A/N: I do have this story almost completely mapped out in my head, and a few chapters already written, so bear with me.

Disclaimer: Don't own House or characters :(

House left early that day, unable to look at a single elevator, corridor, or even so much as a door handle- without remembering her having touched, stood, or came into contact with every single molecule of the building. He had to get the hell out of there. Reminiscing about this woman is not what he wanted to do right now. Even the walk out excruciatingly triggered memories he didn't even know he retained.

"Walk, walk…she only drank from that coffee machine…walk…she bent over and handed me my pills there…walk…shit…walk…her office light is on…walk…it's not her office anymore…not anymore…DAMN"

Dr. Park ran up to him "HOUSE! The patient?"

House: Put her on seizure meds, she'll go back to coming like the best of us. (Trying to put a spin on his somber mood)

He drove home…"Why'd I think coming here would be any better" He griped, walking in anyway. He stormed straight to his bathroom, cane-less, and threw his body down against the tub. He remembered the last time he was here…like this, realizing that she wouldn't be back to save him. Not this time. Breathing heavily, he reached into his pocket pulling out the vicodin. Staring at the bottle, his vision blurred from the tears in his eyes that hadn't yet spilled.

Suddenly an overwhelming sense of guilt came over him. He felt his entire body become heavy. He felt his organs sink, and his stomach turned. His mind was torturing him, with thoughts of all the things he could have or should've done. "It's my fault" being the worst thought of them all. "I should have found her and apologized"-chastising himself. His mind forcing him to face all the things he definitely should NOT have done…"I hurt her"…"I shouldn't have hurt her!"- He mentally berated himself. "She didn't deserve that…"(He finally said aloud)

House: I didn't deserve her. (He murmured, sobbing now)

Before his mind executed its next plan off attack, there was a heavy pounding at the door. As tempted as he was to ignore it, he knew the person would find their way in, especially if they were worried for him.

Wilson glanced at him and held up a twelve pack of beer and some Chinese.

Wilson: Figured I'd try?

House nodded and let him in.

They sat for a while and ate silently. Wilson recognized the puffiness in House's weary eyes, but said nothing. House finished eating, although not having much of an appetite, did so to convince his friend that he was fine. House took a swig of his beer and cleared his voice.

House: Tell me…can you tell me what happened after I left?

Wilson- surprised but knowing better than to display it.

Wilson: Um, when? When you walked away, or when you "went" away?

House: All of it.

He said, looking down at the half empty bottle in his hands.

Wilson: Lisa was…terrified. I've never seen anyone so shaken up. (He paused) Honestly, I really thought she would break.

Wilson took a drink of his own beer and continued…

Wilson: She was terrified for Rachel-for herself. When we actually spoke about it face to face, she trembled. She constantly obsessed about the different outcomes that could've happened. If either one of them had stayed in the room sitting where they were, just moments earlier. It made her physically sick. I begged her to stay…Not to make any big decisions until things settled, but she didn't want to hear any of it.

*FLASHBACK*- Hotel room Cuddy took refuge to after the "incident"

Cuddy: James, I can't…I can't stay here. I can't do this here…like this.

Wilson: Do what? Listen, you're upset and freaked out. You shouldn't make any drastic decisions right now. You've worked your entire life to get where you are and you can't just throw it all away. Please Lise, just think about it

Cuddy: I CAN'T! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. If I stay, he'll be in my life forev-

She coughed, unable to finish what she was saying. An impossible to repress gag overtook her body and she held her hand over her mouth.

Wilson: Lisa, relax, calm down.

Wilson watched, her eyes watered while she shook her head and bolted for the hotel bathroom.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

Wilson: We spoke on the phone a couple of times a week after she moved and took a position in Chicago. She had just enough in her savings to fix the old place, sell it and relocate.

Wilson took another drink of his beer, after nursing it for a bit too long. House was already on his third.

House took a minute to process everything Wilson had said.

House: How was she there…did…was she happy?

Wilson: From what I could tell, she was. She spoke a lot about Rachel. How smart and beautiful she was. She didn't talk a lot about herself, and when I asked, she just gave me "yes" or "no" answers. She did tell me she was seeing a therapist, so she wanted to save all "those" talks for then. I didn't press her for more. She sent pictures of Rachel's birthday, and emailed videos of her school plays and recitals.

House raised an eyebrow "Recitals? Isn't she like, 5?" he asked.

Wilson: She's 6, and has taken a keen interest in the piano. Cuddy didn't have the heart to discourage her, knowing full well she had picked it up from watching and listening to you play. Cuddy said she seemed untainted by everything, and she wanted to keep it that way. Although-Rachel did manage to ask about you often.

*FLASHBACK* House's apartment

It was another night, like every other and House was stuck babysitting-AGAIN. Cuddy was stuck pulling an all-nighter at the office, so Rachel was spending the night. He had finally gotten her to bed after 3 trips to the kitchen for juice, water, crackers, pretty much anything she wanted if she just agreed to lie down.

That was two hours ago. House finally sat at his piano with a glass of scotch resting on its lid, as he pelted out a gentle tune…he closed his eyes-indulging in the therapeutic qualities the keys provided when played. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the sprog watching him with one eye, as she hid the other half of her body behind the wall.

House smirked and waved her over with his index finger. Rachel approached slowly, knowing that she should be sleeping. He patted the seat next to him. She sat, and looked up at him, not knowing what to expect him to say or do next. He placed both of her tiny hands on the piano, held her hands under his and played Twinkle Twinkle. Rachel giggled. She felt like she actually knew how to play the piano. "Now," he said, "try by yourself". She cautiously tapped a key-the wrong key, and looked up at House with an "oops" facial expression. "It's okay, it goes like this…"

*END OF FLASHBACK*