Hang(over)

By Jules

(2/5)

A/N: So I took one line from the promo, but it's TOTALLY out of context. I'm pretty sure it's not gonna go in this direction. The actual writers have more restraint than I do. Heh. Thanks for reading and responding!

Part 2

House barged into her office, not caring what she was doing or if anyone was in there. He slammed his cane down on her desk. "Why did you leave?"

Cuddy steeled herself, keeping her back to him as she finished her phone conversation. She had to pull herself together. "…yes, sir. I look forward to it as well. Alright then. Bye."

"Why did you leave?" He asked again. She hadn't even hung up the phone yet.

She turned to him and smiled icily. "Good. You're here. I need you to sign this."

Cuddy shoved a thick medical file at him. House sneered at it. Anger boiled, replacing his initial panic.

"Cuddy. I'm not signing a damn thing. Talk to me."

"This is déjà vu. Do you need me to go back to your apartment and find your balls for you?" Amber's nagging voice taunted him. He closed his eyes briefly, willing her away. His face twitched with pained effort.

"There's nothing to talk about. You were detoxing, and I was stupid," Cuddy said, unable to meet his eyes. She could tell he was hurting again. Already fighting her natural instincts; now, she had to squelch her compassion too.

He opened his eyes and moved slowly around her desk, his limp heavy and more pronounced. "Don't pretend like I didn't just rock your boring little compartmentalized world. I know you."

She smirked and crossed her arms over her chest as her body reacted to his nearness. "You know me, House? You know what I need?"

He reached for her, pulling her against him hard. "You lost control and that scares the shit out of you. You need to get laid by me. Often."

She pushed against his chest, but his hands circled her wrists, not letting her go. She hated being trapped. "I can't give up everything for a drug addict! I have responsibilities, a baby, a—"

"That's such crap. You've been with me every day for the past ten years. Hell, you chose to be with me."

She lifted her chin, defiant. "A relationship with you isn't the same thing as being your boss."

His hand slipped to her breast, mirroring the crude actions of months earlier. Only this time, this time…was different. Her heart was racing, and he caressed her swell with such tenderness and knowledge, she couldn't help but moan and lean into his touch. "You lost the employer-employee handbook a long time ago, and we both know it."

"I can't protect you anymore if we're too close," she whispered honestly. "Everything will change. People close to you always end up getting hurt."

"I'm not going to hurt you," he said naively, hopefully, sincerely.

She pressed her hand against his leathery cheek. "No, House."

"I wouldn't. Tell me you don't want this." He kissed her again, and their lips fused as if they had never parted. But it didn't matter how good it felt, she knew in her gut that it wouldn't last.

Better to quit cold turkey than suffer through months, years of a disastrous relationship.

"I…I don't want this." She broke away from his lips, forcing the words out.

House dropped her arms and backed up. "Tough. I do."

She watched him retreat and head towards her door. "What the hell are you doing?"

A sly grin stretched across his face before he left. "Changing your mind."