Here is the backround on this portion of my fanfic. I had originally thought of ending the fanfic with Huddy in the exam room together. I decided I wanted to go somewhere else with it. I couldn't get it right so I asked my dearest Beatrix8520 to read what I was working on and give me some ideas and tell me what she thought. She gave me some great ideas and asked me to write some of it from House's point of view. On her suggestions, I changed some other things that I wasn't happy with so this is what she helped me (greatly) come up with. Part three starts back where pat one did, this time from House's point of view. The end will incorporate them both.
Pt 3
Normal’s Overrated (House’s view)
Greg House walked through the door of the Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital as he did every morning. Winter had him dressed warmer than he liked and a little more cautious about the ice, but his sunglasses masked his still half closed eyes. As usual, he quickly glanced around to see if Cuddy was anywhere close by. He was mixed between wanting to see her, because frankly, he always enjoyed the view and not wanting to see her because he knew she had cut off his “escape hatch” a few months back when she had begun a relationship with Lucas. Well, there was that and the fact that she was always nagging him about the clinic duty he had to fulfill. The coast seemed clear and he wasn’t positive if he was relieved or disappointed.
Thirteen was sitting at the board table with a file spread out in front of her discussing the contents with the rest of the team. Taub was paying full attention, Chase seemed to be listening but somewhat distracted and Foreman was pouring himself a cup of coffee while simultaneously checking himself out in the reflection of the paper towel dispenser.
“Morning team” House said in a tone that left the others wondering if he really was happy, or just being sarcastic. It was never really clear cut with him.
“We have a case that looks promising” said Thirteen. “A 45 year old Marine in great shape passed out yesterday while running an obstacle course with his men. Blood pressure is raised, increased thirst and urination, muscle weakness”
“Cushings?…” House interrupted.
“Tests for diabetes and Cushing’s came back negative”. Foreman chided in.
“Plus he is vomiting, has acute abdominal cramping.” Taub added his two cents.
The only one not adding to the conversation was Chase who seemed to be listening, but from an entirely different room. House had gotten use to this since Cameron left. He would have been angry about it but Chase seemed to contribute enough that it wasn’t worth another black eye.
House moved to the white board and began writing symptoms. He was mid way through writing “abdominal distention” when he heard the slight squeak of the door. By the time he turned, everyone else had their eyes on her. It seemed like even when he was annoyed by her he still always welcomed the sight of her.
“House, can I see you in your office for a minute” her face seemed stressed and while this was a distraction he didn’t need, he was curious as to her reason. She led the way and he took the chance to check out her walk especially the spot where her legs met her tush. Twenty years and he couldn’t help but look every chance her could. For some reason he was never self conscious about giving her body a good looking over. He never cared who saw it or what they thought.
“Yes Cuddy, something I can help you with that is more important than a dying 45 year old Marine?” He smiled ever so slightly, amused with himself. But when Cuddy turned to look at him, he saw something in her eyes he couldn’t really read.
“I…wanted to know...when you will be able to fulfill your clinic hours this week?” She had said these words to him over and over again, but he didn’t think she had ever said them with such a lack of conviction or at such a completely random time before.
House looked at her with eyes wide that slowly narrowed and he let a slight whistle from his lips as they did. Something was completely not right about her today. He was searching, trying to decide what it was. She seemed almost….nervous. He saw her take in a deep breath, hold it and then let it out slowly like she was trying to get control of herself. It just drew his attention to her chest as if her sweater hadn’t already done that. That spot right where her neck creased looked even softer than normal.
“That isn’t why you’re here, is it? You could have asked me that in an email. Instead you come here and interrupt me just to ask this?” Again, he studied her face for a reaction. What he was seeing wasn’t logical. The thought that she was here at all kept his interest.
“But…you never read your emails and I thought…” she was speaking and he thought he was hearing her with his ears, but what her face showed was that she was here because she actually needed to see him. Could that be right? The only question remaining was why. He felt the heat in his chest start whenever she was close.
“Cuddy, is something going on you should tell me about or are we going to just keep playing this game?” he went for broke this time. She was either going to answer him with the truth, which he doubted or she would give it away. He had studied her enough over the years. He reminded himself that the more he thought he knew her, the less he really did. Of all the puzzles he had solved, she was the one that kept changing. He wasn’t really sure what was on Lisa Cuddy’s mind, but he had to a case to solve and knowing that she was with Lucas just plain didn’t sit well with him. Yep, it was time to end this…for now.
“So glad you needed to endanger a life just for a special alone moment!” House yelled over his shoulder as he turned to walk back to his team. He was vaguely aware of the loud clomp of Cuddy’s heels down the hall as she left and the mental vision of her body moving to the sound was clear in his head.
House spent the next couple of hours ordering tests, reading tests and discussing options with the team. In the back of his mind, he was working over the earlier Cuddy encounter. He couldn’t make the pieces fit together. If she was so happy with Lucas, why did she come to see him today for no real reason. Unless…she HAD to see him. Was she testing him, or maybe herself?
House ordered another batch of tests and left the team to do their work. If he worked quickly, he could solve two puzzles at once. He headed to the clinic. He looked for the first empty exam room and ducked in. He flipped the marker on above the door to make is show “occupied”. He then paged the nurse’s desk.
“Can you please page Dr. Cuddy and tell her that Dr.. House is in exam room “H” and needs a differential?”
Cuddy had been with Lucas for several months now. From the little he had seen of her, she seemed happy. The first crack he saw was today and he intended on making it into a crater.
She walked in and quickly looked around the room for a non-existent patient.
“Where is the patient House?” she shut the door behind her and moved her hands to her hips with a slight exasperation. She didn’t want him to see she was actually happy to have the moment to see him.
“The patient is you Cuddy.” He said with a smirk and he saw her mouth drop open ever so slightly.
“House, come on, maybe you have time for this kind of thing, but I have a hospital…”
House was weighing his next move but he knew what he wanted to do. The reaction was the variable. He said her name, her first name the way he thought it felt best coming off his tongue, softly.
“Lisa” he breathed it more than spoke it, What was the real reason you came to my office today?”
For a second she looked like a cornered rabbit and the part of House that loved the hunt felt alive with the prospect of a Cuddy as prey. His heart sped and his blood pushed a little harder through his veins.
Then he moved off the table and towards her. He saw her body flinch and shiver slightly. He was almost over her. He loved looking at her. She was honestly the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and yet even more, was her strength that lays beneath her fragile frame. She wasn’t his savior; he didn’t think he needed one now. He just wanted her.
“You’ve had your try at normal now”
House slipped his hand around Cuddy and lifted her to him at once. To his great relief, she met him halfway and kissed him back. It was a kiss that brought immediate answers to his questions. It wasn’t a half of anything, it was the whole and complete Lisa Cuddy kissing him and he wasn’t going to hold back either. She was clinging to him and he felt that holding her to him took no effort. He felt her against him as he kissed her with a mix of ferocity and tentativeness. His thoughts went immediately to what would be coming next. She was better than any pill he had taken and he wanted the whole bottle right now. His arms encircled her and his hands felt the curves of her waist, her hips…
She turned her mouth slightly and took in a breath. He thought for a minute she might try to leave so he squeezed her to him even tighter, this time, this year, he wouldn’t let her go. He breathed in her ear, “So much for normal”…
She whispered back, “ Normal ’s overrated”.
Pt 3
Normal’s Overrated (House’s view)
Greg House walked through the door of the Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital as he did every morning. Winter had him dressed warmer than he liked and a little more cautious about the ice, but his sunglasses masked his still half closed eyes. As usual, he quickly glanced around to see if Cuddy was anywhere close by. He was mixed between wanting to see her, because frankly, he always enjoyed the view and not wanting to see her because he knew she had cut off his “escape hatch” a few months back when she had begun a relationship with Lucas. Well, there was that and the fact that she was always nagging him about the clinic duty he had to fulfill. The coast seemed clear and he wasn’t positive if he was relieved or disappointed.
Thirteen was sitting at the board table with a file spread out in front of her discussing the contents with the rest of the team. Taub was paying full attention, Chase seemed to be listening but somewhat distracted and Foreman was pouring himself a cup of coffee while simultaneously checking himself out in the reflection of the paper towel dispenser.
“Morning team” House said in a tone that left the others wondering if he really was happy, or just being sarcastic. It was never really clear cut with him.
“We have a case that looks promising” said Thirteen. “A 45 year old Marine in great shape passed out yesterday while running an obstacle course with his men. Blood pressure is raised, increased thirst and urination, muscle weakness”
“Cushings?…” House interrupted.
“Tests for diabetes and Cushing’s came back negative”. Foreman chided in.
“Plus he is vomiting, has acute abdominal cramping.” Taub added his two cents.
The only one not adding to the conversation was Chase who seemed to be listening, but from an entirely different room. House had gotten use to this since Cameron left. He would have been angry about it but Chase seemed to contribute enough that it wasn’t worth another black eye.
House moved to the white board and began writing symptoms. He was mid way through writing “abdominal distention” when he heard the slight squeak of the door. By the time he turned, everyone else had their eyes on her. It seemed like even when he was annoyed by her he still always welcomed the sight of her.
“House, can I see you in your office for a minute” her face seemed stressed and while this was a distraction he didn’t need, he was curious as to her reason. She led the way and he took the chance to check out her walk especially the spot where her legs met her tush. Twenty years and he couldn’t help but look every chance her could. For some reason he was never self conscious about giving her body a good looking over. He never cared who saw it or what they thought.
“Yes Cuddy, something I can help you with that is more important than a dying 45 year old Marine?” He smiled ever so slightly, amused with himself. But when Cuddy turned to look at him, he saw something in her eyes he couldn’t really read.
“I…wanted to know...when you will be able to fulfill your clinic hours this week?” She had said these words to him over and over again, but he didn’t think she had ever said them with such a lack of conviction or at such a completely random time before.
House looked at her with eyes wide that slowly narrowed and he let a slight whistle from his lips as they did. Something was completely not right about her today. He was searching, trying to decide what it was. She seemed almost….nervous. He saw her take in a deep breath, hold it and then let it out slowly like she was trying to get control of herself. It just drew his attention to her chest as if her sweater hadn’t already done that. That spot right where her neck creased looked even softer than normal.
“That isn’t why you’re here, is it? You could have asked me that in an email. Instead you come here and interrupt me just to ask this?” Again, he studied her face for a reaction. What he was seeing wasn’t logical. The thought that she was here at all kept his interest.
“But…you never read your emails and I thought…” she was speaking and he thought he was hearing her with his ears, but what her face showed was that she was here because she actually needed to see him. Could that be right? The only question remaining was why. He felt the heat in his chest start whenever she was close.
“Cuddy, is something going on you should tell me about or are we going to just keep playing this game?” he went for broke this time. She was either going to answer him with the truth, which he doubted or she would give it away. He had studied her enough over the years. He reminded himself that the more he thought he knew her, the less he really did. Of all the puzzles he had solved, she was the one that kept changing. He wasn’t really sure what was on Lisa Cuddy’s mind, but he had to a case to solve and knowing that she was with Lucas just plain didn’t sit well with him. Yep, it was time to end this…for now.
“So glad you needed to endanger a life just for a special alone moment!” House yelled over his shoulder as he turned to walk back to his team. He was vaguely aware of the loud clomp of Cuddy’s heels down the hall as she left and the mental vision of her body moving to the sound was clear in his head.
House spent the next couple of hours ordering tests, reading tests and discussing options with the team. In the back of his mind, he was working over the earlier Cuddy encounter. He couldn’t make the pieces fit together. If she was so happy with Lucas, why did she come to see him today for no real reason. Unless…she HAD to see him. Was she testing him, or maybe herself?
House ordered another batch of tests and left the team to do their work. If he worked quickly, he could solve two puzzles at once. He headed to the clinic. He looked for the first empty exam room and ducked in. He flipped the marker on above the door to make is show “occupied”. He then paged the nurse’s desk.
“Can you please page Dr. Cuddy and tell her that Dr.. House is in exam room “H” and needs a differential?”
Cuddy had been with Lucas for several months now. From the little he had seen of her, she seemed happy. The first crack he saw was today and he intended on making it into a crater.
She walked in and quickly looked around the room for a non-existent patient.
“Where is the patient House?” she shut the door behind her and moved her hands to her hips with a slight exasperation. She didn’t want him to see she was actually happy to have the moment to see him.
“The patient is you Cuddy.” He said with a smirk and he saw her mouth drop open ever so slightly.
“House, come on, maybe you have time for this kind of thing, but I have a hospital…”
House was weighing his next move but he knew what he wanted to do. The reaction was the variable. He said her name, her first name the way he thought it felt best coming off his tongue, softly.
“Lisa” he breathed it more than spoke it, What was the real reason you came to my office today?”
For a second she looked like a cornered rabbit and the part of House that loved the hunt felt alive with the prospect of a Cuddy as prey. His heart sped and his blood pushed a little harder through his veins.
Then he moved off the table and towards her. He saw her body flinch and shiver slightly. He was almost over her. He loved looking at her. She was honestly the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and yet even more, was her strength that lays beneath her fragile frame. She wasn’t his savior; he didn’t think he needed one now. He just wanted her.
“You’ve had your try at normal now”
House slipped his hand around Cuddy and lifted her to him at once. To his great relief, she met him halfway and kissed him back. It was a kiss that brought immediate answers to his questions. It wasn’t a half of anything, it was the whole and complete Lisa Cuddy kissing him and he wasn’t going to hold back either. She was clinging to him and he felt that holding her to him took no effort. He felt her against him as he kissed her with a mix of ferocity and tentativeness. His thoughts went immediately to what would be coming next. She was better than any pill he had taken and he wanted the whole bottle right now. His arms encircled her and his hands felt the curves of her waist, her hips…
She turned her mouth slightly and took in a breath. He thought for a minute she might try to leave so he squeezed her to him even tighter, this time, this year, he wouldn’t let her go. He breathed in her ear, “So much for normal”…
She whispered back, “ Normal ’s overrated”.