They lay in companionable silence for a while, gazing up at the pale blue sky, the clouds spread like melting butter glowing with hidden sunlight. Wilson broke the silence

"House"

A twitch next to him, Houses elbow knocking into Wilson's. He waited for a reply and when it never came he tried again

"Are you going to tell me what happened just then?"

Houses head lolled around and landed facing away. Wilson sighed and rose up to rest on his elbows. He looked over his friend, paying careful attention to his broad shoulders; long lean legs and pleasing profile, letting the mania in him subside.

Finding out his true feelings and being told they are reciprocated in almost the same moment had sent him into a strange frame of mind. He contemplated how strange it was that time had sped up, it had been only a moment ago it seemed that he had been in Cuddy's office contemplating his discovery and now, now he was here next to House.

House rolled back over and stared up again at the sky

"Are you going to stare all day?"

Wilson flinched at the sudden noise tearing him from his thoughts.

"What happened? I don't understand"

House finally looked at him, Wilson shivered, the light breeze masking his reaction as just a shiver of cold.

"Are you fucking her?"

Wilson frowned "Lisa?" a question.

House blinked slowly at him, his face expressionless. Sighing the younger man scratched his head, sitting up and resting his arms on his knees

"You like her?"

Wilson felt a sting of fear, maybe Cuddy had got it wrong, maybe House had lied to her; maybe House didn't like him like that at all. House closed his eyes and scratched lazily, his other hand flexing in the grass.

The air was even colder now, a light breeze fluttering through their hair, the sky bright the sun illuminating the clouds leaving the landscape dusky and grey.

"I wasn't the one holding hands like a twelve year old girl"

"I wasn't holding her hand! She put her hand on mine"

House opened one bleary eye and gazed over his face, closing it again when he had mapped out every feature.

"Why did she do that?"

Wilson blushed and lay back down, trying to cool his flaming face , concentrating on the feeling of the cool dew from the grass weeping into the back of his shirt.

"She was comforting me"

House scoffed "Was she comforting you the same way you 'comforted' all those nurses?" He sounded bitter.

"Look if its Cuddy you're after I'm sure she is free for you to… spawn or spore or whatever it is you do"

Wilson whispered harshly his eyes squinting in the failing light, hands twitching resting on his knees his body twisted to face the diagnostician.

House frowned flashing eyes narrowed and finally he faced his friend full on, studying the soft caring eyes, now devoid of any feeling.

"It isn't Cuddy" House spoke plainly, looking into the grass.

Wilson paused it was now or never, he opened his mouth to speak, to take the next step when House suddenly moved to stand, using his cane to help prop him up, facing down the hill and away from him.

"I have to go, I have things to do"

Wilson paused "Like what?"

House tried to ignore the hope picking away at his stone heart, he was certain he had heard dejected tone in Wilson's voice.

Like he didn't want him to leave.

"Oh you know, people to torture candy to steal"

Wilson chuckled in spite of himself "I hope the kids get you back"

"Oh they won't, they will forever rue the day they met the fearsome Doctor House"

Wilson laughed, House joining in after a beat, silence settling uneasily as House gave Wilson an inquisitive look

"So are you fucking?"

Wilson sighed "No"

"But you wish you were?"

House sounded strange, distant. Wilson hesitated for a second; House seemed to take this as conformation and turned to walk away,

"See ya around Jimmy"

When Wilson looked up next he was gone. Moaning into the brisk crisp air the oncologist slipped backwards and lay on the grass. He was exhausted and confused.

Cuddy had said House liked him, but he could see nothing…not one clue to support this. Maybe it was wishful thinking on both their parts; maybe House had lied to her.

"Shit"

Wilson shouted out, jumping when he felt the first drips and drops of rain. The drive home served only to depress and confuse him more; the lights of the streets flashing in his eyes, his headache building as he drove home to the hotel.

House tried to ignore his wrenching gut as he walked away from Wilson. For a moment he felt like he was getting somewhere that maybe they weren't fucking, but Wilson has hesitated, the moment hanging in the air around them.

Maybe they weren't, but Wilson wished they were.

He had tried to ignore this thought all the way home, that thought and the ones that followed it. Wilson would get what he wants, the infamous panty peeler, Cuddy wouldn't stand a chance.

When he had reached the sanctity of his sofa he tried to relax back into it, his mind pulsing and flexing with all the possible connotations of what had been said on top of that hill.

Maybe Wilson was going to say he didn't wish they were, maybe House had been too quick to run away.

He grunted and grabbed for the remote, he didn't need to revisit that particular problem of his. Always leaving before the best part, limping away to be alone.

The next morning House awoke and got dressed his mind swirling with uncertainty, was Wilson not ignoring him anymore? What did Wilson's feelings for Cuddy mean to there friendship, to the relationship House dreamed of?

He stared at his haggard face in the mirror and sighed, not jumping when he heard the key scraping in the lock.

Wilson let himself in for the first time in weeks and went straight to the kitchen, grocery bag in hand. House grinned and limped out leaning on the doorframe gazing at the familiar comfortable sight.

Wilson's hair was fluffy sticking up everywhere, recently washed. House took a deep breath in his grin widening; he could smell the spicy cinnamon of Wilson's shampoo mixed with his aftershave.

Chuckling he raised an eyebrow as a flustered Wilson spun round on the spot and eyed him with a small frown.

"What are you laughing at?"

House just smiled.

"Have you been shopping since- "

Wilson stopped abruptly and the air ran cold Houses smile fading

"Since you started to avoid me?"

Wilson put his hands on his hips and pointed at House accusingly

"You didn't even try to get me to talk to you"

"Well you can't blame me, every time you saw me you ran the other way"

Wilson sighed his shoulder slumping "Look, I bought some bacon and stuff"

Wilson gesture to a small pile of groceries on the side his eyes slowly revolving back to house. House stood silent then his face broke into a small grin

"I want…"

"Two bacon rashers, one egg two sausages two slices of bread lightly toasted"

House laughed thankful Wilson had butted in, he had been about to say something stupid like he wanted Wilson to move back in with him.

House scratched the back of his head, again silently thanking god he had been interrupted.

"I am at your whim O' great boy wonder chef "

House bowed awkwardly and Wilson laughed smiling at his friend.

"Take a seat" he gestured to the couch and raised an eyebrow turning back to face the stove.

House limped forward and let himself fall back onto the sagging seat

"Wilson!"

He called out causing the oncologist to turn, hands back on hips

"What?"

House grinned

"Make it snappy eh?, we're gunna be late for work"