A/N: Apologies for this chapter. I don't think it's very good, but it's essential to the storyline I guess.

Chapter 12: Distant

One week went by since House and Cuddy's sudden break up. It went by slowly and painfully for House.

At night he felt cold, alonein his bed and he was sadder, back to his miserable, old self.

The something different which was Cuddy was gone and there was nothing new.

House took more Vicodin to help his leg but also to block out his other senses. He was surprised how much his life could have changed in a week. They had only been together that long and yet House felt as bad as he had after Stacy left him for the first time.

Of course, nobody else knew what was going on inside House. He would rather die than have them know.

Cuddy sat alone in her office. She should have been doing paperwork but she had stopped everything and was staring into space.

She snapped out of it and continued her work in a daze.

She missed House. But she wouldn't admit it.

She hated him. She hated him. It was that simple. And she kept on telling herself that.

Someone came in.

"James," said Cuddy brightly as she saw Wilson.

"Hi," he said. "I–" he began.

"Is this important?" Cuddy interrupted.

"Uh…no," he replied.

"It's just; I've got a lot of work. Do you think you could come back later?"

"Sure."

He turned to leave.

"Oh, wait," he paused, turning back. "Have you seen House?"

"No," Cuddy answered, a bit too quickly.

Wilson was surprised.

"Right," he said slowly. "OK. Thanks."

He left the office.

Cuddy went back to work.

House sat in his office indifferently. He was trying to pretend nothing was wrong. He was angry with Cuddy and it was best to forget her.

"Foreman," he called.

Foreman stuck his head around the corner.

"Yo," he acknowledged.

"Go ask Cuddy if we can do the test on the Michael kid."

Foreman furrowed his brow.

"You want me to deal with Cuddy?"

"Yes. Now go."

He left the room, shaking his head.

House narrowed his eyes at the thin air in the corner of his office. He twiddled his thumbs and tapped his fingers on his desk absently.

Foreman entered Cuddy's office.

"House wants to know if he can test his patient," he said.

Cuddy jumped slightly at the sound of House's name.

"What?" she said. "Oh, yeah sure."

Foreman raised an eyebrow but left without dwelling on his curiosity.

Cuddy sighed. She picked up her pen again.