Sunrise

Wilson casually patrolled the hallways of the Prince-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. He had convinced himself that he had things to do to justify going to work so early in the morning, but the truth was, he happened to know a certain nurse would be just finishing up her rounds and he had a fairly good chance of running into her.

Passing by the glass doors opening to House's office, Wilson caught a strange sight that was really not so unusual for PPTH. Spread out on the floor wearing jeans and an old t-shirt was a very rough looking man who appeared to be asleep.

With a brief shake of his head paired with the slightest hint of a smirk, Wilson let himself into the office, stepping over his friend and colleague to raise the blinds on the window in back. The rays of the rising sun flooded the room, and Wilson watched, amused, the startled reaction of House.

Initially, the diagnostician shifted slightly as his eyes opened on reflex, then immediately shut tightly. House gave a low moan before finding his cane next to him by feeling for it with his hand.

Momentarily wishing he'd had the foresight to move the walking aid further away, Wilson took a seat in one of the chairs, his arms folded.

House raised the cane in his hand, vaguely pointing it toward the window. "Let there be night." He cautiously opened one eye, testing whether his divine power had increased since the last time he checked. Realizing his lighting wish had not been granted; he squinted once dramatically before awkwardly adjusting to a sitting position.

"You know, even Sherlock Holmes laid off the cocaine to solve an occasional case or two," Wilson commented.

"The difference is," House responded with considerable effort and pausing, "is that he didn't need it. And," he added, standing up in a painfully halting manner, "Doctor Watson was a silent admirer and chronicler of his brilliance."

Wilson chuckled. "That doesn't really sound like much fun to me."

"Does putting the blinds back down sound like fun, or do I have to leave my own office to get a little less light?"

"You'll have to get up and do it yourself," his friend replied good-naturedly. "I want to watch the sunrise."

"I'll bet my clinic hours for the month that's not the only reason you're here bugging me at this ungodly hour."

Wilson shrugged, knowing when he was caught. "And how did you ever come to that stunning deduction, Holmes?"

"Elementary, my dear Dr. Wilson," House replied in proper British accent as he limped out the door. "Elementary."