Wilson's Turn

Chapter 4

"My phone's on vibrate for you…

So call me

Call me in the morning

Call me in the night

So call me

Anytime you like."

- Vibrate, Rufus Wainwright

Part 1

House woke to an empty bed. Wilson had already left, probably wanted to get his work done before his appointment. In stumbling into the kitchen for coffee he found the pot still warm and a note. "House, my appointment is at 12:00 please be ready to pick me up at around 2:00. I'm counting on you. Wilson" He thought, "Like I'd forget a thing like picking you up" as he prepared for his shortened day. On the way to work he wondered what Wilson was having tested, but he decided not to pry until Wilson opened up. He was the friend, not the doctor in this situation. He phoned Wilson letting him know that he got the message and would be in Wilson's office at 2:00 to take him home or where ever he wanted to go.

Of course the team had a new case, and strangely House found it difficult to concentrate without checking the time frequently and wondering what Wilson was doing or feeling.

"You got a date or something? You keep checking the clock."

"Nah, just want to get the hell out of here."

"Well the sooner you solve the case the sooner you can get out."

"You solve it Foreman, you're a big boy. I'm not helping with homework anymore."

They went through the differential and he sent them off to do the tests. Hopefully if all went his way then he would be able to leave as soon as they returned, with just enough time to tell them what to do next before he scurried off. He listened to music and played the Gameboy until they returned. Almost nothing would take his mind off Wilson, but he was semi-distracted with his toys. He was almost asleep when the team, well Chase and Cameron came back with the test results. Foreman was off doing whatever, stealing cars or televisions or hitting on the nurses in pediatrics; whatever he was doing made him absent in the office.

"House, results."

"What?"

"The test results. I'm still stumped."

"What time is it?"

Just as he asked his pager went off. "House, my office please?"

"Damn it."

"What? Patient trouble?"

"No. Have to go. Call me later."

"Just ignore your page, Cuddy won't mind."

"It's not Cuddy. This is a page I can't ignore."

"Is everything ok?"

"Yeah, call me if you need me."

On his way to Wilson's office he cursed and blamed himself. What kind of friend is nervous for them all day and then falls asleep and misses the time that they are supposed to be there. Wilson was already in his office waiting when House returned.

"I'm sorry Wilson. Case trouble."

"Don't apologize, let's just go. The sooner we get home the better."

"Everything ok?"

"I'll tell you in the car."

House could tell that the mood wasn't good so he shut up and obeyed his ill friend. Hopefully the tests would surface in the drive and he would understand what's going on and how his friend will be treated. It was tough enough not being in doctor mode for his friend, it was worse being left in the dark still.

Part 2

He couldn't believe that he was late, well actually he could believe it, he just didn't want to. House said that he was there for him and he wasn't exactly there, so Wilson decided to leave him in the dark about his treatment and his day until they arrived at Wilson's house. He knew the suspense and curiosity just might kill House so it was like pay back for his tardiness. Pulling into a space near Wilson's building he started talking.

"You want to know how it went?"

"You know the answer to that before you asked the question ya jerk."

"You're right, but you were also late."

"And I apologized for that."

"Well I figured I would torture you with suspense until we got here. Tortured enough?"

"Absolutely."

"I had a meeting with my Oncologist about treatment options and what actions should be taken, along with some more x-rays. Jees I never thought that I would say that I have an Oncologist."

"Did he say anything good?"

"Tomorrow he will tell me the best course of action, but I think I already know what it will be."

Wilson got quiet and House didn't say anything. He thought he knew what will be offered for treatment, and he didn't like it. When he himself had his surgery on his leg he was very adamant about keeping his leg and somewhere he knew that Wilson might not be able to be like that. House also knew that Wilson would bring it up again, the treatment he knew about already too and he would need to discuss it soon enough, something that big you can't keep to yourself for long. If he stayed all bottled up he might act irrationally and blow up on someone, or break down. House remembered his break down from keeping things to himself and he didn't want to see Wilson a similar reaction.

They got all settled into Wilson's apartment, which was much more organized than House's had ever been. It was another quiet night; just the two of them and Wilson ran the remote this time. They obeyed the: my house my rules, rule and House didn't really want to mess with Wilson too much tonight, he knew he was dealing with a lot.

"Wilson?"

"Yeah?"

"You know I'm here for you right?"

"I hope you are."

"You can call me anytime, tell me anything. I should have been this open with you before and I'm an ass for not lending an ear earlier, when you needed it. Even earlier during the divorces and all that."

"You were open, I just didn't talk."

"Oh."

They got quiet again and House was watching the TV when Wilson started thinking out loud.

"What am I going to do?"

"About what?"

"What am I going to do with just one leg?"