Chapter One:
Wilson sat and watched his last patient of the day leave his office. It had been good news and he should have been on a real high. However, try as he might, he just couldn't shake the empty, hollow feeling that had been growing steadily over the past few weeks. It wasn't that he missed his wife. It had been a long, long time since it had officially ended and any love that might have been had died a long time before that.
It had been a long couple of years. He and House were finally back on solid ground and maybe were doing better than ever but something had changed there too. It wasn't exactly a bad change, far from it, but it was illusive. Wilson couldn't exactly put his finger on it. It had started as House just trying to make amends in the wake of the Triter business but that fence had been mended long ago, they both had said and done things they lived to regret but they had moved on, forgiven each other things they would never forgive anyone else. The were good now and had been for a while. Wilson shook his head to clear away the mixture of pain and regret that still crept up on him when he though about everything that had almost been destroyed.
No the change he sensed was something new, like knowing something in a room had moved but not being able to figure out what it was. It was frustrating and challenging all at once. Wilson gave himself another shake blaming his too deep thoughts on low blood sugar. Maybe it was the though of returning to that empty hotel room that he called home that was making him blue. Maybe it was the fact that flirting with the nurses had stopped being fun months ago and every date he had been on in the last few months was boring and awkward. They had all been nice women, young and attractive but there was no spark and they all seemed mostly the same.
House had spent the last few months sorting through hopeful fellows and had finally settled on a team and all things considered Wilson saw real potential in the group. Maybe he was just a little envious of the forward motion everyone was making. Chase and Cameron were both doing well in their new hospital roles and even Forman was finding his stride. That had to be it. Wilson decided then and there it was time he too moved on. Starting with finding a new place to live.
GHJWGHJWGHJW
"What are you doing?"
"Looking for listings. I decided it's time to get myself a new place. Hey, that's my sandwich!"
"You eat too slow and I'm still hungry. So….Getting married again are we?"
"What? No!"
"Well, that's how it usually goes. You buy a place, ask a girl to move in with you, get married, get divorced and then give her the house"
"That is NOT true!"
"Hey, do what you like, but maybe this time you should get an apartment. I know you're a doctor but at this rate you'll go broke."
Wilson bit his bottom lip as fury and embarrassment fought for control of his features. As usual House was calling it like he saw it and he saw it like it was much to Wilson's displeasure. As Wilson mentally counted to ten House took the conversation on a new line.
"You have been even more of a wet blanket than usual lately. Girl trouble?"
"No"
"Guy trouble?"
"What? NO!"
"We need to get you some Happy Time. I know this great girl, she has magic hips! You'll love it! She'd even do it 'mates rates' too."
"House! What the hell! How many times do I have to tell you I don't pay for….that"
"Ha, sure you do, you just don't pay cash, you pay in gold bands and …."
"Finish that thought and I'm never paying for lunch again!"
"Spoilt sport! Seriously, what crawled up you ass?"
"Nothing. I'm just sick of living out of a suitcase."
"Just don't ask the next one to move in alright."
With that House shook his head and hobbled off leaving Wilson wondering if he had heard a single word. He wasn't seeing anyone and he wasn't interested in getting attached yet again to a women who needed something he apparently couldn't give.
GHJWGHJWGHJW
When Wilson returned to his office he had three apartments circled in the paper and when he sat down at his desk he found a single sheet of white paper, in the centre was a large love heart drawn in red ink. Printed neatly in the centre of the heart a simple message ….. Cheer up.
