I'm so sorry that it took me so long! First, I got grounded, and then I suddenly had a bit of Writer's block. It wasn't coming out the way I wanted it too. I'm not really happy with this chapter. Yet again, I'm sorry it took me so long and I still hope you enjoy it some.

Chapter Twenty One: Hospital Front Smackdown

House raised an eyebrow at Cuddy, his lips pulled into a smug sort of smile as he watched Cuddy think about a censored story of how they met. No matter how many years ago that was, he would doubt if he would ever forget that night. She bit her lip and looked over at him. "The library." She offered. House only had to stare at her for a moment before she shook her head. "No, of course not. She's not stupid."

"We can go by the same story, just switch it a bit." House said, leaning against Cuddy's desk and playing with his cane in his hands.

"I think she'll be able to tell what is real and what isn't, House. She's too much like you." Cuddy countered, shaking her head.

"Well at least she'll be able to dominate in the work force." He added with a laugh.

"Yeah and end up having no friends and no life." Cuddy quipped. She laughed for a moment before shaking her head and turning to face House. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. "So House, how do you intend on making up this story?" House stared at his cane as he began to replay the day.

.:Flashback:.

The pulsing lights and the vibrating floor was enough to give anyone a headache. There was a bet going on for the past hour as people wondered on how long the speakers would last as they continued to blast music so loud that even the alcohol in Gregory House's glass, in which he was holding, was shaking. He was currently leaning against the vibrating wall, which was giving him a pleasant back rub at the same time, as he surveyed the crowd. His friends stood around him as well. Who exactly was he looking for? No one in particular. A dance partner maybe? The room was packed with people and people were dancing everywhere. On tables, on the floor, and on the speaker itself. The DJ was swaying slightly in his area, looking like he had too much to smoke, and was about to just call it a night.

"Damn, maybe there is a heaven." He heard one of his friends shout in his ear, even though he was right next to him.

His eyes followed his friend's and saw exactly who they were staring at. Marsha Blender. The fair haired beauty who gave every girl self-esteem problems. Tonight was no different. She had somehow wiggled her butt into one of the tightest and shortest dress he had ever seen. Her face was heavily made up so she looked more like a china doll then a person. Gregory fought to roll his eyes. Yes, Marsha's body was appealing to the eyes and she was so easy everyone called her the Easy Bake Oven behind her back, but he wasn't that interested in ending up with an STD. "I believe your definition of heaven is a bit off, man." Greg told his friend.

Of course, after he said that, Marsha turned her radar, which instantly led her over to them. In the distance, Greg could barely make out some girl taking off her shirt and getting on top of one of the tables. He turned his attention back on Marsha as she stood in front of them. "You guys sure look like you're having fun." She said loudly, doing that weird thing where she somehow looks up at the boys through her thick eyelashes.

Greg kept quiet and waited for a moment as his friend slowly snapped out of his reverie. "Yeah..." He said with a sigh. He looked around at Greg. "So, uh, wanna dance?"

Marsha looked over at Greg for a moment and then back at his friend. "Sure." She answered and took his outstretched hand before disappearing on the dance floor.

He rolled his eyes and raised his glass, downing all the alcohol he had left in there. He was sure going to need it. He crumpled the plastic cup in his hand and glanced around absentmindedly for a trashcan when suddenly someone had caught his eye. She wasn't to totally overdressed nor was she undressed either. She seemed perfect, or at least the back end of her. "Dude, who is that?" He asked, jamming his elbow in the next friend's ribs that he could reach.

"Ouch! Huh, who?" His other friend said, leaning against him for balance as he tried to see where Greg was looking at. He pointed and he nodded. "Lisa Cuddy, new girl on campus."

Greg nodded, pushing the crumpled cup in his friend's hand. "Here, take this. Papa's got work to do." He said, walking away from his friend and heading over to her. She was with a few other new girls who he didn't seem to notice but it didn't matter to him. Running a hand through his hair, he made his way over to them casually. He brushed her hard enough to make her turn and want to know how had just bumped into her. "Oh, sorry."

Lisa turned around, her eyes narrowed slightly, but as her eyes traveled upwards, it immediately lost its anger. Her eyebrows rose slightly and he saw the two girls with her exchanged glances. "Oh, its okay. I'm fine." She said quickly.

Greg nodded and put on one of his famous smirks. "So, looks like you're having lots of fun." He said, totally using Marsha's line on them.

"Well, I don't know about a lot of fun, but it is humorous." She offered him, gazing out into the crowd. He nodded.

.:End of Flashback:.

House was brought from his deep thoughts by the prodding fingers of Cuddy on his shoulder. "House, you okay?" She asked worriedly. She was standing over him and she had a look of genuine concern on her face. House raised an eyebrow at her. "You spaced out for a minute." She said.

"I was thinking." He answered, pulling himself up on his feet beside her. "Just tell her we met on the dance floor. We don't have to mention the drugs, or the alcohol, or the things that happened after the police came." He grinned slightly. Cuddy being wild was something that he would never forget.

"Fine, fine. Just send her to me. I don't trust you with this story." She told him. "Now don't you have work to do?" House rolled his eyes but took his leave. He wasn't going to give her a chance to make him do his clinic work early.

&

The ride to the hospital was a long and quiet one. Kara sat in the backseat behind House's mother, glaring out at the window the entire time. She didn't try to talk to anyone. Sure, she had her fair share of punishments and being swat at, but no one just slapped her just to be quiet. There were always a few warnings or something. Besides, he shouldn't have touched her anyway. It seemed like an eternity when the car pulled into the hospital's parking lot. Kara didn't even wait until the car stopped. She unbuckled herself and opened the door, bolting out of the car and towards the hospital's automatic doors, ignoring her grandmother's calls.

She entered the door and headed straight for her mother's office. She threw open the doors to only find it empty. Frowning slightly, she turned on her heels and hurried to the elevator, slipping inside its all ready closing doors. The person in there raised an unamused eyebrow at her and Kara let out a quick sigh as she spotted House's mother enter the hospital just as the doors closed. She punched the button to her dad's floor and tapped her foot impatiently. The elevator doors slid open and Kara pushed past the other person in the elevator and zoomed straight to her father's office. Of course, he wasn't there.

Kara felt like ripping her hair right out of her scalp. How could her parents not be where they're supposed to be when she needed them? She pressed her head against her father's glass door. "Kara, you're back early." Wilson's voice said beside her. She looked up at him tiredly and then in confusion as he saw his face turn from casual to worried. "Kara, what happened?" He said, pointing to the cheek that was still stinging. "Did someone hit you?"

"Where's my mom and dad?" Kara asked quickly. If anyone would know it would be Wilson.

"I just saw them arguing over there." Wilson answered, jerking his thumb over his shoulder. He opened his mouth to say something else but Kara hurried past him eagerly.

Kara could hear them before she rounded the corner. They were bickering about a patient. "Mom. Dad." Kara said breathlessly as she approached them.

"House, protocol means something to these people. You can't just do whatever you want!" Cuddy snapped tiredly, crossing her arms and watching House.

"I think being able to live means something to these people to. That's why their here." House justified himself quickly. Both adults were clearly into the argument, neither one of them wanting to lose. Kara sighed and tapped both of her parents' shoulders.

"Kara, what are you doing here so..." Cuddy asked, tearing her eyes off of House and on to her daughter. "What on earth...?" She said, grabbing Kara's chin lightly and turning it so Cuddy could see it better. House's eyes traveled to Kara's cheek and she saw the realization hit.

"He slapped me. He was saying bad things about you guys and I snapped back and he slapped me." Kara said quickly, just in case. And then, as if on cue, House's mother rushed around the corner. Kara had to admit. For an old woman, the woman had some skill with keeping up with her.

"Greg, I..." She started breathlessly, her eyes wide with worry.

"Save it." House snapped, going around his mom and quickly limped down the hallway.

Kara suddenly felt Cuddy's arms on her shoulders and was pushed back to her mom's side. "What happened?" Cuddy asked snappishly, forcing a composed gaze at House's mom.

"I'm not positively sure. I left to go to the bathroom and when I came back, Kara looked dumbstruck." House's mom explained slowly, her eyes drifting over to Kara. "Look, I had no idea that my husband was going to do something like this."

Kara waited until her mother's hands dropped from Kara's shoulders and she began talking in a hushed but firm tone to her grandmother. Kara took a few hesitant steps backward, out of her mother's peripheral vision, before dashing around the corner, ignoring the closed elevator and pushing the stairs door open. Of course, no one was on the stairs, so Kara flew down them quite quickly. She opened the stairs door to only immediately run right back into the stairwell as her father exited the elevator. She waited until he was near the doors before sneaking out of the stairwell. She wasn't sure if he would want her to follow him, so she wasn't going to take the chance and let him find out.

She walked quickly to the doors, peering out of them and easily spotting her father and her grandfather. This time he was out of the car. Did he know that House would come? House limped straight right up to him and with his back turned to Kara, she guessed the confrontation started. Cursing at the doors, she opened them slowly and tiptoed out of the hospital, trying to keep out of view.

"You have no authority to hit my daughter. I don't care about whatever she called you, because it's probably true." House snapped venomously. Kara's eyebrows rose slightly from the tone in her father's voice. She didn't know what fight would be worse. Cuddy's or House's? Something was muttered back at House, which Kara didn't hear, but House obviously did.

"Kara!" Cuddy's voice suddenly said behind her. Kara jumped and swirled around to see her mother glaring at her, her chest rising up and down rapidly meaning she came down the same way Kara did. House's voice could be heard above Cuddy's but Kara was too busy paying attention to Cuddy to understand what he was saying. Cuddy looked up worriedly at House. Kara glanced his way and in the nick of time too. Suddenly, House's fist was flying and House's dad was on the ground. Cuddy gasped and rushed over to House's side. "House! What did you do!?" She yelled hysterically, even though it was quite obvious what House had done.

House's lips were in a firm line and he refused to look at either Cuddy or his father as he turned to face the hospital. Cuddy grabbed his shoulder, trying to stop and reason with him. She knew another lawsuit was probably on the way right now. Kara stayed put for a moment, glancing over at her grandfather who was still on the ground. Suddenly, Kara found her feet leading her towards him and she kneeled down to him carefully. Kara reached out carefully and rolled him over so she could face him. Her eyes widened and she jumped up. "Dad? Mom?" Kara asked her voice small as she turned around to stare at them. Cuddy stopped her ranting and looked over at Kara as did House. "I think you all most killed him!" She said, pointing over to him.

&

Kara looked up as Cameron entered the living room, a large pizza box in hand. She smiled slightly at Kara and placed the box on the coffee table before sitting down beside Kara. The show that Kara had been watching cut off and a commercial started. Kara leaned over and opened the box, grabbing a slice and taking a bite out of the Supreme pizza. "I'll just drink my spit, I guess." Kara said as she chewed.

Cameron raised an eyebrow at her. "What?" She asked, frowning and glancing around. "Oh! Sorry, where does Cuddy keep the cups?" Cameron said, getting up.

"A cupboard naturally." Kara answered unhelpfully, grinning at her own comment before taking another bite of her pizza. Kara didn't understand completely on why she had to go home and have Cameron baby-sit her. She had tried to reason with her mother about how school wasn't that important and missing a day was nothing, but she didn't agree. Her grandfather was in a stroke thanks to the punch her dad dealt and she was being sent to school like nothing happened. She listened as Cameron opened about five different cupboards before finding the one that had the cups. A few seconds later, Cameron put two cups down on coasters full of milk. "Milk?" Kara asked, her nose wrinkling at the choice.

"Milk is good for you. It…" Cameron began, grabbing her own piece of pizza.

"Yeah, yeah, bones and calcium and stuff. Tastes gross though." Kara interrupted, waving the subject off. There were a few minutes of silence from them as the television continued to inform them about bleach and a brush for pets. "How much are you getting paid?" Kara wondered.

"That's none of your business." Cameron chided, giving a little look that Kara couldn't place.

"Prove it." Kara offered up quickly, raising her own eyebrows.

Cameron let out a sigh. "When you're finished eating, start getting ready for bed. I suppose you're not going to answer me when I ask you where does Cuddy keep the Tylenol, hmm." She said.

"The cabinet above the sink in my mom's bathroom." Kara answered curtly, smirking. Cameron sighed and stood up, walking off. Kara looked over at the clock, which read eight forty. Get ready for bed? This early? Rolling her eyes and making herself comfortable on the couch, Kara slowly picked a pepperoni off her pizza and popped it in her mouth, savoring the flavor slowly. She was going to take her time then.

&

Cuddy sat on the couch beside House in her office, watching him carefully. He was staring quietly at his hands, which twirled the cane absentmindedly. "House, are you okay?" She asked him softly. For a moment, he seemed to not hear her before slowly he raised his gaze and placed it on Cuddy.

"Yeah, I'm fine." He answered resignedly. She stared at him for a moment and nodded. They sat for a moment in silence. "I'm not sorry that I punched him." House said slowly. Cuddy raised an eyebrow, ready to listen to his explanation. "It felt really good. I've wanted to do that for a long time."

"I don't think that gives you the right to punch him. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm..." Cuddy began carefully, trying to choose her words so it didn't sound like she was reprimanding him.

"Oh yeah, there was. Trust me, you would have wanted to punch him too if you had heard what he said." House interjected somberly.

"And what exactly did he say?" Cuddy asked curious. House shook his head quickly, averting his gaze from Cuddy. "House? Did he say something about Kara?" Nothing. "Me?" House slowly looked over at Cuddy, as if he was trying to act like he was regarding her. But he could have just had easily had said 'Bingo! We have a winner!' "What did he say?"

"Look, it doesn't matter now. It's been taken care of." House said quickly. House watched awkwardly as a weird sort of appreciative look slowly appeared on Cuddy's face. "Oh, for God's sakes, Cuddy, don't get all sappy!" He said as Cuddy wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Just because he stuck up for her didn't mean anything. Did it? He looked down at her before slowly wrapping his arms around her as well. Since she was all over him, he would have to enjoy it.

"House, I have to admit, over the years you make everyone shudder in their shoes and fear for their lives. You might push people away and be terribly rude to them, but you come through when you need too. That's all that matters." She told him sweetly. She was vaguely aware of House's hands on her lower back. It had been awhile since she had gotten a good hug from him. He was wearing a new cologne or something. He smelled great.

"Great. Now you're being sentimental." House said, his hands slowly going into the war zone.

"House." Cuddy said warningly, rolling her eyes. Of course he couldn't resist. House's hands returned to home base, which was just casually thrown around her. She pulled away from him slowly and then stood up. "Come on, your mother needs more comforting."

House sighed and stood up as well. "Way to kill a mood, Cuddy." He told her.

"A mood? What mood are you talking about, House? The mood on how to feel my ass?" Cuddy asked, smirking slightly at him as she headed to the door.

"I'm talking about the sentimental mood you had going on." House answered his face serious.

"Sentimental?" Cuddy sighed. "Let's just go, okay? You have to be there for your mother. And your father. And still be a good influence to Kara."

House sighed and opened the door. "I agree with the first and the last. Not so much the second." House told her tiredly.

Cuddy patted his chest, looking up at him. "You're doing a fine job, House. You really are." She touched House's cheek affectionately. House stared at her for a moment and she stared at him, before slowly realizing how awkward this situation was if anyone spotted them. She took her hand back and went through the threshold, feeling the heat in her cheeks as she did so.

Not the greatest chapter ever, but things will pick up soon. The huddy is happening and will blossom soon enough. Please review!