chapter 16

House was having breakfast when Adams knocked at his door.

"Hi! How are you doing this morning?"

"Fine, thank you."

"May I come in?"

"Yes."

Adams came in and looked around her. Cuddy's scarf wasn't to see anywhere. The pictures of her and House had disappeared too.

"Did other memories come back during the night?"

"Do you want a coffee?" House said and went to the kitchen. Adams followed him intrigued. Something changed.

"Yes. But you didn't answer my question."

"Does it bother you?"

"You do remember, don't you?" she said looking at him.

"Why do you think so?"

"'cause something has changed."

"What do you mean?" asked House with a smirk. He had fun to see Adams wondering what happened. He caught her look to the piano and perfectly knew what she was looking for. He was right. She was in love with Chase and his story with Cuddy bothered her and she felt jealous. That was the reason of her strange behavior the day before, the reason why she desperately wanted him to remember Cuddy.

"You seem… different. More confident."

"The flat isn't very big. I had time to go around and to identify where things are."

"That's not what I mean." After a while she added staring at him: "And you know it. So tell me, do you remember something?" House didn't answer. He just looked down and waited. "Where are the pictures?"

"What pictures?"

"The pictures of you and Cuddy? They were on the piano yesterday? Why did you remove them?"

"They put me ill at ease"

"Why?"

"I… I don't know. Something happened between me and this woman, and I guess it wasn't good, am I wrong?"

"No, you're right."

"Can you tell me?"

"I regret, I can't. I never met her" Adams lied and she added: "She resigned before I come to work at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital."

"You're lying"

Adams blushed. "No."

"You're lying." House repeated and looked at her straight in the eyes.

"How… how do you know?"

House smiled and said: "I was bluffing."

"What? You… you're a jerk!"

"Hey! It's not my fault if you're in love with Chase."

Adams stared at him and furious whispered: "You got your memory back, don't you?"

With a big smile and a mischievous look he nodded. "House is back." After a while he added: "Thanks to you."

"To me? Are you serious?"

"If you weren't so upset with these pictures and with Cuddy's scarf, if you weren't so vehement, if you weren't so obsessed with me recognizing Cuddy, if your eyes didn't beam with jealousy, I probably didn't get my memory back so quick."

"What are you talking about?"

"You should have seen you yesterday! You so wanted me to remember my love for Cuddy just so Chase wouldn't dare to oppose me and to have a relationship with her…"

"No, no, you" she tried to deny it beet-red.

"Oh com'on Adams! Since the first day you met him you have a crush on him. Everybody knows it!" laughed House.

"At least if it helped you…"

"Yes! You can say you give me my past back. You can be proud of you."

"Okay" she said and sat on the couch.

"By the way, don't worry about Chase and Cuddy. It can't work."

"That's what you believe but you didn't see them at the hospital…" she sighed.

"When?" House asked a bit jealous. Chase told him he had to say that Cuddy was her girlfriend to explain her presence at the hospital but he never really thought about it. He had too much things in mind at this time. Just knowing they were so convincing in their role as lovers that Adams believed they truly were, was enough to arouse his jealousy. But he had learnt to control it, in jail. Because jealousy was what led him to this crazy act of desperation and then to prison.

"You had just been admitted to the hospital and she came to see Chase."

"And? That's it? That came as no surprise: she's a Doctor you know"

"Yes I know, but why was she there? I thought she works in Chicago now. So why was she here in Princeton?"

"Maybe because Chase called her because of me."

"Maybe…"

"But…?"

"But they kissed!" she exclaimed.

"Did you see them?"

"Okay I was pretty far from them but… I had the impression they kissed."

"I'm sure you misinterpreted what you saw."

"Really? Why are you so sure of that? Because you hope she still loves you? But she sent you to prison, didn't she?"

House didn't answer. He couldn't without betraying his ploy to escape justice, in other words he would have to recognize that his amnesia was feigned. And there was no way for him to do such a stupid thing. He was well determined to get Cuddy back and nothing would stop him from trying his luck once again. Too bad for Adams if she didn't trust Chase. He trusted Cuddy. And Chase told him about this fake love story so… no worry about it. Even Cuddy's reaction about her "boyfriend" surgeon showed House how much she cared about him. It wasn't over and both of them knew it. It was only a matter of time.

"I'm glad you get your memory back. What are you going to do now?"

"I think I'll have to find a job, start a new life."

"I'm happy for you House" she said and hugged him. House was surprised.

"What… what are you doing?"

"I'm sorry I got carried away by the emotion. I'm gonna change your bandage and then I'll leave you. You don't need me anymore." She replied with a little smile. After a while she added: "Do you want me to come tomorrow?"

House looked at her, surprised. "Hu why? As you just said now I know who I am I can manage myself alone."

"I meant for your bandage."

"Yes but can you come early in the morning, because I'd like to ride my bike…"

"Okay. Let's say 9.00 am then."

"Thank you."

She was on the threshold when House said: "Don't worry about Chase. He likes you."

She looked at him, surprised. Then she nodded and left.

Now that Adams was gone, House could book a plane ticket to Chicago and a room.

Ooooooooo

Cuddy sat at her desk. She was unable to concentrate on her work. She really had to find a moment to tell David their relationship was over. She saw the look of some employees in the cafeteria; people began to speculate about her and Robert, thinking that they spent a lot of time together, a little more than they had to. She had to end this relationship before the whole hospital heard about it. It would be better. For Robert who shouldn't feel too humiliated. And for her. And… for Rachel too. Cuddy thought about what Rachel told her last night I don't like David, I want House. Somehow it bothered her. She remembered when House reproached her for sailing back because she never let him spend the night at her place, because she didn't want him to meet Rachel. She replied then that she had to protect her daughter in case their relationship failed. But she finally accepted that he met the little girl. And to her astonishment they bonded with each other. House liked spending time with Rachel even if he didn't admit it and Rachel liked House very much, she even called him Dad. Cuddy knew that her daughter missed House a lot. The weeks that followed the incident with the dining-room, Rachel was demanding House almost every day. And Cuddy was confused. At this time she was so furious against House! Her whole life crumbled with this horrible thing he did. She had to resign and to move here. And despite everything she still loved him. And now that her anger faded, she missed him. But it didn't work the first time, so why should it work now? No matter what, she had to break-up with Robert. But when? She didn't want to do it at work. She didn't know how Robert would react and she didn't want him to make a scene. The story with Jeremy was enough for her. So it had to wait Friday. She hoped Robert didn't book something too expensive for the weekend because she was determined not to go anywhere with him. Maybe she could take some day off next week. It might help her look back on her life. Cuddy stared out the window, lost in thoughts. She didn't see Robert standing on the threshold. He looked at her wondering what she was thinking about. He'd like that Cuddy confided in him, that she shared her dreams, her fears and her doubts with him. But she was so reserved. He tried to win Cuddy's confidence but she was always on the defensive and eluded his questions. At first he thought it was because she didn't really know him and he hoped that with time the walls she built around her would fall. But now he wasn't sure that was the reason of Cuddy's reserve. He didn't know what she really felt for him. She seemed to like him but… like and love weren't the same. Maybe with time…

"Oh, David, I haven't seen you. What do you want?"

Robert jumped a little. He was lost in thoughts and didn't see Cuddy staring at him. She was beautiful. It was really worth it to fight for her. "I just wanna see you and tell you how much I think about you" he said and came close to her. But Cuddy stood up and went to the other side of the room. Robert looked at her, surprised and disappointed. "Hey, did I do something wrong?"

"No, David, but we're at work and…" Cuddy replied embarrassed. She couldn't break-up now, it wasn't the right place to do it and Robert's reaction comforted her in this way.

Robert sighed. "Lisa, I know you want to keep our relation secret but… people talk. They're not stupid, they see how we talk, how we stand together." He came close to her, took her hands and said "Why does it bother you so much?" But Cuddy didn't answer. What could she say? That House wasn't dead and that she still loved him? No. Of course not. "Is it because of…?" Robert asked her softly and took her chin in his hand.

"Because of what?" Cuddy replied a bit upset and pushed him away.

"Yeah, I get it, it's because of him" he said bitter.

Cuddy's heart beat faster. Would it be possible that Robert already knew for House? And she asked with a lifeless voice barely audible: "Whom are you talking about?"

"I'm sorry, Lisa. I shouldn't get angry. I'm a moron. Your reaction is understandable." He said and hugged her.

"David, who do you mean?"

"I mean your last relationship. I mean… House. He was your colleague and everything went wrong. But I swear, it will be great this time. I'm not House. Everything's gonna be fine, don't worry." He kissed her. "I have to go. See ya later. And don't forget I love you." He added with a wink.

Cuddy watched him. She felt bad. She really liked Robert, she appreciated him very much but she wasn't in love with him. They could have fun together but it couldn't last. The sooner she ended this relationship, the better. For both of them.