CHAPTER 2
After dinner, Cuddy and Sam were in the kitchen drinking coffee while House dragged Wilson into the living room. Cuddy started cleaning up a little and Sam wandered around their kitchen, just looking around. Cuddy saw her read a note that House had left on the fridge for her a few days earlier.
Dear Cuddy's ass,
Case went south. Back at hospital. Try to be back by 10. Stay hot for me.
House
ps: Tell Cuddy she's an idiot and that the guy who played Darth Vader WAS British! I Googled it.
Sam gave a funny laugh. "You and House…" she said. There was a pause.
"Me and House," Cuddy replied, putting some plates in the dishwasher.
"Do you guys always use each other's last names still?" she asked, referring to the note with a head nod.
Cuddy hadn't really thought about it. "Most of the time," she replied. "It's how we've always known each other."
"You guys have such a funny relationship," Sam commented. Cuddy didn't know what to say to that – Funny "haha," funny "weird," what did she mean?
"I guess…" Cuddy said tentatively, drying her hands on a towel.
"Oh, don't get me wrong!" Sam continued, sipping her coffee. "I just mean, I never would have thought a woman like you and a guy like him would end up together. But you make it work."
Cuddy was slightly irritated. She wasn't standing there commenting on Sam dating her ex-husband. "Yeah, we work well," she stated matter-of-factly. Sam was oblivious to Cuddy's irritation and was plowing ahead.
"You're just so together and accomplished and elegant and professional," she went on.
"And House is some kind of train wreck?" Cuddy asked, getting defensive.
"No! No, but, I mean, come on, Lisa. He's kind of a character," she said, also getting defensive.
Right at that moment House yelled from the living room, "Hey, Cuddy, Wilson's sitting in the blue chair and I'm trying to give him an estimate of how many times we've done it in that chair. What would you say, ballpark?"
Cuddy rolled her eyes. Sam gave her a See what I mean? look. "I like characters," Cuddy said, returning to the conversation. "He's never boring."
"Yeah, I can totally see that," Sam said, trying to smooth this over. "All I meant was, House seems like someone you'd date and get out of your system. He's so childish and can be so mean. I just figured you were looking for someone a little more reliable, not someone who has you playing video games all night," she laughed. "But I guess at our age, we'll settle for fun, right?"
Cuddy stared at her. "I'm not 'settling,' Sam. I chose House."
Sam stared back. "Right! I feel like this is coming out all wrong. I'm sorry I said anything."
"Yeah, let's just forget it," Cuddy replied.
They went into the living room where the men were watching television. Wilson was now sitting on the couch, looking uncomfortable. "At least 30," House was telling him, flipping through channels with his feet propped on the coffee table. "And I just mean on your side."