Quick A/N- So, maybe I was wrong with the "two weeks" time frame. Here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it!...

"Did Stacy come by to talk about what your next step is?" Cuddy asked, thinking that was where he was going by saying they have some things to talk about.

"In a way," House answered with hesitation.

"In a way? House, what's going on?" Cuddy asked cautiously.

He held eye contact with her, while he searched for a way to tell her, and saw that she never looked away. She sat there patiently, waiting for him to speak. "When you look at me, Cuddy, what do you see?"

"What do I see?" she asked in confusion.

"Yeah, when I walk into a room, what is the first thing that generally comes to your mind?" he questioned.

"I...generally think," she paused then went on, "oh crap, House is coming, what does he want me to okay for him now?" she said with a half smirk. "But, those were the days I was Dean. Now, I see you and think, 'here's House, and good, he's still alive.' That's what I've been thinking lately."

"But, it usually has to do with something about me being a doctor?" he pressed on.

"I guess, in a way," she saw disappointment on his face. "House," she got up from the cot she was sitting on and found enough room for her to sit on the side of his bed and faced him while grabbing hold of his right hand in hers, something that she has been doing a lot of lately, and that he has begun to enjoy. "What are you trying to tell me?"

"If I were to not be a doctor right away, would you still lo- would you still like me?" he asked cautiously.

Cuddy's heart jumped when she heard that House was about to say 'love.' She knew there were those moments shared with him where she showed affection towards him, and panic when she thought something happened to him, but, love? He thought she loves him? Does that mean he loves her? She took an unsteady breath, trying to push away the tingly sensation that took over her body at the idea of maybe they were closer to being together again then she thought when she noticed that he was still looking at her, waiting for her to answer the question that she had yet to do. "House," she said in a serious tone. "When I said that I'd be here for you to get through what you need to get through, to do what you need to do, that includes everything. Whatever your decision is."

"But, that's still not an answer to my question," he pointed out.

"You want to know if I'll still like you if you were just Greg House, and not Dr. Greg House?" she restated.

"That was the question," he said, hating that he was starting to feel nervous by her repeating what he asked instead of answering.

"What do you think?" she asked softly, squeezing his hand a little more.

He looked down at his hand when he felt the tighter squeeze and kept his eyes down. "I think you don't know, and that's why you're trying to not directly answer the question that is out there."

Cuddy couldn't help but smile and shake her head which got his attention seeing it in the corner of his eye and looked up to face her again. "That right there," she said while freeing one of her hands from holding his to use to point at him. "That is you. It doesn't matter what you are, House. You can be a doctor, or you can not be. Your way of reading into every situation, in tune with everything around you, not letting anyone be able to get away with anything unless you decide to allow it, is what makes you, you. So yes, to answer your question," she said with a slightly raised tone and leaned her head forward, "I will always like you for you," she paused and saw that he looked happy with her answer and she continued. "I might get mad or frustrated with you from time to time, but, whatever you are, doctor, or not, I'll be there, liking you." She paused again and smirked at him, "because I feel I owe it to Wilson."

He looked down and let out a laugh, "okay." He looked back up at her, his expression serious again, "I think I need more time to think this whole doctor thing through."

"Well then, take that time."

Relief waved over him with her words, "thank you." He looked up at her and saw the clock on the wall, noticing the time read 11:30. "Aren't you supposed to be at work right now?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "yeah, I probably should be there," she looked down at their hands that were back to being intertwined with each other. "Can I ask you something before I go?"

"What?"

"Were you... going to say 'love' when you asked if I would still like you if you weren't a doctor?"

He hesitated, not expecting that to be the question. "Did you want me to say love?"

"I don't know yet. Do you want me to love you?"

"I don't know."

"Well, we have time to think about it," she awkwardly let go of his hand and leaned down to grab her purse and House watched as she bent down.

"Yeah, until we figure it out though, I have been going through kind of a dry spell with faking my death and all, so friends with benefits might, help me along with this whole resurfacing, trying to deal with Wilson stuff."

She rolled her eyes and looked up at him, standing up straight to face him again. "You sound like you're making improvements on being yourself all on your own," she took a step towards him and he dropped his right arm over the side of the bed, with it grazing her leg. Her whole body reacted to his touch that she tried to ignore. She bent down slightly and grabbed hold of his hand again and leaned closer to him and planted a kiss on his forehead. "That's all you get right now."

He smiled as she pulled away and started walking towards the door to leave, "okay."

She turned back to look at him again, her expression showing how badly she wanted to stay. "I'll have my sister watch Rachel again tonight. I'll be back when I'm done at the hospital. " He nodded, and watched as she exited and kept his eye on her through the glass until he couldn't see her anymore.

He sat quietly looking down into his lap thinking how if Wilson hadn't sent that DVD Cuddy never would have come back into his life. "Still can't leave me be, can you? But, thank you," he said to empty room, thinking back to when Wilson lost Amber, he spoke as though she was there with him, and now, House couldn't believe he was doing the same thing. But, he understood why Wilson did it, it makes things easier...