Oooooooo chapter 19

Once back in her office, Cuddy took her cell phone and texted House: "Urgent. Need to talk. Call me tomorrow"

House was just back in his room as he received Cuddy's message. He read it and thought. What is at the same time urgent and can wait tomorrow to be talked? Intrigued and a bit worried he sent a message back: "Why not tonight?"

"Because I can't"

"Why? A night of love?"

"I'd love to, but no. Gala."

"Gala?"

"Charity gala at the hospital tonight. Have to be there."

"Will your gigolo be there?"

"House! He's not a gigolo."

"Oh I forgot, he's surgeon."

"House, don't laugh at him. I'm sure you'll like him."

Certainly not, House thought, because he dated you."Will he attend the gala?"

"No"

"Why?"

"Why do you always ask so many questions?!"

"Okay, let me guess: he doesn't like partying."

"No. He's on duty."

"Interesting."

"Why?"

"He's not popular."

"You're wrong! His colleagues like him a lot."

"So why didn't he swap his duty for another one with a colleague?"

A few seconds after, House sent: "I would have done it."

"Oh really? Because if I remembered well last time you let me down when there was a party at the hospital."

"You make a point." House sent back and smiled. He remembered way to well this evening. He ended in a bar drinking whisky. Wilson found him and shouted at him because of what he'd done to Cuddy one more time. She really had believed that this time he would be by her side, that for a long time she wouldn't be single at a party but with her boyfriend. And one more time he let her down. But for his defense later this evening he confessed his true love for her, he told her that he would always choose her rather than his medical skills. And that was a great proof of love and trust in her.

"He didn't swap because I told him not to."

"Why?"

"No special favor for my boyfriend."

"It reminds me of something…"

"I don't ^_^" Cuddy wrote back and smiled.

"What are you gonna wear? Sexy dress?"

"It's a masked ball. Venice"

"Wow! I can imagine you in a…"

"In what?"

"In a sexy lady dressed in red?"

"Blue. With silver motif. And a silver mask."

"You'll be stunning."

"Thank you."

"Can you send me a photo of you?"

"Why?"

"It might be useful for me."

"?"

"With a sock…"

"House!"

"Does it mean yes? 'cause I feel alone"

"Call me tomorrow."

"Enjoy your evening."

"Hey sweetie! Are you texting me?" Robert said as he came in Cuddy's office without knocking and saw her with her cell phone in the hand.

Cuddy jumped and blushed. "Hu… yes."

"I knew it! We're soul mates." He replied smiling.

"Maybe"

"Do you need me?"

"Yes. Can you help me close the zip of my dress?

"Yeah for sure." He did it, and then he held her tight and kissed her neck. "I love your smell."

"David. I'm late, I have to go." Cuddy said exasperated and tried to walk away but he held her back, pressed her against the wall and kissed her eagerly. Suddenly the door opened and Barrow appeared on the threshold.

"Hum, hum. Dr. Cuddy, it's time."

"I… I'm coming, Mr. Barrow." Cuddy said and tried to smooth her hair.

"Oh, good evening, Mr. Barrow, I… I just wished Dr. Cuddy a good night." Robert said embarrassed and blushed.

"Good evening, Dr. Robert. I think you should go and let Dr. Cuddy do her job." After a second he added: "And do yours, am I clear?"

"Yes, yes." Robert replied and looked down.

Cuddy smiled inwardly. First slip-up of Robert.

oooooooooo

Meanwhile House was satisfied. It would be easier than he first thought. Cuddy would send him a photo. It would be a piece of cake to find her tonight. And her stupid boyfriend wouldn't be there. Two good signs, he would have his chance tonight to carry out the first step of his plan to get Cuddy back. But first of all he had to take something to ease the pain of his leg. Because he would need his both legs tonight. He should take Ibuprofen but… he was afraid it wouldn't be enough. On the other hand, if Cuddy found out that he took Vicodin, would she forgive him? It was just to ease the pain in his leg in order to be able to dance with the woman he loved, not to be stoned and to modify the reality. He was tempted to give it a try but… if he wanted to prove Cuddy he really changed, it wasn't the best thing to do. It would be so Ibuprofen, two pills in a row. And a lot of courage. But his determination to start a new life with Cuddy was a good pain killer.

Oooooooo

" ," Barrow said as he went to the ballroom with Cuddy, "I don't want a second "House's case" if you see what I mean."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Barrow, Dr. Robert is a bit too… enthusiastic and demonstrative if I may say. I've told him that I didn't want any kind of tenderness at work, but he… he can't help it."

"He will have to or I'll personally make sure of ending this relationship. I won't allow my employees to splash their private life at the hospital. Do you get it?"

"Yes."

"Well, now that the things are clear, let's enjoy this evening. You're gorgeous tonight, Dr. Cuddy. I understand why Dr. Robert is crazy about you."

"Thank you, Mr. Barrow"

"It's gonna be a long evening. I hope you'll accept to open the ball with me." He said and smiled.

"But what about your wife? Don't you think she will be upset if you dance with me instead of her?"

Barrow looked at Cuddy surprised. He didn't expect such an answer. "Well played, you make a point, Dr. Cuddy." Then he added looking at her straight in the eyes: "But don't get too far. My wife will perfectly understand that I have to open the ball with the Dean of Medicine."

Cuddy nodded. She didn't want to get on Barrow's nerves, she would need him soon. But she didn't like these men who believed they were irresistible and almighty.

As they entered the ballroom there were already lots of people. The costumes were very beautiful. Cuddy was pleasantly surprised by their quality. They were quite simple but their colors were brilliant and formed a beautiful picture of red, blue, green, golden and silver. People looked happy behind their masks and the atmosphere was festive. People were in the mood to party. Cuddy felt good. The background music was classic but she hoped it would change in the evening, she liked dancing and she was well determined to dance tonight. She just hoped to get rid of Barrow quickly so she could enjoy the evening.

"It will be funny to guess who is behind the mask, don't you agree Dr. Cuddy?" Barrow said and put his mask on. "Come, let's go to our table" he added and took Cuddy to a big table. "Dr. Cuddy, let me introduce you to my wife, Kristin" he said and removed his mask. Barrow's wife, dressed in a red costume which didn't suit her, barely deigned to greet Cuddy and resumed her conversation with the sister of Charles Jay, the president of the Jay Foundation. Cuddy was upset to be so openly despised but she didn't say a word. Finally she would open the ball with Barrow, just to mock his arrogant wife. Then Barrow went on the stage and began to speak to the people in the room. Nearly all the tables were filled.

"Dear friends and colleagues, I'd like to thank you for being here tonight and I'd like to thank Charles Jay. As you know the Jay Foundation organized this charity gala in order to raise funds to improve the life at the hospital for the children. I hope you'll be generous tonight. Thank you and have a good evening." He went back to the table by applause and joined Charles Jay with whom he began to talk. They looked at Cuddy and Barrow waved at her to come to them. "Dr. Cuddy, I'd like to introduce Charles Jay to you. Charles, this is Dr. Lisa Cuddy, the Dean of Medicine."

"Nice to meet you, Dr. Cuddy" Jay said and smiled. He was younger than Cuddy had thought. He was the kind of man who really appealed to women and he knew it.

"Pleased to meet you" Cuddy replied with a smile.

"Tomy, you forgot to tell me that Dr. Cuddy was so beautiful" Jay said to Barrow. "I hope you'll accept to dance with me after the dinner" he added and turned to Cuddy.

"Certainly, Mr. Jay. But I promised the first dance to Mr. Barrow" she added and smiled at Barrow who looked a bit surprised.

"I should have known that Tomy wouldn't miss the opportunity to dance with a woman as beautiful as you, Dr. Cuddy. But I count on you for the second dance."

Cuddy smiled and nodded. The evening would perhaps be better as expected. At least she might forget her problem for a few hours and have some fun.

The dinner was quite pleasant, Jay talked a lot to Cuddy and joked around, it was obvious that Cuddy appealed to him and she was flattered to see that men could find her attractive, and especially a man like Jay. She would have thought he'd prefer younger women. They were waiting for the dessert when she felt suddenly a bit nostalgic as she heard You can't always get what you want. It reminded her of House. They had attended a masked ball together. But at this time she was dating Lucas and it was a bit awkward. She pretended to have to work on her speech for the day after to escape the evening because her feelings for House were so strong that she was afraid to make a mistake if she stayed and danced with him. She was afraid of the strength and of the violence of her feelings for House. And she was right. But tonight he wasn't there and she wished he could have been there. Tonight she would have danced with him and shared happiness and fun with him. Tonight she would have let her feelings drive her heart.

"Hey, Dr. Cuddy, is something wrong?" Jay asked her. "You look sad. Can I do something to cheer you up?" he added and put his hand on Cuddy's hand.

"Oh sorry, I was thinking of…someone" replied Cuddy embarrassed and took her hand back.

"He is very lucky." Jay said staring at Cuddy.

"I don't think so. I'm sorry, what were you talking about?"

"Nothing interesting. Let's eat the dessert."