Chapter 4:

House walked into the bedroom to find Wilson awake and waiting for him. Though he was covered, House could tell through the outline of the blankets that he was lying in bed with a pillow below his knees to help keep pressure off his painful lower back.

"How's she doing?" He asked.

"Horrified, disgusted and embarrassed." House answered truthfully, crawling in bed and cuddling close. He was careful not to move Wilson too much as he wrapped his long arms and legs possessively around his friend.

"What? Why?" Wilson asked alarmed. He was really worried about Maria and he didn't want her going to bed feeling like that. House's silence in reply was all he needed to hear. "You told her didn't you? I thought we weren't going to say anything."

"No, you agreed." House reminded Wilson sharply. He never understood Wilson's need to hide his brother like a dirty little secret. Especially not from someone who was a part of the family.

"House-" Wilson warned and grumbled at the same time.

"Wilson, it's done. Go to sleep." House interrupted, effectively cutting off Wilson's oncoming lecture.

"Fine," the oncologist replied and House could hear the pout in his voice, "but next time you want to spill a secret, talk to me first."

"Yeah, because we have so many secrets to spill," House mumbled before falling asleep.


The next morning Wilson woke up at his normal time even though it was a Saturday and none of them had a place to be. He padded barefoot into the kitchen to make coffee. Though House wasn't a morning person, more often than not Maria was.

He poured a cup of Folgers finest then turned around to go grab the paper. He jumped, tweaking his ginger back, when he found Maria standing at the counter, hesitance and shame rolling off her like water pouring out of a pitcher. "Good morning," he greeted brightly, trying to hide the grimace that crossed his face as pain shot hot and deep throughout his lower back.

Maria frowned, "Your back is still bothering you?"

Wilson almost rolled his eyes. If there was someone that he couldn't hide his pain from other than House, it was her. She was incredibly observant and oddly protective of those whom she cared about though she hid it well. "It's fine," he soothed while she made her way over to him, "I just moved too quickly."

Ignoring his placating words, Maria reached out a shaking hand and began to gently massage the stiff muscles. Most people probably would have found it weird that she was doing this but since neither of them were related she didn't. She saw both men as good friends and she didn't like to see her friends in pain.

The muscles began to spasm beneath her fingers and she applied more pressure to soothe them. Wilson let out a small hiss of pain causing her heart to clench briefly. "Sorry," she apologized, still not withdrawing her hand.

Only when she felt the muscles relax did she take her hand away. She walked over to grab a cup of coffee, hoping to hide the blush that had reached her cheeks. Normally she wasn't comfortable touching people but her desire to ease Wilson's pain drove that insecurity away.

"Thanks," Wilson said, grabbing his previously abandoned cup of coffee and sitting down at the counter.

Maria nodded, "I hope it helped."

"What helped?" House's voice asked, causing both Maria and Wilson to jump.

"Massage," Maria answered, pulling up a chair at the counter as well. "Wilson's back was still hurting and I thought it might help."

"You never offer to massage my leg," House mock-whined, limping his way over to the coffee pot.

"That's because I'm pretty sure you'd bite my head of for trying," Maria returned with a Cuddy-esque tone in her voice.

Wilson took a sip of coffee to hide his smirk. Other than him or Cuddy, Maria was the only one who could parry with House on even ground.

"Well Wilson's the only one allowed to touch these legs." House replied, leaning against the counter.

"Thanks for the image," Maria retorted with a blush.

"No problem!" House answered with a sigh. "What's on the agenda for today?"

"Uh, nothing that I know of. Why?" She answered hesitantly. House never asks about the agenda unless he has one of his own.

"Family day out!" He responded, walking out of the kitchen.

"Where to?" Maria called back skeptically.

House turned around, eyeing her diagnostically. Realizing she wasn't going to let him surprise her, he limped toward her, "Monster Trucks."

"Don't they usually have those at night?"

"Ah but that's the end of our evening. The beginning will be a surprise."

"House," Maria said in a Wilsian way, "I'm not sure Wilson's back is up to much stress or sitting in hard stadium chairs."

"He'll be fine. You fixed him didn't you?" House replied waving a hand to the silent Wilson.

"No I didn't fix him." She replied condescendingly.

"'Him' is right here," Wilson interjected, becoming a little annoyed that they were talking about him like he wasn't there, "why don't you ask me?"

"Like you'd tell us the truth," both House and Maria replied in sync.

All three stared at each other, glares on their faces but humor in their eyes. They all burst out laughing at the whole situation.

"Seriously though," Maria began, bringing the conversation back to topic, "I'm not sure hard seats and," she paused to think of what House could possibly have planned, "sitting at the race track would be good for Wilson's back."

House put on a hurt face, "Spoil my fun why don't you?"

Maria glared at him and crossed her arms. She wasn't about to back down. Wilson may not care about his health but she sure as hell did and she wasn't about to let House torture him for his own amusement.

House walked up to her, noticing the serious look, and whispered in her ear, "Trust me. It won't hurt him."

She nodded, understanding that she'd offended him by suggesting that he didn't care about Wilson's pain.

"Good, get dressed. We don't have all day!" House called making his way speedily to his and Wilson's bedroom.

Maria and Wilson threw each other skeptical glances but did as they were bid, all the while wondering just WHAT House had planned.


Maria and Wilson followed behind House, stunned and disbelieving looks on their faces.

As it turned out, House's idea of big plans was a spa day complete with professional massages. While House had been known to get the occasional massage, he usually didn't go so over the top. He usually settled for a hooker.

"Welcome to Mara's, how can I help you?" The attendant at the desk greeted with a smile.

"Greg House, I have an appointment for three." House replied, putting on a fake smile.

The attendant looked down at her appointment book then looked up with a glimmer. "Follow me."

The group followed the well dressed worker to separate rooms where they were given their own copies of itineraries. After five minutes someone came into Maria's room, letting her know that her day would be separate from House and Wilson's.

She gave the announcer and twinkling smile, knowing WHY House and Wilson's days were separate from hers.

As she lay through her massage she began to wonder how long House had had this planned. Whether it was a spur of the moment which meant that he used his threatening charm or whether he had had this planned for days, weeks possibly.

"Is the pressure too much? You're tensing up." Her masseuse asked.

"Oh, sorry. No, you're fine. I just blanked out." She answered with a blush.

The man gave a deep laugh, "Happens all the time."

By the end of the day, Maria's skin was softer than a fleece blanket and her muscles were so relaxed she feared they'd been turned into Jello.

House and Wilson met her in the lobby, both looking more relaxed and pain free than they had in days. She could tell that Wilson was trying his damndest not to cuddle up close to House like a lover in Italy and it warmed her heart to know.

"You too look happy," she commented with a wry smile.

"Oh we are," House responded, wiggling his eyebrows hintingly.

Maria and Wilson rolled their eyes. Both knew that there hadn't been enough time to do anything but they also both knew that it was likely they'd be doing something tonight.

"So, Monster Trucks?" Wilson asked seamlessly changing the subject.

"Yeah," House said as they headed towards the car.


Five hours, four hot dogs, three beers, two waters and one mile later the small family made it to the car relatively unharmed. By his stiff posture, Maria would guess that Wilson's back was beginning to bother him but she let it slide.

Thankfully it was only House who had been drinking otherwise trying to get both men to the car and into the loft after they'd had a few drinks wouldn't be fun.

Maria and Wilson got House into bed where he promptly passed out then crashed on the couch feeling too exhausted to go to bed. They turned on the TV, not caring what was on and spaced out.

The next thing either one was aware of, dawn sunlight shone through the windows nearly blinding them and House stood above them with two cups of coffee in his hands. "Good morning," he greeted with a smirk.

"Mmm," they replied, rubbing their eyes.

House almost laughed at how similar the two were but didn't. "How is it, I'm awake before you two? I'm the one who drank."

"And you're also the one who is used to drinking and didn't help drag your butt to bed." Maria answered before taking a sip of coffee.

"Excuses, excuses," House answered. He turned toward Wilson and poked him with his cane, "Where's breakfast?"

"Right where you left it. In the kitchen." Wilson answered with a wince. His head was pounding and his back ached from his position on the couch. "I'm going to take a shower."

House raised a sinful eyebrow, "I'll join you."


AN: I apologize for taking so long to update. I'm trying to alternate the chapters between fluff and serious. I hope you all enjoy this short one. Please review and tell me what you think.