Chapter 51:

En route to her house, Cuddy called House's mother, letting her know of the offer to stay at her son's apartment to which she gladly accepted.

Meeting Bltythe outside House's apartment, Cuddy showed her the spare key and going inside, pointed her towards the bedding and anything else she might need during her abbreviated stay.

"Thank you, Lisa and thank Greg for me, will you?" Blythe told her, warmly.

"You're very welcome and I will," Cuddy reassured her.

After confirming Blythe's next morning arrival at the hospital, Cuddy left, letting the older woman know to call her if she needed anything.

Once she walked in the door to her own house was when Cuddy finally willingly let what happened wash over her, and forcefully overtake her body, physically, emotionally and mentally.

Gone was the strong, tough exterior that she exhibits for her employees and co-workers as 'Dean of Medicine'; gone was the façade in which she conveys in the face of her job, as everything came collapsing down on her in an instant.

Rushing to the bathroom, she sank down on her knees, sobbing heavily, and retched into the toilet. Letting the tears flow, she allowed herself to willingly surrender her entire body, as it shook with wretched sobs as the past seven hours' weight of the day came crashing down on her.

After a few minutes, the heartfelt sobs lessened and Cuddy was willingly able to take slow deep breaths. Vomiting once more, she wiped her mouth and flushed the toilet. Leaning back slowly and closing her eyes, she rubbed her small pooch of a belly, and forced herself to keep breathing calming deep breaths as the tears still flowed silently down her cheeks.

Shakily, she stood up, grabbing onto the toilet for support in assisting herself stand to an upright position.

Glimpsing into the mirror, a face she did not recognize stared back at her, pale. Eyes red, as the constant tears still streamed from them.

"Stop," she finally said aloud to herself, "You're ok. Greg's ok. Stop this. Stop this right now, Lisa."

Taking a deep breath, she washed her face, let the shower run, stripped off her clothes and climbed into the welcoming hot, steamy shower. As she scrubbed her body and washed her hair, she realized how tired she actually was. House was right: she was stressed out, and she had to take it easy, for her and the baby's sake. For nearing the end of her twenty-first week of pregnancy, now was not the time to get stressed out.

But, it wasn't that simple.

Not when she was in charge of an entire hospital whose employees were all looking to her for guidance. It wasn't that simple when she was still recovering mentally from the events that transpired in the middle of November, an event that had changed her and House (although he wouldn't admit it…yet) forever, and dare she think it, made both of them stronger. They leaned on each other, and Cuddy realized she would crumble without House there to support her.

It wasn't that simple, but it could be done.

As she drove into the parking lot of PPTH some twenty minutes later, Cuddy consulted the watch on her right wrist: it was just after five-thirty p.m. Pulling the Sebring convertible into her reserved parking spot, she felt her phone vibrate, and pulled it out of her purse.

'JAMES WILSON, INCOMING' flashed across the screen.

"Hi James," she spoke into the phone.

"Hey Lisa, I was just in House's room. He said you'd be back soon?"

"Yes," Cuddy told him as she pulled the keys out of the ignition and dropped them in her purse, "I just pulled into the parking lot actually. What's up?"

"Just checking in," Wilson said to her. "John and I will stop by tomorrow morning if that's okay?"

"Of course," Cuddy spoke into the phone, as she readjusted the duffel bag on her shoulder as she walked towards the hospital lobby entrance.

"So, I received an email from your assistant that you are conducting the board meeting by conference call on Monday?"

"I am," Cuddy told him. Walking into the lobby, she nodded at the receptionist before continuing her journey upstairs. Wilson and her chatted for a few more minutes, and after disconnecting the call, Cuddy walked into House's office to speak to his team.

"Patient's still doing fine. We found a match," Foreman told her.

"Good," Cuddy told them both. "Sorry about earlier today…I just wasn't expected to be put in that situation," she added, referring to the meeting in her office when Blythe House asked about the third member of House's team.

She readjusted the duffel bag on her shoulder, made some more small talk with them and then continued onto the ICU.

Before approaching House's room, Cuddy checked in at the circulation desk.

"We increased the amount of IV drip, Dr. Cuddy," a nurse told her, "And we'll monitor him throughout the night, but right now, he seems to be doing pretty good."

Cuddy sighed, relieved. "Good. Has Dr. Quigley been by at all?"

"Yes. He confirmed the increase in medication. He also said for you to call him." The nurse handed her a slip of paper with a phone number on it.

"Thank you. I'm staying the night so just let me know what's going on. Did Greg ask for a cot to be brought in?"

Nodding, the nurse told her, "He did. It's in the room. I also got you some blankets and a pillow. If you need anything at all, Dr. Cuddy, please do not hesitate to let us know."

"Thank you, and I will," Cuddy reassured her.

Walking away, she continued to House's room. Sliding the door shut behind her, after entering, she dropped her duffel bag on the floor beside the cot.

"Hey," House said, turning to face her.

"Hi," she replied, approaching the side of the bed, bending down and kissing him softly on the lips.

"Your mom's settled. She's coming by tomorrow morning," she said to him.

"Wilson's coming by also," House told her.

"I know. He called me earlier," Cuddy said, as she sat down in the chair beside the bed.

House reached out his right hand and she grabbed onto it, caressing the back of it gently. "You're not taking this lightly, are you?" he asked her.

She looked at him with a quizzical expression. "What makes you say that?"

"Foreman told me you seemed out of sorts and jumpy."

"Greg, of course I'm not," she told him, gently but firmly. "I'm worried about you."

"Well, don't be. I'm fine."

"I know, I just…" Cuddy's voice trailed off as she felt tears slide down her cheeks and she made no effort to stop them.

Cuddy chuckled and shook her head, wiping her eyes. "Look at me. I'm being stupid."

"Lisa, no," House told her firmly. "You're stressed. And your emotions are all over the place. Your body is going through enormous changes right now and your hormones are all outta synch. You've had a rough couple of hours. It's okay." He paused as he watched her wipe her eyes and heard her sniffle. "C'mere," he said, quietly.

She complied and stood up. House brought his right arm around her back, pulling her to him. Their mouths met and they kissed. Breaking off, House brought his hand back around and cupped her cheek. "It's not your fault," he whispered. Their mouths met again and after they shared a passionate kiss, House broke off and joked, "Now stop kissing me like that or I'm going to have to fuck you right now."

Pulling back, Cuddy chuckled, and finished wiping her face and rested a hand on her stomach to feel the life within her kick against her hand.

Grabbing House's hand, she brought it to rest on top of her stomach, so he too could feel his son move within his mother's womb.

His lips curved upward into a grin as he looked up at the woman carrying his child, and he slowly rubbed his hand against her abdomen.

"You know, you still look absolutely stunning even when you're tired and stressed," he complemented her.

Cuddy's heart swelled. She didn't often hear House give positive compliments, but that was just who he was. She knew he wasn't known for his words of splendor or for expressing his emotions, least of all love. But to her, that compliment spoke volumes, and made her heart swell with utmost love for the man who she had loved for over two decades, and who she could finally call her 'amour'.

Lowering herself back into the chair once more, Cuddy closed her eyes. "Greg..." she started, but hesitated, not sure if she could get the words out.

"What is it?" House immediately asked, giving her his fullest attention, as he eyed her with concern.

"…Your mother asked where Chase was today."

House immediately reached out and gripped her hand tightly. "What did you tell her?"

Opening her eyes, Cuddy looked over at him, willing herself not to break down. "Foreman and Cameron came into my office when I was with your mom to ask about a patient, and she asked where he was."

"What did you tell her?" House repeated again, a bit firmer this time, as he locked eyes with her, wanting to get her fullest attention before going any further.

She swallowed. "I said he was out," she said quietly, her voice shaky. She swallowed and stared at him. "Do you think she should know?" she asked softly.

"I don't know." He paused. "I mean if you want me to, I'll tell her…"

"Greg, she's your mom." As if that explained everything.

House swallowed. "I want you here though," he finally agreed, "when I tell her."

Cuddy didn't say anything, lost in her thoughts. For the past month and a half since the accident happened, she had been repressing everything. She knew it wasn't healthy, but she did it anyway. She was afraid of the feelings. She was afraid of the guilt. So she didn't talk about it. With no one, not even House.

She took a deep unwavering breath and blinked away the tears that started to form in her eyes.

Clearing her throat, she asked him, "Did – did you sleep at all today?"

"For two hours, yeah. Damn shoulder and leg pain is keeping me from sleeping."

"Your pain meds are being upped. I'm going to ask for a sedative for you."

Nodding to her request, House leaned back against the pillows and closed his eyes, as she went outside to request a sedative. He thought about her reaction. When she was ready, they'll talk about it. But how long was that going to take? He knew she was avoiding talking about what happened, how Chase's actions had caused both of their lives to change. Was it normal for her to not want to talk?

House faked sleep until the sedative knocked him out. He didn't want to look into her face and see the pain.

Stepping out of the room and sliding the door quietly shut behind her after House had fallen asleep, Cuddy pulled out her phone, and called Quigley to touch base. After about ten minutes, she disconnected the call and dialed her sister.

Kate reassured her sister that if she needed anything to not hesitate to call her or Matt. Lisa thanked her and after confirming that she and Matt will drop by tomorrow morning, she ended the phone call and stepped back into Room 7.

After changing into her sleepwear, she climbed into the welcoming cot that was brought in for her, pulling the covers up to her chest. Taking one last glace at the man occupying the hospital bed a few feet away from her, she turned on her side and silently cried herself to sleep.

Saturday morning in the ICU unit of PPTH was relatively quiet, with only seven out of the twenty beds presently occupied, making it quite easy for all of the nurses to give extra care to those few patients' occupying the ICU.

Having woken up a little while ago from a largely disturbing sleep throughout the night, House yawned and turned his head in the direction of the woman who was occupying the cot next to his bed, silently observing her. Her raven curly hair fell around her face, illuminated from the sunlight streaming in from the window.

He waited until she opened her eyes. "Hi," she said quietly, staring at him from the cot.

"Hey," he said, matching her quiet tone. "How'd you sleep?"

"Fine," she lied, "This cot is surprisingly kind of comfortable How about you?"

"I woke up a few times from my shoulder pain," he replied, and then added before she had a chance to speak, "I didn't want to wake you up."

"You should have," Cuddy said to him, as she yawned and stretched, lifting the blankets off her body as she caressed her stomach slowly, feeling her son too stir from a deep slumber. She winced as she shifted her body weight, bringing a hand to her lower back.

"You needed your sleep," House said, watching her carefully, "And you should eat something."

"Geez, I only just woke up and you're already lecturing me," she told him, as she carefully lifted herself up from off the cot and walked over to him. Bending down, she kissed him softly on the lips.

"How's your back?" he asked after they broke apart.

"It's fine. Just a little achy," she told him.

Suddenly, she closed her eyes and exhaled slowly.

"What's wrong?" House asked quickly, concerned.

As she placed a hand over her lower abdomen, she whispered, "I smell bacon."

"Well don't puke on me," House told her in response to the morning sickness she was seconds away from experiencing.

Making her way quickly to the adjacent bathroom, she shut the door before sprinting to the toilet and vomiting into it. Dropping carefully to her knees, she doubled over the toilet and took several deep breaths, willing herself not to vomit again.

Keeping her eyes closed, she heard House talking to a nurse outside the bathroom door as she gripped the toilet bowl with shaky hands. Feeling another wave of nausea hit her, Cuddy willed herself to let her stomach contents come up as she retched once more. She stayed on her knees for a few seconds and once she knew the waves of sickness were over for the time being, she slowly lifted herself up from the tile floor, wiped her mouth, spit into the sink, then flushed the toilet

Opening the bathroom door, she exhaled, and looked at House, who was staring back at her.

"Better?" he asked.

Nodding, Cuddy rubbed her stomach and walked over to the cot, picking up her duffel bag that rested on the floor. "I need to brush my teeth and take a shower," she said as she rummaged through her duffel, picking out her toothbrush and a change of clothes.

The nurse had come back. "This should do the trick, Dr. Cuddy," she said as she handed the Dean of Medicine a small packet of crackers and a cup of Ginger Ale.

"Thank you." Cuddy accepted the crackers and the cup of soda from her.

"If you need anything else, Dr. Cuddy, please do not hesitate to let us know." The nurse rolled the cot out of the room.

Lowering herself down into the chair by the bed, Cuddy ripped open the packet of crackers, nibbled on one then took a sip of Ginger Ale.

"How are you feeling?" House asked, concerned as he caressed her hand lightly.

"Better," she told him, after swallowing. "My stomach's calming down a bit."

"Good. You better go take a shower before everyone gets here."

Rolling her eyes, Cuddy stood up. "Yes, doctor," she mumbled, smirking as she set down the cup on the bedside table.

Grabbing her clothes and toothbrush, she walked out of the ICU and downstairs one floor to where the locker room showers were located, deciding that one shower in the hospital locker room was not going to kill her.

About fifteen minutes after Cuddy had her brief exit, Wilson and John came strolling down the corridor and into Room 7, carrying a bag full of hot bagels, and packets of cream cheese and butter.

"Hey House," Wilson greeted, as he set down the bag on the tray table at the end of the bed.

"How ya doin'?"

"Better," House told him. "You didn't bring bacon, did you?"

John shook his head. "Nope. Why?"

"Lisa just puked her guts out because she smelled it."

"Well then," Wilson said, relieved, "it's a good thing we didn't bring any. Where is she anyway? I thought she was going to stay the night last night."

"She did. She's taking a shower," House told him, "She should be here in a few minutes."

Sure enough, ten minutes later, Cuddy came strolling in the room. Embracing Wilson and John, they made small talk and then brought out the food.

As Cuddy spread cream cheese on a bagel for House, she said, "So, what's new, you two?"

"Nothing really, just working like a dog," Wilson told her, as he buttered a poppy seed bagel for himself. "Oh, we went to this great restaurant last night. It's called Elements. Not too pricy. Great food."

"I'm sure we'll check it out," Cuddy told him as she handed House his bagel. "Thanks for the recommendation."

"So, when are you going back to work? I assume not Monday?" Wilson asked House, who smirked.

"I don't know. I have to check with my boss first," House joked, grinning, "although I'm pretty sure she'll let me take off as long as I want due to the fact that more time off means having more sex."

"Uh, no I won't!" Cuddy scoffed, as Wilson and John chuckled, "And I think that comment just earned you no sex for about a month!"

"Oh relax, preggo," he said to her, dismissively. "You won't be able to last that long judging by your crazy hormonal self that's craving for my irresistibility."

Just then, Blythe House walked in the room, and noticing everyone's smirks, she said, "Did I miss something?"

Cuddy turned to her. "Nope. Your son is just being his usual self and making inappropriate comments."

Blythe turned to her son. "Greg," she scolded him, "I thought I taught you better!"

Rolling his eyes, House snarked, "Yeah, I seem to have lost your training over the years."

Ignoring him, Blythe embraced Cuddy in a welcoming manner and then turned to be introduced to John, who she was simply thrilled at meeting.

"James," she said turning to him, "I'm so happy for you. You two seem perfect." Turning to John, she asked, "Do you work here?"

Nodding, John replied, "Yes. I'm the in house lawyer."

Blythe smiled. "That's wonderful!"

"Mom," House groaned from the bed, "do you always have to be so overly enthusiastic about everything?"

"Greg!" Cuddy scolded him, immediately.

"Greg, honey, stop it," his mother lectured him.

"What, I'm just making an observation," he defended quickly.

"Yes, but you could approach it a different, more pleasant way," Cuddy told him. "Although, I know that's really difficult for you," she added, sarcastically.

Rolling his eyes, House mumbled something under his breath. Cuddy ignored him and turned her attention to Blythe.

"How were the sleeping arrangements for you last night? They work out okay?"

"Oh yes," the older woman told her, "it worked out quite nice actually. Thank you, both." Turning to John and Wilson, she clarified, "Lisa and Greg let me stay in the apartment last night."

Wilson turned to House as he feigned a shocked expression. "That's nice. I'm guessing it wasn't your doing?"

House scowled at him. "Actually, it was. Thank you very much, Wilson."

A nurse stuck her head in the room. "Dr. Cuddy," she said to the Dean of Medicine, "sorry to bother you but your sister is here. Should I let her in?"

Cuddy nodded. "Yes, thank you, Celeste."

A second later, Katherine Cuddy walked into the room, followed behind by her boyfriend Matt Gomez, who was an ER attending at Princeton Plainsboro.

Embracing her sister, Cuddy introduced her around. Turning to Matt, she said, "Matt, I do notthink we've been properly introduced." She extended a hand. "Lisa Cuddy." Matt grasped her hand firmly and shook it.

Nice to finally meet you properly, Dr. Cuddy," Matt told her.

Cuddy chuckled. "Matt, as long as you're in the family circle, it's none of this 'Dr. Cuddy' business, understand?"

Turning a light shade of crimson, Matt nodded.

Kate turned to House. "You look a lot better than yesterday morning," she noted to him as she smiled, "How's the shoulder?"

"Better. Still in a lot of pain."

"I can imagine," Kate told him, "you do not want to know what you looked like laying in that ditch when I first saw you."

"And I'm sure my son is grateful you found him," Blythe cut in, smiling at the younger black curly haired woman.

"I'm sure he is," Kate told her.

"Did Scott give you crap about it?" Lisa asked her sister, who shook her head.

"He did at first for going against protocol for going to another hospital than Princeton General, but then I told him who it was and he knows my connection to this place, i.e. that you and House are dating, and so he let it slide."

"That's good," Lisa told her, "I'm glad. The last thing I want is to make you get in trouble."

Kate and Matt stayed another ten minutes, and then eventually made their exit, as they had other plans. Wilson and John left shortly after, before confirming that they were going to visit House and Cuddy when House was released.

Once it just was House, Cuddy and Blythe, House waited a little while before bringing up a topic that he didn't want to think about or re-live through words, particularly for the emotional turmoil it had caused one of the women presently in the room.

Glancing briefly over at Cuddy, he held her gaze for a few seconds, and she understood, and swallowed, locked onto his gaze and then walked over to the window and shut the blinds, shielding the entire ICU from view.

"Mom," House started, hesitantly, "I need to tell you something." Swallowing he glanced at

Cuddy, who rushed forward and immediately grabbed his hand.

Blythe looked from her son to Cuddy, and back again, confused. "What is it, Greg?"

Closing his eyes before speaking, House took a breath. "I, we," he corrected, "need to tell you something about what happened a couple of months ago." Opening his eyes, he surveyed his mother, who had a slight fearful look in her eyes.

"Greg, honey, is everything okay?" she immediately asked him, as the motherly instinct inside her kicked in as she noticed her adult son internally struggling with something. She noticed a look in his eyes that she couldn't exactly place, although it looked vaguely familiar.

"You asked Lisa where Chase, my third team member, was earlier."

Blythe nodded, more confused, as she was unsure of what her son was getting at.

"He is in jail."

"What?" Blythe asked him, as though she hadn't heard him correctly.

His voice devoid of all emotion, House said, "My employee is in jail because he was driving drunk and he hit another car."

Still confused, Blythe eyed him curiously. "Okay, he's in jail, So?"

Taking a breath to calm himself, House closed his eyes as he started to speak. "The person who he hit was pregnant and ended up miscarrying one of her twins…" Pausing, he opened his eyes and forced himself to stare into his mother's eyes. "And that woman," he started again as his voice began to crack with emotion, "…is in this room."

He felt Cuddy squeeze his hand hard as she too felt her emotions start to surface, but as she tried to hold them back, she couldn't stop the beginning tears that silently started to fall.

Blythe stood there, taking in everything she had just heard. Meeting Cuddy's gaze, she looked into the eyes of heartfelt pain and sorrow. Stepping forward, she embraced Cuddy fully and whispered, "I'm so sorry, Lisa."

Letting herself go emotionally, Cuddy began to cry softly on the other woman's shoulder as she mentally flashbacked to the night of her life that she would never forget.

She heard Blythe sniffle and knew that the other woman felt everything she could possibly feel.

Pulling back after a minute, Blythe looked into Cuddy's eyes. "You are so strong," she whispered, as she placed her hands on either side of the younger woman's face, wiping away the tears that stained her cheeks.

"And I couldn't have gotten through it without your son, Blythe," Cuddy replied quietly.

Turning to her son who had been quietly watching the exchange between the two women with an unreadable expression on his face, Blythe reached out and squeezed his hand. "Greg, honey," she whispered, before stopping as her voice caught in her throat. Reaching over the railing of the bed, she touched his cheek. "I'm so sorry, honey," she whispered, staring into his eyes.

Looking over at Cuddy, she whispered, "You two are so strong together."

Cuddy smiled through her tears. "We just, Greg and I, thought you had a right to know."

"Thank you, Lisa, for confiding in me," the older woman told her. Turning to her son, she said,

"You too, Greg. I know that could not have been…easy for you to tell me."

She paused to compose herself, then asked, "When did this happen?"

"In November," House told her.

Addressing Cuddy, Blythe mentioned towards the woman's stomach. "Is your son okay?"

Cuddy smiled through her tears as she continued to caress her stomach. "He seems to be, yes," she said quietly. House reached out his uninjured arm, and squeezed her other hand with his own.

"…I really don't know what to say," Blythe finally stammered, "I'm glad you two have each other to lean on…although, Greg, you do seem to internalize your emotions…"

"Is that a problem?" House asked his mother bitterly, as he stared at her.

"N-no," Blythe stammered, rather surprised as she was taken aback by her son's abrupt change in behavior. "It's just…you've kept everything in, even as a teenager, and I just don't want this to…" Her voice trailed off as she struggled to formulate her thoughts into words.

"That method has been working out fine, so far. I can take care of myself," House replied harshly.

"Greg…" Cuddy cut in, quietly, not liking where this conversation was going.

"I never win with you, do I, Greg?" Blythe spat at him. "You always think you're right, don't you? I just hope you can handle the one day when you can't hold it in anymore." She paused, and then added, "And Greg, I'm telling you this as a mother who cares for you."

Glancing over at Cuddy, she apologized. "Lisa, I'm very sorry you had to listen to this. My son is just extremely adamant sometimes, and it just sets me off…"

Turning back to her son, she said, "Greg, you know I love you, but I just think you need to let some steam out sometimes, or else you are going to end up pushing everyone away who cares about you, and at this point, I'm not sure they'll come back. It's not good to keep things in. You need to talk, honey."

"Yeah?" House spat out angrily at her, "what do you know?"

"Clearly not enough," Blythe said coolly, as she turned her back on him and walked out of her son's hospital room.

TBC...

Next chapter is a cliff hanger so be prepared...I bet most of you are wondering why Cuddy or House haven't spoken about the accident much. This will also come up next chapter.

Thanks again to all my readers who comment or who don't and who have me on their favorite author list or favorite story list. It really means a lot to me.