House's Medical Madness

Cuddy knew she should have been more relieved that she had told someone about her condition, and she was to a certain extent, but she felt even worse about keeping it from House. She felt like she was betraying him by letting Lucas know and not saying anything to him. It was just as likely, if not more, his child as Lucas's and she knew that all too well. She was so focused on that that she almost forgot about the guilt she felt about sleeping with him in the first place. Lucas was none too pleased with that revelation, but he had come back, thankfully. She didn't want to lose him, even if it wasn't his child…House still hadn't proven that he actually wanted her and she was sure that no matter the outcome, Lucas would be a good father.

The Dean of Medicine arrived at the hospital early the morning after Lucas returned so she could prepare for a meeting with the Board of Trustees. She was heading up to the meeting room when she ran into the Head of Diagnostic Medicine himself. "Oh, sorry," she said with a blush worthy of a school girl.

House looked at her curiously, but didn't make any snide remarks. "'S all right," he replied. "Where are you going?"

"Board meeting," she told him with a sigh, straightening her files. "We've got some budgeting to discuss."

"Interesting stuff," he said sarcastically. "We should probably talk later. You going to take lunch?"

"Erm…yeah…it'll probably be late though. One ok?" She was more nervous than she let on, but hid it very well considering. Could he have found out, she wondered. She shook the thought out of her head.

"Ok. I'll see you in your office." He walked away after that without another word. She was somewhat surprised, but decided that their little chat could wait. She made it to the meeting room a few moments later, just before the trustees started filing in.

"Good morning, everyone," she started, butterflies taking up residence in her belly for no reason that concerned the meeting.

"She's meeting me for lunch at one," House informed Wilson as he flopped down on the Oncologist's couch. Wilson looked up, a bit surprised.

"Did you tell her you know about the baby?"

"No and I'm not going to tell her. There isn't any good way to explain that you've been spying on a woman," House pointed out.

"So what's this lunch about?"

"I'm going to try and prove to her that I'm a responsible adult capable of a mature relationship."

"Oh is that all?" Wilson said, rolling his eyes. "How are you going to manage that in one lunch?"

"I'm working on that. You'll get the full report after it happens."

"If you were any more conniving I'd have to turn you in, you know."

"You would not…I'm your best friend."

"I'm your only friend."

"So."

"Never mind. Good luck, House."

"I'll see you at two or so."

House headed straight for his office after leaving Wilson to wonder about how things were going to go. As much as he love his best friend, he also loved messing with him and testing him. Wilson was the only person he really trusted, though, so he was fairly certain that the oncologist would be patient. He was met in the diagnostic office by three frantic looking fellows. "What's going on?" he demanded.

"New patient. Forty-one year old female, no history of heart problems, no history of any problems, bleeding from her nose and rectum. Chase has her in surgery to try and stop the bleeding. She's also presenting with paranoia," Taub told him.

"She says her husband is out to kill her," Thirteen added.

"Which he very well could be," Foreman countered. "So I don't think we should let him into her hospital room."

"Once Bloody Mary gets out of the OR get the full story. And one of you should talk to the hubby. Taub, you do that. Foreman is against him and Thirteen probably has the hots for him. Give her a full work up and report to me when you're done. I'll be in the office until one." His team dispersed and he headed into his office to wait for lunch to roll around. His patient was probably being poisoned by her husband, but he'd have to wait for those results. For the present he needed to work on what he'd say to Cuddy at lunch.

Cuddy looked up from her work when House entered the office. He looked comfortable and she didn't quite know how to take that. With so much floating around in her head she couldn't help but just blurt out what was on her mind. "HouseI'mpregnantanditmightbeyours."

"What?" He was a bit taken aback by her abrasive delivery. He hadn't been prepared at all for her to just shout the truth at him, so his surprise was completely real.

"I'm pregnant and the baby might be yours," she said more slowly, not meeting his eyes.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes. Three months now."

"Are…are you going to have a paternity test done?"

"Of course. It's scheduled for next Tuesday…I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, but…well it's hard."

He cleared his throat. "Ah…I, I understand. Look…let me know if you need anything," he told her. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder for a moment. She looked up at him and he knew he wouldn't be able to try and deceive her. He simply patted her awkwardly and walked out. Cuddy was dumbfounded that he was reacting so strongly to the news. She didn't even think about how he might take it. With a sigh, she watched him walk away, wondering what would happen next.