As Cuddy pulled into her driveway, she noticed the girl sitting next to her was already sleeping. "Oh Remy," she said, sadly. She knew the younger doctor would never fall asleep like that under normal conditions. Any annoyance she previously felt melted away.
Cuddy climbed out of her car and walked around to the passenger side. She could smell the rain in the air, and new in a matter of moments it would probably be pouring. The girl didn't move, as Cuddy opened her door. Shaking her shoulder gently, Cuddy said, "Remy, honey, wake up."
Thirteen groaned softly, as she woke. She looked around at her surroundings sleepily. Rubbing her eyes, she noticed Cuddy's form hovering near hers. "Dr. Cuddy?" she asked, confused. Letting the events of the evening resurface, she said, "Oh." The younger doctor unbuckled her seatbelt and exited the car.
Once Cuddy had made sure Thirteen was okay on her feet, she grabbed her things from the backseat. It was the weekend and she'd brought home enough work to keep her busy for the next few days. She didn't know how long Thirteen would be sick she realized. She had no idea what she was going to do with the girl in the meantime.
Thirteen watched Cuddy wearily. She was feeling a little dizzy and knew without even checking that her fever was back. She sighed contentedly, knowing that meds and a warm bed awaited her. Hell, she would have been content sleeping in Cuddy's car, as long as it wasn't the hospital.
"Let's get you inside," Cuddy said, gently. Leading the girl to her front door, she kept a watchful eye on her companion. I must be crazy, she thought. This was one of the dumbest things she'd done in a while. God, I might as well have offered to babysit House. She hadn't had much interaction with Thirteen, but the time's she did the girl was always in some sort of trouble.
Thirteen followed slowly. She was surprised that she hadn't realize how bad she was feeling until Cuddy had pointed it out. It was probably due to the fact that, she had been taking care of herself for as long as she could remember. She'd been brought up to fend for herself. The circumstances of her childhood had given her no other option.
They reached the front door, just as the rain started. Cuddy smirked to herself at their luck. Locking the door behind them, she led Thirteen to her living room. Both women set their things down on the coffee table. Cuddy watched Thirteen sympathetically. "How about a hot shower?" she asked, trying to find a way for the younger woman to relax in her home.
"I don't have any clothes," Thirteen said, wearily. She really didn't even feel like standing, let alone washing herself. Just the idea of a shower felt draining. She knew Cuddy was going out of her way to help her, but she couldn't manage to feel very enthused.
Cuddy grabbed the girl by the elbows, before she could sit down. "You can wear something of mine. Come on, you'll feel a lot better afterwards," she said, ushering the girl towards her bedroom. She knew Thirteen didn't feel good, but it irritated her that the girl was being so stubborn about things.
Thirteen looked at Cuddy, mildly protesting. She was tired and miserable; all she wanted to do was sleep. "I don't get any say so?" As much as it annoyed her, a part of her loved that Cuddy was being so stubborn. She really seemed to have Thirteen's best interest at heart. The younger doctor knew she was pushing Cuddy's buttons, but she had to know. Was Cuddy doing this out of some professional obligation or did she actually care?
Cuddy smiled at her, knowingly. "No dear, this is another one of those arguments you won't win." She headed towards her bedroom, leaving Thirteen with no choice but to follow. She had been playing this game for years with House. She smirked to herself, knowing she was being tested.
Thirteen sighed and followed close behind. "I don't want to," Thirteen groaned, more to herself than to Cuddy.
Cuddy stopped and spun around to face her. "I know you're sick," she said patiently, trying to hide her frustration, "but are you seriously pouting?" She looked at Thirteen with mild unbelief.
She hadn't planned for Cuddy to hear that. "I'm sorry," the younger doctor said, ashamed, "I'm really grateful for all you're doing Dr. Cuddy."
Her anger disappeared, as quickly as it had risen. Cuddy sighed and waved Thirteen's words off. "It's fine. Let's just find you some clothes." She turned around and walked into her bedroom. Searching through her drawers it was only a matter of moments before she handed the girl a pair of boxers and a tank top. "Come on, my bathrooms just in here."
"Here," Cuddy said, handing the girl the bag of medicine, "I'll get you something to drink in a minute."
"It's fine," Thirteen said. She opened the bag and pulled out what she was supposed to be taking. Building up the saliva in her mouth, she popped the pills and swallowed. Thirteen jumped slightly, as the older woman's arm slipped around her waist to guide her. She wasn't used to being touched by anyone other than her partners. Platonic affection was not something she was accustomed to.
"You're as bad as House," Cuddy chided, gently. She was oblivious to Thirteen's obvious discomfort, more concerned with getting them both ready for bed. She started the water for the girl without a second thought. She tested the waters temperature briefly, before checking under the sink for a towel. "Dammit," she sighed, "Go ahead and hop in, I've got to grab a towel out of the dryer."
Thirteen nodded and started to pull off her shirt. She had never been exactly shy about her body and didn't feel well enough to worry about it now. As the rain started to beat down on the roof harder, Thirteen gave the ceiling a nervous glance.
Cuddy noticed the girl's worried look, but didn't understand the depth of her worry. "I haven't heard any thunder. You should be fine as long as you're quick," she gestured for Thirteen to hurry up. She was feeling the beginning throb of a headache and really just wanted to lie down.
"Okay," Thirteen said, slipping her pants down her legs. She hated storms. She would never admit it usually, but something about them always shook her reserve. She could remember times as a child when the power would go out and how scared she gotten.
Her dad had always worked a lot, but when her mom got sick, it got so much worse. The power would always go out during the storms and no one would come for her. She'd just sit frozen wherever she was, crying and alone. Shaking her ghosts from her head, Thirteen finished undressing and climbed under the spray of hot water.
Cuddy reached inside the dryer and pulled out an oversized bath towel. The piece of material was honestly more the size of a blanket. A small wave of guilt passed over her, as she remember exactly why Thirteen was there. Cuddy bit her lip, knowing she'd insisted the girl come home with her and then had been short tempered with her since. Putting the towel back in the dryer, Cuddy turned the machine on for a few minutes.
Thirteen had finished rinsing her hair and skin just as the power flickered off. She let out a small yelp, before backing herself into the corner of the shower stall. The water was still running but she made no move to turn it off. She panicked trying to get away from the water, but too scared to leave the confines of the stall.
Cuddy cursed the weather under her breath. Grabbing the towel out of the dryer, she headed out of the laundry room. She knew the girl would be lost in her home with no lights. She stopped by the kitchen to grab a flashlight before heading to the bathroom.
Thirteen knew she was having a panic attack. She'd gotten them when she was younger. She hadn't had one in at least ten years though. She slid down the wall sitting under the still warm water. She leaned forward trying to catch her breath and slow her thoughts down. She kept telling herself she was safe, that the lights would turn back on any minute.
"Dr. Hadley?" Cuddy called down the hall. She figured the girl was probably either still in the bathroom or had made it into her bedroom. Shining the light around her bedroom, quickly confirmed her first instinct. She knocked on the door, calling Thirteen's name again.
The younger doctor sat on the floor of the shower, rocking herself back and forth. She'd managed to calm her breathing, but panic was still bubbling to the surface. She didn't hear Cuddy calling her or the knock on the door. All she could focus on was keeping herself calm. The lights would come back on soon.
Cuddy opened the door and noticed the shower was still running. She walked to the shower shining the light at waist level in front of her. When she didn't see Thirteen she started to worry. Dropping the light slightly, she noticed the girls huddled form. "Remy?" she asked, surprised. The sight before her nearly broke her heart. Reaching into the shower, she turned the water off.
Thirteen scrunched her eyes together tighter, hiding her face in her knees. She needed to feel safe. She continued to rock her safe. The young doctor barely recognized that the water was no longer on. She knew that no one was coming; she just had to wait until the lights came back on.
Cuddy knelt down near Thirteen. She wasn't completely aware of what was going on, but she knew something had scared the girl. She reached a tentative hand out and laid it on Thirteen's shoulder.
The feel of something touching her scared Thirteen right back into a panic. No one ever came, nothing ever happened. She swung her arms wildly, knocking a hand against Cuddy's jaw in the process. She tried to back away from whatever was after her.
"Hey," Cuddy said, trying to calm the girl, "It's just me." When it was obvious that she wasn't getting through, she took the towel and somehow managed to wrap it around Thirteen backwards. She pulled the girl into her arms, holding her firmly.
Thirteen struggled against the tight grasp. Her arms were held down on her sides by the towel. She couldn't manage to break free of the hold on her. She struggled until the rocking started. It was the same slow steady pace she rocked herself. Her mind finally calming, she let out a broken sob.
"Good girl," Cuddy cooed, "Just relax. No one's going to hurt you Remy, you're safe now." Cuddy recognized the girl's fear for what it was. More and more of the puzzle that was Remy Hadley was opening up to her. "I've got you. Just breathe Remy."
Thirteen leaned her head against Cuddy's shoulder, as she cried. She felt helpless from the lack of mobility, but at the same time, it felt safe. The words Cuddy was murmuring slowly started to make their way past her barriers. Relaxing into her arms, Thirteen tried to move her body closer to Cuddy's. She'd never really had anyone comfort her, especially not like this.
"That's right sweetheart, I've got you." Cuddy couldn't help herself; she leaned down and kissed the girl's forehead. Something about how much Thirteen needed her, awoke all the maternal instincts she had. She knew without a doubt that she would be there to comfort and protect her no matter what the situation.
Thirteen couldn't help the tears streaming down her cheeks. She'd tried to keep her emotions hidden, but Cuddy was quickly breaking down every wall she'd ever placed up. Things were changing and she wasn't sure she really understood what was going on. All she knew was that Cuddy was safe and was taking care of her.
The lights flickered on and Cuddy smiled down at her companion. "See it's all over. Everything is okay again." She brushed a wet strand of hair behind Thirteen's ear. What happened next she was not expecting.
The younger doctor looked up at Cuddy with big-wide-innocent eyes and asked, "Momma?"