Here we are with another chapter! Sorry it took me a little while; it's not going to go so fast until I get the bandages off my fingers (bad kitty and her sharp teeth) and I can type normally again. I accidentally shut down the computer once because my fingers were so clunky on the keyboard and I missed a command... gah. Anyway, I'll be sure to update whenever I can. I guess this just means writing everything out by hand for a few chapters and then working really fast on the keyboard later!
But, you don't want to hear me babble, you want to read a story! Here it is!
Rules
"House!"
"I'm right here, you don't need to yell. You had my attention at the low cut blouse, anyway. Do you-"
"We are not talking about my clothes, we are talking about you abusing your workers! I would thank you to keep your eyes on my face."
"But that's not as fun. See, it's like the creature of mythology when, if you look at her face straight on, you die. Or at least get burned to a horrible crisp."
Cuddy glared her hardest at House until he finished. Satisfied he had throughly annoyed her in record time, House crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, waiting. Cuddy sighed sharply and sat down across from him, the sunlight from the windows falling across her desk. The silence was almost as bad as the taunts and Cuddy almost wished he would say something so she could leap at him like a beast and tear his throat out. It really was getting to be enough.
"Allison came in here, holding her wrist. She said-"
"Great, Cameron blabbed to you about our little misunderstanding?"
"That little misunderstanding caused a bruise, House. That is assault. I could fire you for that! I would, too, except she pleaded with me to not kick your ass out of the hospital!"
"Oh, you swore. I'm telling. How about I go and rat you out to Cameron?"
"House, this is serious! You could lose your job here if you keep this up. I won't lie: you are the one of the best doctors we have in this hospital or any other hospital. You can do almost anything if you put your mind to it, and here you are, abusing your staff. A female, no less. I could tell the Board of Directors about this and bring you for a hearing. If you hit Chase in the face, I could maybe get you off for rampant testosterone, but hurting Cameron? She would cost you everything."
"If I hit Chase? Are you kidding me? He's more of a woman than Cameron is!"
Cuddy narrowed her eyes and House threw his hands up, warding off her stare, relenting.
"Okay, so that wasn't the best joke, but you would never bring me to the Board of Directors."
"I have once already! In case you forgot-"
"Never mind, you wouldn't bring me to the Board of Directors again, is what I meant to say. Again. But, if you lost me, this hospital would fall apart."
"How so? Give me one good reason why I shouldn't send you down to Stacy and hand you over. Just one good reason..."
The silence took over once more as Cuddy and House stared at one another. The threat of Stacy was helpful, Cuddy thought. She should use that one more often. House seemed a little more subdued, although the fire had only grown stronger in his ice grey eyes. It was the look of a maniac and Cuddy caught herself holding her breath. This man in front of her was not sane. He wasn't normal. But, that was what made him a great doctor. His brilliance shadowed all of the doctors in the hospital, including her own, which made her even more nervous. Finally, she came to a decision.
"From now on, you are not to have contact with Allison Cameron. If I hear you even looked at her the wrong way, you are put on probation and privileges are going to be taken away."
"Oh, I suppose you are going to take away play time and ice cream, too, huh?"
"House, it wouldn't help you to act like a jerk right now. At least hold it in until you leave my office. In addition, your team is going to be supervised by Wilson."
"Where does that leave me, if I can't work with Cameron?"
"Clinic duty."
A smile broke over Cuddy's face as she saw House's jaw drop.
"Just through the end of this case," Cuddy added, not wanting to be responsible for a shock induced heart attack on House's part. "When Mr. Deleyney is out of the hospital and the team has him in top health, then you can come back and work with everyone else. For now, thought, I think it's best if you are separated from the group and think things over. The nurse will have your clinic files ready for tomorrow."
House stood and hobbled to the door, muttering under his breath, cursing. Cuddy just smiled wider and hoped he would follow the rules she had just set down. Her smile faded slightly as she recalled all the other rules House had broken before. Cuddy shook her head. Rules were the best she could do right now.
Yippee, this chapter is finished! I am going to write the next few chapters today and tomorrow and post them the best I can! Thanks for all the reviews so far! They make my plot bunnies smile! (And me!) Please tell me what you think and happy reading!
