Thanks for the reviews, guys! And we've still got a while to go, so thank you, as always, for continuing reading. I appreciate it. :o)


"How did it go?"

Cuddy jumped as House stepped alongside of her. She gave him a scolding glance before continuing down the hallway and stopping in front of an elevator.

"Fine," she finally answered him as she jammed her finger into the down button.

House stood across from her and narrowed his eyes. Cuddy caught his look.

"Okay," she offered as another answer. She gave a shrug. "I don't know. I'm not going to get better in a day."

"Do you think it's going to help you?" House asked.

"I hope," Cuddy replied and then her eyebrows drew together. "Were you waiting here the entire time?"

"No," House answered and then added, "Just the last half hour."

Cuddy frowned. "You need to back off."

"Do I?" House raised his eyebrows.

The elevator doors slid open and Cuddy stepped inside. House followed her in and pushed the button for the ground floor.

"It's unhealthy." Cuddy folded her arms across her chest. "To be so... obsessed."

"I'm not obsessed, Cuddy." House shook his head as if her idea was ridiculous. "I'm..."

"You're what?" Cuddy prompted.

"Nothing." House shut his mouth and waited for the elevator to let him out.

"You're trying to fix me," Cuddy accused, knowing she was right.

House gave her a glance. "No."

"You left work to meet me once my appointment was over," Cuddy said. "You're trying to figure me out so you can fix me. It's not easy, House."

He held her gaze. "No one ever said it was going to be."

The doors opened and House quickly stepped out. Cuddy watched House's backside for a moment and then went after him, catching up at his side.

"Yeah, well, she coerced me into going Tuesdays and Fridays," Cuddy told him.

House slowed his pace to match hers. "That's a problem?"

Cuddy shrugged. "She said that in her professional opinion, twice a week would be more beneficial. Ultimately it was my decision, but... she's the doctor, right?"

"Come on." House held the front door to the office building open for Cuddy. "We'll get lunch."

"I promised Wilson I'd call," Cuddy stepped through the doorway. "I thought I'd go back to the hospital and stop by his office instead."

"See him later." House caught up alongside of her as they headed for the parking lot. "Come on."

"I'd rather go back to the hospital," Cuddy replied.

"I'll bring lunch to you?" House offered.

"No." Cuddy stopped at her car. "As I can recall, you have a patient who isn't doing well. Get back to Princeton-Plainsboro and get back to work. I can handle myself, House."

House paused a moment and then nodded. "Okay, boss."


"House..." Cuddy waited for a response as she remained frozen in bed. "Greg."

House was awake, but he pretended to be asleep. It hurt to ignore her, especially with the desperation in her voice, but he was doing this for her.

"Greg." Cuddy tried again, glancing around the dark bedroom. "Please."

House swallowed hard. He wondered what would happen if he didn't respond. He wondered what she would do.

"Okay," Cuddy whispered to herself. "You are... okay. He's not out there. No one is out there."

She let out a whimper as she heard the pipes rattle. Her breathing had increased, her adrenaline pumping. She tried to stay calm.

"Just push the sheets off," Cuddy commanded herself. "Just do it. Go check. No one's there." She clutched the bed sheets, but hesitated. "Just fucking do it, you baby."

Cuddy whipped the sheets off and waited. Nothing. Her body tense, she sat up, looking to each window quickly before jumping out of bed. She stood frozen for a moment, her muscles tense, her mind racing.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Cuddy carefully approached the window closest to her. Her hands were shaking as she reached for the curtains. Thinking of the band aid approach, she whipped the curtains open and stared out into the darkness.

The moon illuminated the yard, the tree in the backyard. Nothing else. No one else. Feeling a bit more confident, Cuddy went on to check the other windows. After she looked out the last window, she knew there was no one outside. She had imagined the noises and shadows.

Cuddy made her way back to the bed, relieved. She climbed under the covers, listening hard and making sure she didn't miss anything. Silence. Feeling much better, she settled down. House shifted slightly and then turned over to face her.

"I'm proud of you." His voice was scratchy and tired.

Cuddy smiled at him for a moment, but then frowned and punched him in the arm.

"Ow!" House placed his hand to his arm as he sat up. "What the hell, Cuddy?"

"You were awake and didn't tell me," Cuddy said angrily, sitting up as well.

"And look what you did because of it," House pointed out.

"Yeah, well... I was still terrified," Cuddy replied.

"And you got out of bed anyway." House yawned. "Maybe Harding is doing you some good."

Cuddy frowned at him again. "After one session?"

House gave a shrug and rested down on his back, closing his eyes. Cuddy watched him for a moment and then settled down as well. She glanced at the windows, reminded herself that no one was out there, and tried to fall back to sleep.


House awoke and expected to hear Cuddy say something to him, but instead, her foot made hard contact with his shin. He let out a slight grunt, knowing from the intensity of the pain that it wasn't the first time she had kicked him that night.

Sitting up, House frowned at Cuddy, assuming she was awake.

"You were fine earl-." House cut himself off when he realized Cuddy was still asleep.

Cuddy let out a whimper, her eyebrows drawn and her mouth taut. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly.

"Cuddy." House shook her gently, wanting to bring her out of her nightmare. "Lisa."

Cuddy cried out, her foot kicking House again. House grunted a second time and before he could stop her, Cuddy clocked him in the mouth with her hand. House ran his tongue over his now throbbing bottom lip.

"Stop," Cuddy mumbled and then whimpered again.

House tried for a second time to shake Cuddy awake. She struggled against him before her eyes opened. She still fought House until she realized her surroundings. Cuddy sat up quickly, her tears falling and her breathing becoming difficult.

"Cuddy, breathe," House asked of her. "Like blowing out a flame, remember?"

House placed his hands on her upper arms, wanting her to focus on him. Cuddy clutched onto him, pressing her lips together to form a tight circle. Her eyes met his, and she breathed in and out slowly, calming herself.

"That's it." House nodded. "The dream wasn't real. You're fine."

Once Cuddy's breathing became regulated, she removed her hands from House. She scooted back until she was pressed against the headboard.

"I didn't hurt you, did I?" she asked House, almost timidly.

"No," House told her, but his bottom lip still throbbed.

"I thought you were Neil," she confessed to him.

"I'm not." He shook his head slightly.

"I know," Cuddy replied.

"Dream that bad?" House raised his eyebrows and moved closer to her.

Cuddy only nodded in response, telling House that she clearly did not want to talk about it. House reached out and tenderly placed his hand on her forearm. Cuddy kept her eyes diverted from him.

"Come out of that place, Cuddy," House said, his eyes still on her. "Remember what you did before? You checked the windows yourself."

"Yeah," Cuddy pulled her arm away from him and scooted out of bed. "I'm going to get a glass of water."

"You all right?" House asked, trying to determine if he really did see her hands shaking as she began toward the doorway or if he imagined it.

Cuddy stopped and gave him a smile. "I'm fine. Go back to sleep. I'll be right back. Promise."

House didn't trust her for a minute, but he remained in her bed even after he heard the television turn on. He wasn't very tired anymore and stayed awake, listening to the dull din of infomercials until the sun came up.