Hello everyone! New drabble. This one is set around the end of 7.14 'Recession Proof'. I've included a line of dialogue from the episode.
I absolutely loved House's drunken confession when I watched it, then as time went on I began to understand why Cuddy didn't seem too happy about it, more time went on and I realised that House not caring about being the best doctor evah was his biggest proof of love for her. Anyway, long story short, I still love the drunken confession, but I still needed to write a different ending.
Enjoy!
11. Sorry I'm late.
"Go home and change," Wilson had told him. "Party's in a few hours."
That's when he realised that he couldn't do it. He couldn't go to a party and behave and exchange pleasantries. Not today.
Cuddy wouldn't mind, right? He'd told her he'd RSVP'd, he'd booked a mariachi band, and she knew about his patient. She'd understand. After all, he did take his death pretty hard; he had solved the puzzle, but he couldn't deny that a tiny part of him actually felt bad for the guy – well, for his wife and their unborn child – which was new to him. A few years ago, he would have brushed it off and conducted an autopsy to make sure he was right.
Plus, he'd congratulate her plenty at home. And she was a strong and independent woman. She didn't need him to be there.
Oh, who was he kidding.
If he didn't show up, she would be pissed and worried and he would end up spending the night in the doghouse, quite literally.
He almost laughed at how long it took him to do the math – since his patient who had given her baby cancer, actually.
Cuddy.
Obviously.
It always was about Cuddy.
He was distracted. He missed clues. As a direct result, patients died, leaving spouses and children behind. This one was not the first, and he would not be the last.
For a second, he panicked. He realised how much he longed for a drink and wished he had Vicodin stashed somewhere in his office.
But then he saw her curled up next to him at night and he saw her bright smile and he remembered how long it had taken them to get to right then, right there, how messy and painful it had been. He had fought far too much for this to give it up now.
So he rushed down to the parking lot, picked up his tuxedo from his car and got changed in the bathroom. He made it to the gala just in time to see the mariachi band play.
"Sorry, I'm late," he whispered into Cuddy's ear. She turned to him, gave him her bright smile.
"I'm glad you came," she whispered back before she kissed his cheek.
He saw her smile many more times and he saw her once again curled up next to him that night.
And it was all fine.