Don't own House, Wilson, Kutner, Taub, yadda yadda, etc. etc. You know the drill.

A/N Set immediately after Kutner's funeral. Wilson needs to find out why House never attended and this time he wants a proper answer. Probable three-parter. First chapter is a kind of set-up for the whole piece.

Enjoy :D

Wilson leaned his body against a small bricked wall as he watched the mourners climb into their respective cars. The cremation of Lawrence Kutner had been a beautiful one and a very busy one. He was surprised by the sheer amount of people who's lives, one way or another, had been touched by Kutner. Family, friends, even people who met him once in Kindergarten all came along, It was a testament to how much affection there was out there for Kutner. Wilson felt it was a shame that Kutner himself was never aware of it.

Wilson waited until the last few family members shook the hands of Kutner's foster parents and then made his way to pay his last respects. He noticed the tear streaked faces of Kutner's mother. The loss seemed to have hit her the hardest, but experience had taught him that you never knew with the father. They are always seen to be the beacon of strength at a difficult time such as this even when they are ripped apart inside.

Kutner's father merely nodded his head in acknowledgement and gave Wilson a firm shake of the hand. "I'm sorry for your loss." Wilson reached out and gave Kutner's mother a softer handshake and a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry for your loss." He had done this a million times but it never seemed to get any easier.

He slowly strolled back towards his silver car which lay at the back of the parking lot. House hadn't turned up, though he never really expected him to. Deep down Wilson had hoped that House would come to pay his respects to a colleague. However, his hopes were dashed by a swift phone call from House stating that he had no intention of attending. Wilson had asked why but he got no answer, just the sharp sound of a phone being slammed down on the other end.

Wilson sat in the driver seat, his fingers twitching to turn on the ignition. He wanted to know why House never came. Wilson was sure about one thing, House cared about Kutner. Kutner was too much like House for him not to care. They had the same nonchalant manner to taking risks, the same attitudes towards patients. To both Kutner and House, patients were just a puzzle or somewhere where something cool could be found.

Wilson had a feeling House would just brush him off with the excuse that funerals were a waste of time and that he didn't have that sort of time to waste standing around with people he didn't know. But this time round that excuse wouldn't wash with Wilson. He wanted to know exactly why House felt so obliged not to turn up.

He rang House's office and his heart lifted when the phone clicked off its hook.

"Hello?" It was Taub, sniffing back loudly into the receiver. Wilson assumed he had just been crying.

"Hey. Is House there?" Wilson heard the distinct sound of a sleeve wiping a nose.

"No. No. He left a couple of hours ago. I don't know where he went though. How was the funeral?"

"It was beautiful. It was a shame you weren't there." Wilson put on his sympathetic tone usually only reserved for his patients. Taub didn't need a tirade against him. He was obviously hurting.

"Yeah. I guess so. I think I'll go over later and pay my respects."

"Yeah you should do that. Probably be better for you without everyone else around." Wilson cleared his throat. "Thanks anyway Taub. It seems I'll have to find House myself."

"No problem. See you tomorrow."

"Bye." Wilson cancelled the call and dialled the number for House's apartment. Nine times out of ten if House wasn't at work, he would be half drunk in bed at home.

The phone rang continuously for two minutes before going to the answer phone. Hi, you have reached the apartment of Gregory House. If you leave a message I may get back to you. It all depends really. If it's exciting and important then I will. If not then I don't care. Then came the beep.

"Hey House. It's Wilson. Just checking if you're OK. I wanted to have a talk that's all. Call me when you get this message."

Wilson put away his phone and started the engine. The next raft of mourners had already began to make their way into the parking lot, filling all the spaces left behind by the previous group. He pulled out of the parking lot and headed towards his apartment.

He was about a mile from his apartment when the thought hit him and he bolted in his seat. He knew exactly where House was. This whole thing was one big puzzle to House. A puzzle to find out why Kutner did what he did and for House there was only one place where those answers could be found.

Kutner's apartment.

A/N Next... Wilson confronts House.