A/N: Hello my loyal readers. Thanks to all who put me on their Author Alerts. Now you'll know when I write a new story and you won't miss out on the smut :) This was going to be a one-shot..but it's getting kind of long so I decided to split it up into a short story. I don't know how many chapters it will be yet so bear with me. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own House. So don't sue me. I'm just a housewife, damn it! haha
Reminiscing
"You're going!" Cuddy ordered as she stood behind her desk.
"No way," House protested, shaking his head. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a red lollipop. Cuddy watched as he tore off the wrapping and slowly put it in his mouth. Her pulse quickened.
"What's the problem? It's Arizona. It's sunny and the dry heat should do wonders for your leg."
"My leg is better with the new meds. I don't need 100F weather to make it better. You're clutching at straws."
"The Mayo clinic wants you, House. They have a fresh crop of new doctors who signed up for a seminar in diagnostic medicine. Some of them flew across the country just to attend on the off-chance you just might show up. You're committed, pardon the pun, whether you like it or not."
"I want a suite."
"What for?"
"I'm taking Cameron."
"No you're not. I need her in the ER. You'll only be gone 3 days. You can live without her for that short a time. So start packing. Your plane leaves tonight."
House took the lollipop out of his mouth, showing Cuddy his red tongue as he stuck it out at her. "I still want a suite." Then he turned and left. He went to his office and collapsed in his chair. Eight months. That's how long it had been since he last saw her. Spoke to her. Felt her soft hand on his cheek as she told him she didn't want to leave, but that she couldn't leave her children.
He ran a hand over his face and closed his eyes. God but he missed her. As happy as he was with Cameron, Lydia never left his thoughts. And now he was going to Arizona, where she was, and he prayed like hell that he wouldn't see her. Arizona was a large state, and he didn't know where she actually lived. He hoped it wasn't within the vicinity of the Mayo Clinic. He didn't know what he'd do if he saw her again.
"Are you okay?" a soft, familiar, and most welcome voice came from the doorway. House glanced up to see Cameron standing there in her lab coat and smiled at her.
"I've had better days." He held out his hand to her and she took it, sitting down on the ottoman across from him. Her fingers grazed his knuckles.
"What's wrong?"
"I have to go to Arizona."
"When?"
"Tonight. Cuddy booked me to speak at some diagnostics conference at the Mayo Clinic. I told her I wasn't going without you but she said she needs you in the ER this weekend."
"Yeah she mentioned that earlier."
"You knew about this?"
"Not about your conference. It's only a few days, House. You'll be back before you know it. And you'll love Scottsdale. Maybe you'll meet a rich widow."
He arched an eyebrow at her in surprise and she laughed. "That's where the rich and the widows are. Stay at the Embassy Suites there. It's fantastic."
"Would be even more so if you were with me," he grumbled.
"I know. Maybe next time. Come on," she said as she stood up. "Let's go and I'll drive you to the airport. See you off."
House gave up without a fight and they took their separate cars to his place so he could pack. Cameron drove him to the airport, parked the car and waited as he checked in. At least Cuddy spared no expense with a first class ticket. It was the red-eye and she knew his leg would not survive 5 hours in economy.
She waited with him in the terminal until he had to board his flight and just as she was getting ready to leave, he reached for her.
"Don't I get a proper goodbye?" he asked, his voice was soft.
"Silly me," she giggled as she closed the gap between them and wrapped her arms around his neck. When he stood at full height, he nearly lifted her off her feet. "I'll miss you."
"I don't even know if I'll be able to sleep without you next to me anymore."
"You'll manage. You always do. Call me in the morning."
"Won't you be at the hospital?"
"I don't start till noon. Just don't forget about the time difference."
House nodded as he slid his hands up and down her back. Then he bent his head and gave her the sweetest kiss she ever got from him. It made her cheeks flush and elicited a few "aww's" from a couple of ladies nearby.
"See you Monday," he whispered as he kissed behind her ear before bending down to grab his bag.
"Cya."
She watched as he handed his ticket to the flight attendant, turned to give her a small grin and a wave, and then disappeared around the corner.
***
The plane landed in Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport just past midnight, but to him it felt like the butt crack of dawn. He was tired, cranky and all he wanted to do was get to his hotel and sleep. He didn't have to be at the Mayo Clinic for his seminar until mid-afternoon the next day so he planned to sleep as long as possible.
The alarm he set woke him up at noon, giving him time to get showered and ready, and he took a cab to the clinic, as it was only a few blocks away.
He gave the seminar, which ended up taking a few hours, what with all the questions at the end, and then he took off to a nearby restaurant for dinner. As he waited for his meal to arrive, he called Wilson.
"How's it going down there?"
"It's hot and sunny. I'm actually thinking of spending a couple of extra days. I saw a place that rents motorcycles. The weather is too damn nice not to take advantage of a good ride."
"You should. God knows you have enough vacation days. I'm sure Cuddy won't mind, but Cameron might."
"If she came with me, we'd never leave the hotel. Cuddy got me a bitchin' suite."
As he talked, his eyes never left the woman at the bar. He couldn't see her face but her hair..and her small frame were oddly familiar.
"House?"
"Huh?"
He watched as a man about his age, and a similar build walked up to her and grab her arm a little too harshly. He was scolding her about something but she was shaking her head. Then he saw her face. "Ho-ly shit," he whispered into the phone. "It's her. I can't believe it."
"Her who?"
"Lydia."
Wilson was silent. "Lydia..from Mayfield? The one you hooked up with?"
"I didn't hook up with her," He hissed. "God, that sounds so crass when you call it that."
"What would you call it, House?"
"We…it's complicated."
"I'll bet, considering she's married."
House watched the exchange at the bar. She seemed to be trying to ignore the guy, but he was persistent.
"I gotta go."
"What's wrong?"
"Hopefully nothing." He snapped his phone shut just as his dinner arrived but he was too busy watching the show at the bar to eat much. He was just barely able to hear their conversation.
"You were supposed to be home an hour ago. What the fuck are you doing here?"
"You said you were going to be home late. The kids are still at your mother's and I was hungry after my shift."
"We have food at home."
"Not what I wanted."
"Don't take that tone with me, you little bitch. Come on," he said, reaching into his pocket and tossing a few bills onto the bar. "We're going."
House lowered his head as they left the restaurant and made a mental note to come back earlier the next day. Was it possible she worked there? There was only one way to find out.
He returned to his hotel and called Cuddy to extend his stay a few days. It wasn't a problem considering all the vacation time he had saved up over the years. She was in no hurry for him to come back. Then he called Cameron. She'd still be at work but he hoped she'd be able to spare a few moments.
"Hi," he said quietly,
"You sound sad," she observed from the sound of his voice. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing..everything. I'm going to stay a few extra days."
"Why?"
"I'm going to rent a bike and do some riding. The weather is amazing and I have to at least take advantage of it. Although I wish you were here with me."
"So do I. But I'll be waiting for you."
"In bed? In my bed? Naked?"
"If you're good. I gotta go, break's over. Call me tomorrow night."
"I will."
"And House.."
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"…"
"You don't have to return the sentiment. I just..wanted you to know that." Then the line went dead.
He put down the phone and rubbed his hands over his face. He knew he loved Cameron, and he had no problem showing her that, but seeing Lydia was changing everything.
***
House rented a Harley Davidson cruiser and spent the next day riding all over town. When he rode past the restaurant he was at the day before, he quickly glanced in and saw Lydia once again. Normally he knew he should've just kept right on going. But the puzzle was just too much to ignore. He had to know what was going on with her and he at least had to talk to her.
She didn't look up from what she was doing when he entered and sat down at the end of the counter. "What would you like, sir?"
He reached out and softly placed his hand over hers and she gasped when she looked up and saw who it was.
"Greg? Oh my God.."
God he loved it when she called him Greg. "Surprised to see me?"
"Yes. I didn't…I wasn't...what are you doing in Phoenix?"
"Medical conference at the Mayo clinic. Trust me, I'm just as surprised to see you. I knew you were in Arizona but I had no idea where."
"How long have you been..?"
"Eight months. I left Mayfield shortly after you…moved." He looked down and away from her.
"Greg.."
"Can we talk? I'm only in town for a couple more days."
"I'd love to but.."
"But..that guy..yesterday…your husband?" he asked her.
She frowned. "You were here yesterday too?"
"I was having dinner. I saw him grab you. What's going on?"
Lydia shook her head. "It's…complicated."
"Didn't look very complicated. The man is a possessive asshole."
"Greg..I can't see you. If he found out.."
"What? What would happen?"
"I'd..rather not find out," she said with a slight shudder that he didn't miss.
House's eyes grew dark and he looked angry. How could anyone want to hurt her? She was so small, sweet and quiet. "If he's abusing you in any way, shape or form, I'll beat the shit out of him with my cane. And don't think that I won't."
"It's not like that."
"Then tell me what it's like. I saw the way he grabbed you yesterday and I'll bet it's not the first time."
When she didn't answer, House had his answer and that only infuriated him. "What time are you off?"
"At two. But he's coming to pick me up."
"Really has you on a short leash, doesn't he?"
Lydia shook her head. "Please, Greg. Don't make this harder than it has to be. I'm glad to see you but I don't think it's a good idea if we see each other again."
"Why not? You're scared of what he's going to do if he finds out?"
"It's not that, it's.."
"It's exactly that."
It was a quiet afternoon so Lydia's boss let her off early so she and House could talk. He felt good around her. Real good. Of course, it didn't escape him that she kept looking nervously at her watch. It was starting to get a little distracting until the door opened and her husband arrived at exactly 2 p.m.
"Who's this?" he demanded of her, not even looking at House.
"David, this is Greg House. Greg, this is my husband, David."
House got up and stood to his full height, towering over Lydia's husband who wasn't even 6' tall. "This is him?" David chuckled. "The brilliant doctor from Jersey? He's a gimp."
"A gimp with a very big cane," House added.
"You don't scare me, pal."
"No?"
David took one step closer. "No."
"Good. Then I guess you won't mind if I take your lovely wife out for coffee to catch up."
David looked at Lydia. "You agreed to this?"
She nodded. "I don't see the harm in it. Greg and I are old friends."
"Old friends huh? This is the guy who stole our car and took some freak to the fair. He's no friend of yours, trust me."
"He wasn't a freak!" House hissed. His knuckles were white as he gripped the handle of his cane.
"Oh, sorry. Loony then," David laughed as he reached for Lydia. "Come on, we're going."
"No," she said firmly, moving away from him. "I'm going to stay and have coffee with Greg."
David rolled his eyes. "Whatever. You can find your own way home. I'm outta here."
They watched him storm out, slamming the door shut behind him. "Well that was easy," House chuckled as he let out the breath he didn't even know he was holding.
"Too easy," Lydia agreed.
House studied her for a second. "Wanna get out of here?"
"Yes!"
"My bike's outside. Come on."
He let her wear his helmet and they went back to his hotel. Lydia didn't object to him buying her a drink at the bar, or sitting on the roof of the hotel, overlooking Camelback Mountain.
"I could sit and stare at these mountains forever," she said quietly.
"They are amazing. How's your friend doing?"
"Good. She might be able to leave there soon. She wants to play in a symphony again. How about you? How're you doing?"
"Fine. Got my medical licence reinstated and I'm back to annoying the clinic patients and solving puzzles."
"I'm happy for you."
House looked down as he thumped the ground with his cane. "I missed you."
"I missed you too. When I saw you today it felt like..my whole world turned upside down. I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd ever see you again. And here you are. So soon."
House wrapped his arm around her shoulders but made no effort to get much closer. "When you left, I felt lost. I've never…I've never connected with anyone like that before."
"Never?"
"Nope. It scared me."
"The big bad doctor House has feelings," she teased. "Interesting."
He chuckled and glanced at her. She glanced back at him and softly stroked his cheek. "I never regretted what we had."
"Me neither."
They sat in silence for awhile until it began to get dark. "Come on, I'll give you a ride home." They stood up and she followed him to the elevator. "Greg…"
"Yeah?"
"I don't want to go home," she said softly, her lip quivering.
A/N: So whaddya think? Chapter 2 is halfway written as we speak. It should be up tonight or tomorrow. Reviews are love!!