“House!” Cuddy’s her heels were clicking as she followed after him down the hall.
House stopped and turned carefully, he gave a heavy sigh.
“I NEED আপনি to do clinic duty today. We have a lobby full and I really need your help”.
House realized that this wasn’t an easy thing for Cuddy to do. She didn’t like having to ask him for Clinic help when she really needed it. It was something she was আরো than willing to chide him about when she needed something to complain at him about, but she seemed different, like this was absolutely necessary অথবা she wouldn’t be asking.
“I am pretty sure that I just saw one of your flying monkey’s heading that direction..don’t আপনি think আপনি should..”
Cuddy interrupted, “House…please”.
House looked into her eyes, filled with a sort of pleading he had seldom seen. The accompanying pout tugged at him in a way he didn’t expect.
He stared back at her for a মিনিট and then rolled his eyes, biting his bottom lip ever so slightly.
“Ok Cuddy, but it’s going to cost you.” He had a twinkle in his eye and an ever so slight grin on his face. His eyes held her gaze steady.
“Like what, a better parking spot?” She seemed exasperated with a slight hint of amusement.
House was enjoying the moment and having Cuddy playing along with his game. He missed these times with her.
“I will go do clinic duty but, in return, I want আপনি to take a ride with me on the back of my motorcycle, the time, place and DISTANCE to be determined.” He ব্যক্ত it with the expectation that she would turn him down flat and head down the hall to find Wilson. Instead, Cuddy cocked her head to the side and squinted like she was thinking.
“You’re On.” She ব্যক্ত with a very slight smile on her lips, she pivoted on her heel and clomped back down the hall leaving House, mouth agape to realize he had to head down to the clinic…immediately.
House muddled through the runny noses, coughs, one planter’s wart, an extreme diaper rash and what was surely a serious misuse of a জরান if he had ever seen one. In the back of his mind, the thought of his boss holding on to him for dear life kept him secretly entertained. Every once in a while as he shifted from room to room he caught Cuddy’s eye. He gave her a little nod, অথবা even a wink and she did her best to keep her “boss” face on, but he caught her smiling to herself as she turned away. When the last patient was done, House walked to Cuddy’s office. She was on her laptop, and he could only see her eyes over the শীর্ষ of it as he entered her office.
“Looks like আপনি owe me one ride.” He gave her a look that was anything but merely friendly.
A shiver went up Cuddy’s spine which made her straighten up immediately.
“On your motorcycle…right..?? A ride on your motorcycle.” She ব্যক্ত it distinctly as if she was thinking of another type অথবা ride and thought she should really clarify. She bit her bottom lip nervously as if she wasn’t truly sure what she had just gotten herself into.
“Motorcycle ride, that is exactly what I meant.” House studied her squirm then added, “Tomorrow night, 5:00pm after the clinic closes.” He hoped that the fact that he made it the পরবর্তি night didn’t give away his eagerness too much.
“Uh, tomorrow already?” Cuddy was indeed a little worried now. “Why so soon?”
“No reason in particular other than I don’t want to give আপনি the opportunity to back out.” He turned and walked out.
House climbed into বিছানা that night quite satisfied with his little plan. He didn’t even mind clinic duty today because what it was worth was better than he had even hoped for. In his হৃদয় he felt that Cuddy agreed to this just a little too quickly. Maybe she was in need of a little excitement. Could living with Lucas all this time left her wanting a little danger?
Cuddy crawled into বিছানা that night and wondered what on earth had possessed her to agree to such an insane thing. It wasn’t like she had even spent a lot of time thinking about it. Maybe it was just the idea of taking a risk and allowing House to be in charge that left her with a tingle that wouldn’t go away. She wrapped her arms around her twitching tummy and fell asleep.
House woke the পরবর্তি morning with a myriad of thoughts racing though his head. He hadn’t really thought this through but he also hadn’t really expected her to go along with his idea. He ব্যক্ত it thinking that she would blow him off and pull rank and demand that he head to the clinic. This was the Cuddy who liked playing his game right along side him with the pull and the push. What had she ব্যক্ত before about “you push my buttons and I’ll push yours”. She had ব্যক্ত that but it hadn’t been that way. He figured she had let her guard down in a weak moment and he intended on taking full advantage of it.
House ran a couple of errands on his way to work, walking in late with a little extra arrogance in his limp. He strode past the nurse’s station his eyes darting back and forth searching for Cuddy behind his dark glasses. He reached the elevator just as the doors were opening and Cuddy was exiting. She was looking down, walking with purpose.
“Good Morning Dr. Cuddy.” House drew it out as he lowered his sunglasses so his eyes were just visible above them.
Cuddy looked up, a little startled but composed herself quickly.
“Morning House, aren’t আপনি running a little late today?” She gave him her disapproving head tilt and pursed her lips together as she did so. Sadly, it wasn’t as convincing as she hoped.
House let his eyes travel up and down Cuddy’s form. She was wearing a black pencil স্কার্ট with what appeared to be a bit of পরাকাষ্ঠা জরি under her fitted jacket.
“Do আপনি really think what আপনি are wearing is the best choice for today?” He raised an eyebrow over those blue eyes that always had so much going on behind them.
Cuddy narrowed her eyes, “Don’t worry, I’ll be just fine.”
“Somehow I just can’t picture আপনি straddling my.. um..bike in that.” He kept searching her as if he was indeed trying to visualize just that.
She smiled ever so slightly, biting her bottom lip to hide it as she turned to continue walking. House watched her as she walked away. He allowed thoughts to pass through his mind that he hadn’t entertained in a while, at least not in the lobby.
Because she looked back
