Chapter 9

House sat quietly, sipping his coffee. "Do you remember Eve?"

"Of course I do." Wilson answered. "The young rape victim you treated last week."

"We spent most of the day talking … actually, she did most of the talking, but all that came out of her mouth was an endless string of platitudes. It was driving me nuts, trying to have a rational conversation with her. Anyway, when she told me that time changed things, something inside me snapped. It was the last straw. I yelled at her and told her she was ridiculous, that time didn't change things, only actions changed things and that if she kept waiting for time to change things, everything would always be the same."

Wilson raised an eyebrow, but remained silent.

"That's a principle I live by. I never wait for things to happen to me, or so I thought, until I heard Kelly say that I had a woman who loved me, but would never know my love, because I was too complacent to tell her."

"Do you know how it feels to find out something like that about yourself at my age?"

Wilson nodded and began to speak. "You said there was another doctor with Kelly?"
"He called him Andrew, I think he's new. Kelly was showing him around."

"I feel like I should know who he is, but I can't remember where I've heard the name." said Wilson thoughtfully. "This Andrew, the one that said he would have Cam in his bed before you noticed that she was gone… are you just jealous? Maybe that's all that this is about."

Paul returned to re-fresh their coffee and left the bill.

"I thought about that too, and of course I'm jealous, but that's not why I want to win Cameron back. Listen to me. Win Cameron back, as if I ever had her in the first place. I love her, I've always loved her and I can't bear the thought of losing her because of my indifference, because I didn't act. The way Kelly spoke, it made her sound like she was an emotional cripple for loving me and what's worse, that the whole hospital agreed with him."

Wilson stirred. "You know, House, Cameron is also responsible for her actions. It's not always your fault….well, actually in your case, it IS your fault most of the time."

Wilson smiled at House and got a slight grin in return.

"Seriously, Cameron could have moved on at any time. This is her choice as much as it is yours. Don't feel guilty. In this case it's a waste of time."

House reached for his wallet and slid a Platinum Amex into the leather folder. Paul returned shortly with the receipt for him to sign.

"Thank you, House, this is a first."
"Your welcome, Wilson and thanks for helping me with this." he said, with a mixture of humility and sadness in his voice.

"I hope that you enjoyed your meal, gentlemen, and that you will dine with us again very soon."
Wilson smiled. "Thanks, Paul."

House winked at Paul, then threw an arm around Wilson's shoulder as a devilish smirk crept across his face.

"C'mon Hon, let's go shopping!"