Here's a Cuddy/Patterson session for you. Next up is House/Jensen, and that one might be split into two. They have a lot to talk about, and somehow, the Jensen sessions always seem longer typed out than they did in my head. I do love Jensen.

Enjoy!

(H/C)

"It's just frustrating," Cuddy said, then wondered how many times she had either used or thought that word in the past week. "Yes, I know I'm only human and make mistakes; we've covered that. But still…"

Patterson's voice was sympathetic. "Talking about it in the abstract and being slapped in the face with the fact are two different things. I do realize that, Dr. Cuddy."

"And everyone is being so supportive. Greg has been wonderful, and I know this has to be hard on him. Thomas was telling me about the time he climbed a large tree - at age 39, understand - and fell out and broke his arm."

Patterson laughed out loud. "I can definitely see him doing that."

"What's going on with you two lately, anyway?" Cuddy asked, taking advantage of a handy rabbit. As she did so, she reminded herself again of her husband. Normally, he was the specialist in dodging and diversions. This injury was making her like him in more ways than one. She pushed on. "You seemed to be dating for a while, but I'm not sure recently."

The trouble with trying to dodge an issue in front of a psychiatrist, of course, is that they see straight through the effort. "Ask him yourself sometime," Patterson replied, her voice pleasant but firm. "He'd probably share at least some personal details with you, although he does have a private streak, too. But in the middle of a session with me, we're definitely not going there. Now, back to the statement you just made, that caught my attention. Then you dodged immediately after that, so that made the first part catch my attention even more."

Cuddy was momentarily lost. "What statement. That Thomas fell out of a tree?"

"No, that Dr. House was being wonderful about this whole situation but that you knew it was hard on him. There's something there, Dr. Cuddy. Your expression changed, just for a second."

"He is being wonderful, and this is hard on him. What's there to analyze in that?"

"You tell me." Cuddy sighed. "You're getting a brief glimpse of handicapped life, aren't you?" Patterson prodded.

After a moment, Cuddy nodded. "I have thought that a few times. Which makes me feel guilty, because this isn't really like what he experiences. The pain for me is already basically gone; it just feels heavy. I do have to plot things out more, getting up and such, every time, have to think through the moves, but that's not fully comparable, either. I know - well, I can tell from watching him that when he moves, he's trying very hard to avoid setting off a spasm or tweaking his leg wrong. I just have to maneuver the thing, I'm not afraid it's going to bite me if I do it wrong. So yes, I have identified with him more this week. Sort of. With limits attached."

"Have you discussed this with him?"

"Sort of but not fully. I've mentioned briefly that I understand more things but that I know it's different for him. But he is so touchy about his leg already. He's getting a little more open about it with me, but that's still not an easy topic, not under the best of circumstances. I don't want to push too hard." She looked down at her cast.

Patterson gave her a sympathetic smile. "I agree, that's a very challenging topic. Part of the trouble, of course, is that Dr. House's father specifically used the infarction to belittle him. It's wrapped up with all of the emotional abuse he suffered for nearly 50 years. You are in general afraid to fail, partly personality and partly due to your upbringing, and you are tying this injury into that basic response system, but he quite specifically has had that exact issue with his leg used against him. And he was at his lowest point ever when John made that attack. He really had no strength to put up any kind of a defense."

Cuddy's fists tightened, thinking about John. "I still get mad thinking that John told him that nobody would ever want to be with him again, that he'd disgust any woman who saw him and that was why Stacy left." She literally jumped. "Oh, Stacy. That's another thing."

"What about Stacy?"

"She turned up at the hospital last week. Same morning I had the accident, actually." Cuddy described that whole situation with as many details as she knew so far, which, of course, weren't much. "What do you suppose she wants?"

Patterson looked thoughtful. "I have no idea. I'd give a lot of weight to your husband's conviction that she isn't just trying to start something again between the two of them."

"Actually, that doesn't really bother me. I don't think she could start something again, even if she tried. But I agree, Greg is so good at differentials, and he knows how she thinks. If he says she's not thinking of that, I believe him. But with that option removed, what's left? Do you think she just wants to talk about the Christmas card and his message? But that doesn't really fit, either. According to Greg, their relationship was based almost fully on doing things together. They didn't really sit around and have deep emotional conversations. Why would she start now?"

"Well, you'll have more details tomorrow after their meeting," Patterson pointed out.

"Yes." Cuddy looked at her watch. "We're just about out of time. Talking through things does help some, though, even if we didn't really solve anything with my foot." She started to pick up her crutches, then paused, studying them. "You know, that's another thing I've noticed this past week. I always thought Greg was too sensitive about his leg."

"He is," Patterson confirmed. "With reasons, but he definitely is."

"But I've noticed that people really do seem to zone in on the crutches immediately when I meet them. Even donors unless I was already behind my desk with them hidden. I had a meeting with a couple this afternoon right after lunch, and Greg and I had gone over to the cafeteria. So, they saw me coming back, and they really were looking straight at the crutches and the cast, noticing those first of all. I always dismissed it when Greg would say he didn't want his leg to define him and that was all people saw. I thought he was making it up. Now, I'm not sure he's 100% making it up. Maybe just 85%. Some of it actually is there with others."

"Yes. Almost all people, Dr. Cuddy, feel awkward and off balance at times in interacting with others. Meeting someone with an obvious injury is one of those occasions. There's natural curiosity, possibly some concern, definitely for most an awareness that this really isn't any of their business unless it's a close friend. They aren't sure how to react, and because of that, there is some tension there that will come through. I agree that he's super sensitive in this area and misinterprets, but yes, I'm sure patients really do show some awkwardness at times about his disability. You might mention that new insight to him. Even if it's just a brief statement, then going on to something else. I think he'd appreciate knowing that you see some validity there more than you used to."

"I'll try if I get a chance to." Cuddy heaved herself to her feet. "Well, better go rescue Thomas from the waiting room."

"One more thing," Patterson stated. Cuddy paused. "If you don't mind - and I literally mean that; it's fine if you do mind - would you let me know what it is Stacy wants? You've got me curious now."

Cuddy smiled. "If it's something I can share, I will."

"Thank you." Together they walked out. Cuddy found herself watching Patterson and Thomas closely as they bid each other good night, but she couldn't quite read their body language. Genuine fondness but also no longer progress. Maybe, as Patterson had suggested, she would ask him sometime.

And as always, as she left her own session, she found her thoughts turning north to New York, wondering how House's session had gone with Jensen.