I know, I know I suck! But I kinda had to finish those two term papers and had to channel my writing energy into the works. Both 25 pages. 7 pages of case writing a day. Makes 6 hours. Seriously I need that long to bludgeon myself to do it. But I kept writing. Here's the new chapter. I hope you enjoy.
'Alright differential, kids!'
House frowned and winced a bit at his own loud voice, the hangover from the day before having left a headache behind that had lasted the second day, too. And to top it off Cuddy had send Wilson to hand over the new case for him and his team. He probably had pissed her with the remark on her bathroom mirror. But that morning he had thought it was funny. He still did but he also realized it had slimmed his chances to get another night soon. A tornado would probably have to hit and wipe out mankind before she considered being with him again.
House told himself that that wasn't what made him mopey. More the thought of her downplaying such a perfect morning and being bitchy at him. It wasn't as if he had planned to get stupidly drunk with the Dean of Medicine and then do the horizontal limbo with her. He would've loved to congratulate himself for the scheme, but he really, really hadn't planned to take Satan home with him and then engage in the nasty with her.
'I said we should start with new blood panels!' Kuttner interjected, raising his hand like a school kid and anxiously waiting for his boss's verdict.
For the first time since the file was nastily slapped against his chest that morning, House actually peeked at it, frowning as he read through the symptoms, his mind going a mile a minute as he succumbed to the spiderweb of thoughts in his head, forming ways for possible diagnosis's. He simply refused to think about the look Wilson had shot him and didn't stop to think about it for a second. Nope, he actually took the rest of the time that he read through the file.
She told him!
No! Cuddy had been too humiliated to even confront him about it. He'd thought she wake again and beat the crap out of him. Cuddy hadn't woken though when he left and he was both grateful and sad about it.
'I see you're still the avid worker you used to be.'
His head snapped back, then twisted, which spurred more pain to thump through his skull but he smiled anyways as he saw who directed the comment at him. Currently she was staring at the white board, assessing the symptoms written there then looked to where the CT pictures hung.
'Check for bacteria pointing to Osteomyelitis. Could explain the bone tissue. Looks like the infection spread to it.'
Her voice was calm and ridden with reason as she regarded the team before nodding to House who had raised his brow at her.
'I see you are still the annoying know it all you used to be.'
The two grinned at each other, puzzling the new ducklings into stunned silence to actually see House smile like that.
'So...blood panels?'
'Do what the smart lady said before you embarrass yourselves.'
House snarled back at Kuttner and watched the team scramble up and walking towards to the door swiftly. Thirteen and Taub left muttering, files clutched, only Kuttner turned in the door one more time.
'Thanks'
He mumbled while leaving, almost sounding embarrassed.
Brennan merely raised a delicate brow. A soft, not full smirk on her lips.
'Nice team.'
'Bunch of idiots if you ask me.'
'I didn't.'
'You didn't lose your matter of factness, even if working with the Feds. I like it.'
House still hand't moved an inch from where he sat, head twisted so he could look up at her in the door way.
'Don't you want to stand up and greet me?'
'I'm crippled.'
'And a Jackass. Never stopped you invading personal space.'
'My, my Dr. Brennan ... well since you insist.'
Slowly he made his way over, a huge grin forming as he hugged her, clapping her on the back buddy like before stepping away.
'Hey Greg.'
Tempe smiled up at him dashingly and for a brief moment he wondered who that woman in front of him was. She wasn't the geeky doctor he remembered. She was much more open minded, smiling widely, snide remarks bereft of the truth they once used to hold. Brennan was always considered the one with the open mind. Saying whatever was on it no matter how hurtful. He had admired her for that and the naiveté with which she had pulled it off. Now her remarks were for fun. A deep change and a bit unsettling.
'So...Lunch?'
'Do I have to check your wallet beforehand?'
'Not this time. I'll pay, seriously. C'mon I can show you the hellish halls on the way there.'
HBHBHBHBHBHBHBHBHBH
Always at your service Cuddles, 555-371-298, xxx Greg
Cuddy swore everyone she passed could practically see it plastered on her forehead. Not his mirror statement per se, but the glow of such a night. It wasn't as if she had enjoyed herself, yeah you would've though if you hadn't been too fucking drunk to remember, but that glow of sex still stuck with her. For over a damn day!
Something she couldn't wipe with toilet paper and the five hundred cleaning bottles the Anal part of her kept under the bathroom sink ever since House had had her place searched. She had been sure that he really had meant it. That he had become so desperate as to get her drunk. That House had become so caught up in his world of 'everybody lies', that he himself couldn't just get his head out of his ass and admit he did like her.
On her way through her mighty halls, head a bit lower then usual as she tried to avoid Nurse Previns inquisitive stares, she suddenly ran into a very flustered Kuttner, who apologized profusely.
'I'm sorry Dr.C...Dea...dr. Cuddy. Really sorry.'
So House had seemed to have impacted on his Team. She looked at the younger Dr. Suspiciously, resulting in flustering him even more.
'What does he make you do?'
'He? Oh House? Nothing. Really. I guess he is too preoccupied with his female guest to really harass us today.'
It sounded as if he tried to cheer her. Telling her a day of calm lay ahead. Instead she stiffened visibly.
Female guest?!
' A guest?'
She tried to hide her nosiness behind a cough, a well practiced one though.
'Mhhh...Sorry have to go. Tests you know.'
He left, nose already back in the file as he shuffled along the Hospital floor.
A GUEST??
Taking a few deep calming breath she berated her inner voice, reminding herself of all the reasons they didn't like him, shortly wondering if she had gone crazy. As she pondered Nurse Previn sidled up to her. Suspiciously eyeing her. So before anymore people would stare Cuddy strode to her office purposefully. Hoping to remind a few of the people who she was and why she wasn't to be gossiped about. Once she settled in her chair her mind had scattered, trying to find the best option to find out who was with him.