Down the Rabbit hole

** OK, so here's the deal. I am SO SO sorry for not updating sooner! I had another issue with it getting too long to be just one chapter, so i'm posting this to tide you over until the rest is done... and it's GOOOOOD ^_^ I'm proud if i do say so myself, but the rest will be a minute. Anyway, hope you like this part, and please don't crucify me for being so late! COMMENT PLEASE!!!**

Wilson cringed as the drunken doctor began to slur into the microphone. He and Thirteen had been chatting quite pleasantly up to this point, both enjoying the luxury of forgetting about House and Cuddy for one precious moment in their time at this convention. Still, Wilson thought, it was impossible for the pleasantness to last forever.

He grudgingly looked at the squat doctor who had a reputation for being a bit of a disgusting leech. His own ex-wife had the misfortune of dancing with him last year, and had come out of if with a sore hand, and Selgan with a red hand print on his face. The oaf had drunkenly taken the stage in order to start the oration of tonight's gag awards. It had always been a simple bit of fun for the doctoral community, but seemed rather childish to Wilson. Still, he knew that their was nothing he could do to prevent the awkward speech that was sure to come.

These awards consisted of everything from the best malpractice suit... usually won by House, to the ugliest nurses award. They usually tended to keep a lighter tone, but it wasn't unheard of for a drunken coworker to give an awkward speech. Still, this sort of thing made Wilson feel uncomfortable. It left too many variables open, like the one currently spitting more than talking into the microphone.

As the old wretch went through the numerous awards with more than a hint of the whiskey he'd obviously been throwing back, Wilson began to scan the crowd. It had surprised him that he hadn't seen Cuddy yet. Could it have been that she had been too upset to come? He felt a small tap on his shoulder, and turned to see Thirteen gently indicating toward the dance floor. The dancers had currently stopped their movement while paying attention to the orator, and within their ranks, Wilson saw what had intrigued Thirteen.

House and Cuddy stood side by side watching the goof of a doctor make a fool of himself. It surprised and pleased Wilson to see House there, but it pleased him even more to see that House had a protective hand on Cuddy's back while he glared at Selgan. Cuddy didn't seem to mind the contact, in fact, she seemed to be leaning into him if anything. The oncologist smiled slightly to himself.

"Looks like things are finally moving in the right direction," Thirteen whispered lowly to Wilson from her bar stool. Wilson nodded his agreement as he took another sip from his bourbon. "At least for now, but yes, they've certainly made distinct progress." Thirteen smiled gently as she watched the couple. Wilson found a strange urge to keep her smiling in this fashion. He couldn't explain it, but he wanted to make sure that she always smiled. He hated seeing her upset or unhappy. He'd have to remember to do something later to bring a smile back to her face.

He was barely able to bring his attention away from the vexing creature next to him as the drunken host began to raise his voice.

"And now," he slurred into the microphone, "we're going to give away tonight's greatest honor, the booby prize." Selgan paused, to regain his breath and his balance as he was leaning dangerously to the left, threatening an unfortunately loud fall. The audience waited in a strange place, caught between amusement and embarrassment. Some of the doctors appeared to be entertained by this little game, but it seemed that most felt just as uncomfortable with the situation as Wilson did.

"This years prize goes to a doctor who has made her boobies well known throughout the medical world." A few people politely laughed. "But that isn't all. No, not by far. Her joke of a career has lead many to wonder how she was able to get such a high position in a hospital." Fewer people were laughing as they began to hear the drunken tone of the message. "Her sham of a love life has left, at least this doctor, wondering if she is inclined to play for a certain team, if you know what I mean?" Only two or three very drunk and brave people, dared to laugh at this. "And lastly, it seems she's even failed her attempts to adopt a child. Sorry, Lisa Cuddy, it seems that life just hasn't been good to you."

Wilson was horrified. He turned to look at Thirteen who had a hand covering her agape mouth. He wouldn't stand for this shit. No one could talk about his friend like that. This bastard was going down the minute he stepped off that stage.

However, as he blocked out the several nervous clappers trying to be polite, he saw movement in the crowd. Was Cuddy actually being brave enough to come up and get her prize? He tried to look over people's heads to see who was making their way to the stage, but he couldn't quite make it out.

It wasn't until he looked as Selgan's face that he finally figured out who it was... and Wilson had never been more proud.

He watched merrily as House jumped onto the stage, bum leg and all, rushed the podium before Selgan had any time to get out of the way, and cold cock the bastard across the face. Selgan fell like a sack of potatoes, but House wasn't done. He grabbed the man by his shirt, lifted him off the ground just high enough so he could sock him across the other side of his face.

Selgan lay motionless on the stage. A silence fell over the audience. Then, suddenly, Wilson heard someone at his side clapping. He turned to see Thirteen beaming up at House, and clapping her hands together in approval. Why hadn't he thought of that? Wilson joined in, just as several others around the ballroom caught on, as well. Slowly, the vast majority of the room began to clap and cheer their approval for what House had done.

Wilson watched as House finally looked up from his target, astonished. The crowd hooted and hollered their glee that he had gotten rid of the fat embarrassment, and the band decided to start to play again. House scanned the room, looking for something. Cuddy, maybe? Wilson pondered.

He turned from House to check for himself, just in time to see the dark haired beauty moving quickly across the dance floor toward the exit. Wilson turned to point House in the right direction, but he was too late. House had already spotted her, and was off the stage hobbling after her as fast as his bum leg could take him.

Wilson smiled. "Good luck, old buddy." He said lightly. "And may God speed" came a light female voice at his arm. The oncologist turned to look into those lovely blue eyes. She smiled back up at him giving his stomach a now familiar turn over. Maybe it was the booze, but at this point he didn't really care.

"Well, I suppose this means we should get back to our evening. Would you like to dance?" He asked happily. "Gladly," she replied with equal enthusiasm.
********************************

House chased her down the hall for the second time in two nights. Only this time, he had much more honorable motives... at least, that's what he told himself. Her door was ajar when he reached it. He could hear her crying inside. He walked into the room carefully trying to be as gentle with her as possible. He'd promised he'd be there for her, and he was going to keep that promise, damn it.

He closed the door slowly behind him, and turned to see her sitting on the edge of the king sized bed that had been meant for him and Wilson. He hated seeing her like this. It made him want to run back into that ballroom and give that leech another good punch, but this time in a lower, much more delicate area of his body. But, he knew he had to be here, and as he sat down next to her, he knew he could handle anything.

"Cuddy... don't let what he said..."
"Who do you think you are?"

Except that.

House stared dumbfounded as she pulled the tissue she had grabbed from the night stand away from her face, revealing seething eyes.

"Wait... What?!" House asked.
"Who do you think you are? Coming in here after what you just did?" She all but breathed fire at him.

"After what... 'I' did?" He retorted as confused as ever.
"Yes! After what you just did!" Cuddy roared. "I had everything under control and then you had to go and EMBARRASS me in front of the entire New England medical community!!" She stood and looked down at him as she shouted.

House stared at her open mouthed, and watched as she stormed into the bathroom to throw away the tissue she had been using. That was when the haze of fury set in.

"I embarrassed you!?! Selgan was the one who embarrassed you! I'm the one who you should be thanking for standing up to that creep!" He stood up in a flash, and made his way over to where she stood in the hallway.

She was flushed with anger, and despite his own annoyance, he couldn't help but remember the last time he had seen her flushed in this very spot. But he couldn't think about that now. He had a certain angry shrew he had to deal with.

"I would have been FINE without you, House!" She retorted. She began to take steps toward him. She was furious and, he hated to admit it, intimidating. With each step she too he took one back toward the bed.

"I would have handled it graciously, and then he would have looked like an ass. He probably would have been fired for that drunken speech, but you had to go and play the hero! Now, everyone thinks that I can't handle my own affairs! They think that I need you to play my LACKY!!!" She all but screamed at him.

She had backed him into the bed. He stared at her for a few seconds as she caught her breath. So that was it... She didn't want to lose face? House's expression softened. Of course she didn't. It was unfortunate that she had to think like this, but that was how she had to think. After all, she had to have learned somethings about power play being a woman in her position.

"I'm sorry, Cuddy." He said honestly. He watched as a flicker of surprise fell across her face. "I only meant to help you. You have to know that?" He inquired gently.

Her face held him entranced as the expressions changed from that of surprised fury to that of acceptance to lastly something else that he couldn't quite put his finger on. Her cheeks had gone flushed again, and she suddenly found something very interesting at the foot of the bed behind him.

"I don't need your help." She whispered quietly.
"I know you don't, Cuddy. And so do all the people that clapped for you in that ballroom just now." He put a hand under her chin and tipped it up so he could look into her eyes. "I know that you've spent all of your life surviving on your own, and you've done a hell of a job of it." His eyes searched hers for a response. She was still. Unmoving. Watching his mouth and eyes as he spoke. "But," He continued "sometimes it's ok to ask for help."

He waited for a response. Something. Anything. She looked into his eyes as they stood, and he became aware, once again, of the hand on her face. He smiled and pulled it around to her cheek. That was enough to pull her out of her trance.

She blinked, closed her eyes for a second, seemingly appreciating the feel of his hand on her face. His heart began to beat at an unnerving pace. She felt so damn good in his hands. He wanted nothing more than to lean down, kiss her, and continue where they had left off last night, but he knew he couldn't. It wasn't his place. The ball was in her court, and would be until she made the next move. But that knowledge didn't make it any easier.

When she opened her eyes again, she turned her head, lightly brushing his hand away, and looked down. He felt bereft, lost without the feel of her warmth, but he knew there was nothing for it. He watched as she stepped toward the window and out of his reach. She seemed to be watching the flurries fall around the hotel, but he waited for her to speak.

"That..." she began slowly, "would require trusting someone."

The blow rang home. He stood and watched her quietly as his heart fell to pieces. Her back was to him, but he thought he could detect her hands shaking slightly. They held their mutual silence for sometime, before House responded quietly.

"I suppose you're right." He thought he saw a barely distinguishable twitch of her head, but he knew he must be imagining things. She didn't want him. She didn't love him. She had just been playing a flirtatious game, and that was all he'd ever be to her. A game. He smiled to himself at the interesting change in scenario. Usually it was him who played with her.

"Well then," he continued softly "I suppose I should go. I'll leave you alone now, I promise. There's no point in me hanging around if you can't even trust me to be a decent person... I'm sorry for wasting your time."

She continued to stare out the window as he walked toward the hallway. He stopped a few feet from the door, and slowly turned around.

"I really hope you can find someone to love someday, Cuddy." He talked quietly, trying not to let the lump in his throat show... with little luck. "It's always a risk when you fall in love. You never know if the person will break you or make you, but it's a risk, I for one... was willing to take." She turned suddenly to look at him as he spoke, but he couldn't find the courage to look her in the eyes as he continued. "I suppose that was silly of me. Find someone, Cuddy. Find someone that you can love as much... as I love you. Goodnight."

And with that, he walked toward the door. He grabbed the handle, swung the door open and had taken a step out into the hallway when he heard it.

"House!! Wait!!" She called after him. He turned in the doorway to see her rushing toward him. Before he could even fully grasp the situation, she was on him. Her arms wrapped around his neck and her soft lips pressing against his.