CH. 4
Meanwhile…
"I told you," he grounded out while holding the gun in front of her face, "GET. UP."
Cuddy stopped herself from shrinking back against the blinds she'd just closed. I can't! I can't move! She had to refrain from shaking her head physically. She just couldn't move. Not even a muscle. She just wouldn't move.
He's here. She squeezed her eyes shut. H-House…he's here! He saw me! He knows I'm in here! She couldn't believe it. It was this knowledge that kept her together. The knowledge that he was there for her. That he was going to be there when she needed him most. House wasn't always Mr. Reliable… but he was always there for her, in his own way, when she needed him most, right? Cuddy then realized that she couldn't repress her feelings anymore. They have danced around each other for over twenty frickin' years… and she supposed that for almost all of them… she was undeniably and unconditionally…
In love with him.
"HELLOOOO!" he growled.
"Get. Up. NOW." He waved the gun in her face. "Don't make me repeat myself."
She couldn't move. What if House hadn't seen her and had driven off after seeing the bank was a crime scene? Maybe he wanted a front row seat to her demise? No, she scolded herself a second later. He's not that much of an ass. He noticed me. He had to.
She wanted to just sit there and wait for him. If she was in the same place where he last saw her, she felt that he would bust through one of the windows and make a heroic entrance, saving her from eternal death.
Unfortunately, when the barrel of his gun coolly pressed against her temple, she snapped out of her fantasy.
"I'm not playing around, bitch," he bit out, sharply. She felt a shiver run up her spine. She closed her eyes and gulped. Heart racing, knees shaking, mind racing, she stood.
He removed the gun from her head, but she knew she would never forget the feeling. Placing the gun to her back, he grabbed her wrists and led her through the tellers' station and down a corridor. Opening a door, he shoved her into a dark, secluded room. As he closed the door, she heard it lock and knew instantaneously that he had locked her in a vault. It was dark. It was cold. There was no way of communicating with the outside world, let alone those in the bank. But most importantly, she knew that House would never find her. How could he? I am sealed in a vault… this is it.
For the first time in a very long time, Cuddy began to lose hope. She was always the optimist, but now, she couldn't fathom a positive outcome. She shrunk into the wall, leaning into the corner. Resting her head against the cool wall, she closed her eyes and began to drift into her thoughts. How could she ever have gone out with a guy like Rupert? Why was she always trying to push House out of her life? Sure he wasn't the perfect guy, but he challenged her. He made her a better doctor and could make her laugh. But on the other hand, he had hurt her too many times to count. That's why, isn't it? You're scared. She shook her head. I'm scared. She was always keeping him at arms length. But they were so close to being something last month. He had recovered her old med school desk. There had been advances… and the whole thing in his office… he was just deflecting. He was scared too. House would never disrespect or take advantage of me… would he? Cuddy frantically shook that thought from her head. How could she have gotten herself into this situation? She rolled her eyes… she knew how – HOUSE.
Why couldn't they just get their act together? Twenty years. We have been at this for twenty years. Why didn't he ever make a move? Had he and I not seen it? But then again… I could have... NO, tried that… twice… UGH, why am I thinking about this right now? I need to find a way out.
Cuddy stood up and felt around. The walls were smooth and there were no windows or drawers, no nothing. This is impossible. Why am I in here? What is he going to do with me? What is House doing right now?
Cuddy closed her eyes and slammed her fist against the wall. This is infuriating! Giving up the last string of hope she could muster, she cracked. She started sobbing uncontrollably and resumed her position on the floor.
Meanwhile…
So far, so good. House was in and everything was going according to plan. All he had to do now was to find that son-of-a-bitch who was holding Cuddy for ransom. Once I get my hands on tha-
He saw him. There he was – strolling up and down the aisles of traumatized, shaking citizens. Seeing the man with the gun he thought back to a month ago, when he found himself in a similar predicament only he was on the inside while Cuddy was safe on the outside. House heard everything that went down. He heard how Cuddy refused to put that room in jeopardy – worried about the repercussions it might have on the people inside. He heard the police talking amongst themselves, wondering who she could have cared so much for – in that room. She refused to leave… just as always. She was there, for him. And now it was his turn to repay her.
Just as planned, House gave the signal for the SWAT team to enter. One by one, they filed, silently. No one heard, no one saw.
They assumed their stations and pointed their guns at the burglar.
"FREEZE!"
"DROP THE WEAPON AND PUT YOUR HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!"
Rupert was taken by surprise. He whirled around to look at the offenders, but almost fell over when he saw all of them, aiming their guns at him.
"You want me to drop this?" he smugly responded as he held up his gun. "Fine."
He dropped it.
House watched in silence. That was too easy. He has something up his sleeve… Just as he was about to turn around and mention something to the captain, Rupert played his card.
"But what should I do with this?" he innocently asked as he pulled out something the size of a pen.
"Should I set it off? Because then Miss Lisa Cuddy would have one hell of a time… well, actually she would have one hell of a death."
It was a bomb trigger. And he wasn't afraid to use it.
Oh, God. Lisa! House looked around, and realized that Cuddy wasn't there. Where the hell is she? He looked around and noticed that he wouldn't be missed or noticed if he left, so off he went - in search for Cuddy.
He had to think fast… where could she be? Looking around, he noticed something off in the tellers' station. Following his instincts, he limped determinedly down the corridor. After a few minutes, he realized that he was down where all the vaults were. Shit. This is just great. There must be at least a hundred if not more of these goddamned vaults… that bastard better not do anything or so help me I will rise from the dead and kill him.
One by one, he alternated down the hallway knocking on vaults… no luck so far.
Cuddy's eyes shot open. What was that? She felt her way towards the door as she crawled. After what felt like forever, she found the door and put her ear against it. Someone's out there! She started knocking on the door.
"Hello? Is someone there? I'm in here!"
"CUDDY!" House yelled, making sure not to be too loud in fear of Rupert hearing him.
"Keep banging, where are you?" He asked.
"HOUSE?" her heart skipped a beat. He was there. For her – to save her. She kept pounding on the door as a huge smile spread across her face.
"I'm in here! House!"
"Found ya. How are you? Are you hurt? Bleeding?"
Cuddy couldn't help but smile and let out a small chuckle at his uncharacteristic concern.
"I'm fine, now. Possibly a couple bruises, but noting major. How are you going to get me out? Is anyone else with you?"
"Yeah, I brought the SWAT team. 'Didn't want the Dean to have all the fun." Through his earpiece, he heard them still negotiating with Rupert to set the trigger down, but to no avail.
"But, they're a little busy at the moment. So, it looks like I'm all you've got. But before we continue this riveting conversation, tell me – is there anything in your pockets or in the vault?"
"I searched the vault earlier, and there was nothing… why?"
"I'll tell you in a minute. But is there anything in your pockets? Hurry, I need you to check and if there is, then I need you to take it out and put in the far corner."
Cuddy could detect the urgency and worry in his voice – it terrified her. She immediately began to check her pockets… nothing.
"Nothing."
"What about your purse?"
Shit. She fumbled around in the dark to no avail.
"House, it's in here, but I can't find it."
MEANWHILE….
"You boys leave me no choice. Drop your weapons and leave."
The SWAT team looked at one another and agreed to set their arms down, but they we not leaving.
"Good boys. You've been trained well. But let's see just how well… you have ten minutes." Rupert smiled and pushed the trigger.
"House, HOUSE! I hear something beeping."
"SHIT! How close is it to you, Cuddy? I need you to move it to the far corner."
"What is it?" Cuddy asked, not wanting to know the answer.
"A bomb," House whispered just loud enough for her to hear. He leaned his head against the vault's door.
"Oh, God." Cuddy's eyes began to water for the umpteenth time that day. She couldn't breathe. She was going to die. There. Alone. Her and House only separated by a door.
Feeling around, she frantically searched for her beeping purse. She stumbled upon it and took it to the far corner. She picked it up and carefully transferred it to the opposite corner and put her jacket over it. She didn't want to hear it beep. She didn't want to know when the time was near.
"Don't worry, Cuddy. I'm not leaving without you."
THANKS for reading! :D Reviews are ALWAYS appreciated. This story will be winding in the next 6 chapters :P
Also... my other story Questions and Answers... my muse has left me and I don't know what the hell is going on, so suggestions are welcome and I will give you credit!
R&R 3 3 3
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