James Wilson sat on the couch. He was almost asleep when the phone rang and nearly startled him onto the floor. The caller I.d. read Sullivan, Eliz. A smile crossed his clean shaven face. He pressed the on button and said "Hello?"

"Hi, honey." Lizzie's voice echoed into his ears with a delightful ringing. "I'm home." she added with a bit of seduction in her voice that she was sure would get his attention.

Wilson raised an eyebrow. "Alone?" he asked.

"Just me." she affirmed. "You gonna leave before House gets there. He's been drinking and he may have a few unpleasant things to say."

"Oh, why's that?"

Liz bit her lip. "We'll just say that he didn't like a few things I had to say about his renewed obsession with a certain Wiccan High Priestess who shall remain nameless."

"You yelled at him?"

No. I just told him to remove his head from his a$$ and get on with it." Wilson let our a loud, jovial laugh. "What?" she asked.

"If it's the only thing I know about him, it's that House hates being told what to do. You hit the sensitive part of his ego. He's hurting. Maybe I shouldn't't leave."

Liz was frowning. "He'll be fine. He's a big boy and trust me, I think I diffused the problem." She was a bit annoyed.

Wilson was also frowning. "But for how long?"

"You'll probably hear about it at work." she replied.

"You think he'll be alright tonight?"

"James, if you don't want to come over that's perfectly fine. House is your best friend. I'll wait." Liz replied with a sigh.

After a few seconds of silence Wilson replied "No, he'll be fine. If he needs anything he'll call."

Liz smiled weakly on her end. "Ok. I guess I'll see you when you get here."

Wilson smiled broadly. "Ok. Bye." After he hung up he realized how it must have sounded to her. He slapped his palm to his forehead. "You're an idiot." he said to his reflection in the tv screen. He grabbed his coat and his keys and headed out before House came in.

&&&&

House watched as Wilson exited his apartment. Liz must have called him. He nodded, knowing that she had invited him over. With a sigh he got out of his car and walked across the street. He had been sitting in his car waiting for Wilson to leave for the past five minutes or so. It wasn't that he didn't want to talk to him, it was just that he wanted to be alone. That was all. Alone. When he went in he noticed how unbelievably clean the place still was. House lifted the couch cushions, looking for some kind of booby trap. There wasn't one. "Wilson, you're no fun at all." he said with a sigh as he plopped down on the couch, propped his leg and flipped on the tv.

&&&&

Liz had changed into a pair of denim capris and a tank top and was siting on the floor trying to get rid of the new pain in her forehead. She knew how to do it magickally. Jess had taught her how. But that wasn't the point. She had to try to get it to go away on it's own first. Magick was always a last resort for Liz. Last resort. Deep in thought, she had nearly fallen asleep. The sound of someone knocking on the door shook her awake. She stood up and answered the door smiling.

"Glad to see me?" asked Wilson.

"Yes." said Liz. "But I was meditating and was almost asleep. You woke me." she added with a small giggle. The confused look on his face reminded her that he wasn't Wiccan. "You aren't supposed to fall asleep during meditation." He nodded. "Well, come in before the neighbors start talking." Liz said playfully. She took hold of his wrist and led him into her apartment.

"It looks different." Wilson said as he stepped in. "Did you do something in here?" Liz snickered. "What?" he asked

"I cleaned." said Liz as she could no longer hold the laughter back. "Thats all I've done. I vacuumed!"

Wilson laughed too. "Well." he said. "I guess I have an eye for that then."

"I guess so." Liz said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him tenderly. "I missed you." she cooed in his ear.

Wilson smiled and kissed her back. "You did?" he asked "How badly?" He grinned at her.

Liz saw her opportunity and ran with it. "Not very much, just a little." The look of mock hurt on his face sent her into fits. He made to tickle her and she tried to escape. But he was stringer than she was and he only pulled her closer to him. The second kiss was deeper than the first. Liz could feel it into her toes and she went weak in her knees. So this was what it felt like, she wondered. Love. Real love. It was something Liz had only ever heard of and saw in movies. Words were beyond her and she let him take her into an embrace that was worthy of the gods. It didn't take very much time indeed. The repressed sexual tension between them exploded like bomb.

&&&&&&

Greg House sat up most of the night, drinking and, as Liz was so keen to point out, self-loathing. He didn't know what had come over him. He knew he probably acted like a fool and he was genuinely sorry about it. But his pride would keep him from saying that to Liz in person. He watched a few hours of Cinemax: After Dark and polished off the last of the bourbon. he was going to be a mess in the morning.

&&&&&&&&

James and Elizabeth were a tangle of arms and legs. There wasn't a clear indication of who was who under the sheets. The air was permeated with sweat and the sounds of the bed softly squeaking. Liz's mind was in a haze. She thought to herself, this must be a dream. The second wave exploded within her and she cried out in pleasure. After that, time ceased. It must have been a few hours later because when Liz came to James was asleep beside her and they were both naked. The alcohol she had ingested at the club must have lowered her inhibitions just enough. She smiled and leaned over to James. She kissed him softly. He stirred and opened his eyes.

"What time is it?" he asked her.

"Nearly four." Liz answered him sleepily. We should get up and get ready for work."

Wilson sat up. The blanket falling to his waist. "Yeah. I guess." he said cryptically."

"What is it?" asked Liz. "Are you still mad about me not telling you what I do for a living?"

"No." He said, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "It's just that I had no idea that you were a child prodigy. I- uh, I googled your name."

Liz laughed. "Now that's new. I've never had anyone google me before. What's the World Wide Web say about me?"

"Other than you graduated college at age seventeen. You work for my competition, and..." he made a point of emphasizing the "and". You just happen to work in my field."

Liz couldn't help it. He was so cute just then. She giggled. He gave her a reproachful look. "Oh, come on." she teased. "I wanted you to like me for me, not my job."

Wilson stopped, stunned by what she said. He nodded. "Yeah, I guess you'd see it that way." He sighed. "So what now?" he asked, looking her right in her eyes.

Liz looked right back, trying to see what it was he wanted her to say. She smiled and leaned forward and kissed him. "Now? Now we shower. I bet we smell awful." Her face split into a grin as he started laughing. "You asked." she said defensively.

"I did." he conceded. "Who's first?"

Liz looked at him and smiled devilishly. "First? I thought we'd shower together."

"Elizabeth, are you baiting me?"

"Depends, are you taking the bait?"

Wilson smiled and nodded his head. He reached out to grab her and Liz squealed as she tried to get away. But her legs were tangled in the sheet and she was trapped. James held her down and covered her with kisses until they were both out of breath.

The shower was just as intense. Neither of them could keep their hands off one another. It was amazing that they were ready by five o-clock, with the amount of time they "wasted" making out here, there and where ever they could. It was a near miracle they got out of Liz's apartment at all.

They walked arm in arm to the parking lot. The faces of Lizzie's neighbors was priceless. The shy little girl who lived on the second floor had a boyfriend. It was sure to be old news by the time she got home.

&&&&&&

Wilson walked into work whistling. He had decided that it wouldn't be overkill today. He saw Cuddy in her office. Just to see the confused look on her face, he waved to her happily. He got the desired reaction. The completely confused and bewildered look on Lisa Cuddy's face made his mood even lighter. Even the nurses in the Oncology ward seemed to know something was up.

June, the middle-aged nurse who sat behind the visitors desk shook her head and waggled her finger at him. "You have a new girlfriend." she said knowingly. Wilson smiled and nodded, saying nothing, just keeping on course as he headed to his first appointment of the morning. This was a good day.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Elizabeth walked into work as quietly as possible. The people who knew her knew that she was never this early. Something had to be up. Her colleague, Melissa, walked up to he and eyes her suspiciously. "What'd you do last night?" she asked.

Without missing a beat Liz faced her friend and smiled, replying "Nothing that you wouldn't do."

Melissa's jaw dropped as the meaning hit her. "Nuh-uh." she said as she followed her boss into the elevator. "Who?!"

"My new boyfriend." Liz answered. She held her hand out for the files Melissa was holding. When Melissa handed them to her she opened the top one and began to read the latest results of Friday's tests. "Run another ESR for me. This one's inconclusive." she ordered the girl.

"Yes Ma'am." answered Melissa. The two young women stepped off the elevator and into the hallway. "So?" asked Melissa. "What's his name?"

Without looking up, Liz answered rather curtly "James."

Melissa raised her hands in defense. "Sorry, I'm just curious is all." She smiled and asked "How'd you meet him?"

"Melissa, can we talk about this during lunch?" asked Liz. She had switched into professional mode and personal mode was on standby. Melissa nodded. "Thankyou. Now, can you go run this test. I need to know whether or not Mrs Dailey needs surgery." Melissa walked off to the lab to run the test and Liz went into her office and sat at her desk. She had been given a bit of time off after her "sudden illness" and this was her first official full day back to work. There was a two foot high stack of charts on her desk, all awaiting her signature no doubt. Liz sighed and started what was sure to be a tedious day of paperwork and questions.

&&&&&&

Lunchtime rolled around and Wilson was sitting in the cafeteria. His sandwich was half gone. His thought were still centered on Liz and the previous night. "You gonna eat that?" asked a familiar voice. "I skipped breakfast."

"Would that be because you're hung over again?" Wilson asked as House sat down in the chair opposite him.

"No. It would be because I skipped breakfast. Are you gonna eat that?"

"No. Go ahead."

As House ate he talked, which was annoying in itself. "How was your big night with Elizabeth? Get laid?"

Wilson scoffed. "Nothing is taboo for you is it?"

House shook his head. "I figure you did. You've been sporting that stupid smile all day. And you're avoiding me. That and... nurses talk."

Wilson lowered his head and laughed. He had to laugh. House was right. The nurses to gossip a lot. "So I did." He crossed his arms. "What do you care?"

"House looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. "She's a bad influence on you. You're grounded." Wilson scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Seriously. You're starting to sound like her. I read something about this once. How people start to eventually look like their pets. Or is it pets looking like their people? I can never remember how it goes."

Wilson grinned and chuckled. "You're insane." he said emphatically. "I've got work to do. Cuddy put me on clinic duty today because you ditched again."

Finishing the sandwich House smiled at his friend. "Better you than me. People like you."

"Yeah, you just scare children and old people." Wilson retorted as he stood up. As he started to walk away he warned House, "I'm not going to let you ruin today for me."

"Good!" shouted House as Wilson stepped out of the cafeteria. Then quieter he said "Good for you Jimmy."

&&&&&&&&

Elizabeth sat in her office and ate, trying to stay out of people's way. Her thoughts were on James and how she wanted to see him as soon as she possibly could. She felt like a school girl. She sighed contentedly as she flipped another page in the chart histories she was looking through. There was a soft knock at her door. "Dr Sullivan?" asked Melissa. "Have a minute?" Liz nodded and the lab tech came in. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry if I was out of line earlier. It's just that you looked so happy and it's been a long time since I saw you smile like that. I was only curious."

Liz smiled at the other girl. Melissa was only two and a half younger than Liz. She was fairly new, having started her internship with Liz when she was only nineteen. She had been with Liz for a long time. Melissa was her best friend here at the hospital. "It's ok, Miss. I was just on guard this morning. I was..." She sighed. "I don't know what I expected. Don't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong." She took a pause. "You have the ESR results?"

Melissa nodded. "Yes, Ma'am. Mrs Dailey will need surgery. Should I tell her family?"

Liz shook her head. "No. I'll do it. I need to get out of the office for a bit." She patted the stack of charts. "These are done. You can take them down to Jarvis when you get the time." Melissa nodded. "I'll go talk to the family after lunch. No sense in interrupting them fro this. Let them eat. I want you to schedule her for an heart catheter this afternoon. Reserve the cath lab for me, ok."

Melissa nodded and retreated from the office with a small stack of finished files to take to Dr Jarvis, the head of the hospital. Liz sighed and decided that it was now or never and headed down to find the family of Mrs Dailey. She had to tell her husband that his fifty year old wife may need heart surgery. This was the part of her job she hated.

About an hour later Liz was back in her office. She was still reeling from the reaction of Mr Dailey. Even though she wasn't a surgeon, she was the one who discovered the problem and felt it was her job to inform the family of what she's found. It was always tough telling people their loved one may have to have bypass surgery or worse, a transplant. She just felt a small relief knowing that she wasn't operating. There were many capable OR doctors here and any one of them could do this procedure with ease. Liz leaned back in her chair and sighed. "A long day." she said out loud. "I knew this was going to be a long day." At least she had the end of the day to look forward to, and James. That fact alone made the whole day worth tolerating.

&&&&&&&&&

James Wilson was still smiling, even though it was nearly three o-clock in the afternoon. He sat in his office doing paperwork and was oblivious to the fact that Cuddy was standing outside watching him. She finally knocked. Wilson looked up and motioned her in. "What brings you to my little corner of the world?" he asked her.

Taken aback, Cuddy stammered before regaining herself. "There've been rumors. I wanted to see if they were true." She paused, seeing the grin he wore. "It is true!" she scoffed. "You have a girlfriend."

Wilson nodded. "Elizabeth." he said simply.

Cuddy's mouth dropped open. "No! The sick girl who's mother was poisoning her? House's patient? That girl?" Wilson nodded. "What are you thinking?"

"That I liked her, asked her out and she said yes." He looked up and into her eyes. "Anything else?"

Cuddy looked shocked. "That's highly immoral. She was a patient..." Wilson cut her off.

"Not mine." he said. "That's fair game."

"You need to stop hanging out with House." Cuddy snapped angrily. "You're starting to have his attitude."

"Funny." said Wilson. "House was telling me that I sound like Liz." He went back to reading the chart in front of him. In a small fury, Cuddy stalked out of the Oncologist's office in a huff. James Wilson could only smile and laugh to himself.

&&&&&&&&

Five o-clock came and went. Liz was still knee deep in charts and there looked like there would be no help getting out of them. Her cell phone suddenly rang, making her jump and eep. She glanced the I.d. before answering it. It was James. "Hello?" she asked innocently.

"You still at work?" he asked her. He was obviously in his car.

"Yes. I have charts backed up from when I was sick. I have Mount Saint Paperwork to conquer before I can even think of clocking out." Wilson laughed. "You could come here." she said. It was more of a question though.

"I don't know." James started. "I'd feel funny coming to your work. I don't know why."

"Probably because it's a different hospital. Like you said I work for the "competition". I'd feel awkward coming in to see you if I were still dressed for work."

There was minute of silence before James said "What the hell? Why not? I'll see you in a few."

Liz laughed. "Alright then." She smiled. "See you when you get here."

"Lizzie?" he said before she could hang up.

"What baby?" she replied.

"I love you." he said shakily into the phone. If Liz could have seen him, she would have been able to see he was sweating lightly.

Liz smiled and bit her lip. "I love you too, baby." she said quietly. "I'll see you in a few."

"Ok." he said. His voice still a bit shaky but relieved. "Bye."

Liz grinned. "Bye."

"Well, that was interesting." said a voice from outside Liz's bubble of happiness. Looking up she saw Amy. "Are you telling each other "I love you" already?" She clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "I expected more form you Liz. You could have at least gotten him laid first." Liz looked up at her best friend and grinning, raised an eyebrow. Amy gasped and started laughing. "No way!" she nearly shouted. "You?! Little miss do nothing until it's too late? Miss "I'll never do that"? You're kidding."

Liz snickered. Amy was still in the previous night's clothes. "Amy, calm down, will ya." She smiled and tried to suppress a fit of girlish giggles. It didn't work. "I told you. I really like James. And he's coming here to see me, so you gotta scram."

Amy tried to look as hurt as she could. "But why? Don't you want me around him? Are you afraid I'll frighten him off?"

Liz rolled her eyes. "No, but I know you and you'll try your hardest to either embarrass him or me. I just want a week before you start in. I gave you that with Dan." She sighed. "Why don't you go back to the apartment and change at least. You smell worse than some of the geriatric patients here."

Amy scoffed and made a frowny face. "You're telling your best friend that she smells like old people?"

Liz nodded and went back to her charting. "Yes." she said simply. "Go home and take a shower. Stay out of my room and if you find James's tie, bring it back here ok."

Amy's jaw dropped and she started to laugh. "His tie? Where might I find that?"

Liz, still not looking up at Amy, smiled and shrugged. "I don't know. Somewhere between the kitchen and my room. It wasn't in my room this morning which means it's somewhere in between. Check under the breakfast bar."

Amy let out a visible shiver. "You're my best friend. We're almost sisters, we're so close. But I really didn't need that visual."

"Then don't ask question." Liz said dryly. "Now get, before you get arrested for being intoxicated."

"But I'm not drunk." Amy retorted.

"Not by the smell of your clothes. You smell like a brewery." Amy smelled herself and shuddered. "See?"

"Ok. I'll go home, shower and change. But I'm coming right back here. I want to see how you and boy wonder act together."

"Boy wonder?" Liz asked, looking up finally.

"That's what Amber said House calls him."

Liz sighed. "On occasion. And at work. At work." She shook her head and waved Amy away.

Amy walked away laughing. Liz went back to her work and waited for James to arrive.