Chapter 8 [Edwards Inn—Outskirts of Orchard Cove
Only three words were exchanged between the two doctors during the trip back to the hotel. Both spent time dealing with their ghosts and, in particular, a hulking red haired bully who'd turned their night upside down and twisted the system around much as he had twenty-five years before.
"If you waiting for an apology, forget it," House told her.
"You didn't do anything for once. No wonder I hated this place so much as a teenager," Cuddy assured him. "If anything, I'm sorry for calling him the first time. I actually thought they'd help."
He glared angrily at her. "You'd be that naïve. That jackass was nothing compared to what my father did later." He unlocked the door and limped inside.
"What?" she demanded, grabbing the door before he could shut it.
"He beat the tar outta me! THAT'S WHAT!" he yelled in her face. "If you're coming in, get in here!"
She nodded, feeling grateful for his not shutting her out. "Right." She closed the door and took her coat off. She smoothed her blouse and skirt before taking a seat across the room from him. "I guess I should fix some coffee?"
"Yeah," he answered without emotion. He let out a breath and swallowed a handful of Vicodin, trying to deal with the physical and emotional pain. "About time I could do that. Wonder how that smart ass would take that?"
"About the same way Tritter did," she reminded him while starting the pot. She sat down next to him. "I wasn't going ask for an apology before. I wanted to thank you. I've wondered for twenty-five years who you were." She smiled. "I should've known you were the guy."
"Like I was trying to save your ass, Cuddy? That was a pure accident," he groused while staring at the carpet.
"Things rarely work out as we plan, House," she rebutted. "I was on my way home with a present for my mother." She frowned sadly. "It was a music box. I'd saved for it for almost a year. My mother had wanted it. I worked it off at Edwards Music Store. We passed by it on the way to Ruffin. Sandoval stole it, House. I know it. And what's worse, that sheriff let him get away with it." She shook her head. "Sometimes I admire that stupid stubborn streak of yours, House. You tell it like it is. That's part of the reason I keep you around."
"Part of it? Do I want to know?" he asked, expecting another piece of philosophy.
"And then there's this," she continued before taking his head in her hands and locking lips with him before pulling back. "Sorry. I needed that."
His blue eyes snapped to life. "And I need something else."
She got up. "I see." She took a step toward the door.
"Where the Hell are you going, Lisa?" he demanded expectantly.
"I thought you wanted me to leave," she presumed in confusion.
"Damn, you're thick!" he growled before limping over to her. He wrapped his arms around her and returned the kiss. "You're not getting out of here with just that!"
She arched an eyebrow but no other response was needed. The mutual pain in each other's eyes needed a salve—perhaps temporary but a salve nonetheless. She yanked him down onto the bed as they began the oldest dance of them all.
Afterwards, he hugged her shoulders, pulling her up against himself. For the first time in a long time, he felt good; the pain was subdued for the moment. He felt his eyes closing and drifted off to sleep.
For her part, she did the same, feeling content in his arms; the stress of the previous two days behind her.
The coffee pot sat in the corner feeling very much alone at the moment…not that either of the resident doctors cared.
Chapter 9 [9:00AM—next morning
Cuddy stirred first, blinking back the sleepers. She stared at the ceiling and then at the man lying next to her. She smiled with satisfaction. Every time they did it felt so great to her. She recalled how she'd feared the Board's wrath over her rekindling the relationship. Now she really didn't care. We both needed that release. She got up, pulled on her robe and headed for the bathroom to wash up. As she did, she noticed the still-full and now cold coffee still waiting for them. Guess we didn't need the caffeine, did we? She headed into the back room and shut the door behind herself.
The door clicking shut woke House. "Cuddy?" He opened his eyes and sat up to find the bed empty beside himself. For a second, he thought she'd left before hearing the shower running. "Didn't think she'd leave after that." He got up, pulled on his boxers and limped over to the forelorn coffee pot. "Eww!" He poured the pot down the sink and left it there.
"Your turn," she advised him.
"Remember what happened the last time you said that?" he cracked.
"I might want a reminder if it weren't for that sheriff's orders," she declined reluctantly. "Besides the fish are waiting."
"You just don't want to lose twice in a row, Lisa," he sassed her while heading for the bathroom.
"GET!" she teasing dismissed him. Then the phone rang. "Now what? Hello?"
"Cuddy, I'm glad I found you," Wilson answered. "Where's House?"
"He's in the shower. Trust me; it was a very long night," she recounted. "Don't tell me something's going on back in Princeton?"
"Everything's fine here. I received a call from a Sheriff Struthers. He said House started a fight out there," he recounted.
"Actually for once, House wasn't the cause. The instigator has a history with House and well…me," she revealed. "Anyhow to make a long story short, House went to the bar to get us some drinks. The guy in question started riding him. House ignored him. The next thing we all know, the guy tackled him into the table and threw him up against the wall. Fortunately, House wasn't hurt and we had witnesses. And get this, the sheriff wants us out of town by noon or else." She shook her head. "Now I remember why I wanted to get out of here."
"He said that to me too. You are packed, right?"
"We'll be out by 11. The last thing I want is that man in House's face again. He's worse than Tritter was," she noted.
"Worse?" That thought made the oncologist wince. "I'll…uh…let you go. Give my best to House." With that, he hung up.
Great. They'd have to know about this back in Princeton. Not a word to House. I don't want to ruin the mood. She checked her suitcase and pulled out a sweater, turtleneck and a pair of jeans. After dressing herself, she heard a knock at the door. Oh now what? She opened the door to find Patty DeAnda waiting there with a small cellophane bag and a couple of coffee cups in her hands. "Hi, Patty."
"Hi, Lisa. Sorry to bug you guys but we all wanted to know if Greg was all right," Patty informed her. "Can I come in?"
"You'll have to make it kind of quick. Struthers wants us out of town ASAP," the Dean informed her while letting the other woman in and shutting the door. "Sorry about that. I don't mean to be rude."
"I understand. I can't believe they let those guys off again!" Patty set down what she was carrying on the table. "Figured you might want some breakfast. Does Greg like donuts?"
"He does. Hang on," Cuddy noted while knocking on the door. "Make sure you're wearing something when you come out. We have company!"
"Company? Aw Hell!" he complained.
Cuddy grabbed his slacks, shirt and boxers from the night before and tossed them into the bathroom. Then she turned back to Patty. "Sorry about that. He's still mad about dealing with the sheriff."
"Lisa, you don't need to apologize about that or anything. Too bad, I can't invite you for dinner or something. Anyhow, I'll let you go. It was nice seeing you again."
"Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate that," Cuddy expressed before they hugged.
"No problem. If Randy, my husband, and I are ever back east, I'll let you know. Have a nice trip back," Patty concluded before leaving.
I guess we were too harsh. Not everyone here is a jerk. She considered the bag and opened it to find five crullers inside of it. Thanks, Patty!
"Thought you said we had company?" House wondered as he came out of the bathroom.
"Patty just left. She brought us breakfast and news about Sandoval," she recounted.
"The jackass told us he let him and his buddies walk again. So?" he inquired while poking around in his duffel bag. He tossed out his usual clothing fare before seeing the bag and cups. "What's that?"
"She left breakfast for us. Guess not everyone here is such a big jerk after all," she informed him. "Let's eat. Then we can get to the lake."
"And who called?" he wondered while fixing his coffee.
"Wilson. He wanted to know how the trip was going. Everything's fine back at PPTH," she reported selectively.
"Seeing as you're not howling, I'd say it is," he agreed. "Glad to hear the Kiddies know how to act while Daddy's away."
"They are doctors, House. Here, have your donuts. Then you can get dressed and we can get going," she advised.