Author's Note: Hi. A very short delay, but here it finally is! The newest, latest chapter of Lenny's life and his favorite persons. Reality has its way of interrupting my life, so, I won't be able to post a new chapter every day. But don't worry I will finish this story. Enough said.

Enjoy.

Chapter IV

The sun had already risen and was peering into the spacious bedroom. Lisa Cuddy peered with one eye at the alarm clock. 7:30. Yawning she raised her upper body up and smiled slightly as she made out a few blue spots between the curtains. The weather channel hadn't fooled her. It was a gorgeous day.

She got up and made a beeline to the bathroom. After showering and blow-drying her thick mane she dressed in a low cut jeans and a black t-shirt. No donors near to be impressed today. It was great feeling. Downstairs she took out a Bordeaux pair of Chuck's. Lenny's taste in fashion was starting to rub off on her. She had to laugh a little at the memory. She had told him that she had worn those shoes when she had been his age and a few months later Lennon had gotten her a pair as a birthday present.

God, how much she loved her boy.

She stopped at the mirror and stared at her reflection. She looked at least eight years younger. The slight make-up, the casual clothing, the loose hair. She sighed. This job was taking everything out of her. She shook her head and grabbed a black hooded jacket, grabbed her car keys and went to the supermarket.

At the supermarket Cuddy strolled down the endless aisles of food and other goods. Their soymilk was empty, muesli was nearly all used up and they had run out of fresh fruits and veggies. Lennon wouldn't be home before nine thirty, so she had more time on her hands than she needed. A strange experience.

In the fruit department she saw a familiar female head looking through the varieties of apples. Sean's Mom. Cuddy tried to dodge her somehow and made a sharp turn to the opposite direction, nearly throwing an old lady over with her cart, when…

"Miss Cuddy? Hello!" A high, shrill voice called.

"Damn." Cuddy muttered under her breath before pasting a faked smile on her face, the same she used for donors and patients House had pissed off, and turning around.

"Oh hey. Hi. I didn't see you over there. The apples blocked my view… I think…" Had she really said that? Her brain chose the most inconvenient moments not to work at all.

Cuddy didn't like Sean's Mom. She was a typical housewife. She cooked, cleaned, went to church every Sunday, her front yard was perfect, her back yard had a pool and was even more perfect than the front yard, her house was spotless, the fridge always fully stocked and she was famous for her apple pie.

And she was superficial, ignorant, biased, boring, naïve, arrogant and her narrow-mindedness was pulling on Cuddy's nerves.

She, on the other hand, didn't like Cuddy, too. But because their sons were friends she felt the need to chit chat with the other woman, who always declined to come in and drink a coffee and taste her apple pie and not once had Miss Cuddy invited her into her home, saying she'd love to but still had paper work to do. Wasn't she a Doctor? Since when did Doctors have to deal with paper work anyway?

"No problem, Miss Cuddy. How are you?" She replied sweetly and Cuddy thought her voice had gone a notch higher. If that was possible.

"Oh, I'm fine. Thanks. Lot's of work to do, People to see, places to go. You know." Cuddy answered blankly and was hoping in vain that the little, round woman would just leave her alone.

"You really shouldn't work so hard, Dear. Think about Lennon. He needs a mother and father. How is he anyway?"

"What do you mean by how is he? Wasn't he with Sean yesterday?" Cuddy asked confused, completely forgetting the verbal jab over her confusion.

"No. Sean has had the flu since the day before yesterday. He wasn't in school. Why? Did Lennon say that? That he was staying with Sean?"

Cuddy looked dumbstruck into space. Her mind reeling. What was the boy up to? Had he stayed with his father? But than he wouldn't have lied about it. She needed to call House.

"I'm sorry. I have to go." With that Cuddy jogged out of the supermarket, leaving the cart and Sean's Mom behind her, who was shaking her head.

"That woman and her alleged genius of a son. Can't even get her life in order."

While running to her car she pressed speed dial number one and waited for the other one to pick up.

"Come on House. Pick up. Pick up." She said while listening to the dial tone.

"Hi, the number you have tried to call has been disconnected." House's answering machine said in a cheery voice.

"House! Pick up the damn phone! I know you are there. It's about Lenny!" Cuddy's frantic voice yelled into the phone.

About three seconds later House picked up his phone.

"What about Lennon?" he asked immediately.

"Is he with you?" Cuddy asked hopeful.

"No. Why?"

"He has gone AWOL. Said he would stay at Sean's house, but he never did. I just met his Mom and she told me that Sean has the flu and hasn't even been to school."

"Hey. Don't panic, Lise. I'll meet you at your place."

"Okay."

They both hung up and Cuddy raced home.

She screeched to a halt in her driveway because House had parked his motorbike in the middle of it.

"Idiot!" she cursed and jumped out of the car.

She ran inside and saw House standing in the living room. And on her couch sat Lennon, head bent down, staring at his feet.

"Where have you been?"