Left For Dead

Part One

He woke-up, but was only semi-conscious. It was raining; pouring. He felt something warm flowing through his blackened eyes. Blood. There was so much of it, his vision was impaired. He didn't have a clue where he was. He tried to move but his entire body ached and he felt weak, hungry and dehydrated. He knew he had several broken bones along with cuts and bruises all over the rest of his body. He was in extreme pain and he was freezing. He realized, in shock, that he was naked. He tried to curl himself up into the fetal position so he didn't feel so exposed, but it was no use. He couldn't move a muscle.

I'm dying, he thought. And he was right. He was laying there on the ground, some place where nobody would think to look for him, waiting for death to come. He never expected to die this way and certainly not at this age. And his final thoughts were of the terror he had endured for the last few days.

Wilson's day had started out just like any other day. He got his paperwork done, saw a few patients and tolerated some banter from House. But the day dragged because Wilson had a date that night. It would be his third date with a young woman who he had grown particularly fond of. He wasn't sure if he was in love or not yet, but he sensed that he was getting there. At the very least, he enjoyed her company tremendously.

He hadn't even told House about Marissa yet. It was almost unnatural; unheard of, not having House come into to his office to hassle Wilson about it. And House loved to give advice on women and dating, even though he hadn't been on a date in who knew how long. Wilson knew it was only a matter of time before House found out about Marissa.

As he was leaving the hospital at last, Wilson bumped into House and they walked out to the parking lot together.

"And what might you be up to tonight?" House inquired, as if he already knew. "Want to come to my place? If you bring snacks and beer, I may let you stay longer than an hour."

Wilson was surprised at the invitation. House was known to be a loner and an invite to his place was a rarity. It was almost impossible to not accept it. But Wilson did not want to break his date.

"I really can't." Wilson replied.

House, looking amused, walked up to Wilson and grabbed his mouth with one hand, squishing it.

"Sure you can," said House and began moving Wilson's lips with his hand so it looked like he was talking. "You just go "Sure House, I'd love to come over and watch your new videos. What kind of food should I bring? I'll roast a chicken just for you.""

Wilson pulled away, annoyed.

"I've made other plans, House," he told him, seriously. "Maybe some other time."

"Come on, Wilson," House persisted. "I just bought The Great Escape and Bullit on DVD. Surely you can't say no to that!"

Wilson still wanted to avoid telling House that he was seeing someone, so he paid too much attention to inserting his key into the slot to unlock his car door. House saw right through it.

"You little weasel, you have a date!" he exclaimed, leaning on his cane and observing Wilson for a very long time. The look on his face said it all.

"Yes, I do." Wilson admitted, sighing. "What of it?"

It was plain to see that House reveled in the fact that he had figured it out without Wilson having to say a thing that even hinted at it.

"You know, I don't recall us having a conversation about seeing other people," House said, smirking. "I don't know who you are anymore, James!" He sounded like an over-dramatic actor in a scene from a poorly-made soap opera. "One minute you love me to pieces, the next you want to see other people! I can't handle this!"

Wilson laughed. This was just House's own freakish way of telling Wilson that he was happy for him but a bit disappointed that he was unavailable to go to his place and watch a few videos.

"Come on, Wilson, reschedule," House persisted. "It's Bullit. Special Edition. On DVD!"

"It's not that I don't enjoy the whole male-bonding thing," said Wilson. "It's just… well… I have other needs, House."

"Oh really?" said House sarcastically. "And what needs would those be? Oh, never mind. I get it. It's sex. When was the last time you got laid, Wilson?" House demanded.

"It's not always about sex you know," Wilson told him, matter-of-factly. "Did it ever occur to you that I might just enjoy the pleasure of her company?"

House forced a laugh. "Yea, right. You pretend to enjoy her company until you can get under her skirt. Yea," he laughed. "That definitely occurred to me."

Wilson could only shake his head. One track mind, he thought.

House got on his motorcycle as Wilson opened his car door.

"Would it make a difference if I had a vagina?" House asked.

Wilson was slightly shocked at this comment, but answered quickly. "No. Not really."

House shrugged. "Then I guess it's just me and Steve McQueen tonight." he declared, putting on his helmet.

Wilson paused before getting into his car. "Are you talking about that mouse of yours or the movies?"

"Both." said House. He started his motorcycle and sped-off, waving at Wilson.

Wilson waved back, got into his car and drove away, anxious to get ready for his date.

Wilson arrived at Marissa's house at five on the dot, as promised. He was dressed in a pair of neatly pressed, black dress pants and a collared, button down blue dress shirt. He had just spent forty-five minutes in a flower shop, pacing around, trying to decide what kind of flowers he should buy for Marissa. He thought it would be a nice gesture, being that it was their third date.

Much to the annoyance of the flower shop's caretaker, Wilson had finally decided on a single red rose. Forty-five minutes and he left with one flower. Wilson apologized, paid for the rose and left.

Wilson parked his car behind a van that was also in front of Marissa's house. He had never seen the van before and he wondered if she perhaps had unexpected company drop-in. He hoped not. He wanted Marissa all to himself tonight. But for all he knew, the van could have belonged to one of the neighbors.

As Wilson walked along the path leading to her door and climbed the porch steps, he noticed that the curtains were drawn.

Odd, thought Wilson. It seemed too early in the day for the curtains to be closed.

At the door, Wilson had a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach, like he shouldn't be there. Like he should have cancelled his date with Marissa and gone over to House's place instead. Either he was really nervous or he was letting House get to him. He shook it off and rang the doorbell.

"Come-in!" called Marissa's voice from inside the house. She sounded nervous and when Wilson walked-in, he found out why.

There, in the middle of the living room, was Marissa. But she was not alone. There was a man behind her, wearing a ski-mask. He was holding her arms behind her back with one hand, while the other hand held a knife to her throat. She was shaking with fear.

End Part One