Some days later, after their little almost meeting in her car, they haven’t talked, just for strictly necessary medical stuff, but they haven’t even looked into each other’s eyes.
House is in his office doing some paper work when Cuddy goes there. ‘New case.’ Says without looking at him. ‘You know what you have to do.’
‘Yeah... I know...’ He looks at the file and then at her.
‘Well... "have fun"’ She walks to the door.
‘Cuddy...’
She turns around and finally looks at him, but then she looks at the floor again. ‘Yes?’
‘Uhh... are you... is... your car already working properly?’
‘Yes... it works now... I don’t know what was wrong with it, but now... you know, it works... Thank you.’
He nods. ‘Good...’
She nods back at him and stays there expecting him to say something else. She looks at him again. ‘Well... see you.’
House sighs. ‘See you…’ Before walking out she dares to talk.
‘Remember that day when you told me that you still like that way... well, you are not the only one...’
House looks at her surprised. ‘W... what do you mean?’ He stands up.
‘Nothing...’ She sighs and tries to go out of the office but he walks behind her and holds her arm.
‘Hey... if you said it, it has to mean something...’
‘You heard it, that’s what I meant.’ Lisa starts walking again and gets to her office. He follows her as fast as he can and holds her arm once more.
‘Would you like this to change?’ He approaches to her.
‘What do you mean?’ Says Cuddy staring at his eyes.
‘You heard it, that's what I mean...’
‘I... I...’ She gets really, really nervous having him so close, and she doesn’t know what to say. House approaches a bit more and kisses her sweetly.
Cuddy doesn’t know how to react. She’s dying to kissing him, but it’s a complicate situation, and now she’s with Lucas... “What do I do?!??” Thinks Cuddy. Her head shouts. “Don’t do it!” but something inside her says “Do it, is what you really want”.................... She kisses him back. They get into her office closing the door behind them and they kiss passionately. Nothing else in the world matters except them in that moment.
They kiss against the wall. Lisa knows that what she’s doing is wrong, and she tries to think of Lucas and stop, but she can’t. She missed House’s kisses very much.
He gets a little separated from her and whispers. ‘Hey... are you sure of this? I mean... There's someone else out there...’ Of course he’s talking about Lucas and he doesn’t want her to feel guilty because of him.
‘I... don’t know what to do...’ Mumbles Cuddy.
‘Well... we should do something... You know want I wanna do. The rest is up to you.’
They are so close that she can hear his heart beating, he is really nervous. ‘I still love you...’
He smiles and kisses her again. Then they hug and keep kissing.


Someone is walking near Cuddy's office, and hears some noises inside. He comes in. ‘Hi, Lisa?’ Wilson sees them kissing and stays still speechless.
They get separated as quickly as they can. ‘Uhh… Hi Wilson... I was about to leave... So, see you Lisa...’ House goes to his office and Cuddy sits in her desk quickly.
‘Is not... Okay, it was exactly what it looked like…’ Lisa looks at the desk and Wilson stares at her with his eyes wide open. ‘Wow...’ He doesn’t know what to say. ‘I-I'm sorry to have interrupted... Wow...’ Lisa tries to avoid his look. ‘So... House and you... and what about Lucas? I don’t get it...’ He remains thinking. ‘Who do you love?’
‘I’m... so confused...’ Says Cuddy.
‘What are you gonna do? Are you telling Lucas?’
‘I don’t know what I’m gonna do, I need time to think and time to assimilate things...’
He looks at her still shocked and nods. ‘Okay, you need time. It's your life...but let me give you and advice, as a friend: Think, meditate, and take the right choice, what you really want and need to be happy.’
She nods and smiles. ‘I’ll take your advice, thank you.’


After some days Lucas is at her house watching a movie, "If only", cuddling her on the sofa. These days she has been a bit weird, more sad, thoughtful, and watching romantic movies, like this one, all the time. Lucas caresses her hair and finally speaks. ‘Are you gonna tell me what's wrong?’
She turns her head to look at him and smiles. ‘What? There's nothing wrong, seriously, I'm okay.’
‘Lisa...’ Says him serious. ‘You know if there’s something wrong you can tell me, or I’ll find it out myself, I’m a PI, remember?’ Jokes him and smiles. ‘But this way you will make me work less.’ He winks and she chuckles.
‘No, is just, a lot of work, you know... Running a hospital is very tiring...’
‘Yes, I guess, and controlling so many people.’ He pauses. ‘and House...’
Cuddy looks around. ‘Yes, it’s hard...’
She has looked away when he has appointed House. ‘Is there something wrong with House?’
‘No, and don’t use your PI tricks on me.’ She gives him a kiss. ‘Let’s watch the movie.’
‘Why not? I want you using your medical tricks on me!’ They laugh and he kisses her. ‘I’m going to make some more popcorns, I’ll be right back.’
‘Okay.’ She stays lying on the couch and thinks of House for a moment. She hasn’t decided anything yet, she’s still confused. Cuddy tries to stop thinking about it and waits for Lucas.
While making popcorn, he thinks of her and House. Something has had to happen for her to be that way, and he’s sure that House has something to do. He thinks of going to talk to him one of this days. When the popcorns are ready Lucas goes back where Lisa is and lies on the couch with her. He stares at her for some seconds and she smiles. ‘What?’ She asks.
‘Nothing... I’m so lucky to be with you.’ Lucas smiles slightly and she gets a bit blush.
‘Awww give me a hug...’
He hugs her and they stay this way for a while. ‘You know, I've thought about a weekend you and me somewhere, what do you think?’ Asks Lucas.
‘Hmm yes, that would be nice, but I have a lot of work now, we’d have to wait a couple of weeks, but I like the idea.’ On the one hand, it reminds Cuddy her vacations to Italy and London with House, but on the other hand she needs some time to think, away from Princeton.
‘Great, I’ll try to make it unforgettable.’ Lucas hugs her and kisses her neck.

Two or three days after this conversation with Lisa, Lucas goes to visit House and to talk to him. He goes to his apartment and knocks his door.
‘Coming...’ He opens and sees Lucas. ‘Oh... it's you...’
‘Nice to see you too...’
‘Do not misunderstand my words. I'd rather see the devil knocking on my door. What do you want?’
He looks at Greg, nervous. ‘What do you have with Lisa?’
House looks at him surprised because of his question. ‘Me? Nothing...’
‘Look, I don’t know what yet, but I know that something happened. She’s your boss, and you work together, but I want you to stay away from her.’
‘Are you threatening me or what?’
‘No, I don't need to do that.’ Lucas sighs. ‘Listen, I like this woman very, very much, House, and I’m not kidding.’ Lucas approaches to him challenging. ‘You already lost your chance, and now she deserves to be happy.’
Greg looks at him and then at the floor. ‘Fine...’
‘Thank you...’ He remains thinking. ‘You still loving her, don’t you?’ But House doesn’t answer. ‘Then let her have what she always has wanted and you couldn’t give her.’
After saying that, Lucas goes and House remains shocked. “This is definitive... I've lost her.” He thinks.


Some days have passed and she’s been thinking very, very much. Cuddy goes to Wilson’s office and finds him typing on the computer.
‘Working hard, uh?’
‘Not really, I’m just pretending I’m working.’ He chuckles. ‘Well... have you thought about... you know... what we talked the other day?’
‘I think so…’ She sits down and Wilson looks at her expecting.
‘So...’
‘I've realized that both can make me happy, but in different ways... House has always been part of me, of my life, and Lucas is the guy who has tried harder to make me the happiest woman in the world...’ Wilson stares at her in silence and she continues ‘But House doesn’t need to try it...’
Wilson smiles at her. ‘So I guess that “The Oscar goes to... House”’ Lisa nods slightly. Wilson is happy for House, he has had some really bad days because of all this, but actually Wilson is also worried about Lucas. He doesn’t know if Cuddy has made the right choice, but he can’t help being happy for his friend. ‘Does anybody else know about this?’
‘No, I want to talk to him before.’
‘Talk to who? House?’
Cuddy nods. ‘To Greg.’


She goes to House’s office and finds him alone.
‘Hello.’
‘Hi...’
She comes in and closes the door behind her. ‘I… I don’t know how to tell you this…’
‘Well... just try to let the air go out, make an effort and the sound will go out, too...’
She approaches a bit to him. ‘I’ve been thinking a lot these days... you don’t know how much... about you, about Lucas, about everything we have lived...’
House nods, so she goes on and tells him what she’s thinking of 'cause he is completely lost.
‘And... I realized that I…’ She sighs and gets a bit closer. ‘I love you, House.’ Cuddy looks at his blue eyes and ends with the few inches that separate them. She kisses him.

House doesn't know how to react. This is the best moment he has had in weeks and now he has two choices: letting her go and being happy with Lucas, or try to take her back and screw up her life. Lucas is a happy person. He loves himself so he can love other people. House feels so miserable that sometimes he believes he just can't love anyone despite he feels that he needs her.
He loves her so much that he has to let her go. He is sorry for what he is about to say and he doesn't feel it, but he has to say it because he just wants her to be happy.
House separates from her.
‘Wow... I thought this was just a game... We broke up, you have a new life... and seriously... I won't get paid until the month's end so it was a good way of having fun without paying... you know...’ He winks at her. She’s speechless.
‘What?’ Lisa can't believe what she’s hearing.
‘It's so simple... no money, no hookers... on the other hand ,you're more accessible... free actually...’ House hates himself for what he’s saying.
Cuddy starts to breathe with difficulty trying not to cry. ‘Are you telling me that all this doesn't mean anything to you? You just did it in order to not to have to pay hookers?’ She’s angry and confused. ‘I... I don't believe you.’
‘Hmm... I should've asked you for a bill after every screw so now I could prove it... my fault...’
Now she can’t help crying and shouts at him faltering. ‘For me it wasn't just screws. From our first time, I have always made love with you... Now you don't know how much I regret it... But I'm glad to finally know what you think about me.’ She yells at him. ‘You have taken twenty-five years to tell me that... I hope you're happy now, but nobody can give me back that time.’
‘Nobody's gonna give me back all the time I've wasted with you...’ Says House cruelly and Cuddy answers back even more sad and disappointed.
‘I’m sorry to have wasted your fucking time! I hope you enjoy the rest of your miserable life...’ She walks to the door crying. ‘You always hurt people who get close to you, but this is your record, House, you don’t know how much it hurts.’ Cuddy gets out his office and House remains looking at the door. He feels so, so bad, but he thinks this is the best for her. Lucas will make her as happy as she deserves. He had to hurt her so she hates him and goes on with her life.
House is really angry with himself and punches his desk. The crystal breaks down and he cuts his hand and starts crying, but it isn’t because of the physical pain…


A few days goes by. Since House told her that, they haven't talked, they have not even seen each other. If she had to give him a case, she gave it to Foreman or somebody of his team to give it to him. Nobody knew exactly what they had until then and what have happened between them from then, but now nobody appointed him in her presence.
She has spent these days practically isolated, from home to work and from work to home. She hasn’t even talked to Wilson or met with Lucas. She needed time to be alone and cry all she wanted to cry.

Finally one day when House goes to work, he bumps into her. They stare at each other for a few seconds without saying anything, there's no need. Before, there was love in their eyes, now there is only hate. People say that between love and hate there's just a narrow line, and they've crossed it. After that she goes to her office.
She is over him and ready to try to go on with her life. She picks up the phone and calls Lucas.
‘Hi... I know that these days I haven't called you, but I needed some time alone and... I wanted to know if your idea of a weekend out is still standing.’ Says Cuddy on the phone.
‘Hi Lis! How are you? Are you alright? It was strange not knowing anything about you all these days... Yes, sure, is still standing.’
‘Yes, I’m fine, don’t worry... It was because... I’m gonna take this weekend off and I’d love spend it with you.’
‘I'd love to spend it with you too. I've missed you... I didn’t know if you were upset or wanted to be alone because of me…’
‘No, of course it wasn’t because of you.’ Now she really wants to see Lucas and spend those days with him. ‘I’ve missed you, too.’



To be continued...



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