Chapter 2:
House and Wilson walked into the loft, House awkwardly carrying the oncologist's briefcase and his own backpack while Wilson unsteadily crutched through the door. Four hours after leaving Cuddy's office, Wilson had been sent home with a diagnosis of a Grade II sprain. Though House hadn't told him, Wilson knew he'd need to rest the ankle for four weeks and of course ice it for the first 48 hours. It wasn't exactly ideal given his patient load but he also knew it couldn't be helped.
They'd been in House's office with Wilson resting in the armchair in the corner and House in his office chair when the results had come in so when Taub thought he'd found a new case, they had gotten stuck at work longer than either of them had wanted to be.
Tired and hurting they collapsed onto their uncomfortable, orange couch. Wilson debated just staying there and reclining his seat but decided that his bed would be more comfortable at the moment so he grudgingly got up and crutched into his bedroom.
House swallowed a couple of Ibuprofen before he followed, grabbing a pack of frozen peas from the freezer first. He found his friend lying on his back on his bed, still clothed with a small grimace on his face. "You going to sleep in your clothes?" House asked jokingly.
Wilson groaned at the thought of getting back up, it felt SO good to lay in his bed, but he knew that House was right so he hastily undressed, struggling briefly to get his pants off, and then climbed back on his bed. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew he should get a pillow and use it to elevate his ankle, but he was just too worn out to care.
He felt a cold, gentle hand lift his leg then lay it back down on top of a soft pillow, place a package of frozen peas on top of his throbbing ankle then drape a blanket over him. He couldn't stop the smile that crossed his face. "Did you just tuck me in?" He asked, opening his eyes to get a good look at his friend's face.
His mouth almost fell open when he noticed a deep blush burn on House's cheeks. Immediately he felt bad; he hadn't meant to embarrass his friend. "Sorry," he apologized, "just wasn't expecting it."
"It's fine." House answered before he quickly limped out of Wilson's room and into his own.
Both men lay awake for hours trying to decipher the actions of the other; wondering what each little movement meant and their own feelings. They knew that they wanted to take the friendship further, deeper than it was but neither knew if the other felt the same way and feared what would happen if the subject was brought up.
In the end Wilson decided to leave it like it was but study House's actions for hints while House decided to bring it up and see what happened. They fell asleep feeling a sense of accomplishment mixed with dread for the next day.
Wilson crutched into the kitchen in the morning to start the coffee. Always the morning person, he has always been the one to get coffee and sometimes breakfast going while House sleeps in.
He was on his second cup and a bowl of cereal when House came limping in. "Morning." He greeted cheerily.
"Morning," House replied with a cheerfulness that wasn't usually attributed to the grumpy diagnostician in the morning. He was in a good mood and genuinely excited for his little experiment. He took a quick look at Wilson before he headed over to grab his coffee and frowned.
The oncologist had both of his legs hanging loosely over the bar stool, his left touching the floor and grounding him while the right just hung there.
"Aren't you're supposed to keep your ankle elevated?" He asked knowing full well what the answer was. He limped over to grab a cup of coffee then limped back around the counter, conveniently placing himself on Wilson's right side.
Wilson was about to answer when House grabbed his leg and lifted it into one of the dining room chairs. Too surprised by House voluntarily touching him and the gentleness with which he did, Wilson didn't object. He blushed when he realized he enjoyed the feel of House's hands on him, even if it was just his leg.
House smirked at Wilson's blush and made no move to take his hands away. When his caffeine addiction called to him House let go of his friend's leg, giving it a small massage before he did so and sneered when Wilson's blush deepened. Oh yeah, this was going to be fun!
"You'd better get ready for work," Wilson instructed, grimacing when his voice broke a couple of times.
"Yes dear." House quipped. He turned to leave, conveniently hiding the wolf's grin that had crept onto his face when Wilson's cheeks turned beet red at his comment.
They drove in to work together in contemplative yet comfortable silence. Since he'd never said anything, Wilson couldn't figure out if House was just screwing with him, if he meant it all or if he was doing both and it frustrated the hell out of him.
The frustration grew until they arrived at the hospital where Wilson promptly got out and huffily crutched his way to his office, shutting himself in the privacy and peace of it.
House watched his friend walk away with amused concern. On one hand it was extremely fun and funny to mess with Wilson this way but on the other since the oncologist wasn't used to crutches, the hastiness with which he walked away could be hurtful for him.
He pushed aside his concern and focused on his amusement. Everyone that passed him looked at him confused by the constant smile on his face and the seemingly good mood he was in.
He pleasantly walked into his office, thoroughly enjoying the suspicious looks he was receiving from his team. Today is going to be good day he thought before he entered into the conference room.
Wilson didn't bother looking up when his balcony door swooshed open, the chilly air ruffling the papers on his desk.
"How's the ankle?" House asked, limping his way over to the couch. Though he'd asked lightly, leaving one to think that he didn't care, he really did want to know.
"It's fine." Wilson replied, dropping his pen on top of his desk and studying his friend. "What's up?"
"Why Jimmy, I'm shocked!" House exclaimed in mock hurt, "Why do I have to have a reason to come visit the best oncologist on the eastern seaboard?"
"Maybe because it's you and you don't come in here unless you have a reason." Wilson suggested lightly.
"Hm, good point." House conceded, "I need a consult."
"So why didn't you have one of your team come get me or just call?" The oncologist asked suspicious.
"Am I not allowed to visit you?" House argued.
"No, of course you are I just find it weird." Wilson answered staring intently at his friend.
House blushed and avoided eye contact but answered honestly none the less, "I didn't want you walking around too much today." He mumbled, hoping that it had been low enough for Wilson not to hear.
"Seriously? You're," Wilson squinted while he searched for a different worried but could only think of one, "concerned for my health? Are you sick?"
"No I'm not sick you moron." House sniped.
Wilson studied House skeptically, looking for some kind of joke in his friend's eyes but only found the truth. Since he didn't know what to say, however, he stayed quiet. He became aware of the throbbing in his ankle and brought his hand down to massage his thigh in an effort to appease it.
"You okay?" House asked, noticing the action.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Wilson answered automatically. He instantly regretted the less than truthful answer when House got up from his spot on the couch after a head nod and made his way behind Wilson's desk to his right leg. He stopped and, much to Wilson's confusion, locked the office door. "House, what are you doing?" He asked warily.
House pulled up one of the chairs across from Wilson's desk to sit on, seating himself perpendicular to Wilson's outstretched and elevated leg. "Trust me." He answered as he stretched out his hands and began massaging his friend's calf.
Past experience screamed at Wilson to jerk House off his leg but the softness of the older man's touch and the sincerity in his voice held him still, allowing House to knead the tense muscles. He gasped and jerked reflexively away when House accidentally pressed on an irritated muscle due to the sprain, causing a sharp pain to slide down his leg.
"Sorry," House apologized. He kept his touch around Wilson's mid-calf and higher.
"Not," Wilson's voice broke on the word so he cleared his throat and tried again, "not that I mind but why are you massaging my leg?"
House moved his hands up to Wilson's thigh as he answered, "You were massaging your thigh with a look of pain on your face so I thought I'd help. I do have help with painful thighs you know." He tried to keep their normal tone of snarking lightness but feared he failed miserably. He smiled when Wilson let out a restrained groan and felt something hard greet his hand. "I can stop if you want."
Wilson absolutely didn't know how to answer that. Of course he didn't want House to stop but he feared what might happen if he didn't. He sat with his indecision for a couple of minutes when he decided to throw caution to the wind and leaned in, kissing House on the lips.
He froze for a minute when House didn't respond, worried that he'd done the wrong thing but he soon felt House open his mouth slightly, inviting Wilson in with his tongue.
House's pager was the thing that broke them apart, its shrill beeping scaring them and causing them to jump away from each other. "Well," House said while he checked the message, "that was interesting. We should try it again when we have time to explore."
Wilson looked at House with his mouth hanging open. "So, that was something you want to try again?" He asked hesitantly.
House's answer was to smile mischievously at Wilson then leave, unlocking the office door before he went through it.
Wilson stared at the door, somehow expecting it to give him answers when House hadn't. Upon receiving none, he did his best to turn his attention back to his job, thanking whatever random deity that sick people wasn't a turn-on for him.
Weeks passed since they shared a kiss in Wilson's office and neither brought it up again. It wasn't from a lack of want, however but more a lack of time. House had been kept extremely busy by patient after patient after patient, leaving him practically living at the hospital, while Wilson had his usual caseload to deal with.
Wilson walked into their loft, almost jumping when he saw his friend sprawled out on the couch, sound asleep. He softly walked up to the couch to make sure that it was indeed House rather than some random stranger and smiled sadly when he did recognize the scruffy face. Dark circles covered House's closed eyes, showing just how tired the diagnostician was. Wilson debated leaving him on the couch or ushering him into his own room.
The couch seemed easiest since House was already there but he knew that the older man's ruined thigh would not thank him in the morning so he reluctantly nudged his friend awake and hauled the sleepy man to his own room.
Once House was settled, Wilson walked back into their living room and began to clean up the empty food cartons and multiple empty bottles of beer from the coffee table. He put away and reloaded the dishwasher, took out the trash and scrubbed the countertops all before he collapsed onto his own bed. Not even bothering with dinner for himself, he fell asleep.
The next day was another busy one for Wilson. He'd instructed House's team that if there was a problem or a consult, to come to him first before they bothered House at home. That along with his own patients, he'd barely had time to sit down, let alone eat.
He arrived at home exhausted, nauseous and aching but managed a smile when he limped in to find House cooking happily in the kitchen.
"Welcome home!" House called out with a smile on his face and blue apron covering his light blue button down shirt and dark jeans. He frowned when he saw how tired his friend looked.
"What smells good?" Wilson asked by way of distraction. He knew that frown and really didn't want House asking a million questions.
"Soufflé," House answered still frowning but turning his attention back to whatever food was in the pot.
"Do you need any help?" Wilson offered for lack of any better response. Normally he'd come up with some witty comment about House being able to make a soufflé but right now he was just too tired.
"Nope, you go sit down and relax."
"I think I'm going to change first. Don't burn down the kitchen." Wilson warned lightly as he limped over to his bedroom.
"Why Jimmy? I've made it this far what makes you think I would now?" House called after his friend, his frown deepening when he noticed the limp. Wilson had been walking just fine on his right ankle for a couple of weeks now and he worried that the oncologist had somehow hurt himself again.
He pulled the risotto off the flame and placed a little on each plate, adding to the medium-rare ribeye steak and steamed vegetables. Not necessarily fancy but just as delicious.
Wilson reappeared wearing a striped button down of his own, medium jeans and bare feet. House scanned him over twice, pleased with what he saw before he offered an inquisitive eyebrow at his friend.
"It seemed to be the dress code." Wilson answered indicating the diagnosticians' own apparel.
House allowed a genuine smile to cross his face before he nodded his approval, cleverly hiding the frown at the obvious signs of exhaustion coming from his friend and the slightly swollen right foot which wouldn't have been noticeable to anyone else but House.
Wilson helped set the table and grabbed the plates while House took the soufflé out of the oven then limped over to the table where his friend was waiting.
"How was your day?" Wilson asked conversationally.
"You know, it was oddly pleasant. No one called me at all today." House answered with a glint in his eyes. Wilson's blush told him what he'd been fishing for. "You took all my calls today didn't you?"
"Yeah." Wilson answered tiredly, mentally smacking himself for answering truthfully. He really shouldn't have conversations with House when he's tired; it seems he's incapable of lying then.
"Thanks but you didn't need to." House offered before taking a bite of his steak.
"Well we couldn't have you dropping dead of exhaustion now could we?" Wilson teased, taking another bite of the delicious risotto.
"But it's okay if you do?" House countered.
Wilson gave an appreciative yet tired smile. "I'll be fine after a good night's rest." He assured after taking the last bite from his plate. He stood up and limped over to the sink, rinsing off his plate and depositing it in the dishwasher before he slowly made his way back to the table with two smaller plates in hand.
House quickly wiped the frown on his face that he'd gained from watching his friend to a smile then served dessert.
They ate it in silence, one studying the other. Wilson was pleased with the way House looked (and in more way than one!). The dark circles from last night were considerably less and he seemed to be moving easier than he was the day before. House's leg always hurt more when he was overworked and exhausted so Wilson often made it his mission to keep House from getting that way.
House on the other hand was not pleased with what he saw. While Wilson was doing a damn good job of acting happy and energetic, House could see the exhaustion in the oncologist's face and pain in the bleak brown eyes. He didn't like seeing his friend like this.
Once dessert was over, House quickly got up and finished the dishes while he urged Wilson to relax on the couch. It didn't take much convincing to get Wilson to comply and he slowly limped his way over to the couch while House watched him from the kitchen.
He leaned into the couch, resting his head against the back of it and closing his eyes. He was too tired to worry with putting his feet up so he sat there, looking like a tired statue. Wilson heard House's step thump and figured the older man was making his way over to sit down next to him and watch TV. He outwardly cringed at the idea of the TV being on, giving that he had a headache, but he didn't want to interrupt the little relaxation time House got either.
House's cane bumped him in the head and he thought about opening his eyes to see WHY but he decided against it. Keeping them closed helped his head and kept the room from spinning slightly.
It was when he felt his right leg being lifted from off the floor and gently placed on House's legs that his eyes opened. Rather than sitting next to him, House had sat himself down on the coffee table opposite Wilson.
House rolled Wilson's jeans up to his knee while he examined the oncologist's previously injured and currently swollen ankle. "Did you injure it again?" He asked continuing with his examination.
"No," Wilson answered while watching House with a curious eye, "just been on my feet a lot; I've been running around the hospital since I walked through the door this morning."
House nodded, grabbing the bag of frozen peas which often served as an ice pack rather than dinner and placed it on top of Wilson's ankle.
Wilson tried to jerk his ankle away from the cold but House held firmly onto his leg, keeping the ice pack on and Wilson's leg on his own. Some part of him wanted to get his leg away from House but the rest of him admitted that it felt good leaving it where it was.
After ten minutes, House removed the peas and began to massage the ankle and foot. Since Wilson couldn't feel it, he didn't object but he wondered what House was getting out of doing this.
"Why are you doing this?" Wilson finally asked.
"Do you want me to stop?" House asked, keeping his gaze on the younger man's foot and not in his eyes. Given Wilson's tone, House wasn't sure he wanted to look up into his friend's eyes.
"No, I was just curious." The oncologist admitted. He winced slightly when House pressed on a tender spot. The numbing effect of the ice was starting to wear off and with that he was able to feel what was going on.
House noticed the wince and decided to ease up on his pressure, "Wanted to make you feel better; help ease the pain." He shrugged.
Pleasurable shivers went through Wilson as House ran a steady thumb up the sole of his foot. It felt like every tense muscle in his foot and ankle released. Wilson winced and grimaced when House ran his soft, comforting hands over another tender area. "Sorry," he apologized when the diagnostician stopped massaging.
House replaced the ice pack of toweled peas on top of Wilson's ankle, still keeping the leg on top of his own. "It's fine," he assured though he wasn't sure why Wilson was apologizing in the first place.
He grabbed a pillow from the couch and placed it under Wilson's leg in substitute for his legs. He collapsed onto the couch next to Wilson close enough for their bodies to rub against each other then stole a glance at his friend. "Head hurt?" He asked, watching the younger man massage his temples.
Wilson stopped his massaging and looked at the man beside him. "Yeah." He answered, not really knowing what else to say. House's massage had helped relax the rest of his body but it had done nothing to ease the persistent throbbing of a headache that he'd had since he walked through the door.
Before either of them could respond, House leaned in and gave Wilson a slow, lingering kiss. Wilson didn't even pause to process what was going on instead he just went with it; opening his mouth and nipping House's lip, suckling gently on it while House did the same to his.
"We should get you to bed." House optioned gruffly while trying to catch his breath. He hadn't expected that kind of response from Wilson but judging by the excited fire that ignited his nerve endings, he liked it.
"Will you be joining me?" Wilson asked hesitantly. It wasn't that he didn't want House to join him, he just wasn't sure if House wanted to.
"Do you want me to?" House asked equally just as hesitantly feeling the same exact hesitance as Wilson.
"Yes," Wilson answered quietly, "as long as you're okay with no sex any time soon."
It was then that Wilson's offer to join him in bed struck House as much more than it was. He understood that Wilson's latest qualifier meant that if House took this opportunity, he would be looking for a relationship with the older man that went far beyond the bounds of friendship. House only hesitated for a few seconds before answering, "Sounds good. I think you're too tired for any tonight anyways."
"House-" Wilson began wanting to clarify what he meant.
"Wilson, I knew what you meant." House assured, standing up and offering a hand down to his friend.
A warmth indescribable to either man spread through their hands, warming each heart and connecting them in ways they didn't even know possible.
Wilson started limping for the kitchen with the bag of peas in hand. His ankle felt better but it still hurt to put his full weight on it so he was left with limping.
Just as he closed the freezer doors, Wilson felt strong arms encompass his waist and instinctually he leaned into them. He welcomed the feel of House's arms around him and wondered why it had taken him so long to admit his feelings for his friend. Granted, he hadn't said anything outright but he knew that House understood perfectly well what he meant.
"Thank you." House whispered softly in his ear.
Wilson turned around, a grimace painting his face when he twisted the hurting ankle a bit more than it wanted. He stared into the completely open and unguarded cerulean eyes, searching for exactly what he was being thanked for.
All of a sudden, it clicked. House being this open and caring had been a show of trust. He'd been trusting Wilson with something very few had seen; HIM. And Wilson had passed the test with flying colors, even managed to hand a little bit more of himself in exchange. That was what House had needed, wanted and was grateful for.
Since he couldn't think of an answer that wouldn't sound completely cheesy or come close to relaying just how he felt about the gift he'd been given, Wilson elevated himself slightly by standing on his tip-toes and kissed House with his reply.
They stayed locked in that position far longer than Wilson's sore ankle liked but he didn't care. He'd finally gotten the one person that he'd been wanting for the last twenty years. As long as he had House, everything else was trivial.
Alrighty, second chapter done. I hope those of you reading liked it! I promise to be nicer to Wilson in the next chapter and may even include some slash/sex in it! I'm going to try to make this story a little more fluffy than my other ones so we'll see how that goes!
Please review and let me know your opinions!
PS: I apologize for the OOC-ness of House. I probably won't be keeping him too IC during this story. Sorry.
