Change Is a Good Thing?

"House called me last night," Wilson burst into Cuddy's office before heading to his own after entering Princeton-Plainsboro.

"Great!" Cuddy was relieved House had kept his word.

"Not great. I missed the call." James started pacing before the Dean.

"Oh," Lisa wasn't sure how to proceed.

"He sounded perturbed that I didn't answer."

"What do you expect? He's moody and probably hurting. Cut him some slack."

"Wait…you talked to him, didn't you?" James paced more slowly while biting his pinky nail.

"Yes," she offered tentatively. "But only as his employer and his doctor."

Wilson looked over his shoulder at Cuddy. "What does that mean?"

"Lisa stood up, hoping she'd be able to herd him to a seat. "I went to see him on his request. I spoke to his doctor, then left. It wasn't a social call."

"Should I go see him?"

Cuddy eased him by the shoulders to a nearby chair. "He's not up for visitors."

"But Thirteen-"

"He asked me not to return either."

"Why doesn't he want us there to help him?"

She shrugged. "Not sure. Maybe he wants to work through this himself."

"So then it can't be that serious," Wilson nodded, giving in.

"He asked me not to tell you." Lisa felt the need to further clarify her position as James could only stare at her, his mouth slightly open, trying form words. "It's his right to let you know what's going on. And from the missed call, he tried last night."

Wilson closed his mouth and hung his head feeling defeated.

"James, he'll call back. He was probably tired and needed sleep."

Greg awoke feeling somewhat rested. He didn't need any pain relief during the night, which was unusual but a good sign. What he couldn't figure out was why his senses hadn't been assaulted by the usual morning crews. The monitor next to his bed was off; no wires or I.V.s connecting him to equipment. It didn't seem right. He reached for the call button.

"Good morning Mr. House. We'll be right in with your breakfast."

Now he knew it was a dream. So far it seemed like a good one. Greg closed his eyes as he smiled wondering what was going to happen next.

The door was flung open and a cadre of personnel came through. The first nurse set his breakfast tray on the table and rolled it over to the bed. The second checked his vitals manually, while two others did the usual DVT checks.

"You look perplexed." The first nurse raised his head so he could eat and drink.

"Just wondering when I'm going to wake up."

"You are awake, Greg," she said patting his forearm.

It was as good as a pinch. "This can't be possible."

"Why?" She was smiling as widely as he was.

"I feel good. And I'm not hooked up to this, that and the other thing. Why?"

"After your adjustments yesterday afternoon you fell asleep. You've had no pain, no medication, no need for all the bells and whistles. We even put a 'do not disturb' sign on your door to keep anyone from waking you prematurely."

"That explains the unnaturally quiet morning."

"And," she pulled off the top of the food tray, "solid food."

Grey's eyes widened with delight. His stomach rumbled for added emphasis. "Finally, I'm starved."

"If you need anything; just push the button."

He had to restrain himself from scarfing down the bacon and eggs so he could thoroughly enjoy them. All too soon he had worked his way through everything on the tray wishing he had more.

A remarkable sense of contentment filled him. He was able to lie back and relax. It was definitely an unexpected side effect and an omen that he could be released soon. The only drawback was knowing it wouldn't last for long.

Almost as soon has he thought that, his door swung open and in walked Cindy.

"Back so soon?"

"And hello to you too."

Behind her cheerful façade he heard the familiar bit of sarcasm. I thought you weren't supposed to be-"

"I just couldn't stay away."

"I know, I'm irresistible," Greg teased.

"No, more like I got bored."

"It's good to have you back."

Somehow neither one of them believed Greg's cheerfulness at this particular situation. To the man, himself, he sounded a bit phony, even though he meant it. For Cindy it seemed so out of character compared to their interactions just days before. It was an awkwardness that made them both wince internally, each unsure if it had to do with an unspoken attraction they felt for the other.

"I haven't felt this good in a long time," Greg backpedaled, explaining his giddiness.

"Really," she said suspiciously.

"My right leg feels normal…whole."

"Interesting, since breaking a leg usually results in the exact opposite feeling."

"I thought the same thing." He smiled thinking she was so in sync with him.

"Too bad I'm going to have to change that." She walked over to the area where gloves were kept for easy reach.

"You're not joking, are you." How easily a smile turned upside down.

"'Fraid not." She returned to the bed, then stopped dead in her tracks. "Dang. Forgot something. Be right back."

It took her less than a minute, and when she re-entered the room, she was carrying a stack of pillows. "I'll do my best not to inflict more discomfort that necessary."

Greg watched as Cindy strategically placed the pillows under his leg in order to release the tension on the slings. She had a gentle touch, and he imagined her hands holding him.

She could feel his eyes follow her moves and tried hard not to let it affect her performance. "I'm going to re-glove since I've touched a bunch of stuff."

"You're going to rip the hair off my leg removing these straps," Greg growled. The thought was not pleasing.

"I promise not to." Cindy proceeded to remove the metal rods that ran the length of his leg.

"Don't make promises you can't keep." He was half teasing, half serious.

"Oh, I'm pretty sure there's no hair to rip out seeing how we shaved your leg first."

"You shaved my leg? Gads that's awkward." To bad I missed it though,'he thought. The idea of her touching him like that made 'Little Greggy' stir.

Gently she pulled back on the first strap. It came away easily, leaving no goo behind.

"That's not so bad," he had to admit.

"It really shouldn't be. They've only been stuck on a few days."

"So where do we go from here?"

Cindy turned her head taking the long look up his body to his face. "Next stop, cast central."

"That again?" Greg wasn't very hopeful.

"We have new information. You're thigh seems to like hanging around. If you can do it in a cast, all the better." Cindy was matter of fact.

"Then what?"

She gave him the same long look. It was hard not to feel like he was baiting her with vague questions. With him it wasn't easy to tell by his facial expressions. If Greg didn't rephrase to qualify the type of response he was looking for, she would assume he meant with respect to his prognosis.

Nothing else was added. "If we can keep you feeling good, we'll set the system up at home."

"Hmm. Stuck in bed at home. I don't know what's worse: here or there."

"Here. There you and your girlfriend can have all the sex you want," she said without thinking.

"Ex-squeeze me?" Greg wasn't sure if he was shocked or amused. He had told her Thirteen was bisexual and just a friend. No wife or girlfriend came in. Was her remark a fishing expedition?

Cindy was red-faced. "Oops, didn't mean for that to slip out."

"You'd think if there was a girlfriend she'd have visited by now. No, I'm alone in this great big 'ole world," he said wistfully.

"I don't believe that for a minute. You've got Thirteen, and those two doctor friends who tried to drag you back to Princeton-Plainsboro," she finished peeling away the strapping tape.

"By the way, how long have you known I'm a doctor?" Greg tilted his head and over-exaggeratedly glared at her.

"I knew who you were when I got a good look at you in the ER."

"Radcliffe said you figured it out. Thanks for not telling anyone."

"Not my place." She took the pile of used tape to the trash bin.

"Do you flirt with all of your patients?"

Cindy straightened up as if he had jabbed her with a poker.

Greg tried not to laugh. He had been baiting her question after question. This one was no different.

She turned slowly. "Only the ones who are doctors. Why you interested in getting hooked up?" Two could play his game.

"Uh…wha-"

The look on his face was priceless. "Just what I thought." She walked over to the closet and pulled out the splint that had been made for him before the EMG fiasco. "Look what I found!"

"Oh, that old thing." Greg mimicked an old lady playing down her best dress.

Cindy's hands were on him again. She had such a light touch, sensual and scintillating. During the time she was wrapping the elastic bandages and reattaching the slings, he said nothing, just watched with fascination.

"Better?"

Greg nodded, afraid to speak for fear his voice would crack with emotion.

"Pain?" She wasn't sure why he had such a strained look on his face.

"No," he said softly, his voice a little higher than usual.

"See, I told you I'd hook you up." Cindy smiled wickedly.

"You make me feel good." It sounded like a cross between sarcasm and a confession.

"All part of the job." Cindy made notes in his chart, choosing to ignore the double entendre of his last remark.