She hadn't told him goodbye. She didn't tell him she'd miss him, and there weren't any tearful hugs or bittersweet kisses. There was no lingering looks, or promises to be there when she got back. That wasn't their way. It was easy not to let someone down when there wasn't any expectations.
She met Wilson at the airport, alone. After parking her car in the travel lot, she met him by the curb, and they entered together, checking in their small travel suitcases. They were both dressed professionally, she in skirt and heels, he in slacks and a tie. She stifled a giggle when she saw him. For as meticulous as he was in his dress, he owned the most horrendous ties.
He greeted her with a warm smile. "Ready to go?"
She shot him a look. "I still don't understand why I have to go to this thing," she groused as they made their way to their terminal.
"Administrators have to understand these new technologies, too." He glanced at her. "Despite what House claims, you are a doctor, and a damn good one at that. You may need to use these, too. Or at least, understand them enough to help us use them.
She adjusted her laptop bag. "Why couldn't you just have went, and then filled me in on it."
He shook his head. "Cuddy, the hospital will still be there when we get back." He chuckled at her uneasiness. That brick building was truly her baby.
She gave him a dirty look. "Easy for you to say. You don't have to worry about House destroying the MRI machine, or causing nurses to quit, or performing dangerous procedures, or..."
He raised his hands in defeat. "Okay, you win. But I'm also not the one who's encouraged him to do all of those insane things over the years." He watched as her face fell from a smirk, to deep worry. "Lisa, I was kidding. What's wrong?"
She waved him off. "It's nothing. Oh look! Our flight is boarding. She walked briskly to the gate.
He shook his head an sighed. Then he picked up his briefcase and followed her. Those two belong to each other, he mused, thinking that they'd drive anyone else crazy.
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He stood in his office, playing Stairway to Heaven on his electric guitar. His team sat around the Conference Room table, each engrossed in their own interests. Kutner looked up from his Trekkie magazine, and he grinned. "Hey guys," he informed the the rest of the team, "this could be interesting." The rest of the team looked up, to see Cameron walking towards House's office.
"She's even dressing like Cuddy," Taub observed.
Foreman rolled his eyes. Shaking his head, he turned his eyes back to his journal. He hoped Cameron knew what she was getting into. This could either prove to be very good, or it could end in disaster. Personally, he felt that the latter was the most likely to happen, and it would be better for everyone if they just stayed out of the way. It would make their lives easier, while watching hers implode.
Thirteen turned and grinned enigmatically at Taub. "She doesn't have the legs to pull it off," she commented mildly. All three men turned towards her, giving her looks. "What?" she shrugged. "Cuddy has great legs, she," she nodded towards Cameron, "doesn't. Not compared to Cuddy."
Grinning, the team turned their attention to the office, wondering what fireworks they were going to have the pleasure of seeing.
Cameron walked briskly and confidently into his office. She stood at the door for a moment, waiting for him to acknowledge her presence. When he continued to ignore her, she cleared her throat, shifting her weight uneasily from one foot to the other. When he still didn't greet her, she, finally exasperated, unplugged his guitar.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he stared irately at the plug in her hand.
"Giving you a case." She thrust the blue folder toward him. He stared at her a moment, then he limped a few steps toward her, snatching the file from her hands. "You look better," she observed, as she watched him peruse the file.
"Mmm-hmm," he answered non-committedly, flipping through the file. "Non-stop sex with my boss will do that." He handed her the file back. "Thanks, but no thanks." He took the plug back from her, and the began to play again.
"House!" She was shocked at his behavior. "I'm your boss! You have to take this case!"
"No you aren't, and no I don't. And I know you can't fire me. Go do what Cuddy's grooming you for: kissing donor's asses and assigning parking spaces." He turned away, and he began to play a few notes of Bon Jovi's You Give Love A Bad Name.
She slammed the file down on his desk, then she turned and left the room. As she walked away, he smiled a sly half smile. There was no way he was going to lose this game, and she was making it easy for him.
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She and Wilson walked into the big lecture hall, the feeling of apprehension having washed away after a shower and a cup of really good coffee. She looked around the room, seeing many of her friends and colleagues over the years. She and Wilson mingled around the room, greeting fellow doctors and administrators. She was in her comfort zone, meeting and greeting, discussing careers and families.
She almost missed the low voice behind her. It took someone tapping on her shoulder. She turned around, and saw a tall man with short pale hair, a blond beard, and twinkling slate gray eyes. "Alec?" she couldn't believe it. "Alec Hanson?"
She hugged him warmly. "Lisa Cuddy," he murmured. "God, it's good to see you again!"
