I Want To Tell You

Cuddy was shocked when she saw House walk in before 8:00am, when she knew that he didn't have a case.

"House," Cuddy said trying to read his face. "What are you doing here so early? It's before eight." Cuddy hoped everything was okay.

"I am supposed to be here from eight to five, aren't I?" House said. "Five minutes early won't hurt me."

"You have never been here this early without a reason," Cuddy said, wondering if this was some sort of gag.

"I have a lunch date, so I thought I should get some work done early," House said. "Don't worry. I'll sleep the rest of the day."

"A lunch date?" Cuddy asked. "With who?"

"Natalie," House answered. "We have to sit and gossip about what a great kisser Wilson is." Cuddy couldn't believe House had said yes to Natalie. She wanted to say something to him about it.

"I thought that you didn't want her stalking you," Cuddy said, the only thing she could think of without revealing any sort of feelings.

"Why fight it?" House said. House wanted to try to make Cuddy jealous to see if she cared. He wanted her to have to make the first move.

"So where are you going?" Cuddy asked, her voice a little defeated. "Are you taking her someplace nice? She likes fish." Cuddy had a hard time looking House in the eyes. She knew House was pretty good at reading people and if he didn't like her, she didn't want him to see that she liked him.

"She said she was going to cook me something," House told her. He noticed that Cuddy was acting nervous.

"Oh, that's good," Cuddy said with a fake smile.

"Well, thanks for giving her permission to ask me out," House added to let her know that he knew that Natalie had already talked to Cuddy about it. "I'll make sure to call have her call you if she wants to ask me out on a second date." Cuddy looked straight at House. She really wanted to tell him what she was feeling.

"I don't know if I really gave her permission," Cuddy said. "She was more of just saying that she was going to do it."

"That's the stalker coming out of her," House said. "If you had said no, she probably would have killed you." House had a little hope that Cuddy may not actually be okay with this. "It can be a supervised date if you like."

"House," Chase said as he walked in. "What are you two up to?" Chase remembered House and Cuddy's kiss from the night before. He wanted to feel out the tone between them to see if he could make a joke out of it.

"We were getting ready to go make out in the janitor's closet," House said with a wink.

"You guys didn't need a closet last night," Chase answered back with a smile. Chase looked over at Cuddy and saw she didn't find it funny so he wiped the smile off of his face. "Why are you here so early?" Chase asked House.

"I just told you," House said giving him a slight punch in the arm.

"I am going to a meeting now," Cuddy announced as she headed for the elevator. She didn't want to here these jokes in the morning. "Have fun with your male-bonding session." Chase looked at House.

"You might have made a big mistake kissing her," Chase said. "She might be extra mean for the next few days."

xx

"Hello, Gregory," Natalie said as House walked into his office at 12:30. Natalie had their lunch all laid out. Cameron and Chase were in the side room looking in at them.

"What is that smell?" House asked.

"My famous taco salad," Natalie said.

"You sure you don't mean infamous?" House answered as he sat down in front of his plate.

"You are so funny, Greg," Natalie said.

"Can you not call me Greg?" House asked.

"That's your name," Natalie said a little confused. House wondered if Natalie sniffed too much glue growing up. He then saw Cuddy walking by his office slowing peaking in. He knew that she was walking by on purpose.

"Only a few people call be Greg," House said. "You haven't earned the right."

"What do I have to do to earn the right?" Natalie said seductively as she ate her food.

"Move to the moon," House said.

"As long as you come with me," Natalie said. "It could be just the two of us." House shivered at the idea. He saw Cuddy walk by again. House knew Cuddy was jealous and it made him smile. "I'm glad the idea of going to the moon with me makes you smile," Natalie said.

"I was thinking of the TV show Monk," House said not wanting to tell her the real reason. "There was a marathon on last night."

"I don't really watch a lot of TV," Natalie said.

"You're not American, are you?" House asked.

"Of course, I am," Natalie said. "I just never have been a big TV and music fan."

"Those are my two passions," House said really wondering why Cuddy was friends with this girl.

"We'll get you into some new passions," Natalie said giving him a new smile.

"I don't think I'm really into bondage," House said. "Or robbing banks."

"That's not what a meant silly," Natalie said laughing. House didn't really want to know what she meant and didn't really want to know. "I meant like bowling or bird watching."

"Those are exampled of things that will never happen," House said. "You should take Wilson, though. He loves girlie things." House was trying to pass her off onto Wilson.

"You never know if you like it until you try," Natalie said.

"Well, just like how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop, the world may never know," House said. They continued having small talk for about 30 minutes. Cuddy walked by a few mores times.

"That was fun," Natalie said as she picked up the dishes. "We should do this again." House was already daydreaming about if he should tell Cuddy about how he felt.