to her head from the rain, turned to leave, pulling her suitcase behind her.

"What are you doing here?"

She shrugged. "You said that if I was ever in Princeton, I could look you up and you'd show me around."

"I thought you might call first."

She nodded and shrugged. "I flew out for a conference in Philadelphia, but it ended early –Legionaire's disease in the hotel. My flight is Sunday afternoon. I thought…well, it doesn't matter." She gave him a sad smile and exited the building.

He was conflicted. It was crappy timing, but he was surprised by how excited he was to see her. Hobbling as fast as he could, he followed her out into the rain.

"Kate!"

She turned. "What?"

"Are you staying somewhere?"

She laughed, the water pouring down her face. "I wouldn't be dragging my suitcase around if I had a place to stay."

"House?" They both turned to look at Cuddy who was standing in House's raincoat with an umbrella. Cuddy stared at the two of them. "It's raining, you're soaked. Are you coming back inside?"

House looked at Kate and could see the light go out in her eyes. She hit the remote and opened the car, throwing her suitcase in the back. He couldn't see her face, but her shoulders were heaving up and down. Turning to Cuddy, he tried to read her and found it was much easier than reading Kate…she was pissed.

The car pulled away and House stood, watching as she drove out of sight. When he started back towards the apartment, he noted that Cuddy had already gone back inside.

House braced himself and limped into the living room. As soon as the door closed he found her standing with a towel. He took it and started to dry himself off.

"Who was that?" Her voice was controlled meaning she was really angry.

"Kate Monaghan, my sister-in-law."

Her body relaxed. "Sister-in-law?"

"The one married to my half-brother, the brother that died in the auto accident."

"Oh. Why didn't you invite her in?"

"Free sex is free sex." He said.

"Is she staying in Princeton?"

"She was in Philly, but thought she'd drive up to see me before flying back."

"In this rain? Is she crazy?"

He laughed. "This rain is nothing compared to what she drives in at home. It rains and snows a lot out there."

"But, didn't you want to see her?"

House suddenly felt tired, tired of holding back, but he still didn't have the courage to say anything to Cuddy about his time with Kate. "Sure, but I didn't want to cut into our time."

"Get dry and come back to bed."

House did what he was told, but when Cuddy started making moves, diving under the covers to arouse him, nothing happened.

She pulled up, pushing the covers back. "House? What's going on? Usually you're back in the saddle by now."

"I'm feeling a little under the weather."

"Does this have anything to do with sending away your sister-in-law?"

"Technically, she's no longer my sister-in-law since she's no longer married to my brother."

"Fine, does this have something to do with her?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Good."

House narrowed his eyes. "Good?"

"It means you have a conscience. You just sent a woman who drove an hour in the pouring rain to see you back out into the storm. You should feel guilty. Why don't you call her and invite her back? We could take her out to dinner."

House's heart started racing at the idea of Cuddy grilling Kate. "You know, I really am feeling sick. Maybe it's not a good idea for anyone to be around me right now."

She looked at him suspiciously, "You want me to leave?"

"Sorry. I need sleep…lots of it. And you snore."

"I do not."

He shrugged. "Like a chain saw."

Huffing and puffing, Cuddy grabbed her clothes and ran into the bathroom. A few minutes later she was out the door. House grabbed his cell phone and dialed Kate's cell phone, but there was no answer. After Cuddy left, he tried several times, but no response. Cursing, he started calling all the hotels in town, but she wasn't registered in Princeton. He went online to try and find the hotel where there had been a medical convention but found nothing. He Googled for news of a Legionnaire's outbreak, but there was none. He finally left a voice mail on her cell phone.

"Look, I'm sorry, you caught me off guard. I'm alone now, please come back; I'd really like to see you."

But there was no response.