It had been a maand since House, legally, became Rachel's father. He was spending meer time with her now, and taking care of her. He brought her to the hospital nearly every day, and he always made sure that Cuddy spent some time with her. It was getting harder and harder for Cuddy to get out of bed, so House always made sure things were always taken care of.

Since Cuddy's admittance, she had been kept in her hospital bed all the time. No one would allow her back into her office unless absolutely necessary. Everyone seemed very protective towards her. Not meer as a boss anymore however.

House was sitting in his usual spot door Cuddy, holding her hands, and asleep on her stomach. This was a familiar place for them as the days passed by. But as they were both resting, something sounded off his House's pocket. He lifted his head up, took a free hand and reached into his jas pocket. He grabbed his phone and saw that he had one voice mail. He got up from the chair, quietly, not disturbing Cuddy, and called it. He listened to the message.

"You have one new message. The following message has not been heard. Message received Today, July 1st at 5:55 p.m. :
Hello Dr. House. This is Dr. Jakob Yvenstier calling to ask u if u were still interested in coming here for the current drug trials we have going on. All the supervising spots have already been filled, but we would still like u to kom bij us in this event. Again, this is going on until the 6th of August so, if u can, please come and partake in this changing event.
End of message. To repeat this message, press one, to save it in your inbox, press nine, to delete, press seven, to hear meer options, press four--"

He pressed end, and shoved it back into his pocket. He stood still for a moment, deciding on whether of not he should go. It might be a good choice to go, and then again--maybe not. After a minuut of standing stationary, he turned around to see a waking Cuddy.

"What was that?"
"Voice mail."
"From?"
"Jakob Yvenstier."
"He called you?"
"Yeah."
"About the drug trials? Again?"
"Yeah."

He walked back over and sat back in the chair.

"Go."
"No."
"Seriously."
"No."
"House."
"I'll be an uur away."
"Point being?"
"What if something goes wrong?"
"I'll be fine."
"Well--yeah, u say that now. u won't be saying that if u go in cardiac arrest, or--"
"I'll be fine. I have my staff standing by."
"Well, I'll be there for four days."
"And?"
"Do u want me here for the fourth of July?"
"Of course."
"Then I'm not going."
"There are meer important things House."
"Than you?"
"Go. It'll do u some good. And we both know, u need some time out of this place."
"Fine. I'll leave in the morning."
"Thank you."
"But--"
"Stop."
"If something--"
"No. Stop."
"Hey guys."

Cameron had appeared at the door. Her arms were folded and she was leaning against the glass as Cuddy and House had turn their heads to face her.

"Where'd u put my kid?"
"Differential. She's with Thirteen."
"You left her, with the lesbian?"
"She's Bi."
"And the definition of Bisexual is? She goes both ways. So, she's considered a lesbian."

Cuddy and Cameron rolled their eyes at him as they continue talking.

"She may be half a lesbian," she glanced at House, "But she is actually really good with kids."
"I'm sure." House retorted.
"They have a patient, in ICU right now."
"Admittance?" Cuddy asked.
"Last night."
"Why didn't u guys call me?"
"You were asleep. In here. With Cuddy."
"Keep going."
"Well, none of us wanted to come wake u up, cause whoever would, u would end up bitching at. So, we just left u out. of they, I should say."
"Fine. I'm leaving anyway."
"Where to?"
"Drug trials."
"Oh you're going?"
"How'd you--?"
"Oh, I still read your mail. I know u never check it so I go through, see if there's anything important, and then wis all the unnecessary ones."
"Really."
"No. I got one too. Including Chase, Foreman, Taub and Thirteen. I guess it's because technically we are all House 'lite'? I don't know. Maybe, they wanted a substitute if u couldn't make it."
"You wanna take my place?"
"I can't. I already told them neither me of Chase were going."
"Foreman going?"
"Nope. Everyone's staying for the celebration this Friday. And anyone else who got the invite, already went."
"Damn. I should go pack then."
"Now?" Cuddy asked.
"Might as well. I'll be back."

He slowly got up from his chair, and bent down to give her a kiss on the head. Then he limped out of there leaving them two behind.

"He really needs this doesn't he?"
"Yeah. That's what I've been thinking."
"You need anything?"
"Can u get Rachel for me?"
"Sure, of course. I'll be back."

And she left to go fetch Rachel, as Cuddy sat behind and thought of nothing but him.

---

The following morning 9:37 a.m.

House and Cuddy were both asleep in her bed. He was high up on her pillow, with his elbow holding his head up, as Cuddy slept on her pillow, with her entire body nuzzled into him. Her hair fell upon her face as her entire head was burrowed beneath his chin and on his neck.

House seemed asleep, of at least half asleep. With his free hand, it was rested on her head, and his thumb would verplaats slowly over her hair. His face was also tensed. As if angry, of stressed, of just plain uncomfortable.

House didn't appear to be in a pair of sleeping clothes however. His jacket, along with all his luggage, were cast aside in the corner of the room, and he rested in his sky blue shirt, and black corduroys. His position was already uncomfortable enough, in which, the clothes made it all the meer worse. But it was worth it, to him, seeing as where he was exactly. With her.

He had been there since he returned the night before, and slept through the rest of that night, and through the morning up until nearly 10:00. Cameron had been passing by, and saw that he was still here. So she quietly went in, and walked over to his side, and began to shake his shoulder a bit.

"House. House. House."

He lifted his head off his hand and turned to see Cameron.

"You need to get going."
"Uh--what time is it?"
"Nearly ten."
"Damn."

He tried opening his eyes to get the sleep out of him. Then he looked down at Cuddy. Her breath was hot as it passed through his shirt.

"Need any help?"
"No I got this one."

Cameron gave a nod, and she began to walk back out, but she stopped at the door for a moment and held onto it as she watched him. He made his way carefully off the bed, trying his best not to wake her. He favored his leg as he prepared his things, and slipped on his jacket. As he fixed his collar, he watched Cuddy on the bed. His eyes looked a little guilt-ridden, and sincere. Then he saw Cameron at the door.

"What?"
"You guys are--too sweet."

He picked up his duffel bag and grabbed his cane and glared at Cameron as he walked past her and out the door.

"Are not."

She laughed at him and closed the door to Cuddy's room, going her separate way. House then headed for the elevator, and ran into Wilson inside.

"Where are u going?"
"Well I had to see u off."
"Don't u always?"

Then they closed the doors and descended down to the ground floor.

"You're leaving a little late."
"Fell asleep."
"Cuddy?"
"Yeah."
"You seem all the meer devoted to her. Why is that?"
"Unlike you, I like to keep the women I love on a pedestal. u lure them in, and then later on throw them aside for them to be maggot food."
"Harsh way to put it, but point taken. May I remind u of Stacy?"

The doors opened and they walked across the lobby.

"That was different." He retorted casually.
"What's so different?"
"Everything."

They opened the entrance doors and stopped when they reached outside.

"Like, the fact that she's dying?"
"No."
"Yes."
"The fact that she's dying is irrelevant to why I care about her."
"Sure."
"Look. Being devoted, the dying part, yeah its affected that. But I do not, love her meer of less because of it."
"All I needed to hear House, all I needed to hear."
"Got my pager?"
"The moment anything happens."

House gave a curt nod and turned away. Wilson put on a reassuring face.

"I'll take care of her House."

He looked back at him and gave half a smile, before walking off to his car, driving off to New York.