Chapter 34

Cuddy didn't know what to do. She didn't feel like going with Jay, but on the other hand this prize would be a good thing for the hospital. Another point bothered her: what would House say? She was certain that he would want to go with them and she must admit that she'd like him to go with her. The idea of being alone with Jay worried her. But she also knew that Jay would refuse. She was walking round and round in her office, playing with a rubber band when House opened the door.

"The shark is gone? The dragon floored him?"

"Can't you knock at the door?" Cuddy exclaimed and jumped.

"Old reflex." House replied with a grimace. "I see that the dragon has still strength."

"What do you want?"

"I just wanna tell you that my office is oddly great: two rooms and wide windows with view on the park. This guy knows how to deal with me. See, you're not the only one."

"House, I"

"Or the hospital's accounts are really bad. However I need a comfy armchair and a couch. Do you think you can do something for your boyfriend?"

"House! Have you already forgotten what Barrow told you!?"

"Okay forget the couch, I'll manage to find a solution."

"House, Jay wants me to go with him to a symposium"

"That's what bothers you, isn't it?"

"Oh you think it bothers me? I really don't understand why you say that. This man is just a womanizer who wants me in his bed, but what's the problem?"

"Where?"

"In Miami"

House whistled. "Miami! He hoped to see you with your bikini. This guy is sassy. He has no doubts about his charm. I hope I won't have to pay you some vacations in Miami to have the chance to see you with your bikini."

"House!"

"How stupid am I! I see you every night in sexy underwear and naked. I don't need Miami!" House replied with a smile and hit his forehead.

Cuddy looked at him. She couldn't decide if she should be angry at House for making fun of her because of Jay or if she should be thankful to him for showing how ridiculous Jay was.

"Can we consider your office as a public place or is it private?"

Cuddy stared at House, surprised. She opened the mouth to say something but House didn't let her the time to say a word. "I guess that if we put the blind down and lock the door, it would be a private place."

"House, don't even think of it." Cuddy articulated. She pretended to be angry but House could see some amusement in her eyes.

"Tells the woman who a few hours earlier wanted adrenaline, danger and sex." House whispered and looked at her straight in the eyes. They stood very close. A few seconds later House added: "And usually that's the moment that someone stupid opens the door."

And indeed the door swung opened and Cuddy's assistant stood on the threshold. Cuddy and House burst out laughing: "Oh, I'm… sorry, I thought you were alone, but I can come back later, I" the assistant said embarrassed.

"Jerry, it's okay. This is Dr. House, the head of the Diagnostic Department. We have some things to talk about but"

"Hey! We had an important conversation."

"I'm…. I'm sorry, I didn't know"

"And we were about to have sex!" Cuddy rolled her eyes, Jerry looked at House wondering if he was joking.

"Dr. House, you're gonna scare my assistant."

"Where were you, Jerry? When I came to Dr. Cuddy's office there was no one at your desk." House told Cuddy's assistant and then turned to Cuddy who had fun. "You should choose your assistant with more attention. Anyone can go into your office."

"I'm sorry, Dr. Cuddy. I … I was…"

"At the cafeteria and hit on a nurse" House added.

Cuddy looked at Jerry. "Jerry, is that true?"

"I… I swear I won't do it again. I"

"Okay. What did you want?" Cuddy cut him off.

"Mr. Jay dropped this for you and he insisted that I gave it to you immediately." Jerry replied and held the brochure of a hotel in Miami out to Cuddy. She frowned, bit her lower lip and turned to House. Jerry stood there embarrassed.

"I think you should go now and let the adults talk about adults' things." House added and grinned.

"Do you want something else, Jerry?"

"Mr. Jay also told that he needed your answer this afternoon."

"What?!"

"I'm sorry that's what he said. And he added that you can call him at this number" Jerry said and gave Cuddy Jay's business card.

"Thank you, Jerry, I'm gonna call him"

Once Jerry has closed the door, she went to her desk and took the phone.

"What are you going to tell him?" House asked and put his hand on the phone.

Cuddy looked at him. "This guy is arrogant, odious, so full of himself, so"

"Wow! I could think you're talking about me. Should I be jealous?"

"House!"

"Cuddy, I think you should go to Miami."

"Are you kidding?"

"I haven't said that you should go there alone…"

Cuddy smiled sadly. "I'm afraid they won't let you go with me. You have a team to hire and your first case is already waiting for you."

"Really? Where is the file?"

"Here" Cuddy replied and held a file out to House.

He took it, had a glance at it and said: "Boring. Give it to another one."

"House, I want you to treat this case."

"When you tell I have to treat it, should I understand that this uninteresting case is a relation of a bigwig?"

"Right. And he wants the best doctor to treat his wife. So please"

"Cuddy, you know that I only work on difficult case, I'm only interested in medical puzzle, not in what every doctor can treat. This is just a bronchitis."

Cuddy looked at House, surprised. "How can you be so sure that it's nothing serious?"

"Did you read the file?"

"Yes. I agree with you but this patient is the wife of one of our generous sponsor. Without his help, we wouldn't have a new MRI. House, you have no other choice than to take this case. Am I clear?"

House opened the file and read it. "But there's nothing else to do! She already had a chest x-ray which ruled out pneumonia, a pulmonary function test which didn't reveal any asthma or emphysema…" House suddenly stopped.

"What? House, tell me, is there a problem?"

"They didn't make a sputum culture! How idiot they are!"

"You think of whooping cough?"

"Maybe. She coughed since two weeks."

"You see, we need your skills …"

"No. You need to fire this stupid guy who thinks he's a doctor."

"House"

"Okay. But you owe me."

"Can I call Jay now?"

"Cuddy, I know you. I know how much you're involved in your job and I know that the hospital's accounts are not good. If you don't go there, you will reproach yourself for having missed this opportunity."

Cuddy stared at House and sighed. "You're right. As usual." After a few seconds she asked: "Do you really think I have to go to Miami?"

"It's up to you."

"What would you do if you were at my place?"

"If I were at your place I would use my physical attributes to have fun and by fun I mean sex."

"House, can't you be serious?" Cuddy replied and rolled her eyes.

"Hey you asked me! But if I were at your place I wouldn't have the same problem as you unless Jay is gay."

Cuddy sighed. "I don't feel like being alone with this guy, House."

"What do you want him to do? There will be lots of people. He has a crush on you but he's not stupid."

"I know, but what about the evening?"

"Why don't you call the organizer and ask them about the program of the symposium? And then you can decide if it's worth it."

"You're right, I'm gonna do this."

House nodded. "I'm gonna see my patient and hire my team. See ya later."

Oooooooo

Now that Cuddy knew the program of the symposium, she decided to call Jay. She knew exactly what she was going to tell him and she was well decided to remain calm and professional. After three ringtone Jay picked up. His voice was deep and warm, charming. "I was waiting for you call, Lisa."

Cuddy was surprised. She didn't expect Jay to recognize the call number of her office. After a few seconds, she replied: "The conference that concerns …" she was about to say us but she couldn't, it was more than she could handle. "that concerns the topic you mentioned is on Thursday afternoon. I suggest that we take a flight in the morning and we can come back in the evening. I consulted the flight times, it will be short, we won't have lot of time but it can work. So I'll just be absent for one day. Do you agree?"

"Lisa, why are you so in a hurry? Why don't you take a few days more – until Sunday for example – to assist to other conferences? Many other conferences are about very interesting topics you know. Without taking into account the fact that Miami is a great place to have fun and to relax."

Cuddy could hear some disappointment and some determination in his voice. He wouldn't give up on her so easily, on the contrary, the more she resisted him and the more he wanted her. This game was going to finish badly and it worried Cuddy.

"I can't allow myself to take vacations now, Mr. Jay. There are too much things to do at this moment at the hospital."

"Lisa, I don't ask you to stay a whole week in Miami. Just two days and the weekend. You looked tired this morning, I'm worried about you and I'm not the only one. Mr. Barrow found you very tired. You're on the brink of a burn out, you really should take some days off. What better opportunity? It combines work and pleasure."

"Mr. Jay, I appreciate that you feel concerned about my health but I'm going to do the round trip in the day. Should I book a flight ticket for you or…?"

"No thank you, I'm gonna do it myself. But if you want, my assistant can book yours."

"No, thank you. See you then on Thursday."

Once she hung up, she felt relieved. She wouldn't be alone with Jay, she just would have to stand him a long day. And light-hearted she went home.