Thanks for the great reviews everyone. Enjoy. BTW this story takes place sometime after the huddy kiss, but before Rachel.

"Nurse Brenda! I need a gurney stat. I'm taking him to get an MRI." Brenda snapped out of the trance she was under, quickly following Cuddy's demand. "You," Cuddy pointed at one of the security guards. "Don't just stand there, call the police. Then you and your co-workers will go to my office and wait for me. Understood?" The man nodded, not wanting to upset her any more then she was. She looked at House again. He looked drunk, slightly swaying back and forth with one eye half opened, and the other fully closed because of the bruise that was forming under it. The blood on his lip and nose was dried up, and part of his collar was torn from the man's strong hold. "Hang in there House. You're going to be okay."

He nodded, struggling to speak. "There's got to be an easier way to get out of clinic duty." He joked.

"You're insane."

"Lucky for you."

His grimaced, reaching for his thigh, trying to massage it the best he could. Cuddy, as gently as she could, laid him down on the ground to get the weight off of his leg. She put his head in her lap and held him there until Brenda returned with the gurney.

*

3 hours later…

"So the guy just waltzed into the hospital, and tried to attack you?" Wilson was agitated with the situation, not exactly taking the news well. One minute he's waiting for House to sit down and steal half of his sandwich, and the next he's in a hospital room, his friend lying in bed, beaten to a pulp. Wilson was currently pacing back and forth in House's hospital room, making Cuddy dizzy.

"Calm down, and sit down before you collapse." Cuddy could feel a migraine coming on. She had spent the last three hours looking at CAT scans and X-rays, trying to determine whether he had sustained any life threatening injuries. The verdict was; two fractured ribs, a black eye, a mild concussion, a split lip, and bad bruising on his face and thigh. He was going to be very sore the next few days, but considering everything, it could have been a lot worse. Still, Cuddy decided on House remaining under observation. She wasn't taking any chances.

Wilson heavily sat in an empty chair next to the bed, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. "I can't believe it." He looked to Cuddy, "He could have been killed."

"I know Wilson." Cuddy said gently, knowing Wilson had to get everything off his chest.

"Y-You could have died." Wilson stuttered.

"I know Wilson." Cuddy said getting up and putting a hand on his shoulder. "We're okay. Thanks to House." They looked at their unconscious friend, feeling a sense of pride they hadn't felt in a long time.

"Always knew he had it in him." Wilson smiled. Cuddy nodded and sat back down in her chair to the left of House.

"How long has he been out?" Wilson asked. Cuddy thought for a moment, it felt so long ago already.

"He passed out before we even got him in the MRI machine, so…almost three hours now." She sighed, rubbing at her eyes. Wilson noticed the exhaustion creeping into her face. "Why don't you take a break, get some rest. He'll still be here when you get back." Cuddy shook her head; she didn't want to leave him.

"No, I'm okay." She leaned back in her seat. "I want to thank him when he wakes up."

"He's not going to make that easy." Wilson warned her.

"I know Wilson." Cuddy smiled and Wilson laughed.

*

House woke up to the sound of his own heart monitor. The soft beeping gently brought him back to the real world. He looked around the room and his eye quickly fell on the sleeping form of Lisa Cuddy. She was asleep on one of the uncomfortable looking chairs they had in every patient's room. There was a heating pad across his bad thigh, and an ice pack lying on the bed next to him. He assumed it was for the eye he couldn't open at the moment.

The pain was minimal; there must be morphine in the IV.

'Gotta love Cuddy.' House thought.

There were six balloons tied to his cane, all wishing him a fast recovery. His team must have been here earlier. Of course, he'd have to mock them for their kind gestures later. He also spotted a stuffed Piglet wearing a white coat on the chair next to Cuddy. Wilson must have been here too. House couldn't help but smile at Wilson's not-so-subtle joke.

Looking back to where Cuddy slept, he debated on whether or not he should wake her. She'd want to thank him. Make him feel all warm inside. House almost groaned out loud when he thought about Wilson's reaction. He'd romanticize every move he made. Make him out to be a hero.

A hero for what? For not standing by and watching some guy murder his boss in cold blood. He was in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Anyone else would have done the same thing.

House decided he wasn't up to speaking with Cuddy right now. She should get some sleep anyway. She was probably stressed out all day, worrying about him. The last thing she needed was him waking her up in the middle of the night.

Turning his head to face the ceiling, he closed his eyes, trying to think about anything except the sleeping women next to his bed.

*

The next morning things were back to normal, with the exception of the new security guards standing at the entrance to the hospital. Things today were going much more smoothly, unless you were Nurse Paula in room 112.

"Dr. House, you are not supposed to be out of bed today!" She felt like taking a swing at him herself, despite his current condition.

"I'm not going to shit myself like a two year old!" House yelled back at the nurse.

"You are not to get up for any reason, if you need to use the bathroom, use the bed pan." House moved to get up, but the nurse pushed him back down. "Don't make me get the restraints!" She threatened. He moved again anyway, and again was pushed back down. Breathing heavy, House took a minute to calm himself down. His whole body felt like it was on fire.

"You have a concussion, two fractured ribs, head lacerations, and bruises everywhere, not to mention your already bad leg! You can't go anywhere!" Paula still had a hand on his chest, doing her best to avoid his injured ribs.

"And you, can't stay here forever." House retorted, giving her the I-won-you-lost grin he always had prepared. She gave a frustrated sigh, trying to ignore her pounding headache.

It was then that Wilson entered the room, finding them in their awkward position. He was holding a bag, and from the delicious smell filling the room, House knew it was a reuben sandwich.

"Trying to escape already?" Wilson asked, unfazed by their awkward position.

"Trying to go to the bathroom actually, but these fascists don't believe in a healthy digestive system."

"House, for once can you not be a pain in the ass?" Wilson reasoned.

"Never!" House answered without taking his eyes off of the nurse. "If you don't get off me, I'll go to the bathroom right now…without the bed pan. I wonder who'll have to clean that up?" House asked her sarcastically.

If looks could kill, House would be dead and buried. "Fine!" She moved away from the bed. "Fall and crack your head open. See if I care." Paula stormed past Wilson toward the door. "Doctor Cuddy is going to hear about this!"

"What's she going to do? Tie me to the bed?" House asked. "That's no punishment, especially if she wears those tiny-"

-Door Slams.

House grinned at Wilson. "Thought she'd never leave." He sat up, wincing as he did so.

"You should take it easy House. Those ribs are pretty fragile right now." Wilson moved to the bed, and helped House stand up.

"I went to medical school too Jimmy. Got a diploma and everything." They made their way to the bathroom very slowly. House used Wilson like a crutch, one arm over his shoulder, and the other holding his IV pole.

When House was done, Wilson lead him back to the bed and a comfortable silence fell between them. Wilson gave House the sandwich he bought, and watched the small TV while his friend ate. When House was about half done with his sandwich, Wilson started getting antsy. House caught Wilson staring at him twice. He knew what was coming.

House put his food down with a sigh. "Lets get this over with."

"House, before you get upset I just want to say that was a great thing you did." Wilson waved his hands, "That's all." House nodded looking at his sandwich, unable to look his friend in the eye.

"And I'm proud of you." Wilson said quickly, unable to keep it in.

"Enough Wilson."

"Have you spoken to Cuddy yet?"

House rolled his eyes. Wilson was so predictable. "Yeah, but it was mostly a one way conversation, seeing as I had just gotten my head kicked in by Goliath."

Wilson nodded. "What are you going to tell her?"

"That her hospital has worse security then Ford Theater?" Sarcasm was always his best weapon, but Wilson knew this was House deflecting. He'd rather make jokes, then talk about his feelings.

"So that's it? You're just going to pretend like yesterday never happened?" Wilson was getting annoyed now.

"Don't make a big deal about this." House pleaded. "I did exactly what you would have done, except die."

Wilson ignored the jab. "Why did you do it House?"

"Why do we have to have this conversation? Again?" House asked, frustrated with Wilson's questions.

"We are going to keep having this conversation until you tell Cuddy how you feel." Wilson was yelling now, his face turning a bright red.

"Well get comfortable Wilson, because that's never gonna happen!"

"What is never going to happen?" Cuddy was standing in the doorway, arms folded across her chest.

"We-we were…we were just…"

"We were just betting on how many ex-wives Wilson is going to have by the time he hits fifty." House said, stopping the stuttering Wilson. "He's on pace for 8 at the moment."

Cuddy ignored the comment, not expecting a serious answer from them anyway.

"Nurse Paula stopped by my office to complain about my patient in room 112. She said something about using your sheets as toilet paper."

"Tell NurseRatched I had a Reuben for lunch, it's not gonna be pretty." House said with complete seriousness.

"House, stop bothering my staff. I've had two nurses complain about you, and you're not even here 24 hours yet."

"About that, I want out of here. I feel fine."

Cuddy wasn't buying it for one second. "You know as soon as we take you off the morphine, you'll feel like crap. Just stay in bed, and try not to stress yourself out."

"I'm not stressed; Wilson on the other hand has been very stressed out lately. They just recalled his favorite toe nail polish." House teased.

Cuddy smiled a genuine smile. Wilson was happy to see it, even if it was at his own expense.

"Well, as much as I'd love to stick around for more insults, I have patients to see." He knew they needed some time alone. Maybe she could get through to him. Wilson said goodbye to Cuddy, and told House he'd be back later with dinner. The door slid closed with a small thud.

Silence filled the room, neither one of them sure where to begin. "House I-" Cuddy began, only to be cut off by House.

"You're not going to mention yesterday are you? Things could get awkward if you do." She sat down on the bed next to him.

"Shut up for five seconds. I just want to thank you." House began to interrupt again, but Cuddy covered his mouth with her hand. "Regardless of what you think, it was a big deal to me." Looking at his battered body, Cuddy could feel the tears building up behind her eyes. She refused to let them fall. "You saved my life."

"Mmmmm Hmm Mmm." House tried to speak, ruining the moment.

Cuddy laughed, removing her hand. Shaking her head at his lack of seriousness, she got up off the bed. "House just….thank you." She gave him a kiss on the cheek and left the room without looking back. If she had, she would have seen House blush for the first time. He touched his cheek where she kissed him, feeling butterflies he hadn't felt in years.

"Anytime Cuddy." He whispered to the empty room.

If there are enough reviews, I might just continue this one. It's up to you guys.