Chapter 41

"Charlotte? This is House, I need your skills. Can you come to my office?"

"Hi, well I have to watch over Sam while he does his reeducation but I come after. Is it okay for you?"

"Okay, I'll wait for you."

House sat in his lounge chair and rubbed his leg. He took the bottle of Ibuprofen and swallowed two more pills. Why did his leg hurt like hell? Let's focus on the case! He opened the file of Caroline and read it one more time. What could cause chest pain, difficulty to breath, muscle soreness and kidneys failure? Heart problem? Pericarditis? No, it wouldn't explain the kidneys. An infection? Maybe but which one? I need the blood test results.

"Hey, how are you doing this morning? You looked tired."

"I'm in pain. My leg hurts like hell and the Ibuprofen does nothing." House replied staring at Charlotte.

"Well, let's see if I can do something for you." She said and went close to him. House wanted to stand up to take his trousers off but a violent and sudden pain radiated in his whole leg forcing him to fall back on the chair. House let out a cry of pain and held his leg. "House!" Charlotte exclaimed worried. "Let me help you." House looked at her and nodded. Charlotte undid House's belt and took his trousers slowly off, she didn't want to hurt him. He stared at her, she could feel his blue eyes on her. She felt hot and blushed, well aware of the odd situation. If someone came in, he could imagine things that didn't exist. "Okay, I'm gonna begin the massage, it can be painful." She said staring at House. "But it will do you good."

"Thanks for telling me." He replied looking at her straight in the eyes. They remained so – looking intensively at each other, Charlotte's hands on House's thigh – a few minutes. Suddenly the door opened and Jones came in, breathless. She froze and couldn't take her eyes off Charlotte and House.

"Didn't you mother teach you to knock at the door?!"

"I"

"What do you want? Did you find something interesting in the flat?" House asked sharply.

"I… I'm sorry, I… I didn't want to disturb you, I… I thought you were alone, I"

"Shut up! Just answer my question!"

Jones swallowed and finally said, looking down at her feet: "No, there was nothing in her flat. No toxin, no mold and the building is too recent for lead. We have to look for anything else. No environment causes."

"Then go to the lab and help Mac and Taub with the tests."

Jones remained silent. She had heard lots of things about House, but she thought the major part was just fabrication. But right now… the situation was odd.

"What are you waiting for? You should already be in the lab!" House shouted. "I need the results as soon as possible, our patient is dying!"

Jones hesitated but finally went out.

"I… I hope it won't cause you trouble, I'm sorry, House. Maybe we"

"Don't worry about her. Please, massage my leg."

Charlotte gazed at House and nodded. She did her best to be as soft as possible but House couldn't help but moaned. The pain was sharp. "It's gonna be okay, House, trust me" Charlotte said and stroked gently House's cheek. He looked at her and nodded.

"Can you… can you prescribe me some Vicodine? It's the only thing that eases my pain."

Charlotte looked at him, surprised. "Are you sure?"

"Please"

"But…"

"Please"

She looked at him, he was suffering, his face was pale and he had drawn features. She finally nodded, took her prescription book and wrote what House wanted. Then she stood up, helped him to put his trousers back on. "I'm going to the pharmacy, I come back with your Vicodine."

"Thank you"

Once Charlotte left his office, House tried to convince himself that Cuddy would understand him. She knew his story, she knew what happened to his leg, she knew how much he was in pain, she would understand. He hoped she would. Because right now, he was convinced that Vicodine was the only thing that would give him some relief and some peace. It would be just for a week, just the time for the pain to decrease and then he would go back to Ibuprofen. But he had to tell her, it was out of the question that she learned of it by herself or by someone else. HE had to tell her, as soon as he saw her. This time he would behave like an adult and assume his medication. He wouldn't hide it to her because of fear to lose her. Last time that was what happened, last time he lost her and this time, he didn't want to make the same mistake. No way. He needed Cuddy in his life.

Oooooo

Before she went to the pharmacy of the hospital, Charlotte decided to go to the lab. She had to talk to the intern, it was out of the question that people imagined things about her and House.

"Hum, can I talk to you?" she said to Jones.

"Me? Why?" Jones replied and pretended to be surprised. She knew why Charlotte wanted to talk to her. Taub and MacCoy looked at the two women.

"Is there a problem?" Taub asked.

"No, everything's alright. I just need to talk to Dr. Jones about a… patient." Charlotte replied. "I'm Dr. Charlotte Nera, physiotherapist." She added in front of Taub's questioning look.

"I'll be back soon" Jones said and followed Charlotte in the hall. "What do you want?"

"I… it's a bit embarrassing. When you came in House's office earlier, I"

"You mean Dr. House's office?" Jones repeated insisting on Dr. She wanted Jones to understand that she wasn't stupid and that she got what was going on.

"It's not what you think"

"I don't think about anything" Jones replied ironically. "You are two adults, you do what you want but… it's a hospital here, not a motel."

"No, you're wrong, I was just treating Dr. House, his leg hurts a lot and as physiotherapist I can ease his pain, that's it, nothing else. We"

"You can say that but I know what I saw. I just hope for you that Dr. Cuddy won't hear about it."

"But no! That's not what you think! I just did my job!"

"Listen to me, Dr. Nera. Dr. House is my boss and I won't do anything that could embarrass him. What you do with him is not my business and I don't intend to talk about it… but some other people won't be as kind as I am. I just want to warn you. Be more careful or you will hear of gossip really soon. If you … like Dr. House, be careful."

"I swear I'm just his physiotherapist, I just do my job to help him" Charlotte articulated, looking at Jones straight in the eyes.

Jones held her gaze and replied after a while: "I believe you, Dr. Nera. But be careful, some odd situation can lead to confusion. And none of us wants to cause trouble to Dr. House, so…"

"Thank you."

"I have lots of work so if you don't mind I'm going now" Jones replied and left Charlotte. This girl is right, I have to be careful to avoid any kind of misunderstanding. I have to tell House and… the Dean. Charlotte didn't know Cuddy, of course she knew she was the Dean but she never worked with her or even talked with her. She caught sight of her in the hospital and had heard about her from her colleagues, but she never met her personally. She knew House's and Cuddy's story and past, she heard lots of rumors about them, about their quarrels, about their flirts. She knew that they were still in love with each other. She heard some of her colleagues telling that the Dean and House were at the moment together. Some jealous people even said that she put pressure on the board management so that they decided to hire House as Head of the new Diagnostic Department; until now, the Dean was appreciated at the hospital, the employees agreed to say that she was fair, but now that House worked here, some doctors were worried he might get advantage at their cost; some other dragged her name through the mud because she dumped Dr. Robert as soon as House was back in her life. On the contrary other Doctors and nurses stood up for her, telling that Dr. Robert knew her feelings for House, that she was honest with him, that she never hid her love for House but that Robert tried his luck with her in spite of it. Charlotte didn't know what to think about all these rumors. But once was sure: she'd like to meet Dr. Cuddy. The Dean and House were both surrounded by mystery, their relationship was a puzzle. And Charlotte craved to meet the woman that succeeded in winning House's heart.

Oooo

Meanwhile Cuddy got a little better. Foreman decided to go to the symposium and left her with Chase.

"You don't have to stay with me, Chase. I'm gonna be okay. If you want to go with Foreman, it's okay for me."

"No way. I stay with you and we'll join Foreman later for lunch. Don't worry, the night was short and some rest will do me good" Chase replied with a smile. "Do you mind if I try to sleep on the chair?"

"You should go to your room and lay down on your bed."

"But I promise to stay with you…"

"Chase, it's okay, I'm not suicidal and your room is just next to mine."

Chase stared at Cuddy. He was tempted to do what she told him but something worried him. If something ever happened to Cuddy, he would blame himself for the rest of his life.

"Maybe should I take your sleeping pills?"

Cuddy looked at him. She was moved that Chase watched over her. He looked tired. "Chase, I swear that I won't do anything stupid. I promise to be a good girl. Go to your room and have a rest."

"Cuddy," Chase said and sat next to Cuddy, "tell me, why are you so … sad?"

Cuddy looked away, she couldn't stand Chase's look.

He put his hand on hers and repeated softly: "Why are you so sad, so … torn down?" After a few seconds of silence, he added: "Did House do something wrong?"

Cuddy turned slowly her head and looked at Chase. "I… why… why do you think it's House?"

"I know him… and I know you. You're someone strong, Cuddy, and you usually managed to hide your feelings, but when it comes to him… So, what did he do?"

Cuddy took a deep breathe: "Someone sent me pictures… of House and… a girl" she whispered in one go.

"Oh, I see but… are you sure they're not photomontage?"

"I… I don't know and"

"Can you show me?"

Cuddy gave Chase her phone.

"Well, they're just standing, nothing wrong on this one, and… the second one is … unclear…"

"Yes, the second one… Do you think she kisses him?"

Chase looked at Cuddy. Her eyes reflected sadness and fear, disappointment and anger. "Cuddy, do you remember when you came at Princeton Plainsboro?"

"Yes"

"You were in my office and we decided to meet at my flat to talk about House." Chase waited for Cuddy to nod. "Foreman and Adams thought I kissed you. Just because they saw me whispered in your ear from the hall and they thought"

"Are you kidding?"

"No, seriously, they thought we had a relationship. Maybe is it the case for House and this girl. We don't see their lips. And the photograph was quite far away from them."

"Maybe."

"Cuddy, House loves you, he would never cheat on you. Believe me, he truly loves you, you're the only one for him. Don't believe what people say, they're jealous and malicious. Do you see someone that would take revenge on you? Someone that could be mad with you?"

"Well, there is Robert, my ex-boyfriend but…"

"And Jay"

"Jay? No, I don't think he…"

Chase yawned. "I'm sorry"

"Don't be. Thank you, Chase. You should have a rest. Go to your room."

"You sure?"

"Yes. Tell me when you go to the symposium."

"Okay, then… but if you need something"

"I'll call you, I promise." Cuddy replied with a smile. She wanted to be alone, she needed to think about last night, about these horrible pictures and about what Chase told her. After all, he might be right. Jay was a business man, he was used to set a trap to his opponent. And she resisted him.

Chase finally left her. Once in his room, he called House but he only got his voicemail. Chase decided to hang up without leaving a message.