Part 35

Stepping outside of House's room, Cuddy swept Rachel up in a hug and was hugged in return.

Holding her tight, Cuddy mouthed a thank you to Thirteen who just smiled and looked back over her shoulder. Another young woman was approaching, pulling along Cuddy's bag and carrying the one for House. Her partner, Cuddy presumed.

"How is he?" Thirteen whispered.

"Compartment syndrome … but he's holding his own," Cuddy told her, then smiled at Rachel who drew back and planted a kiss on Cuddy's cheek.

"We had ice cream," the little girl announced.

"I hope it was okay," Thirteen quickly said on the heels of Rachel's news.

"It's fine," Cuddy assured her. While she tried to limit the amount of sweets Rachel consumed, ice cream remained a vice — one she owed to House. He'd always kept a box in her refrigerator and all Rachel'd had to do was give him the sad eyes and rub them like she was going to cry and he'd give her a scoop. The tradition had continued even after he'd been out of their lives, and Cuddy'd allowed it because Rachel loved House and she'd lost enough already.

And now she's on the cusp of getting it back … we both are … in some form.

Hope taking hold of her heart again, Cuddy hugged Rachel tightly again.

"I can't thank you enough," Cuddy told Thirteen. "Truly."

"It was no problem," Thirteen replied and reached into her back pocket. "We had fun," she said as she pulled Cuddy's credit card out and held it out.

Cuddy took it with a smile then glanced at the powder-pink suitcase beside Thirteen. She considered taking it into the room but decided she needed to talk to Rachel before she took her in. A five-year-old needed to be prepared for what she was about to see. Just seeing House was going to be surprise enough, with the condition he was in…

Thirteen must have sensed her hesitation because she offered to take the case into the room. Cuddy thanked her once more and moved out of the way to let her in, followed by her partner with the other two bags.

Cuddy acknowledged the unnamed woman with a nod then took a step away from the room. She had planned to take Rachel to the waiting room to talk but those plans flew out the window when the blinds shifted enough to give the little girl a look inside the room.

"House!"

It was a shout of pure joy accompanied by a brilliant smile. The reaction touched Cuddy's heart. Screw talking, she thought and followed the other women inside.

As Cuddy closed the door behind her, Rachel shifted in her arms to keep her eyes on House. Cuddy watched her closely, taking in her reaction and preparing to respond as needed.

"He's sick?" Rachel asked, her face scrunching into a frown, smile now gone.

"Yes," Cuddy answered truthfully and moved slowly toward the bed, explaining, "He's sleeping right now."

Rachel just studied House when Cuddy stopped at the bedside. After a few moments, she looked up and asked, "Will he be okay?"

That was a question, Cuddy didn't know how to answer. She could make no promises and she wouldn't lie to her child.

After a moment, Cuddy settled on just saying "I hope so."

Rachel looked back at House then started leaning down toward him. Cuddy balanced her, tears threatening again when Rachel's little hand came to rest on House's cheek and stroked his beard

"You'll be okay, House," she declared with the certainty only children possessed.

Cuddy didn't even try to stop the tears now, especially when House opened his eyes and looked up at them both. His gaze was still cloudy from the sedation but there was a slight curve to his mouth when he said, "Ye mangy bilge rat."

The pirate inflection was absent but the words made Rachel happy nonetheless. She delightfully replied with "ye bloody scallywag" and got a bit broader smile out of him before he drifted back off.

"He's tired," Rachel pronounced then touched Cuddy's face, her little hands wiping away Cuddy's tears.

"Yes, he needs to rest," Cuddy explained.

"So do you."

It was Stacy who said it.

Tears glistening in her eyes, the power-suited attorney was rising and moving around to meet Cuddy at the foot of the bed. Cuddy introduced her as House's friend and listened to Stacy ask Rachel if she was hungry.

"How about we go get something to eat then and let mommy rest a little, too?" Stacy suggested.

Rachel looked at Cuddy, who assured her that it was okay. "You can even have pizza," she told her. Yet another dietary corruption of her daughter by House.

The little one's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "Can I bring House some?"

"Sure, sweetheart," Cuddy smiled as she let Stacy take her. "You can even bring me some."

"You don't like pizza," Rachel said and she was right. Cuddy didn't care for it, but she was hungry and she knew it would make her daughter happy to think she liked it, even if only for a day.

"I do today," she said and watched a smile blossom on Rachel's face.

It had been the right answer.