Hello!

This new drabble is set somewhere in season 6. I don't remember what inspired it, but it took several weeks to put together. Still, I'm happy with the result!

Thank you for the feedback you left last time. I'll see you guys soon!

45. It's two sugars, right?

One in the morning.

House had been staring at his white board for over an hour and a half now, trying to make sense of his patent's symptoms while fidgeting with various object like his cane, his oversized tennis ball, rubber bands, etc. He was now torn between exhaustion and mental restlessness, which could only mean one thing: it was time to get a snack.

When he made his way out of his office and to the vending machines located behind the elevators, he was surprised to see a brunette in a pencil skirt and high heels standing there, rummaging in her wallet for spare change.

"Hey," he saluted her.

"Hey."

Cuddy could have gone to any coffee machine in the hospital, instead of climbing four floors to get there. He was willing to bet she'd unconsciously made her way up here to be closer to him, maybe hoping to bump into him – but he figured that psychoanalysing her might not be the best idea if he wanted to conquer her heart.

He got to his change before she did, and inserted it in the slit of the coffee machine. "It's on me."

"You stole this money off Wilson," she accused – but she didn't say no.

"It's two sugars, right?" he asked as he pressed the sugar button several times.

"Jerk," she said as she pushed his hand away and brought the sugar to a minimum, choosing her drink. "Gee, I'd missed this."

But he could tell she wasn't annoyed.

He watched her discreet smile from the corner of his eye while he chose his snack. As Cuddy waited for the machine to fill the plastic cup, House bent over and retrieved his chocolate bar. He tore off the wrapping paper with his teeth and let it fall to the floor, much to her dismay.

"Do you want half?" he asked as he thrust it into her face.

"Are you trying to kill me with type two diabetes?" she replied, leaning away from him.

"Come oooon. Just one bite!"

"Never!"

She took a step back and he followed her, insisting until laughter burst out of her mouth. Next thing they knew, she was leaning against the wall, breathless, and he was pressing his body into hers and they were definitely too close for comfort.

The beep of the coffee machine stirred them from their contemplation of each other's eyes.

"And that's my cue," she said softly as she slipped away from him. "Are you spending the night?" she asked him as she retrieved her cup.

He nodded. "Till I can figure out the diagnosis, anyway. You?"

"Yeah, I'm probably pulling an all-nighter at this point."

"Alright."

They looked at each other. She sipped her coffee.

"Coffee break in two hours if you're still around?"

"Okay."

They headed back to their respective offices, both confident that they would now be able to get work done.