…and now, a continuation of the New Years Eve party…a LOT of stuff happening in this chapter...so, pay attention. :D

Chapter 43:

As Gregory House and Lisa Cuddy were making their way across the parking lot to the front lobby of the hospital, Katherine Cuddy was standing at one end of the makeshift bar waiting for a refill of her and Matt's drinks that she had ordered moments ago.

Once the bartender had handed her two glasses, one of vodka-tonic on the rocks with lime and the other a glass of Chardonnay, she made her way back over to where her boyfriend was standing.

"Thanks," Matt said, kissing her on the lips as he took the vodka tonic out of her hand.

As he took a long sip, his eyes scanned the room, looking for his buddy Nick who he worked nights with in the ER department. Failing to locate his friend, Matt's eyes suddenly fell on the couple who had just walked in the lobby entrance.

He nudged Kate with his free arm. "Look who just walked in."

As she looked up, Kate Cuddy's jaw slacked open. "Oh my god!" she exclaimed, as she stared at her sister from across the room.

Matt chuckled at her reaction as he caressed her bare arm. "Is that a good 'Oh my god' or a bad one?" he joked, as he went to take another sip of his drink, as he glanced at her.

Kate was about to answer when suddenly, she clenched her jaw and narrowed her eyes as she stared at the man who was standing beside her sister.

"Wow," Matt started to say, "I don't think I've ever seen someone's facial expression change so drastically in the time span of under five seconds," he teased to her.

Kate didn't respond.

"Hey. Kate." Matt whispered, "What's up?"

Shaking her head, Kate mumbled, "It's a long story."

"Well," Matt told her, "we have all night…"

Kate exhaled, and turned her body to face him. "Let's just say that when someone from your past who you don't like shows up again, feelings tend to resurface," she told him as she watched from the corner of her eye as her sister was stopped by various employees as she and House made their way into the lobby.

Narrowing his eyes in thought, Matt said slowly, "Wait…I don't understand. Do you and House have a history that I don't know about?"

Kate laughed. "God no!" she exclaimed. "I was referring to my sister twenty five years ago!"

His mouth dropping open, Matt stared at his girlfriend, lost for words. "Wait…wait…so the rumor's true then?" he demanded lightly.

The younger Cuddy sister shot him a quizzed look, cocking one eyebrow slightly. "And what rumor would that be?" she inquired.

Shaking his head in awe, Matt could not believe that the woman in front of him could not possibly know of the rumor involving her own sister that has been circulating around the halls of Princeton Plainsboro for ages.

"The rumor," he started, and then paused for effect. "That your sister and House were a 'thing' (he made parentheses with his two fingers) back at Michigan."

Immediately, Kate's mouth dropped open. "That's a rumor?" she exclaimed, staring widely at him.

"Surprised you didn't know," Matt said nonchalantly, as he chuckled softly at her reaction.

"Matt, I work over at Princeton General, not here…so how would I know the gossip here if you don't tell me?" she asked, after taking a sip of her wine. "Although, I could always ask Lisa…"

Matt smiled, agreeing with her. "Agreed," he replied, as he ran a hand through his short blonde hair. "…so it's true then?"

"Yep," she told him, smirking.

She watched as his eyebrows shot up. "Really?" he asked, surprised.

"Yep," Kate responded again.

"Wow," was all Matt said.

"So," Kate said as she moved closer to him, "You going to tell all your buddies here that you got confirmation from an unnamed source?" she muttered, as she moved in to kiss him on the lips.

After they broke apart, Matt chuckled lightly as he gave her a lingering once over with his eyes. "Maybe," he said coyly, as he melted her with his gaze.

"Yea, well, you didn't hear it from me," Kate told him, before placing both her hands on either side of the lapels of his suit jacket, pulling him closer towards her. "Although a juicy rumor like that has bound to get you some publicity if they knew your girlfriend spilled the beans."

Grinning, Matt placed his hands on either side of her hips, pulling her to him. "Duly noted," he replied, cheekily.

House and Cuddy finally made it to the bar, after about fifteen minutes of greetings from employees and co-workers.

"Johnny Walker black on the rocks with a splash of water," House told the bartender, who nodded before turning his attention to Cuddy.

"Just a water," she said. "Thank you."

Once the bartender had gone, Cuddy looked over at House. "You ARE going to behave tonight, right?" she asked him, for the second time that night.

"Yes," he stressed, as he tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear with his thumb. "Why do you always doubt me?" he whispered, as he traced her jaw line with his thumb and forefinger.

Cuddy was about to respond but found her breath to hitch in her throat, as it always did when he looked at her the way he was right now.

"Don't worry," he continued, reassuring her before leaning forward and kissing her softly on the lips. "I'll play nice."

Cuddy smiled shyly once they had broken apart. "God, I hope so."

Before she could say anything more, a voice said, "About time you two showed up!"

Turning, Cuddy saw Wilson and John standing there, both of whom were dressed in black suits, each with a drink in hand.

"Hey guys!" Cuddy exclaimed, before warmly embracing the two men separately in a hug.

"Great party," John commented. "You look good by the way, Lisa," he complimented her, after giving her a swift glance.

"Thanks," Cuddy said.

"What," House complained, as he slipped an arm around Cuddy's waist, "no compliment for me? Am I chopped liver?"

John smirked. "Oh I'm sorry. Didn't realize I left you out…How about this…my Greg, you are looking awfully handsome tonight…"

Cuddy had to cover her mouth to stifle her laughter as House frowned and chose to ignore her.

"Okay, stop," he said, melodramatically, "I feel like I just got hit on by a gay guy!"

John chuckled as Wilson almost choked on his drink. "You asked for it," he joked.

House looked at Wilson, who was trying not to laugh but was failing miserably. "Did you just SNORT?" he demanded, as a wicked grin came upon his lips.

Wilson blushed after realizing he had let out a tiny snort just moments ago in the midst of his laughter.

"N-No," he lied horribly.

Cuddy slapped House's arm. "Greg!" she scolded.

"What?" House asked her, playing dumb.

Rolling her eyes and choosing to ignore the man standing beside her, Cuddy focused on John Greene.

"So how was your fist day on the job?" she asked her newly-hired employee.

John took a sip of his drink before answering her. "It was good…just did some deskwork, trying to settle in…you know…"

"My employees didn't scare you off yet, did they?" Cuddy joked.

"Not yet," replied John as he grinned at her.

"Really? That's SO unlike them," she replied without so much as a beat.

John smirked. "I'll be sure to watch my back," he told her grinning.

As Cuddy was about to respond, the room fell silent as the band ceased playing. Brenda Lewis, the hospital's head nurse and Cuddy's assistant, was handed the microphone by the lead singer of the band.

"Thank you, Mitch," Brenda said, before addressing the crowd before her as she stood on the dance floor.

While Brenda was speaking, House leaned over and whispered in Cuddy's ear. "I think it's someone's time to shine, boss."

Cuddy smirked and continued to listen to her head nurse.

"…Now, I have just been informed that the beautiful Lisa Cuddy arrived. I always say better late than never…" Brenda paused as a quiet chuckle was heard around the room.

"…if Lisa could come up here…"

In the back of the room beside the bar, Cuddy turned to House. "Guess so," she told him in response to his comment. Reaching up with her hand, she caressed the growth of hair on his chin.

Leaning down, he caught her lips in a soft kiss. "Go get 'em, tiger," he whispered, after breaking off the kiss as a few onlookers glanced at them.

Making her way to the front stage, Cuddy was given the microphone from her head nurse, before embracing the woman in a hug.

"You look amazing, Lisa," Brenda gushed at her boss, who smiled warmly.

"Thank you," Cuddy told her. Before addressing her employees and guests, she whispered in Brenda's ear.

Shaking her head in response to Cuddy's question, Brenda walked off to the side of the floor beside the stage, giving her boss a chance to speak.

"Well," Cuddy began, after all the applause had died down, and all eyes in the room were focused on her. "…another year gone…I hope everyone is having a good time…" She broke off as a round of applause erupted.

Waiting until the applause died down, she continued, "I told myself I wouldn't cover any hospital business tonight, but you know me…" She broke off as chuckles erupted through the room. "There's one thing I do wish to draw your attention to. Our beloved in-house lawyer for twenty one years, Judith Addamson, has left us. That being said, I am honored to introduce her replacement, Mr. John Greene. In the back, John, if you could raise a hand so everyone can see you…"

She waited until she had the majority of the room's attention before speaking again, for many people had looked back to see John. "John, I wish you the best of luck in your time of hard work here at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital..., and if you can't find him, just look for Dr. Wilson," she added, with a grin.

Another round of applause along with some chuckles of laughter broke out as everyone commended Princeton Plainsboro's newest employee. Once again, Cuddy waited until the room was silent once more before continuing her speech.

"That's about it…oh, and one more thing: don't let my boyfriend drink all the scotch. Because I will have to be the one to bring his drunk ass home," she joked, which received another rumble of laughter among the crowd.

Waiting until the laughter died down, Cuddy chuckled, and then finished, "Enjoy yourselves, and Happy New Year!"

A final round of applause broke out as Cuddy handed the microphone back to the lead singer before walking off the floor.

Leaning casually against the mahogany bar with a scotch in his hand, House silently perused the crowd as he waited for Cuddy to return from making her speech. Even though she had finished speaking a little while ago, everyone seemed to want to speak with her. House didn't mind though.

Swirling the ice in his glass, he took another sip before setting the glass down. He watched from a few yards away as a woman in a dark green sequin gown with curly raven hair order another round of drinks from the bartender.

Realizing that she was not going to notice him, House smirked, downed his scotch in one full swig, and banged the glass back down on the bar surface.

Wiping his lips, House advanced to where the woman was standing. Leaning casually against the arm of the mahogany make-shift bar, he spoke, directing his attention towards the woman in front of him.

"Well, well, well," he sneered, "look who it is…"

Katherine Cuddy turned at the sound of the voice, and saw the man whom she absolutely loathed standing in front of her.

"Greg," she nodded curtly as means of an introduction.

"Kate," he responded, just as crisp. "Looks like we meet again," he commented, raising his eyebrows.

"Mhmm, yeah," Kate said, not really wanting to continue the conversation, as she grabbed the two drinks from the bartender, thanked him, and turned around, ready to head back to where she was sitting.

Figuring he didn't have much time, House reacted fast. "What the hell did I do?" he finally blurted out, causing her to stop walking mid-step.

Kate slowly turned around to face him. "Excuse me?"

House limped closer to her. "What did I do for you to hate me?" he repeated slowly, drawing out the words.

At this, Kate merely chortled softly in utter disgust. "Since when do you care?" she sneered.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" House shot bitterly at her, "If you're still stuck in the past with me, that's your own problem, not mine."

"You left!" Kate exclaimed, as she set both drinks down on the bar surface and gestured wildly with her hands as she faced him. "You left without telling my sister ANYTHING!"

"… And you expect me to, what…pretend like it never even happened?" she continually demanded, as a few onlookers were beginning to stare at them.

Still leaning against the bar, House said calmly, "We were young and in college…I was stupid. I eventually told her why I left so suddenly…" He flagged down the bartender and ordered another drink. If he was going to have this conversation, he might as well do it with Johnny Walker by his side.

Kate cut him off. "…Lisa was devastated…And I had to be with her. You didn't even care about her feelings. You were gone, moved on. You didn't give a rats ass about my sister back then, so why should I believe you will now?" she spat angrily at him.

Feeling a pang in his heart, House tried his best to ignore it, although the torture and agony of leaving the woman he loved for the first time, pierced at his insides like a knife. Instead, he focused on Kate, his eyes flashing dangerously and the hand that gripped his cane was shaking with ferocity.

"So, because I left Lisa twenty-some odd years ago, I'm talking the heat from you, HER sister, now…that doesn't seem right, does it now?" he spat out, mockingly.

Her eyes blazing, Kate marched right up in his face, even though he had a few inches on her. Her face just centimeters from his, although significantly lower, she reprimanded him in a low voice, "I find it hard to believe that you've changed from the arrogant pompous son-of-a-bitch that I met when my sister was in medical school – "

Halfway through that sentence, House was ready to lunge his fist at her, but something stopped him as he felt the arm which he had drawn back to throw at her being tugged backwards.

Lisa Cuddy appeared out of nowhere from behind him.

"Do not," she started, directed towards her sister as her eyes flashed dangerously, "finish that sentence, Katherine Cuddy."

Falling silent and closing her mouth slowly, Kate stared at her sister, taking in her full appearance, from her face down to her accented belly, lost for words, as she struggled to find her voice. "How—how long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough," Lisa Cuddy replied, coldly, as she still held House's arm back. "I would have thought," she continued, her voice devoid of any emotion as she continued to lecture her younger sister, "that after the conversation that we had earlier, you wouldn't act like this."

"Yea, well, I wasn't going to and then you two walked in, and I don't know, everything just went out the window," Kate told her, coolly.

"Yea, well, that's not good enough!" Lisa spat out angrily, in complete and utter disgust.

"Relax, Greg," she told him quietly, for she noticed his eyes blazing, his fists shaking and his posture stiffen, as she finally knew it was safe to release her grip on his arm.

"You need to tell your sister to back off," House told her, his tone icy.

"I will," she replied. "But first, I want you to calm down," she told him as she raised her eyes to his face.

Meeting her gaze, House kept his eyes locked onto hers for a few seconds, saying nothing.

"Good?" she finally asked.

House didn't even respond, just kept his eyes on her.

She nodded. "Good," she replied, before tearing her eyes away from him and focusing on her sister.

"Kate, I would appreciate it if you stopped bringing up the past."

Kate tsked. "Oh sure, side with him," she spat out, as if she knew her sister wouldn't do any differently.

Lisa Cuddy quietly exhaled through her nose in exasperation as she placed a hand on her belly. Stepping forward, she kept her eyes on her sister as she spoke in a low voice, trying not to lose her self-control in front of her employees. "I am not siding with Greg. I am simply asking you to back off reprimanding him. He has done NOTHING to you."

"Yea, but he will," Kate told her, "to YOU, if you're not careful."

Ripping her arm free of House's grasp, for he had just laid a hand on her upper arm, Lisa Cuddy swiftly strode up to her sister, drew herself up to her fullest height, and hissed angrily, "Don't you dare, Kate! Who do you think you are, saying….we had a deal," she continued, her voice getting softer, "that you would act civilized like a human being, Kate! And not like some raving lunatic like you are right now!"

Chuckling softly, her eyes glittering, Kate said softly, "I refuse to be nice to someone who treats you like absolute crap!"

Lisa's eyes flashed dangerously as she heard what her sister just said.

A third voice, this time male, rang out before Lisa had a chance to say what was on her mind. "What's going on?" Matt Gomez asked, appearing beside Kate and placing a hand on her back, as he took in the scene before him.

Ignoring her sister's boyfriend and failing to notice a small crowd of people around them, staring, Lisa demanded, "Who do you think you are, Kate? To tell me that I've made the wrong decision and that Greg treats me like crap? Huh, Kate? Who the fuck do you think you are?" Her voice was rising with every word that came out of her mouth.

"Lisa." House spoke in a voice strong enough to make the woman in front of him with her back to him to turn her head and look at him.

"What?" she spat out, impatiently.

House kept his eyes on her as he took a sip of his scotch. A few onlookers looked in his direction.

"Stop," he said, calmly, as he stared at her over his glass.

She stood motionless, staring at him blankly, blinking once as her soft green-gray eyes focused on his light blue ones.

Exhaling through his nose, House set his drink down on the bar before limping forward and closing his fingers around his girlfriend's upper arm.

"We're going for a walk," he said gruffly, pulling her away from the heated argument as Kate, Matt and a group of onlookers stood around, gawking silently at him.

"What? Greg! No!" Cuddy told him, furiously, trying to wrench her arm out of his grasp, but was unsuccessful due to his powerful talon-like grip around her bare arm. "Stop it, Greg. You're hurting me!"

Ignoring her, House snarled at Kate, who stood there, gaping at him as were many people. "You two can finish having a go at one another later after we come back…oh, and Matt, nice to meet you by the way..."

Lisa Cuddy's head snapped around to glare at him so fast that House flinched. Matt, Kate's boyfriend, simply stood there, wordlessly.

Without saying another word to anyone, House limped towards the double doors of the clinic, pushing his way through the masses of people, as the fingers of his left hand were still gripped tightly around Cuddy's right upper arm, and his right hand gripping the handle of his cane as he continued to make his way through the clinic and into Lisa Cuddy's office.

TBC ...Told ya it was a loaded chapter. :D