The night had been rough for Cuddy. While House was snoring himself away, she was there beside him with eyes open wide, glancing at the nightstand clock every ten minutes until the alarm set on. She lifted herself up and does her routine stuff for the morning. It was painful for her to move but she managed to cook their breakfast, all she hoped for was House not to see her in agony. She went back in the bedroom when she heard the shower was turned on. This is the good time to look at herself in the mirror which she did. She lifted her shirt up for her to see her tummy while standing sideward in front of the mirror.
“What are you doing?” House asked as he stood by the bathroom doorway. In her surprise, Cuddy pulled her shirt down in an instant before fixing his clothes without meeting his gaze.
“Hmm, nothing, I just figured I think I am growing some weighs for the past days,” she reasoned out.
“Oh,” he replied, “you really think you are?” There was no answer. He eyed her movements as she walk towards him bringing him his clothes to wear. “You’re ready?” she asked with a smile.
“I am,” he answered while getting the clothes from her hands before giving Cuddy a quick kiss on the lips.
“It’s your first day back, don’t screw this up.”
“Who told you I would?” He smirked as she forced another smile. House began to undo his robe before putting his pants on as Cuddy turned to watch him. She was just standing there doing nothing when he came to noticed she doesn’t seem like she’s into working today. “You’re not coming with?” he asked again while putting on his shirt on top of a white semi-loose fit tee.
“I am,” she said while walking towards him again, “your collars, let me.” She started fixing the piece of clothing that wasn’t pleasing to her sight as he stood straight before her, letting her do the ‘wifey’ thing.
“I haven’t seen you come in the shower,” he said while looking at her averting eyes.
“I will, just give me a minute, okay?”
“Okay.” She let her palm rest on her chest before finally looking up to meet his piercing blue yes. She wanted to turn her head away but the stares were something she doesn’t want to miss everyday of her life and this moment isn’t spared from that. “Anything bothering you?” he asked while lifting her chin up as she began trying to look away.
Cuddy gave out a sigh before saying, “yah. Don’t wait for me. I’ll be late for a couple of hours I think. Tammy won’t be here early as usual, her mom’s sick. You go leave first.”
“Are you sure? How can you get to the hospital? I won’t let you take the bus for heavensake.”
“House, I’ll be fine.”
“Just give me a call and I’ll drive in to fetch you back.”
“Haven’t I said I’ll be fine?” she asked before House gave out a sigh. “I will,” Cuddy reassured him again, “I don’t want you to be going out during business hours especially on your first day back.” She pulled herself away from him and began walking out the bedroom as he was left giving out a heavy sigh.
Wilson walked in the clinic three hours later. He stopped for awhile before turning the doorknob and finally opening wide the office he least wanted himself to be. He started walking towards Cuddy’s desk as she looked up from the file she’s reading and signing to see him. He handed her the file to her without meeting her stares, “34 year old male with cancer cells in the liver. I need consent to perform a liver biopsy.” The oncologist said it with an unusual monotonous voice the dean had never heard from him. No emotion at all, just plain speaking. Cuddy knows this is Wilson way of dealing with her abortion decision and this is unnerving her to death.
“Wilson,” she finally uttered his name as he walked out the door after she signed the consent form. He stopped by the door without letting the doorknob go away from his grip as he turned to face her, “I didn’t do it.”
“Didn’t do what?” he asked still deflecting.
“Oh don’t be like that, you know what I mean.” As he gave out a sigh, the madness (if that’s what it is) was also moving out of his system as he began walking back to where he stood earlier. “I assume you’re still pregnant with House’s baby...with your baby?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“What did he say about it? Any further plans?”
“I haven’t told him,” she confessed that made the oncologist almost faint in disbelief again. What the hell is this woman waiting for? he thought and said, “of course.”
“But I will, okay?” Cuddy immediately back up her previous words, “I’m just easing things between us. Who knows, maybe after you left, he’ll be here and learn about his fatherhood.” Wilson tilted his head and said, “works for me but are you saying he hasn’t been here since he got in?”
“He was the first one who came in. I was late today. Intentionally late.”
“Morning sickness?”
“Not really. Tammy called and said her mom’s sick so I have to attend Rachel for awhile.”
“So who’s with Rachel right now?”
“I brought her in with me.” Wilson looked around but see no bassinet in the office. “Not here,” Cuddy said with a roll in her eyes, “in the nursery.” The oncologist smiled and said, “working mom, huh? You’ll be glad to have another in a few months.” The dean smiled back and watched him walked to the door.
“Hey,” she called out again that made Wilson turned to face her for the second time. “Have you seen him around?” That’s when he realized that the diagnostician hadn’t met up with him since the business day had started. By the way he looks, Cuddy knew the answer was a no so she added, “he’ll be looking for you before he does to me, so if that happens, tell him to see me.”
“Sure,” he answered with a smile before pulling the door open and leaving the clinic still thinking where House really is.
But where is really House? Seriously, where is he? Oh yah, he’s there taking up a seat across a woman he knew for 16 years. “Make this fast, I’m saving lives here,” he said without meeting Stacy’s eyes the moment he was fully seated in a fancy café a few blocks away from Princeton-Plainsboro. A waiter approached their table and offered to pour some wine in his glass but he replied, “no thanks. I don’t want ‘my’ wife smells me like I went out for some drinks with just a friend.” Annoyed, Stacy arched one eyebrow as the waiter looked at her thinking she’s a home-wrecker or something before trailing off.
“Greg, this isn’t about us,” she finally said, “this is about Cassandra.”
“Right,” House said while widening his eyes in annoyance too, “this is about the little girl whom you pointed out as my daughter.”
“Because she is.”
“Uh-huh but in case you forgot, you are married, you have a husband and even if you do not have one, it isn’t a hundred percent sure that’s its mine because I know how horny you get and you could sleep with anybody you like.”
“Fine, say all smuts you wanted to say about me but Casey have every legal right to ---“
“Legal?” he cute her off, “the word that you used is really…hmm…too courty I guess. But sorry, I don’t speak your language, you see I’m a doctor, I use words like...paternity test.”
“Then we’ll have it. When do you want? I’m sure Lisa doesn’t mind ----“
“Don’t you dare put out Cuddy’s name in this.” His face was serious, an aura Stacy doesn’t want to see again for the rest of her life, and his stern voice spoke how protective he was for Cuddy. “I am not,” the lawyer finally said after having a wordless minute with her former boyfriend, “all Casey wanted to have is a day with you, Greg,” the last words were said in a whispery tone that House could barely hear it but he knew those were the words she said.
“She isn’t dying, is she?”
“Go to hell.”
“Pretty sure that’s where I’m going,” he joked before another minutes of silence followed. Stacy leaned forward with arms crossed on her side of the table.
“You won’t lose anything if you go out for a day with her, fine, not even a day. Maybe just an afternoon at the park or something,” there was some seriousness House could see in her eyes as she talked and continue, “I know you hate things like that but this is your daughter asking not even your whole life. Just give her one day to be happy. To feel she have a father.”
“Tell me about it.” Stacy sighed before saying, “Mark…knew he isn’t Casey’s father. I told him I’m pregnant the moment we reached our house in short hills because before we left this city, I took a test and that was it. He knew that it was impossible for me to get pregnant since we aren’t having sex, you know that but he accepted it and had loved her like his own but things didn’t work between us. We separated and divorce lawyers had been hired. My own stupidity brought Casey this burden when I took her to one of the sessions. Mark’s legal and biological connections were brought out and that’s when Casey learned she isn’t her dad’s. I’ve been trying to bring back the jolly daughter I knew but I can’t until one day she came to me and asked about who her real father is…”
House handed her a tissue to wipe her tears away. Some parts of him wanted to believe her but the rest joined the opposite. “So,” he said, “she’s really mine?”
“Paternity test had been planned.” House sighed and leaned back on his chair while watching Stacy clear her eyes again. His pager beeped and he looked down to read it before getting up and was about to leave.
“Greg…”
He turned and said, “one o’clock this afternoon at the park it is,” then Stacy watched him leave her sight as he got in Cuddy’s car and went off.
“What are you doing?” House asked as he stood by the bathroom doorway. In her surprise, Cuddy pulled her shirt down in an instant before fixing his clothes without meeting his gaze.
“Hmm, nothing, I just figured I think I am growing some weighs for the past days,” she reasoned out.
“Oh,” he replied, “you really think you are?” There was no answer. He eyed her movements as she walk towards him bringing him his clothes to wear. “You’re ready?” she asked with a smile.
“I am,” he answered while getting the clothes from her hands before giving Cuddy a quick kiss on the lips.
“It’s your first day back, don’t screw this up.”
“Who told you I would?” He smirked as she forced another smile. House began to undo his robe before putting his pants on as Cuddy turned to watch him. She was just standing there doing nothing when he came to noticed she doesn’t seem like she’s into working today. “You’re not coming with?” he asked again while putting on his shirt on top of a white semi-loose fit tee.
“I am,” she said while walking towards him again, “your collars, let me.” She started fixing the piece of clothing that wasn’t pleasing to her sight as he stood straight before her, letting her do the ‘wifey’ thing.
“I haven’t seen you come in the shower,” he said while looking at her averting eyes.
“I will, just give me a minute, okay?”
“Okay.” She let her palm rest on her chest before finally looking up to meet his piercing blue yes. She wanted to turn her head away but the stares were something she doesn’t want to miss everyday of her life and this moment isn’t spared from that. “Anything bothering you?” he asked while lifting her chin up as she began trying to look away.
Cuddy gave out a sigh before saying, “yah. Don’t wait for me. I’ll be late for a couple of hours I think. Tammy won’t be here early as usual, her mom’s sick. You go leave first.”
“Are you sure? How can you get to the hospital? I won’t let you take the bus for heavensake.”
“House, I’ll be fine.”
“Just give me a call and I’ll drive in to fetch you back.”
“Haven’t I said I’ll be fine?” she asked before House gave out a sigh. “I will,” Cuddy reassured him again, “I don’t want you to be going out during business hours especially on your first day back.” She pulled herself away from him and began walking out the bedroom as he was left giving out a heavy sigh.
Wilson walked in the clinic three hours later. He stopped for awhile before turning the doorknob and finally opening wide the office he least wanted himself to be. He started walking towards Cuddy’s desk as she looked up from the file she’s reading and signing to see him. He handed her the file to her without meeting her stares, “34 year old male with cancer cells in the liver. I need consent to perform a liver biopsy.” The oncologist said it with an unusual monotonous voice the dean had never heard from him. No emotion at all, just plain speaking. Cuddy knows this is Wilson way of dealing with her abortion decision and this is unnerving her to death.
“Wilson,” she finally uttered his name as he walked out the door after she signed the consent form. He stopped by the door without letting the doorknob go away from his grip as he turned to face her, “I didn’t do it.”
“Didn’t do what?” he asked still deflecting.
“Oh don’t be like that, you know what I mean.” As he gave out a sigh, the madness (if that’s what it is) was also moving out of his system as he began walking back to where he stood earlier. “I assume you’re still pregnant with House’s baby...with your baby?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“What did he say about it? Any further plans?”
“I haven’t told him,” she confessed that made the oncologist almost faint in disbelief again. What the hell is this woman waiting for? he thought and said, “of course.”
“But I will, okay?” Cuddy immediately back up her previous words, “I’m just easing things between us. Who knows, maybe after you left, he’ll be here and learn about his fatherhood.” Wilson tilted his head and said, “works for me but are you saying he hasn’t been here since he got in?”
“He was the first one who came in. I was late today. Intentionally late.”
“Morning sickness?”
“Not really. Tammy called and said her mom’s sick so I have to attend Rachel for awhile.”
“So who’s with Rachel right now?”
“I brought her in with me.” Wilson looked around but see no bassinet in the office. “Not here,” Cuddy said with a roll in her eyes, “in the nursery.” The oncologist smiled and said, “working mom, huh? You’ll be glad to have another in a few months.” The dean smiled back and watched him walked to the door.
“Hey,” she called out again that made Wilson turned to face her for the second time. “Have you seen him around?” That’s when he realized that the diagnostician hadn’t met up with him since the business day had started. By the way he looks, Cuddy knew the answer was a no so she added, “he’ll be looking for you before he does to me, so if that happens, tell him to see me.”
“Sure,” he answered with a smile before pulling the door open and leaving the clinic still thinking where House really is.
But where is really House? Seriously, where is he? Oh yah, he’s there taking up a seat across a woman he knew for 16 years. “Make this fast, I’m saving lives here,” he said without meeting Stacy’s eyes the moment he was fully seated in a fancy café a few blocks away from Princeton-Plainsboro. A waiter approached their table and offered to pour some wine in his glass but he replied, “no thanks. I don’t want ‘my’ wife smells me like I went out for some drinks with just a friend.” Annoyed, Stacy arched one eyebrow as the waiter looked at her thinking she’s a home-wrecker or something before trailing off.
“Greg, this isn’t about us,” she finally said, “this is about Cassandra.”
“Right,” House said while widening his eyes in annoyance too, “this is about the little girl whom you pointed out as my daughter.”
“Because she is.”
“Uh-huh but in case you forgot, you are married, you have a husband and even if you do not have one, it isn’t a hundred percent sure that’s its mine because I know how horny you get and you could sleep with anybody you like.”
“Fine, say all smuts you wanted to say about me but Casey have every legal right to ---“
“Legal?” he cute her off, “the word that you used is really…hmm…too courty I guess. But sorry, I don’t speak your language, you see I’m a doctor, I use words like...paternity test.”
“Then we’ll have it. When do you want? I’m sure Lisa doesn’t mind ----“
“Don’t you dare put out Cuddy’s name in this.” His face was serious, an aura Stacy doesn’t want to see again for the rest of her life, and his stern voice spoke how protective he was for Cuddy. “I am not,” the lawyer finally said after having a wordless minute with her former boyfriend, “all Casey wanted to have is a day with you, Greg,” the last words were said in a whispery tone that House could barely hear it but he knew those were the words she said.
“She isn’t dying, is she?”
“Go to hell.”
“Pretty sure that’s where I’m going,” he joked before another minutes of silence followed. Stacy leaned forward with arms crossed on her side of the table.
“You won’t lose anything if you go out for a day with her, fine, not even a day. Maybe just an afternoon at the park or something,” there was some seriousness House could see in her eyes as she talked and continue, “I know you hate things like that but this is your daughter asking not even your whole life. Just give her one day to be happy. To feel she have a father.”
“Tell me about it.” Stacy sighed before saying, “Mark…knew he isn’t Casey’s father. I told him I’m pregnant the moment we reached our house in short hills because before we left this city, I took a test and that was it. He knew that it was impossible for me to get pregnant since we aren’t having sex, you know that but he accepted it and had loved her like his own but things didn’t work between us. We separated and divorce lawyers had been hired. My own stupidity brought Casey this burden when I took her to one of the sessions. Mark’s legal and biological connections were brought out and that’s when Casey learned she isn’t her dad’s. I’ve been trying to bring back the jolly daughter I knew but I can’t until one day she came to me and asked about who her real father is…”
House handed her a tissue to wipe her tears away. Some parts of him wanted to believe her but the rest joined the opposite. “So,” he said, “she’s really mine?”
“Paternity test had been planned.” House sighed and leaned back on his chair while watching Stacy clear her eyes again. His pager beeped and he looked down to read it before getting up and was about to leave.
“Greg…”
He turned and said, “one o’clock this afternoon at the park it is,” then Stacy watched him leave her sight as he got in Cuddy’s car and went off.
