The birds chirping outside, and the sun shining on her face, woke Cuddy up. The storm clouds had moved on, from Cuddy’s window as she turned on her side, she could see faint rainbow.

“House?” She called out to an empty room, when she looked at the clock on her bedside table, tableau she saw it was seven o’clock in the morning. The other thing that caught her eye was that signature orange pill bottle, empty.

par the time Cuddy had woken up, House was already at home. He had changed clothes, and was slightly happier than usual once more. With a smirk on his face, he left his apartment for work.

Cuddy managed to get out of bed, and hopped into the shower. All she could think of was what happened last night, his hands softly caressing her as he kissed her neck. She couldn’t help but smile and break out into a spontaneous giggle. It was hard to remember that it was House she was getting papillons over, a man who was never true to himself about how he felt, someone who would cut anyone with a quick shot of sarcasm.

When Cuddy had dressed for work, she picked up the empty Vicodin bottle from her bedside table, and she held it in her hand. Her feelings were pushed to the back of her mind when it sunk in, that if she were ever to have a relationship with House. It wouldn’t just be the two of them; it’d be Cuddy, House and his addiction. Deep down, Cuddy knew that if push comes to shove House would choose Vicodin over her. Cuddy put the bottle in her pocket, before she left.

*

House, who was on a mission, stormed Wilson’s office. “I need a ‘script.” Wilson didn’t stop écriture on his patient’s chart.

“I said, I need a ‘script.” Wilson looked up; House was sitting un-patiently on the chair in front. “You don’t need another bottle of Vicodin. The one wrote for toi last week is sufficient.”

House let out a frustrated sigh, before he stood up. “House, toi can’t abuse this new thing with Cuddy and your Vicodin.” House turned back, and waited for Wilson to elaborate further.

“You feel happier when you’re with her, then once that passes toi go back to double dosing with your Vicodin. Soon enough, you’re going to crash. Hurting both toi and Cuddy.”

“But toi care plus about her.” Wilson hesitated at House’s statement, before House left.

When he left Wilson’s office, Cuddy came out of the elevator at the same time.

“Good morning.” Cuddy found his higher than high happiness awkward to process. House entered the outer office, with his team handing him a file as he entered, Foreman looked on as Cuddy joined House at the haut, retour au début of the table.

“Our new patient was doing a sky dive, suffered momentary paralysis mid air but managed to land safely.” Thirteen and Taub stayed focused on the patient, but Foreman had other things on his mind.

“Why is Cuddy here?” Foreman, sitting on the opposite end of the table, asked with a curious look on his face.

“She’s finally donné in to the magnetism.” House smirked at the inside joke, whilst Cuddy tried to distance herself from it.

“Actually, I’m here because I can be here.” Cuddy gave a stern look at Foreman, who took the hint and backed away.

“So I’m guessing toi should go check out the blood clot, somewhere in his body, before toi dissect me and my woman.” House turned and walked into his office. Cuddy had to give a pissed off look to divert their attention from the obvious, even though House’s words were laced in sarcasm.

House put his backpack on the ground before sitting at his desk. Cuddy followed, and took the empty Vicodin bottle out of her veste pocket.

“I didn’t know the pills came separately.”

“You left this on my table, tableau this morning.”

House gave a cheeky look, up at Cuddy, who didn’t return the favour.

“This was donné to toi four days ago. Either you’re good at hiding the extreme pain toi are going through, ou you’re taking a hell of a lot plus than usual.”
“Tolerance. It’s getting higher.” House seemed genuinely honest about it, but Cuddy didn’t want her emotions to get in the way of her lecture, since she was protecting House.

“I want toi to reduce how many toi take.” Cuddy stood her ground; her determination to help House gain control over his addiction was her main priority.

“You’re not happy with who I am? Then that’s you’re problem, don’t make it mine.”

“I couldn’t care less who ou what toi are…right now, toi don’t have any control over you’re doses. toi need to understand the consequences.”

House waited, Cuddy stood anxiously waiting for his retort.

“I would know if I Lost control. So if that’s all toi have to say, then toi can leave.”

House broke off the conversation; Cuddy shook her head in disappointment before she left. House turned back to watch her leave, with a look of frustration at himself. Glancing at the empty pill bottle in front of him, he reached for his secret stash and swallowed the two pills. He had Lost control, but his stubbornness wouldn’t let him admit it, not even to himself.