Wilson walked into his office the next morning to see House making himself a little too comfortable at his desk. He must have been there for some time as he had finished shifting all the items on the desk around. Even the computer monitor had been moved and the mouse was on the right hand side of the keyboard. Wilson sighed as he observed House's satisfied grin.
"Get out of my chair." Wilson ordered.
"You're late." House stated as he got up and walked around to the other side of the desk.
"So, you're early. Maybe it's a sign of the apocalypse." Wilson retorted. He took off his coat and sat down in his chair to make a start on fixing House's handiwork.
"You've been avoiding me. What's going on?" House asked.
"Nothing. We've both been busy working. Did you solve the case, or are you still waiting for an epiphany?" Wilson asked trying to deflect House's attention.
"Solved it. So to celebrate that fact I have tickets for Saturday for the…"
"I can't." Wilson interrupted. "Cuddy invited me to her party on Saturday. I've already accepted. Sorry." Wilson spoke quickly, knowing House was watching him intently. He continued to rearrange the items on his desk, not daring to look up at House.
"You never go to her parties. All those pompous, arrogant doctors and you hate talking about the state of the health system almost as much as I do." House responded. A thought suddenly occurred to him. "You were late this morning. That never happens unless…" Realisation dawned on House's face.
"House." Wilson warned, looking up sharply.
"What's her name?" House asked. Wilson briefly considered the possibility of House letting the subject go if he remained silent, but knew House would never relent.
"Kate." Wilson finally said. He felt himself squirming under House's intense gaze.
"You must be serious about her. Why else keep her a secret?" House asked, sitting back in his chair.
"Saturday will be our third date. How can I be serious about her?!" Wilson asked incredulously.
"That hasn't stopped you before. What was it? Three months before you proposed to Julie?"
"House, just drop it." Wilson warned again. House was pushing him, trying to make him react, but he did his best to keep his emotions under control.
"Maybe I'm wrong." House continued apparently oblivious to the irritated expression on Wilson's face. "You don't look very happy for someone who is getting some. But it can't be your fault, you're Dr. Pantypeeler!...so I guess the question is why are you still dating her?!"
"It's none of your business!" Wilson shouted at House as the anger inside him spilled over. "Why do you care anyway? Apart from having the opportunity to score a few easy points!" Wilson jumped up out of his chair. House had said far worse things in the past, but the fact that House had no idea how he was feeling upset him more than he realised. The thought of reaching out and punching House flashed in his mind. He clenched his fists, but quickly put his hands in his pockets. Wilson took a deep breath and managed to calm down. He released his hands and let them rest flat on the desk.
"Cuddy was right. Just because you're happy being miserable, doesn't mean that I should be too!" Wilson continued, trying to hurt House back. He then rushed out of the office. Wilson wanted to walk out of the hospital, to get away from House and his jibes. But by the time he reached the lobby, he headed back for the elevator instead as he thought of the one place in the hospital where he would be left alone.