Thank you for your reviews :).
Obviously I'm not versed in the employment laws etc of the States, since I live in Europe, so all the references to Cuddy's contract and things involved in that – or in Sheridan's employment - come from the top of my head. I invent them as I go along. I don't feel guilty, since they do that on the show, too! Or can anyone tell me that what happened with Tritter could actually happen? That in real life Cuddy wouldn't have had an army of lawyers up Tritter's butt long before he got anywhere near any hospital records? Never mind the rest of it all. I try to keep the flies a little smaller than that, so please, just go with it ;)
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The move had gone well – even House's precious piano had survived and Blythe was very happy with her new quarters. Wilson had moved into House's old flat at the same time. Kasumii had not yet moved in with House and Aiko as it was decided that she would stay with Cuddy till she moved, too, just in case. Blythe didn't want Cuddy living alone now that she was pregnant – and though House would rather have died that voiced an opinion, he was in complete agreement with his mother. Their move was scheduled to happen the next week-end, and House was expecting interesting things to happen then!
House had barely got to his office on Monday morning when his phone rang. Seeing that it was Miss Hill calling he almost didn't answer, but since it was most likely about Cuddy, he eventually decided to take the call.
"Thought you might like to know that Sheridan J. Rawls is in the building," Miss Hill went right to the point. "Get your crippled butt down here, now." Then she hung up – as tended to be her custom with House. Though House hated obeying Miss Hill, he didn't need telling twice this time.
Miss Hill was waiting for House when he got out of the elevator.
"What is going on?" House asked. "You don't usually come out of your domain to meet me; quite the contrary in fact."
"Well, I couldn't risk letting you go into Dr. Cuddy's office un-primed," Miss Hill explained as they walked towards Cuddy's office and the ante-room. "Rawls is not here to meet with Lisa, nor to have a tour of the premises or to meet the people; he is here to take over from her."
"Now?" House was taken aback. "But how could that be? Cuddy hasn't resigned, nor does her maternity leave start for a few weeks yet!"
"The board has appointed Rawls as the Assistant Head for now," Miss Hill explained with utter disdain. "Apparently they feel that will smooth over the transition."
"The board? How can that be," House was puzzled. "Wilson didn't warn us in any way!"
"He didn't know," Miss Hill told House curtly when they reached her desk. She didn't sit down nor did House enter Cuddy's office. They stood there watching through the glasses how Cuddy interacted with Rawls and a woman he had with him. Cuddy sat at her desk and could see House and Anne from there but the others didn't as they were facing Cuddy. "This time they suddenly decided that as Dr. Wilson was going to be the temporary Dean, he should be excused. Conflict of interest all of a sudden. And they actually haven't done the appointing yet. There will be an emergency meeting tonight, but apparently Forbes and Taunton have secured the majority already. Something about another offer to Rawls that made it necessary to secure him to this post now."
"Sure," House doubted. "I bet there was no other offer, but Sheridan wanted to get his foot in. Damn! Like Cuddy doesn't have enough stress as it is. The last thing she needs is this wanna-be at her heels trying to learn all the secret hand shakes and all."
"I know," Miss Hill nodded. "Not that Dr. Cuddy is stupid enough to teach him, but still, it will be difficult."
"Are those idiots trying to make her miscarry?" House spat.
"I don't think they have given that even a thought," Miss Hill observed. "This is just power games, pure and simple."
"Nothing pure or simple about them," House ground. "But at least that decides the matter: Sheridan is not innocent. He wants Cuddy's job."
"Which means we have to make sure he won't get it," Miss Hill insisted.
"Absolutely," House declared. "Sheridan is toast!" He made a fist with his hand and Anna met it with her own. It was a pact; and it earned a very worried look from Cuddy through the window – though she didn't know what it was about, but Anna and House in agreement over something – anything – was not good news. House gave Cuddy a very un-reassuring smile before he turned to Miss Hill: "He may want Cuddy's job but he is not getting it."
"No he isn't. But I do think I know how he expects to get it," Miss Hill said a little smugly.
"How?" House wanted to know.
"Well, first of all, you were wrong: he is not gay," Miss Hill started.
"Interesting, I'm sure" House admitted. "But what has that got to do with this and why are you sure he is not gay?"
"He is having an affair with his assistant," Miss Hill stated. "Or at least I'm fairly sure he is. I only talked to them together for five minutes, but there was a vibe there. Just look, even from here you can see it."
"Assistant?" House repeated. "That's not his wife with him then but an assistant? He is bringing his own with him?"
"Yes, he is," Miss Hill said. "And I'm told to show her the necessary ropes."
"I don't envy you," House observed. "But what does his assistant have to do with him getting Cuddy's job?"
"Now that is the interesting part," Miss Hill admitted. "The assistant's name is Janelle Forbes."
"Forbes?" House perked up immediately. "As in ... ?"
"Absolutely," Miss Hill gloated. "And I'm willing to bet my shirt on it that Daddy dearest has no idea that his precious girl is sleeping with her boss."
"Forbes is the epitome of puritanity and old-fashioned morals," House agreed. "If he had any idea of those goings on, he would do his utmost to stop it."
"That is my impression of him, too," Miss Hill agreed. "Mind you, I cannot absolutely swear to the affair, it is just my impression, but I have learned to trust them. But my instinct is not enough to convict them, we need proof."
"That may not be so easy to come by, you know," House mused. "They must know what they are risking if they get caught now." House shook his head: "What is it with these unfaithful husbands? Half my clinic patients either have them or are them! Most divorces that I see are due to the husband's infidelity – the only exception may well be my parents! Mind you, I'm not complaining if it helps us with getting rid of Sheridan, but it is getting a bit monotonous. Are there no unfaithful wives around anymore?"
"Actually, now that you ask," Miss Hill was starting to look like a cat who got the cream and just might share it with another cat – if asked nicely. "There is an unfaithful wife in that office, too."
"Explain!" House ordered.
"Ms. Forbes may have kept her maiden name after marriage, but that does not change the fact that she is married," Miss Hill paused for maximum effect. "And she is married to Wilfred Taunton Junior."
"Miss Hill, have I ever told you that I absolutely adore you?" House queried.
"No, you haven't," Miss Hill replied. "And no you don't. But that's ok. I can live without your adoration. Now get in there and help Dr. Cuddy deal with those idiots. Just make sure you don't let your temper tip your hand! We still need someone to take over during Dr. Cuddy's maternity leave and Sheridan may be an arrogant slime ball, but at least his references are good. He can do the job as long as we make sure he doesn't stay in it."
"Aye, aye, Ma'am!" House saluted and limped into Cuddy's office – after knocking on the door, naturally.
"Ah, Dr. House," Cuddy was being her absolutely most gracious self, which usually meant she was hanging on her temper by a very thin thread. "I'd like you to meet Sheridan J. Rawls and his assistant Ms. Forbes."
"Yes, Miss Hill was kind enough to inform me that they were here," House was being equally gracious – which ought to have made any sane person extremely worried, and since Cuddy was very sane, she did get worried. House did spare her a – genuinely – reassuring look. He was not going to rock her boat, just Sheridan's and that time wasn't here yet. "I hope you don't mind my interrupting your meeting?"
"Not at all," Sheridan J. Rawls was definitely nothing if not gracious himself – only in his case it was a practised manner. He was blond, brown-eyed and suave. Not quite as tall as House, but he certainly was very well groomed. In fact House had a fleeting thought wondering if Sheridan might have Athlete's foot in his nose! He didn't voice that thought, though, so Sheridan was able to go on with his sentence without delay. "I wanted to meet you anyway, Dr. House. This is my assistant Ms. Forbes."
Miss Forbes was obviously the pampered daughter of a wealthy family. She complemented her boss in every way from grooming to sleek red-hair and somewhat hard green eyes. She was stunning, but House didn't find her appealing in the least. There was something about her that reminded him of the woman he had once cured of the plague – he rather thought she, too, had been a read-head? He could easily see the five-letter word that was practically tattooed to Ms. Forbes' forehead. And it wasn't a pet name.
"Pleased to meet you," House decided to borrow a leaf from Grey's book and he kissed Ms. Forbes' hand, with enough elegance to make Cuddy stare. This was House! What the heck was he up to now?
"Dr. House," obviously Grey knew what he was doing when he went around kissing ladies hand, Ms. Forbes nearly blushed! And she sure was no shrinking violet. There was a definite hard edge to the young lady. "I'm so thrilled to finally meet the legend in person. I hope your daughter is now well?"
"Indeed, thank you for asking," House replied. "Though I'm sure the legend part of my reputation is just the papers exaggerating. I was just doing my job." At those sanctimonious words Cuddy had a sudden fit of coughing, though she knew she was the only one who recognised the blatantly false modesty House was radiating. "Now, Mr. Rawls, Ms. Forbes, do you mind very much if I borrow Dr. Cuddy for just a tiny moment? I need her opinion on something medical, you know. If you don't mind?"
"No, no, of course not," Sheridan was happy to give his permission and Janelle was perfectly willing to accommodate the charming Dr. House, too.
House escorted Cuddy to the ante-room and they turned their backs to the glass walls so that the two people in the office could not see their faces.
"That was some display there," Miss Hill approved in a quiet voice.
"Thank you, Miss Hill," House accepted the compliment. "And I think you were right. At least there was a sudden surge of possessiveness coming from dear Sheridan when I soft soaped Ms. Forbes."
"That was my impression, too," Miss Hill agreed.
"While I'm happy to see you two in agreement over something, whatever it is," Cuddy interrupted them. "What was it you wanted to see me about House?"
"Nothing," House confessed. "I just thought you needed a break from those two before you exploded."
"Oh," Cuddy was a little disconcerted. "Well, you may have been right about that, so thank you. Not that that will help much. I'm stuck with them until I go on maternity leave."
"Surely not for 24/7?" House observed. "I mean, if the board decides to hire him as your assistant for starters then make him assist. Give him all the stupid jobs that you don't want to do or you find boring or stressful. Keep him away from all the important stuff by giving him all the routine things you normally have to do yourself. Start transferring the Dean's duties to Wilson; that ought to give you a few hours a day away from them. And transfer Miss Hill to Wilson, too, for the duration of your leave."
"I would really appreciate that," Anna told Cuddy. "If I stay here, Ms. Forbes will make me do all the work and take all the credit herself. Besides, I might end up murdering either of them."
"You think I could do that?" Cuddy hadn't had time to think since Sheridan had arrived with his assistant that morning without any warning.
"Have you already offered to show them round the hospital?" House asked.
"No, not yet," Cuddy frowned. "I was going to do that but then you arrived."
"Good, let Miss Hill do that and you use that time to call Stacy and check what you need to do now. I'm fairly sure that if the board hires Sheridan as your assistant then you will be his boss; I don't see how they could give him any kind of independent position as long as you are the Head of the Hospital." House pondered.
"I'll go in and tell them that the consultation will take longer than Dr. House originally thought and I'll offer to show them around," Anna told Cuddy suiting action to words. House escorted Cuddy out into the lobby and they withdrew into an empty examination room.
"You think that would work?" Cuddy was a little unsure.
"Check with Stacy," House suggested. "Though I don't see how it could not. Just find out what needs to go to the minutes of the meeting this time and I'm sure we can circumvent this manoeuvre by the enemy too."
"But if Wilson is not going to be in the meeting, how can we make sure the meeting goes as we want it to go?" Cuddy wondered.
"I'm sure Wilson is not the only one who wants you to stay in your job," House shrugged. "We'll just give him the necessary information to pass onto someone he thinks can act on our behalf. You do know that neither Forbes nor Taunton is that well liked."
"It could work," Cuddy nodded.
"Of course it will," House stated. "Then we just need to make sure we keep Sheridan busy and out of your hair till your maternity leave. Which reminds me; if we want to keep Ms Forbes out of Miss Hill's hair you need to get Wilson a bigger office for his stint as the Dean. His current room is barely big enough for him. No way can he have an assistant in it as well."
"There is a room in your corridor which could be redecorated to work as the Dean's office," Cuddy remembered. "I'll get to it as soon as I have called Stacy."
"Do that," House encouraged. "And try not to worry. We have this thing covered. Nobody is taking your job away from you."
"I hope you are right," Cuddy sighed. "But just for the record, even if someone does take my job away from me, the Trips are worth it."
"Say that again in ten years time, when they have turned your hair grey with their antics and you have yelled yourself hoarse at them for getting into any and every prank humanly possible," House smiled. "In fact, if they take after me at all, they will probably get into pranks you would not have believed humanly possible at all!"
"Oh, God!" Cuddy closed her eyes in despair. "You just had to remind me that they are yours, didn't you!"