Chapter 3

Monday

Wilson woke up to the side of his bed empty as his ex-wife, now current girlfriend had gone to work early that morning and he slowly rose up into a seated position. Resting his back against the headboard, yawning with a deep stretch of his upper limbs before he swung the comforter off of his lap and faced the day.

It felt quiet without House in the loft, he walked into the kitchen to be faced with it empty, no aroma of coffee or the smell of a hearty breakfast when House had entered his cooking phase. He wondered how House was getting along back at his apartment, had he embraced his grand piano, missing it in all the time that had passed substituting for an organ instead which didn't sound as comforting. Was he pacing around his apartment deep in thought or walking around in the nude like he did in the loft. He chuckled at the memory, opening the fridge to pour himself a glass of orange juice before hopping in the shower.

Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital greeted him with open arms and seeing as he had a good reputation with co-workers and patients, many greeted him on his way in. He stopped at the front desk, to process through notes other co-workers and assistants had left for him in the night shift and he lifted his head to peer into the clinic.

'I'm going to need to tell her,' Wilson thought, he knew from the way House explained needing a week to himself meant he didn't want to be bothered whatsoever. No visiting, no phone calls, just completely recluse and since House had been regularly seeing Nolan for the past year Wilson could trust House would be okay.

He'd also assumed House probably berated Cuddy about her engagement with Lucas and how she was making a terrible decision while attending to the wounded. Way to pile on the stress in an already stressful situation. After speaking with his best friend, it sounded like House had moved on and accepted Cuddy wasn't attainable anymore, but dare he say the man sounded hopeful for the future? House dated Stacy for five years and he let her go when he had her back in his arms, but he'd done the noble thing and thought of another's emotions above his own. So House was human after all.

'He's known Cuddy longer than he knew Stacy though. Their relationship is more personal, not just that but she knew how he felt before he went into Mayfield. The least she could've done is wait for him.' Wilson thought with a heavy sigh, making his way into the clinic and towards her office where she resided dressed in a blue suit.

He greeted her assistant with a charming smile before he knocked on the wooden glass paned doors and she looked up from her work to greet him. He opened the door, letting himself in and seated himself in front of her desk with nerves already setting in for how he would put this without her contacting House. She was upset with him for sure, she shouldn't have a reason to care about him beyond professional courtesy and so since she'd chosen that path for that relationship, Wilson would treat her as such with regards to his best friend.

"Wilson, to what do I owe the honor so early in the morning?" Cuddy greeted with a warm smile, resting her hands atop the other and over her paperwork filled with charts and percentages.

"It was a hard weekend. On all of us." Wilson began and Cuddy nodded empathetically recalling the crash site and all the victims with their respective degree of injuries. It was a gruesome night, filled with adrenaline. Cuddy's mind flitted to her argument with House, she'd buried him under that rubble with words and he'd stared at her with such sadness. Closing the doors of the ambulance, Cuddy had regretted the words she'd said in anger when he comforted Hanna about amputation and about his regrets. His fault was his inability to open up, but in desperate times with patients House did before brushing it off that he did nothing, that his words weren't meant to be affectionate nor did he care about others well being. House was afraid, a fearful man, afraid of being hurt and she'd done that, but he'd done enough damage to her that she was no longer forgiving.

"Well, I don't know how to put this delicately, but House informed me to let you know he's going to be taking a week off. That patient, Hanna, really got to him." Wilson continued hesitantly, keeping his words straight and to the point, his gaze fixed on nothing in particular before he looked up to meet her gray ones.

"It was an unfortunate situation. I heard she didn't make it." Cuddy nodded her head solemnly when she'd arrived back at the hospital where Foreman informed her about Hanna and House's behavior when he stormed out of the hospital.

"Yes it was. Which is why he's requested a week off, but from his words it doesn't sound like he wants anyone visiting him or contacting him." Wilson informed her and she pinched her brows in confusion, squinting her eyes.

"He's back at his apartment? Do you think that's wise for him to be by himself?" Cuddy questioned, slightly concerned from the way Foreman had described him the night of the crash, he was mad with rage and eyes full of edge.

"Cuddy, I wouldn't worry about him. I think it's time for him to be strong on his own two feet, he doesn't have me or you at his beck and call anymore." Wilson said, Cuddy's facial expression softened from Wilsons words and it felt as if she was moving on but not in a good way. It didn't feel good.

"Were still his-."

"His what? His friends? I'm his friend and I'm telling you as a friend of both of you, it's best to leave him alone for now and trust him. I spoke with him over the phone, he's going to be fine and I'm going to trust him." Wilson informed her, his tone firm and Cuddy bit back on her cheek towards the slight insult. It was true, her and Wilson had been talking behind House's back about his behavior and that it was only a matter of time until he fell back into madness, but then he'd shown up with that book. How long had he even had it? He always surprised her.

"You're getting married and I'm sure your fiance would not be happy about you lending support to a man you've had a thing with for the past 20 years. Not only that, but Lucas knows about House's affections towards you, the guys been making it plain and clear for the past year." Wilson huffed, recalling the antics his best friend had gone through to win back Cuddy's affections and separate her from Lucas.

"I've tried to form a friendship with him and he didn't want to. What do you want me to do, just not be friends at all? 20 years of knowing everything about one another, experience, and working together suddenly mean nothing because I'm getting married to someone who isn't him? How is that fair?" Cuddy said, biting her lip, exasperated from the conversation and her fight with House.

"As he would put it, we can't always get what we want. He's made amends with that fact and I suggest you do the same. You got what you needed, but not what you wanted." Wilson said and Cuddy wore a face of shock from the words that flowed from the kind Oncologist mouth and she wondered where this was coming from.

"I'm sorry, Cuddy, but he's gone for the week and when he returns. He'll decide where you stand in his life, but it won't be somewhere close." Wilson said before getting up to leave the room where Cuddy sat in a deep thought, uninterested in the paperwork she had been reading through. She felt a great sadness envelop her, her shoulders shook and she tried not to cry because her decision was final when she accepted the ring from Lucas. Yes, they hadn't known each other that long, not as long as she knew House, but Lucas had been there for her every step of the way and helped with Rachel. He never insulted her or lied to her, but wore his heart on his sleeve and let his affections or troubles be known. She needed that in a partner.

In the diagnostics department sat Foreman, Taub, Thirteen, and Chase who were seated around the glass table waiting for the arrival of the attending, but instead were greeted with Cuddy who set down non diagnostic patient files for the week. Her expression was poised and her stance firm as she waltzed in and placed the files down on the glass table before clasping her hands together.

"Dr. House will be taking the week off for personal reasons, so I'm appointing Foreman as the attending. I've also been informed that House doesn't want anyone disturbing him this week, no calling or visiting him at his apartment. He wants to be left completely alone, so if you need assistance I suggest you consult other doctors for the meantime." Cuddy announced the news while the team stared at her with a sad expression, they looked down and were empathetic about the news. Just what had he said before leaving his team to make them so empathetic towards him, he insults them on a daily basis and yet on this particular occasion they dismissed his wrongs completely forgiving him.

"House was really troubled on Saturday, we understand." Foreman spoke up first before Chase nodded with him, rubbing the stubble on his chin with a glum expression.

"Yeah..." Thirteen agreed, folding her arms across her chest while Taub sighed nodding his head to agree as well.

"What happened to that woman was unimaginable and for him to have been there in her last moments…was…I can't imagine how he feels." Chase spoke up after a long silence had enveloped the room and Cuddy wanted to yell, she was worried now about what happened to him after he left the hospital. No one had fully informed her and Wilson hadn't explained too much about his talk with House and judging from whatever House had informed him, Wilson was keeping his distance from her.

"It was unfortunate. So, I hope you guys can carry on for the week until he comes back." Cuddy informed them, nodding her head respectively and leaving the room, she wanted to go to Wilson's office and ask him what exactly happened, what did House say, how was he? Wilson was right, the moment she agreed to wear that ring, she'd forfeited herself completely from House's life and he wouldn't let her back in.

'Why does it have to be this complicated? Wilson was married 3 times which House tried to sabotage those 3 times and yet he can't accept mine?' Cuddy thought.

She walked down to her office, seated at her desk once more, she reached out to her pile that needed to be completed for the day and set it down in front of her. House couldn't escape her thoughts, she could still see him shutting the ambulance doors on her and how she'd almost drove to his apartment knowing he was headed there after she arrived at the hospital. Wilson had spoken with him over the phone the following day, but what had happened to House in the early morning hours? Who was there to comfort him when he decided to open up? Shaking her head, knowing that it was wrong to be concerned with him when she'd made it clear she wasn't in love with him and that he would remain miserable.

'I need to call him,' Cuddy thought, reaching out to pick up her office phone, dialed his number and waited as it rang. Her cell phone suddenly rang, vibrating against her in her pocket, she hung up her office phone before reaching into her pocket and flipping her phone open.

"Hello?" She answered. To be greeted by Lucas, her fiance, who was informing her of exciting news regarding what they should eat for dinner tonight and how Rachel was standing up on her own longer without assistance, but she hadn't quite taken her first steps yet. Cuddy listened to him with a small smile, commenting every now and then, but her eyes flitted to the office phone and wondered if House would have answered if she remained on the line longer.

—-

House was seated at his desk in the living room near the entrance way; he often used this particular desk to set down miscellaneous items such as groceries, his keys, trash, and or his cane when he was in a hurry. Speaking of his cane, he'd lost the last one at the crash site, thankfully he had a few non-attractive spares in his closet.

He spent the majority of his morning making several phone calls while Ulysses was seated on the couch reading a book instead of watching TV. The sound from the TV not in the slightest bit distracting him from his concentration, he flipped the pages and read the words. He was currently reading a comic book by the name of Captain Underpants and he'd explained to House what it was about, showing him a few pages and then appearing in his underwear with a red sweater tied to his neck. Goofy kid.

"Yes, hi, my name is Dr. Gregory House, I'm calling about enrolling my son in your school, he's completely deaf, but he knows sign language and can read lips to a certain degree." House explained into the phone with the most sincerity he could muster, he knew how to be nice when he wanted to be. He was on the phone for an hour with the school administrator in facilitating a way for Ulysses to attend, discussing his diagnosis and his recent transition from Foster Care. House had informed the administrator that the mother was no longer in the picture and that he needed a place that would meet Ulysses' needs while he was at work. Emphasizing that he was a medical doctor at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital and led a Diagnostics department which earned him an appointment as soon as possible to meet with the administrator.

"Thank you so much. It means a lot to know there is a place for him. He is an intelligent, kind young boy, very excited to go to school and mingle with kids just like him." House emphasized once more before hanging up, he wrote down the date in a planner he'd purchased when at the Superstore and now he suddenly felt like Cuddy. It wasn't hard to pretend to be nice when you were nice, but he'd seen her drop her facade and blow a frustrated sigh when demanding donors would leave her office.

'Maybe I should continue to sexually harass her?' He mused for a moment, he hadn't always had a crush on her, but he did like pushing her buttons and she liked to do the same to him. Should he give her that? Let her have the best of both worlds or should he take it a step further and let her fall to sin.

'Nah, she chose that loser. She can get hot and bothered from the dumb shit that comes out of his mouth. Sorry.' House thought, quirking his head with a smirk and picked up his cellphone once more and called a Pediatricians office which coincidentally Cuddy took Rachel to. Knowing how much of a perfectionist she was, he knew Dr. April Brennan was probably the best Pediatrician in New Jersey and under the private insurance, she was accepting new patients.

"Yes, hi, I'm Dr. Gregory House, I'd like to set up an appointment for my son with Dr. Brennan." House informed the receptionist after getting off the phone with the insurance to add his son before assigning Dr. Brennan as his Pediatrician through the Medical Group with the hospital.

"Alright, I have a date for next week at 8:00 am sharp. You'll have to fill out some forms and since he's a first time patient, bring whatever medical records you have for him." The receptionist informed him and House wrote down the date into the planner, grumbling at the early time and that he'd have to bring Ulysses with him to work for the rest of that particular day. House ended the call before contacting a local children's dental office and scheduled a cleaning for Ulysses who was already missing one front tooth. He was sure the kid had a few loose teeth as well which Ulysses displayed to him in the bathroom when he'd fixed the mirror on the wall in the bathroom. House had offered to tie a string to his tooth and slam a door, but Ulysses shook his head quickly already knowing the result of such a thing.

Of course Ulysses had signed saying the tooth should come out naturally and House nodded his head that medically, they should, but Ulysses was a kid. A kid should act like a kid, but then House was waiting to get him out and on that board, he was sure a tumble would knock the other loose front tooth Ulysses was messing with.

House called a realtor who had several offers near his place of work and near the school, both within a measurable distance from another which means his commute wouldn't be long. The realtor informed him he could come look at one available, close to Princeton Plainsboro and near where Cuddy lived, but was a two bedroom apartment in a three-flat style apartment building on the bottom floor, thank god.

"Hey, we're gonna go look at a new place to live." House patted Ulysses shoulder to get his attention, Ulysses turned up from his book watching his hands move. Ulysses sat up straighter now, turning his body toward House he pinched his eyebrows in concern.

"Why? What's wrong with our house?" Ulysses signed.

"There isn't a room for you. You need a bedroom and I need a bedroom." House signed and Ulysses pinched his lips together with a pout, sighing before signing with his hands.

"Just looking?"

"Yeah, it's like a contest. Other people are trying to buy the place too." House explained, blowing air from his cheeks and Ulysses frowned. He set his book down, walking around the couch and stood beside House, dressed in jeans and a yellow AC/DC shirt he knew Cuddy would hate on him but they looked like twins so could she really complain. He found satisfaction in knowing his current parenting ways were something she would shudder at and disapprove of, but she didn't know ASL so she didn't have a chance at getting close to him anyway even if she wanted to.

"Yeah, let's go. We have a few to look at and a realtor who's gonna do everything in his power to convince us to buy it." House informed Ulysses, limping over to the closet, grabbing his dark brown coat before handing Ulysses a black coat which he buttoned up and they were on their way out of the apartment.

The realtor had shown them 3 different apartments, but House had settled on the first one the man had shown which was a two bedroom and two bathroom, his room would have an en-suite with a large porcelain white tub nothing compared to Wilsons in the loft but better than his current apartment tub which had seen better days. Ulysses' room was spacious enough for him to grow into, the kitchen was clean with updated appliances and a kitchen island. There was a park nearby and they were within distance to a shopping center, transportation, and the school for the deaf. Which was known as Dana Conway's School for the Deaf, Dana Conway was dead, but the school administrator, Mrs. Deborah Hall would suffice in providing a grand tour of the school in Danas absence.

"I'll take this one." House said, walking over to the realtor while Ulysses looked around the apartment with wonder, careful to not stray too far. The realtor handed House a form to fill out and went over the process when Ulysses walked over to the two men at the kitchen island.

"Hey kid, excited to have a new place to live?" The realtor asked Ulysses with a charming smile while House looked up from the paperwork to see how Ulysses would interact with someone who didn't know he was deaf. Ulysses stared at the realtor, letting the words he read on his lips absorb in his head before he turned to House with a look of surprise.

"We are going to live here?" Ulysses signed, motioning his hands quickly with a small gasp and the realtor turned to House in question.

"He's deaf. Yes, we are going to live here." House answered the look on the realtor's face before looking at Ulysses and signing with his hands with a playful smile.

"What happened to the contest?" Ulysses asked, flanging his arms outward to look around for other contestants, but House shook his head.

"No competition, we got here first. We win." House said, signing with his hands and Ulysses put a small hand to his forehead in disbelief while the realtor chuckled at the interaction.

"It's his first win." House informed the realtor before finishing up signing the papers, shaking the realtor's hand which Ulysses followed by doing as well. They left the apartment that was on the ground level and made their way back to the old apartment where House informed the landlord he would be moving out in the next 30 days.

He ordered pizza for the evening with Root Beer to go with it, chilled in a glass bottle, he and Ulysses sat on the couch enjoying their winnings while watching WWE wrestling when the phone rang. House set his pizza slice into the open box he and Ulysses were currently destroying, the boy had a huge appetite just like him or it could be the fact the pizza was cut into squares.

"House." House answered, chewing his food and waiting for the other person to begin talking.

"House." It was Cuddy. He sat up straighter now, no longer slouching into the couch, holding the home phone against his ear with his right hand and Ulysses turned to him in question before turning back to the TV when a wrestler got body slammed by a larger man.

"I know you don't want anyone calling you during your time off, but I just wanted to apologize for the other night." Cuddy explained, her words steady while she stood in the kitchen of her house while Lucas was seated in the living area playing with Rachel. House swallowed his food and cleared his throat to absorb her words, he wondered what Wilson had said to her this morning besides the message for his leave. She was guilty about what she said, so that meant she didn't mean it. He remained silent.

"I know, you're probably angry and I don't blame you. What I said…what I said wasn't nice nor true." Cuddy exhaled deeply, leaning against the kitchen island.

"Did you see that guy?!" Ulysses signed and House smiled quickly before turning his attention back to Cuddy on the phone, finding his words.

"No. You were right. I needed to hear that, we both did." House finally spoke.

"It was harsh, House. I'm trying to apologize."

"Trying to make it right? I've tried that before, seems I was too late." House grumbled, Cuddy sighed thinking House was still beating himself up over Hanna's death.

"House, there was nothing you could do. You did everything you could to save her." Cuddy tried to comfort him while keeping her voice quiet to not alert Lucas, not that she minded him knowing she was speaking with House, but it was obvious House was uncomfortable with him knowing his business.

"I wasn't talking about Hanna." House replied flatly.

"House…please don't make this complicated. I just, I don't want things to be weird between us anymore." Cuddy answered exasperatedly, putting a hand to her head, stressed from the continuous tension between them that borderlined on hostile and sexual.

"You're right. I'm sorry, I'll just accept the fact you're marrying a moron and move on with my life. Apology accepted, Cuddy. Good night." House hung up.

Cuddy stood back, holding the phone out in front of her as the line went silent, she clicked it shut and exhaled deeply. Wondering what she could have done differently, would it have mattered if she were engaged to a different man? Would he have stayed knowing House's deep love for her or would he have left like all the other men knowing her heart belonged to another.

Lucas was aware of House, their long history, and maybe even the fact that Cuddy…a small part of her still loved him back no matter what he did to her or what he did to himself. She just couldn't help it. She couldn't help loving him in return and she would fight it hard because it was like an addiction and it would drag her down. She had to think of her daughter, if she didn't have Rachel then maybe she would have tried with House, but she got what she needed and that was Rachel.

House she wanted. But got Lucas; what she needed and forced herself to want.

House turned to set the phone down on the receiver, liking the dynamic he set between him and Cuddy, he turned to Ulysses and ruffled his dark wavy locks playfully before reaching down into the pizza box. Bringing the pizza slice to lips once more, he chewed and relaxed once more on the couch and no longer felt guilt for withholding Ulysses from Cuddy. If he were ever to tell her, now would not be it because she wasn't ready to handle both House or Ulysses. Nor did House want another man raising or going near his son in any way, House would take this secret with him to the grave if he had to.

"You know wrestling's fake, right?" House said aloud, not bothering to sign with his hands, but Ulysses hadn't heard and was instead facing the TV with fascination. He chuckled at the light hearted joke and was glad to not be eating by himself, that even though his company was silent, their company was enough.