One-Shot - Angst/Friendship
I'll Be There
"I'll kill you." House broke the silence. Thirteen turned to look at him, her mouth slightly open with shock. "When the time comes if you want me to." He said. There was no joking, no snide comments. Just him. She realized that House was not that stone, cold, selfish bastard everyone thought him to be. He had emotions, he had feelings, he was human.
Four hours before
House walked up behind her, his emotional support skills non existent before she began, a little choked up,
"He couldn't do it himself. He was...the disease had progressed to far, he was flailing, he didn't have any control over his own body. He pretty much lost control of his mind too. But, every once in awhile he would have a few seconds of lucidity he turned to me and he said 'it's time.' I hooked up the IV, I used gloves, I knew they'd get me on the drugs, but they couldn't prove who pushed the plunger. I put in the needle, and he just...got quiet. And it was over...And I was alone. And one day, I will be that sick and there will be no one there when it's time." She shook her and waited. After a few seconds she turned to face him, waiting for something, anything. Her eyes were wet with tears, and she laughed, "You know, I didn't expect compassion from you. I would've taken commiseration, hell I would've taken revoltion. Any emotional engagement at all." She paused, "It's no wonder Cuddy broke up with you." She said, her tone harder than before. House looked at her, his softened features became hard once again. The walls coming back into place. He stood there for a second, turned, then limped away. Without a word.
Present
"Why?" She whispered to him, "You don't owe me anything. You've never shown any sort of caring, supportive emotion to anyone...except maybe Wilson. I don't mean anything to you. I worked for you for a few years, but..." Thirteen trailed off, she waited for a response.
"You worked for me. You were a good doctor, a great one. Just because I don't show a lot of emotion, doesn't mean I don't feel it. I didn't just pick you up from prison because I needed help with a little science experiment...You're a puzzle I haven't solved yet. If it makes you feel any better, Wilson was a puzzle once. You're not just things in a meaningless world to me. Although many people like to think so."
He glanced out his window, "So if you want me to kill you, I will." He paused, looking at her, "I can even speed up the process right now if you'd like...I've got a baseball bat in the trunk." He pushed his thumb towards the backseat. She let a small sad smile creep on to her face. "I'll see you tomorrow, House, and opened the car door. Before stepping into her flat she glanced back towards House's car and saw his bright blue eyes staring back at her. And just like that, he was gone.