Archive of Our Own

Cuddy could practically feel her hair graying as the phone rang for the millionth time today.

Part of her was tempted to question what on earth it could possibly be now, but she also knew that there was no point even considering going down that route in her line of work— especially in this special little hospital where malpractice has become some sort of daily requirement.

Most people who called this office let it ring until voicemail picked up, then took pleasure in promptly calling again. Whoever this was didn’t keep ringing, let alone leave a voice message.

How odd.

This was what finally prompted her to move the mountain of paperwork aside and check the caller ID. However, when she realised who had called, her exasperated expression quickly faded to one of concern.

‘1 missed call from: Dr Casey Marlowe’

She quickly called out to the receptionist.
“Hey, Cathy? Oh. Sorry. Linda? Did Marlowe call the front desk?”

A long sigh ensued. “Yes ma’am, just a few minutes ago. I didn’t answer, I’d assumed you’d taken it.”

Of course. Fair enough, she supposed; technically she did just decide not to pick up the phone. God, House was rubbing off on her.

The worry built in her stomach as she pressed the callback button. What would Marlowe need at this hour? Weren’t they on lunch? she kneaded at her temples.

A shaky breath came through the line. “Dr Cuddy?”

Casey’s voice was tight and overly controlled. It was the same voice she used when she informed families of patients’ deaths while trying (and always struggling) not to break down herself.

Cuddy’s frown deepened.

“Marlowe. I only saw you a few hours ago. Why are you calling instead of just walking to my office, hmm?”

A small sniff came through the line.

Was Marlowe crying?

“I- I couldn’t find you. Anyways, I just wanted to ask for the rest of the day off, for personal reasons. If that’s okay with you?”

Cuddy’s voice softened slightly as she replied, only Marlowe could be capable of something like this.

“Couldn’t find me? I know you know where I am. And besides, aren’t you still in the hospital anyway? You could’ve just come to my office.”

A pause. “I didn’t want to bother you, I figured it would be faster and easier to just- call in.”

Faster. Easier. Ridiculous. Cuddy quickly set her pen down, abandoning the paperwork. Because Casey Marlowe was many things: a rheumatologist, a member of house’s diagnostic team, competent, gentle, kind — But she was also, in Cuddy’s experience, a terrible liar.

“Where are you right now?”
“Third floor, in the supply closet near the east stairwell.” Marlowe replied, her voice thick with shame.
“Stay right there.”
“No! Sorry. I mean you really don’t have to, Dr Cuddy.”
“I’ll be there in two minutes.”

She hung up before Casey could get in a word of protest.

Because of the renovations taking place on the adjacent orthopaedic wing, the east side of the third floor was largely devoid of human presence. No patients, and fortunately no foot traffic, just the sound of drilling a few yards away.

Cuddy placed the phone back on the table with a small click. Grabbing her coat, (more out of habit than necessity) she began the ascent up the stairs, the drilling increasing in volume as she rounded the corner to the east wing. The echo of her heels grew more rapid along with the banging of power tools as she strode down the corridor.

The supply closet door was closed. Gingerly, she tapped on the door, careful not to startle her.

“Marlowe. It’s me.”

It didn’t take long before the lock was released.

Cuddy nudged the door open. The closet was humid and windowless, with narrow gaps between walls which were equipped top to toe with gauze and saline bags. And there, sitting on an overturned plastic crate clutching her knees to her chest, was Casey.

The skin around her eyes was an angry red, her cheeks still moist. Her nose was running too, and she was wearing her white coat wrapped around her like some sort of security blanket.

A soft sigh escaped Cuddy’s lips. “Oh.”

Casey’s eyes remained fixed on her shoes as she just shook her head weakly, her auburn hair spilling all over in her attempt to wish away the whole situation.

Her voice cracked in protest when she finally spoke, “I’m so sorry. I know this is ridiculous.. I- I don’t know why I..” her voice thickened and she dug her palms into her eyes.

“It’s alright, Casey. I’m-“ a pause as she tried to figure out what she could possibly say next. “Sorry you felt the need to hide in a supply closet though. I hope you didn’t think nobody would notice you were gone.”

Casey let out a wet, broken laugh.

Cuddy stepped fully inside, pulling the door shut behind her. She then pulled out an empty cleaning bucket and awkwardly lowered herself onto it, leaning in towards Casey and patiently crossing her arms.

“Tell me what’s going on.”

Casey wiped her nose with the back of her hand. She still couldn’t meet Cuddy’s gaze.

“I was in the clinic, doing stitches on a seventeen year old kid. He’d cut his arm playing with his friends or something- nothing too deep, it was only about nine sutures. He was really antsy, I suppose. He kept asking me how much longer.”

Casey nervously fixed her hair before continuing, “I tried to reassure him, so I reminded him it was only five more minutes and he was doing a great job, but he was getting more and more agitated, and I messed up one of the stitches. N-not badly though… it was perfectly fixable I just had to redo it but he obviously saw me hesitating and-“

She stopped, her voice overwhelmed with emotion.

“He started yelling, he said I was wasting his time, and that he was supposed to be home by now, that his parents had no idea he was here and they’d be really annoyed. I apologised and tried to reassure him, but I think that only made it worse? Then he said I was useless and that he would’ve been better off superglueing it like his mates told him to.”

Cuddy could tell she was struggling with whatever happened next, so provided a quiet encouragement, “Go on.”

“Mkay.. He, um, stood up to leave and I got him sat back down for maybe a few seconds so I could just do the last two stitches but he just- stood up again and pushed me off of him. I don’t think he meant anything by it, he definitely didn’t mean to hurt me, I think he just wanted me out of the way, but I lost my footing and ended up going backwards into my desk.”

Tears stung her eyes as she awkwardly gestured to her back with one hand. “Um, the end of it caught me right across my back, I think I went down quite hard.”

Cuddy’s jaw was tight, she released a slow breath.
“Marlowe, you let him leave? Without finishing the stitches? What if he gets an infection?”

Casey’s face crumpled, unable to withstand both the pain and Cuddy’s disapproval. Her shoulders shook violently and a raw sob broke out of her.

Her voice was strained and shaky as she spoke, her words fighting to be d in between her cries. “I know. I know I should have. I'm so sorry I just- Dr Cuddy I’m in so much pain.”

Casey desperately tried to wipe at her eyes now but the tears kept coming, hot, fast, and increasing in volume, the kind of tears that came with shaky breaths and the horrible embarrassment of being unable to stop. “I-I’m sorry, I didn’t m-mean to.”

Cuddy frowned, Casey was really suffering… “No. No, don’t apologise, don’t you dare apologise.” Cuddy quickly moved off of the stool and kneeled right in front of her, wincing as her knees hit the linoleum, so she could be close enough to place two cold but gentle hands on Casey’s knees.

Cuddy’s voice dropped before she spoke again, guilt lacing her tone as the tears only worsened.

“I’m so sorry, Casey. That was- that was completely out of line. You came to me because you were hurt and scared and I asked you a question that placed the blame on you which is entirely incorrect and unfair.”

Casey shook her head, gasping for air as she cried.
“No, you were just asking-“

“I was being the dean of medicine when I should have been being your friend. And I’m really sorry.” She squeezed Casey’s knee, panic beginning to seep in slightly at the geneticists state.

“You did nothing wrong, you hear me? Nothing. A scared kid hurt you and you handled it the best way you could.”

Casey’s crying continued to fill the room with noise.

“I probably should have led with that.” Cuddy smiled, desperately trying to calm down the woman in front of her now.

Casey’s breath hitched. She wiped at her face with the palms of her hands. “I just wanted to help.”

Cuddy gently rubbed her knee. “I know you did. And I know that’s who you are. That’s one of the best things about you; and I’m so sorry I made you feel like it was a problem.”

Casey nodded, still crying, but the relentless sobs were starting to quiet into shaky breaths.

Dread pooled in her stomach as she spoke softly, how could she be so stupid not to look at her back earlier?
“Casey, can I please see your back now?”

Casey nodded again. She slowly shuffled on the crate, struggling to turn around properly to face Cuddy, wincing as she pulled the hem of her shirt up just enough to expose the majority of her back.

Cuddy’s breath caught. Her stomach dropped.
From just below her shoulder blades to the top of her hips, Casey’s back was a mess. Deep purple and blue bruising spread across the whole area, with a distinct horizontal line flashing across the middle. The bruise was darker there, an angry shade of deep red. That was where the desk had caught her. The skin around it had already started to swell with a vengeance. A baseball bat to the back probably would have looked better.

For a short moment, Cuddy couldn’t speak.

“Oh, God.” Cuddy’s voice faltered slightly.

She reached out hesitantly, stopping herself before she could inflict any more pain on the poor woman. Instead, her hand lightly hovered over the bruising, never touching.
“Casey, this is.. this is bad. It’s looking really bad.”

Casey let out a shuddering breath, her voice small, “I’m sure it looks worse than it is.”

Cuddy’s heart broke. She had accused Casey of not following the right procedure when she was in such severe pain and now she was trying to pretend like it was all fine for her sake. Of course she was.

“No, Casey I should have asked to see this before I said anything. I should have-“

Cuddy’s eyes began to well up. “I’m so sorry, hon. I’m so sorry I made you sit there and explain yourself while you were dealing with this.”

“You didn’t know.” The tears were still running down her face.

“Casey, I should have looked first. I shouldn’t have doubted you, as your friend and as your boss I’m supposed to be better than that.”

She let her hand rest, feather light, on Casey’s shoulder, well above the bruising. Eventually, she began to move her hand slowly, fully tracing the edges of the bruise without quite touching it. Her eyes raked across Casey’s back, taking in the full extent of it.

Cuddy murmured to herself, continuing her exam, “the main impact was right here. You can really see the line of the desk edge.” She gently pressed two tentative fingers to the area beside the darkest part of the bruise, not on it, but close enough to feel the swelling and the heat radiating from the injury.

Casey flinched and nodded, remaining silent as she wept. Picking up on her tears though, Cuddy quickly drew her physical exam to a close. “Alright, the swelling already appears to be quite significant as well as the bruising, which is spreading. Long story short it’ll look worse before it looks better, but I’m sure you know that already.”

“tremendous.” Casey murmured under her breath.

Cuddy softly chuckled to herself. “That’s definitely one way to describe it.”

She let her hand rest on Casey’s shoulder again, her thumb brushing a small, soothing circle against the pink fabric of her scrub top. “You’re definitely going to be sore for a while. A week at least, maybe two. You’re going to need to take it easy for a week or two, okay? I know this is a foreign concept to you Marlowe but please, no lifting, no bending, no standing for long periods. And you’re going to need someone to help you out at home.”

Casey paused. She was clearly thinking about something but Cuddy didn’t pry. “I, um, I don’t have anyone at home that could do that.”

Cuddy’s heart ached slightly after hearing that, was anybody really there for Marlowe after work?

“Then I’ll drive you home later, and I’m making sure you’ve got everything you need before I leave you alone. Groceries, painkillers, ice, whatever it is, alright?”

Casey properly looked up at her for the first time now, her bloodshot eyes filling with gratitude. “Cuddy, you really don’t have to.”

“I know I don’t have to. I’m doing it anyway.” Cuddy slowly moved her hand up from Casey’s shoulder to the back of her head, her fingers threading ever so softly through Casey’s hair. She stroked once, then twice, slow and gentle, the same way she’d always seen Casey comforting her patients. “You did nothing wrong, Marlowe. You understand me?”

Casey didn’t reply, she just inhaled another shaky breath and aggressively shoved her palms into her eyes.

“Hey, stop that.” She kept carding her hand through Casey’s hair, her voice firm but warm. “Casey I know I have no idea what’s on your mind right now, but you need to realise that what matters is that you’re okay, or going to be okay, and that you’re not alone.”

Casey’s breath hitched again, her face promptly returning back into her hands while her shoulders continued to shake. “I don’t know why I’m crying so much.” She laughed awkwardly, trying to avoid any further embarrassment from the situation.

Cuddy’s frown deepened. If she could have felt any worse about Casey’s predicament this is probably when it would have happened; she had absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about.

“Because you’re hurt, and you’re in pain. And you’re clearly exhausted, and you’ve been holding it together for hours. Your body just needs time to process, hon.” She let her hand rest on the base of her neck for a moment, just trying to be there for her.

“Okay. I think we should get you to my office. It’s more comfortable there, that’s for sure, and you’ll be able to lie down properly where I can keep an eye on you until I finish my paperwork and drive you home”

“Mkay.” Casey nodded lethargically, her eyes opening and closing very slowly.

Cuddy knew this next part would be a challenge. “Let’s get you up. I’m going to help and we’ll take our time, just tell me if anything hurts too much.” She stood and moved to Casey’s side, one hand on her arm, another on her lower back, narrowly avoiding the bruising. “You ready?”

She helped Casey rise on three, keeping a strong but kind grip on her arm. Casey managed to make it to her feet, but immediately swayed, the colour draining from her face. A shaky hand shot out to grab cuddy’s shoulder.
“Woah, I feel kind of weird.” Casey murmured tiredly, awkwardly clinging to Cuddy’s arm.

“I know. I’ve got you. Just breathe, sweetie.”
She shifted closer, wrapping an arm around Casey’s waist and pulling her weight against her own body. Casey was taller, but Cuddy was unmoving. She took the weight effortlessly, letting Casey lean into her. “It’s okay. You’re okay. Just take a second and let it pass.”

“I don’t know why I’m so dizzy.” Casey whispered, breathing hard.
Cuddy sighed. “Adrenaline crash, for one. Plus pain, plus you’ve been sitting on a damn crate for god knows how long. I think it’s perfectly reasonable for your body to have had enough by now.”

Casey didn’t respond, she just rested her head on cuddy’s shoulder, eyes closed. “Sorry.”

Cuddy was overcome by the urge to scream, but fortunately suppressed it. “Marlowe, I mean this in the kindest way possible, but if you apologise one time I’m going to put you on mandatory leave.”

A weak laugh escaped Casey’s lips. “You wouldn’t.”

Casey received a firm, but caring, stare in response. “Try me, Marlowe.”

She tightened her arm around Casey’s waist, allowing Casey to rest her head on her shoulder for a while.
Cuddy turned slightly to steal another glance at Casey before speaking, taking care to speak as softly as possible: she knew that was what Marlowe probably needed right now.

“Alright. We’re going to walk slow and take the elevator down to my office. It shouldn’t take longer than 2 minutes but if you need to stop at any point you tell me, you hear?
Casey nodded wordlessly, too exhausted to argue anymore.

They moved together towards the door, Cuddy taking most of Casey’s weight. Casey’s breath would catch with every few steps, and cuddy would stop, wait, and make sure Casey was up next to her before continuing. “You’re going great, Marlowe.” Cuddy gave her a weary smile.

Casey let out another shaky breath in an attempt to laugh. “I’m barely walking.”

Cuddy rolled her eyes. “Technically, that’s correct, but you’re really hurt, which definitely counts for something.”

slowly and begrudgingly, they finally reached the elevator. Cuddy stabbed at the buttons in an effort to be as fast as possible, holding Casey steady while spamming the button to close the doors faster.

“Thank you, Dr Cuddy. For not making me feel stupid.”

While Cuddy deeply cared for and liked many of her staff members, this was one of the few times where she felt such genuine sadness for one of them. Marlowe clearly didn’t receive very much care from others, and she so desperately wanted to give her a hug.

“You’re not stupid, Marlowe. You’ve just been hurt.” The elevator doors dinged, the sound of victory. “Come on, Almost there.” She guided Casey inside, making sure to keep her close and refusing to let go until the doors and blinds were closed and she was lowering Casey onto her leather couch.

After around 30 seconds of Cuddy rushing around the room fussing over Marlowe, she managed to ease Casey onto the couch with a careful hand behind her back, guiding her until she was sitting so Cuddy was able to adjust the pillows before letting Casey lie down.

“Okay, I’m going to help lie you down on your side, just tell me if it hurts too much, hon.”
“Everything hurts too much.” Casey groaned, wanting to cry when she saw cuddy’s empathetic gaze looking down at her.

“Let’s just try.” Cuddy placed one hand on Casey’s shoulder and another on the unscathed portion of her lower back, gradually helping Casey lower herself onto a couch with a long, shaky exhale. When she was finally lying horizontally on the couch, her face pressed into the pillows, she let out a sound that was half sigh, half sob.
“I can’t believe this is happening.” Casey muffled into the pillow.

“What’s happening?” Cuddy came a little closer.
Casey made a weak attempt to cover her face before responding. “I’m lying on my boss’ couch because I was physically defeated by a teenager.”

“Oh, Casey.” Cuddy let out a weak chuckle. “You’re lying here because you got hurt and you came to someone you trusted. I’m just glad it was me and not House. God knows what he would’ve done with you.” They both laughed softly at that, and Cuddy noticed Marlowe’s shoulders visibly relaxing.

Cuddy smoothed her skirt slightly and stood, walking over to the mini fridge she kept behind her desk. She pulled out a gel ice pack, typically used for her migraines, and wrapped it in a small towel.

“Casey? I’m going to lift your scrub top up slightly just to put on an ice pack. Tell me if the cold is bothering you.”
“Mmm.” Casey murmured, a vague expression of agreement.

Upon receiving the go signal, Cuddy gently lifted the fabric, exposing the bruising again. Even in the softer lighting of her office it looked brutal. She hesitantly pressed the ice pack against the worst of it (the dark horizontal line where the desk had caught her) and Casey hissed.

“Too much?” Cuddy grimaced.
Casey shook her head a few times, gasping from the shock of it. “No. No, it’s good. It helps.”
Cuddy nodded, smoothing Casey’s hair back as her eyes closed. “give it a few minutes, the cold will numb the pain soon.” She adjusted the ice pack, making sure it was sitting correctly, then pulled the scrub top back down over it. She pulled a second pillow from the armchair and tucked it under Casey’s head.

“Is that a bit better?”

Casey nodded, forcing out a “thank you”, her voice filled with emotion.

Cuddy dragged one of the armchairs from opposite her desk as close to the couch as possible and sat down, close enough to keep an eye on Marlowe.

Casey shuffled a bit on the couch though, turning her head to look at Cuddy. “I don’t know why- you- you really don’t have to do this for me.”

Cuddy scoffed gently. “Casey sometimes it feels like you’re under the impression that I would be doing this for you even if I didn’t want to,” Cuddy smiled slightly at the thought of doing this for House.

“which, you know, really isn’t the case at all. I’m not making sure you’re okay because I have to, I’m doing it because you’re an excellent doctor, and an excellent person also. You’ve managed to keep your sanity, which is more than I can say for the rest of them.” Cuddy’s voice trailed off there, her mind drifting to consider House’s bad influence on his employees.

Cuddy fixed Casey’s hair again as she shifted back into the pillows, watching her breaths begin to slow.
“Rest. I’ll wake you when the ice needs changing.”
Cuddy left her hand on Marlowe’s shoulder, slowly moving a finger from side to side as she drifted off.

——————————————————————

The darkness had crept into the office, courtesy of New Jersey winter. The sun was long since having set, and the only light came from Cuddy’s desk lamp, casting a warm glow across her paperwork, almost providing the impression that it wasn’t torture to fill out. Cuddy laughed at the thought. She’d been working for the last few hours, signing off on charts (specifically house’s cases), answering emails, and whatever other administrative work she’d let pile up again.

Casey had been asleep the whole time. Her breathing had evened out into something deep and peaceful, her face squished into the back of the couch, one hand tucked under the pillow.

Cuddy finally set down her pen and looked at her. The ice pack had warmed and shifted since the last time she changed it, and Casey’s scrub top had ridden up again, leaving the edge of her brushing exposed. Cuddy felt pain just looking at it, the dim lighting doing nothing to make it look any less horrible.

She stood and walked over to the couch, crouching down beside it. She reached out and brushed a strand of hair from Casey’s face. She whispered as gently as possible, desperate not to startle her. “Casey.”

No response. She tried again.

“Casey, hey. Time to wake up.”

Casey began to stir. Her brow furrowed, and she made a small sound of protest, shoving her face further into the pillow.

Cuddy couldn’t help but smile. “I know. I know, but it’s getting late, and you need to sleep in an actual bed.”
Casey blinked her eyes open slowly. For a moment, she looked disoriented. Then she realised where she was, her face flushing.

“What time is it?” Casey rasped out, blindly reaching for her watch.

“Almost 10pm.”

Casey immediately sat up, looking both horrified and very pained, wincing loudly at the sudden shift in position. “Shit. I’ve been here for hours. Dr Cuddy I’m so sorry.”

Cuddy just shook her head, her hand subconsciously moving to check her back as she spoke. “Stop apologising. I told you, I wanted you here.” She stood and offered Casey a hand.

“Come on, let’s get you home.”

Casey could only look at her hand in response. Then she looked at the door. Then she looked back at cuddy with an expression resembling a scared animal, part exhaustion, part panic.

“I- I don’t think I need a ride. I can call a cab.”

Cuddy raised an eyebrow, her gaze carrying stern undertones. “It’s late. You’re in pain. I’m driving you.”

“Really, it’s fine. I do it all the time. I’ll just-“ Cuddy immediately cut her off with a stern glance. “Casey.”

Casey tried again. “I really don’t want to bother you any more than I already have. You’ve already done so much for me today, and you- you probably have things to do. I can really just-“ Cuddy refused to back down, her gaze filled with concern and patience now. “The only thing I have to do right now is make sure you get home safely. That’s it.”

“But-“ Casey’s eyebrows furrowed, Cuddy really didn’t quit.

“No buts. I’m driving you.”

Casey’s hands squirmed in her lap. She glanced down at them, her jaw working hard as she mashed her teeth together. “I really don’t want you to.” She whispered.
Cuddy studied her for a moment, noting the vague sense of emotion in her voice that she couldn’t quite pinpoint. It wasn’t embarrassment, or sadness, it was something more similar to fear.

It was moments like these that really made Cuddy wonder about Casey. She never spoke about what she did after work, it was like nobody really knew anything about her home life. Cuddy could only hope Casey was just as private as she seemed to be.

“Why not?” Cuddy figured it was worth a try anyways.
“I just- I don’t like people seeing where I live. It’s nothing in particular, it’s just that I prefer keeping my work and personal life separate.”

Cuddy let out a (non) imperceptible sigh, that didn’t really get her anywhere. “That’s fair. But I’m still driving you. I’ll drop you at the curb if you want, I won’t come in if you don’t want me to.”

Casey gnawed at her lip, she seemed torn.

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

A long moment of hesitation passed before Casey nodded slowly. “Okay.”

Cuddy nodded back. “Okay. Let’s get you up.”

She moved closer towards Casey’s side and offered both hands. Casey took them, and Cuddy pulled her upright. The success, however, was short lived, and Casey gasped the moment her weight was shifted upright, gasping as her knees buckled slightly.

“Oh. Oh god.” Casey sucked in some shallow breaths, a futile attempt to distract from the shooting pains radiating across her midsection.

“Easy. Easy. I’ve got you.” Cuddy immediately steadied her, wrapping an arm around Casey’s waist and holding her up. Casey leaned into her, breathing hard.

“It’s worse than before. I don’t know why it’s worse.” Tears filled Casey’s eyes.

“It is worse, because you’ve been lying still for two hours. Everything is probably seized up right now, I promise it’ll improve with time.”

She guided Casey towards the door, but every step was a battle. Casey’s face was pale and drawn, her jaw rigid. By the time they reached the door, her hands were racked with tremors.

Cuddy stopped. While she could physically deal with Marlowe’s weight while they shuffled towards the door, she couldn’t emotionally withstand her quiet expressions of pain that she was trying to withhold for her sake. “No. Casey, this isn’t working.”

Casey made a sad attempt at standing straighter before speaking. “No. No I don’t need-“ her speech was promptly cut off by another gasp.

“Casey. You couldn’t even straighten up just now without putting yourself through more pain. This isn’t a suggestion. You’re going to hurt yourself more trying to walk and I’m not going to let that happen. A wheelchair will get you to the car faster and with less pain. That’s what we need here.”

“Fine.” Casey reluctantly accepted defeat, basically being supported only by Cuddy at this point. “Okay. Stay here, don’t move. I’ll be right back.” Cuddy gently eased Casey to rest against the doorframe before sprinting down to the clinic and grabbing the nearest wheelchair.

She was gone for less than two minutes. When she returned, she was sporting not only a wheelchair but also Casey’s bag and jacket. “Come on, Marlowe. Let’s get you home.”

Casey lowered herself into the chair with cuddy’s help, her face tight with pain. When she was finally seated, she let out a long sigh. “I hate this.” Casey groaned.

“I know. But it’s only for the next..” Cuddy glanced at the hallway, estimating the distance from their whereabouts to the carpark, “Five minutes, give or take?”

She quickly grabbed her own bag from the office, locked the door behind them, and pushed the wheelchair towards the elevator, making sure to avoid any potential bumps or disturbances.

The lobby was quiet at this hour, just nurses charting at the front desk and a security guard by the entrance. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead.

Cuddy pushed the wheelchair across the polished floor, her heels clicking softly. Casey sat with her hands in her lap, her head bowed.

They had almost reached the entrance when a familiar voice cut through the silence.

“Well, well well. Look who’s getting the Cuddy special. I would pay good money for some of this action.”

Cuddy stopped, she closed her eyes for a moment, and turned.

House was leaning against the wall near the entrance, an empty coffee cup in his hand. He looked like he’d been standing there a while.

As usual, he didn’t give anyone time to prepare before beginning his regular onslaught of verbal abuse.

“Let me guess, you tripped over your own kindness and fell down the stairs?”

Casey knew the best way to end one’s house-induced suffering was just to accept defeat and give up.
“Something like that.” She murmured.

House, in his usual fashion, didn’t relent quite yet.
“Or maybe you saw a patient who looked angry and decided to jump into his fists. Seems like the kind of thing you’d do.”

Casey’s face went red, she didn’t allow her eyes to drift anywhere near House’s general direction.

“House.” Cuddy spoke sharply, reprimanding him as best she could without straight up yelling or walking out.

“What? I’m just trying to wrap my head around how something like this happened. How does a clinic patient do it? Let alone a teenager. Did he throw you? Did you fall dramatically? I’m picturing something theatrical with many costume changes.”

“Enough.” Cuddy placed herself between house and the wheelchair, her voice low and tight with frustration. “She’s hurt, she’s clearly in a lot of pain, and you’re standing here making jokes instead of asking if she’s okay?” She pinched the bridge of her nose tightly. “I’m not even surprised, House.” Cuddy grabbed the handles of the wheelchair and moved to leave until house interjected.

“I know she’s not okay. She’s in a wheelchair. I might not have a leg but I do have eyes.”

“Then act like it.” Cuddy normally prided herself on her impeccable tolerance for House’s antics but she couldn’t do it tonight, not with Casey so hurt.

House’s eyebrow furrowed, albeit for a fraction of a second, but it was there. He looked at Casey, really looked, and something in his expression shifted. “Are you okay?” House forced it out, an almost imperceptible whisper that only Casey caught- definitely a deliberate choice.

Casey could only stare at him in surprise before replying. “Yeah. I- I mean, I will be.”

“Good.” House nodded once before turning and limping away, a notable absence of snide remarks included.

Cuddy watched him go, then turned back to Casey. “I’ll deal with him another time. Come on.” She pushed the wheelchair through the entrance and into the harsh night air.

——————————————————————

Another 2-4 minutes of pushing took place before they reached the car. Cuddy helped Casey out of the wheelchair and into the passenger seat, taking care to support her back as she lowered her down, Casey hissed once, not complaining.

“Seatbelt okay?” To say cuddy was fussing over her was an understatement.

“Um, yeah, it’s fine. Thanks, Dr Cuddy.” Casey whispered almost to herself as cuddy folded the wheelchair up, leaving it by the elevator, before quickly getting into the front seat and pulling out of the parking lot.

The drive was quiet. Casey stared out of the window, switching between watching the streetlights blur past and frowning while checking her phone. Cuddy cast the occasional worried glance at her, but didn’t push.

After a while Cuddy couldn’t help but speak, desperate to make sure Casey would be okay at home and not die alone or do anything completely insane. “You’re going to need help at home. With things like groceries, cooking, stuff along those lines. Do you have anyone who can help?” Cuddy didn’t say it, but she hoped Casey would include her in the ‘anyone’, even if she was embarrassed. Especially if there really was nobody else she could call.

As always though, Casey responded Quick as a flash with her new phrase of the day, “I’ll be fine.”

“Casey.” Cuddy’s tolerance had worn thin for her lack of self preservation.

“No, really, I can manage. I’ve managed many times before.” Again, Cuddy wanted so badly to push, but upon hearing the finality in Casey’s voice she let it go.

“Okay. But if you need anything, and I mean anything at all, you call me.”

Casey looked at her for a while before nodding. “Sounds like a plan.”

They drove the rest of the way in silence.

——————————————————————

Cuddy pulled up to a modest apartment building. It was definitely older, but very well maintained to say the least. A single light glowed in one of the upstairs windows.

“This is you?”

“Mhm, yeah. Third floor.”

Cuddy shook her head. “Alright, I’m walking you up.”
Casey stiffened. “You don’t have to. You said you’d drop me off at the curb.”

“You know, technically, I said I didn’t have to come in. I’m walking you to the door.”

Casey remained apprehensive.

Cuddy continued. “It’s dark, you’re hurt. You’re on the third floor. I’m walking you to the door.”

Casey’s hands clung to the edge of her seat. She looked trapped.

“Look, Casey, I’m just trying to make sure you’re safe. I’ll walk you to the door and no further. I won’t look inside. I won’t ask questions. But I’m certainly not leaving you to climb two flights of stairs alone in the dark.”

Casey looked away and moved her head briefly in what appeared to be a nod. “Fine.”

Cuddy helped her out of the car and supported her up the stairs, one painful step at a time. Casey leaned heavily on her, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps by the time they reached the third floor landing.

They came to a halt in front of a door that had been painted pink. Number 3B.

Casey fumbled in her pocket for keys. Her hands were shaking.
“Oh, do you want me to-“ cuddy whispered softly, reaching over to help.
“I’ve got it.”

She unlocked the door and pushed it open exactly enough for her to slip inside. She turned back to face Cuddy, resting her body on the doorframe, blocking the view into the apartment.

“Thank you for all of your help today, Dr Cuddy. I appreciate you taking so much time to look after me.” Casey whispered, quieter than she’d ever heard her.

“You don’t have to thank me, Sweetie.”

“I know. But I want to.”

From inside the apartment, a voice called out. Young. Female. Sleepy.

“Case? Is that you?”

Casey’s eyes widened like a deer in the headlights. She glanced over her shoulder, then back at Cuddy. She pulled the door closed behind her, stepping fully inside, leaving only a crack open.

Casey then turned her back to Cuddy and spoke to the voice. Her speech was muffled through the crack, but Cuddy was pretty sure she heard her saying, “I’m fine. Go back to sleep.”

“Is someone with you?” The girl talking to Casey did not share her concern for volume.

Cuddy could practically see Casey kneading her temples in that moment from the way she sighed. “No one. It’s just- it’s my boss. She gave me a ride. She’s leaving now.”

Casey turned to look back at Cuddy through the crack in the door. Her expression was apologetic, but decided.

“I’m okay, really. Thank you.”

And then she closed the door, the lock clicking softly into place.

Cuddy stood in the hallway, staring blankly at the closed door. She heard faint voices from inside, Casey’s low and soothing, the other young and questioning. She couldn’t make out the words. She waited another moment, then she turned and walked back down the stairs, her doctors’ personal lives were none of her business.

——————————————————————

Casey leaned against the door, her hand still on the lock, as if she was doubting its security. Her heart was pounding.

From the hallway, she heard Cuddy’s footsteps fading down the stairs. She let out a long, shaky breath.

“Case? Are you okay? You look really pale.”

Casey closed her eyes. She pressed her forehead against the cool wood of the door.

“I’m fine, baby, I promise.”

She wasn’t. But she would be.