Chapter 21 Ice Shanty—Lake Michigan—Next Day
After reacquiring her childhood home (thanks to Patty's intervention) and checking on his mother, House and Cuddy retreated to their hidden sanctuary on the frozen lake. Given everything else that had happened on this trip, the fishing expedition would be good for both of them.
"Nice to know you can handle your way around the stove, House," Cuddy sassed while walking back into the shanty.
"Had to do something while you were farting around out there. Manage to do anything useful?" he retorted while serving up some franks and beans.
She smirked sarcastically while holding up a string of three good sized togue in her hand. "Less talk, less looking at my chest and more catching, House."
"Whoa! Guess you threatened them with eternal Clinic duty if they didn't cough up the goods. Know the feeling. I'd kill myself too," he cracked.
She sampled the beans and arched her eyebrow at him. "Eating these beans might do the same to me. Who taught you how to cook them?"
"They're out of the can, Cuddy. You Empress types love the quick and easy way I thought." He shrugged while eating another bite. "Bet you're on Cloud 9 thinking about sleeping where your folks did. The sex should be cool!"
She rolled her eyes. "You really know how to kill the sentimental feeling, you know that?" She silently considered him for a minute before continuing, "It's our life, House. It's more than just sex."
"Yeah. I know. It's full time Empress 24-7."
She rubbed his arm. "Every Empress needs her Emperor." She kissed his cheek. "Granted I have to keep you in line but I need you."
"Yeah like you're woman enough?" he supposed.
"Try me, House," she insisted while kissing him again. "We do have almost an hour before you're due out to check the tip ups again. Maybe…?"
He eased her down onto the cot on the shanty's west wall. "That's an order I can deal with, Empress…."