As he drove home from the hospital that after noon, all House could think about was Wilson. He knew the oncologist would have been there six years ago if he could have been and there was no reason to still be arguing about it now. So why were they? House knew what had to be done so, after pulling into the driveway and turning off the ignition, the diagnostician pulled out his cell phone and dialed an all too familiar number.

************************************************************

Meanwhile, Wilson had just returned to his office after visiting one of his more terminal cancer patients and he was in no mood for human contact. Suddenly, the sound of buzzing from his pocket diverted him from his current thoughts while glancing down at the caller id. House. Why was he calling?

"What do you want?"

"Well, hello to you too Mr. Sunshine."

"House, I'm busy. Can you get to why you called so I can hang up?"

House wasn't surprised by his friend's bitterness. In fact, it was understandable considering how things were between them now.

"Look, I didn't call to harass you. For once that's not the reason so, hear me out alright?"

"Fine."

Choosing to ignore the annoyance in Wilson's voice for the moment, House continued his train of thought.

"(Sigh) Cuddy offered me my old job back and I've accepted it. (Pause) So, since we're going to be working under the same roof again I wanted to make nice with my best buddy. What do you say?"

Wilson knew this was House's way of apologizing which made Wilson feel even guiltier then before. However, the oncologist decided to keep that information to himself so as to not ruin this breakthrough with the man on the line.

"Alright, lets make nice."

"Good."

"But not before you tell me the truth about what happened."

House sighed to himself. Damn. Wilson wasn't going to make this easy was he? Still, House knew he owed him that much but, how could he not already know?

"You haven't heard it already from one of the nurses?"

"I thought I'd go right to the source. Besides, the nurses tend to lie."

"So do I."

At this both men couldn't help but laugh at the irony of this comment. It seemed they had had similar conversations numerous times and yet here they were again, repeating the pattern.

"House stop deflecting."

"Fair enough. (Pause) There's really not much to tell. After losing my third patient in a week to some undiagnosed killer, I couldn't take it anymore and my mind checked out."

Wilson hadn't expected House to just come right with it like that. Especially not in such a calm manner.

"That's it?"

"You were expecting more? What's the matter? The truth not good enough for you?"

"No…it's just. It just seems like there should be more to it then that."

"Don't push it Jimmy."

From the tone in House's voice, Wilson could tell there was something more to the story but decided to let it drop for now.

"Okay. See you for lunch tomorrow?"

"Can't. Tomorrow's Thursday. How bout Friday?"

"What's going on Tomorrow?"

At this question House froze. Cuddy was the only one he had told about this because he knew he could trust her. Could he trust Wilson? The diagnostician had never doubted that before but now he wasn't so sure.

He's going to find out sooner or later. I know.

"Business Meeting."

This wasn't completely false but then it wasn't completely true either. However, it was the only thing House could think of that would make Wilson stop asking questions…and it worked like a charm.

"huh, okay see you on Friday then."

"Right, you bring the food and I'll bring my fork."

*************************************************************

That night as House was preparing dinner, a knock at the door diverted the master chef from his work for the time being while limping over to answer it.

"Dr Eric Foreman, we meet again."

"I got your page."

"I can see that…come on in."

Leading the way inside the small yet spacious apartment, House headed back towards the kitchen while Foreman made himself comfortable on the couch.

"You want a beer?"

"Thanks."

As Foreman accepted the beer, the neurologist noticed the water House held firmly in his hand.

"Your not drinking?"

"Not anymore."

Arching an eye brow at this comment, Foreman held his gaze upon House's grip momentarily before deciding to drop the matter entirely.

"So, I hear you've decided to come back to the diagnostics department."

"Yes, which is exactly why you're here."

"Alright."

"(Sigh) How would you like to be my second in command?"

Foreman took a moment to think about the offer he had just been given.

As much as he would like to take the job the neurologist was curious about House's motives. Why was he doing this?

"Meaning we'd both be in charge of the department? Working as partners?"

"Exactly."

"But why? This isn't like you. The House I know would never willingly share the power of being in charge."

Foreman's question was justified. There was absolutely no reason, under normal circumstances why House would have made such a suggestion but he had been out of the game for awhile.

"Think of it as teaching an old dog new tricks."