Vanishing
Chapter One: Wake Up
"We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms turnin' every good thing to rust."
I nervously shifted my wait from one foot to the other as I stared at the hallway stretched out before me. It seemed to be never ending. Doors plastered the walls on either side of me and continued on into the dark. My feet moved below me before my brain registered where I was going. Where was I going? I aimlessly moved down the hallway. Stopping at a door that was bright white, I slowly turned the doorknob. The room was pitch black, but I continued forward into it. The door creaked closed eerily after me. A monotone voice echoed in the apparently empty room. My head swiveled from side to side, searching for the source of the voice. Then, the black was rushing past my head as the floor under my feet gave out.
Thirteen's mind slowly came out of its dreamy haze. She waited for her heat beat to slow as she recovered from her frightening fall just seconds ago. It had just seemed so real… Wait, what time is it? She raised her head quickly, and then realized what a big mistake that was. Pain radiated between her temples and behind her eyes. Thirteen's eyes closed and opened again, slow and cautious this time. Sunlight filtered through large windows across from the bed, temporarily blinding her. She contemplated where she possibly was as she looked around for a clock. The clock on the nightstand blinked a furious 8:00. Oh… warm bed… soft pillow… wait, what time is it? Her head shot back to the blinking clock. "Shit!"
"Where's Thirteen?" Inquired the older doctor just walking into the room. "She's late."
"You're late," retorted Foreman.
"I'm always late. Thirteen, however… interesting," House said while a grin slowly crept across his face. "Anyway, we have a case." He tossed a thin file onto the middle of the table. Taub was the first one to grab it and quickly scanned its contents. "I'll be back in five. Someone fill in Thirteen once she's done making my dreams come true." With that House limped from the office leaving Foreman, Kutner, and Taub to look over the file.
Thirteen was so startled by the time that she nearly rolled off the bed. She regained her balance and looked cautiously to the other person in the bed. She still snored lightly, to Thirteen's amazement. Thirteen pulled back the covers and slowly got up. The mattress creaked from the sudden shift of weight and Thirteen grimaced. She had no idea who this woman was, but she knew that she had no time to deal with her.
Everything was in order, except, of course, for a lone sock. Where is that damn sock? I could just leave without it… Thirteen froze like a deer in headlights. The mattress creaked once again and Thirteen cursed under her breath. Raising her head slowly, she saw a beautiful brunette smiling radiantly at her. "I, uh… Have you seen a sock anywhere?" Thirteen asked her one night stand. "Last night was fun, I, yeah, had fun… My job, though, um… I needed to be there," She glanced at the clock even though she knew what time it was, "…an hour ago." Thirteen continued to scan the clothes strewn floor for her sock, avoiding any further eye contact with the woman in the bed.
She risked a look at the woman and realized too late that she was still staring at her. "I think I'm just gonna… go. It's just a sock, I guess… Well, bye," Thirteen hurried out of the room. She hated the morning after. Her head pounded as she looked around the foreign apartment. The furniture was big and comfy looking. The colors were light and complimented the layout of the room well. Thirteen grinned as she found her misplaced sock next to the umbrella stand. How'd my sock get all the way over here? Whatever, I should get out of here before House thinks of new questions to ask about my sex life. She plopped onto the floor to put her sock on. Unfortunately, this action was accompanied by a low growl from behind her. This morning is just not going my way, is it?
House shuffled down the hallway unevenly. Pain began creeping up his leg so he popped a vicodin into his mouth. He stood a while, waiting for the pill to take its effect. The pain began to fade and he continued his way down the hall. He stopped at a familiar door. Something that will always be there, or rather someone. House pushed the door open to reveal an empty office. How come he isn't back yet? It's been two weeks! A flashback came rushing into House's mind despite his great efforts to stifle it.
House had just woken up from brain surgery. He let them root around in his brain in order to help her. The necessary information had found its way out of his mind, but he also had a seizure. House had been in a place. Was it a dream? Purgatory? He wasn't exactly sure, but he did know two things for sure. Amber was there and his pain was gone. He didn't want to leave, he didn't want the pain, both physical and emotional, to come back. He left though, and of his own free will. House woke up in a hospital bed next to a sleeping Cuddy. His gaze ventured to the doorway and he saw his best friend staring at him. Amber said Wilson would be mad at him. House gave Wilson a forgiving look, but Wilson simply looked away. He was mad. House looked away and when he looked back, he saw that Wilson had left.
That was the last time that House had seen Wilson and he deeply regretted it. He should let his wall down for a moment. He should've said something, anything, even a string of incomprehensible syllables would've been fine. Cuddy told him that Wilson asked for some time off to mourn Amber's death. She said that he would be back eventually. House knew that Wilson needed time. No one else might know that House has emotions that extend that far, but he was determined to prove to Wilson that he was truly sorry. Even House felt sad about Amber's death. Yes, when she was working for him she was a "cutthroat bitch", but she was kind and different with Wilson. They fit each other perfectly.
House stood staring at the empty air in front of him as he thought of what he was going to say to Wilson once he showed up again. I should apologize. Or maybe, since he didn't take my first apology, I should defend myself. It wasn't completely my fault, right? He was too absorbed in his thoughts to hear the shuffling of feet behind him. He was too absorbed to hear the throat being cleared. Not until a tap was issued upon House's shoulder did he notice the figure standing behind him.