Chapter 3! Thanks again for those who reviewed Hope you continue to enjoy…

There was no sleeping for her that night. She knew there wouldn't be. Staring up at the ceiling from the chair in the corner of the room she impatiently waited until daylight approached. Cuddy had tried to lie down in the bed, but she stopped herself. Just like the shirt that smelled of him, blaring at her from atop the dresser, she did not allow herself to chance sleeping where he had slept not long before.

After hearing Wilson in the kitchen she made her way to the bathroom to take a shower. She knew he didn't sleep a bit either. Concern for his two best friends was definitely going to hinder any chance he would have to rest. Cuddy submerged her head under the hot spray of the shower and began to finalize her plans she made the night before. She needed to leave, that much was clear. She had always dreamed of taking a sabbatical one day. Escape the hospital with Rachel and with—Cuddy stopped the thought. Not wanting to think further. Of course he was included in that plan; from the moment she finally allowed herself to give in to her long held desire he was included…but not anymore.

The plan was changed. She would take Rachel and go to Europe. Explore all the nooks and special places she had always planned to see someday. Then she would find somewhere to settle down for a bit. Rent a cottage in France or maybe even make it over to Italy, she didn't have all the answers but she had a start. Take her leave of absence and finally escape. Maybe she would never come back, find a hospital overseas and become a practicing doctor again. Her plan was an open one, but it was a plan. She knew in her heart that she couldn't press charges, couldn't ruin his career. All the lives that he had saved, and would save in the future, were ultimately too much to sacrifice on behalf of her anger. He would come back to the hospital, or find another one for all she knew…but she couldn't stay.

After weakly attempting to assemble herself for the day ahead of her, Cuddy made her way out to the kitchen.

"Hey." Wilson greeted as he pushed a plate of eggs and cup of coffee in front of her.

"Thanks." Cuddy said, noting how hoarse her voice was this morning, she sat down. Wilson joined her and they began to drink their coffee in silence.

"So I would ask how you slept but I think I know the answer." Wilson said breaking the silence. Cuddy smiled. "About as good as you I imagine. I heard you pacing the floor all night."

"Sorry about that, I hope I didn't keep you awake." Cuddy gave him an incredulous look which made Wilson smile. 'Good,' she thought, they were both smiling, albeit it was mostly half-assed, but it was a start. Cuddy absentmindedly pushed her eggs around the plate and thought about the best approach to tell Wilson she was leaving. She knew it would hurt him, he would try to talk her out of it…but she had to go.

"You're not going to eat are you?" Wilson asked, breaking Cuddy out of her thoughts.

"I'm sorry, they look great, thank you for making the effort, and for letting me stay here last night."

"You can stay as long as you need. I already called a contractor I know and bribed him to start work today, they are probably arriving to rebuild as we speak. I'm going over there before work so you don't have to worry about a thing, and once you have Rachel back from your Mom's you two can live here until your wall is fixed—"

"Wilson I'm leaving." Cuddy interrupted.

"It's okay Cuddy really, you and Rachel can stay here—"

"No, I'm leaving the hospital. I already called this morning and it's settled. Nothing permanent, just a sabbatical for now, but it's done." Cuddy paused, waiting for Wilson to talk her out of it.

"You can't run Cuddy, that's not going to fix anything. House is already gone, we both know that, and even if he did come back he would be arrested for what he did."

"I'm not going to press charges. House is free to come back to the hospital or stay gone forever. Putting him in jail, what is that going to fix? We both know him, probably better than he knows himself. There are no lessons for House to learn, he has never been willing to fix himself, not completely. Why would this be any different? I have surrounded myself with that man for decades, and been in love with him for all of it. It's enough. I can't be in love with him anymore. It's strangling me…I need this. Take myself away from everything I know, in the hopes of finally ridding myself of him for good…but I can't do that here."

Wilson knew she was right. He had been there too, after Amber's death he thought he could never be friends with him again. He was going to free himself of the madman that he called his best friend for years… but House was hard to shake. He knew how crushing it was to care about a man that would never care about himself. Wilson sighed "You're right." He looked over at her, "I don't want you to leave, but if that's what you need to finally be done with him then you should go."

"Thank you." Cuddy spoke quietly. "Thank you for not trying to talk me out of it." She got up to put her untouched eggs in the sink. "There is one more thing though…"

"What's that?" Wilson saw the hesitant look in her eyes and knew he might not like this.

"When I talked to Human Resources this morning—"Cuddy cleared her throat. "I suggested that you should replace me until I come back."

"Wait, what? Cuddy, I can't—"

"I know it's a lot to ask, and you don't have to accept, but you're the only one who can handle him. If he comes back—I just need to know someone will be there to protect the hospital, and—"

"Protect him?" Wilson interrupted. Cuddy looked down, unable to look Wilson in the eyes. "Cuddy it's okay, I still care what happens to him too." Cuddy met his eyes once again.

She took a shaky breath, "I also need to know that if he does come back, the only way I want him anywhere near my—the hospital again is if he's clean. When he went back on vicodin I should have stopped him from practicing right away, but my guilt over our break-up held me back. Not anymore. He never would have done what he did yesterday if he was sober. I know that. It's no excuse for what he did, but I know in my heart that the drugs played a part. If he doesn't comply then report him to the board, do whatever you have to do, but he has to be free of them."

Wilson got up and came closer to her. "I know…you're right." Wilson grabbed Cuddy's hand, "Look, I'm not sure I want the job, or even know that I can handle it, but I will be the one to supervise House. I will take care of it him if he comes back…I'll make sure to do what it takes."

Cuddy let out a sigh of relief, she felt like she had been holding her breath since yesterday. "Wilson, thank you." She gave him a hug, careful not to hurt his arm further. When they pulled away Cuddy started to walk away. She needed to gather her things, wanting to leave the country as soon as she could.

Wilson stopped her, "I'm only doing this till you come back. Cuddy? You are coming back, right? I mean you can't run away from your life you've created here forever…eventually—"

"I don't have the answer to that yet."

"—and if House does come back, do you—"

"I don't want to know anything." Cuddy whispered. They stood there unmoving for a moment, looking at each other. There was nothing left to say. Cuddy was the first to turn away. She went to gather her things, to start a new life. A life without House.

Wilson went in there after she left, making sure she didn't forget anything she might need. As he went to turn off the lights he noticed something missing. He had picked it up off the floor a week prior placing it on top of the dresser, frustrated with his, (at that moment) passed out best friend…

House's shirt was gone.