Chapter 36:
That same day, after Cuddy had confronted him angrily about going behind her back and helping his former employee, who was in jail, with a case, House was back in his office, consulting the whiteboard in front of him full of a list of symptoms with circles and question marks. Cameron had gone down to the ER and had to practically beg the nurse for a patient.
House was in an exceedingly bitter mood, snapping at every insignificant comment that Foreman and Cameron said. Giving up, he finally retreated to his office and slammed the door loudly behind him as to not be disturbed.
Dialing Cuddy's office, he was greeted by Brenda, who told him that Cuddy had gone home for the day. Infuriated, House tried Cuddy's cell and when she failed to answer, he then called her house and his own. No answer. House slammed down the phone seething, and limped into the conference room.
"Cameron, I need a ride home."
Cameron looked up with a surprised expression on her face. "Right now?"
"Yes, right now," House said, exasperated, "Lisa apparently went home and left me here. And she's not picking up."
Cameron sighed. "Fine, but I'm not coming back here."
"Whatever," House grumbled. He looked at Foreman. "You can go too, I guess."
Foreman shook his head. "I have stuff to finish up. Thanks for the offer though."
"Foreman, you need to get out more often," House said to him, as he zipped up his backpack. "Life is just more than just work."
Foreman rolled his eyes. "Oh, I'm sorry," he drawled sarcastically, "I didn't' realize that hookers were supposed to be on the top of my list."
House smirked. "Not anymore. Oh that's right. You're not screwing the boss so you need all those hookers you can get." He slipped his jacket on and slung his backpack over his shoulder as Foreman rolled his eyes.
"Ready?" he asked Cameron.
Five minutes later, House was sitting in Cameron's car as they left the hospital parking lot.
"So where am I taking you?" Cameron asked him, as they traveled down the road.
House exhaled, his gaze remained fixated outside the window. "Just take me to Lisa's I guess," he grumbled.
Cameron said nothing and continued driving. There was part of her that wanted to tell him that Cuddy was right: that what he did was indeed wrong. But the other part of her said that it really was none of her business.
The car ride continued in complete silence. Cameron glanced sideways at House, and saw that he was staring out the passenger side window with his jaw clenched tightly and his brow furrowed as if in deep thought.
"House," she began, but stopped, hesitating.
"If you're going to berate me, save your breath and shut up," House said coldly, without even turning his head from the window." I've gotten enough today already."
Choosing not to say anything, Cameron flicked on her right turn single to turn into Cuddy's driveway. She stopped a few yards behind the convertible, which was sitting in the driveway with the top up, and looked over at House.
Thanking her for the ride, House stepped out. "I'll see you tomorrow," he said, in way of a dismissal.
Turning his back on his employee, he limped slowly up to the front door, opened it, and let himself inside. Dropping his backpack on the floor beside the door, and kicking his sneakers off, he closed the door behind him with his cane. The house was unusually quiet.
"Lisa?" he called out.
No answer. Frowning, House limped into the living room. Peering around, he saw no one. His eyes traveled past the living room and down the hallway to a single door that was slightly ajar.
Limping down the hallway, House knocked softly on the door. Upon receiving no answer, he quietly nudged the door open with the tip of his cane.
Immediately, his eyes fell upon Cuddy's work clothes, which were sprawled across the floor, making a path leading to the bed. His eyes traveled further and he saw Cuddy's sleeping figure occupying a side of the bed.
On his way over to the bed, he noticed the bunches of tissues that littered the floor. Wordlessly, he picked up every single tissue that lined the floor and crumpled them in his fist. Trying to keep his emotions in check, all he could bring himself to do was to bend down and plant a single kiss on Cuddy's forehead, and then retreat to the living room, shutting the door silently behind him.
The television was on but House was far from knowing what was going on. He was lost in his own thoughts. Staring at the television completely oblivious to the fact that the news caster was talking about new evidence in the Michael Jackson's case, so encased with his own thoughts, House failed to notice Cuddy sit down on the other end of the couch.
Knowing full well that he was not going to notice her sitting there, Cuddy didn't speak for a moment and then she said, "He sure caused quite a stir, didn't he?"
Alarmed, House immediately flinched and snapped out of his thoughts. "What?"
"I bet you couldn't tell me what that guy just said," Cuddy told him, as she curled her feet next to her on the couch. Her expression softened as House remained silent. "And that's ok," she continued, "because you have a lot on your mind."
House didn't answer her; he continued to stare at the television. Suddenly, he turned down the volume with the remote, and said, "I saw the tissues on the floor before."
"I kinda cried it out," Cuddy admitted sheepishly, glancing over at him.
House remained silent and fiddled with the remote in his hand. "Lisa…," he began, softly.
"Greg, don't." She moved so she was closer to him on the couch. "I don't want to yell. I don't want to fight. I've done enough yelling today as it is. If anyone should be apologizing, it should be me."
Pausing from playing with the remote, House glanced over at her. "Why are you apologizing? I'm the one who reprimanded you; I'm the one who lied to you! I'm . . ." He stopped and took a deep breath to collect himself. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Lisa," he added, sincerely, as he met her gaze. "This is what couple's do. They fight. We're all human. But we can get past this," he added quietly.
When she didn't say anything, he prodded, "Did it feel good to get it out?"
Cuddy chuckled softly, as tears fell silently down her face. "Actually, yeah it did."
Wiping her tears away with his thumb, House went in to kiss her, but she stopped him. "Not yet," she said gently, "I want to talk first."
House pulled back and looked into her eyes. "Oh don't get all hormonal and emotional on me now," he said smirking.
Cuddy swatted his arm playfully. "I can't help it," she said as she smoothed out the arm of his t-shirt with her hand.
Fixing her gaze on the edge of the table, she took a deep breath, and began to speak.
"It was wrong of me to get angry at you for not telling me about Chase," she began in a quavering voice. Her voice got stronger as she carried on. "But like you said, we're two human beings, and if we don't get angry with each other every once in a while, that's not real…we're not perfect, nowhere near it."
She paused to compose herself and then continued. "I knew you were trying to protect me, to not add to the insane amount of stress that was already in my life. You were scared for me." She looked at him, her face shining. House did not break eye contact with her.
"You were right," she continued softly. "My health should have been top priority and it wasn't."
House opened his mouth to speak, but Cuddy silenced him with a look. "Please Greg," she said, "let me finish."
"I am not saying that what you did was the right thing," she continued. "You did what you thought was right." Pausing for a second, she wiped her eyes and then chortled softly. "Look at me. You must think I'm stupid to cry over something like this."
"You're not stupid," House said sincerely as he looked into her eyes. "You're right." He paused for a moment and then moved closer to her, taking her hand in his own. "Lisa, I love you and you know I would not do anything to hurt you. I fucked up and I'm sorry," he told her, his voice straining as he went on.
Cuddy's breath caught in her throat as her heart thundered loudly in her chest, ready to burst at any moment at the sight of the man in front of her. "Greg, it's ok," she whispered, reaching out to touch the side of his face.
"No, it's not," House said loudly, turning away.
"Greg, it's ok," Cuddy repeated softly. Gently, she turned his face towards her and waited until he made eye contact with her before she spoke again. "I should have listened to you. I knew you weren't trying to hurt me."
Swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, House closed his eyes as he felt everything that he had repressed start to come up to the surface. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice catching in his throat.
Cuddy stayed silent and stroked his cheek with her fingertips and gazed into his eyes. "I love you, Greg," she whispered, tracing the outline of his mouth with her fingertips. She reached up and caressed the side of his face with her fingertips.
"Look at me," she coaxed gently.
House met her gaze with his eyes. Leaning forward, he kissed her deeply on the lips. She responded by wrapping both her arms around his neck, pulling her to him. Their tears mixed together as they kissed fervidly.
House wrapped his arm around her upper back, pulling her as close as he could without making her uncomfortable.
Raking her fingers through his hair, Cuddy moaned softly into his mouth, as she enjoyed the feeling of his tongue darting in and out, and the feeling of his hands exploring over her body, as they moved over her curves.
House's hands moved underneath her loose-fitting green cotton tee shirt, gliding along the small curve of her stomach, moving up to her firm breasts that were nicely filling out her red demi-cup bra.
"I think you're due for an exam," he murmured, lazily kissing her neckline.
"Yeah, well I have one tomorrow," Cuddy replied, with her eyes closed, enjoying the feel of House's mouth on her neck. She lolled her head back and moved her hands underneath his t-shirt, caressing his sleek abdominal muscles.
House grinned slyly as he picked his head up and looked at her. "How about a pre-exam?"
Cuddy smirked, the corners of her mouth beginning to turn upwards. "Are you sure you're qualified, Doctor House?"
"Don't know," House murmured, against her skin as he buried his face in her neck once more. "Going to have to call Parker and check with him." He paused, smirking to himself as his eyes sparkled. "But that's such a waste of time."
He suddenly stood up, pulling Cuddy with him, carefully holding her against him as he steadied himself.
"So what exam did you have in mind?" Cuddy asked in a sultry tone.
Wiggling his eyebrows, House said nothing and caught her lips in a passionate lingering kiss. "Wait and see," he teased, once they broke apart. He led her down the hallway by the hand. "Your gunna have to be naked," he told her playfully.
Amused, Cuddy lifted her t-shirt over her head in one swift motion and threw it on the floor. Biting her lip, she hesitated, glancing down at her naked stomach as she rubbed it with her hand.
"What's up?" House asked softly, as he sensed her hesitation and noticed her change of expression.
"It doesn't matter," she mumbled, still rubbing her stomach. "Forget it." She thought she'd let it slide, but felt House's gaze on her, begging her to tell him what initiated the sudden change in expression. Her eyes swimming with tears, she looked up at him, her lower lip quivering. "I feel fat and ugly," she whispered.
"You're not," House told her quietly. He brushed a piece of hair away from her face and ran his thumb along her jaw line. Gazing into her eyes, he whispered, "You're not fat; you're pregnant. With my kid; and I think you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." Wiping her tears away with his thumb, he traced her mouth delicately with his index finger.
Cuddy's breath caught in her throat. For a moment she was unable to speak. "Greg…" she finally whispered, her face shining with tears.
House silenced her with a touch of his index finger to her lips. His other hand caressed her small belly. "Shh," he whispered gently. Very slowly, he touched his lips to hers.
As quickly as he went in for the kiss was as quickly as he withdrew. "Open your eyes, Lisa," he breathed. He moved his mouth to her ear and whispered, "So, we're okay?"
Cuddy's eyes fluttered open as she heard what he had just spoken. Wrapping her arms around him, she whispered, "Yes," before she planted a small kiss on the side of his neck.
Unhooking her bra hook with his free hand, House used his other hand to maneuver her into the bedroom, using the wall as support.
As they stood in the doorway to the bedroom, House let his pants drop to the floor as he stepped out of each leg, holding onto Cuddy for support. Lazily, he let his lips make their way down to Cuddy's bare stomach. When he got to her panties, he immediacy took the elastic hem into his mouth and slid her red striped thong down with his teeth.
Cuddy giggled with absolute delight.
After getting the other side down, also with just his teeth, House made his way back up, but not without first nuzzling her dark pubic hair with his lips. "I think you're all ready for your exam now, Dr. Cuddy," he said playfully, the corners of his mouth turning upwards into a huge grin.
Feeling a slight tingling sensation between her legs, Cuddy matched House's grin with one of her own. "Definitely." Bringing her hands to rest on either side of his boxers, she pulled them down with her hands.
Wasting no time, House engulfed her lips in a passionate kiss as she wrapped her legs around him, her wet pussy rubbing up against his cock as he carried her over to the bed.
"Lie down for your exam, doctor."
Giggling, Cuddy did as she was told, while House limped over and shut the door.
"Now," he said, turning around and limping to where Cuddy lay on her back with everything exposed, "let's get started, shall we?"
...told ya I wasn't going to break Huddy up... these next few chapters take place almost immediately after one another, starting with the ultrasound to determine the gender of the Cuddy/House baby, and then John Greene's interview...
A sincere thank-you to all my readers who have not abandoned this story, and to the people who comment. You guys keep me going. And for those of you who are loyal readers and don't comment, that's okay too. I thank you as well. I have been writing this story since 2008 and its amazing that I'm still going on with it. :D