Chapter 44

House looked through the window. He saw some people walking in the park, others were laughing, children were playing baseball. Suddenly, one little boy began to cry. His mother came to see what happened. He showed her his left arm. She looked at it, rubbed it, smiled and kissed the little boy. Apparently he was stung by a wasp or by nettle. Suddenly, House knew what caused all the symptoms of Caroline! He ran to her room and began to examine Caroline's arms, hands, legs… Here was it! Just behind her left ankle. Two little points.

"What are you doing?" MacCoy asked.

"You know what she has" Taub said looking at House. He knew this look, he knew this expression, the boss had one more time solved the medical puzzle.

"Yes!" House replied. And exultant he added: "Hemolytic anemia! Caused by snake venom. Here you can see two small points, the marks of the snake fang."

"Wow! Are you sure?" Jones asked. She admired House at this moment. She would have never thought of that.

"Let ask her. Caroline, did you go hiking recently?"

"Yes"

"Do you remember if you were bitten by an insect or a snake?"

"I remember that I felt a violent pain in my ankle but it didn't last and I didn't care about it. It was late in the afternoon and we had to reach the refuge before the night."

"You should have cared. You would have avoided all this. Okay, make blood transfusion and give her some steroid. She should feel better in a few days."

Oooooo

Cuddy was at the airport, waiting for her plane. Her phone vibrated, she had a message. She thought it was House but when she saw the number her heart squeezed. It was a new photo of House and the girl: they were hugging each other rather tenderly. Some tears came to her eyes. She wiped them away. Chase convinced her it wasn't true, that these photos didn't mean anything, that they were taken by someone who wanted to hurt her, but with this new one… Cuddy didn't know what to think. There was no doubt, they were hugging. House's eyes were even closed as if he enjoyed it. Cuddy was lost. She desperately wanted to believe Chase, to believe that all this was just a plot against her, she really wanted to believe that House would never cheat on her, that he truly loved her, that he truly cared about her but it was so hard. This last pic was so painful. She wanted to call him but she feared her voice betrayed her feelings. She had a heavy heart, she felt so sad. She sent him a small message: House, my plane lands at 10.00 pm. Hope to see you there. Then she prepared to board.

Oooooo

House sat in his office. The case was solved but he couldn't find peace. The pictures of Cuddy and Jay haunted his mind. His phone vibrated. He looked at it. It was a new message. Two other pictures. On the first one: Cuddy in Jay's arms. His hands on her ass and on her breast. House's jaw clenched in anger. Cuddy didn't really seem to enjoy it, so why were Jay's hands on her? House looked at the second one: Cuddy holding back Jay by the arm and saying something like "no". Her face showed fear. What did it mean? Did she really want to hold him back? Cuddy, do you like this guy? Do you really like him? "NOOO!" House shouted and hit violently his desk.

"Wow! I thought you were happy when you solved a case but apparently I was wrong." Robert said. He was standing at the door.

"What do you want?" House replied sharply.

"I wanna thank you, House. I've just seen Caroline and your fellows told me that she suffers from hemolytic anemia due to a snake bite." After a while, Robert added: "You saved her life, House, thank you. If I can do something…"

"I just did my job. Good bye"

But Robert didn't move. He stared at House. What could bother him? It was obvious that something worried him.

"Don't you have anything to do?"

"I'm sorry, that's none of my business but… you looked upset, worried and sad. Do you want to talk about it? Sometimes it helps."

House looked at Robert and asked sarcastically: "Are you all … kind and sweet here?"

Robert looked surprised and disconcerted. "What… what do you mean?"

"You're the second one in half an hour that wants to help me! Why? Am I so pathetic? So miserable?"

"No, no, it's just that… well you saved my sister and "

"And you feel forever grateful" House replied ironical.

They gazed at each other, none of them spoke. Finally, Robert said: "I really don't understand why Lisa loves you House, it's a mystery. What can she see in you? What can attract her? You're really lucky, you know. But if you ever hurt her, you'll find me on your way. She deserves to be happy."

"It's so sweet, the devoted admirer ready to fight for the woman who dumped him for another one. And by another one, I mean me. The arrogant, selfish, cynical and odious guy."

"You're a jerk, House. A brilliant doctor, but a miserable guy."

"I know." House sighed. "Leave me alone now."

Once Robert had left, House took his phone and dialed Chase's number. He wanted to ask him about Cuddy and Jay. House couldn't believe what the photos showed, he refused to give credence to any of them, he tried to convince himself that all this was fake, that someone wanted to hurt him but who and why? Robert? No, he was too worried about his sister and too stupid to plot something so sophisticated. So who? Who was behind all this? And why? House wasn't here since enough time to already upset somebody. Unfortunately, he got Chase's voice mail. He tried Foreman's number but once again, he got the voice mail. They were probably in the plane. He had to wait. Suddenly his phone vibrated, he got a new message. House hesitated to open it. He feared it could be new photos and he knew he couldn't stand it. After a few seconds, he finally took his phone. It was Cuddy. What did she want? House, my plane lands at 10.00 pm. Hope to see you there. He looked at his watch: 6.00 pm. He had four hours before he saw her. Four hours to try to calm down or… to get mad. He read one more time her message. Why did she use the verb hope? She perfectly knew he would wait for her at the airport, so why? There was something odd. But what? What happened? He thought about ten seconds, took his phone and dialed Julia's number.

"Hi, Julia, this is House. I'd like to ask you a favor."

"Hi, House. What do you want?" she replied coldly.

"Cuddy was in Chicago for a symposium and she comes back tonight. I'd like to surprise her with a romantic dinner and a romantic evening, and"

"And you want me to take care of Rachel and Ethan."

"Yes. Do you agree?"

After a few seconds, she replied: "I do it for Lisa, House, not for you. Is it clear?"

"It could not be clearer. Thank you. We'll be at your home in one hour."

Oooooo

10.30 pm. Chicago's airport. There weren't lot of people in the airport. Cuddy's flight landed timely and the first passengers were going out. House was waiting. Cuddy finally went out. She saw House and headed to him. She smiled but it was a forced smile. Her eyes didn't reflect joy, they showed fear, despair and anger.

"Hi" she said and gave him a peck. She couldn't do more, the pictures of House and the girl were engraved in her mind. "I'm tired, let's go home."

"Hi" House replied. He was quite cold and distant because of the photos he received a few hours ago. He looked at Cuddy, trying to guess her feelings but she avoided his look and it wasn't easy. Cuddy didn't really pay attention to him, she was lost in thoughts. And it worried House. He knew her so well, he knew when something worried her and it was the case. Could it be possible that she fell for Jay? It could explain why she was so cold and distant. But she didn't seem to be … embarrassed? No, she wasn't, but maybe guilty… House felt a sharp pain in his chest. Could she…? No, it wasn't possible, he trusted her, she couldn't do that to him, not now. There must be an explanation. But it would wait for them to be home.

None of them talked on the way home. It was only when they came home that Cuddy asked worried: "Where are Rachel and Ethan?"

"By Julia, don't worry. I thought that it would be better if we were alone." House replied staring at her. She was pale and tensed. "Cuddy, we need to talk."

Cuddy looked at him. It was only now that she noticed how cold and distant he was. Something had happened. Something bad. She immediately thought of the kids. "House, are Ethan and Rachel okay? Are you telling me the truth, they're really by Julia. Tell me, are they okay?" she shouted on the verge of panic.

House looked at her, surprised. He didn't understand Cuddy's reaction. "Of course they are! I'm a great dad! Why…"

"It's … it's a long story. I'm gonna call Julia. I need to be sure." And before House could say something, she had already dialed the number of her sister.

"Julia! It's me, Lisa. Can you go to Rachel's and Ethan's room and then tell me if they're okay."

"Lisa, are you okay?"

"Yes, just go and see if everything's fine. I'm waiting."

About one minute later, Julia said: "Everything's fine, they're sleeping. Lisa, tell me, is there something wrong?"

"No, no, I'm just tired. Thank you, Julia. Good night." And she hung up.

House stared at her. He didn't recognize her. He had never seen her like this. What happened in Miami? Why was Cuddy so desperate, so worried, so… scared?