It was almost midnight on a busy day in PPTH and House was alone in his office trying to decipher the clues, which can lead to a diagnosis.

Wilson was with Cuddy in her office.

Wilson: You look stressed.

Cuddy: Wouldn’t you be? With a kid to look after and Rachel.

(Wilson smirked, and Cuddy smiled gently.)

Wilson: You need help-

Cuddy: I did get help but—

Wilson: How could you think that choosing Cameron would be such a good idea?

Cuddy: I guess I didn’t.

(Cuddy looked wishfully at her computer screen at a picture of Rachel.)

Cuddy: Give me some clue as to what to do next.

Wilson: You need to let go, relax. All this stress isn’t good for you, or the baby.

(Cuddy looked back at Wilson.)

Cuddy: You’re right.

Wilson: When am I ever wrong.

(Wilson got up to leave, and as he was about to open the door)

Cuddy: Wait.

(Wilson looked back at Cuddy.)

Cuddy: Do you know where House is?

Wilson: I think he’s still in his office.

(Wilson walked out with a smile on his face.)

--

House was sitting in his office facing away from the door and looking at the white board which had an array of symptoms written all over it—only his desk lamp was switched on making the room dimly lit. He drank a small amount of Scotch from his glass before he rubbed his rough chin while thinking. He heard the door open behind him but he was still entranced by the patient’s symptoms.

Cuddy: Are you busy?

House: Still have to pay the bills.

(Cuddy walked in front of the white board, trying to get his attention.)

House: That meant I was busy, but it can wait—patients dying and all.

Cuddy: No he’s not.

(House looked up at her.)

Cuddy: I checked.

(House turned his chair around and grabbed the bottle of scotch and his glass.)

House: You want to join me? Lonely single parent—good reason to start drinking.

(Cuddy sat opposite him at his desk.)

Cuddy: No. Thank you.

(House took a big sip before glaring at Cuddy with his big blue eyes.)

House: What do you want, at—Midnight, jeez that nanny of yours is practically doing your ‘stay-at-home mom’ job for you. I knew you’d tire of—

Cuddy: Will you shut-up!

(Cuddy got angry at a bewildered House.)

Cuddy: Do you have any idea why I’m here? Its midnight, and I could be anywhere but in your office—So ask me why.

House: Okay. Why are you here?

Cuddy: I want to talk about ‘Us’

House: You seem hesitant; let me make this easy for you.

(House got up to leave and made his way to the door, not before Cuddy blocked his way.)

Cuddy: House. Please.

(House walked past her and made his way to the elevator.)

Cuddy: House!

(Cuddy followed him and they both waited for the elevator.)

House: Oh goody.

Cuddy: Were both going down, together?

(Cuddy and House both looked at each other with a slight grin.)

(The elevator doors opened and they both walked in.)

Cuddy: House, we still need to talk about it.

House: Fine. You want to talk about it?

(House used his cane to press the emergency stop button.)

Cuddy: House?!

(Cuddy tried to press the button, but House stopped her with his cane.)

House: Lets talk.

--

To be continued