Hi everyone!
Happy new year!
This drabble is set at the end of 7.12 "You Must Remember This". I'd been wanting to continue that last scene ever since I first saw the episode, and I think I'd started writing something, but... meh. So when this idea popped into my mind, I knew I had to write it down.
Thank you for the feedback you left last time! I hope you'll enjoy this one.
39. I want you to be happy.
His callused thumb rubbing her elbow woke her up. Cuddy was about to go back to sleep when somewhere in her confusion, she realised that House's breathing didn't sound as deep and slow as it did when he was asleep – and her administrator's need to fix everything kicked in.
"'You awake?" she whispered.
"No," he whispered back after a few seconds. She smiled and settled her head more comfortably against his shoulder, catching a whiff of her detergent from his tee-shirt.
She'd come to learn that when House was awake at night, if he wasn't pacing around to ease his pain, he was very likely thinking about his case. But since his case was solved, and he was not as agitated as during a bad pain day, he must have something else in mind nagging him. She had a slight idea about what was bothering him so much – which, in turn, bothered her.
Damn. She thought she'd addressed it.
"Is it your case?" she asked.
He shook his head.
"Leg?"
He shook his head.
"Sarah?"
She smiled when he scoffed. "No." She was getting closer.
"Is it Wilson?"
He opened his eyes. Gulped. Bingo.
She eventually spoke up. "I never asked if things went well with uh, the barista."
"They didn't."
"Oh."
"He says it's too soon after Sam. I gave him ten days."
She rolled onto her flank. Her elbow slipped out of his grasp, so she covered his fingers with her hand instead. "Do you still believe you're the one who should be alone?" she asked softly.
"Yeah." His voice was so low, she was lucky she heard him. In fact, it was lucky she heard him at all – if they weren't in the dark, she was pretty sure he would have shut her out.
"House, it's sweet of you to care about your friend. Uncharacteristically so," she quipped, before recovering her seriousness. "But Wilson's a good guy. I don't doubt he'll find a soon-to-be ex-Mrs Wilson eventually."
"Right. But he wouldn't have to if Amber…"
"It wasn't your fault."
He sighed. But this would be a conversation for another day.
She caressed the side of his face. "You, on the other hand, are worthy of love. And happiness. And if you don't believe that, I'll find a way to remind you. Every single day."
He stared up at the ceiling, processing her words.
"I love you, House," she added. "And I want you to be happy. So please, let me do just that."
Hell, if they weren't in the dark, she never would have been able to say those things.
He squeezed her hand. I'll try.