Yes, I know. Another Post Season 4-pretend-that-season-5-doesn't-exist type fics, and I'm sorry, but there ya are. And this one I intend to finish, properly.
Summary: What if Wilson came back, but he was too late? What if House was gone, in more ways than one? And what if they found that they weren't the only ones who cared about House? That there were others? And wouldn't it be interesting to see the extent of this care?
It felt like a completely normal day. They had a completely normal patient, except for the fact that his symptoms were out of the world. House was being his regular cranky self, and they had been quite shocked at his reaction, or lack-there-of, at Wilson being gone. It was only when he was gone did they see the full extent of the man's friendship with House. Kutner thought that it was the strongest he'd ever seen. Apparently it just hadn't been strong enough.
Suddenly Cuddy slammed through the door with a vengeance rarely seen. House looked unperturbed. "House. Outside. Now." She seemed too furious for words, but Kutner, in that innocent and harmless way of his, had seen the fear in her eyes. He wondered what had happened how.
House had had his room soundproofed, and they couldn't hear a word they said. But the door was glass, and no amount of soundproofing could change them being able to see the drama outside.
She yelled and gesticulated wildly. He responded calmly. She yelled some more and waved a piece of paper around. He sighed and looked defeated, but not in a I'm-giving-in–to-you-defeated way. It was a I'm-really-tired-of-this defeated. Really tired of this life, the slump in his shoulders seemed to say. She seemed to shatter, like the glass figurine on his table. She shredded the paper into smaller pieces than they'd ever seen anyone try, and still kept trying and trying and trying, and somehow it was a futile action and he remained solid. Until he leaned forward and took her in her arms and she dropped all the scraps and hugged back, sobbing.
They remained in the room, watching transfixed as a drama unlike any they'd seen before unfolded in front of their very eyes. He stroked her head and whispered as she sobbed and asked one question which everyone read; which everyone was able to read. What will I do now?
And he replied, pushing the door open, letting her go. "You'll survive. You'll be happy." He stood there, door open while she dried her eyes, straightened her shirt and walked away, without a second glance. He came in and sat down, telling them to continue and daring them to question. They didn't.
Two very normal days later, he was gone.
They ran into Cuddy's office, hoping that running would make a difference, knowing that it wouldn't. She gave them looks of pity through red-rimmed eyes and sat with them for lunch and mourned. He was gone, after everything. All the years spent inn joy and torment, there would be no more. And she sobbed and sobbed and then only did they realise the extent of friendship between House and Cuddy. And then they realised they had been so blind, they hadn't really seen anything beneath the façade. And it sucked.
Well? How is it? I liked it, personally. It's been running through my head and didn't come out exactly the same, but oh wells. I also think the last paragraph is overkill, but… let me know, kay?
Love,
Lady Merlin
P.S. to ensure you that I have no intentions of abandoning this one, the next chap will be up at the same time.