A/N: Cenori said she wanted to see how House reacts. This is for her.

"sequel" to Earth Angel.

No slash intended. Please read and review. Thanks.

If you have the song, listen to "In the Deep" by Bird York. Yes – the song from the episode "Autopsy."


Feeling

His scowl had melted when he opened the door to find cops.

"Dr. Gregory House?"

"Yeah."

"Do you know a Dr. James Wilson?"


He hadn't thought of anything on his way to Princeton General. He hadn't felt the emptiness of the seat beside him or the gleam of the red doors. And now, as he stood in the quiet of this dark and unfamiliar room, he didn't feel anything except a bad high. They had led him here and left him alone. The body on the table was hidden beneath a paper-thin blanket that could never have kept anyone warm.

He reached out and touched the blanket's edge as if it were a flame. It took him too long to peel it back, and when he saw the familiar face, he still didn't know what to feel. He suddenly couldn't remember ever seeing Wilson sleep.

He gazed at James with the white light glimmering in his eyes. He let go of the blanket without realizing it. He stretched out his hand but pulled it back again to free it of the latex glove. He tried again.

It was meeting Wilson's cold skin that finally made him feel something. The light turned into water.

He stood in tears with his hand frozen to Wilson's face. And he was so angry that they hadn't given his friend the right blanket to keep him warm.

It was hours before the receptionist stopped him on his way out and handed over the wallet, the pocket change, the tie, and the cell phone. Its little screen preserved a picture of his face and Wilson's mashed together – from last week's dinner at their favorite bar.