Chapter 7
After they met up with Kutner in House's office, Wilson excused himself, telling them that he really, really needed to finish his paperwork. House and Kutner whined but let him go. They only had one thing left to do anyway.
After Wilson had left, House headed for the door.
"Let's go soldier! The doctor's lounge isn't going to 'TP' itself you know!"
Kutner hurriedly followed House. Waiting at the elevators next to House, he noticed his boss was preoccupied by some thought which, by the looks of it, was one he didn't want to be dealing with.
Shrugging to himself, Kutner entered the elevator with House.
"Where's all the stuff?" Kutner asked
"It's in the janitor's closet. I think a few rolls should do nicely" he said with a wily grin.
Back in the sanctity of his office, Wilson reached for his laptop. He opened Microsoft Word and started typing a new ransom note for Cuddy's keyboard.
Adding his demands, as well as House's, he re-read the letter.
If you want to see your keyboard returned in one piece, you must follow these demands completely, otherwise we will, with no hesitation,
wreak havoc on this hospital until you do – as well as keep your keyboard, and any new one's you might acquire.
The demands are these:
You will authorize 3 staff members with 1 month each off clinic duty. The particulars are Dr. House, Dr. Wilson and Dr. Kutner.
These doctors are in no way affiliated with us, nor do they know anything about the whereabouts of our location.
Once you have completed his, you will approach Dr House for the return of your keyboard,
as well as discuss whatever feelings for him that we know you have.
You have 5 hours from the time of your return.
That is all.
Pressing print, Wilson smiled happily. Of course Cuddy would know that Wilson wrote the note – well, the last part at least. What she will do about it should prove interesting… Wilson thought.
Taking the paper from the printer, Wilson left his office and headed to Cuddy's office. As he passed the nurse's station, he observed that Brenda was definitely looking worse for wear. Her hair was ruffled, most likely from running her hand through it in irritation and her make up was slightly smudged, probably from running a hand down her face after messing up her hair.
Listening carefully, Wilson just caught the sound of 'happy birthday' being played from 5 different locations around the desk, each playing a different part of the song, creating one small yet irritating wall of shrill music for the occupants of the desk.
Wilson smirked, House's plan to piss off Brenda was working better than he had ever imagined.
Entering Cuddy's office, Wilson took the old ransom note and replaced it with his. He left her office quickly, making sure to lock the door behind him.
Heading back across the entrance hall whilst reading the old ransom note clutched in his had, he walked straight, smack bang into somebody near the Nurse's desk.
Looking up in surprise, his mouth open ready to apologise sincerely, his words caught in his throat and his stomach turned to ice.
Wilson had run straight into House.
"Hi House!" Wilson said quickly, trying to inconspicuously shove the old ransom note into a pocket.
"Hi Jimmy!" House replied back, immediately picking up on Wilson's guilty demeanor and taking advantage of it. He saw Wilson slyly trying to hide a piece of paper.
Putting two and two together, House held out his hand wordlessly. Wilson was in such a state of guilt that he knew immediately he had been busted. With a look of regret, he put the old ransom note into House's hand.
House opened the paper, took a quick glance then pulled a mock-confused look.
"Hmm… I think I've seen this piece of paper before. Now where did I… oh that's right! Silly me, how could I forget!? It was in Cuddy's office… which was supposed to be locked. Now since you were the last one out and I know I flicked the lock that means you flicked it back. Now ordinarily, I wouldn't care… but seeing as you're so guilty from being busted by me, you must have done something that I wouldn't like. So, the big question is Jimmy, what is in the place of the ransom note?"
Wilson's expression turned equally awestruck and uncomfortable as he listened to House's deductive logic, even though he was in the shit, he still was amazed by House's abilities.
"I got an idea to get you and Cuddy to talk, and so I changed the ransom note…" Wilson mumbled. Catching House's expression, he quickly added "I still left the part about clinic duty, and what we would do if she didn't comply with that!"
House's murderous expression lessened somewhat, but it still was a sight to behold – or rather, not, in Wilson's case. Looking past the deeply etched frown lines and the 'death by a glance' look on House's face, Wilson could see the hurt in his friend's eyes.
"House, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done it behind your back… I'll go and change the notes." Wilson said, trying to ease the burn of his betrayal.
House just gave him one last look then turned and left, keeping the old ransom note with him.
Wilson swallowed thickly, trying to justify to himself why he had done it behind House's back. No reason came to mind. Staring around the vast space of the entrance hall, Wilson tried to decide what to do. He figured he'd better try and do some work and think about how he could repair things with House.
Heading for the elevators, he was surprised to find that it was 11.00am. Two hours until Cuddy gets back and now things will be even worse because House won't want to cooperate… not after what I've done…
