Hang(over)

(4/5)

By Jules

A/N: All I have to say is this: if the show doesn't go in this direction, then I can totally handle anything they have to throw at me Monday. Enjoy. Thanks for the reviews!

Part 4

Wilson stared through the glass into House's hospital room. Cuddy sat by his side, holding his hand.

Dr. Carter, House's attending, stepped next to Wilson and peered into the room. After the incident, the rumor mill had run wild, but luckily, no one had a clue that House had suffered from a psychotic break. "He's lucky you two were there. How long has he been suffering from hallucinations?"

Wilson sighed as he watched Cuddy tend futilely to him. "I've known about it for a couple of weeks. It could be longer."

"I'll want to run a full psychiatric evaluation."

"We've already ruled out M.S. and he's been off the Vicodin for over 24 hours," Wilson informed him.

"I see," Carter raised his eyebrows. Unfortunately, that didn't help his diagnosis. "Cuddy's his medical proxy, correct? I'll need her to sign the consent forms."

"Why don't you let me take care of that." Wilson took the forms from Carter and gingerly pushed his way into House's room.

Cuddy sat hunched over by his side, her eyes never leaving House's still form.

He put a gentle hand on Cuddy's shoulder. "Hey."

"Hi," she said quietly, defeated and exhausted.

"How are you holding up?' Wilson asked as he kneaded her shoulder and looked at his unconscious best friend.

"I'm fine," Cuddy lied and noticed the papers in Wilson's other hand. "What are those?"

"Carter wants to run a full pysch."

Cuddy inhaled and ripped the papers out of Wilson's hand, crumbling them. "No."

"What? Cuddy, that's—"

"He wouldn't want that. I'm not sending him away. I'm not plugging him up to a machine and frying his brain. I won't do it. I'll…" She reached for an answer she didn't have. "I'll take care of him myself."

Wilson stepped back, blind-sighted by her anger and determination.

"Cuddy, you're hardly in the position to—"

"I'll make it work!" She yelled, hot, petulant tears running down her face. This was too much. Inaction meant his inevitable deterioration, but giving her consent meant he would lose everything, including himself.

Wilson watched her bring House's hand against her chest protectively. Suddenly, he understood.

Softly, he stated more than asked, "You slept with him, didn't you?"

Cuddy's head dropped and she pulled House's hand closer. "Oh Wilson, I screwed everything up. As long as we were…what we were…I could handle him…I could take care of him. Now, I don't know what to do."

Wilson nodded, knowing she couldn't make this decision alone. "You need to sign the papers, Cuddy. He needs more than us. You need to give him that."

"What if we lose him?" She whispered. "What if he doesn't forgive me?"

"He'll forgive you," Wilson lied, saying what she needed to hear.

Cuddy put House's hand down and smiled sadly at Wilson. "No, he won't."

"Drink this." Wilson passed her a cup of coffee.

Cuddy pushed it away. "I'm not thirsty."

"Cuddy, Wilson." Carter came out, a grave look on his face.

"Well?" Wilson stood up. Cuddy didn't.

"It's under my advisement that he is hospitalized and begins electroshock therapy immediately."

"Cuddy?"

"It's a…He'll…" She stuttered, unable to form a coherent thought. She stood and walked towards House's room. "I need to talk to him."

"Hey." She smiled through her tears when she saw he was awake.

"Uh oh." House's eyes veered to the left. "She's crying. It's never good when she cries."

Cuddy looked at the empty bed where his eyes were.

"Are you…are you still seeing Amber?" She whispered, trying to remain calm.

"She's right there." House pointed to Amber, no longer denying her presence or afraid of her. She was there.

"House. I need to ask you something." Cuddy moved closer to him, capturing his full attention.

House's eyes filled with her and he grinned slowly. "Of course, you can be on top next time."

"House…" She laughed, despite herself.

House reached for her, touching her cheek softly. "Come on, Cuddy. You can say it."

Reservations and fears damned, she leaned down and put her lips right next to his ear. She whispered secretly, "I loved every single second."

House's eyes glittered with the truth and her, and her turned to the empty bed and said proudly, "See? I told you it was real."

Cuddy turned his face back to her. She took a deep breath. "House, you need help."

His brow creased. "You did help."

"Not enough. I want to ask you—I want you to tell me it's okay to help you. Carter wants to do electroshock therapy." House's eyes dropped.

"You know what this means."

"I do." She broke, unable to contain her sorrow.

He tangled his fingers in her hair and kissed her, giving her permission in his touch, in his silent goodbye.

"At least you're hotter than Nurse Ratchet." He grinned wryly as he pulled away. "You'll be here when it's over?"

She nodded. "I'll be here. I promise."

It wasn't a lie.