Sorry about that, there was a bit missing from the end of this chapter that was posted. I reposted it with the end that was missing and hope that you enjoy it. By the way if you are reading my Greater Good Continued Story and was wonder why I hadn't posted in a while and then started posting this don't worry. I haven't stopped my story, I actually had my blasted computer lose the next chapter I had been working on a couple of days ago, and figured I could post some of this story which I wrote a while ago so you'd have something to read while I start writing the chapter from scratch again.
He was there fifteen minutes after six and was happy to see that the place was almost vacant. House limped in quickly and no one even seemed to notice him. He looked on his desk at the case's Cuddy had brought up yesterday. House read them and picked the one he found to be the most interesting. The case was a decent distraction as he brainstormed the possible reasons for the woman's strange list of symptoms, and decided that he would change things up. He wrote his top three guesses on the white board and listed one of his ducklings name beside them, along with what tests they were to do to test for them. Then he closed the blinds completely around his office and started working on the second most interesting case.
At eight House looked though his balcony door to Wilson's office and was worried that he didn't see him in yet. Wilson was always there at eight. House shook his head as he thought about what all he had done to mess this up. He felt tears starting and pushed them back, this was his fault, he reminded himself and started finishing the paperwork to his old cases and doing his budget reports for his department that he was so behind on. Today he really didn't want to have to work the clinic looking and feeling like this and he felt the only way out of it this time would be to kiss up to Cuddy.
Wilson woke up feeling pretty good, he did his usually routine and it wasn't until he was trying to decide what to wear that he remembered what had happened the night before. He sat down on the bed as he replayed it in his head. Wilson looked at the clothes and suddenly felt a dread about going into the office. What if House didn't even show, or what if he did and beat the crap out of him for what he had done. He felt like he deserved the second one. Wilson was jerked out of his thought as he heard a crash from the street and looked up to realize he was had been sitting there for over and hour and was going to be late.
House could hear the duckling walking in the office.
"Okay, well I guess we don't even get a chance to say what we think it is, so much for us being a team," Cameron said as she read the patient file and the white board.
"I don't see why you're complaining, all we do is tell him our ideas, get called names, and do the tests he wants. To me this is just streamlining the process." Foreman said.
"I'm not complaining either, this just means an easy day and I really wouldn't mind an easy day. It's not like you get a lot of those working for House. Anyone know where he is by the way?" Chase asked.
Foreman lowered his voice, "I'm pretty sure he's holed up in his office. Last night when I left most of the blinds were open."
"I wonder what's going on, you think he's alright?" Cameron asked with worry.
Chase rolled his eyes, "Yeah, he's probably just sleeping off a hang over or something. I say we just do as we are asked. The last thing I want is to make a pissed off House even madder."
As they were all leaving they ran into Cuddy. "Did he decide on a case," She asked.
"Um, yeah... we are working on Charlotte Needleman's case," Chase said with a smile.
Cuddy raised an eyebrow, "You're smiling, actually all of you look happy, did hell just freeze over and make House into a decent person to work for."
Foreman laughed, "No, but we didn't have to put up with him. He just left us copies of the patients file and already had listed what he thought the top contenders were with a list of what tests he wants us to run."
"Wait, so you don't know where he is?" She asked.
"We think he's in his office," Cameron provided with a worried look and they all started walking off.
Cuddy walked in the DDX room and took a deep breath, if House thought he was going to get his team to do all the work while he slept he had another thing coming. The word 'clinic' ran though her mind and made her smile. Cuddy tried to open the door to find that it was locked.
"Go away and do what I've listed on the white board, you morons!" House bellowed.
"Open this door House!" Cuddy yelled back.
House looked up with panic and put down the file he'd been working on. He tried to calm himself as he slowly made his way to the door. He unlocked it and turned his back to the door quickly.
Cuddy opened the door and was surprised to see House wasn't facing her and the lights were off except a lamp at his desk, "You. Clinic. Now." She said in an authoritative tone.
House dipped his head some, "I... I don't feel good today, so I was hoping I could just get caught up on my paperwork."
Cuddy was shocked, she'd never heard House bargain with doing paperwork. "You mean you were wondering if you could get Cameron to do your paperwork while you sit in here and do nothing, right?"
"No, I'll do it, please," House said closing his functioning eye.
Cuddy knew something was wrong, House did say please especially in a soft voice, just like he didn't do paperwork. She walked around to look at him and stopped in her tracks, she had seen him look bad but it was as if someone had beaten him and then walked on him. Cuddy lifted her hand up and gently touched his swollen eye, she noticed he flinched but didn't pull away. "What happened?" She asked a little scared of what the answer would be.
House opened his eye, "Don't worry, it's nothing that will get the hospital in trouble. I just got into a fight... at a bar."
Cuddy felt hurt that House would think her main concern was the hospital, and was fairly sure he was lying to her about what had happened. She walked over and turned on the light, "Sit down," she said softly. House looked like he was about to fight her on it, but then sat down at the last moment. She looked him over feeling to make sure he hadn't broken his nose. She closed her eyes for a moment after she literally saw the bruise of a shoe on his face.
"You're boobs are making me feel funny," House said trying to defuse the situation.
Cuddy gave him a half smile for his effort, "Take off the shirt."
House got up and took a step back, "I'm fine, thanks for the concern, but if you don't mind I can't play nurse with you I have work to do."
Cuddy walked up to him, "For one, I'm the boss so I say what you have time for and don't have time for, now take off the shirt." House looked mad at first and then she saw something change, he looked down at the ground and threw off his blazer, overshirt, and tee. She could see a sadness and vulnerability in his eyes. She looked down and gasped, his entire torso and most of his arms were covered in dark bruises, and on his stomach and side he had hematomas on them. She also couldn't help but notice it didn't look like the bruises stopped there. "Where does it stop?" Cuddy asked.
House closed his eye, "Around the knees," he said just above a whisper.
"You shouldn't have come in. Why didn't you just call me?" She asked ask she looked at the hematomas.
House let out a small laugh, "Would you have believed me if I had called and said I didn't feel like I could make it in?"
Cuddy frowned, "Probably not, did you at least file a report?"
"No, it was my fault," He said looking at her, "well actually it was my mouths fault."
Cuddy shook her head, "Why am I not surprised." She touched him softly and he jerked.
"Ticklish," He said with a half smile and then looked up.
Cuddy smiled a little at the new knowledge and then started pressing on his ribcage.
House grimaced, "Nothings broken, just a few cracked ribs."
Cuddy nodded and continued her exam, her hands softly glided down his bruised muscles and she felt of the hematomas. She looked back up to see his eyes were on hers. It suddenly felt hotter in the room as her hands gently glided up his muscles.
"What are you doing?" He asked softly as he searched her eyes.
Cuddy swallowed and looked back down at his body, "I'm just making sure there isn't anything worse." Her hands dropped as she finally felt like he was okay, "I'm going to get you some cold compresses and I don't want to see you outside this office, is that clear?"
House nodded and put back on his shirts, then sat down in his chair. He waited until she was almost at the door, "Thanks," he said just above a whisper as he watched her.
Cuddy stopped and blinked at him, whatever happened must have been really bad for him to acting like this. She gave him a smile and nodded as she left. She quickly made her way to Wilson's office and was surprised to find it locked.
"He's not in yet, he called to say he was running late," Brittany, Wilson receptionist said.
Cuddy looked at her watch, it was already ten, "Okay, thanks." She made her way down to the clinic and grabbed two cold compresses and got on the elevator. It was about to close when someone stuck their foot in. The doors opened to revile Wilson.
Wilson swallowed as he looked at Cuddy, "sorry I'm late," he mumbled as he got in.
Cuddy took in his untidy appearance and sighed, "Late night?" she asked innocently as she straightened his tie and jacket.
Wilson shrugged, "Sort of, thanks for that," he said looking down at his tie.
"With House?" She asked her eyes on his, Wilson paled and his mouth moved even though nothing came out. "What happened to him?" Cuddy asked looking away.
Wilson frowned, "Cuddy, if he called in all I can tell you is that he had good reason."
Cuddy sighed, "I saw him Wilson, he didn't call in. What I don't understand is how he got in that shape?" She said as she stepped off the elevator and started towards Wilson's office.
Wilson's lip twitched as he followed her in his office and put down his stuff, "What did he say?" he asked not looking at her.
Cuddy sighed, "He said he got into a fight at a bar, but I'm not buying it."
Wilson let out a relieved sigh, he felt like he should tell her the truth, but honestly he was so ashamed of what he'd done he didn't want anyone to know. "Is that really so hard to believe?" he said, telling himself that it wasn't really lying if he didn't actually say that it was what had happened.
Cuddy shrugged, "No, but the extent of the beating seems personal. It was horrible."
Wilson felt like he was about to start sweating. "You know House, he probably said something and pissed someone off." He felt bad as he realized that was exactly what had happened.
"That's what he said happened when I asked him why he didn't file a report." She said with a frown, "Were you there when this all happened?"
Wilson felt his neck tie tighten, "Do you think I would have let something like that happened to him if I was there? He called me for a ride." He said and knew he had just reached a new level of crappness.
Cuddy looked at him, "I'm surprised the bar didn't call the cops."
Wilson shrugged, "Well... you know the kind of shady bars House goes to." He hoped Cuddy would just leave.
She nodded, "I've got a busy day today, is there anyway you could keep an eye on him for me?"
Wilson smiled, "Yeah, I'd be happy too."
"Thanks, and give these to him," Cuddy said before making her way back out.
Wilson looked at the cold compresses she had left and then peeked through his balcony door. He could see House sitting at the desk with papers strewn about. What was he suppose to say after what had happened, how do you apologize for something like that. Wilson grabbed the compresses and made his way out to the balcony. He watched as House made a note on the papers and leaned back in his chair with a grimace.
House took a deep breath as the pain worsened. He clenched his hands so tight they turned white, then rubbed his right one in the hole created by his lost thigh muscle. There was sweat on his forehead as he squirmed in the seat. He finally pulled out his medicine and took some then held up the bottle of water to his head to help him cool off. House looked through his balcony door and was surprised to see Wilson standing there. He blinked blankly and got up to unlock the door.
Wilson opened the door and stood in the doorway. House looked a lot worse than he remembered, but then again he hadn't been able to look at him very much after what he'd done. "God House, I'm sorry."
House shrugged, "I shouldn't have said anything, this was my fault," he said and tried to make it back to his chair but started to fall. Wilson caught him around the waist and House stood back up and pulled away from him quickly, "I'm sorry... I… I... I didn't .. mean," House started to mumbled.
"I know," Wilson said trying to kill the awkwardness. House didn't meet his eyes and sat down in his chair holding his side. "What's wrong with your side?" Wilson asked with worry.
"Nothing, it's fine," House said as he let go of it and forced a smile, "see, fine."
Wilson rolled his eyes, "Let me see House," he said as he watched House stare back at him, "House," he said again still with out a response. Wilson started to reach over and check for himself and noticed that House's whole body tensioned. He felt his guilt weigh heavier on his shoulders and pull up the shirt. He stared for a moment, "Those weren't there before... before I," he couldn't finish it, he just couldn't and he looked up at House.
House was a ball of tension as he tried to keep his breaths calm. He didn't know what he was suppose to do or say anymore. He looked away from Wilson's eyes, "It's nothing big."
Wilson's eyes watered as he looked at the damage he had caused to his friend, a man who's only crime was loving him. He had beaten his face so badly he could only see out of one eye, his nose was swollen as was his lip and there was also the dark distinctive bruise of his shoe. "I'm so sorry, you'll never know how sorry I am," Wilson said before the tears started pouring out.
House licked his lips, usually in a situation like this a person put there hand on the other persons shoulder or if they were close, they might hug them, but House really didn't think that was a good idea given the resent events. "Are... those for me?" He asked not knowing what else to say.
Wilson nodded and swallowed as he was still in tears and put the compress packs on House's desk. House busied himself by bending them so they would get cool then he taped them over the hematomas, "They're good as new," he said softly looking at Wilson. Wilson shook his head and House sighed, "Wilson, I'm not mad at you, this was my fault."
Wilson stood up quickly, "How can you say that after what I did?"
House felt nervious, "Because it wasn't, if I'd just not said anything, or if I hadn't flinch when you touched my back this wouldn't have happened."
Wilson paced, "You were letting a man that almost ruined both of our lives use your body as his own little toy just to keep this secret. When in reality you shouldn't have ever had to keep it secret. You should have been able to talk to me about this and not worry about me hurting you." He felt sick and sat down in one of the chairs across from House, "Why did you let me House?"
House was confused, "Why did I let you do what?" He was clueless as to what Wilson was refering to.
"Why did you let me do that (he gestured to House's injuries) to you?" Wilson said looking at his friend now that he'd managed to stop crying.
House searched his eyes, "What was I suppose to do?"
Wilson felt anger rise in him, "Hit me back you moron, push me away maybe, hell anything but just lay there and let it continue!"
House pushed his chair back some to give them more distance and swallowed, "Wilson... I meant what I said last night. I couldn't hurt you... not without hurting myself more." He looked down at his desk, "That's just the way love works."
Wilson felt the tears coming back, "Then why didn't you yell at me, tell me to stop it."
House looked back at Wilson, "Please don't cry Wilson."
Wilson stood up and wiped his face, "You didn't make a sound House, how... everyone make noise when taking a beating like that. Why didn't you?"
House frowned, "Don't you think we have enough on our plate to workout without adding something else." He was pretty sure Wilson knew already how he had learned to be so quiet when taking beatings, but even if he didn't, now wasn't the time.
Wilson could tell that House really didn't want to be pushed on this and as much as Wilson thought it was important he didn't feel right about pushing the issue. So he nodded his agreement with House's statement. "Is there anything you want to ask me?" he asked looking at House.
House licked his lips, "Did you talk to Tritter?"
Wilson couldn't believe he had forgotten, "Not yet but I am tonight." Who forgets something like that.
House looked back down, "It's okay if you don't want to, I can do it."
Wilson put his hands down on the desk and House looked up, "No, I want to. I swear to god House, if he ever lays a hand on you again I'll make sure it's the last thing he does."
House was scared, "But Wilson I don't want him to hurt you. Please don't make this into your battle."
Wilson smiled, "House I'll keep it calm as long as he does, trust me."
House wasn't as confident as he would like to be but he figured he owed it to Wilson to give it shot, "Okay," he said then sighed, "Are we still friends?"
Wilson took a while thinking about how to explain his response, when he was finally ready to speak he looked to see House staring back at the desk with the saddest look ever. "Yes, we're still friends if you'll have me... but, I do think it would be good for us to spend some time apart at the moment. I really just need time to work thought what happened, not on your end, but on mine. What I did to you, it scared me."
House turned his head away from Wilson, "Yeah, I understand."
"House this isn't about what you did or said okay?" Wilson said wanting to make it very clear. House barely nodded. "I should go, I was late getting in and all," he said and waited for House to say something but he didn't. "So I guess this is goodbye for a while," Wilson said with a pout, House just closed his eyes and swallowed. He wanted to do something to comfort his friend but he had a feeling House was about to cry and he knew House wouldn't want him to see that. Wilson left and by the time he had sat down he noticed House had put something up in front of the glass to block him from seeing in.
It was weird when lunch time came and Wilson found himself sitting by himself in his office. Part of him expected House to turn up and take half of his sandwich, but he knew House wouldn't because of the talk. Instead he kept thinking about everything that had happened during the Tritter case, now that he knew, he could see the signs that something had been wrong and could see times in which House tried to let him know, but he had been to mad to see. The more he thought about it the more he hated Tritter. He was done with his lunch when he heard a knock and looked up expectantly. Cuddy opened the door and his smile dropped some.
"I was just wondering how House was doing," She said looking around, "I really thought he'd be here."
Wilson gave her a smile, "Nope, but I gave him the compresses and talked to him. He'll be fine, he's just not feeling very good right now."
Cuddy nodded and sat down on Wilson's couch, "I know, so what's going on between you two?"
Wilson shrugged, "What do you mean?"
Cuddy smiled, "I get House not coming by here because he's in a mood, but I don't see why you aren't over in his office making him laugh, or deal with it or whatever it is that you do."
Wilson sighed, he knew it was only going to be a matter of time before people noticed that they weren't hanging out. "We've decided to give it a break," he said trying to sound casual.
Cuddy looked at him in awe, "Really? I know it's none of my business but do you really think this is a good time for you to be hanging him out to dry?"
Wilson didn't like how Cuddy had made it sound, "I'm not hanging him out to dry and what makes you think this wasn't his idea?"
Cuddy let out a chuckle, "Wilson, House is like a lost puppy without you. He follows you everywhere. Hell I'm surprised he hasn't proposed to you." She said with a smile.
Wilson blushed, "What? Why would he propose to me? That's just... no. Like I said it's fine, we've both had a lot going on in our lives and need to take some time to refocus. I have somethings I need to work through and so does House."
Cuddy put her hands up in a surrendering motion, "Fine, if that's what you need then you do that, I'll just watch him a little more closely."
Wilson rolled his eyes, "Cuddy you do realize you are talking about a grown man. House will be fine."
She stood up, "We're not talking about a grown man, we're talking about House. You have something you need to work through, I get that. But to House, you aren't just his friend Wilson, you're his therapist, his family, and most of the time his conscience. I'm not saying its fair or that I blame you for doing what you need to do, but you also shouldn't kid yourself into believing that this is going to be easy for him."
Wilson felt like he was going to be smothered under the weight of his guilt. "I care about him too Cuddy, believe me this is the best thing for both of us."
Cuddy gave him a smile, "I know you do Wilson, if you like I'll keep you updated."
Wilson let out a sigh, "I would actually, if you don't mind."
Cuddy smiled back, "Will do," she said and left.
By five o'clock House had already solved three of the four case's Cuddy had left on his desk, he'd finally completed all of his past patients paperwork that he'd been avoiding and had done the last nine months of the budget reports. Cuddy had been the only one in his office except for Wilson during their talk. She had been astonished at all the work he'd gotten done. He looked around his office trying to find something to keep his mind busy that wasn't a budget report. Truthfully, he wanted to go home, but knew if he tried to leave before eight there would be an audience and so far he'd been able to keep out of the radar. Most things House could tolerate, but sympathy just wasn't one of those things, for some reason it just pissed him off. He grabbed a bottle of Jack Daniels he had in his drawer and took a sip. It was going to be one hell of a long night.
As soon as it was five thirty Wilson was in his car and on his way to speak with Tritter. He pulled up and ended up parking in the same spot he had when he picked up House from jail. He sat there for a moment remember how much pain House had seemed to be in and that he'd seemed upset it had taken Wilson so long to get the money together for his bail. Now he knew why on both accounts and it made him want to kill Tritter. Wilson sat for a moment longer knowing it wouldn't do either of them any good for him to go in there mad. Finally Wilson got up and walked inside.
Wilson asked where he could find Tritter and a woman pointed him in the right direction. He walked up to Tritters desk and saw a glint in Tritter's eye.
"Well, hello there Dr. Wilson, what do I owe the pleasure?" He said with a smug look.
Wilson felt his blood boil and realized this was going to be a lot harder than he'd hoped. "I know," Wilson said clearly looking at Tritter.
Tritter laughed, "I don't understand what you mean Dr. Wilson, what exactly do you know?"
Wilson felt his face warm with anger, "I know what you did in the cell. I know what you found out, and I know what you've... been making him do to keep you quiet. I know all of it." He said feeling between sick and overcome with rage.
Tritter smiled and leaned toward Wilson to keep the conversation private, "It's nice to know you're so accepting of him. He didn't seem to think you would be. I, to be honest, was surprised it wasn't the other way around, considering your... (Tritter looked him up and down) demeanor."
Wilson was afraid to move at all, even to speak for fear that he would lose it and try to kill the thing that was standing in front of him.
Tritter laughed again as he could see Wilson was getting madder by the minute, "I'm happy for you Dr. Wilson. I have to say you have a nice partner. Oh he really can take so much pain and.. other things. You should tell him I'll miss our visits. They always left me wanting more, you know what I mean." Tritter said and winked at Wilson.
Wilson put his hand on Tritters desk to hold himself back, "Some people," he said his eyes on fire as looked at Tritter, "are sick in a way that's only curable by a bullet. So let me be perfectly clear. You touch him again, and I'll make sure that you get a dose of something that will 'cure' you of your aliments."
Tritter licked his lips and smiled, "Don't worry, I've gotten my fair share out of the deal and I have to say his silence during everything, (Tritter chuckled) oh and the things I did, was disappointing. A man does like a bit of praising over their accomplishments don't they. Hope you two have a good life, no really I mean that, and if you do ever find out what it takes to make him scream... please do let me know." Tritter said and walked away.
Wilson walked out in a rage and when he got to his car he pounded the top of it with his fists. He was fuming and squatted for a moment as he tried to regain his composer. He mind raced and the things Tritter had said ran through his head. It wasn't long before he was throwing up. He couldn't imagine what was going through House's head when he'd agreed to their arrangement.
