A gentle hand on his shoulder startled House awake.
"What the hell?" House squinted against the light coming through his door and fumbled back away from the hand. The sheets that became tangled with his legs only served to increase his panic and he slid off the bed, arms folded over his head to protect it.
"House, calm down. It's just me." Wilson carefully untangled the sheets from around House's legs and helped him back onto the bed.
"Are you watching me sleep now? Get your hands off me." House brushed of Wilson's comforting hand and used his bedpost to rise to his feet.
"No. You called my name. I came to make sure you were alright." The oncologist laid a hand on House's forearm to steady him.
"No I didn't." He looked for his cane for a second before remembering he had abandoned it on the floor of his living room last night. He held onto his thigh with his right hand and limped heavily out the door.
"You're wrong." The oncologist called after House slammed the bathroom door closed.
The older doctor leaned back against the door, the wood grain rough against his scalp as he rested his head against it. "Don't you have to go to work or something?" He rubbed the knuckles of his right hand over the stubble of his chin in a weary fashion.
"House, it's three in the morning."
"Then go back to sleep." House groaned. "Go grocery shopping or bar hopping, I don't care. Just leave me alone."
There was silence and House would have thought the other man had gone if he didn't hear the quiet sigh coming from the other side.
"You were wrong." Wilson repeated after what seemed like an eternity.
House opened the door a crack. "About what?" He asked gruffly.
"You said that you give me everything and it's not good enough for me. It's true, everything you have you give to me but you were wrong when you said it wasn't good enough for me."
House opened the door a little wider so he could get a better look at Wilson's face. "When did you change your method?"
"What?" Wilson's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Usually you just buy chocolates or flowers after an argument."
The oncologist pushed the door opened wider to step into House's personal space.
"I know where this is going." House said taking a step back. "Don't do this. Don't ruin things."
"Ruin what, House? Our friendship? Our lives? Because I'll be brutally honest with you, you would be a wreck without me."
"Gee, thanks."
"Who else tolerates your crap day after day? Who else is there to pick you up off the floor? Who else cares for you like I do?"
"Thank you, Saint Jimmy. You're so humble."
"And I would be absolutely nothing without you."
House took a step back. "Let's just stop there"
"Who would pick me up when I fall?" Wilson continued. "Who would care enough to look past my façade and make sure I'm ok? Who would give me the opportunity to let me be myself instead of having to pretend all the time?"
"You're wrong. I don't do anything for you."
"Yes, you do." Wilson raised his voice in frustration. "You just don't see it because you don't think you're capable of doing any good outside of medicine. You think you're just this worthless junkie –"
"Ex-junkie" House corrected.
"Whatever. My point is that you're the best thing that has ever happened in my life."
House took a step towards Wilson. "You're feeling guilty about what happened last night. Go sleep it off. You'll feel differently."
"No, I won't." Wilson shook his head furiously and gesture between them. "Ever since I met you I always wanted more than just friendship."
"So say the ex-wives. You're straight, Wilson, not gay. Go back to bed."
"Straight. Gay. Those are just words. I don't care what you call me; I just want you to know that I want more than just this."
"And how do you know I'll reciprocate those feelings? How do you know that I feel the same?"
Wilson played with the collar of his McGill sweater nervously. "I don't." He admitted. "But I needed to tell you how I felt."
They were so close there was barely an inch separating them. House brought his right hand up close to Wilson's left cheek, his fingertips barely touching the soft skin. He could see the hope radiating in the soft brown eyes but he couldn't let this go on.
"I can't."
It was amazing how those two words seemed to shut a person down. The light in Wilson's eyes simply died and he face went blank.
"You can't do what? Is it me? I can change. I'll do whatever you want." He went on pleading and making promises.
"It's not you." House assured him. "You're like Cameron. You want to fix something that's broken."
"No. I just want you." Wilson took the hand that House held close to his face and gripped it firmly in his own hand.
"Nonetheless, I'm too broken to be fixed. Don't you realize that every relationship I have gets screwed up? It's only by some miracle that you've stayed around this long. Don't make me lose that too."
"You won't lose me."
House sighed heavily and ghosted his fingertips over Wilson's jaw. "Forgive me."
"For what?"
"For everything I've ever done to hurt you."
"I don't –"
"If you want this to be more than just friendship then forgive me of my past wrongdoings so we can move on."
"Of course. I forgave you long ago."
House leaned closer, pressing his lips to Wilson's. He wrapped his arm around the oncologist to pull him closer until their hips touched. Wilson placed his hand on the back of House's neck to deepen the kiss, their tongues battling for dominance. House was the first to pull away. Both breathed heavily.
"I've always wanted more too." House admitted.
AN- I apologize if it's a little ooc at the end. Anyway this is my Christmas gift to you in case I don't post earlier. Also there is nowhere close to the end. There are so many more hardships to endure!!!!
