With her finalized essay in hand, Madelyn walked out of Cuddy's office with her head high and her shoulders back. Her doctor's coat, for the first time, felt like it fit her just right. Cuddy had approved it to be submitted for the abroad-research competition being held by NMA. 

Madelyn took the elevator upstairs to begin the rest of her day in the laboratory where House had assigned her, but she had no intention of stopping by his office first. Thirteen, Foreman, Chase, and Taub knew where to find her if they needed her. Madelyn wanted space today, not only because work had been particularly stressful, but she wanted time to enjoy her research proposal's acceptance. She thought to herself that House might've been the one to encourage her to try her hand at it, but that Madelyn did the work and was solely responsible for her win. 

After sterilizing her equipment and putting her goggles on, she immediately began her work at the microscope. Today, the team had been assigned a new case: a patient with chronic migraines who has a history of diabetes. House made it clear that the patient is in need of at least one medical diagnoses that could account for the known symptoms, but that they were probably needing two. 

Madelyn's responsibility was to examine the patient's blood for the red blood cell count and oxidation; depending on the results, she was to deduce whether the patient needed a pulse oximetry test that might indicate problems such as anemia. What she found, however, was less likely to be anemia, but something problematic with the patient's vestibular system. 

Quickly after the tests showed results, Madelyn arrived at the patient's room along with Chase and Taub. 

"Got any results?" Chase asked. Madelyn nodded her head. The patient was a little girl who had just begun second grade. 

"Sweetheart, have you ever felt random dizziness?" Madelyn asked the little girl whose face was pale and her eyes bloodshot. 

The little girl looked at her mom who then looked at Madelyn. 

"She's complained sometimes about it being random and sudden." her mom answered. 

"And do you know if the dizziness usually happens after the migraine, in time with, or before it?" 

The patient's mom's eyes darted around a bit, as if she were looking around for the answer. She ultimately wasn't sure, but believed the migraines to happen first. Madelyn wrote this all down on her iPad. Chase and Taub stood behind Madelyn and were beginning to catch onto what she was thinking. She further explained:

"I'm wondering if your daughter's migraines are related not to her diabetes, but to a vestibular disorder called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo or BPPV. Basically, she has crystals in her ears that are responsible for equilibrium and balance, however, the crystals don't operate correctly in BPPV. It's relatively common and could certainly explain all the symptoms.". 

 Before another word was spoken, the door slid open and momentarily distracted everyone. 

"It's probable for sure," House interjected from the back of the room, "trust Dr. Gilmore." 

Madelyn turned around, her lips slightly apart as if she wanted to speak but didn't have the words. Madelyn watched as House stood at the back of the room, cane in hand, looking sincere–– his best look. 

Still, she didn't say anything, she just smiled at the mother and hugged the little girl goodbye. Chase and Taub agreed and assured them both that this type of vertigo could be decently managed with medication and balance exercises. The mother then happily agreed to the team testing her daughter for the disorder. 

Later that day after a grueling day of reading MRIs, CTs etc., Madelyn returned to House's office to grab her things to head home. It was almost five in the afternoon, but House had been more lenient with the team leaving earlier on the prospect that they'd been productive.

When she grabbed her coat from the rack, and her purse from a small little cabinet, she noticed she wasn't alone in the office. Madelyn sauntered against the carpeted floors, nearing House's desk where he sat with his feet propped up, reading some magazine about motorcycles. 

"Hi.", she announced, slightly knocking on the open-frame wall. He looked up from reading then glanced back down. 

"I promise I finished my work already." House played, giving Madelyn a fake look of puppy dog eyes. She exhaled through her nose and took a step closer, 

"Thank you for earlier." 

"For what?" 

"Helping my credit with the patient's mom." Madelyn answered. House tossed his reading glasses aside and set his magazine down on the wooden desk. 

"You don't need help with that, let alone from me.", House commented. Was he serious? 

"What do you mean?" Madelyn asked, "you've been a role model for me since I got here." House rolled around in his chair and turned on some of his jazz music like he was trying to drain her voice out. 

Madelyn marched over to House and stopped right before where he sat in his chair. For the first time, she was taller than him. 

"I'm not keeping you here am I?", House asked half sarcastic, half serious. 

"Maybe..." Madelyn whispered, her cherry cheeks burning at the sight of him. She leaned against  his desk, her heels chiming against the metal legs. He watched her body shift. 

"I am, or am I not keeping you here?" House asked fully serious. She attempted to hide her nervousness, but she knew a man like him wouldn't be fooled. 

"Do you really trust me... as a doctor?" she wondered. 

"You wouldn't be working for me if I didn't." 

"Then...", Madelyn uttered, "why have you been so cold to me these last couple of weeks?". 

Whether it was the fact they were alone, the work day was over, or enough time had passed, Madelyn finally felt courageous enough to ask House what was going on between them. 

"I haven't been any different to you," House lied. Madelyn's eyes grew a little teary-- she knew he was lying. 

"Yes you have. Tell me why." She demanded, but keeping her composure. House tried his best to look away from her and from her palpable emotions, but failed. Madelyn found his eyes each time. 

"You're overthinking this." House stated, starting to sound agitated. 

"Don't invalidate this!" Madelyn sneered. Now, House was not about to look away. "Don't lie to me or gaslight me. We were really getting along there for a minute. You'd been so generous and helpful, and then you just... turned on me. What the hell happened?" 

"Guess your free trial ended." House replied, completely insensitive and cold. 

"Is it because you caught me and Wilson in his office that one time?! Why do you even care!" Madelyn yelled. 

"Oh yeah," House growled, "Your little afternoon delight with Willy just keeps me up at night!". 

That time, House wasn't lying, and, in fact, being painfully honest. Still in their same positions, Madelyn leaned forward and got right in House's face: 

"Why do you even care?" She whispered between clenched teeth. Her eyes absent of any light. 

"Why do you care that I might care?" House turned the question around, a blaze in his eyes. 

Madelyn remained silent for a minute, and regained her composure. House stood up from his chair and moved as close as he could to Madelyn, the bottom of his chest coming to about the top of her breasts. House had to tilt his neck down quite a bit to look directly at her.

Madelyn grabbed for House's hand and held it. His hand was cold and it was rough and dry between perfectly carved grooves. He noticed the warmth of her hand, and how small it was inside of his. She let her head fall downwards and took a deep breath, feeling more nervous than she'd ever felt before. Madelyn raised her gaze to House's and moved her hands to his face, cupping it securely in her hands. House couldn't take his eyes off of her, or stop his heart from wanting her. 

"Because... of you." Madelyn breathed. They stood still. 

"What about me?" House replied, in a whisper. 

And just like that, Madelyn witnessed the blue in his eyes soften and melt into those gorgeous waves of brightness. It was exactly how they looked when she first met him. 

"Because, I like you."

Without another thought, Madelyn lifted her head right below his, and pressed her lips gently upon his. House's lips entangled hers, and the touch of them meeting gave them each shivers: in the best way.  

Finally, lol ---- Winnie