'Ooops did I run into your Call Girl hour again?'

'Greg...'

She was worried to death about something, his face shifted from banter to confusion. The person in the chair turned and his heart stopped beating as he saw who made his way to Princeton Plainsboro.

'You...!'

House's face fell, then changed into a grimace of anger and pain. His eyes shifted to Cuddy who's shoulders were slumped, intently staring at her files.

'Greg...'

This time Stacy stood and looked at him longingly, he took a step back, tried to keep up the stony facade. He started to think of all the insults he wanted to yell at her, his hand clutching at his cane.

Before he could erupt he was stopped by a soft tiny hand on his. Cuddy's hand, warm and soothing, a gentle squeeze to calm him.

'House, Stacy will be working here as a lawyer for some time.'

'Can't you go back to hell where you came from? Is little cripple Marks pain not satisfying anymore? Was he starting to be serious work, demanding your help? Huh Stacy? Are you bolting again from someone that would need you?'

Stacy didn't budge, no sign that th comments hit home, only Cuddy had reacted, had pulled her hand from him and the anger he was radiating.

'Thanks Lisa for the Job, I should be able to start tomorrow.'

With that she left, leaving him no satisfaction, she hadn't screamed back, hadn't even graced him with one look of anger. When the door clicked shut after her House's anger was guided towards the only one left in the room. He send an Icy glare to Cuddy, who was slumped in a chair, all energy drained from her.

'How dare you...you...'

He couldn't for the words, he couldn't understand all the emotions running through him, At first his deceitful heart pounded hard at the sight of his ex lover, then his brain got his say and the pain Stacy had left him with floored him.

'Greg sit down, please.'

Cuddy tried to drag him down into the other chair, he swatted her hand away and shoved the chair, making it fall over. She cringed and looked at him fearful.

'Let me explain.'

'You damn well better have a good explanation for that one Cuddy. I can't believe it. What are you trying to do? What Lisa? Because I really don't get it.'

'She was left by Mark, had nowhere to go. When she left the last time I promised her to always have a spot open for her. She...asked for help. How could I have declined?'

She couldn't look at him, which made him boil more, with a fast violent movement he turned her chair towards him, forcing her to look. Her eyes were swimming, the situation even harder on her than he thought, but her pain couldn't diminish his anger. She was shocked by his move and slid deeper into the cushion of the chair, scared tearful eyes pleading with him to calm.

'Have you forgotten what she did to me? Did you forget what Stacy did to us all those years ago? No you can't be that forgiving Cuddy.'

He was towering over her dangerously and crowded her more and more with each word. She pushed at his chest and shakily moved out of the chair, shaking her head. Before she could get away he grabbed her wrist sharply and twisted her back to him, only loosening his grip as he saw a flicker of pain on her face. Pulling her wrist upwards so she couldn't use any leverage against him he stared her down.

'You stupid cow. Did you really forget? Just erased it because it didn't fit into your perfect life, with your perfect studies? Just erased the seemingly perfect guy that cheated on you?'

Cuddy tried getting away from him, trying to ward of the emotion of the memory. Yes she had tried to forget their past. He hurt her more than anyone ever before, she forgave both of them when they came to her hospital the first time. So long ago when he had the infarction. She had helped, because she had still loved him and would've never accepted his death.

It had almost killed her to treat him, see them together. See him with the woman he had used to cheat on her. The woman he had given the whole deal, living together, thinking about getting a dog and all that stuff she always had hoped for in her life.

No the pain was still as fresh as when she had found them in his bed, trying to surprise him with a weekend off, just the two of them, only to find out that he had someone else to keep his bed warm. But she had dealt with it. Labeled it as her first adult infatuation, thinking there was more to come. She was wrong. She chose to be Dean of Medicine hoping it would give her more in life, figuring soon that it took all from her. Her life was dull, one donor meeting chasing the other, meeting after meeting. But it made her forget all the pain she had faced.

A year into the job and she had almost forgotten him. The love she had experienced with him. And then he came back and her world came tumbling down again. But she saved him. Kept him crippled but alive, and that knowledge, of her betrayal of his wishes had left her crippled too. Forever the cause of his constant pain.

House pulled her wrist harder making her wince, trying to get her attention.

'Greg...please you're hurting me.'

It made him drop her hand immediately, her tears had spilled over, her gaze shifted away from him, as she felt his anger and disappointment flood over her. He saw it then, it made him swallow hard and finally sit. Yes he remembered too. The look she had given him when she found him with Stacy, the ultimate betrayal. This was her again, the Lisa that swallowed her pain for his sake.

'Why are you doing this to us again?'

It was a weak question, his anger had drained and he sat slumped in the chair. Cuddy had kept the distance between them, fearing he'd hurt her physically. He looked at her forlorn and willed her to answer him.

'Because she needed help. I was never one to decline that. I offered you a job too. Even if it was you that cheated on me with her. I'm not feasting on my anger like you Greg, I actually can forgive. But God forbid the great Gregory House actually make an effort to accept her back. Or are you afraid you're gonna jump into bed with her again?'

She barely held the venom back as she snarled at him angrily. Now it was her turn to yell.

'You behave like I'm the bad person here. Don't you dare to forget what brought us into this situation. You couldn't keep your pants closed around her and now you put the anger that it didn't work on me? I advise you find someone else to blame Dr House, because this time I won't take your blows anymore. I'm fed up with it.'

He wasn't gaping but he surely felt like doing so. Was she telling him what he thought she did? She was back behind her desk, open folders in front of her, dismissal lining her features.

'I have work to do Dr. House and I am sure you have some clinic hours to complete. You may leave now.'

Nodding he left silently, knowing to let her cool down before trying to talk to her again. If she even would listen to her again.

When he had left, Lisa locked her door and and drew the blinds, then laid down on her couch and tried analyzing the torrent of emotions that cursed through her. Why did he have to bring their past up again? Why couldn't they just forget, live on?

Would it break their necks to have Stacy back? Sure was she scared of the other woman. Somehow Greg had always been drawn to the lawyer, had always dropped everything to help this woman and be with her. Would it be the same this time? Would she find them in bed again one day?

Whatever would happen, her decision was made. She had uttered the idiotic promise and now had to stick to it.