Hi All. I am VERY sorry for the long hiatus. This story is still very much alive and well.

We are still in Vegas. Cuddy is about to surprise House in Vegas by showing up for his talk at the conference.

Enjoy.

Chapter 92:

By the time Cuddy had finished packing her bag and had taken a shower, it was half past seven in the morning and Wilson was due to pick her up any minute to give her a lift to the airport.

Pulling up to the taxi airport parking, Wilson and Cuddy got out of the car and Wilson helped her get her bag out of the trunk.

"Have a safe trip," he told her, as they hugged and said their good-byes.

And with a final wave, Cuddy was through the double doors at Newark Airport, making her way towards security after checking in online that morning.

Since she was flying 'Business Class', Cuddy was the second group to board after First Class. The flight, scheduled to take off at 10:45, was due in Las Vegas at 1:15 their time and then it was a short ten-minute cab ride to the hotel.

Arriving at her seat after boarding, Cuddy noticed a gentleman sitting next to her assigned seat.

"Excuse me, I think that's me," she said, pointing at the window seat.

The black-haired gentleman stood. "Do you want me to get that for you?" he asked, gesturing towards the suitcase Cuddy had beside her.

"Would you please? Thank you."

"Not at all. Here, have a seat." The man lifted Cuddy's red suitcase and placed it next to his own in the overhead bin.

"At least we got on the plane before everyone took up all the bin space," he commented

"Thank you," Cuddy repeated, once the man had resumed his seat.

"No problem."

As the other airline patrons were boarding and taking their seats, Cuddy consulted her watch. It was 10:05. They were scheduled to take off in about forty minutes. To pass the time, she withdrew the latest copy of the Journal of Endocrinology from her briefcase that sat underneath her seat.

Taking out her phone, she sent a text to House.

'Good luck today. XO'

Refraining from checking her emails, she switched her phone to silent before slipping it in her briefcase and then settled back in her seat to read the journal.

The gentleman next to her who had helped her with her bag earlier, was reading an issue ofTIME magazine. He was dressed in a crisp, dark suit. Slender build. Clean cut. Very attractive. Dark hair. Very professional looking. Cuddy thought he looked to be in his mid-to-late forty's.

Cuddy went back to reading, every so often, glancing at the passengers as they walked by, although her gaze always seemed to fixate on the man next to her.

"I assume you aren't reading that for light reading," the man spoke, without looking up from his magazine.

"So what if I am?"

The man leaned over to look at the cover. "Journal of Endocrinology," he read aloud.

He paused. "Nope, definitely not for light reading."

"So," he continued, glancing at her, "I assume you are either hopping on a morning flight to Vegas to start gambling early or you are going to an infectious disease conference, hence why you are reading that journal. And excuse me if I am completely wrong."

Cuddy raised her eyebrow, intrigued. "Well, gambling's not really my thing, not since college, anyway."

"Okay, so that leaves the conference, hence why we are both here sitting in Business Class," he replied.

"One of my department heads is presenting a case on cerebral malaria this afternoon," Cuddy told him. "And you?"

"My colleague at Newark Beth Israel is doing a talk on pediatric infectious diseases. Managing it, Controlling the outbreaks...that sort of thing."

He paused. "The malaria talk isn't Greg House, is it?"

Cuddy smirked. "Someone's done their homework."

The man offered his hand. "David Lippman."

Cuddy shook his hand and smiled. "Nice to meet you. Lisa Cuddy."

"I had a feeling it was you."

Seeing Cuddy's look of immediate apprehension, he clarified. "I've been following Princeton's merger and expansion.

"That, and my neighbor works at PPTH," he added.

"No kidding!" Cuddy exclaimed. "Who?"

"He works in the O.R. under Dr. Sanders, who I think is head of the O.R.?"

Yes. Mark Sanders."

"Adam Lewis is my neighbor."

"Name doesn't ring a bell but I'll be on the lookout," Cuddy told him.

"So how's the expansion going?"

Cuddy shook her head. "I'll be glad when it's over. Next couple weeks. It's a lot of manage...so, do you know all of what's going on at PPTH or is it just way more exciting than what's going on at your own hospital?"

Dave chuckled. "Let's just say my neighbor and I trade stories..."

Cuddy was intrigued. "Do tell."

"Don't worry. He doesn't make a habit of bad mouthing PPTH. After all, what's there to bad mouth?," he told her. "And since when do Deans of Medicine's go to a conference that they aren't presenting at?"

"You're not presenting and you're still going!" Cuddy shot back at him.

"I work in pediatrics. Work a lot with infection. Kind of my background. You, on the other hand, have a background in Endocrinology and are an administrator. Your department head also does not give many talks so I'm surprised he's doing this one," Dave replied as he grinned.

Cuddy raised her eyebrows.

"I've read a few of House's articles. That guy is a borderline genius. However, I do know that he hates conferences and public speaking."

"You REALLY did your homework. I'm impressed," Cuddy replied, grinning at him.

As the plane prepared for takeoff and headed down the runway, the flight attendant announced the arrival time for Las Vegas was approximately 1:15 p.m.

Grateful for the extra legroom and roomier seats, Cuddy settled back in her seat. She caressed her stomach as she felt her son stirring.

"I'm assuming you're going for moral support?" Dave questioned as they ascended into the air.

"Something like that."

Dave chuckled. "Are you making him go to the cocktail party tomorrow evening as well?"

"Of course. My main priority is watching Greg try and have any sort of human interaction. When is your colleague's presentation?"

"Right after House's, I believe. Which works out perfectly because I wanted to see both. And I'm staying until Friday morning. Not sure about my colleague."

"Same," Cuddy told him. "I'm sure I can get Greg to sit down with you if you want..."

"Are you kidding?" Dave exclaimed. "I would love to!"

Cuddy chuckled. "Consider it done."

"I'm curious," she continued. "What kind of stories does your neighbor tell you?"

"Well, right now, it's all about the Cuddy-House love affair," Dave told her, as he chuckled.

"Oh God," Cuddy groaned.

"It's not that bad. Trust me."

"I think I'm going to have to have a little talk with your friend," Cuddy joked.

"I think I can arrange that," Dave cheekily replied.

The next two and a half hours went by quickly. Cuddy was surprised at how natural the conversation flowed between the two of them.

When they landed, Cuddy and Dave Lippman exchanged numbers so they could meet up at the conference later that afternoon. Shortly after bidding Dave farewell at baggage claim, Cuddy was on her way to the Mandalay Bay Hotel, where the conference was being held.

She checked her suitcase at the front desk with specific instructions to have them hold it until she called. The concierge gave her a schedule of the conference events for that day. Checking her phone, she sent a text to Wilson confirming her arrival before calling her assistant to check in at the hospital.

Consulting her watch, she sent a message to Dave Lippman before walking around to some of the poster sessions to kill some time. At ten to 3, Cuddy stepped into the Mandalay Bay Ballroom on Level Two, which was where House and Stan were set to give their presentation. There were already many people seated. Cuddy saw that only a few open chairs remained.

Finding a seat near the back, she sat down and waited for David.

"Well this guy certainly knows how to fill a room, Dave remarked, as he sat down beside her.

Cuddy smirked. "Sure does."

"That's a nod to you of course, having faith in him to do the job as his boss," he remarked., grinning.

"Oh I gave up on that years ago," she replied just before the lights went down.

Dave chuckled. 'Touché."

"It was really good," Wilson told Cuddy. "Waterson, Joe and I were watching the live feed from the conference room."

"Lorraine stopped by too. They all thought House and Stan did a really good job," he continued.

Cuddy readjusted the shopping bag on her shoulder as she held her phone to her ear as she walked down the Strip. "I'm glad. How's everything at the hospital?"

"Well it didn't burn down in your absence, if that's what you're wondering..."

"Ha, ha," Cuddy remarked dryly.

"I'm assuming House does not know you are there yet?" Wilson asked.

"Not yet."

"That'll be a nice surprise."

"Speak of the devil, he just texted me. Yeah, he has no idea that I'm here. What are you guys up to tonight?"

"Oh nothing really, just a low-key night in," Wilson lied, when in-fact, he and John were at Cuddy's home, putting together the nursery in the spare bedroom.

They conversed for a few more minutes before Wilson ended the call and he and John continued to tackle the feat of preparing the nursery for House and Cuddy's arrival in Princeton in two days time.

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, House and Stan enjoyed a nice dinner in one of the bars in the hotel to celebrate the success of their presentation that afternoon.

After dinner, House welcomed the solitude. His leg was sore after a long and busy day of standing and walking, and he wanted nothing better than to sit in the whirlpool and let the warm water and soothing jets relax his aching thigh.

After his bath, House changed into his boxers and poured himself a Johnny Walker Black on the rocks from an airplane bottle he found in the mini fridge in the room.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"Room service," a high-pitched female voice said.

The knocking got very persistent,.

Annoyed, House threw a robe on over his boxers and limped to the door, ready to chastise room service on their inability to follow simple directions such as getting the right room number on an order.

"You have the wrong..." he started to say, but his voice caught in his throat.

"...room number..." he finished out, slowly. His mouth gaped open in absolute shock.

Standing stoically in front of him was Lisa Cuddy, wearing nothing but a long beige trench coat with a silver buckle, and black knee high leather boots. Her curly raven hair was down, let loose around her shoulders, framing her face perfectly.

Wordlessly, Cuddy opened her jacket, revealing nothing underneath except fishnet stockings and lavender g-string panties that she knew House loved.

Cuddy smirked at his inability to comprehend what was happening.

House felt himself immediately get hard. He glanced down at his hard cock before looking up at her again.

"What are you - get in here," he growled in a low voice, as he pulled her over the threshold and looked down either side of the hallway, before grinning and shutting the door.

TBC...

Thanks to all my readers who have stuck with me from the beginning. There's a lot more to come!