It came as no surprise to Cuddy that he was in her office not even half an hour after practically destroying her. She recognized the signs of his arrival- the disgruntled sighs of the clinic nurses as he strolled through in his obnoxious manner, the soft thud of his cane on the carpet- but they barely registered. She was still in an odd state, one of almost-but-not-quite shock. She was shocked that he said those things to her, but perhaps even more shocked by the fact that maybe he was right…
There was a sharp rapping on her office door before he poked his head in. "I just wanted to see if you were okay." It sounded strange coming from him, this bitter man whose blatant hatred of people was so out of place in his profession.
Surprisingly, the first thing she felt was embarrassment. She knew she looked horrible, with streaks of mascara trailing down her face, black splotches on the sleeves of her pink sweater, and puffy red eyes. Curled up on the couch in her office, she felt like a pouting child.
Even though she ignored him, House didn't leave. "Lisa, I'm-"
"Shut up, House." Cuddy's voice was harsh, cracking through new tears. "If you want to make some more cracks about how unfit I am to be a mother, just…" Her tone softened in defeat. "Just don't, okay?"
He limped over and sat on the couch next to her rather than leaving. "I didn't mean that. You know I get a little cranky when my patients nearly die."
"But you did. You meant it." Apparently he looked skeptical, because she added, "I've worked with you long enough to know when you're being honest, for the most part. You meant it." The tears she had been fighting so hard streamed down her face as she tried to bite back sobs.
Then in an action that surprised even himself, House wrapped an arm around Cuddy's shoulders and pulled her in so that her head rested on his shoulder. The gesture made her lose all her remaining self-control. She buried her face in the collar of his blazer and cried harder.
"I didn't mean it. Really."
Cuddy leaned away and looked up at him, her tear-stained face contorted in pain. "But you were right. I would never be a good mother."
House sighed. "You know damn well that that's a load of crap."
"I almost killed her. Alice could have died because of me, because I was an idiot." She sniffled, wiping at her eyes with her sweater sleeve again.
He slammed his cane into the carpet, causing her to jump. "Patients die, all right? Sometimes we can't save people, no matter how hard we try. Sure, you were controlling her treatment. You screwed up."
"Are you trying to make me feel worse?" Cuddy exclaimed.
"But guess what else?" House continued as if he hadn't heard her. "That stunt you pulled with the shower saved her life. You made the right call there. If we had waited to get cooling blankets and ice packs, her brain probably would have melted." In his own way, this was the best comfort he could give. "Only a doctor who really cared about the kid would've thought of and done it. That's what a kid would need- someone who'd protect them no matter what it took."
Cuddy was speechless.
"Go get cleaned up and get back to work," he said in parting, already limping towards the door.
"House, wait." She was up and following him. "Thank you for apologizing. And making me feel better," she added before pulling him into a long hug.
After a few awkward seconds, he pulled away. "Ah, well, things to do, six year-old girls to save. You know, that sort of thing."
Cuddy smiled to herself as he left her office. Maybe House did have some redeeming qualities.