Chapter 52

1 pm. Cuddy came back in her office. She was in the cafeteria and had tried to eat a salad but her stomach didn't agree and she decided to go back to work. She was tired and tensed. She wished the day was over but fate had decided that it would be different. As soon as she closed the door and turned to her desk she started. Jay was there, sitting at her desk.

"Dr. Cuddy, I hope you won't mind but I gave your assistant his afternoon."

"What did you do? You have no right!" she replied furious. His rudeness made her blood boil.

"We have some delicate topic to talk about and I think it's better if there is no eavesdropper."

"Mr. Jay, it's my office, not yours. I'm the only one who can decide to give my assistant a day off."

"Lisa, I've been waiting for you this morning."

"I don't have time to lose with you, Mr. Jay." Cuddy replied and opened the door, notifying Jay to leave her office. "I hoped you have understood it. Apparently not."

"Lisa" Jay said in a threatening tone, stood up and came close to her. Cuddy couldn't move, she was petrified. Jay closed the door, then turned to Cuddy who took a step backwards. "I'm afraid YOU didn't get the message. If you don't do what I say, if you don't do what I want you to do, then I will be forced to be … a bad guy." He said with a smile and got closer. "And I'm sure that you won't like it" he added and stroked her cheek.

Cuddy was deathly pale. For fear and for anger. How could this guy think that he could come in her hospital and threaten her? How could he imagine that she would give in? Of course he could, Cuddy thought bitter, I almost did in Miami because of fear for Rachel and Ethan. She took a deep breath and tried to look self-assured.

"Mr. Jay, I will never give in to your demands. NEVER. Do you get it?"

Jay put his hand on her neck and forced her to come closer to him, so close that his face was only a centimeter from hers. She couldn't turn the head away, his hand tightened her neck too strong. She felt nauseous. "Lisa, why do you hurt yourself? It could be so nice, so enjoyable?" he whispered. "I'm"

Suddenly the door opened. Jay and Cuddy started. House came in. He stopped as he saw them.

"House! Don't you know how to knock at the door before coming in?!" Jay said furious and moved away from Cuddy.

House looked at him then at Cuddy. She was very pale. "What is he doing here?!" House shouted, pointing at Jay and pretending to be angry at Cuddy and jealous of Jay. "I thought I was clear?! I don't want you to see this guy anymore." He articulated threatening.

"House, no, it's not what you"

"Shut up!"

"House, I"

"DR. House, for you"

"Dr. House," Jay replied condescending, " as I said, I was talking with Dr. Cuddy about a very important subject, can't you come back later? Your jealousy is "

"No, I can't come back later unless you want to read in the press that a patient died because the Dean has an affair with a stupid guy?!" House retorted.

"House! How dare you"

"I just state facts"

"What do you want, House?" Cuddy said exasperated.

"I can't talk as long as Jay is here. Privacy" House replied sharply and stared at Jay, notifying him to go out.

"Mr. Jay, can you go out, please, a patient life is in danger." Cuddy said calmly.

Jay gave her a dark look and muttered "I'll be back soon, Lisa." Then he went out of Cuddy's office. House didn't close completely the door so that Jay could hear what they said.

"Cuddy, what was doing this guy here? Without saying so close to you? Not to say kissing you"

"House, I… it's not what you think. He forced me to" she replied begging.

"Shut up, Cuddy, I'm fed up with your apologies, with your lies." House shouted.

"House, believe me! Please"

"No, I can't, you lie to me since too long, how can I trust you? You promise to stay far away from this guy and the day after I find you in his arms! How do you want me to trust you?! You can't tell me that what I saw was just an illusion, that it was a fake just like you did with the photos! I'm really a moron!" House yelled. "I've seen you with my own two eyes, you can't deny it, Cuddy!"

"House! You know I wouldn't cheat on you, you know that I don't !" she shouted, tears rolling on her cheeks.

"No, Cuddy. I don't know. I thought that you loved me, that you cared about me, but you just wanted to take revenge on me for all the horrible things I did to you. Well played, Cuddy, you win, you broke my heart. I guess it's better to stop here. It's over Cuddy." House replied with a wink.

"House, no, please, no. Give me another chance" she said pretending to be desperate. "I love you, House" she cried.

House gave her a last look and went out. He almost collided with Jay who didn't miss a word of their argument.

"Still here? You really have nothing to do" House told him and limped away. Some nurses looked at him but when he neared them, they looked away and stopped talking. In less than ten minutes, all the hospital would know about his break-up with Cuddy.

Jay was happy. His photos had been efficient. He hesitated a few seconds and decided to come back later. He had a busy schedule with the campaign for the seat of Governor and it didn't suit him to wait before talking with Cuddy, but he assumed that she would be angry, furious, desperate, sad, and he considered it would be better to wait for her to calm down and then to take advantage of this new situation. Instead of being the bad guy, he could be the good one, the one who'd comfort her after her break-up and new opportunities lay before him. He would be the man by her sides, not her torturer, and she couldn't say no anymore. On the contrary, she would be thankful to him. Tenderly thankful.

Oooooo

Two hours later, House's fellows came back with some results. They looked a little nervous and didn't dare looking at House straight in the eyes while they told him what happened with their case. The patient fibrillated earlier but his state was now stable. House asked them to make a differential diagnosis. He rejected Jones' hypothesis and made fun of her, then laughed at MacCoy and finally decided that Taub's idea was the best they had. To confirm it, he gave them other examination to do. Taub and MacCoy were already at the door but Jones remained still. House looked at her and said ironically: "Is there something you don't understand?"

"House, you're a jerk, it's not my fault if you broke up with Cuddy, so don't get angry at me!" she replied furious and left, followed by Taub and MacCoy.

House smiled. His plan worked perfectly. A few minutes later, as he was reading some article, he felt a presence. He looked up. Charlotte was on the threshold.

"Hi", she said softly. "I've learnt of your break-up and I wanted to know if I could do something for you."

"No, thank you" he replied and looked down at his paper.

"House, I know, well I imagine how you feel, I think it would do you good to talk about it. It's never easy to dump someone."

"Why are you still here? Don't you listen to what I said? I don't need your pity."

"House" Charlotte said and went to him, "I'm not your enemy, I just want to help you going through this"

"Really? You have nothing in the back of your mind? Because usually people are not nice to other people without expecting anything in return." House said cynical.

"I just want to help you, that's it." She replied and stroked his cheek.

"And you dare lecturing me!" Cuddy exclaimed angry.

House and Charlotte started. They didn't notice her.

"Dr. Cuddy, I'm sorry, it's not what you think, I"

"Shut up! I don't want your opinion, you should be ashamed" Cuddy retorted, looking daggers at Charlotte.

This one didn't dare to reply, she was scared, she never thought that the Dean could be that furious. Cold, terse and curt, yes, but so furious, she never imagined it. Cuddy looked so hurt, so outraged that Charlotte wished she could disappear.

"Dr. Cuddy, we're not together anymore since" House looked at his watch and went on "since about three hours. I consider then that I can date anyone I want. You don't have anything to say."

"You're a son of a bitch, House."

"But you're responsible of this situation, Cuddy, YOU cheat on me with this stupid guy. So don't come and preach at me!"

"I screw you, House."

"Why did you come?"

"Here's the agreement for your medical examination." She replied sharply. "And I don't need to be told twice. I guess that Mr. Jay will be happy to hear it." Cuddy left.

Charlotte looked at House. He seemed to be… happy? "House, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. What about having a drink?"

"House, I don't think it's a good idea."

"Hey, I just said a drink, I didn't say sex. But if you prefer the second option, it suits me."

"No. It's too soon. Maybe later. I mean for the drink." Charlotte stammered and blushed.

"And for sex?"

"Forget about it. As long as Cuddy is my boss, I won't have sex with you."

"Great, then I'm gonna ask her to fire you."

"House, stop joking. It's not funny."

"You're right, it's not funny." He said and stared at her.

"Right now, you need to analyze the situation and to focus on your feelings. But you know where to find me if you need to talk." She gave him a kiss on the cheek and left him.

Ooooo

The meeting was important, they had to define a program to rally the maximum of electors behind Jay. But Jay was only half-listening to the opinions of his advisers. He thought of the violent quarrel between House and Cuddy. It couldn't have come at a better time. Jay knew he should get rid of House, but how? He couldn't simply make him disappear like the journalist. He would have become a martyr for Cuddy and she would have never forgive him, which meant she would be much more angry at Jay than she already was, much more recalcitrant to give in to Jay's advances. So then, no benefits for Jay. Whereas right now, House was Cuddy's enemy and Jay was her friend. Well he would be very soon. Jay wished he was with Cuddy right now, comforting her with lots of tenderness. As wise businessman, Jay knew how to take advantage of the weakness, of the fragility of his adversary. And Cuddy wouldn't be an exception. Jay will use House's break-up with Cuddy to seduce her and achieve his ends.

"Mr. Jay, do you agree?"

"Hum, sorry, I was lost in thoughts. Let's have a break." Jay said and went out of the room. Once in the hall, he sent Cuddy a message: "I'm sorry for you, but don't be sad. House wasn't good enough for you. You deserve someone better, someone like me. I can make you happy, Lisa. If you need to talk, I'm there for you. Just call me and I come. Your Charles" Jay felt better once he did it. Now he could focus on the politics.