This is a long chapter which I wrote today, very small bits of smut so if you don't like, read with your eyes squeezed tight.

Reviews are my Vicodin, riding the high:) hope you enjoy it, next chapter should be up soon.

Chapter 5: Mixed Messages

3 hours later, Cuddy and Lindsey collapsed on the sofa in her office, bags littering the floor.

'Oouf…I'm puffed,' Cuddy said,

'I'm broke,' Lindsey replied 'I don't think I have spent so much money in all my life, it better be worth it!'

Cuddy opened her eyes and looked to her left, 'oooo, who you trying to impress?' she asked light heartedly, hoping the underlying desperation wasn't reflected in her voice.

'No one in particular', Lindsey grinned.

'You're a very bad liar, your mischievous smile is a dead give away, come on who is it?' not House, Cuddy silently prayed.

'I can't decide, both are very promising'

Oh god Cuddy thought, 'both? who are we referring to?'

Lindsey laughed 'who do you think? House and Wilson….or should I say Greg and James'

Cuddy's stomach plummeted 'Wilson's the better catch', she cringed, that didn't sound very convincing.

Lindsey turned to face her, curling her feet beneath her as she went 'do you like him?'

'Who?' Cuddy asked, her voice edged with panic.

'Wilson? Your welcome to go for him if you wish, by the sound of it House is more of a challenge, which, at the moment, I'm very inclined to take on.

Shit! Obviously more convincing than I thought, 'No it's fine', Cuddy spluttered, 'you go for it, I wouldn't want to stand in your way'.

Lindsey rose from the sofa, 'No I wouldn't dream of it. He's yours. I'll see you at 6'o clock tonight, yeah? She waved as she walked out the door, her head quickly snapping back into the room before the door shut, 'Oh and wear the red dress, it will certainly turn his head' with that she left allowing the door to click shut behind her.

His head isn't the one I want to turn. She sunk further into her sofa and sighed, 'Bugger!'

…………………………

House darted out the exam room, tossing the last patient file at the nurse. It clattered onto her paper work, she looked up, a scowl very prominent on her face but she obviously chose not to say anything. Carefully she lifted the file, rearranged the papers and placed it on top of the pile.

'5 0'clock House checks out' he watched as the nurses eyes glanced at the clock over his shoulder, (4.45) he looked at her and with the flicker of a smirk he said 'I'm rounding up', her lips narrowed and House made a quick get away before she could argue. In his haste he flung the clinic doors open nearly wiping Wilson out in the process.

'Wooah, in a hurry?'

'Yeah general hospital is on in five minutes, I still need to get lunch and make my way up to coma guy's room before the opening credits? Unless you're willing to go and watch the beginning for me and inform me of recent developments when I arrive?'

'Huh, I don't think so! I have no desire to endure Cuddy's wrath.'

'Not into handcuffs and whips huh? Anyway it doesn't matter Cuddy's not here,' House replied, 'I managed to escape with only doing an hour of clinic duty. I saw her leaving with that blond chick.'

'Lindsey?' Wilson's eyes lit up briefly before he tried to plaster a blank expression across his face once more, anyone else would have missed it, but house, unfortunately, was not anyone else.

'Oooo Jimmy's got a girlfriend, Jimmy's got a girlfriend,' he chanted

'Stop it! Stop it!' he said in a harsh whisper as his eyes roamed around the room searching any possible eaves droppers.

'What's wrong Jimmy, worried someone might find out you've got the hots for Miss Faye, although I'm guessing most people already know! You never were the best in the subtlety department, you've probably already asked her on a date.'

'Err, yeah, on that subject-'

'Oh my god you have, can't keep little Jimmy in check for one minute huh?'

'No! - I mean no on the date thing not the reference to little Jimmy'

'So he is little then?'

'What? – Oh never mind', he shook his head in exasperation, 'I've been trying to tell you that I've invited Lindsey along for the drinks tonight.'

'Great! I can weigh up the new Mrs Wilson; see if she has more promise than the last one.'

Wilson flinched 'Look, I was just giving Cuddy a hand. Lindsey is a prospective donor and I thought it would look good; after all we need as much money as we can get after your enormous cock up with Vogler.

'That Well just never runs dry does it?' he turned and began to limp towards the elevator.

'I invited Cuddy too,' Wilson mumbled at House's retreating back.

House froze, a tingle of anticipation flowed through his body. He was pleased no one was present to watch as his facial expression formed an unknown shape which, if people hadn't known better, would have believed to be joy.
He shook his head to rid him of the sensation.
Once a frown was firmly set on his face, he turned round slowly to face Wilson, who was quietly quivering about a meter away.

'What was that Jimmy?'

'I had too she was standing right next to Lindsey when I invited her and she begged-'

'Oh I bet you liked that!'

'-For Cuddy to come' Wilson continued ignoring House's comment, too wrapped up in his own panic to even take on board what he was saying. 'I'll buy you a drink and cover an hour of clinic duty.'

'Fine! But make that two drinks and three hours of clinic duty and I might be able to refrain from beating you into the ground with my cane.'

'Deal,' Wilson's shoulders slumped as relief washed over him.

'I don't want to be subjected to any of her nagging so its your job to keep her away from me, if you don't I'm not going to be held responsible for what I might say,' or do he thought, especially if she's too close.

'See you at 6 0'clock then, yeah?'

'Yeah,' House replied as he stalked into the open elevator, only allowing a smile to taint his lips once the doors had closed blocking his face form view.

………………….

After adding the finishing touches to her makeup, Cuddy pulled the dress over her head, running her hands over her hips to smooth out the wrinkles. The dress was made out of a silky fabric; it clung in all the right places, and ended about 5 inches above her knee, its crowning glory was the very deep V of her neckline.
She finished off the look with a silver necklace, (with a tiny diamond pendant, which nestled between her breasts) and slipped her feet in to what House referred to as her 'Shagging Shoes'.
The memory of this brought a smile to her lips as she gazed at her self in the mirror, casual but sexy, perfect. She gazed at her watch, 5.45; strolling from her House she grabbed her hand bag and car keys on the way out.

……………………

Pulling into the hospital car park she turned the key and the rumble of the engine died. Swinging her legs from the car seat she stooped to retrieve her bag from the back and walked into the hospital foyer to meet the rest of the group.

………………………

House was slumped in a leather chair, his eyes focused on the entrance of PPTH. The rest of the group mingled around, Cameron, Foreman and Chase were standing in the corner of the foyer discussing the outcome of the last case.
Lindsey and Wilson were sat on his right talking about the improvements that the new donation could make to the Oncology wing.

Cuddy was the last to arrive, the tell tale click of her heels alerted him to her arrival. He sat a bit straighter and watched as she pushed the doors open and strolled into PPTH, her dress clung to her body in the most alluring way and if other members of staff hadn't have been present he would have thrown her down and had his way with her there and then.

His eyes lingered on the pendant, which was currently buried exactly where House would like his head to be.

He looked up and saw Cuddy gazing at him with an expression which was a mixture of amusement and desire. No, not desire, he must have miss read it, he looked to her face again but she had turned away and was enveloping Lindsey in a hug.

He rose from his seat, 'so where are we heading?'

Cameron turned, 'I thought we could try out the new bar that's just open in town, it's called Molokos, I think, it's a Vodka Bar.'

'Hmm sounds promising,' House grunted as he limped in the direction of the car park, forcing the doors open with his cane, he strolled up to his bike. The others followed suit, Cameron was driving. However there were only 4 spaces in her car and five people, Cuddy arrived last to find the car full. She turned to look at House 'what am I supposed to do?'

House smirked and pointed in the direction of his bike.

'No way, you have got to be kidding me, I can't ride on that!'

'Why not?'

'I don't have a helmet for one.'

'Borrow mine,' he tossed his helmet to her, which she managed to catch on the tips of her fingers before it crashed to the ground, 'you don't really have a choice'.

'Arrgg' she cried in frustration 'why me?'

'Not everything's about you Cuddy, now hop on we making the other guys wait, and the more time you spend complaining the less time left for drinking'

Cuddy shimmied her dress up a bit higher, trying to retain some sense of dignity and swung her leg over the bike, pulling the helmet over her hair, which fortunately she had worn down.
She tentatively placed her arms on House's waist.

House grabbed her arms and wrapped them round the front, 'hold on tight, much as I'd love to lose you off the back of this thing I have a feeling the others might have something to say,' he felt her grip tighten. 'And don't try and squeeze the life out of my while I'm driving, it's not safe.'

………………..

He turned back to the front, flicked the key and the engine sprang into life vibrating between Cuddy's thighs, she had to grit her teeth to try and control the overwhelming sensation this was having on her.
The combination of her proximity to House and the pulsing sensation from the bike was making the journey almost unbearable and it hadn't even started.

House nodded to Cameron, who with one brief glance at Cuddy, pulled out of the car park.

Cuddy leaned over House's shoulder, 'this journey had better not-'

She was silenced by House slamming her visa down, revving the engine and speeding after Cameron. She tightened the grip of her thighs round House and squeezed her eyes shut to prevent herself from screaming.

………………..

He felt her thighs tighten around his body and had to shake his head to prevent his mind from swimming. Trying to control the thoughts running through his mind, cold shower, my father, his attempts were in vain as the blood flow in his body shot south, his desire pooled low in his belly and he could feel himself rising, Wilson naked, he shuddered at the last one, it worked a little to well.

The wind was whipping through his hair; Cuddy's hands resting very close to his groin, a little too close, taking calming breaths he tried to rid himself of the image of Cuddy jacking him off at the traffic lights; shifting a bit he managed to move her hands upwards.
Focusing his attention back on the road he looked in time to see Cameron swinging a left and he darted through the traffic trying to catch up.

He narrowly missed a car and could have sworn he heard someone scream as he laid the bike down and skidded round the corner. Following the road straight he swung a final right and pulled the bike up alongside her car.

The car was empty; they must already be in the bar. Dismounting the bike he turned to watch as Cuddy scrambled off the back, she lost her balance falling forward and House managed to catch her before she fell face down in the tarmac. Wrenching the helmet off her head she forced it into House outstretched hands and proceed to storm into the bar without saying a word.

…………………

She flung the doors open. She was not amused, her throat was sore due to screaming at the top of her lungs as House raced round the corner, laying the bike down till it was only inches from the ground. Her legs still felt like jelly thanks to the vibration of the bike, not wanting to admit her proximity to House throughout the whole journey might have had something to do with it. As she took deep breaths to calm her nerves she scanned the bar.

Locating the group crowded round a table in the corner she wandered over. Cameron looked up, Cuddy could have sworn jealousy was flickering in her eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it arrived, maybe she imagined it.
Indicating for Cameron to scoot up Cuddy settled on the edge just as Lindsey and Wilson came over with the drinks.
'I took a guess and ordered you a vodka tonic', Lindsey said with a smile.

'Thanks' Cuddy replied grasping the drink and downing most of its contents.

'You ok?' Lindsey asked as she settled herself on the opposite end of the booth next to Wilson.

'Yeah how was the journey' Wilson laughed but was quickly silenced by a death glare.
'That good huh? He said, 'I would have offered but I was in the middle and to get out would have caused too much commotion, sorry,' he added sheepishly.

He was saved from the tirade of complaints that were about to come pouring from Cuddy's lips by the arrival of House; he quickly shifted over and Lindsey did the same to make room for him on the edge.
Lindsey smiled up at House as he settled next to her. Cuddy tried to control the anger that rose up from her as she saw this, but it was tainted with a little tinge of hope as House didn't reciprocate the smile; he just sat down reached for his drink and took a big gulp. 'Ahhh! That's better,' he sighed.

……………………

A few drinks later, Cuddy was slumped low in her seat watching the table as they were all bound up in different conversations, Wilson was chatting with Cameron, Foreman and Chase, and Lindsey was currently chatting very animatedly with House.

She allowed her eyes to slowly travel over House taking in his appearance. He was in his usual pair of jeans which he had accompanied with his blue shirt, there was no t-shirt underneath it though and the top buttons were undone revealing just a sprinkling of dark hair, his leather jacket was flung over the end of the chair, and his hair was all messed up after the ride, although if she was honest it didn't look much different than normal.

She gazed down at her glass noticing it was empty and began to rise from her seat 'it's my round, who wants what?' There was a mutter of different orders and Cuddy mentally registered them all, slowly making her way over to the bar. She settled down on the stool leaning over slightly to catch the bartenders attention; however her movements caught the eye of the young man next to her.
He held out his hand to introduce himself, Cuddy took it graciously, she may have been slightly intoxicated but she hadn't lost her manners, 'Mark King,' he said with a smile

'Lisa Cuddy' She replied.

'Who are you here with?' she nudged her head in the direction of their table 'just some people from work, you?

'No one in particular, just popped in for a drink.'

'What do you want love?' the bartender asked.

Cuddy ordered and reached into her purse for the money 'here let me get them,' Mark said 'just to say thank you for the opportunity to talk to such a lovely lady.'

Oh God, Cuddy thought, worse chat up line ever, but who was she to turn down a free round. 'Thanks,' she stood from the stool 'nice talking to you,' with that she grabbed some of the drinks, Wilson appearing at her shoulder to give her a hand and they made there way back to the table.
There were too many for her and Wilson to bring back in just one trip so she deposited the first load on the table and turned round to go and collect the rest only to find Mark making his way over holding them. He addressed the group 'mind if I sit here?'

…………………..

House regarded the new comer with distain, he had been watching them over at the bar, unbeknown to Cuddy, and wasn't please to see him pay for the drinks.
He would drink his of course, but he didn't have to like the guy who bought it, after all he wasn't the one Mark was trying to talk into bed.

'Well I do,' he said 'but I'm not the only one at the table'. His response was met with a glare from Cuddy and an awkward silence from the surrounding group. Mark shifted uncomfortably.

'Of course you can,' Lindsey said tugging at House to make him move up. Lisa huffed and leaned over the table to remove House's jacket from the seat so Mark could sit down, revealing quite a bit of cleavage in the process, House's eyes zoomed in on it. She looked at him and followed his gaze shaking her head and allowing a short, light laugh when she noticed where he was looking. Retreating back to her seat and flinging his Jacket on the edge, she just shook her head once more and with a pitying smile turned to Chase trying to look engrossed in the heated discussion he was having with Cameron.

Mark clearly wasn't happy with the seating arrangements; he looked longingly at Lisa who had settled back down in her seat on the opposite edge, but she showed no intention of moving.
House slid along the seat to make room; while he wasn't happy to be sat next to Mark if this was the only way to keep him away form Cuddy then he would have to endure the pain.

'Here,' Wilson hurried in 'let me,' he sat down before Mark, acting as a makeshift barrier between the two. House laughed inwardly; trust Wilson to be a knight in shining armour; not wanting to inflict my narcissist nature on any members of the unsuspecting public who just happen to be passing by on the off chance of shagging our boss.

Mark settled on the edge and began to engage the rest of the group in conversation.

Right House thought, she's got an admirer, two people can play this game.

House turned to Lindsey, 'so how come you managed to talk our boss into taking the evening off to go shopping?'

Lindsey turned to him her eyes wide with shock 'how did you know that?'

'I saw you go as I was leav- erm coming out of the exam room to get a new patient,' he said slightly panicked at his slip but hopefully Lindsey didn't notice, he didn't need his truancy being reported back to the PPTH Queen Bee tonight.

'You were watching us huh?'

'Couldn't take my eyes off you,' he said with a mischievous glint in his eye.

'Oh really?' he tone high and playful, Lindsey turned to face him, flinging the curtain of blond hair over her shoulder as she did so.

House's eyes briefly darted over to Lisa and back again, Lindsey noticing his gaze looked over to her as well and what she saw made her comeback die in her throat.

Cuddy was looking between her and House, eyes tinted with jealousy and her facial features reflecting something bordering on hatred. She felt realisation reverberate through her body and didn't remove her eyes from Cuddy's face.

…………………

Cuddy watched them together, the waves of jealousy crashing over her, she was unable to hold them at bay no matter how hard she tried.

Lindsey looked stunning that evening, her blond hair, glossy and sleek, cascaded over her shoulders, she was wearing a tight pink top, which she had accompanied with a short black mini skirt and slightly heeled black shoes. They made her legs look long and slender and finished the outfit off with just the right touch, not too high so as to look tarty, but not too short so as to look too casual.

She allowed her eyes to wander back up to Lindsey's face and found her staring straight at her, how long had she been watching? Cuddy panicked as she registered her own expression, which was set in a scowl, she quickly wiped it blank in an attempt to hide her underlying feelings.
She didn't know whether she had given herself away or not because at that moment Lindsey tore her eyes from her face and returned to the conversation at hand between her and House.

Cuddy continued to watch and could have sworn she saw Lindsey shift away from House and turn her body slightly so as not to seem so welcoming but maybe this was Cuddy's mind reflecting what she wanted to see and reading too much into her body language.
She watched as Lindsey rose from the table and excused her self to go to the bathroom.

'What do you think Cuddy?'

She was brought back from her thoughts by Wilson's voice floating into her mind

'Huh? About what?'

'Capital punishment, we were just discussing it in reference to House's patient who was released recently and now has a chance to be excused for his crimes when originally he was sentenced to death, you remember?'

'Oh yeah', I don't know what do you think?' she said leaning forward.
Gradually she got herself involved in a debate with Wilson about the positives and negatives of death as a sentence.

………………….

They had been debating it for about 10 minutes when Lindsey returned from the bathroom.

'Budge up,' she said to Lisa, who obligingly moved to her left to make room.

'What if you get the wrong person?' she asked Wilson across the table continuing the debate.

'They just make sure that there is no other possible suspect that could have done it and ensure that the evidence is a hundred percent accurate.'

'Yeah but they could still get it wrong.'

'Nowadays, with recent technology, that rarely happens. If they gave it a time delay for a year of so just in case any new evidence comes to light then they can be sure they have got the right verdict and go through with it. I mean if they're guilty they deserve it right?'

'Yeah I suppose,' she sighed.

'What's this?' Mark shouted across the table at her.

Wilson turned and began informing him of there recent debate, Cuddy slumped down in her chair.

She felt Lindsey lean back to whisper something in her ear and heard her pause for a few seconds before breathing in deeply.

'You like him don't you?'

'Who?' Cuddy asked, confusion fluttering across her face, 'Wilson?'

'No…House.'

Cuddy turned to face her, hoping the internal panic wasn't reflected in her expression 'he's alright, annoys me most of the time though.'

'No,' she said again 'I mean you like him, like him.'

Cuddy laughed; to her it sounded nervous but hopefully Lindsey wouldn't pick up on it, 'what an earth gave you that idea?'

'Err the fact that when I was talking to him your stare was so cold you almost froze my heart.'

So she did see, 'I was just thinking about work, if I happen to be staring at you at the ti-'

She cut her off, 'What about work?'

'Umm-'

'See, you can't give me an answer.'

'Give me a chance!'

'No! because your just going to lie to yourself and try and wriggle out of this one and it's not going to work. I know what I saw.'

'You were convinced I liked Wilson earlier.'

'That's only because you said that he was the better catch, at first I thought that was your true opinion but now I realise it was just your attempt to scare me off House.'

'No, I- ', Cuddy couldn't find the words. She had been caught hook line and sinker and with no means of escape.

Lindsey smiled, 'it's fine, don't worry about it, the last thing I want to do is to tread on your toes by taking your man, that's not what friends do right? Besides I don't think he's interested.'

Cuddy felt a shimmer of hope flare inside her, 'but he was flirting with you earlier.'

Lindsey giggled lightly, 'if I didn't know better I think he was trying to make you Jealous.'

With that she rose and crossed to the other side of the table and settled next to Mark, joining in with his and Wilson's conversation.

Cuddy was left to reflect on what Lindsey had said, her secret was now in the open. Although, she thought, I never confirmed her suspicions; then again I good as confirmed them with my response, or lack of. What a time to be lost for words.

Could House really be interested? Lindsey said she thought he was trying to make me jealous, but that's just her opinion she could be saying it in an attempt to cheer me up after all she referred to me as her friend.
Cuddy felt a flutter of happiness at this little piece of information; it's nice to be referred to as somebody's friend, it hasn't happened in such a long time.

Her mind returned to her previous thoughts, House can't like me he spends his whole day avoiding me, or is that done so I chase after him. He's rude to me though and argues constantly; maybe he enjoys those arguments as much as I secretly do though.
He goes behind my back and undermines my authority all the time, but that is more of a demonstration of the fact that I need my head checking, not of his attraction or lack of it to me.

His actions could be interpreted in anyway I want, she inwardly sighed, god what a muddle.