"Lisa?" he said again, his voice a bit louder, but sleepiness still clung to it.
She still didn't answer, figuring he was just checking on her. Then House would get up, limp to the kitchen and put a pot of coffee on. Later she would wake up and find him watching The History Channel or playing the piano. That's usually how it happened one way or another.
Usually.
Usually doesn't mean it's set in stone.
The blankets pulled up and the bed dipped slightly as he slid over, draped an arm over her, rested his stubbly chin against her shoulder and dozed off again.
Silently Cuddy mused over this new development as she felt cocooned by his long limbs, his chest rising and falling against her back. House never did this. Never. By habit, the need of his leg, whatever, he almost always drifted to other side of the bed and slept on his left side or back.
But not tonight.
What was different tonight?
He missed you, that's what, Cuddy thought. You were gone, remember? It's his own little way of reassuring himself that you're back in his bed.
She wondered what would have happened if she had answered. They'd be up making coffee and ordering Chinese. Cuddy liked this much better. This was something she could definitely get used to.
As she carefully entwined her fingers in his, her mind flipped through past five days, their emails and phone calls, how he all but begged her to come home early. Some part of it was for show, most of it was real.
He needed this reassurance right now. It was his to take. He could have all he wanted.
Don't you ever leave me like that again.
Cuddy squeezed her lover's hand, then closed her eyes and felt the sensation of his beard scratching at her shoulder, his breath on her neck, the weight of his arm across her body. After all the countless nights when she wrapped herself around his sleeping form it was a welcome change. House was finally returning the favor. Better late than never.
Twitching and shifting at an unseen dream, something only he could see and feel, then House relaxed against her again. She hoped it was a nice dream.
He was only this relaxed and untroubled when he was asleep. The deep calm in his face that she saw at no other time told her everything she needed to know. Chasing dreams instead of pills. No pain to deal with.
The clock was out of sight, behind her, but some sense told her it was still early. House would be wide awake from his catnap soon and up half the night. Maybe luck would be on her side and she would be able to coax him to bed at a decent hour. Doubtful, but still worth a shot. Even if he didn't sleep it was still worth a shot.
"Mmmm...," House grunted as he stirred and stretched. "Lisa?"
"Greg."
"You're still here," he muttered into her shoulder, still half asleep.
"Where else would I be?" Cuddy asked.
"Des Plains. Just to torture me some more."
"I'm not going back there anytime soon."
"That's nice," he said absently. "You shouldn't go back until they get at least one stoplight and one horse in that town."
"Next time I'll go to Anchorage and play with the polar bears."
"Can I come with you?"
"To keep me company?"
"No. I want to watch the polar bears eat the stoplight."
"And the one horse too?" Cuddy laughed.
"Sure, why not? I'll even throw in a moose."
Still laughing, Cuddy turned over to face him. "You're so generous."
"To a fault," House smirked and propped up on his elbow. "I'm so damned generous I might even let you spend the night with me."
"Why should I do that?"
"Because I hate to sleep alone, and so do you."
"Really." Cuddy grinned.
"Yes, really. You didn't take that shirt with you because it was so gosh-darn comfy. You took it because it reminded you of me. Stop me anytime if I'm wrong."
"You're not wrong."
"I didn't think so," House said. "You slept in it every night, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"You dreamed of me every night."
"Yes, I did."
"What did you do when you opened the washing machine and saw what happened?"
"I almost cried."
"Almost?"
"I think I actually shed a tear or two."
"Mmm...I'll see if I can find you another one," House smiled, obviously pleased with what he heard. "Now how about some dinner."
"Dinner sounds wonderful," she answered.
"Great," he grinned. "You've more than earned it."
