Foreman didn't have the chance to bask in Amber's reaction. He saw her smile, and that was enough to make his chest expand with pride and satisfaction. It was hard to decide if it was mostly smugness--he'd gotten something right--or the warm, tight furl of happiness just because he'd made her happy. Either way, his eyes barely skimmed over the words in his newspaper; he wasn't so much reading as daydreaming his way through the stocks.
He lowered the newspaper when Cuddy came in to watch her give the day's orders. Her assignments to the candidates weren't unexpected, and neither, Foreman realized, was her arched eyebrow in his direction while everyone else packed up their things. Foreman waited until they were gone, not letting his eyes so much as linger on Amber. When the doors were closed, Foreman rattled his paper sharply, folding it along its creases, and settled it on the desktop in front of him. Like yesterday, with House, he had his good mood to sustain him against whatever Cuddy might say, even though he suspected he wouldn't like it.
Cuddy made no secret about watching Amber leave, and she let her gaze slide back to him meaningfully. "Do you think this is why I hired you?"
Foreman had been right. He didn't like it. "No offense, but I know exactly why you hired me."
"Then you probably noticed that I wasn't trying to make the department seem even more unprofessional."
Foreman tilted his head, exasperated. "You didn't seem to mind when Cameron and Chase got together--"
"They weren't each other's direct superior--"
"Or when Cameron demanded a date from House to come back," Foreman said, overriding Cuddy's words. "And I'm not Amber's direct superior. I'm your ass-covering strategy. I'm nothing to any of them." He shook his head, a disbelieving scowl creasing his forehead. Did Cuddy really believe he didn't understand why he was here? "They don't respect me. They know I'm your spy and House's whipping boy."
Cuddy's stare could probably melt glaciers, but she didn't--couldn't, Foreman knew--deny it. "And part of my ass-covering strategy is to keep up appearances."
"So you're going to fire me again a week after taking me back? Because I'm dating someone I have no hiring or firing power over?"
"I'm asking you to reconsider." Cuddy crossed her arms, leaning forward slightly--trying to persuade him. Foreman had no idea of what. "Have you really thought this through? I've been keeping my eye on them, and Dr. Volakis is--"
Foreman held back a scoff, pressing his lips together to stop himself from sneering. "You're not going to convince me you're looking out for my welfare." He stood up, taking his newspaper and draping his coat over his arm, and walked down the stairs until he could pass by Cuddy on his way out. He'd already heard more than he needed to about Amber from everyone who was trying to run her down. Even from Amber herself, telling him she was the "cut-throat bitch". What was he supposed to do with that information? Run screaming for the hills? When she made him feel good just by being with him, when she could calm him down and make it seem like his life right now was worthwhile after all? He wasn't afraid of who she was or what she'd done. And Cuddy had no business in his business. "I'm just New Coke to you. I'm here so that you can have House's paperwork up-to-date. I'm here so that you'll have someone to fire if something goes wrong in one of House's games. I'm not here to listen to how you think I should run my life."
Cuddy opened her mouth as if she was going to make a retort, and then she snapped it shut again. Foreman couldn't tell if she was angry at him or simply upset that her plan hadn't gone the way she wanted. She probably expected him to either prove himself--which he was doing--or quit; like House, she didn't expect him to be happy. And that was why Foreman didn't give a shit what she thought. She was using him, and he'd use her right back. She couldn't fire him, there was no reason for it. He'd stay right where he was, and no matter what anyone thought, he'd make it work.
no subject
He lowered the newspaper when Cuddy came in to watch her give the day's orders. Her assignments to the candidates weren't unexpected, and neither, Foreman realized, was her arched eyebrow in his direction while everyone else packed up their things. Foreman waited until they were gone, not letting his eyes so much as linger on Amber. When the doors were closed, Foreman rattled his paper sharply, folding it along its creases, and settled it on the desktop in front of him. Like yesterday, with House, he had his good mood to sustain him against whatever Cuddy might say, even though he suspected he wouldn't like it.
Cuddy made no secret about watching Amber leave, and she let her gaze slide back to him meaningfully. "Do you think this is why I hired you?"
Foreman had been right. He didn't like it. "No offense, but I know exactly why you hired me."
"Then you probably noticed that I wasn't trying to make the department seem even more unprofessional."
Foreman tilted his head, exasperated. "You didn't seem to mind when Cameron and Chase got together--"
"They weren't each other's direct superior--"
"Or when Cameron demanded a date from House to come back," Foreman said, overriding Cuddy's words. "And I'm not Amber's direct superior. I'm your ass-covering strategy. I'm nothing to any of them." He shook his head, a disbelieving scowl creasing his forehead. Did Cuddy really believe he didn't understand why he was here? "They don't respect me. They know I'm your spy and House's whipping boy."
Cuddy's stare could probably melt glaciers, but she didn't--couldn't, Foreman knew--deny it. "And part of my ass-covering strategy is to keep up appearances."
"So you're going to fire me again a week after taking me back? Because I'm dating someone I have no hiring or firing power over?"
"I'm asking you to reconsider." Cuddy crossed her arms, leaning forward slightly--trying to persuade him. Foreman had no idea of what. "Have you really thought this through? I've been keeping my eye on them, and Dr. Volakis is--"
Foreman held back a scoff, pressing his lips together to stop himself from sneering. "You're not going to convince me you're looking out for my welfare." He stood up, taking his newspaper and draping his coat over his arm, and walked down the stairs until he could pass by Cuddy on his way out. He'd already heard more than he needed to about Amber from everyone who was trying to run her down. Even from Amber herself, telling him she was the "cut-throat bitch". What was he supposed to do with that information? Run screaming for the hills? When she made him feel good just by being with him, when she could calm him down and make it seem like his life right now was worthwhile after all? He wasn't afraid of who she was or what she'd done. And Cuddy had no business in his business. "I'm just New Coke to you. I'm here so that you can have House's paperwork up-to-date. I'm here so that you'll have someone to fire if something goes wrong in one of House's games. I'm not here to listen to how you think I should run my life."
Cuddy opened her mouth as if she was going to make a retort, and then she snapped it shut again. Foreman couldn't tell if she was angry at him or simply upset that her plan hadn't gone the way she wanted. She probably expected him to either prove himself--which he was doing--or quit; like House, she didn't expect him to be happy. And that was why Foreman didn't give a shit what she thought. She was using him, and he'd use her right back. She couldn't fire him, there was no reason for it. He'd stay right where he was, and no matter what anyone thought, he'd make it work.