CHAPTER 4

I know it's soon but my last chapter was short and my mum gave me the inspiration to write again today.

Disclaimer: I don't own House. Maybe I would buy a cottage in the middle of nowhere. In the Lake District. England maybe.

Enjoy

"I need to leave at 2:45"

As usual, House had barged into Cuddy's office, demanding something.

"No". Was the sharp reply from Cuddy. She wasn't in the mood for House's bull today. She just kept reading the paperwork in front of her, hoping that if she stared enough, he would magically vanish into thin air.

"Dentist appointment." No such luck then, Cuddy thought.

"You went to the Dentist last month"

"Dental hygiene is very important don't you know? I have to keep my teeth pearly white for the lady's." For Jen he added without saying.

"Anyway, I have to get fillings" He added afterwards.

"I know you're lying House, but I'm too tired and stressed to argue with you."

He looked at Cuddy and saw the development of bags under her eyes.

"Who's the hot new toy boy raveshing you all night?"

"It's called a 4 year old child House, but obviously you wouldn't know that"

He wanted to laugh at the irony of her statement and tell her the times he'd spent awake at God knows what hour soothing his child. Whether from nightmares, the new sickness bug going around or from missing his mum. But obviously she didn't know any of that so he played dumb.

"I didn't choose not to have children because of the fact that they were lovely, smiley things you know. Actually ... wait no, that does sound like me" He was lying through his teeth with his fingers crossed behind his back. He would have to make up for his horrible words later.

"4 hours extra clinic duty House"

"2 hours"

"Deal"

House turned to leave but Cuddy halted him.

"I need you to work Saturday. A&E needs extra staff to cover shifts. Since you never work Saturdays or in the A&E, I've put you down to work."

Houses face dropped and his eyebrows furrowed. This was not negotiable. Jen and the nurses was expecting him on Saturday and he wasn't going to let her down. They got to spend such little time together as it was. Cuddy was not going to do this to him.

"No, Wilson will cover my shift. I've got plans" House was defiant in his stance.

"Like what House, drown yourself in Bourbon and misery? You've got nothing but those and Wilson in you're life anyway. Also Wilson's working with you."

That touched a nerve. Inwardly he was fuming. He was hurt. He tried to keep up his neutral look but he could tell that his eyes were giving him away by Cuddys guilty look. He suddenly found interest in the floor and stared intently at the white stain in front of him.

"House?"

"I can't work Saturday and that's final."

House pivoted and limped heavily out of Cuddy's office. He wanted to turn back and scream at her. Show her what he had lost. Show her how little she knew about his life. But he kept on walking.

Cuddy couldn't work out what had hit such a nerve with House. Their weird relationship was built on double edged barbs and witty comments. She hadn't said anything out of the ordinary. But the hurt in those ocean blue eyes was like a stab in her heart.

—

An hour later, Cuddy stormed into Wilson's office, hands on hips.

"What's wrong with House"

Wilson looked up from his files. She looked both angry and worried. If that was even possible.

"What do you mean? He was fine earlier."

"He came in first asking to leave early which a begrudgingly agreed to and then I told him he had to work Saturday"

Wilson stiffened and sat up straight in his seat.

"He can't work Saturday, Cuddy." Wilson looked serious.

"What's going on Wilson? He looked hurt when I suggested that he didn't have anything better to do than get drunk. Which is probably true."

'No wonder he was hurt' Wilson thought. He was standing now with his fists clenched.

"Despite what you think, you don't know everything Cuddy. He can't work Saturday and that's final." He has just unknowingly repeated Houses words an hour earlier.

Wilson took a few deep breaths to try and calm his boiling blood. He flopped into his desk chair. Cuddy flopped into the one opposite.

"What's going on Wilson? Please tell me. Why does he always book the second and forth Saturday of the month off? I'm worried about him Wilson. I'm worried about you both now."

Cuddy had sobered now. She just wanted to get to the bottom of this. House always had most weekends off anyway but for the last 4 years, he always booked off those two Saturdays specifically. She had never thought about it until now. He would sometimes also insist on taking random days or half days off without much more of an hours warning. She just assumed that it was House being House. But thinking about it, it didn't make sense. She thought she had nailed Houses life down to the tee. But obviously, as Wilson had said, she didn't know everything.

Wilson was rubbing the back of his knock furiously. It seemed to Cuddy that he might rub it off.

"It's not my place to tell, Cuddy. If I was you, I would respect House's privacy. I can promise you though that what he is doing on Saturday is very important to him. I won't let you deny him of it. I'll recruit Chase or Foreman into covering for him and pay them double out of my own money if needed"

Wilson stood and with one final glance, left a confused Cuddy contemplating what she had just been told, in his office. He needed to go find Chase and then House. He needed to sort this mess out.

—

It was nearing two thirty when Wilson found House sitting in the conference room, staring at the list of symptoms on the whiteboard.

"Breast Cancer?" Wilson imputed.

"Despite what Web MD might say, not everyone has Cancer. Besides, Cancer is boring."

Wilson glared at House for a proper reply. After a minute House finally gave him one.

"Did a mammogram, no growths or Tumors and blood work came back negative for markers" House sat contemplating the whiteboard. He seemed in a world of his own.

"You ready to go? It's nearly 2:45."

"Yeah, I just need to leave some instructions for the ducklings" House proceeded to write instructions for what tests to run in which scenario on the white board.

"I sorted Cuddy. Chase is covering you're shift on Saturday for a little extra cash."

House promptly looked up at Wilson.

"What did she say"

"Well, she was curious and concerned about your actions after she demanded you worked Saturday. I don't blame you to be fair. I wanted to punch her when she came out with the bourbon."

"Should of paged me, I would of been up for a cat fight. $100 on Cuddy."

"House, how many times have I punched you and you've gone down."

"I only went down to boost your ego Wilson. It's what friends are for."

House had that infuriating smirk on his face. The air grew somber again.

"On a serious note, we need to be careful around Cuddy. She's on to us." Wilson's facial expression turned serious. He knew how risky it was with Cuddy. She was like a dog with a bone.

"We'll deal with that went it comes to it. Right now I just want to go pick up Danny, have a bath and watch Spider-Man with my son"

"I guess I'm getting the Chinese takeout?"

"Well what other use would I have for you? Other than to play the emotional uncle"

Wilson smiled and they both headed out of PPTH, ready to pick up Danny. They both had missed him.