Chapter 39

Once at the hotel, Foreman waited for Cuddy to be in her room before he went in his own room. Cuddy took off her shoes and let herself fall on the bed. Then she saw her phone and remembered what Jay told her. She stretched her arm and grabbed her phone. She had four messages. She sat and frowned. She typed on a few touch and began to read. The first message was a small text: "I'm working with you, Dr. Cuddy, and I really like it. You're a nice person, kind and right, and I'm proud to work with you. That's why I reckon it as my obligation to warn you. Your boyfriend is cheating on you. I send you two pics to prove what I affirm." The next two messages were indeed two pics of House with a young woman. On the first one they stared at each other and were very close to each other. They were like hypnotized. The intensity of their look showed… what? Love? Hope? Friendship? On the second one, she leant over him and seemed to… kiss him! Cuddy couldn't believe it. She didn't want to believe it. She read the fourth message: "I got some more pics if you want. This guy is not a nice guy, you should break up with him as soon as possible. Think of you and of your children. Don't waste time with such a jerk." No, it was impossible, she trusted House, she knew he loved her, she knew he would never cheat on her. Or would he? After all, he used to go out with hookers. Even when they were together she had to ask him not to see this hooker who was so talented with her fingers to ease the pain in his leg. It was a point of disagreement between them but he did what she wanted. No, she was certain that House wouldn't cheat on her. Not now, not after all they went through. She trusted him, they felt so good together. These pics were certainly photomontage, nothing was true, and it was all fake. But it was too late. The doubt was in her mind and tormented her. Jealousy and anger overwhelmed her. I have to get some explanation. She looked at her watch, it displayed 2.30 am. She couldn't call House now, not in the middle of the night. The phone bell could wake Rachel or Ethan and she didn't want to involve the kids in this masquerade. She will have to wait tomorrow to call House. She went to the bathroom to get a glass of water and caught her image in the mirror. She was pale and looked tired. Maybe am I too old for House, maybe does he prefer young women? Some tears rolled on her cheeks. She was still looking at her face wondering if she could ask Foreman for advice, maybe she could ask him what he thought about her, if he found her attractive and sexy. Her phone rang suddenly. She hesitated but went back to the bed where she let it. It was Jay. She picked up.

"Mr. Jay, it's late, can't you wait tomorrow?" she said sharply.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Cuddy, I wanted to apologize one more time, I know it's not an excuse but I have drunk too much and I didn't know what I was doing. I hope you can forgive me and will accept to continue to work with me."

He didn't call her Lisa, maybe was he honest, maybe was he really drunk. "It's okay, Mr. Jay, I just hope that in the future you'll behave."

"I swear it won't happen again."

"Good, then good night."

"Good night, Dr. Cuddy, and one more time I'd like to express you my regrets."

"Good ni"

"Oh, by the way Dr. Cuddy!" Jay exclaimed suddenly.

"What?" Cuddy sighed on the verge of exasperation.

"Did you get any … phone call or message?"

Cuddy was speechless. How can he know?

"Dr. Cuddy, are you still there?"

"Yes, yes, I'm… what what do you mean?" she stuttered.

"Are you sure you're okay? You seem … shattered." Jay replied with a smile. His plan seemed to work. If he played his cards good, Cuddy would soon be his.

"No, everything's fine."

"Really?"

"Yes, good night."

"Dr. Cuddy, you didn't answer me. Did you get any news about the prize?"

That was it! Jay meant a phone call from the organizers of the symposium. "No, no, I didn't get any message. We'll have to wait tomorrow."

"Well, I guess the choice is more difficult than I first thought."

"Probably. I wish you"

"A good night?"

"Yes"

"Don't worry for me, Dr. Cuddy, it will be a great night. Carola is really a nice girl…"

"Good for you"

"You don't ask me who Carola is?" Jay said a little disappointed. He had expected a reaction from Cuddy.

"No, I don't care, Mr. Jay, it's your private life, you do what you want."

"Dr. Cuddy, are you… jealous?"

"No, I'm not" Cuddy replied sharply. This guy had some nerve suggesting she could be jealous!

"Hum… that's not what your tone of voice says."

"Mr. Jay, I'm not jealous, I"

"You are and you're right to be. Carola is nice, sexy and… young."

"Good night, Mr. Jay" Cuddy replied and hung up. Who does he think he is? Cuddy was furious. This guy was so self-confident, so proud of himself, it was disgusting. On the other hand, he pressed right where it hurt. She might be still attractive and sexy – otherwise why would have Jay hit on her? – but she wasn't young anymore and the girl on the pic with House was. She needed to be reassured about her sex appeal, but who could she ask? Maybe Jay was right, she wasn't worth it anymore. On a professional level she was self-confident, but on a personal level she lacked of self-confidence and the fear of losing House once more terrified her. Especially if the reason was another woman, a younger and sexier one. She knew she couldn't stand it. House was certainly selfish, arrogant, and cynical, he could also be rude, but Cuddy was well aware that many women found him sexy and attractive. And right now, with the tiredness, the tension of the day, the fact that it was the middle of the night, Cuddy was weak and needed to be comforted. But there was no one.

Cuddy was lost. These horrible pictures of House with this girl haunted her mind. House, who is this girl? Why don't you talk to me about her? Who is she? Do you like her? Do I have to fight for you? Because I will, House, I swear that this time I won't give up on us so easily. Tears rolled on Cuddy's cheeks, tears of sadness but of anger too. Cuddy was now furious. She was angry at herself for having left House alone whereas they just got back together. She was angry at this mysterious person who sent her these horrible pics. I need to calm down and to sleep or I'm gonna do stupid things. She went to the bathroom and swallowed a sleeping pill. "Whoever you are, you won't have him, he's mine", she told her image in the mirror. Then she went to bed and tried to concentrate on her breathing.

Jay looked at his phone, he was furious. But what could he do? She would never let him in her room and he knew that Foreman and Chase had the rooms next to Cuddy's. His plan B worked not as good as he had hoped and Jay was vexed. But he had to be careful. With a woman like Lisa Cuddy, nothing was ever won. That's why he explained the man with who he was talking before he called Cuddy what he expected from him.

ooooooo

Jay stood in front of Cuddy's room, his guy stood on the other side of the hall with a camera. His fellow waved him. Jay pretended to get out of Cuddy's room and he was smiling.

"Is it okay? Did you get a good pic?"

"Yes. I'm sure you will like my photos." The man looked down at Jay's crotch and added with a little smile: "I guess that you should put your shirt back in your trousers now and close your zipper or people would imagine some … things. If you see what I mean."

Jay blushed and did what the man said.

"Let's go to my room. You'll show me and I'll tell you what you'll have to do with it."

The man showed Jay the last photos he took and a nasty smile came on Jay's lips. Soon, he would have his revenge.

Once the man left his room, Jay went to bed and thought of Lisa Cuddy. And dirty thoughts came to his mind.

Ooooooo

9.00 am. House sat in his office and read some resume. He really had to find some fellows to build his team or Cuddy will be angry. Which meant less sex. He was thinking when a man knocked at his door. He wore a white coat and looked quite good.

"Dr. House, I am Dr. Robert, Head of"

"I know who you are" House cut him off and stared at Robert, wondering what this guy wanted.

"Well, I suppose Dr. Cuddy talked to you about… us" Robert replied.

"Yes, but you're not here to talk with me about your love disappointment"

"No, you're right. I'm here because I have a case for you."

House looked at Robert and said: "I still haven't hired my team, I'm sure you can find another doctor here who can treat your patient."

"No, you're my last hope. She's already seen many doctors and neither succeeded in finding what she has. "

"Why me? You should hate me."

"I do. But I also know your talent, if someone can heal her, it's you. I know that your method is not … conventional but… please, House, look at her file. Then if you decide to refuse the case… but at least look at her file." Robert repeated and held a file out to House.

This one nodded, took it and skimmed it. A glint of interest shined in his eyes. Finally, he got something interesting. Robert was worried and waited for House to answer. Suddenly, House looked up. "Who is this patient?"

"Her name is on the file. She's called Caroline Robert."

"You didn't answer my question, who is she? Why is she so important for you, why do you care so much?"

Robert took a deep breath. "She's my sister." He whispered and looked down.

A young man knocked at the door.

"Excuse me, I'm Dr. James MacCoy and we had an appointment…"

House looked up. "MacCoy?" He took a paper and replied: "Okay, Mac, you wanna work for me, right? So come, we got a case" House said and stood up, gave MacCoy the file and went out of his office.

"Yes, I'd like to" MacCoy said a bit surprised. He hadn't expected such an answer. Everybody told him that House was a jerk, who had fun by ridiculing his fellows and that working for him wasn't a sinecure, but on the other side people who worked for him learnt a lot, because House was brilliant and many young doctors would kill to work for this man. "Of course, I "

"Com' and read the file. What do you think of it? Any ideas?"

"Okay" MacCoy said and followed House through the hall. "She had muscle soreness, breath pain…"

"I don't want you to list her symptoms, I want you to give me ideas about what she has!" House replied quite sharply. "Are you a doctor or a parrot?!"

"I… hu pericarditis?"

"Did she have chest pain with radiation to the trapezius ridge?"

"I… I don't know, there's nothing here…"

"Since when did she have difficulty to breath?"

"It's not mentioned"

Robert, who followed them too, said: "So you accept the case?"

House stopped and turned away. "No, I just talk with my fellow because we have nothing to do" House replied sarcastically.

"Thank you, House."

"Don't thank me. I take her case because I find it interesting."