She hadn't expected him to call. She would've liked to hear from him but she hadn't expected it. He had a huge adjustment to make, not just adjusting to being in the hospital but an adjustment of his whole life. She'd told him to focus on himself and she'd meant it. He didn't need to be worrying about calling her.

"You can call and tell me that if you want," she said, reaching over to clasp his hand in hers. "You can call and tell me the food's crap and the doctor's crap and the crap is...not happening."

She made a mental note to talk to his doctor. Confidentiality meant the doctor wouldn't tell her anything, not without House's permission. She wasn't even his wife so she had no real legal standing. That didn't mean she couldn't tell the doctor a few things and first on the list would be to start House on a stool softener. Side effects from the drugs were unavoidable but that didn't mean they couldn't be mitigated. There was no need for him to be miserable from constipation.

"Missed you, too," she said quietly. She gripped his hand tighter, then brought it up to rub the back of his hand against her cheek. "I always miss you when you're gone."

She gave him a little smile and rubbed over her belly with her free hand. She'd noticed changes in the baby's activity level when she was with House. She knew the baby could hear and recognize House's voice and she was convinced the baby reacted to it. One of her friends had told her she was imagining things but Cuddy was convinced.

"I think Junior misses you, too. I think he knows when you're around and when you're not."