Chapter 21: a short chapter but I hope you'll enjoy it. Thanks for reading it : )

Cuddy was a bit shaken. She took a shower to get rid of Jay's perfume and she sat now on the sofa with a cup of coffee in the hand. She couldn't sleep, too many thoughts went through her mind. She had wished that House came to Chicago, that he came back in her life, but… but now that he was there, well at least she believed he was there, she had no proof of his presence here in Chicago, just a strong intuition, a strong feeling. But who else could this mysterious man in black be other than House? Her body recognized him before her mind. The way he held her in his arms while they danced, the way he moved around her. She completely gave in to their dance because it was a wonderful feeling, because she felt so good in his arms. She didn't want to think at this time, she just wanted to feel. She lost herself in his arms, in the rhythm of the music and she refused to think of anything else but of the happiness she felt. And then he suddenly disappeared in the night. It reminded her of her "hallucination" earlier in the afternoon. Would it be possible that she imagined House tonight as well? That this man was just a man? She was tired, she had worked a lot during the week and she was under pressure. She had drunk and Jay was more and more insistent, so her mind might have imagined that House was there, that he came to "save" her. Maybe. Some tears rolled on her cheeks.

Ooooooo

House was in the tub. His leg hurt a lot and he tried to ease the pain with hot water. He also took two pills of Ibuprofen with a glass of whisky and he waited now for it to be effective against his pain. He thought of the evening, he thought of Cuddy. She was stunning in this blue dress. Even if she hadn't sent him a picture of her in her beautiful costume, he would have found her. He watched her so many times in the past that he could recognize her figure, her walk anywhere. Did she recognize him when they danced? He didn't know. He hoped so. In fact, he was pretty sure she did. He felt how relaxed she was, how much she trusted him when they danced, how she gave in to the dance. She didn't do it with this Jay or with the marquis. On the contrary she was quite distant with them. House could guess that she didn't like how Jay behaved with her as the evening went on. He was rather insistent. House couldn't stay any longer, his leg hurt too much and he didn't want to be seen there. Not tonight, it was too soon. But he hoped that Cuddy managed to elude Jay. This guy was so sure of his charm, so arrogant and self-confident that he probably didn't like when a woman said "no" to him. House wished he could have stayed longer to watch over Cuddy and helped her if necessary. But because of this leg, because of this fxxxing leg he had to go back to his hotel. And now he was worried about Cuddy. He looked at his watch on the edge of the tub. It was 1.00 am. She probably didn't sleep. He had to know where she was now. He hoped she was alone. He was about to call her when he thought that he couldn't see if she was fine, he would just hear her voice, but wouldn't see her. Determined to know if she was safe, he got out of the tub, got dressed and went to Cuddy. Fortunately he didn't have to wait for a cab and about 15 minutes later he was in front of Cuddy's place. He asked the driver to wait for him. He just wanted to be sure that she was safe at home. He went to the house and saw a soft lighting through a window on the left. He neared that window and gave a look through it. He was right. Cuddy was there. She was sitting in the living-room and had a red mug in her hand. She seemed to be lost in thought and worried. She was beautiful in this soft lighting. House felt relieved, she was alone and safe. He could go back to his hotel. But as he was about to go back to the cab, he saw a tear rolling on her cheek. She wiped it away with her hand but another one rolled down. House felt sad, he wished he could take her in his arms and comfort her. He would call her once he was back in his room. For want of anything better, he could talk with her and showed her that he cared about her. He began to walk back to the cab but he kicked a stone. Cuddy heard a noise outside. What could it be? It was the middle of the night. She got up and went to the window to gaze into the night but there was no one in sight. It was probably a cat. House sighed; he just had time to press himself against the wall so that Cuddy didn't see him. He waited a few minutes and went back to the cab, then to his hotel. Cuddy heard the noise of the motor and ran to the window. She just saw a figure in a cab going away. But this figure seemed familiar to her. Was it him? No, she had probably imagined it, she was probably one more time hallucinating. She really needed some days off. It was the third time today that she saw "House", well at least that she believed to have seen him. Am I going insane? Or is it just a trick my subconscious plays on me to show me how much I need House? I'd better go to bed.

Oooooooo

Once in his room, House took his cell phone and dialed Cuddy's number.

She was crying silently in her bed when her phone rang. She looked at the number. It was House. She picked up: "House, I'm not your boss anymore, so please stop calling me in the middle of the night. I need to sleep."

"I don't think you can actually sleep."

"Why? It's 2.00 am. Normal people sleep at this time you know."

"You were at a gala, didn't you?"

"Yes. And?"

"And technically I don't think you can be home before 1.30 am."

"May I know why?"

"'cause you're the Dean and you have to stay a few hours before going home. I don't think your boss would appreciate that you go home early."

"Why do you say that? Do you know Barrow?"

"How do you feel Cuddy?"

"Why… why do you want to know?"

"I can hear in your voice that there is something wrong. Do you want to talk about it?"

"I… " was all she managed to say. She'd got a lump in her throat.

"Cuddy? Are you okay?" House could hear her crying.

"I'm just tired."

"You're sure there's no other reason?"

"Like what?"

"Like problem with a man…"

"House, why do you care about me?" Cuddy whispered with a sob in the voice. "Are you jealous?"

House didn't answer immediately. He didn't expect such a question. He thought that Cuddy would get angry at him because of his presence at the gala tonight; he was ready to face her anger, not her distress and her sadness. "Because… because"

"You can't say it. Why, House? Tell me why?" she said and burst out sobbing.

House felt bad. He so much wanted to hold her tight in his arms to comfort her, but he couldn't.

"House, were you that mysterious man in black who danced with me?" she asked after a while.

"What are you talking about?" was all that he could answer. He didn't know why he said that. The words came out in one go, he didn't have time to think of them. But his heart was filled with happiness: she did recognize him.

"House, please, tell me. Did you attend the gala tonight? Did you wear a black cape and a white mask? Did you dance with me? House! I need to know!" she cried. "I need to know if I'm going crazy. I thought I saw you this afternoon at the hospital and about half an hour ago at my place, I thought you were this sensual man dressed in black tonight at the gala… Am I hallucinating? Am I going crazy? House, please, tell me the truth." Her voice ended in a whisper.

House could feel how desperate Cuddy was and he couldn't stand it. He had to tell her the truth, she deserved it. He breathed in deeply and finally said: "I… yes, it was me. You didn't hallucinate, Cuddy." House could hear Cuddy heave a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, House."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you thank me? Why are you not angry at me?"

"I don't know." After a few minutes of silence, she added: "Maybe because I loved to dance with you tonight, maybe because I felt so good in your arms tonight, maybe… because I missed you so much."

"Cuddy, I… Take care. Good night"

"Good night House"