This looks to be my longest chap yet! Special thankyou to those of you who wrote reviews. GiGi892 thanks so much! Yours made my day! Also to limptulip and IHeartHouseCuddy you guys are awesome! And I can't forget those of you who have me on story alerts and favorites. I can't explain how awesome it is as a writer that you would do so. As always I hope you enjoy! –Bri
The rest of the week flew by for everyone at PPTH. Everything was pretty much business as usual, except for one thing. Gregory House, the world renowned blue eyed diagnostician known first for his genius and closely followed by his horrible bedside manner and curmudgeonly attitude was being… nice. Perhaps it was due to the fact that he no longer limped but walked freely through the halls, a cheerful whistle or humming announcing his arrival. He showed up in clinic almost on time, and his patients left the room smiling, leaving compliments on his behavior to stunned and disbelieving nurses. Cameron fretted, constantly questioning his pain level, how was his pt going, on and on. He did his best to ignore her, assigning her clinic hours or and ER rotation to get her off his back. He preferred the company of Chase and Foreman, who were more than happy to accept their much more manageable boss without comment. Their jobs had become a lot easier, not having to deal with his intense mood swings and brooding or sulking for hours on end. That's not to say that he completely lost his Housian charm, with small pranks pulled on the team, the usual what color underwear is Cuddy wearing today betting pools, and of course his regular repertoire of witty comebacks and comments. He still pushed Cuddy on treatments for patients, but it seemed that the hard cutting edge he used with everyone around him, the one that sliced and tore at you with every interaction, had disappeared with the pain in his leg.
As Friday came ever closer, Cuddy found that she had a strange feeling in her belly, a fluttering that felt something like… anticipation? She supposed she'd always had a thing for House, even after all they had been through, their brief romance in college that had ended in disaster. Of course there was the infarction, and all the events following. But his pain had always been his constant companion, and he walled himself away from everyone close to him with it. The Ketamine treatment had seemingly toppled those walls, turned them into rubble, and she found herself more than happy to pick through the wreckage. Finally Friday arrived, and she woke with a smile on her face. It remained all morning as she did her yoga and prepared for her day. She already had her outfit for the night picked out, but she couldn't exactly wear jeans to the hospital, so she slipped into one of her favorite black skirts with a simple white blouse. She knew no one would see the lacy white bra and matching panties that were beneath, but they helped boost her confidence. Her 1000 watt smile brightened the lobby the moment she walked in, a few actually stopping and staring at the radiant woman striding through the doors, accompanied as always by the click of her heels. She headed over to her office walked in to find Wilson settled on her couch waiting for her. "Well Wilson! Just because House has developed some type of respect for the boundaries of my office doesn't mean I miss the unexpected visitors. What do you want?" Her raised eyebrow and slight smile eased the reprimand, but Wilson still glanced away in guilt before responding simply, "You ready for your date with House tonight?" She was not surprised that he knew, figuring that House would tell him, though she thought he would have come to her sooner. "Yeah. I still don't know where we're going, just that I'm supposed to wear jeans. Should I be scared?" Wilson chuckled a bit, then frowned."It's a date with House, of course you should be afraid." He joked," But seriously? I'm not sure, he didn't even tell me what his plans are, so it could be anything." She narrowed her eyes a bit at the comment. "Well he did tell me to make sure to wear jeans. Don't know what that's all about but again… this is House we're talking about." Wilson grins widely, "Well I just came to wish you luck, and thank you." Cuddy frowns in confusion," Thank me?" Wilson stands and walks over to the door, opening it before replying, "You're winning me a lot of money by going on this date. Have fun Cuddy." With that he slips out the door before she can reprimand him. She bites her lip, but decides to let him go. He's probably off to bug House next.
Wilson didn't bother knocking on Houses door before barging in. He didn't even look up from his computer screen, just greeted him,"Hey Wilson. Taking lessons from the master, eh?" Wilson stood in front of him and took his signature hands on hips pose, "Cuddy seems excited for your date tonight, which means YOU need to make this nice for her." House finally looked up,"Oh I plan to make it very…nice." He replied suggestively. Wilson just frowned down at him. "Oh come on Jimmy I wouldn't have asked her out if I wasn't serious. What do you think I'm doing this for anyway?" Wilsons raised eyebrow indicated silently what his opinion was. "If I am not just doing this for the sex, though I'm sure it's going to be fantastic." His tone turned serious,"I'm tired of being miserable. I know she can make me happy, and hopefully I can do the same for her now that..." He drifted off, his eyes lowering to his leg for a moment and then back up. "That's why you're finally asking her out? You think your leg has kept you from doing this?" Wilson was shocked at his confession. "I think my pain has stopped me. I've been the same miserable bastard for years, and now… It's just time for a change." Wilson nodded solemly, then smiled before patting his friend shoulder, "Well… I'm happy for you House. Good Luck," He headed for the door,"Oh and uh…don't screw it up." House just gave a short nod and turned his attention back to the computer screen. When House was sure Wilson was gone, he flicked the power off the monitor and stood up, stretching before heading down to Cuddy's office.
"Wilson talk to you, too?" He said as he opened her inner office door, before knocking lightly with his knuckles. The sound wasn't as impressive as his cane, but it wasn't exactly something he missed dearly. Cuddy smiles up at him from behind her desk, "Yeah, though I'm pretty sure I got a different lecture then you." He returned her smile, his eyes sparkling with amusement, she caught herself staring into them, which happened often. "Of course not. I'm sure Jimmy assumed he wouldn't have to warn you not to jump my bones at the door." He winked. She tried to summon up the proper disapproving stare and failed miserably, laughing low in her throat instead as she flirtily replied, "Well maybe he should have. Who knows what I'll do, and I'm not sure how you'd react to getting mauled by your boss." She was feeling brave today. Surprise and pleasure flickered in his crystalline gaze," Oh Dr. Cuddy, I think we both know what you can do, and I AM a man, my reaction would be pretty textbook." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. She just rolled her eyes, "I've got work to do, I'll see you tonight around 7 right?" He pretended to pout for a moment, then suddenly cheered, "Sounds good to me. All this talk about tonight has got me excited…if you catch my drift." He wolf whistled, and to Cuddy's embarrassment she caught her eyes drift to his crotch as he thrust his hips forward provocatively. She snapped her eyes up, catching his gaze, his eyes alight with silent laughter. Busted. She suddenly wondered if this was what he felt when she caught him staring at her breasts, then dismissed the thought. He wouldn't feel guilty in the slightest. "See you tonight Cuddles." He turned and strode leisurely out the door. She took the opportunity to stare at his cute little ass on the way out, figuring if she was gonna be busted she might as well get a good look. Damn but she could've sworn the cheeky bastard knew she was watching.
The hours passed quickly, Cuddy finishing up some budget reports and last minute calls to donors, while House somehow solved his case and was out by 5 o'clock. She decided to take a quick shower when she arrived home, then dressing in the outfit she had picked out that morning. Pulling on her favorite pair of Levi's (smirking to herself as she remembered Houses comment) that accentuated her curvy rear, and a simple low cut black top. She decided against wearing makeup, and left her hair down, letting the raven curls flow loosely down her back. Just as she had finished sliding on a comfy pair of shoes, she heard a knock on her front door, so familiar and yet slightly off. The cane is gone, that's it. She nearly sprinted to reach the front door, pulling it open to reveal her favorite blue eyed diagnostician.
Decided to stop here, don't be mad! I'm working on chapter 5 now. I'm hoping to have it up later tonight. As always I hope you enjoyed. Leave a review if you like! Thanks for reading!