CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN: DREAMING TIME

House followed Cuddy back into Lily's room. "I gave her a sedative," House informed his boss.

"That's good." Cuddy looked down at the young girl. She looked so small and fragile laying there in the stark hospital room. Cuddy pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down.

"What are you doing?" House was wearily leaning against the door.

"I'm going to stay and keep an eye on her."

"You mean keep guard? You're afraid that vampire will come back, finish the job? Why the hell didn't you just kill him?"

"I can't House. I'm not strong enough." She felt herself crying. She was exhausted.

House pulled a chair up beside hers. He picked up the remote and sat down.

"You don't have to stay. Why don't you go home and get some sleep? You look like crap."

"You've had better days too." He felt her flippant remark sting just a little.

"Believe me, I know." She absentmindedly brushed her hand through her hair. "Go home."

"Can't." House flipped on the television. "Girls Next Door is just starting, and I don't want to miss it." It was just an excuse, but sadly, he did know that the horrible reality show based on Hugh Heffner's three girlfriends came on at this time every week.

"Great." Cuddy groaned. Nothing topped off a grueling day like watching three bleach blonde bimbos flopping around a crusty old man.

"Shhh." House started bobbing his head along to the theme song.

Cuddy zoned out. She felt sleep dragging her down in her seat. She must have drifted off because next thing she knew, she was in front of a huge mansion. It somehow reminded her of House's apartment, but bigger, and more lavish. She walked up to the door and rang the bell.

For some strange reason the butler who answered, was that Wilson? She squinted to make sure. Yes, it was. But why was he calling her Holly?

"Hugh is waiting for you." Wilson bowed her in.

"Hugh?" She looked at him. "And why are you calling me Holly?"

"I'm sorry." Wilson corrected himself. "Mr. Hefner is waiting for you Miss Holly."

"What the…" Cuddy caught a look in a mirror she swore hadn't been there a minute ago. She was…blonde? She looked down. Where the hell did those come from?

"Holly!" House walked out in a brocade robe and velvet slippers. Was he smoking…a pipe? Cuddy tried to shake off the image. It wouldn't go away.

"My name is not Holly." She was getting annoyed. "It's Lisa!"

"Okay, Lisa. I'll call you whatever you want. Just come give Daddy some sugar." House stretched out his arms.

"Are you kidding me?" She gave him a look of death.

Out of no where, Cameron, or a rather more endowed, and blonder version of Cameron came running out and threw her arms around House.

"Now that's more like it." House smiled and grabbed Cameron's ass. She giggled inanely.

"This is not right." Cuddy looked around her for the nearest exit.

"Pooh Bear," a female voice called from the top of the stairs, "I can't decide which dress to wear." A big breasted, blonde Stacy came prancing down the stairs holding two Fredrick's of Hollywood style mini dresses.

"No!" Cuddy shouted. "There is NO WAY Stacy would wear one of those!"

"Oh, so now Holly gets to tell us what to wear?" Stacy pouted at House Heffner.

"My.name.is.not.HOLLY!"

"Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." House came over and slid a hand around her waist.

"How can you get out of the wrong side of a round bed? It doesn't have sides?" Cameron asked bubbly.

Cuddy rolled her eyes. This had to be a nightmare. Confirmation came when she found herself suddenly in a bedroom, all red crushed velvet and black plushness.

House was laying on a round bed, the kind with no sides. His open robe revealed a toned chest and black, silk boxer shorts. Cuddy's eye instantly went for his thigh. The scar was gone.

"Oh, God help me." Cuddy tried to think clearly. What was this dream about? Was it just the result of a long night and House's bad taste in television? Or was it something more.

On either side of Porn Star House were Stacy Barbie and Cameron Barbie. Stacy's hand had slid beneath the soft silk shorts, while Cameron was busy teasing House's nipple with her tongue. Cuddy felt her stomach turn and gagged a little in her sleep.

"House!" She needed this to stop, and he seemed to be the only one who could do it. "HOUSE!" She was having trouble getting his attention.

Both women glared at her. Their smiles sent a chill down Cuddy's spine.

"He doesn't want you anymore," Cameron snapped.

"Now, now Kendra," Stacy chastised.

"Who the hell is Kendra?" Cuddy demanded. She just wanted to wake up. This was a nightmare.

"Stop fighting it Holly," Stacy cooed. Holding a hand out to her old friend.

"My.name.is.not.HOLLY!!!!!!" Cuddy screamed at the top of her lungs. It was loud enough to wake the dead, but not her.

Stacy and Cameron instantly reverted to their real appearances. Stacy was in a tailored suit, her hair perfectly groomed. Cameron was in one of her abysmal vests, her lab coat open to show it off. The boobs were gone, completely.

"What is going on here?" Cuddy turned to Stacy, her friend, her confidant. Stacy would tell her what was happening.

"Don't try to stop it Lisa. There's nothing you can do. He wants it this way." Stacy took one of Cuddy's hands. "Can't you see how happy he is?"

Cuddy looked down at House who was grinning inanely as Cameron did something Cuddy never wanted to see Cameron do again. Ever. Not on House or any other man for that matter.

"No. That's not what he wants." Cuddy knew this wasn't the way it was supposed to be. She and Wilson had tried to get House to accept Cameron, but that's not what he wanted. It couldn't be. He wanted Stacy back. But...

"Relax Lisa." Stacy was suddenly massaging Cuddy's shoulders. Cuddy felt her head growing heavy, her body weakening. She wanted to sleep. She wanted to drift away. She felt herself sliding down, down...

She crashed onto the floor and let out a sharp yelp.

"What?" House turned and looked at the real Lisa Cuddy sitting on the floor of Lily Addams hospital room. She was rubbing her bottom as she got up. "Who taught you how to sit?"

"I fell asleep House."

"Did you dream about me," he teased.

"As a matter of fact..." she tried to remember her dream, but the details were hazy. "I did."

"Hope it was a good one." House smiled, oblivious to any feelings of doom.

"I don't remember." Cuddy stared down at Lily silently, trying to pull up any details she could from that disturbing dream.