Thank you for the reviews for the last chapter. I'm glad that people seem to be giving this story a chance even if they're skeptical about Cuddy being a woman that would allow herself to be in this kind of situation. I'm trying to keep everybody in character, especially Cuddy, to show that a lot of seemingly strong women can succumb to this kind of thing.

So here's chapter 6. Bit difficult in parts but I think that I vaguely know where I'm going with this and I've been going over Reunion too. It seems I find it easier to write when I have a load of work to do :| The next update my not be for a couple of weeks (again) because I worked out that if I do all my work this week and hand it in next week then I'm free until late September and then concentrate on getting this and Reunion finished.

Cuddy let out a sigh as the lights to the clinic were turned off. She looked at the pile of paperwork that still needed to be sorted through then looked at her watch knowing full well that is was 6pm. Taking a deep breath she pulled another file towards her and began to read through it, signing off on it at the end. Usually, she would take this kind of work home with her where she could sit in the dining room where she could concentrate on her work while Alex would watch a DVD in the living room or be playing with…

Michael.

She took a deep breath. She shouldn't be afraid of saying his name and yet just the thought of it brought both the good and bad memories to the surface. Reaching out, Cuddy picked up a bottle of water and unscrewed the lid, taking a mouthful to try and settle her stomach.

Living with House meant that taking her work 'home' was more difficult. There was no where for her to sit quietly. House would be with Alex in the living room so that left the bedroom but when Alex needed to go to bed where would she go? House would be slumped in front of the TV and probably do his very best to annoy her. The only place she had left was her office and the fact that all the day shift employees were heading home disheartened her.

There was a knock at the door and Cuddy smiled as Wilson popped his head through the small opening.

"Working late?" He asked, opening the door wider and entering the office, his coat hanging over his arm and his briefcase just visible beneath it.

Cuddy nodded. "Just some reports that need signing by tomorrow." She told him with a wave of her hand to the paperwork on her desk.

"I heard your lawyer was here today." Wilson commented, sitting down in front of her.

"Yeah," she replied, letting out a sigh and eyeing up another report. This months finance report but the numbers seemed to merging together until there was just a sea of undecipherable figures. She looked up at him and leaned back in her chair, running her hands over her eyes. "I don't know how to deal with this, James." She placed her hands in her lap and looked up in the oncologist's warm brown eyes.

"Knowing you, your lawyer is the best that money can buy, and knowing you even better, you know that lawyer and you're getting one hell of a discount." Wilson joked and Cuddy smiled softly. "I don't know what you're going through…" Cuddy raised an eyebrow and Wilson gave a snort of amusement. "You know what I mean. I don't know what it's like to have someone you love…physically hurt you but I know that you're a strong woman – you run a hospital, deal with House and the go home to a five year old – you can get through this."

Cuddy smiled at him as his words having a positive affect on her. After Marcus had left, she had had this feeling that staying strong would be harder than she thought but Wilson was right. She could do this. Wilson returned the smile with his own prize winning one and stood up.

"Thank you, James." Cuddy said, pulling herself forward and resting her arms on the desk once again.

"Just remember, you have House," he said with a slight smirk. "And when he pisses you off, you always have me." He a grinned at her as she let out a small chuckle and left the room.

Cuddy shook her head, still smiling, and looked back down at the month's figures. If she concentrated, she could make it done before Alex's bedtime.

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Cuddy smiled in triumph as she closed the last file. It had taken just over thirty minutes to complete once Wilson had left. His words had comforted her enough to put everything to the back of her mind and concentrate on her job. If he hadn't turned up and said what he did then there was no doubt in her mind that she would still be struggling to prioritise her thoughts.

Walking to the door, Cuddy grabbed her jacket and purse and left the room, locking the door behind her. She had made her way across the dark clinic then out through the lobby. It was still fairly light outside as she left the confines of the hospital and walked to her car. As she drew closer, she looked through her purse for her keys.

"Lisa."

Cuddy froze at the sound of her name and slowly looked up. To her left was Michael who had just gotten out of his navy Jag. The slamming of the car door behind him brought her out of her trance. Taking a deep breath, she continued walking to her car, intent on ignoring the figure that was now walking towards her, his hands out in front of him.

"Lisa, please. I just want to talk." He said, his voice calm.

"There's nothing to say." She replied, conveying an air of confidence that she was in no way feeling. She pressed the button on her key fob that would unlock her car door and moved to open the door as quickly as possible. She jumped as the door was closed before she even had a chance to open it wide enough for her to get in.

"I need to talk to you. I need you to listen to me. Please." His voice was soft and she knew exactly what was coming. With Wilson's words ringing in her ears, she took in a breath and turned to face her harasser.

Michael let out the breath he had been holding and Cuddy took in his appearance. There were fading bruises on his eyes and another one on the left side of his jaw. His lip was split and bruised and on the bridge of his nose, right between his eyes was another cut. She looked down as Michael lowered his hand from behind her and she noticed the bandage on his hand. A fist fight after he smashed a window with his fist must be painful. She shook the concern from her mind and glared up at him. Looking at his injuries, in that moment she was disappointed they weren't more severe, and she would never admit that to House. He was dressed in his suit and she assumed he had come straight from work, waiting out in hospital car park until she left. She wondered what he would have done if House had been with her.

Her heart was pounding as Michael seemed satisfied enough that she wasn't going to run away, and took a small step back.

"Thank you." He whispered and it took everything she had, not to let the softness of his voice and the vulnerability in his eyes break down the walls she was struggling so hard to keep up.

"Speak so I can go home." She told him, fire in her eyes as well as her eyes.

"House's apartment isn't your home," he said softly, making a grab for her hands. She pulled them away and folded her arms across her chest, a bored expression on her face despite her heart beating at seventy miles per hour. "Your home is with me. You, me and Alex."

Cuddy shook her head. "No. My house is where you are currently out living your welcome. My home is my son is. Now if you don't mind…"

She turned from him and attempted to pull the car door open again but, like before, Michael's hand came from behind he and pushed it closed again.

"Please. I just want to talk. I got home today and found divorce papers waiting for me." He placed his hand on her shoulder and attempted to turn her around but she shrugged his hand from her and eventually turned to look at him. He really was a sight for sore eyes and she ignored the pang of something deep in her chest.

"What are you struggling to understand?" She asked him, speaking as though she were talking to a small child. He frowned slightly and she bit back a smirk as he wiped the expression from his face. "Well, let me spell it out to you. I. Want. A. Divorce. I don't know why it took so long to see it before." She put a hand to her face and rubbed her eyes. After a moment of silence she spoke again. "You're a pathetic, weak excuse for a man and it may have taken me a while to get out of this marriage but it's better late than never."

His eyes flickered to the bruise on her face before looking down at the ground. "I'm sorry I hurt you, Lisa." He lifted his eyes and met her icy glare. "I never meant to hurt you. Really," he assured her when she snorted in wry amusement. "I was just – "

"You were just what, Michael? Stressed? Tired? Insecure? Whatever the reason, it's over. I've finally seen sense and I want you gone. I'm going home now."

She turned away from him once more and opened the door, this time succeeding in getting into the driver's seat, however, he stopped her from closing the door behind her by dropping to his knees, his body between her and the door. He grabbed her left hand, nursing it between his own.

"Please don't leave me, Lisa. I love you and I love Alex. I know I screwed up and I know I hurt you but please…please…don't leave me." He threw his head forward and sobbed into her lap. He was still speaking but the majority of his words were muffled. She could make out the odd "sorry," "love" and "stay." Words that he had uttered before and had meant something to her and nothing to him. She could feel his tears seeping through her skirt and onto her skin and eventually she pushed his head back. He looked up at her, tears still falling and he took a deep shuddery breath as he wiped his nose on his suit jacket.

"Please. Stay with me." He begged. "I'll see someone, go to anger management, talk to a Psychiatrist, anything you want, just please don't leave me." He locked gazes with her. "I love you."

Cuddy stared back at him as he spoke. His words so familiar and despite the fact that they were no doubt as false as they were when he first used them, there was a small part of her that wanted to believe him. She shook her head and pulled hand from his vice like grip as he took another shuddering breath.

"I've heard it all before, Michael." She told him, her voice soft. "I do love you – "He smiled and she shook her head, holding her hand up in front of her to stop him from speaking. "But you are not the same man I married. You physically and verbally abused me." The sadness in her eyes matched his. "I'm stronger than that. I run a hospital for God's sake. I can look after myself and Alex, without you." And with that she reached out for the door handle and attempted to close the door. His body was in the way and he stood up, legs and hands trembling, and shuffled back, allowing her to close the door.

When the door closed, Cuddy let out a deep breath and started the engine. Her hands were shaking as she put the car into gear and pulled out of her parking spot. She took a deep breath and looked in her rear view mirror. Michael was still there, looking after the car, looking like she had just kicked his puppy. Her eyes went back to the view in front of her as she joined the main road to House's apartment and she wiped away a single tear that had fallen onto her cheek. She concentrated on the road, refusing to let any more tears fall for her failed marriage.

__

House was holding the TV remote up in the air and pulled it back suddenly when Alex made a grab for it. He smirked as the small boy tried and failed to pull on his arm to bring the control closer.

"Daddy, this is boring." Alex said making another attempt to grab the remote control from his father's outstretched hand. "Mommy lets me watch 'Ben 10'."

"Mommy's not here." House replied, mocking the five year old's voice and pulling the remote away again.

"Daddyyyyyyyyyy!" Alex whined, jumping on the couch in what House recognised to be the beginning of a tantrum.

"Okay, okay," House said, giving in and handing the remote to Alex who grinned and jumped into a sitting position beside his dad. Once 'Ben 10' was on the screen, Alex looked up at House with a grin and then turned back to the TV screen. House stood smiling at the top of Alex's head. He'd been played. By a five year old. His grin grew wider as he made his way into the kitchen, pride surging through his body. He glanced at his watch before opening up the fridge for some dinner. Alex had already eaten yesterday's leftovers and House had hoped that Cuddy would be back soon to cook him something. He let out a sigh as everything in his refrigerator required cooking. He turned to his cupboards and after a bit of rooting around, found some instant noodles and, taking them out of the packet in to a bowl and pouring over some water. House put the bowl in the microwave and waited impatiently. Just then, he heard the excited shout of a small child and rolled his eyes.

"Typical," he muttered as the microwave announced it was done. He took out the bowl, grabbed a fork and headed to the living room where Cuddy was leaning over the back of the sofa, placing a kiss to the top of Alex's head.

"You couldn't get back four minutes ago?" He asked dryly, sitting down. "I was hoping you could cook me a proper meal…" He trailed off as Cuddy turned and walked down the hall to the bathroom without a word to him.

Placing the bowl on the coffee table, he followed her as quickly as possible and stood out side the now closed bathroom door.

"Cuddy." He knocked on the door. "Cuddy, I need to drain the main vein." He said with a smirk when there was no answer.

Cuddy was leaning against the bathroom door and let out a sigh when she heard his comment. She needed time to just pull herself together. After Michael's emotional ambush, she was drained and she needed to gather her thoughts before slipping in to her usual routine with House.

"Cuddy."

She let out a small groan and pushed herself from the door. "I'm going to have a shower, House."

"Need any help?"

She smiled slightly and shook her head. "If I need you, I'll be sure to let you know." She called back, her voice laden with sarcasm. Cuddy heard a short chuckle and smiled again. Maybe the banter was the best thing right now, something that allowed her to forget everything that was going on around her. She headed towards the bath and turned on the taps for the shower, undressing while the water warmed up and the stepping under the warm spray. Instantly, she felt the muscles in her neck relax and she hoped the water was as good at washing away thoughts of Michael as it was at the tension he brought.

__

House walked away from the bathroom door and went back to finish his dinner. Alex was completely absorbed in his TV programme and a quick glance at the time told House he had ten more minutes of it before he could put him to bed and talk to Cuddy about what her problem was. He ate his meal silently, staring at the cartoon on the screen, trying not to get into it. He didn't need another kids show to be part of his lonely TV entertainment. He let his mind wander to the situation they were currently in and he looked down at Alex as what Cuddy told him earlier sunk in. He heard the water in the bathroom stop running and he put his now empty bowl on the table as the credits for 'Ben 10' started rolling and placed a hand on Alex's head.

"Show's over, kiddo. Time for bed." He told him and shook his head when Alex looked up with him a pout, his bottom lip trembling. "Don't even think about trying to play me again. It won't work second time round."

Alex frowned, his face now conveying a defiant look, his arms crossed over his chest. "I'm not tired." Alex told him turning back to the screen.

"Okay," House shrugged and looked at the TV as well. Alex looked at him confused. Getting out of going to bed had never been that easy but as House continued to watch the television, a small triumphant smile spread across his face.

"It is not okay." House smirked at Alex's reaction to Cuddy's voice. He had heard her moving about behind them and figured she could deal with the bedtime fall out. He turned to look at Alex who seemed to be considering his options; fight of flight.

"When you're told to do something, Alex, you do it." She rounded the sofa and held her hand out to him. "Now, bed." She pulled him to his feet and together they walked to House's bedroom. Alex turned back, poking his tongue out at House who mimicked him with a smirk.

"Night, Daddy." Alex said with a smile.

"Night, Alex."

Half an hour later, House awoke with a start as Cuddy sat down on the couch beside him pushing some loose hair from her face.

"He 'sleep?" House mumbled, running a hand over his eyes trying to shake of the groggy feeling a nap usually brings.

"Mmhmm." Cuddy nodded, pulling her feet up beneath her, a bowl of steaming pasta sat on her lap.

House sniffed the air and attempted to grab the fork from Cuddy's bowl as she settled down. Cuddy caught him in time and slapped his hand away, pulling her bowl out of his reach.

"Oh come on. You could have made some for me." He tried to reach for the bowl again and let out a groan when she pulled it away again.

"The ingredients came from your kitchen. You could have made it yourself." She told him, keeping the bowl away from him as she speared some pasta onto her fork.

There was silence for a moment as Cuddy ate and House flicked through the TV channels.

"Michael was waiting for me today." Cuddy said quietly staring at the screen.

House switched off the set and slowly turned to face her. He watched her silently trying to figure out what she was thinking. From the way she said it, he couldn't figure out whether it was a good thing or a bad thing in her eyes.

"He begged didn't he? You're going to go back to him." House shook his head at her. "I can't believe you gave into it. Again. You're going alone, Cuddy. Alex is not going anywhere near him – "

"House. Shut up." Cuddy placed her bowl on the table and turned to look at him. "I'm not going back to him." She saw his shoulders relax and in turn let out a deep breath.

"What happened?" He was thinking back to his last conversation with Michael and he was pretty sure he issued a warning…

"He did what he always did, begged. And cried…" She said, huffing in amusement. "He said that he would get help and see someone…" House let out a snort of amusement. "Go to anger management classes…"

"His usual pathetic display I'm guessing." House asked. He was watching her profile as she stared at the blank screen in front of her. She nodded and House turned to look at the TV screen too. He debated turning it on when Cuddy spoke again.

"Would you have let me go if it had worked?" she asked quietly. She wasn't sure what answer she was after and no doubt she would realize as soon as she heard what he had to say.

House was silent for a moment, unsure of what to say. When she had told him about the times he had begged before, he expected that he as going to try the same tactics - they had worked after all - and he was sure that he would have talked Cuddy out of doing anything stupid but when she told him that he had begged again...his primary concern had been for Alex. He was certain though that as soon as she tried to leave he would have stopped her.

"No." He said quietly with a small shake of his head. He turned to look at her and found she was already watching him intently. "I know you're about as good at listening to me as I am to you but I would have tried." His eyes darted off somewhere behind her before he met her gaze again. "And if reasoning failed, I would have guilt tripped you into not going back." He said, pointing to the marks on his face he had incurred while fighting for her. He smiled as she let out a small laugh at what he said.

"Would you have gone back if I wasn't involved?" House asked her, watching her intently so as not to miss a single flicker of emotion that might show on her face.

Cuddy thought for a moment. She'd done it three times before. When did you make the decision to leave?

If you ever got to make it.

She had seen plenty of domestic violence cases in both the clinic and the ER and often felt helpless as she watched the patients leave with their partners, often wondering if she would see them again and if their injuries would be considerably worse next time. She thought back to when Michael broke her wrist. The staff in the walk in clinic in Trenton had the same look in their eyes as she had when she had come across similar cases and she had vowed then never to be in that situation again. Despite that, she went back to him. He worked his 'magic' and she was putty in his hands.

She turned to look at him, sadness in her eyes. "I don't know."