Part 3

Wilson is as good as his word and throughout the remainder of the day she receives regular updates and copies of test results. All delivered by different people, none of whom comment, or ask questions – which is a relief since the news they deliver is uniformly bad. Cuddy spares a brief moment out of her busy schedule to wonder how he is managing to track her movements so easily. As the day progresses with nurses, orderlies and other personnel miraculously appearing at her side she decides she is seriously under-using his organisational skills.

Her luck runs out when she returns to her office after the Board meeting to find House lounging on her couch, waiting for her.

'Wow – this used to be my office and now it's a waiting room, you think someone would have told me.'

'Which one of them did you sleep with?' His question makes up in impact what it so lacks in finesse.

'Chase, Foreman or Cameron?' He smiles, fleetingly at her come back.

'Nice – but actually I meant Professor Dean or her husband. The smart money is on the husband, but I have to confess knowing how… adventurous you are, I'm holding onto a hope that it's the Professor, or maybe both of them – that would be really cool.'

'Is this in any way relevant to your treatment?'

'God no, I'm just curious.'

'And what is it that makes you think I'm going to answer that question?

'Don't you want to unburden yourself, confess your sins?' She doesn't bother to dignify that with an answer – instead she leafs through the messages that have accrued in her absence in an attempt to give him the impression she has more important things to think about than his presence. When that doesn't seem to be working she asks,

'Why are you here?'

'There is a luminary of the world of medicine lying downstairs, she has some really shiny awards and lots of very important friends, but all she seems to want is half an hour of your time. What's really fascinating though, is the lengths you're going to not to see her. Normally I wouldn't be able to keep you away from such a high profile patient, but you've told Cameron 'no' twice, even Wilson couldn't persuade you – though he's gone all clucky and protective – which means he knows something is going on.'

'I am not one of your damn puzzles.' His smile is sardonic enough to make her consider slapping him.

'Right now, you are the only game in town when it comes to puzzles.' She forces herself to return his scrutiny without flinching and holds his gaze with her own until he looks away from her face, his eyes deliberately lingering over her body. 'C'mon Cuddy, she's pretty sick, you think she wants to play the wronged wife one last time?'

'It was a long time ago.'

'He's asking for you as well you know.'

'I don't intend to see either of them.' This is the fall back position she planned and while she hoped not to have to use it, she knows it is a good cover, and as an added bonus she is fairly sure that she will be able to sell it to House.

With this in mind, she dips her gaze away from his, wraps her arm protectively around her stomach and, just for a moment, lets some of the vulnerability she has been working hard to keep at bay show through. She is particularly proud of the way her voice shakes slightly as she says, 'It was just once and it was really stupid thing to do.'

'The husband?' When she nods he says, 'damn – I owe Chase $50. Did she catch you together?' As she expects he is far too enthusiastic about the prospect of getting details.

'It wasn't like that.' His eyes are assessing and far too astute, but she knows that he believes her right now, as much as he believes anyone, and she wonders which one of them that is a reflection on. 'I can't believe I just told you that,' her sudden shift into waspishness is, she hopes, the final clincher, 'go and do some work. You owe me clinic hours from last week.'

He pushes himself up – but doesn't move far, which of course means he isn't finished yet. The days when she manages to get the last word with him are few and far between and this is clearly not to be one of them.

'She's running out of time. Wilson is treating the lymphoma – but we can't nail the underlying condition and I honestly don't know whether she will survive long enough for us to workout what it is and find a treatment. Maybe you should give her the one, final death-bed scene she seems to want. Could be she wants to be magnanimous, have a tearful reconciliation where she finally forgives you. Either way, does it really matter? It was a long time ago,' with his cane he gestures expansively to the room around them, 'I don't think you're her resident anymore.'