Heya all! I'm back with a new story, maybe, lol. This one is rated T and maybe M for language (ratings might change, we will see how this goes), I don't know about smut yet because tbh, I've never been able to write smut. But if you guys like the story, I will maybe give it a try. In the meantime, enjoy! :)

Prologue

There are simple things in life like saying ‘I love you’, but it can take a whole life to decide when and how to say it, even more so when you actually do feel for someone. In the case of Gregory House, it works like poker tells. Picture a Poker game. The asshole in front of you is Dr. Gregory House. He’s smoking a cigar and drinking bourbon, not showing any care or remorse for something he has indubitably said or done. No understanding or appreciation for the people sitting around the table. But it’s his goal. He doesn’t want you to be able to decipher him, especially when he happens to give a crap about people. Only he masters bluffing and deciphering at the same time. One could say human nature has no secret to House.

However, the simple things House does for one another always are grand gestures. Which is why, the people sitting around the table in this fictitious Poker game are his colleague Dr. James Wilson, his slaves, or should I say assistants and his boss, Dr. Lisa Cuddy. Not just some random idiots, as he would put it. They all get him somehow, they don’t know everything but he does have poker tells and each and every one of the people seated beside him have spent their whole time knowing him trying to guess them. It’s a hard battle to fight the mystery that is House, because as much as they manage to get unfold, the man’s enigmas pop up before his shield (which is, ninety percent of the time, up and about) as if another planet had blown up in the sky and a new star had form because of it.

I would even add, to keep the extended metaphor going here, that you can never reach fast enough for the stars. You might catch one but the others are billions of miles away. Now, one might (actually, everyone) ask me why it is even worth trying. Obviously, the guy has no self-control and an arrogance that goes beyond his genius. Generally speaking, he’s an ass; he should go to hell and he definitely deserves to die. Nevertheless, the people seated next to him at the Poker table think differently. His condition puts him through hell everyday and sadly, it is clear that he wants to let himself die for not having the guts to get his damn leg chopped off. House is a proud man. But he is an inevitable contradiction. Maybe one side can get the better of him. This is what the people we can call his friends want to unravel. With his tells, he’s letting them in. The game is always on because he’s willing to play it.

But I’m only able to tell you all this because I’m his best friend. I am the person sited next to Cuddy and since he’s not looking at my cleavage, I can tell he wants to be with her. Anyway, over with the fictitious Poker game thing.

You know, any sort of extra activities would do him some good. I’m not talking about watching General Hospital or playing Poker with me every Monday nights or having sex with different hookers every week, I’m talking about non-doctoring stuff. Actually, come to think of it, he needs sex but he needs it with the real deal. Again, NO! Don’t get there! I’m talking about his boss, Lisa! She has just started fostering a kid, you know? Maybe she’ll even adopt her. Rachel is so cute. I got her all these ducks that are way too big for her! And no, I don’t have this neediness towards ducks and I never lacked of or asked for ducks as a child or had a mother that wouldn’t get me one or anything. I just love ducks!

Still, I’m pretty sure she’s as miserable as he is because there’s something missing. I miss Amber. I miss her so much and I know that I’m miserable. But I want to try to get back into a normal routine with my best friend without thinking that his attitude, who he is! Is the reason why she’s not here anymore. You know, I love who he is and I only hope he finds some happiness. Preferably, soon.

Speaking of which, did I mention Cuddy? You know they’ve kissed, right? Actually, HE kissed her. Isn’t that fantastic? House, showing is human side! It’s been a long time since he has had an opportunity to score like that but he just didn’t go for it. She wants him, it is as clear as ice. And he definitely wants to do her. Does this mean there’s more to it than that? I honestly don’t know. What I know is that if he doesn’t let go of his fears and risk his pride, he will lose any chance he has with her. And he has to grab any chance at happiness. In the end, I think the only reason he’ll push her as far away as he can is because he doesn’t want to lose her. I guess, maybe, he does lo…

“HEY WILSON, WANNA PLAY SOME LESBIAN STRIP POKER TONIGHT? YOU GET THE NURSES, I’ll TAKE CARE OF THE HOOKERS!” House shouted from behind Wilson’s office door.

“Is Cuddy chasing after you?” Wilson asked with a knowing smile on his face.

“YES! BUT SHE APOLOGIZED AND ALL. IT’S VERY SWEET THAT SHE’S TRYING TO GET INTO MY PANTS WITHOUT THE EVIL WITCH MASOCHISTIC COMPLEX MASK ON OR WITH A BAMBINO IN HER ARMS-“ House said.

“You know you don’t have to yell.” Wilson said matter-of-factly and added when Cuddy barged in frantically, “besides, she’s right next to you, idiot!”.

“HAAAAAAAAAA!” House screamed when he saw her, “Wilson, help me, She-Devil’s here!”, he whispered.

“WILSON, TELL HIM HE’S AN ASS!” Cuddy yelled.

“The no-yelling rule applies to you too, you know?”, Wilson asked as nicely as he could. Not wanting the demon that was Cuddy at that moment to lash onto him instead of House. “Whatever the reason of this disagreement you two have, I’m sure, you can find some common ground-“, Wilson tried, saving his precious Word document and closing his laptop in the process. House eyed him suspiciously.

“I’M YOUR BOSS, I’M TIRED AND I’M PISSED OFF! IF I FEEL LIKE YELLING, EVEN IN THIS PERFECT OFFICE OF YOURS, I WILL” Cuddy kept going.

“You know, without the ‘off’, I probably could be nicer to you. A drunk Cuddy is a fun Cuddy! Well, mostly fun for me!” House replied sarcastically.

“HOUSE! NO STRIP POKER, NO HOOKERS, YOU HAVE WORK TO DO TONIGHT!” she tilted her head back slightly to meet his eyes. Both their faces had soften, something Wilson sighed with relief for. “END OF DISCUSSION!” she yelled again, this time facing Wilson.

“I THOUGHT YOU TWO HAD MADE UP!” Wilson started to yell as well. Not getting much of what was happening.

“We have, which is why he’s not getting away from a new patient.” Cuddy added simply and spinning on her heels, she exited Wilson’s office.

“Can you believe she actually lashed out her frustration on you in the end? This is cool; we should have those gatherings more often!” House offered.

“No thank you!” Wilson replied.

“By the way, which porn site were you on when I came in?” House asked, still suspicious from the way his friend had closed his laptop.

“Cane and Cleavage.” Wilson shrugged off.

Seeing his friend would remain adamant, House decided to let go for now.

“HOUSE. WORK. NOW!” they heard Cuddy yell from behind the door one more time.

“OF COURSE, I HAVE INVITED DR. CUDDY TO THE LESBIAN STRIP POKER PARTY! SHE DECLINED MY INVITATION BECAUSE SHE DOESN’T WANT ALL THE GIRLS TO REALIZE SHE HASN’T ASKED FOR A SEX CHANGE YET! I KNOW THIS IS WEIRD BUT HE-CUDDY IS STRAIGHT, WILSON!” House yelled, knowing anybody close by the elevator would be glaring at a furious Dean of Medicine treading the floors away from the Diagnostic Department and going, head down, faster by every clicking sounds of her high heels.

“Oh, God-“ Wilson sighed, completely weary of the situation.

As she kept going towards the elevator, she slowed down her pace and gave in to play the game one last time, “AT LEAST ONE OF US HAS GOT THE OTHER ONE BY THE BALLS!“.

That comment had about thirty horrified looks and three grins popping up at once.

Author's note: Okay, this is the first chapter of my second story ever that I hope to continue, if you guys like it and decide to hit the purple button a lot (nothing against constructive criticism, without critics, there's no fun in writing) I might be able to write faster. I'm not a writer and english isn't my first language. So if you give this fic a chance, I know I will.