It felt as though the elevator ride took forever. House gripped his cane, standing just inside the doors, ready to speed out of the elevator as soon as it opened. If Foreman had taken the stairs, raced him to the ground floor, and was waiting at the elevators, House was prepared to barrel over him. Try, at least.
He was relieved that the elevator went straight to the ground level--no stops--and he found no one blocking his path through the lobby. He walked quickly, but tried to look casual, resisting the urge to look over his shoulder to see if Foreman was following him. He was nearly to the exit when he heard Cuddy's voice behind him, asking him where he'd been. He closed his eyes for a moment, wondering if it was too late to pretend he hadn't heard her and keep walking. Probably, he figured, and turned to face her, quickly deciding to formulate a response that would let him off the hook as fast as possible. Clinic hours were worth a clean escape and, besides, it meant more time he could spend away from Foreman, which, as much as he hated to admit it, a priority in his mind at the moment. He managed to keep his normal demeanor, hiding his urgent need to leave, and stopped himself from glancing throughout the lobby. A move like that might tip Cuddy off to something usual, and, even if she wasn't being particular perceptive today, he didn't want to risk it. He also didn't want to catch Foreman's eye, which would probably tip off anyone to something unusual, just in case Foreman was nearby.
no subject
He was relieved that the elevator went straight to the ground level--no stops--and he found no one blocking his path through the lobby. He walked quickly, but tried to look casual, resisting the urge to look over his shoulder to see if Foreman was following him. He was nearly to the exit when he heard Cuddy's voice behind him, asking him where he'd been. He closed his eyes for a moment, wondering if it was too late to pretend he hadn't heard her and keep walking. Probably, he figured, and turned to face her, quickly deciding to formulate a response that would let him off the hook as fast as possible. Clinic hours were worth a clean escape and, besides, it meant more time he could spend away from Foreman, which, as much as he hated to admit it, a priority in his mind at the moment. He managed to keep his normal demeanor, hiding his urgent need to leave, and stopped himself from glancing throughout the lobby. A move like that might tip Cuddy off to something usual, and, even if she wasn't being particular perceptive today, he didn't want to risk it. He also didn't want to catch Foreman's eye, which would probably tip off anyone to something unusual, just in case Foreman was nearby.