A/N: Well here we go. Thank you for all the comments. Please keep them coming.

Cuddy stayed at Julia's house until Friday afternoon when Arlene and Julia assured her they would be fine and she could return home. They knew she had a job to return to on Monday and Rachel needed to get back to school. Cuddy reluctantly agreed but only because their mother had been such a great help to Julia in the last few days. Cuddy had to admit it was a side of her mother she hadn't seen in some time, putting someone else's needs above her own. Arlene couldn't do enough for Julia and even though Cuddy used to be jealous of the attention her sister had always received from their mother, she knew this was one time when Julia needed it. The last few days had been traumatic and yet eye-opening for both sisters. They had finally had a chance to bond and they talked about things never discussed and they laughed and cried. Arlene noted more than once that it was a shame it took something like death to bring the sisters closer together. Cuddy would admit to herself that for once her mother was right.

After Cuddy buckled Rachel into her booster seat and Arlene had kissed both of them goodbye, Julia and Lisa stood there saying their goodbyes.

"Leese, I'm so glad you were here. I couldn't' have ever asked for a better sister. I know I've been a pain in the ass over the years, and I'm so sorry for that. I'm sorry we missed out on having so much fun together. I guess I was just wrapped up in my own life so much I didn't think how it would affect us."

Cuddy nodded her head and understood. "Listen Jules, it's okay. We're both guilty but now we can change that, right?"

"Yeah, we can." Julia smiled and the two hugged.

Cuddy got into her car and rolled down the window. Julia looked at her like she wanted to say something but she seemed to hesitate. She asked, "Jules, what's wrong?"

"Nothing Leese. It's just...I want you to be happy, I really do and I…I want you to do whatever it is that makes you happy no matter what anyone else thinks. Just promise me you won't let other people tell you what's best for you or how you should live your life."

"Jules you know nobody dictates to me how to live my life, well nobody except mom that is." They both laughed at that.

Julia knelt by the car door as she spoke to her sister through the open window. She took her sister's hand and said in a most loving and sincere tone, "Just do what makes you happy, no matter what, okay? Remember, we only get one shot at this life. We have to make the best of it."

"I know Jules. I promise."

"Okay you better get your ass going before mom comes out and starts nagging you about God knows what."

"Love you Jules. I'll call, okay?"

They waved goodbye and as her sister drove away, Julia cried. She really had enjoyed the last few days together with Lisa and she was sad to see her go. She closed her eyes, breathed in the cool crisp winter air and said in a whisper, "God please help her find her way" and with that she opened her eyes, turned around and went back into the house. Her own life was a mess and she had three kids to think about. She had to figure out where to go from here.

Meanwhile on the road, Cuddy dialed Sharon's number on her cell phone. She updated Sharon briefly and told her she'd be home in a few hours. Sharon had already sensed Cuddy would want to be alone and she simply told Lisa to call her if she wanted to talk. Cuddy hung up and began the trip home, thinking about the events of the last few days.

That morning, House was sitting in his office throwing his ball up against the wall over his desk when Wilson came in and sat down.

"Don't you have a patient?"

"Yep. The kiddos are running tests and since there's nothing I can do, I'm trying to be productive in my own way."

"Uh shouldn't you be supervising?"

"Why?"

"You're their supervisor."

"I'm sure Chase can handle things. That is if Foreman doesn't weasel his way into the case."

"What do you mean?"

"Is it me or has Foreman seemed a little too interested in what my team has been doing recently?"

"It's Foreman, he's your boss, and it's his job to be interested."

"I don't mean in a boss kind of way, I mean he's been hanging around in the DDX room sitting in on our discussions under the guise of just observing."

"You think there's more to it?"

"He misses me."

"No he doesn't. If anything he misses the puzzles."

"Are you saying I'm not lovable Jimmy? "

"I'm saying he misses the puzzles way more than he misses you. You're a pain in the ass to work for."

"My heart is broken that you think so low of me."

House continued throwing the ball up against the wall. Neither man said a word for a few minutes. House was deep in thought until Wilson brought him out of it.

"House, anything you want to talk about?"

"Nope."

"You sure?"

"Yep."

"Okay."

House kept throwing the ball, never missing a beat.

"So how's the leg?"

"It's fine."

"Does it hurt?"

"It always hurts."

"You know what I mean, how's the pain level?"

"It's manageable."

"Just manageable?"

House stopped throwing the ball and leaned back in his chair and stared at the wall. "What do you want to know? Does it hurt? Yes. Am I managing it? Yes. Am I back on Vicodin? No. Do I want to be back on Vicodin? Yes and No. Sometimes it hurts so bad I can't fucking believe I gave up the Vicodin and then I remember how it fucked up so many years of my life and I fight the urge every single fucking day. Does that work for ya?"

"Yeah I think so."

House began throwing the ball again.

"So how's therapy?"

"Oh God Wilson. Don't you ever stop caring?"

"I'm Jewish, it's in my blood. Indulge me."

"What do you want to know?"

"Just want to know if your physical therapy and your sessions with Nolan are helping you?"

House stopped throwing the ball again. He turned around in his chair, looking directly at Wilson. He could see the real concern on Wilson's face. He could do what he did in the old days and be a son of a bitch or he could just answer honestly. Wilson wasn't trying to be a pain in the ass, he was being sincere. He just wanted to be sure House was okay.

"The physical therapy has actually helped cut down on my pain. My upper body and my legs feel stronger from swimming. It hurts like hell for a bit afterwards but that pain takes my mind of my leg. Go figure." Before Wilson could interject he continued, "As to Nolan, he's the same, always trying to pick my brain and get me to talk."

"Are you?"

"Am I what?"

"Talking."

"Right now?"

"House!"

"Well shit, I thought it was obvious since I keep going back to him."

"Okay, Okay. I get your point."

House smirked and the two men were silent for a few more minutes as Wilson watched House bounce the ball off the wall again.

Finally House spoke again. "Have you heard anything?"

Wilson knew immediately what House was referring to. "No."

"It's been about a week. Either she didn't get it or she got it and tossed it."

"I'm sure she got it. Just give it time."

"Yeah, time."

They got quiet again and Wilson wanted to change the subject. "You hungry?"

"You buying?"

"Yeah."

"Then I'm starved. Let's go."

Back in Cambridge, Cuddy had arrived home in the early evening. While she missed her family, it was good to be home. The last few days had been very stressful and she was looking forward to a weekend of peace and quiet. Rachel was exhausted from the whole ordeal so Cuddy changed her clothes and put her to bed as soon as they got home. Cuddy showered and changed into a comfortable pair of flannel pajamas before settling on the couch with a cup of hot tea and her laptop. She wanted to catch up on her mail and suddenly remembered the letter from Wilson she had neglected to read after the phone call she received from her mother. Sorting through the pile of unopened mail on the table, she found Wilson's envelope at the bottom. She smiled as she sat back and opened it. The first page was handwritten by Wilson.

Dear Lisa,

I hope you are doing well. I miss you and Rachel and hope I get to see you soon. Attached is something that I promised I would send to you. Please don't be upset, just promise me you will take the time to read it. It would mean a great deal to me. You know how much I care about you and I would never ever do anything to hurt you. Please call me soon. Miss you lots!

Love, James

Cuddy had a feeling she knew what was contained in the following pages. She removed Wilson's cover page and sure enough there were four pages in handwriting she clearly recognized. It was a letter from House. She set the letter down immediately on the coffee table and got up from her seat on the couch. She paced the living room, straightening pictures, organizing things and attempting to clean an already cleaned room. She kept busy throwing laundry in the dryer and taking care of other minor household tasks to avoid the inevitable but all thoughts returned to that letter. She was almost afraid to read the letter though she didn't know why. She thought, God, why am I so nervous? Why should I even care? After what he did to me, what the fuck could he possibly want to write me about? Why should I give a damn?

Cuddy thought about Wilson and how he'd apparently conspired with House to get this letter to her. Part of her was angry at Wilson but another part of her realized it was just the way Wilson was, the way he'd always been. He'd always had a hard time choosing between Cuddy and House. He had been a best friend to both of them and always found it difficult to say no to either of them. After House drove his car into her home and fled town, Wilson had been there for Cuddy every step of the way, helping her get her life back together, listening to her yell and scream about how much she hated House and consoling her night after night when she cried for hours over the hurt she felt with what he'd done to her and the loss she felt not having him in her life anymore. She also knew though that when House got out of prison, Wilson had been there for him too, no doubt doing whatever was within his power to try and help his friend get his fucked up life back together. Wilson was a unique individual and he had a good heart and it was hard to be mad at him because most of the time everything he did, he did because he genuinely cared. James Wilson was one of a kind and Cuddy was thankful to have him in her life. She loved Wilson and knew he would never do anything to hurt her. Obviously he felt that whatever House had to say was important enough to risk her being mad at him for sending it. She couldn't stay mad at Wilson long and while she should have been pissed off over receiving anything from House, oddly she wasn't and in a way that bothered her. She thought to herself, I should just shred this letter and be done with it.

With her mind made up, she did one final check on Rachel who she found was sleeping peacefully. She closed the door behind her then she checked the locks on the front and back doors, turned off the ringer to her home and cell phones and settled on the couch under her grandmother's afghan which always brought her a sense of peace. Feeling just a bit nervous, she picked up the letter, took a deep breath and began to read.

Dear Cuddy...

Ok, there's Chapter 11 for you. I really hope you like this so far. I've worked hard to try and keep it real. I'm extremely anal retentive when it comes to spelling, grammar and continuity in my own writing so if you spot something that I missed, feel free to let me know so I can fix it!

Remember I'm not just writing this for me, I'm writing it for you, for all the House fans out there who miss the House-Cuddy and House-Cuddy-Wilson dynamic! This story is for YOU! XO