AUTHOR: misstressmax (lj)/ somatogenic placed around 3rd season

December 14th, 1:14 AM, Dr. House's living room

Wilson was having a nice dream.

"What's this?" asked his current patient, age 7, wide eyes gleaming up at him.

"It's a lollypop," he answered, handing the child one, "it cures cancer!"

"Really?" the boy's eyes widened further, awe struck, as he gave the proffered candy an experimental lick.

"It works! Thank you Dr. Wilson, you're the best!" as the child gave him a hug, Wilson started to notice several odd things in quick succession.

#1. The child's hug was not warm with gratuity- in fact- it was disturbingly frigid.

#2. The child was much taller, longer, however you phrased it, than originally expected.

#3. The child had an annoying stubble grazing his neck that reminded him of...

"House!"

He was awake with in an instant and in that same instant wished he were back asleep.

House was hugging him.

Tightly .

On his couch.

And he was freezing .

Wilson's body seized up as he grasped the situation (or more accurately, as the situation grasped him):

House was giving him a full frontal hug, necking him.

House had his bad leg slung over his thigh in a way that could be considered possessive.

House was snuggling into his once warm body.

House was being a leech.

Wilson informed him of this last part.

"Shut up," was the answer mumbled into his shoulder. Greg's warm breath left goosebumps in its wake.

"What are you doing?" he asked carefully, noting the uncomfortable way that Greg's hipbone drove into his.

"What do you think?"

"Stealing my warmth?"

"Right"

"..."

"..."

"You're very boney"

At this the aforementioned hipbone was thrust.

"You have no idea"

A small scream escaped Wilson's lips.

The feeling of Greg's rough laughter against his vulnerable chest was almost too much. Wilson tried again.

"Most people have electric blankets to get warm during winter"

"I thought you'd be happy at saving money"

"I know you have a quilt in your room. I gave it to you last year."

"I don't have your blubber, fatty"

"You could turn the heater up"

"I'm saving the environment"

"What do you want?"

"Your warmth"

"You took it; I'm cold now"

"Well I'm fine"

"..."

"..."

"Move over"

"Say please"

"You're going to fall off the couch; let's switch places"

"..."

"Well?"

"..."

With a resigned sigh, Wilson bodily picked up House and rolled him over. As he held him, he felt the fragile bones in his friend, thinner than expected, almost frail. After repositioning himself, Wilson returned the hug, mirroring their former position. He felt Greg stiffen.

"Let me go"

"What?"

"I'm warm now," House wriggled awkwardly out of his grasp, frantic when he discovered his good leg trapped under Wilson's. Dazed, Wilson fell off the couch. He watched as Greg stood over him briefly, expression unreadable in the darkness, then limped heavily back to his room, and slam the door.

Half awake and terribly confused, Wilson fell back into a troubled sleep.