Lisa Edelstein, Cuddy, House

Fic: Burning Flames in December (2/2)

Title: Burning Flames in December (2/2)
Author:  adieangel
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: House/Cuddy
Summary: In the days before a blizzard strikes New Jersey, Cuddy begins receiving mysterious gifts. Circa mid-season 4.
Prompt: Winter, snowed in, drama, angst, humor (though there’s very little drama/angst – sorry.)
A/N: The title is a lyric from Weezer’s “December”.  It’s a good song.  It kind of works with this story, if you squint.

This fic is dedicated to quietslytherins as part of house_cuddy Secret Santa.

Part one can be found here.


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Lisa Edelstein, Cuddy, House

Fic: Burning Flames in December (1/2)

For the iridescent quietslytherins, here is your Secret Santa story. I apologize for the delay. I hope you like it anyway. Merry Christmas…ish!

Title: Burning Flames in December (1/2)
Author:adieangel
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: House/Cuddy
Summary: In the days before a blizzard strikes New Jersey, Cuddy begins receiving mysterious gifts. Circa mid-season 4.

Prompt: Winter, snowed in, drama, angst, humor (though there’s very little drama/angst – sorry.)
A/N: The title is a lyric from Weezer’s “December”.  It’s a good song.  It kind of works with this story, if you squint.


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epic fail, house/cuddy

Fic: My Raggedy Doctor (2/2)

Title: My Raggedy Doctor (2/2)
Rating: PG
Pairing: Rachel, Cuddy, House/Cuddy
Word Count: ~2,500 (Part Two)
Timeline: Mild spoilers for the season 7 finale, "Moving On".
Summary: She’ll remember the vibrant blue of his eyes the longest – that will be the last memory that fades before he’s just a blur in her adolescence, the warm feeling in her chest when she thinks of her childhood.

(Part One)

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epic fail, house/cuddy

Fic: My Raggedy Doctor (1/2)

Title: My Raggedy Doctor (1/2)
Rating: PG
Pairing: Rachel, Cuddy, House/Cuddy
Word Count: ~3,500 (Part One), ~6,000 (Total)
Timeline: Mild spoilers for the season 7 finale, "Moving On".
Summary: She’ll remember the vibrant blue of his eyes the longest – that will be the last memory that fades before he’s just a blur in her adolescence, the warm feeling in her chest when she thinks of her childhood.

Disclaimer: Rachel Cuddy, Greg House, Lisa Cuddy, and James Wilson belong to NBC, Fox, and David Shore. 
A/N: I'd like to dedicate this short story to my lovely beta, quietslytherins, and to [info]akemi16, for some home-stretch assistance.

This story was inspired by series five of Doctor Who.  Amy, the doctor’s current companion, once met the Doctor when she was a little girl, and she called him her Raggedy Doctor.  One day, when she was much, much older, he came back.  This is a similar story. 

There are also small nods to Minority Report, The American President, Harry Potter, The End of the Affair, and Rainbow Brite.  No copyright infringement is intended.  Some references are more obvious than others.  Brownie points to those who find them.

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Angsty!House

Fic: Fragmentation

Title: Fragmentation
Rating: Mild R
Pairing: H/C 
Word Count: ~2,200
Summary:Wanting someone isn't the same as needing them, and loving someone doesn't stop just because you want it to. Post Ep for 7x17, "Fall From Grace". Angst.
Disclaimer: House, Cuddy & Wilson belong to NBC, Fox, and David Shore. 
A/N: I'd like to dedicate this short story to my lovely beta, Penelope S. Cartwright, who subbed for RochelleRene in a pinch (while Rochelle was off, I dunno, having a baby or something. Whatever, slacker. ;D). I'd also like to dedicate it to my LA buddies, [info]akemi16 quietslytherinsblushingbrunett,  januarynineteen, Cass and Megan. Thanks for all your help and input on this one.

Without giving too much away, this idea was concocted during a late night skype session between me and Penelope and our friend [info]poocat . We wanted to write a possible way in which House and Cuddy could still be together and still be apart, simultaneously. Penelope took the idea and ran in one direction, and I ran in another (I think I'm the first to post, though. Go me! :D). I hope you enjoy it.

Keep tissues handy.
 
 
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  • Current Mood
    melancholy melancholy
Huddy, Hugh Laurie

Fic: The Doctor and Mister Jones

Title:The Doctor and Mister Jones
Rating: R
Pairing: H/C Established
Word Count: ~4,500
Summary: Cuddy meets a man in a bar. Mild spoilers for 7x09, "Larger than Life". Awareness of Sherlock Holmes characters and general 70s mushy pop artists strongly encouraged.
Disclaimer: House, Cuddy & Wilson belong to NBC, Fox, and David Shore. Sherlock Holmes, Watson, and Irene Adler belong to Arthur Conan Doyle. Tom Jones belongs to… oh, god, I don't know. Probably himself. No infringement intended.
A/N: As always, I'd like to thank my star beta, RochelleRene, for being the legit best, most helpful and most supportive beta on the face of the earth. I'd also like to thank the lovely Penelope S. Cartwright for help on the title. You ladies rock.

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The Doctor and Mister Jones

She sips her wine slowly, considering her reflection in the mirror behind the bar. Her hair is dark, long, and just shy of truly curly. Her grey eyes are shadowed in the subtle lighting of the room. Her brows arch gracefully, her lips are full and red and match the dark liquid in her hand. Her gaze wanders lazily down to the necklace at her throat, a single teardrop diamond on a platinum chain. She fingers it, smiling at a memory known only to her. She takes another sip of her wine, shifting her gaze to the room behind her.

A secluded bar, an anonymous hotel, a medical conference far away from her normal life. A bright California moon spills its rays through the nearby window, and the raindrop lights twinkle from the palm trees outside. Christmas is over, but decorations still sparkle as they arch over Wilshire Boulevard.

She glances down at her watch. It's late enough that the jet lag should have taken its toll, but she is wide awake on this mid-week night. She smoothes her hands down the full inky blackness of her skirt, tucking in the thin white lining. One black heel taps restlessly against the wood of the bar as she uncrosses and recrosses her long legs.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"

She looks up, her gaze locking onto the purest blue eyes she's ever seen. She smiles slowly, seductively, "It is now."

She moves her purse from the seat to her right, slinging it over the back of her barstool.

The man, she notes, is tall, easily six feet. His graying hair is full but short, and his five o'clock shadow softens the harsh planes of his face. As he sits, she imagines running her hands along his scruff, the hairs tickling the spaces between her fingers. She shivers.

"Are you cold?" he asks.

She shakes her head, her curls bouncing around her face. From the bartender, he orders a tumbler of Maker's Mark for himself, then looks to her.

"Another Shiraz is fine," she points to her nearly empty wineglass.

"A Shiraz for the lady," he tells the bartender, who sets off to fulfill their order. His hand rests on the bar, and she imagines his long pianist's fingers running softly over the planes of her back, cupping her shoulder blades. Her breath catches, and she quickly takes a sip of wine to cover it.

"Lemme guess," he begins, "Medical conference. You're a… doctor, right? No, wait. Administrator."

She glares at him for a split second before correcting him, "Dead of Medicine. How did you know?"

"You have a pager hooked to the outside of your purse. The only people who carry pagers nowadays are doctors or drug dealers. Also, there's an Endocrinology conference in this very hotel right now."

"Well, that was an easy guess," she teases, arching a well-manicured brow.

"You also have a slight ink stain on your left middle finger. Paper pusher," he finishes with a flourish.

She lifts up her left hand, noticing the small mark for the first time. She turns back to him, "I'm impressed. A little insulted, I think, but impressed. And what do you do, Mister…"

"Jones," he finishes.

"Mister Jones," she repeats, humorous disbelief painting her features.

"Tom Jones," he amends, a twinkle in his eye.

"Tom Jones? Really? And what do you do, Mister Tom Jones? No, wait," She holds up her ink stained hand, "Let me guess. Detective?"

He smiles, "How'd you know?"

"The keen eye for detail, the improbable name: A regular Sherlock Holmes," she rolls her eyes good-naturedly.

"Some would say I'm smarter than Holmes," the edge of Mister Jones' lip turns up.

"And where's your Watson?"

"He's upstairs, sleeping. It seems as though somebody drugged him," Mr. Jones furrows his brow in mock puzzlement.

"Who would dare do such a thing?" she inquires.

"I have no idea," he leans into her then, their knees brushing. A shiver travels up her spine at the contact.

"In fact," he continues, "I came down here to do a little… detecting… on that very subject when I came across a lovely lady alone in a bar full of strangers."

"Well don't let me distract you from your duties," she turns to polish off the last of her wine as the waiter returns with a new glass and Jones' bourbon.

"You…" he gazes over her features, his eyes gliding across her ample cleavage before coming to rest on her exposed knee, "are a welcome distraction, I assure you."

She blushes, "That's nice to know."

She leans into him slightly, smelling the soap from a recent shower, and under that, a smoky maleness that entices her even closer to him. He takes a sip of his bourbon, and she watches his Adam's apple bob as he downs the amber liquid. Her tongue sneaks out of her mouth to wet her lower lip, and Jones casts a sidelong glance at her.

"So, Doctor Dean of Medicine, what is your name?"

"Lisa Cuddy," she responds truthfully.

"Well, Doctor Dean of Medicine Lisa Cuddy, do you have any plans for tonight?" he reaches for her right hand with his left, idly stroking her fingers.

"Well, I was waiting for my boyfriend, but he's almost twenty minutes late," she sighs exaggeratedly.

"The guy obviously doesn't deserve you," Jones scoffs,. "What's this boyfriend do, anyway? Is he a doctor, too?"

"Yep," she replies, entwining her fingers with his, "one of the best. He's brilliant, in fact. And funny, charming, romantic…"

"Sounds like an asshole," Jones scoffs, and Cuddy laughs.

"Yeah, he's that, too."

Jones works his jaw for a moment, then leans closer to her, their lips inches apart, "Uh-huh. Well, if he's so perfect, why isn't he down here holding hands with you and plying you with alcohol?"

"Oh, he'll be along in a minute," her eyes shift down to his lips. He moves closer, until she can smell the sharp tang of bourbon on his breath. She closes her eyes in anticipation, waiting for him to close the gap.

"Well, I guess I'd better get out of here before your boyfriend arrives," Jones quips, pulling his fingers out of her loose grasp to take the final sip of his drink.

Cuddy opens her eyes, sighing in frustration even as her eyes twinkle in amusement. Jones moves to rise from the barstool, but stops when Cuddy places her hand on his arm.

"Wait. Stay."

He looks down at her, his lip curling up into a smile, "But Doctor Cuddy, whatever will your boyfriend say when he sees us here flirting so shamelessly?"

She arches an eyebrow, her voice husky, "We'll take our chances."

Jones sits back down and raises his empty glass towards the bartender, shaking it. The bartender returns, refilling his drink as Cuddy takes a sip of her wine.

He turns to her, "Where were we?"

She smiles, pulling her hand through her hair, her dark curls glistening in the dim light, "Why don't you tell me more about this case you're working on, Mr. Jones?"

He tugs on his lapel in pride, "Detective Jones, please."

"Sorry, Detective. How did your colleague manage to get himself drugged?"

Jones turns to her then, placing his elbow on the bar as he leans towards her, his eyes casting a suspicious glance around the room, "I think it was an inside job," he whispers.

Cuddy laughs suddenly, causing Jones to smile quizzically. "You think he drugged himself?"

"What?"

"Well, who else is on the inside? Isn't it just the two of you?"

He holds up three digits, "There's three of us."

"Ah," Cuddy nods, "Who's the third in this ragtag bunch of detectives?"

She sees his eyes sparkle as he watches her intently, "Every Holmes has his Adler."

Cuddy leans back, a playful pout on her lips, "I'm jealous."

Jones's eyebrows rise in surprise, "Really?"

"Is she pretty, your Irene Adler?"

"Breathtaking," he replies honestly.

Heat rises to Cuddy's cheeks as she gasps quietly, "S-so…" she stumbles, surprised at his honesty, "How do you think Irene managed to drug Watson?"

"I have my theories."

"Care to share them?" she rests her chin on her hand, elbow on the bar.

Jones sighs, "I gave her a bottle of pills a while back. Flunitrazepam."

Cuddy breaks eye contact then, her eyes downcast in chagrin. She clears her throat, then raises her eyes back up to him defiantly, "Flunitrazepam, huh? That's a pretty powerful sedative. Why would you give that to her?"

"It's a long story, involving me drugging her mother at her birthday party, and a show of faith."

"You drugged her mother?"

"She was being a bitch," Jones declares defensively.

"You don't just drug someone's mother, H- uh… Jones," Cuddy insists, ignoring the slipup even as she notices Jones's mouth twitch in response.

"I know that now. Believe me, I know. I gave her the pills as a way of – "

"Apologizing?"

"No," he quickly corrects.

"Atonement?"

"No," he insists, "saying Happy Birthday."

"Uh huh," Cuddy responds skeptically, "And now you think she used them to drug your partner? Why?"

"My theory? I think Watson wanted to get the hell outta dodge, but Adler had other plans."

"Oh really?" Cuddy uncrosses then re-crosses her legs, her black Louboutin pump brushing against Jones' pant leg, "What kinds of plans?" She moves imperceptibly closer to him, biting her lip.

"Well, it's our last night in Los Angeles. I think she wanted a night on the town," his eyes glide across her face, down to the teardrop diamond pendant that rests just above her cleavage. He reaches forward, running his hand along the platinum chain, causing Cuddy to shiver.

"Well, if you're here, I guess she's out of luck, huh?" she whispers, smiling as his hand traces her collarbone. "What kind of, um," she closes her eyes briefly as his fingers move up to caress her shoulder, "night do you think she had planned?"

"Oh, you know, the usual," Jones sighs, "Dinner, maybe a drink or two. Definitely sex."

Arousal curls in Cuddy's belly as she practically purrs, "That sounds wonderful." She rests a hand on his left knee as he threads his fingers gently through her hair.

"It's been pretty fun so far," Jones leans down, then, pressing his lips to hers insistently. Cuddy leans into the kiss, curling her free hand around his shoulder and pulling him closer to her. He sucks on her upper lip, and she nips gently at his lower before opening her mouth wider, inviting him inside. His tongue brushes up against hers and she moans. They kiss for a long moment before she breaks it abruptly with a hand on his chest.

"Wait, wait," she gasps, panting slightly.

"What?" Jones' expression is dazed, his eyes focused on her glistening lips.

"What if my boyfriend – and your Ms. Alder – sees us making out down here?" she drags her fingers slowly down the lapel of his sport jacket, caressing the fabric.

Jones looks around conspiratorially before clutching his cane in one hand and her hand in the other. He stands, leaning down to whisper in her ear, "Well, then I think we should go upstairs, don't you?"

She smiles up at him, "I think that's an excellent idea."

Cuddy grabs her purse from the chair as Jones pulls some bills out of his wallet, leaving them on the bar as the two of them make their way toward the hotel lobby. Cuddy hooks her arm in his, noting the slight limp in Jones's walk, "Is your leg okay?" she inquires.

"It's fine," he dismisses the limp with a wave, "Old war wound."

She nods in understanding as they head toward the elevator.

Jones jabs the 'up' button and they wait, side by side, until the doors rush open. The elevator is vacant, and as Cuddy turns to push the button for her floor, Jones moves behind her, brushing her hair aside and leaning down to drop a kiss onto her neck as the doors close. She steadies herself with her hands on the panel, her purse falling, forgotten, to the carpeted floor. Cuddy tries desperately not to press any buttons and prolong the trip to the hotel room as evidence of his arousal presses insistently into her lower back. She moans appreciatively, his tongue tracing the line of her jugular. His hand travels slowly up her left leg, the loose skirt lifting easily as his fingers caress her thigh. She gasps when his hand gently cups her sex, and he releases his mouth to pant in her ear, "God, I love this skirt, Cuddy."

He strokes her through her panties, damp with the stirrings of arousal. "I know," is her breathless reply as she pushes away from the wall with one hand, reaching behind her to run her hand along the length of his his growing erection through his pants. He moans into her ear and she turns her head, desperately searching for his mouth as the elevator dings and the doors glide open.

"Dammit," she curses, peering around the corner and down the hallway. She sighs with relief when no one is there. She picks up her purse, grinding her ass into Jones's crotch, then pulls his hand out from under her skirt, interlacing her fingers with his. They walk down the hall as quickly as his leg will allow before she pulls out the room key, sliding it in place with a click. The light on the door turns green, and she pulls on the handle. She barely gets the door open when he spins her around by her waist, capturing her lips with his. She moans appreciatively, her back pressing against the half-open door. As the kiss deepens, he leans into her and she stumbles, nearly falling backwards into the room.

"I gotcha," he tightens his grip around her waist, guiding her inside the junior suite. Her arms circle his neck and the kiss resumes as she hears the door slam behind them. She moans appreciatively as he drags his tongue against hers in a deep, probing kiss. She kicks off her black heels, backing up until her ass comes in contact with the back of the large, leather sofa, and Jones lifts her up to rest on its edge.

"Oh, Tom," she moans as his lips travel down her neck to her collarbone. He lifts his head, suddenly uncomfortable.

"Enough with the Tom, Cuddy."

"I thought you liked the Tom," she smiles, inexplicably aroused by the sight of his glistening lips, smeared with the remnants of her dark red lipstick.

"Not when I'm trying to seduce my girlfriend," he replies.

"But that's the whole point of this game, isn't it? To be someone else?"

"Oh, really, Doctor Dean of Medicine Lisa Cuddy?" he pulls back slightly, though their torsos remain pressed together, securing her against the sofa's edge.

She glares at him, "I don't like lying,"

"You mean you're bad at lying,"

"That's not what I said."

"But you are."

"Am not."

"Cuddy…" he whines.

"Fine, House," she heaves an exasperated sigh. Greg House smiles, nodding once before Cuddy continues, "Now, how about some of that sex you mentioned earlier?"

"Yes, ma'am," he grins as he leans down for another deep, searching kiss as he bunches the skirt up around her waist, his hands gliding softly along the smooth length of her thighs.

"Did I mention how much I love this skirt?"

"I figured that's why you asked me to wear it," she pants, pushing his jacket over his shoulders as he toes off his shoes and socks.

"You are the best girlfriend ever," he replies, removing his hands from her milky thighs just long enough to shrug out of the jacket and lift his button down and t-shirt off in one fell swoop. Cuddy's hands immediately move to his chest, her fingers gliding through the sparse hair there before she pinches his nipples enticingly. House growls then, his hands lifting the hem of her top to caress the smooth warmth of her stomach. He pushes the top up, and she flings it over her head, her lips crashing back down on his as she hears it make contact with a nearby lamp, knocking it onto the carpet with a dull thud. While their tongues duel for dominance, she makes quick work of House's belt and pants, shoving them to the floor as he kicks them out of the way.

Her bra follows seconds later, and House's hands immediately move to cup her breasts possessively before he leans down to press his lips against one turgid nipple. Cuddy gasps at the sensation, clutching his back as he licks and sucks her delicate skin before trailing his tongue down to her sternum and across to her right breast. She can feel his smile against her skin as his teeth trail gently over the taut peak, and she issues a throaty laugh in response.

"House," she breathes, her hands moving to unzip the skirt bunched around her waist.

His fingers still hers as he lifts his head, "Leave the skirt on."

"What is your obsession with this skirt?" she asks, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

"You have your role playing fantasies and I have my hot puffy skirt fantasies," House teases.

"Really?"

"Really. Cuddy. Hours of entertainment after you wore this. Months, even," he taps his forehead with his finger.

"I haven't worn this skirt in five years."

"Doesn't matter."

She narrows her eyes for a moment, not quite understanding his attraction to this particular article of clothing.

"All right," she shrugs her shoulders, hopping down from the sofa and pulling her now soaked panties down her legs and kicking them aside. As she moves to hop back up, House stills her with his hands on her shoulders. His lip curls up mischievously.

"Turn around."

A graceful eyebrow arches before she slowly complies, turning and leaning forward until her elbows press against the sofa's edge. Behind her, she can feel House drag his hand up her thigh, pulling the loose fabric of the skirt with him until her ass is fully exposed to the cool air of the hotel room. She hears a rustle behind her as House removes his boxers, and she wiggles her ass teasingly at him, turning her head to see his reaction. Even in the dim light of the room, she can see his eyes dilating with arousal, his penis standing at attention. He is inches away from her exposed sex, staring in awe at her, his mouth slightly agape.

"I never get tired of this," he sighs.

She pushes back into him, rubbing against his erection as he clutches her hip in surprise. Arousal shoots through her as he enters her in one long stroke.

"Oh, god," she cries as her elbows lose purchase on the sofa's ledge and she stumbles forward, her sensitive nipples dragging against the soft fabric. She gasps at the barrage of sensation, her muscles tightening in response to his welcome intrusion. House waits while she lifts herself up, her left hand gripping the edge of the sofa. He begins to move then, in long smooth strokes that leave them both breathless.

She reaches back, clutching House's ass in earnest as he curls above her, his hand resting next to hers, their fingers touching. He brushes the coarse hairs on his chin across her back, and she shivers at the delicious sensation. House drags his other hand down over her breasts, tweaking a nipple before continuing its journey south to her clit. Her back arches at the contact, and her head snaps back with arousal. He pumps faster and faster, leaning forward as much as possible as she turns to meet his lips in a frantic kiss. Sweat beads her forehead, and she can feel her orgasm building quickly in her belly as she tries to pull House closer and closer into her. She can feel herself teetering on the edge of bliss as House presses his finger hard onto her clit, pushing her over the edge. He thrusts frantically until his orgasm hits, and Cuddy can feel his muscles give out as he collapses onto her back. Her arms, holding their combined weight, give out, and they both collapse over the edge of the sofa, sucking in lungfuls of air. He moves off her then, turning and sliding down the sofa to sit on the floor. Cuddy joins him moments later, and places a soft kiss on his shoulder. He looks at her, naked except for the puffy black skirt and teardrop necklace, and smiles contentedly.

"How's your leg?" she asks, still panting slightly.

"It's gonna hate me in the morning," he sighs.

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not."

They sit in silence for a moment, content in their afterglow, until Cuddy's hand reaches up to touch the diamond at her throat.

"Thank you for a wonderful birthday, House," she says as she looks up at him.

"You're welcome," he responds, kissing her forehead, "I can't believe you drugged Wilson."

She shrugs her shoulders, "It's my birthday. I didn't want to break tradition."

House laughs; a full-throated, vibrant sound that somehow makes Cuddy feel even happier than she was before.

"You really are the best girlfriend ever," he leans down to kiss her.

"I know," she replies smugly before meeting his lips in a breathless kiss.

-----------------------------------------------
Epilogue

House opens his left eye, squinting in the morning light. The bed bounces, first gently, then heavily. He turns his head, noticing Cuddy sitting fully upright, completely naked, hair in disarray, with her blackberry pressed to her ear.

"Of course not," she whispers into the phone, trying not to wake the already awake House.

"I'm sor – will you let me finish?" she hisses into the phone, "I'm sorry."

House cranes his neck to look up at her, and she notices for the first time that he's no longer asleep. She rolls her eyes in his direction, though it's clear she's referring to the person on the phone.

"I promise. Wilson, I promise. I will never drug you again."

House snorts with laughter, pressing his head into his pillow.

"No, he is not a bad influence on me!" she punches the bed in frustration. House lifts his head again, resting it on her thigh, smiling as he kisses the skin there.

"Okay. Okay. We'll be down in an hour," she punches the End Call button with a little too much force as she tosses the phone onto the bed. She looks at down at House as he continues kissing her, softly ruffling his hair.

"You really are a bad influence on me, you know," she sighs. His grin widens as he wraps his arms around her waist, pulling her down to lie flat on the bed next to him as she squeaks in surprise. He leans over her, his arms on either side of her.

"I know. I love it."

It's Cuddy's turn to smile as she caresses his scruff-covered jaw, the hairs tickling her fingers. She pulls him down for a kiss, but not before warning him, "We have to be done in an hour."

He looks at the clock on a nearby nightstand, "I think that's doable."

The End

Thanks for reading!
Huddy, Hugh Laurie

The Value of First Base

Title: The Value of First Base
Rating: R
Pairing: H/C Established
Word Count: ~4,000
Summary: This is my attempt to explain why the hell House and Cuddy haven't had one decent kiss between them in the eight episodes they've been together this season. Spoilers for all of Season 7.

I wrote this earlier this week and posted it to fanfiction.net, but I thought I'd resurrect this old LJ account to post it here, too.  I hope you enjoy it!

I would also like to thank my esteemed (and fabulous, awesomesauce) beta, RochelleRene, for helping me deconstruct and reconstruct this story into something resembling something post-able. Many MANY thanks.


The Value of First Base

The snow falls gently outside Cuddy's living room window as she sits on her sofa, a blanket strewn over her legs. Paperwork is laid out on the coffee table in front of her, her Mac Book balanced precariously on one knee. The telltale roar of a motorcycle engine alerts Cuddy to her arriving guest, and she removes her reading glasses and gently folds them, placing them on the table. She rises as House's cane raps sharply on the door once, twice. She grabs the door's handle, opening it to find House, cane in hand, mid-third rap. A light dusting of snow covers his leather-clad shoulders as he shivers against the icy wind.

"Hi," Cuddy offers him a small smile, entreating him to come inside.

He enters silently, shaking off the winter air and stomping snow off his boots. He says nothing as Cuddy closes the door behind him, waiting until she's in front of him once again. She starts to lean into him for a kiss when she hears, "So, is this the part where you break up with me?"

"What? No," Cuddy scoffs lightheartedly before noticing the slight look of panic under the stoic mask of House's face.

"House." She grasps his arm lightly, worry painting her features, "I didn't ask you to come over here to break up with you."

She sees the tension in House's shoulders ebb slightly, though she can tell that he's still wary. His eyes caress her face and land somewhere around her breasts. Her pulse quickens as she shivers unconsciously.

"Your neckline."

She looks down at her outfit: a thin black turtleneck and grey pencil skirt. Her brow furrows.

"What's wrong with my neckline?"

"The higher the neckline, the more pissed you are at me. The last time I broke the MRI, allegedly, you kept your suit jacket on all day. When I didn't go to Rachel's birthday, there was the thick sweater incident." Cuddy smirks.

"I figured a turtleneck meant breakup time. Plus the fact that you practically barged into my office this afternoon, asking me to come over later so we could… talk." House spits out the last word like a curse.

Cuddy laughs lightly, causing House's eyes to snap back up to hers.

"My neckline has to do with a new top and it being 20 degrees outside. I wanted to talk because I'm worried… "

She pauses, unsure how to continue. She tugs him forward into her living room, motioning him toward the sofa.

"Sit," she commands. House reluctantly obeys, shrugging out of his coat and dumping it along with his cane unceremoniously on the sofa's arm. Cuddy grabs the cane from the sofa before it teeters to the floor, leaning it carefully against the adjoining wall. She sits next to him, placing a hand on his leg. He watches her fingers brush against the rough denim nervously as she clears her throat.

"I don't… um… I'm not sure how to say this."

"You're gay."

"Shut up, House."

"Bisexual? Please tell me you're bisexual and you want to have a three way with Thirteen. Because, lemme tell you, I'm completely okay with that."

Cuddy rolls her eyes, smiling.

"You know I love you, right?"

"Oh, god," House groans, settling dejectedly against the sofa cushions.

"And I know you love me." Cuddy's heart pounds in her chest as she takes a deep breath.

"I'm sure there's a point somewhere around here, Cuddy. Would you mind getting to –"

"Why won't you kiss me?"

This gets House's attention. He sits straight up and looks into her eyes, more curious than upset.

"What are you talking about, Cuddy? As you may recall, we have had sex approximately one hundred and seventy six times in the past six months, two hundred and three if you count oral sex. I kiss you all the time."

Heat scores her cheeks in embarrassment, even as she finds herself impressed that he remembers how many times they've fucked since the night the world crashed around them.

"No, you press your lips against mine. Which is sweet, when I do it to Rachel. When it's my boyfriend…"

"Are you saying I'm a bad kisser?" House asks, incredulous.

"No!"

"'Cause, it sounds to me like you're telling me I'm a bad kisser. And frankly, I'm a little surprised because I've never had any complaints before."

"Listen, House –"

"Ask Stacy, or, hell, talk to Cameron. I've gotten very positive reviews from everyone in that particular department," House practically yells, defensive.

Cuddy glances towards Rachel's room, motioning him to keep his voice down. She leans in toward him, lowering her voice, "This is far from a complaint. I just… okay. Remember a couple years ago? I had just lost Joy, and you came over and we fought and you kissed me?"

"Are we cataloguing my failures now?"

"No, House!" Her grip on his thigh tightens. There is a note of desperation in her voice, "That was the best kiss I've ever had. In my life. Hands down."

"Hell yeah, it was," House mutters.

"But lately, when you kiss me, it's…"

"Boring? Lazy?" he gulps, "Slimy?"

"I was going to say gentle."

"Gentle," He repeats sullenly, "Wait. What's wrong with gentle?"

"Nothing, absolutely nothing." Cuddy shakes her head, continuing, "But there's a time and a place for gentle. And, frankly, when I'm riding you like a cowgirl the last thing I want is a gentle kiss. Does that make sense?"

House smirks at the mental picture of her lithe form straddling his hips, his cock sliding deliciously in and out of her as he pulls her down and presses his lips to hers.

His eyes narrow, "I guess."

Cuddy leans closer, hooking her free hand around the nape of his neck. Her fingers brush through the hair there. "Kiss me, House."

He pulls back, eying her warily, "I don't know if I want to, now. You're just going to tell me what I'm doing wrong."

Leaning closer, Cuddy huffs in frustration, "No, I'm not. I just figured, maybe we could practice. Diagnose and cure, right?"

His voice grumbles, "Well… practice does make perfect," he agrees, leaning in to capture her smiling lips.

Her eyes slide shut as her smile closes on his upper lip while he sucks gently on her lower. She inhales sharply, smelling the dampness of his snow-melted hair and his uniquely musky scent. They readjust, trading short pecks, followed by brief, luxurious open mouthed kisses. Tentatively, Cuddy's tongue ventures into House's mouth, just barely grazing his before he slides his lips down over her jaw line and up behind her ear. Cuddy moans in ecstasy, her belly tingling in subtle arousal. The touch of House's tongue on the sensitive skin of her neck causes her to shiver, momentarily lost in sensation.

Her eyes snap open, her hands gently clutching his face as she tries to pull his lips away from her neck, "House, stop." His tongue is relentless, though, trailing slowly along her jugular before he bites gently in that spot. She groans softly, her hands still on his face for a moment before she redoubles her efforts.

"House... House!"

He pulls his lips away from her neck, his eyes dazed and unfocused as she looks into them.

"What, woman?"

"Kiss me, not my neck. My lips are up here." She releases his head to point saucily at her open mouth, her lips glistening with moisture. She bites her bottom lip enticingly.

"I know," House practically whines, his gaze moving from her plump lips to the smooth skin of her neck, "but you love it when I bite your neck," he leans in for another taste, but a hand on his chest stops him.

"I love it, I do," she assures him. But I want you to kiss me. I want these lips," she covers his lips with three fingers. He draws one greedily into his mouth before she pulls it away, touching her own, "on these lips. Got it? We can neck later."

House pretends to consider her proposal for a moment before launching forward, capturing her lips with his own once more. They trade gentle kisses for what seem like an eternity. This time when Cuddy presses her tongue against his lips, he is quick to open them, rubbing his own against hers experimentally. House moans, grabbing Cuddy by the waist and pulling her on top of him. Without breaking the kiss, Cuddy straddles House, mindful of his leg, her hands grabbing the back of the sofa for support. She deepens the kiss, luxuriating in the velvety feel of his tongue moving, whisper-soft, against hers.

It isn't long, however, before House's wandering tongue trails its way, once again, down along her jaw as his hands gently caress the skin of her back under the turtleneck. Cuddy pulls away abruptly, causing his mouth to disengage with a pop.

"What are you doing?" Cuddy is frustrated now, and she blows a hair off her forehead. House rests his forehead on her shoulder.

"I thought it was fairly obvious."

"House, we've been over this. I want you to -"

"I know, I know. Kiss you. And I thought I was!" House's agitation grows evident as he slides out from under her, moving to stand. "I don't know what you want from me, Cuddy. I told you I loved you. I'm here half the time, you're at my place the other half. I've opened my life to you more than anyone since Stacy, and this whole time you're thinking I'm a shitty kisser? What else aren't you telling me? Am I a horrible lay, too?"

"No, Jesus!" Cuddy stands, too, moving close to him. Her stance is meant to be intimidating, but in bare feet, her head tilted towards the much taller House, she looks more like an adolescent child standing up to the schoolyard bully. She pokes his chest. "I love you. I am not dissatisfied; I just want to know... If there's some kind of problem, we can work through it together!" Her understanding words are undercut by the harsh whisper of her tone.

"There is no problem!"

"Then, fuck... Kiss me, House!"

"Right now, I don't want to kiss you, Cuddy, to be honest. I'm gonna go." He moves to grab his jacket from over the arm of the sofa, shrugging it on as Cuddy watches, defeated.

She watches as he limps toward the doorway before she notices his cane leaning against the wall. She grabs it, following him to the door. His hand rests on the handle as she thrusts the cane at him, "Here. You forgot this."

He moves to take it from her, refusing to look her in the eye, but she's not letting go. He looks up at her sharply. Her eyes watch him expectedly. "What are you – "

"House, if you don't want to talk about it, it's fine. Honestly. I just thought, maybe… I don't know. Maybe I could…" she searches for the correct words, still watching his face intently, "help you."

"I don't need your help, Cuddy," he growls, his face hardening. She lets go of the cane, and it slips a few inches in his grip before he can grasp it securely. He lowers it to the floor with a thump, putting pressure on it as turns the doorknob. Cuddy walks away, leaning against the hallway wall. Disappointment burns behind her eyes, but she will not allow him the satisfaction of crying.

He opens the door, the cool winter air gusting in. She stares at the back of his head as he hesitates, opens the door wider, then shuts it abruptly. He spins around, facing her and she gasps.

"I can't do this with you, Cuddy."

Tears begin to prick her eyelids as she forces out, "So, what, you're breaking up with me, now? It's…" her eyes implore him, and he looks away, "it's just a kiss, House."

He moves toward her, his gait awkward. His eyes flicker from the floor to the bookshelf, anywhere but to her face, "It's not just a kiss to me, Cuddy. When we're… having sex… fucking… making love. Whatever… I feel. Everything feels better when you're around. Everything. One day, one MRI broken or missed birthday party too many, you're going to leave." He shrugs as though it's an inevitability, "I can't… if I kiss you like I want to kiss you, I'm never going to be able to stop. I'm going to want to kiss you forever. I'm going to overwhelm you. And when you do finally want to stop – because they all, eventually, want to stop – I –"

"House." He finally tilts his gaze up at her, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I don't want you to stop. I want you to overwhelm me." She pulls him closer, her hand stroking the hairs at the nape of his neck. "I've known you for twenty five years, House. Nothing you've said or done so far has made me change my mind about how much you mean to me. No matter how mad we get at each other, I will always," she squeezes his neck gently in emphasis, "always, be here, with you."

She smiles up at him, "Okay?"

Cuddy watches as House considers her answer, his eyes flickering back and forth across her face as if he's reading her. She feels helpless and plaintive under his gaze, her eyes begging him to believe her. After a moment, he lowers his gaze, nodding once. Cuddy releases a breath, bringing her other hand up around his neck to join the first as his mouth curls up into a soft smile. She returns his smile bashfully as House props his cane up against the wall behind her. His hands find the smooth expanse of her hips.

"Now, where were we?" he whispers, leaning down to brush his lips against hers once, twice. On the third pass, she captures his upper lip between hers and gently bites down with encouragement. He immediately opens his mouth, his tongue searching for the warmth of hers and, finding it, he inhales sharply at the contact. Cuddy feels herself melting into his arms, yielding to the kiss as arousal blooms hot in her belly. She clutches him desperately, their mouths moving with a ferocity and passion new and thrilling to both of them. She lifts herself up on tiptoe, trying to get closer, delve further into the warmth of his mouth. She whimpers.

They kiss forever, until the balls of her feet ache and her breathing quickens. She breaks away, panting deliriously, light headed from the lack of oxygen. She smiles up at him, noting the smear of lipstick coating his bottom lip and the dazed expression on his face. She can feel the pounding of his heart through her breast, pressed enticingly against his. She grabs his hand, pulling him back towards the sofa. She helps him out of his jacket, throwing it back onto the arm, before pushing him down and straddling his legs once again.

"So, House… wanna make out?"

He smiles and arches his neck up to kiss her deeply, their tongues intertwining effortlessly as his hands caress her stomach and slowly climb, under her turtleneck, to graze her bra. Her toes curl, and she presses herself against the warmth of his growing erection. They make no move beyond that, though, as they stay on the couch, kissing for what seems like hours, enjoying the simple pleasure of it. After a while, Cuddy pulls away, resting her forehead against his, their panting breaths comingling between them.

"Congratulations, House. You made it to first base." He smiles.

"I love it when you talk in sports metaphors."

"Yeah, well, don't get used to it."

She nibbles his lower lip, then asks, "You ready to run a triple?"

"Slide into home plate?" he counters and she laughs, a throaty, breathless sound, before standing back up, pulling him along with her.

Cuddy pulls House gently down the hall, their fingers entwined. As she opens the door to her bedroom, he presses his chest against her back, leaning down to whisper in her ear, "Do I have permission to kiss your neck now, boss?"

She arches her neck to one side in silent invitation. Her eyes roll skyward as she sighs teasingly, "Oh, I suppose."

He smiles as his mouth latches on to her neck, his tongue trailing up behind her ear. Cuddy can feel his erection pressing into her lower back and she moans appreciatively, clutching the door's archway for support when her knees threaten to buckle. After taking a moment to regain her composure, she enters the room, House's mouth traveling up to gently nip her earlobe.

She turns in his embrace, claiming his lips in another scorching kiss. As his tongue strokes hers, she begins to unbutton his shirt before roughly pushing it over his shoulders. He shrugs it off quickly, tossing the offending item to the floor before helping her out of her turtleneck. He clutches the cotton in his hands, shaking it at her. "Never again."

The turtleneck joins his shirt on the floor as she grins, nodding her head in silent capitulation.

"I'm serious. Those things scare me."

She leans into him, then, whispering, "Well, then. How do you suggest I stay warm out there in the cold, wet snow?" His gaze drops to her bra-clad breasts, his focus momentarily lost.

"House."

Without shifting his gaze, she hears, "Invest in scarves," before he lowers his mouth to kiss her collarbone. She laughs, a light, lilting sound, as he reaches behind her to unhook her bra, sending it tumbling to the floor. As his hands find her breasts, she leans forward, her mouth latching onto the skin of his shoulder. She licks her way up his neck, mimicking his earlier actions, as he fumbles for the zipper of her skirt. They quickly undress until only Cuddy's panties remain, and House backs her up to the bed.

She falls back onto the springy mattress and House clambers on top of her, his mouth lapping greedily at one turgid nipple as the whiskers of his five o'clock shadow tickle the underside of her breast. Cuddy moans in appreciation as her hands stroke his arms, shoulders, anywhere she can reach. Her fingers tunnel through his hair, keeping his mouth on her nipple as his left hand trails down her stomach and under the band of her panties. As he switches to her unattended left nipple, his finger gently parts the folds of her dripping sex, and he dips one finger gently into her center. Cuddy arches her back, moaning at the welcomed intrusion.

He lifts his head, smiling at her flushed cheeks and slightly dazed expression, "I believe we've successfully hit second base."

"I'm going to hit you if you don't –" she gasps as he adds a second finger to her heat, stroking deftly in and out, "stop talking and fuck me."

"Ooh, Cuddy, I love it when you get bossy."

She reaches down between his legs, sliding her hand along his erection. He groans appreciatively, but doesn't stop as his lips continue the slow mapping of her body, trailing down over her stomach. He removes his fingers from her, hearing her desperate whimper, and pulls her panties down and off her legs before positioning himself at her entrance.

"Third base, here we come."

As House's tongue dips into her center, she cries out, clutching the headboard. His tongue trails up, circling her clit before biting gently. He re-inserts two fingers into her warmth, causing her to moan in appreciation. She begins to writhe against him, one hand dragging through his hair and holding him against her as he pushes her closer and closer to orgasm. Her breathing quickens, her muscles tense. Just as she reaches the precipice, House hauls himself back up, taking her lips in a bruising kiss. Cuddy growls in frustration before melting into the kiss, tasting herself on his lips.

"What the hell –" Cuddy pulls away from his mouth in exasperation.

"I didn't want you reaching home plate before me." House smirks, and Cuddy rolls her eyes.

"You are such an asshole."

House grins mischievously as he positions himself at her entrance before pushing inside. Cuddy grips his shoulders, expelling a breath as she adjusts to him. She grins appreciatively as he begins to move above her, the delicious friction causing the curl of arousal to tighten low in her belly. Her thighs grip House's hips, her hands caress the soft skin of his back as he peppers her neck and breasts with wet, open-mouthed kisses. As his pace quickens, she pulls him back in for another tongue-tangling kiss, and she can taste salty tang of her sweat on his lips. House moans in approval, his eyes slipping shut, his arms straining to hold his weight as she can feel his muscles tense in anticipation. As he thrusts into her, lightning fast, her orgasm blooms, spiking up her spine. She cries out, tightening around House's penis as he follows her over the precipice. His arms collapse, crushing her momentarily into the mattress. She can feel his panting against her shoulder as she brushes her lips against his forehead. He leans back slightly, his eyes meeting hers.

"Looks like we – "

"If the next words that come out your mouth have anything to do with baseball, this is the last sexual experience you and I are going to have. Ever. You feel me?"

A short bark of laughter issues from House's lips, and Cuddy jumps in surprise, then joins in. He grips her hips, rolling to the side, dragging her along with him until she is nestled against his lanky frame, her right leg sliding over his left. He runs his hands leisurely over her shoulder blades and down to the small of her back, letting them rest there as she cushions her head against his shoulder.

"Yeah, I feel you."

She arches her neck, her hand trailing through his hair as she pulls him down for a slow, languid kiss. Their tongues slide together as they duel lazily for what seems like hours before she lowers her head back onto his shoulder.

Moments pass in silence as Cuddy gently caresses the sparse hair of House's chest, her eyes slipping shut. She can feel the tension in House's body slide away as he is pulled into sleep.

"House?" Cuddy whispers suddenly, looking up at him. He doesn't open his eyes.

"Hm?"

"You are an amazing kisser."

His left eye squints down at her, and he pats her hip teasingly.

"Told you."

The End.


Thanks for reading! Don't forget to tip your waitresses.

Angsty!House

Fic: Rediscovering Reality

Title: Rediscovering Reality

Author: AdieAngel

Rating: PG for language

Pairing: House/Cuddy

Timeline: Soon after House’s release from Mayfield in the Season 6 premiere. I wrote this before “Broken”, so for the purposes of this fic, his therapist is a woman. Oops.

Disclaimer: I have no money, so please don’t sue me. House, Cuddy, and Wilson are all property of Fox and David Shore. No infringement is intended.

A/N: This is my first fic EVER. I’ve written scripts before, so I kind of ended up writing it more like a screenplay than a story. I hope it still makes sense. Constructive criticism is always helpful.
-=-
Rediscovering Reality

Shuffle. Shuffle. Thunk.

House silently curses his useless leg while striving to remember what a brisk walk feels like. His cane thunks the ground as he makes his way toward the doors of Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, trying to escape before a certain administrator notices not his absence, but his presence. His head swivels left as he eyes her doors through the glass partitions of the clinic, silently willing them not to open. He doesn’t immediately notice, then, when his body stops abruptly, halted by the very same administrator he’s trying to avoid. Her voice is scratchy as she looks up at him.

“You can’t be here.”

He recovers quickly, looking down. Blue meets blue.

“I’m not.”

He stalks toward her office, caught.

“It’s a liability.”

“Good thing I’m not here.”

“House.”

He looks around.

“No. Office. I could see how you get the two confused. Both are overrun with estrogen and desperation.”

She pauses, sighs, tries again.

“What are you doing in my hospital? You are on suspension pending -”

“Just visiting some old friends. Grumpy, Tiny, and… well, Thirteen already has a nickname. Turns out, they’re a bit busy. Patient. Rapid weight loss, depression, fatigue, decimated immune system. Thought I’d help out.”

“Sounds like the flu.”

“Blood work is clean.”

“Actual depression?”

“You’re the endocrinologist.”

“You think it’s Addison’s? That’s very rare.”

“Cortisol output is normal. He’s not –”

She interrupts.

“Wait. You never want to help out. You do everything possible to avoid helping out. Which means you’re either bored, or avoiding your therapy. You do realize that not going to therapy means staying away from here longer.”

“Oh! I thought it was the opposite. My bad. I’ll get right on that.”

He turns to head out the door.

“Wait.”

He pauses, his back to her.

“Does Foreman have any idea what this guy’s got?”

“I’m sure he’ll figure it out. He’s a big boy.”

He walks out. She pauses, then follows, quickly catching up to him.

“Unless…”

“Unless nothing. You caught me. Avoiding therapy. That’s me, always avoiding.”

His eyes refuse to make contact with hers.

“Yeah, you’re doing it right now. You came to see me, didn’t you?”

He points, in earnest, toward the elevators.

“The patient. He’s why I’m -”

“And I wasn’t in my office, so you traipsed upstairs -”

“I took the elevator, actually. Sorry to ruin the mental picture.”

“- To check on the kids.”

He’s suddenly quiet.

“So, I have to ask myself,” she continues, “why would you come here looking for me today after you avoided me at Mayfield, refused to answer your door when I came over…”

“I was naked at the time. Didn’t think you could handle it.”

“… and now, two weeks later, you’re practically begging to get caught on your way out the door?”

She leans in closer, her voice a husky whisper.

“Do you have something to tell me, House?”

His eyes search hers, unsure of her intentions and wary of the playful smile on her lips.

“I…”

She waits, her breath warm against his neck.

“I’d heard you had a boob job and I came to see if some insane plastic surgeon had the gall to mess with perfection.”

A flash of disappointment darkens her features before being replaced with a knowing smile.

“Perfection?”

Caught. He backs away quickly, resuming his speed-limp toward the outdoors.

“Gotta go. Therapy.”

“House…”

“I’m not here. Remember?”

-=-

“God, you’re annoying.”

Wilson’s tinny, exasperated voice comes over the phone line as House sits on his couch. The TV drones ignorantly in the background.

“I get that a lot.”

“And you’re an idiot.”

“I get that a lot, too.”

“Doesn’t make it not true.”

“I concede that point. What do you want, Wilson? I mean, other than to point out the obvious.”

“You chickened out. You went all the way over there to talk to her and then you completely chickened out.”

House looks down at the tumbler of scotch in his hand, ashamed. Not that he’d ever tell Wilson that.

“Do you expect her to just throw herself at you? After all the shit you put her through?”

“Oh, come on. If she wants a relationship with me, she’d better get used to me being an annoying idiot. As you so eloquently put it. People don’t change. Love is just hormones and brain chemistry.”

As soon as the words fly out of his mouth, he realizes his mistake. A sudden mental image of him grabbing the word out of the air and stuffing it back into his mouth distracts him long enough for Wilson to realize the error, too.

“Love?”

“Attraction. Sex. Whatever.”

“You’re evading.”

“You’re an ass.”

“Fine. Does she at least know about what happened in May? The hallucination?”

“Did you tell her?”

“Would I be asking if I told her?”

“Now you’re evading.”

“I am not. I did not. I told her that you were hallucinating, yes, but about Amber. That’s all.”

House sighs.

A knock. Light, hesitant.

“Oops. There’s the door. My ten o’clock is here.”

“You didn’t call a hoo-“

House hangs up the phone, grabbing his cane. He winces as he stands, reaching for a Vicodin bottle that isn’t there, hasn’t been there for months. He growls in frustration, rubbing his thigh.

Another knock.

“Coming! Jesus.”

Hand meets doorknob.

“What happened, the patient crash?”

It’s Cuddy, surprised.

“How did you know?”

“Why else would someone come knocking on my door at this ungodly hour?”

“It’s nine thirty.”

“Why are you here?”

“The patient. He -”

“Yeah, I heard. He’s crashed. I assume he’s stable now, or you wouldn’t be at my door, you’d be on the phone telling me the patient kicked the bucket. Why are you here? Dean of Medicine running errands for a Diagnostics fellow?”

“All right. You dragged it out of me. I’m secretly here to jump you. Is that want you want to hear?”

Eyes widen as House’s grip on the doorknob tightens. She hands him the folder.

“The patient had cholesterolosis of the gallbladder so Chase removed it. Then he crashed.”

“And we’re sure it’s not Addison’s? Sounds like it.”

“It’s not. Glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids dropped only slightly after the surgery. This is definitely not secondary adrenal crisis.”

“Potassium?”

“Elevated, but not significantly.”

“MRI whatshisname’s brain. Check for a tumor in the pituitary -”

“We did that already. I am an endocrinologist, House. I know what adrenal insufficiency looks like.”

“You’re an administrator.”

He opens the file, reads aloud.

“Joint pain.”

“How’s that significant? It went away months ago.”

“What’s a guy with multiple Addison’s symptoms doing with a Cushing’s symptom?”

“It went away. Maybe it has nothing to do with Cushing’s. Maybe he was exercising too hard. He ran cross country for years. That could cause -”

“He’s 25 years old. He ran, what, in college? That’s quite a delay if it’s just running, and he’s too young to have arthritis.”

She grabs the file back.

“Look. As much fun as this is, if you don’t have anything significant to contribute, I need to get back to the hospital. I thought you wanted to help this patient.”

“My therapist says I should back away for a while.”

“And you’re actually listening to her?”

He shrugs.

“Her neckline was high today.”

“Uh-huh. So, what, you weren’t distracted?”

He doesn’t answer, leaving an awkward silence.

“Well. I need to go. If this is all we’re gonna dis…”

“What?”

“What, what?”

“What else would we be discussing?”

She sighs, taking a moment, as though she’s constructing an answer that will simultaneously wound him and make his heart sing. She points her finger at herself, then at him, her voice hesitant.

“Before you went to Mayfield, did you… hallucinate… us?”

“Us, what? Playing poker? Drag racing?”

He can tell she’s frustrated.

“Us. Having -”

She looks around, feeling suddenly exposed in the hallway.

“Can I come in, please?”

He swings the door wider, finally allowing her entrance. He hangs the cane on the doorknob and follows her to the couch. He doesn’t invite her to sit down, so she stands. If House were a fidgetor, he would be shuffling his toe around the hardwood floor. He’s not, though, so he retreats to the kitchen to refill his glass instead. He does not offer her anything.

“I was stressed. I had a dream. It didn’t -”

“You came into my office, acting like a jackass. You insulted my daughter. The next morning, you’re all sunshine and happy places for no apparent reason. You send me a stripper, you steal my coffee.”

House’s eyebrows rise, surprised she noticed that.

“Then, two days later, you tell the entire lobby that we slept together. Now, either you suddenly started waxing nostalgic about the old med school days, or you -”

“Fine. What do you want from me? I was stressed about Amber, Kutner. I went to a goddamn mental institution, for Christ’s sake. Obviously, I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

“You told me I helped you. You nearly went catatonic with shock in my office. You actually seemed upset that I was angry with you. Now, if we add all of these events together, only one conclusion can be drawn.”

“Don’t.”

“You honestly thought I helped you. You honestly thought we -”

“Don’t say it.”

“Oh, my God. You’re – Are you embarrassed, House?”

He feels the warmth of her hand as she puts it on his shoulder, reassuringly. He shrugs it off.

“I don’t want your pity. Get out.”

He refuses to make eye contact with her. She ignores the demand and bends down, forcing his eyes to meet hers.

“I don’t pity you, House. I just need to know.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re my friend.”

“Spare me the platitudes, Cuddy.”

“Why is it that you insist on making everything more difficult than it has to be?”

Blindly, he backs up on his right leg, then nearly collapses in pain when the leg can’t hold the full weight of his body.

“Dammit!”

She moves to help him up. He tries to shake her off, but she grabs his wrist and slings his arm over her shoulders, helping him to the couch. She sits next to him, worried.

“House -”

“Fine,” he growls, “you’re right. I was hallucinating you. You came here, you helped me detox. We stayed up all night, just talking. You told me you audited Herman’s endocrinology just to sit next to me. I should have known it wasn’t real.

“Amber disappeared, I thought things were back to normal. You kissed me. “

She gasps, quietly.

You kissed me”, he stresses, “right there.”

He points toward the door.

“Then we -”

She follows his gaze back toward the bedroom, a look of sadness flashes across her features.

“The next morning, I woke up and found your lipstick on the bathroom counter. Turned out to be the Vicodin bottle.”

“I’m sorry, House. I had no idea.”

“Of course you didn’t. It was my hallucination, wasn’t it?”

“And you asking me to move in with you. Was that… real?”

“I don’t know what’s real anymore.”

“Still?”

“Always.”

Compassion, or pity (depending on your perspective), is etched on her face as she eyes him. She’s not sure what to say next, so she doesn’t say anything.

“Are you satisfied? Not only are you a witness to my humiliation, you’ve got a starring role in it.”

At a loss for words, she repeats: “ I’m sorry.”

This angers him.

“What the hell do you have to be sorry about? Amber’s death? Kutner’s suicide? The fact that I can’t – couldn’t – control my pain? How is any of that your damn fault?”

“I’m not saying it is, I’m just -”

“You’ve made it very clear that this – whatever it is between us – is not going to happen, so why exactly are you here? Did you come to gloat? Poor, sad doctor, so miserable he has to invent someone to love?”

There’s that word again.

“I’m here because, believe it or not, I care about you. About this… thing. You were just so… devastated.”

Tears well in her eyes. She brushes them away angrily as House stands, retreating back to the kitchen to place his still-full glass of scotch in the sink. He returns after a moment to find that she hasn’t moved from her place on the couch. He remains in the doorway, as though somehow the distance between them would act as a buffer.

“You don’t want any part of this, Cuddy. No matter what you’re thinking right now. I’m egotistical, misanthropic, argumentative, and not exactly monogamy-friendly. Not to mention that I was recently crazy. The best thing for you to do is to stand up, walk out that door, and never come back.”

She stands, and he fears for a moment that she’s actually taking him up on his suggestion. Time slows. He is surprised to find her walking toward him. She rests her hand on his cheek. This time, he doesn’t shrug it away.

“It’s a good thing I never listen to you.”

Her lips brush his tentatively. Once, twice. The air crackles with tension as she pulls him down to deepen the kiss.

He hesitates, his voice cutting through the thickening air.

“Is this real?” he whispers.

Her gaze lifts from his lips to his eyes. Blue meets blue.

“What?”

“Is this real?” he repeats, a hint of desperation in his voice.

She sighs, smiles.

“Yes. This is real.”

His mouth slams down on hers in a bruising kiss. He pulls her closer as she wraps her arms around his neck. Her mouth opens, his tongue wraps around hers and he feels more than hears a contented sigh rumble through her. They kiss for what seems like hours. Tongues twine, teeth nibble, lips suck. When they finally come up for air, both are breathing heavily, and there’s a smile on Cuddy’s face.
Her fingertips touch his lips gently.

“No lipstick.”

He smiles foolishly, grabbing her hand.

“C’mon.”

He starts to guide her back to the bedroom, but she won’t move.

“We can’t.”

“You’re not gonna make me beg, are you? I can’t exactly get down on my knees here.”

“House.”

“You worried about job security? The risks of sleeping with an underling?”

“Underling?”

She smiles.

“Or you just don’t want to knock pelvises with an escaped mental patient?”

The smile fades. She pulls her hand out of his grip and rests it against his chest.

“Don’t do this. Don’t be glib. You just got out of the hospital, you’re still in recovery. There’s a reason they tell addicts not to enter into a relationship right away. I don’t want to be your Vicodin substitute.”

“That’s pretty bold of you, Cuddy. You think you’re that irresistible?”

“To you? Yes, I do.”

He chuckles, but doesn’t deny it.

“So, what does this mean?”

“It means… we take it slow. And when you’re ready -”

“I’m ready.”

She pats his chest playfully.

“When you’re ready, you know where to find me.”

He pulls her in for a hug, and she accepts, wrapping her arms around his chest and burrowing her nose in his shirt. Blue, she notices. It suits his eyes.

“Fine.”

His left hand drifts down toward her ass.

“House.”

Her voice is stern but the smile remains. She reaches back returns his hand to her waist.

“Mom,” he whines, glancing down at her. Then glancing lower.

“Can the girls still come out and play every once in a while?”

“We’ll see.”

“Yes,” he hisses in triumph.

They stay like this for a while, perfectly still, enjoying each other’s warmth. Until she backs away, looking at her watch.

“I really do need to get back to work. I have some paperwork to do before I go home and the nanny leaves at nine. I only get an hour with Rachel before I have to get up and do it all over again. It’s a vicious cycle.”

“You could always ditch…”

His eyes glaze over as his focus shifts.

“Don’t even say it, House.”

He doesn’t respond.

“House?”

“Cyclical Cushing’s.”

“What?”

“Your patient. His coritsol levels are normal, but he has Addison’s symptoms. His body is used to increased cortisol production – Cushing’s – which causes the joint pain. Probably packs on the poundage, heart rate increases. But when the cortisol cycles back to normal, like now, his body withdraws, causing weight loss, depression, low blood pressure…”

“And gallbladder cholesterolosis.”

“Since his pituitary is fine, biopsy the kidney. Renal oncocytic carcinoid also causes Cyclical Cushing’s symptoms. Cancer and Cushing’s. Sucks to be him.”

“I’ll let Wilson know.”

She grabs the patient’s file from atop the coffee table. House follows her to the door, retrieving his cane from the doorknob. She turns, smiles.

“Be good.”

“When am I not?”

He opens the door for her and she brushes past him into the hallway.

“You really want me to answer that question?”

An eyebrow raises. House leans in and kisses her briefly before pulling away. She licks her lips as her hand comes up to cup his cheek, her thumb gliding across his glistening lower lip. House closes his eyes, leaning into her hand. When he opens them again, she’s gone. He smiles to no one in particular, shutting the door.

-=-

A/N I blatantly stole that last moment from an X-Files episode. Can anyone guess which one? No infringement intended.
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Huddy, Hugh Laurie

"Wounded Together", a Huddy Fanmix

I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say, so I'm just going to say this: I made a House/Cuddy fanmix. It's my first. It doesn't follow the series, exactly, but it's got elements of "what if we...", of "are", of "were", and of "we dreamt we were".

So, I noticed that there have been several really excellent fanmixes out there recently. I've discovered a bunch of songs that so perfectly exempify the complexity of the House/Cuddy relationship. Every now and then I'll hear a song from my own library and wish it were on one of those other mixes, so I decided to make one of my own. I hope you like it!

  

1. Troubled Times - Fountains of Wayne
Maybe one day soon it'll all come out
How you dream about each other sometimes
And the memory of how you once gave up
But you made it through the troubled times

2. The Space Between - Dave Matthews Band
The space between
The bullets in our firefight
Is where I'll be hiding
Waiting for you


3. One Line - PJ Harvey
All through the rising sun
All through the circling years
You were the only one
Who could have brought me here

4. Heart - Stars
You get back on the latest flight to paradise
I found out, from a note taped to your door
I think I saw your airplane in the sky tonight
Through my window, lying on the kitchen floor

5. Be Gentle with Me - Boy Least Likely To
So just be gentle with me
(I'm not as young as I was)
And I'll be gentle with you 
(I'm not as brave as I thought)
Cuz my heart gets broken so easily

6. Crack the Shutters - Snow Patrol
Your hills and valleys
Are mapped by my intrepid fingers
And in a naked slumber
I dream all this again

7. Samson - Regina Spektor
You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first, I loved you first

8. A Beautiful Mess - Jason Mraz
Well it kind of hurts when the kind of words you write
Kind of turn themselves into knives
And don't mind my nerve, you could call it fiction
But I like being submerged in your contradictions

9. Prepare for the Fight - The Lovemakers
Warm nights to dream into your eyes
Cause I laugh into your lies
Stretch wide taste the end in sight
I'll lift you up prepare for the fight

10. Take it Back - She & Him
I don't wanna wonder whether you love me
I don't wanna wonder whether you care
So, don't try to woo me
Don't try to fool me
Oh, I know all of your tricks
It's a possibility, you'll stand in my corner

11. Catapult - Counting Crows
All of the sudden she disappears
Just yesterday she was here
Somebody tell me if I am sleeping
Someone should be with me here

12. Hear Me Out - Frou Frou
I'm a slow motion accident
Lost in coffee rings and fingerprints
I don't wanna feel anything but I do
And it all comes back to you

You can find the entire album, including front and back covers, in one Zip file,
HERE
 

Thanks for stopping by!
Liz Lemon, Tina Fey, 30 Rock, Reunion

Testy McTest

I haven't used LJ in like four years so bear with me as I get it all sorted out.  I just want to make some fun icons, and this is really the only place where I can use them.  So, um.. hi there!
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