Hi everyone!

Here is the third chapter in this story. I'd like to thank you for the reviews you left, they're very encouraging! Keep 'em coming! And as usual, Merci Lisa :*

I hope y'all enjoy this one as well. As I said, there are some spoilers out there.

Enjoy! :)

The dim light of the early morning enlightened the kitchen, but not enough. Cuddy didn't turn the lights on, though. She turned the coffee machine on and watched the liquid slowly flow from it, lost in thought. Lost, literally. She didn't know where they were and furthermore, where they were going. It was like she was just stuck in the moment and couldn't see further or have a perspective of the very recent events.

And there she was, making him breakfast.

The coffee aroma filled the air, almost imperceptibly. Cuddy took a deep breath as she stared at her jacket lying on the back of the couch and sighed even deeper. She couldn't even tell why she was feeling incredibly good, and yet so bad…

A shiver ran down her spine and dissipated into her whole body at the memories of last night, and she found herself blushing as she traced absently her clavicle. Like he had done. Her finger met the strap of her bra and she closed her eyes as she could almost hear him whispering that 'No bra' again, almost see the mischief in his dark blue eyes. She shook her head, it was nonsense.

She'd entered the bathroom for the second time in fifteen minutes, closing the door behind her this time. She had placed the first aid kit right where she'd found it earlier and faced herself in the mirror. A quick glance. She had been surprised by how… relieved she'd looked. And yet, so tired. Cuddy had showered quickly and put on the clothes she had been wearing the day before. She'd picked them up while exiting House's room, he hadn't seemed to notice her, lost in his thoughts.

She had returned to the room ten minutes later, checking on House before heading to the kitchen, in order to make food. On her way there, she couldn't restrain herself from passing by his living room, where were left on the chair a blanket and her bra. Cuddy had lifted it and put it on with a sigh, it had reminded her of him, again. She'd entered the kitchen afterward, checking if anything comestible was left in the fridge and since then, she couldn't stop thinking about it.

Cuddy was thinking about how good it'd felt to wake up next to him and not alone in her immense bed when she heard a muffled sound coming from the corridor. She couldn't distinguish the sound of a wooden cane beating the floor, which meant he'd left his cane in the room. Cuddy bit her lip as she noticed his gait was more accentuated than usual. The footsteps were almost inaudible, barefoot, she guessed, waiting to see him appear.

She couldn't restrain a chuckle when she saw him heading to the living room. House turned in her direction and smirked, aware of the reason of her amusement. "Seriously?" she laughed, gesturing to him.

He feigned innocence as he looked at his bare chest. "You're lucky enough I'm American," he said, looking around for something she couldn't define. "English call boxers pants."

"So modest from you," Cuddy commented, looking at him as he took his t-shirt from the couch and put it on. Shaking her head, she returned to her occupation, filling a cup of coffee and putting it on the table, beside the eggs and bacon. "I found some eggs," she told him when he entered the room.

"I'm as surprised as you." They exchanged a look of amusement before he took a sip of the warm coffee, closing his eyes.

A moment of silence followed, only broken by the rhythmic sound of the raindrops falling onto the window. The steam covered it, making it impossible to look through it. A comfortable warmth covered the apartment, in contrast with the guessable cold outside. But the calm wasn't that comfortable.

"You're not at the hospital," House pointed out, looking at the clock behind her. He took a forkful of his meal, nonchalantly chewing the eggs as she gave him a look.

"I took the day off," Cuddy said, crossing her arms on her chest.

"For me?" he asked, raising a suggestive eyebrow.

"Because of you," she corrected, then taking a deep breath, "You okay?"

"Tiptop," he quipped, ironic. "After last night…"

He arched an eyebrow. She let out a sigh. "Tell me about the hallucinations."

House tried to lock his gaze with hers but she kept looking away, he felt a hint of anxiety when she bit her lip. "Did we have sex, Cuddy?" he asked after a little hesitation.

I thought you were a hallucination… She looked at him, not completely surprised he wasn't making a difference between what was real and not.

"Thought it would be memorable," she teased, trying to hide her discomfort.

"You dancing was, too," he replied, serious.

"We did."

He just nodded, before looking down at his plate. That was all? Cuddy restrained herself from asking him what that meant. She feared it wouldn't be what she understood. Again, an awkward silence covered the atmosphere.

"You're feeling less lonely?" Cuddy asked out of the blue, already expecting his answer.

"Not anymore," House said, not looking at her anymore. Cuddy didn't reply, completely surprised. And lost. It wasn't the answer she thought would come. She didn't know how to interpret that, what it meant for him. And for her. Also, she didn't ask for an explanation, being pretty sure it'd come itself. If there were any explanation to his words. She only nodded, and so did he.

"Be quick, we're going to the hospital," she said then, wearing her jacket. She ignored the confused look he cast her and headed to the doorway. "Your head needs an MRI," Cuddy explained as she found him frowning susceptibly when she came back with her scarf.

"My head is fine," he objected, standing up.

"I'll need to see that myself," she said, looking up at him, not a bit impressed by how tall he was.

"What's that?" he asked, gesturing at the piece of fabric.

"You tell me," the mystery woman says, smiling.

"Wha… You… Who are you?" House asks, looking around for Cuddy. It was happening. Again.

"You know who I am." She starts playing with her necklace. It obviously catches his attention, he steps towards her to look closely. "You like it?"

"A mosquito?" He looks into her eyes, confused and lost.

"Or a fly." Her fingers graze his when he touches the chain.

"In the ointment. I'm missing something, the bus driver was just a delusion."

The woman smiles and takes his hand so it brushes her cheek. He looks down at it, frozen. Their eyes meet and there is now a red ribbon in his hand. House pulls his hand away, looking at the fabric before gazing at the mysterious woman who was now laying on the table.

"Use it," she says, looking at his hand – the ribbon.

He frowns and takes a step towards her, he doesn't know why, either. "I'll tie it around you," he finds himself saying. She doesn't seem to have an objection, lets him tie the red ribbon around her leg. House looks at her, she has a satisfied smile now.

"I'm cold."

The woman looks down at his hand, still grabbing the ribbon, he follows. Blood.

"House?" he heard her asking. House looked down at her, dizzy. She gave him a worried and concerned expression, looking into his eyes. He shook his head, coming back to reality and instinctively stared at his hands. One was caressing her cheek while the other was on her thigh, his body pressing her to the edge of the table. He looked up at her again when she called him once more.

"What's that?" he had asked, gesturing at the piece of fabric.

"A scarf, House," Cuddy had replied, frowning from confusion.

He hadn't answered. She had looked at him as her frown deepened, her quizzical glance meeting his. He was looking at her but hadn't seemed to see her, his look was absent, inexpressive.

"House?" she'd tried again, in vain. "What's going on?"

No response. She'd almost yelped in surprise when he brought his hand near her cleavage, touching her skin with only one finger, his eyes staring at the zone where his finger had gently caressed her. He'd looked at her after a few seconds, again without really seeing her.

And then, she'd realized.

She'd stepped back as he had made a step towards her, hitting the table's edge. Her hands had immediately found place onto the furniture, her eyes still locked with his. His had left her sternum to caress her cheek and his eyes had followed the movement. So had Cuddy's. It had been a gentle touch, light and soft. House had kept grazing her cheek, moving his other hand, this time to take in hand the scarf around her neck. He'd cast her a quizzical look, she hadn't moved.

"House," she'd called when he had put a hand on her thigh, unlocking their eyes to look at her leg, then looking back at her.

"House," she called his name again. This time, he looked at her, seeming lost.

"It's not over, someone else is dying," he whispered, sliding his hands along his body.

"Wh –

"I need to go back to that bus," House said. It sounded like a realization.

"You're not. You had a fucking hallucination, House. Again. You need to rest, and medical care." she resolutely objected, putting a hand on his arm to bring his attention.

"I'm not getting better with this puzzle unsolved."

"And I'm not calling in crash victims to satisfy your insanity," she said, affronting his determined gaze.

"A reconstitution will be enough."

"Hou –

But he was already limping toward his bedroom, taking off the white t-shirt on his way there. Cuddy followed him, stopping in the doorway of the room, her hand on her hip and staring at him with a serious face. "Are you high?!"

"Yes, I'm high, Cuddy. I always am!" he shouted, turning to face her as he buttoned his shirt. He took his leather jacket and the amber bottle from his bedside table, managing to be seen by her while swallowing two pills as he passed near her. "You coming? I can't drive while high," he called from the corridor.

She swallowed the guilt she felt every time he took an opiate and followed him, well aware the situation was escaping her control. "This is ridiculous," she pointed out as she passed the doorway and closed the door behind her, House already two footsteps in front of her.

Talking would wait, again.

TBC..

Thanks for reading, reviews are very appreciated! ;)