Why did house have to say that? Why did he have to go and ruin the best thing that had ever happened to him? Their friendship…

* Flashback*

" You like that she's conniving, you like that she has no regard for consequences, you like that she can humiliate someone if it serves- oh my God… you're sleeping with me."

*End Flashback*

Of course he was joking. Normally Wilson would just forget comments like these and let house work out whatever genius thing he was working out in peace, but when he said that it was as though something snapped inside of him. Like it had been so utterly exhausting trying not to feel anything for House, that when he was forced to think of him that way, it was such a relief that it all came flooding out.

He didn't say anything of course. House would never look at him the same way again. There was absolutely nothing he could do. Now that he had acknowledged his insane person- type feelings for House, whatever he did he would be miserable. Tell him, don't tell him, avoid him, spend as much time as possible with him. Each alternative was inherently painful.

In his glass office, House sat throwing his ball up in the air and catching it. His team were examining a patient and he had a few minutes spare time. He placed the ball on the table, picked up the phone and dialled the extension number for Wilson's office. He didn't pick up. House sighed, hesitated, then pulled himself up, grabbing his cane on the way to Wilson's office.