A/N: I know nothing about medicine so please don't be disappointed by the boring cases. I guess that they have boring cases sometimes. I'm also not going to post the next chapter unless I get some reviews because I'm worried you've all forgotten about me. Sorry these chapters were such a long time coming, but I hope it payed off.

Chapter 7: The Closet

It was Monday and House and Cuddy were both back at work in their different departments.

House was in his room with his team. They weren't discussing a particularly interesting case and House didn't even bother to write on his whiteboard.

Cuddy was in her office with an associate discussing something else which had nothing to do with medicine.

House and Cuddy had not seen each other on Sunday because Cuddy had had to go out of town.

Cameron was talking at that moment but House interrupted her.

"Antibiotics," he said. "Wonderful stuff. Give her the medicine. Boring, next case."

"OK," she agreed. "I'll do it."

As she turned and left the room, Chase jumped out of his seat and followed her.

"I'll help Cameron," he garbled out quickly.

Foreman stared at House blankly.

"Well, incidentally, it's lunch break," said House. "Bye."

Foreman rolled his eyes and got up, muttering, "Really?"

House limped away as quickly as possible in the opposite direction to the cafeteria.

Foreman headed in the right direction but he didn't seem to notice that House had gone the wrong way.

House reached Cuddy's office just as she exited. She jumped when she almost walked into him. He smiled at her fright.

"You startled me," she accused, regaining her composure. "I was just… going to lunch…"

House cut her off by reaching down her side and putting a hand on her thigh. Nobody else in the crowded corridor noticed because of the subtlety, but Cuddy breathed in impulsively. He leaned over, running his hand down her leg until he touched skin. Cuddy's skirt was short enough for him to do this without making it too obvious.

"Come with me," House said. It was not a request as such.

Cuddy followed him, walking with as much purpose and authority as she usually did, but this time she had a soft spot for House.

He led her to a janitor's closet in a reasonably deserted corridor. When there was nobody to be seen, he opened the door and ushered her inside.

The room was dark and full of stuff and Cuddy was lost for words for a little while.

"What are we doing in here?" she demanded of House.

"You know," House said, ignoring her question, putting his hands on her arms and advancing on her. "You're like a nut."

"Excuse me?"

"A nut," he said. "You're all hard on the outside. But when you crack that exterior, you're just as hard on the inside. So, basically you never lose your composure. Unless you're a walnut, I guess," he admitted. "They're pretty brittle. So, you're not a walnut, but you are a nut. Or are you? Are you really a nut, Lisa Cuddy?"

"What…? For Christ's sake, House, answer my question before you start with the riddles."

"OK, riddles are over, I promise. For now. What was your question?"

"Why are we in a janitor's closet?"

House raised an eyebrow and grinned playfully.

"Fun," he said simply, dropping his cane and running his hands over Cuddy's arms, picking up her hands, depositing them on his shoulders and then grabbing her waist.