Chapter 6

Disclaimer: I do not own House. Thank you all for the wonderful reviews! It makes my day. Please keep them up so I know whether or not to continue!

Note: words in bold italics are House's thoughts during his dream.

He begins to dream….

Blue eyes stare intently on the ceiling. He knows he is in Cuddy's house, in her bed…with Cuddy. He steals a look in her direction. He brushes a lock of curls away from her furrowed brow. She seemed distant and lost in herself. House found his fingers dancing along her bare arm. So troubled….for who?….me?

Greg House smirked at the thought that anyone would be concerned for him. Pity was not something he entertained for anyone especially for himself, yet these past days he found himself latching onto it…suckling it like a leech. Pity is not who I want to become.

"Then don't."

House lifted his head to the direction of the voice. It was familiar and hardened. Wilson.

"How did you get…?" House blinked rapidly. I must be dreaming …or hallucinating again.

"Doesn't matter. I will always be here now." His deep brown eyes mocked Greg's. Watching me…testing me….waiting for the final fall…

"I'm sorry." I can barely speak….

"Doesn't matter. Can't change anything with platitudes."

House grimaced at his own dream. I am mocking myself from within now….

"Things will get better."

Wilson seemed to absorb the information as he looked to Cuddy snuggled up to House's chest so peaceful…so alive….

"Maybe for you. Not for me." House felt the air in the room chill his blood at the words.

"If I could do it over again…." Wilson finished, "You would do it exactly the same…"

House knew that had been said before. Capturing the recesses of my mind…

"No. I would do it differently. Please believe me." I am begging all the while gripping Cuddy's sleeping shoulder for support.

Wilson began to approach from the foot of the bed and House felt his body tingling in fear. Wilson was beginning to not look like Wilson anymore.

"You don't deserve her." House glanced briefly at the creature in his arms. Her beauty shone even brighter as if the angels themselves surrounded her.

"I know."

Wilson smirked at the whispered confession.

"I am glad you realize that now, Gregory because it would hurt a hell of a lot more if you got to close to someone who was too good for you only to fail miserably."

That tone…

Greg looked into Wilson's eyes, but Wilson was no longer Wilson. Dad…

House's heart beat faster…anticipating the worst possible scenario.

"You can't hurt me anymore."

John House sneered down at his son's small withered form. "I can always hurt you."

House shot up in the bed, sheets soaked through with sweet…maybe urine…. I feel like I need to throw up….

He had momentarily forgotten Cuddy's sleeping form next to his. She was lying on her side away from him. House breathed a sigh of relief. Don't want to wake her…. He glanced down at the soon to be stained sheets as he ran his hand across his brow. Don't want her to know.

House stood up, the agonizing pain searing down his thigh into his calf as he struggled to breathe. He was at a loss as what to do without waking up Cuddy. Denial works best….

House got up and made his way to the bathroom to change and continued his sleep on the couch.

Cuddy awoke the next day immediately noticing two things: the fading stench of urine and the absence of Greg House beside her.

With sadness in her heart at the reason behind his leaving, she stood up and made her way to the living room. From the doorway she could see his broken form. He was trying to curl in a fetal position but her couch didn't leave much room for his body frame to be able to do that. He began to stir and Cuddy knew this had to be confronted….well maybe….

House rolled onto his back immediately regretting the decision to do so. He suppressed a whimper of pain, but yet he still saw her coming toward him.

She could see the shame in his eyes at his accident, but she decided to make no mention of it. It was not important.

"Are you Ok?"

House bit his lip and returned a hollow yes.

Cuddy nodded understanding. She excused herself and came back shortly with two pills. House grabbed them realizing almost instantly that it had been ages since he had a Vicodin. The relief coursed through his veins…Relief followed by agony plagued memories…

Cuddy kept a watchful eye on her guest. She didn't realize she had been rubbing his arm. House swallowed hard at the direct contact.

"Thanks." Cuddy saw what she was doing and more importantly what she was doing to House. She began to pull away. House nodded in gratitude. It's better this way….

"Why aren't you in work today? Taking off for me again?"

Cuddy smirked. "It's Saturday."

House chuckled." I forgot administrators don't work on Saturdays."

Cuddy hated what she was about to do, but better he know now than be surprised with it later. He would never forgive me…

"I have something to tell you."

House's blue eyes greeted hers. Doesn't sound good….

"I called your parents when this happened…and…they were gone, but now they're back…"

House turned from her and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"When?" I don't want to see them…..

Cuddy sighed. "Today. They're coming over today"

House closed his eyes and sighed. Cuddy knew he felt betrayed again, but that this was something that was necessary. You have to believe me it was necessary….

"I had to call them. You had a seizure….you were in a coma…" House held up a hand. He doesn't' want to hear my explanations.

"House, please..." He looked into her eyes. I know you thought you were doing the right thing...the right thing for whom?

"Are you OK with this?" House shrugged noncommittally.

"I had a rough night is all." Cuddy sat down on the couch next to him and reached out for his hand.

"I was guessing since you were out here." House blinked slowly realizing dawning. The sheets.

"Did I wake you up last night?"

Cuddy shook her head. "No."

House knew she was lying but accepted it anyway. He continued to hold her hand squeezing it allowing her to squeeze back. Maybe it's time to take control...any form of control before...his father's face came to mind before all control is lost.

"I'm going to change the sheets." With that he limped out of her sight.

It took her a moment to realize what he just said about the sheets. She smiled. Maybe denial isn't always the best… he is beginning to accept...

Up next House and his father confront each other…. I will post as soon as I can as long as I know you are all still with me! Thanks for the support!