Chapter 9

"Good morning, Dr. Cuddy, we missed you here. Where were you ? On vacations? With your stupid "son of one of my mother's friends"? " said Robert as he saw her heading to her office.

"Morning, Robert. Believe what you want, I don't care."

"Wow! It's really cold there. Did I do something wrong?"

At the door of her office, Cuddy turned to Robert and said annoyed: "Robert, please, not now. I had bad time and I need some calm"

"Oho, did you break up? If yes, it's good news for me"

"Robert! Stop it, please. I'm not in the mood"

"Well, see ya later. But if you need to talk, you know where to find me"

Once in her office, she called Jeremy. "Hi, Jeremy, it's Lisa Cuddy, I'd like you to withdraw your complaint…" Twenty minutes later, Jeremy finally caved and decided not to press charges against Robert. But in exchange for this, Cuddy had to have dinner with him on Friday which didn't please her. But if it was what it took to avoid seeing Tritter, then she was ready to do it. She really hoped that Tritter wouldn't meddle again in her life. She was worried about House. Would the police believe his story? Could he get out of this situation with this new sleight of hand? And then, what would he do? He assured Chase he wouldn't come back to Princeton Plainsboro, but where else could he work? It would be impossible for him to work in her hospital here in Chicago, the management committee of the hospital was clear on this point, no House. But after all, why would he work here? That wasn't the best place to be. Even if she told the police that she didn't want to see House anymore, it wasn't true. At least not yet. She wanted him to be around her, but what about House? He maybe preferred a sunny place to live in, a place far away from his past and his demons. No. Probably not. As Wilson told her, she was now the only one he could trust, the only one he could share his pain with. Was she ready to accept this role? Was she ready to be his friend and to support all the horrible things he could do? Not really. Although she knew he would need someone to be there for him. Wilson asked her to be that person and she agreed. "But it's madness!" she exclaimed aloud.

"Is there a problem?" Robert asked with a smile. He came in silently.

"What? No! What are you doing here?"

"You paged me, so I'm here."

"Hu yes. Jeremy withdraws his complaint against you, but I hope it won't happen again"

"What did you promise him?"

"Nothing"

"You're lying"

"I think you should go" she replied staring at him.

"Okay, but I'll find it out"

Her phone rang and she answered rather abruptly: "Dr. Cuddy"

"I missed this great voice" a man said ironically.

"House!" she whispered, "Are you crazy? My phone might be tapped!"

"Why? Are you public enemy number one? Is Jeremy a terrorist?"

"What? How how do you know about Jeremy?"

"…."

"House? Are you still there?"

"Yes"

"House?! Are you okay?" Cuddy asked worried because of the sound of his voice.

"Are you dating this guy?"

"Which guy? Jeremy? NO! Of course not!"

"You sure?" House said relieved and a little bit annoyed. He still didn't know who Cuddy was dating or at least had. The second child seat in her car still was still in his mind.

"Of course I am! And that's none of your business"

"For sure, you probably prefer the sexy Doctor" House replied. Cuddy didn't know what to think about that. Did House mean himself or Robert? And she chose to joke with him and to take it easy.

"House! Stop meddling in my private life" she answered casually.

"Oh you got one?"

"House!" After a few seconds, she asked teasing him: " What about you? Is there any pretty nurse to take care of you?"

"Hu let me think … Well, yes, in fact there is a sexy nurse but … Do you think I should ask her out?"

"Do you think she can ease your pain?"

"Well I guess she can…"

"House, seriously, what did you do this time?"

"Nothing! Why do you think I made something wrong?"

"Because you always do something: make fun of someone and get into trouble, give your doctor advice or"

"Your trust in me pleases me and I'm sorry to disappoint you but I have no problem"

"So why are you calling?"

"Hu … maybe just because I'm boring and I need to annoy somebody"

"And you want me to believe that I'm the only one you can annoy!"

"I could annoy Chase but he's helping me, so it wouldn't be very clever to make fun of him. Especially when policemen are around to spy on me. There's Foreman, but he's too serious, he lacks humor… Adams and Park are not really interesting and they could talk so… yes, I just have you" he said smiling and Cuddy could imagine the smile on his lips.

"Poor little boy, alone, with no toy"

"False! I have my phone I"

"Great! So play with your phone and let the adult work. See ya"

"Hey! She hung up!" House was disappointed. He didn't really know how to interpret Cuddy's reaction. He was thinking about it and began to imagine dark scenario when he received a message: "I'm glad you feel better. Call when you need to annoy someone. Be careful"

"Why are you smiling?"

"Nothing. I just imagine a new trick to get some fun"

"House! You have to be careful, Tritter placed two guys at your door and they are in charge of your surveillance." Chase whispered.

"I know. I don't understand why this guy is here and why he resumes the investigation of the building. I thought the file was closed."

"He said he wanted to identify the body… "

"Oh com'on, Chase! It was a poor guy, probably homeless or a dealer." After a while House added "Nobody misses him!"

"Are you sure? Homeless do have friends you know, or a pet. Who takes care of his dog now? And dealer"

"Shut up. I get your message."

"House, we've been working together for many years, you taught me lots of things and I owe you."

"That's why you're helping me right now, aren't you?"

"No, yes… No. I … I guess I missed you a little bit. Sometimes when I'm on a difficult case, alone in my office, playing with bally, I think of you, of your method"

"Does it help?"

"Sometimes."

"I thought you didn't want me back here. 'cause if I'd come back it would mean that you'd lose your job, at least as head of the Diagnostic Department…"

"House, seriously, do you intend to get your former job back?"

"Would it annoy you?" House asked bantering.

"I'd accept you as my fellow if you want" Chase replied adopting the same ton.

"I take note"

Ooooooooo

Cuddy felt lighter. And she knew why. House's call. To hear his voice in this moment was good. She just needed some comfort and … well his call was just at the right moment. You shouldn't think about him, you have to move on. Why didn't you agree when Robert invited you? He's smart, funny and good looking…

"Dr. Cuddy, sorry to interrupt your reverie but I need you to talk with a patient."

"Oh, okay. What's the problem?" she said blushing and got up.

"He refuses surgery because he read on the internet that we could make a MRI instead."

"And why don't you do a MRI?"

"Because I think surgery is more efficient in this case. I'm pretty sure we'll have to remove the tumor."

"Did you explain it to the patient?"

"Yes. But he wants a second opinion."

"And you thought of me?"

"I need you to confirm my choice to treat him and as Dean of Medicine I'm sure you'll impress him more than one of my colleague." After a few seconds, he added: "And you're sexier" Cuddy rolled her eyes but didn't say a word. Just before entering the patient's room, she turned around and said, smiling:

"Okay, but you owe me."

"Hu, yes" Robert replied, surprised.

"Okay, let's go but you stay here." And she opened the door. Robert saw her going to the patient, smiling, speaking with him, making him smile, then he told her something and she laughed. It took about five minutes. "It's okay, he accepts your treatment. It wasn't difficult. I don't understand why you didn't manage without my help." After a while, she added casually "And by the way, he's a lovely guy."

"Are you kidding? Ask any nurse and she'll tell you he's odious."

"Really?" she replied with a smirk.

"He had to succumb to your charms… and I won't blame him" Robert said, smiling. "So what do you want from me?"

"Hum, let me think about it. I'll tell you later." And she walked away. Robert watched her and sighed. What man could resist her? Certainly not me.