Okay, so I think I said a few chapters ago that this would be the last chapter--it isn't. I still have a couple more coming. Not sure how many, but we'll see. Thanks to everyone who read and an extra thanks to those who reviewed!

Enjoy :)

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Wilson found Cuddy after searching for a good ten minutes and asking every doctor he had passed by in the hallway if they had seen her. She was sitting on a bench, sitting back against the wall with her head lolled off to the side. It looked as if she had been sleeping. When Wilson got closer, he could see she was very much awake and staring at the wall across the hall.

"Lisa?" he said carefully, sitting on the edge of the bench. "We were worried about you. Why did you leave like that?"

Cuddy paused before speaking. She sounded like she were in a daze. "James…?"

"I'm right here," he said, taking her hand.

She continued to stare at the wall. "Am I really that pathetic?" she asked again after another pause.

"No, of course I don't. Why would you say that?"

"I'm expecting too much from House. I've never expected anything from him. Now I'm just setting myself up to get hurt."

"Lisa, you don't know if House will be any different. For all you know, the island could've changed who he is."

Cuddy shook her head. She chuckled weakly. "No. He hasn't. He never will. Even if I give that bastard a child he still won't stick around."

"Give House some credit. Before you make all these assumptions, why don't you wait and see how things turn out. If you walk in there being this pessimistic, you're going to lose him even before you have a chance to get him."

Cuddy swallowed the lump in her throat and lowered her gaze to the floor. She didn't say anything. Wilson raised his hand to gently cup her cheek. "Hey…" he whispered.

Cuddy looked up weakly, as if she physically had a hard time doing so normally.

"Don't give up. You were brave on the island and in the rescue jet coming back here. Keep it up."

"I can't handle rejection at this point, James. If he laughs in my face or turns me down, I'll lose it. I told him I loved him just the other day and he spit it back in my face. The neutral feelings I've had for House in the past twenty years are completely gone and it scares me how vulnerable I am when it comes to him, despite him being a cold hearted, selfish ass."

"You two spent every waking moment together the past few months, sunup to sundown, meals, moonlight swims, and probably told each other some very private things. You're just going through the hard feeling of separation and you know that once you get back to civilization, you'll go your separate ways and everything will be as it was before."

Cuddy nodded. "I know. I'll just have to try."

Wishing on House treating her with even an ounce of respect was something that maybe happened once in a blue moon. If that. But as Wilson said, they've been through events that would change anyone around. Maybe for once he'll see Cuddy as more than a piece of ass. Wilson only hoped. If the island didn't kill Cuddy, this will.

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"Where did you go?" Cameron asked when Cuddy came back into the room.

"I just needed a moment. How is he?"

"Still asleep." Cameron stood. "Lisa, I think you should get checked out before we go home tomorrow."

Cuddy had refused to be checked out, thinking that she felt fine. They really couldn't make her without her consent and had to leave it at that. They expressed their worry that she could have typhoid fever as well, only the parasite was still dormant. And if she was pregnant, this could be harmful on the child. Cuddy had other things on her mind other than herself and declined.

"No, I'm fine. If I feel funny, I'll let them know."

"Lisa—"

"Look, I said no, okay?"

"Oh for god sakes, stop being so stubborn."

The voice definitely belonged to House. Wilson motioned for Cameron to come to him. They left the room together so House and Cuddy could be alone. Cuddy watched them walk out, half hoping they wouldn't leave her alone with House. This was more awkward than she thought.

"What's your problem?" he asked, still sounding out of it. His voice was scratchy and rough, but his eyes made magnificent eye contact with hers. "We get rescued and you still have a death wish?"

Cuddy looked away, feeling uncomfortable. She wasn't exactly sure why. "Don't worry about me."

"Cuddy, if I'm going to humiliate myself by being stuck in a hospital bed, unable to so much as move my neck to the side, you're going to be in that bed right beside me and doing the same before you end up like me. Do you want that to happen now or back home where everyone can peek in through the glass and laugh at you?"

Cuddy narrowed her eyes at him. "No one would laugh at me. And besides, what do you care what happens to me?"

House's face fell serious. "How can you say that?"

"House, you know just as well as I that once we get back home, we'll go right back to the way we used to be. The only difference is that we've slept together and you'll get to tease me about being a bad lay or something."

"I never promised you a rose garden, Cuddy," he said, voice low, but serious.

Cuddy didn't expect anything more. She felt a salty taste form at the back of her throat. Tears stung in her eyes. "I know. I'm an idiot for expecting something more. A part of me had thought that just for a second that you would come home a different person. I was wrong." Cuddy cast her eyes to the linoleum.

"Did you expect us to live happily ever after? You pegged the wrong guy for that thought, even if we spent two months together on an island."

Even though Cuddy knew he wouldn't change, disappointment still loomed over her. She hoped he would change for the better. Not only for her, but for himself as well.

"So all I was good for on that island was sex?" Cuddy had to try her hardest to get her voice not to break.

"A man still has to have his needs fulfilled, even so far away from home."

Cuddy wasn't sure if she should be angry or horrified by his retort. He did sound a bit sarcastic, but when is he not?

"There was more to it than that. You know it."

"No, you just wanted there to be more to it. Did you find out if you're pregnant yet?"

"Why? So you can plan to ditch us faster?" Malice filled her tone. She walked away from him. "You're not getting away with this, House. If I am carrying your child, you WILL be there for it."

"Oh don't be pissed off because I'm not sharing your views on dating or whatever else is going through your mind. That is only for fairy tales. This is reality."

He was absolutely right. She couldn't be angry with him because she couldn't get him to change who he is. Even in a hospital bed half way across the world from home, he's still House. No matter the location, or the event, he would never change. He would continue to speak as he has in the past, rank on her wardrobe, be defiant, rude, and inconsiderate. That's Greg House.

A tear fell from Cuddy's eye. Why couldn't she find someone decent to love? Why did her heart have to pick House of all people? She didn't share his morbid view on life, nor did she share his sarcastic sense of humor and the ability to annoy people. So why him? For years she felt an attraction to him. He drove her up the wall on a day to day basis, but yet, she loved him. Even before the island event, she still loved him. It wasn't the kind of love that made her want to rush over to him and spend the rest of her life with him. It was a safe love that she could have for a brother or a cousin. Now she was completely disillusioned. They had so many wonderful late night conversations on the island, meals by fireside, walks on the beach, and even a swim that wrapped them up in passion in the middle of it. The brotherly love she felt for him had vanished. She felt she could actually be in a relationship with him. They would be a family. But even that was too farfetched for someone like him. She should've known that. She was only setting herself up to be hurt.

"Are you crying?" he asked.

"No," she said, turning her head and brushing the tear from her face. If that didn't give it away, the sniffling did.

"Yes you are. You've never been a good liar, Cuddy."

"At least not as good as you," she snapped, turning to face him.

"What does that mean?"

Cuddy was about to speak but then shook her head instead. "You know what, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter at all. I was a fool, I accept it, now I have to get over it." She grabbed her purse and a sweatshirt that Cameron purchased for her when they went shopping for some decent clothing.

"Where are you going?"

"Home. There's nothing keeping me here."

"Yes, there is," House said, shifting his eyes to the bed beside him. "You're going to get checked out before you leave."

"What do you care?"

"If you walk out that door and board a flight, it'll be too late. Do your toes feel tingly, the pads of your fingers numb, and slight headaches?"

Cuddy didn't think much about it at the time, but now that he mentioned it, she was experiencing those three symptoms.

"Does your back also ache? Maybe you're feeling a little fatigued?"

Now it sounded like he was just playing with her or mocking her.

"You're pregnant, Cuddy, now lay your ass in this bed and get checked out before my child ends up neurotic like you."

Before Cuddy could object, House pressed the call button to summon for a nurse. They were all quite relieved when Cuddy chose to be checked out. House trying to scare her into staying by saying it could be too late had a little to do with it. Better now than at home. The only thing Cuddy wasn't too thrilled about was being beside House the whole night. If there wasn't anything seriously wrong with her, they would both be discharged tomorrow. Since it was so late, her test results would be back in the morning. For the night, she was to be stuck beside House. Even though she wasn't thrilled about it, it did feel like a sense of home. For the past two months, despite any arguing they've had that day, she was snuggled up right beside him every single night. This would be the first night they weren't alone. She didn't want to face that. Whether House felt the same way or not, it didn't matter. Cuddy felt at ease with him by her side. Wilson and Cameron went back to the hotel to get a decent night sleep. They had left right after Cuddy was admitted and had tests run on her. It was okay for them to leave. They deserved it after all they did.

Compared to the stone hard bottom of a cave, this bed felt like heaven. Cuddy sank right into it and felt every aching bone in her body as a result of sleeping on rock solid ground immediately heal itself. She couldn't wait to get home to her own bed.

"Will you stop wiggling over there," House muttered.

"I'm not wiggling, I'm snuggling. You'd be doing the same if you could move worth a damn."

"I can move my arms, thank you very much."

"Oh, what a step up," Cuddy joked, chuckling small.

"Good to see you're still not pissed at me."

"House, I'll always be pissed at you. You'll never fail to do something that'll get me angry with you."

"So then why did you spat out that you loved me?"

Cuddy didn't speak right away. House turned his head a slight ways to look at her. She was propped up on her elbow, facing him, head down. He could see her with the little light they had shining from above the beds. "Cuddy?"

"Heat of the moment," she said. "You were dying. If I was dying, you'd say the same thing."

House did remember telling her he loved her, but she was asleep. He did that on purpose, obviously.

"Now that's not true," he said. "Go to sleep."

He heard her lay down and get comfortable again. He groaned when she wouldn't stop moving around after about thirty seconds had elapsed. He was about to open his mouth to tell her to relax when she spoke instead.

"Goodnight, House."

She then stopped moving and House mentally sighed with relief. How many times do you need to move around before you find a comfortable spot?

"G'nite," he said lazily, pretending to be tired so she wouldn't talk to him anymore.

So far it was working. He felt himself almost drift off to sleep when her voice woke him up.

"House."

He sighed noisily to show his irritation that she woke him. "What?"

"I can't sleep."

"Well what do you want me to do about it? Count sheep or something."

"Can I sleep with you?" she asked, sounding like a child pouting to her parents after she had a bad dream.

"Love the idea, Cuddy, but I'm kind of immobile right now. Unless you want to do all the work."

"Not that kind of sleep with, jerk." Cuddy took it upon herself to get out of bed and appear at House's side. She moved his arm out of the way just long enough to slide in beside him and then he wrapped it around her. She rested her head on his shoulder and immediately felt sleepy.

"You're not going to spend an hour getting comfortable are you?" he asked.

Cuddy settled right in. He felt her shake her head no on his shoulder.

He was able to move his arms now. He reached up and gently brushed his fingers through her dark curls, which felt a whole lot softer now than they were on the island. A soft moan escaped her lips. The hand that was on his chest drew in soft, lazy circles for a few seconds before stopping all together.

House almost felt himself wanting to hate Cuddy. She was so smart, funny, beautiful, and anything else positive. Why did she set her sights on him? She could get anyone she wanted. Why him? He could never be happy with him. He wouldn't change for her. He wouldn't change for anyone. She would only end up being hurt in the end, just like today. But nonetheless, here she was now, still with him, still wanting to be close. He could hurt her physically, harm her, stab her, probably remove a few limbs and still she would never leave him. She loved him with every beat of her heart and every breath she took.

And he hated it.

"I don't care how you are," Cuddy mumbled, so low that House almost didn't catch it. "I'll love you anyway."

She was asleep just seconds after that. House turned his head just far enough to kiss the top of her forehead.

"I love you, too."

If Cuddy remained awake for ten more seconds, she would've heard that.

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Yes I know, it's bothering me as much as it's bothering everyone about getting them together! I want to stay in character, but I also want to believe that House would be affected in a good way about how close he had been with Cuddy the past couple months. They WILL end up together, I just don't know how yet. Their cuddling was a start though :) Thanks for reading!