Past in Present-Chapter 1
"So, how are you? I mean, how are you really?" Wilson asked as he took her coat.
"Better than expected. I'm past the whole staying in bed all day watching sad movies phase of the break-up." Cuddy says with a laugh as she takes a seat on his sofa.
Wilson sits next to her.
"Well, for what it's worth, I bet Grant is kicking himself right now for screwing up like he did. He's missing out on someone very special."
"I appreciate your kind words, but I seriously doubt Grant has any second thoughts about having an affair with the twenty something brunette who works under him. He's always been immature. I guess I just wanted to believe he was different...I've made that mistake before."
Wilson nodded in agreement and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"We all make those kinds of mistakes. Hell, I've married that mistake three different times."
Cuddy laughed and leaned back against the sofa cushions.
"So, moving onto an easier topic, have you decided on giving little Sara a pet companion?"
As if on cue, the Persian cat entered the room and walked toward Wilson.
"I think a male kitten may be the best choice. I worry about her at home for so many hours without anyone here." He said as he leaned down to pet her head.
Cuddy smiled softly at the scene.
"This is the closest I may ever come to being a father." Wilson said with a sad smile.
"You never know. I never thought I'd have a little girl but look at me now. If you really want it, then you get it somehow."
"Hmm, weirdly that was what House..oh sorry."
Cuddy sat up a little straighter at the mention of that certain man's name.
"It's fine. He's your friend it's natural to want to talk about him, but since I'm only in town for a few days, please try not to bring him up. I came to catch up with you and my old friends..."
"Of course. He doesn't know your here so no need to worry about intrusions."
"Good. So, tell me about that new doctor in urology that you want to ask out?"
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"Where were you all weekend? I called you four times and left various disturbing text messages to get your attention." House said as he sat next to his best friend in the cafeteria.
"Oh, well I met up with Bonnie and her new husband Bryan. We all had dinner and went to that Burlesque theater on twentieth street."
"Yeah, like you would forget to tell me about such a train wreck of an evening. So, how is the ex-Dean of medicine?"
Wilson sputtered a bit of his juice out and quickly tried to hide his shock. House looked at him with a knowing smile. Wilson knew he was busted.
"How? When?"
"Anytime you meet with her, you suddenly become MIA and develop an inability to return a call, text, dirty email."
"I mean, how do you know it was Cuddy that I met? I could have been seeing anyone."
"Her perfume."
Wilson looked a bit taken aback.
"I have never been with Cuddy..."
"No you idiot! I could smell it in your apartment. I mean, you covered all your bases except for that wafting scent of feral sexuality that is Lisa Cuddy."
"Yeah, you're not bitter. Why didn't you say anything?" Wilson asked as he took a bite out of his apple.
"She doesn't want to see me, and I don't want to see her. I respect the terms."
"That's bullshit. You just know it will be too painful to be confronted with the one person you deliberately hurt who actually didn't deserve your wrath."
"I don't feel guilt. I feel.."
"Just stop. You haven't seen or heard from her in five years. I've been meeting with her once a year, every year, and you have deduced as much. But you intentionally wait until now to let me know that you know...You miss her."
House turns his gaze toward his plate.
"I always missed her."
"Nice to know you still can be honest when it counts."
House looked up at his friend and sighed.
"I know that her marriage is ending...maybe I thought I could try to..."
"Don't even think about it House. She doesn't need to go through that again, and I doubt she'd ever give you the opportunity anyway."
"She could use a friend."
Wilson laughed sardonically.
"You've never been her friend. Leave it alone. The way things are, are the way you made them. She doesn't owe you another chance. She doesn't need another man disappointing her."
"God, who's friend are you?"
"Stop being a child. You know I'm your friend but I'm her friend too. Let it go."
"Yeah, that's sounds like something I would do."
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