Ch. 12- Kisses and Meaning

Cuddy, Wilson and House had a lot to discuss now that she was back. House was at least pissed because his pain medication ran out and created a 12 on the pain scale. They discussed pain management, home care, and such things until the surgeon came in to check House's progress. The surgeon Okayed House to start therapy the next day and if he could support himself and get along on his own with his cane, he could return home. The discussion went well and helped ease both Cuddy and Wilson that House was informed of their ideas and he pretty much agreed to it. This new news about his leg couldn't have come at a better time, since he was more than ready to go. He could keep his own pain medication under control; he didn't need some nurse to forget them instead. He knew that he wouldn't forget it. Wilson and Cuddy were glad to here this news, but House didn't show much emotion and just sat there.

"House, you ok? I know that you have just heard a lot to process." Cuddy approached him; she knew that something wasn't right. House could take a lot of information at one time.

"Oh yeah. I'll be alright. Say, the ducklings don't know about this right?"

"No House, they know nothing." Wilson decided to handle this one.

"Could you make sure that they stay busy for a little while? I'll tell them later if I feel like it. But I don't want them asking where I am. Make up a conference or something for me to go to."

House lay back in his bed and tried to process all the new information that he was given. Either Wilson or Cuddy would be at his house for the next week to make sure that everything went well. After that then they could start just stopping by instead of staying with him for 24 hours at a time. He appreciated the consideration, but he didn't want a babysitter. No matter what he told them about how he felt, he knew that they would still stick to watching over him like a hawk, so he just didn't tell them. They could tell how he felt, and he didn't care. Going home would be great, and tomorrow he knew he could work to get home. He wanted to be home, even if it meant he had a babysitter for the time. Wilson could see that he wanted to be left alone, so he went back to work. He was almost done anyway and he was close to getting ready to leave. Cuddy said that she could handle him for the rest of the day and allowed Wilson to go home.

"House, it's just us tonight. If you want to talk, I'm here. When you're ready." Cuddy didn't want to push him tonight and figured that he would just stay quiet for the night. He did, barely said a word which was odd; he usually couldn't keep his naughty comments to himself.

House thought that he had made it all the way through dinner without hearing a word from Cuddy, but he was sadly mistaken.

"How are you feeling, what are you thinking? You have to tell me a little something, give me an update. It was part of our deal remember?"

Cuddy couldn't keep her questions in any longer. She needed to know truthfully how he was so she knew what to expect.

"I'm feeling pretty good. Pain is minimal surprisingly. I'm thinking that I want to go home. I know I can handle it, but I'll end up with a babysitter anyway, so I decided not to discuss it."

"Well it will be me most of the time at your place. Wilson is getting pretty busy with work, so he will try to take a day here and there, but you know how busy his work gets."

"Yeah…" House's mind wandered to earlier that day, with Cuddy's kiss and Cuddy could tell that his mind was on to something.

"House, what's on your mind?"

"What did the kiss mean this morning? That was more than a friendly good bye you know."

"What do you think it meant?"

"Well, I know what I want it to mean, but I don't know if that's what it really meant."

"If you're a good boy this week, maybe you will truly find out what that kiss meant, you will be seeing a lot of me you know. How do you feel about that?"

"How do I feel about you and the twins, all week, at my house? Well that would be lovely. The bed may be warmer this week."

"Don't let your mind run away with you there Greg."

"Oh, I'll try not to…" He raised his hand to show her his crossed fingers. They both smiled and chuckled a little.

Cuddy was glad that she could get him to laugh a little and have some fun considering how bad his day potentially ended today. Despite the good news, the pain was enough to kill that news, no matter how good it was. She decided that she wanted to hear him laugh again, like she did this morning. She had almost never heard that before and liked it. Pain free House was even better when he was enjoying himself.

"Any more British comedy on tonight? I feel like laughing my ass off. What about you?'

"I could laugh my ass off for you. I'll find a good show."

House found a good show, "A Bit of Fry and Laurie", one of his personal favorites. Both of them sat in the room and laughed hysterically. During a commercial House offered part of his bed to Cuddy. She accepted willingly and found that House created a very warm and snuggly environment, just as she imagined he would. She thought to herself, "I could get used to this." She only hoped that House could get used to that as well. While Cuddy was watching the show, House looked down and seeing Cuddy laying next to him brought a smile to his face. He wasn't sure if he was willing to get into a relationship, but at least he could have fun with Cuddy until he was sure. He wouldn't use her like he had other girls, but he could still have fun and maybe even take it to the next level. But was he ready to open himself up again, the last time he did that Stacy crushed him and he was left pining for years. Cuddy wasn't that kind of woman and he knew that. He looked at her again, and kissed the top of her head.

"Now we have one more thing to discuss." He told her and they both laughed again. They both could get used to more of what they were experiencing.