Note: Thanks everyone for the reviews. I guess putting up two chapters at once (9+10) wasn't the best idea. Some people just skipped chapter nine. Maybe they haven't seen it online and just skipped to the latest chapter. I won't do it again.
One review made me laugh: House did not threaten Rebecca with an MRI, it was rather a ... uhm ... "deep lumbar punction". Not literally, but you can read it yourself. Here it is:
Even though his night was short, Wilson felt good when he walked to his office the next morning. Whatever House did or said to Rebecca, he had done it for him. This did not happen often and Wilson enjoyed it.
His door still sported the name of Jane Wilson, but the picture was gone. He unlocked the door and went into his office. The balcony door was still ajar from last night and the air was cool and fresh. When he took off his jacket and reached out for his lab coat, he saw House was already in the hospital, standing out on the balcony, gazing out into some nothingness.
Wilson put his lab coat back down and stepped out. House didn't move and his eyes were still fixed on something far far away. With a few steps Wilson was beside him. He leaned his elbows on the hand rail, right next to House's and looked straight out to the point that House looked at. There was nothing.
For a minute Wilson just stood in silence. He was aware of his shoulder touching House's. Far too aware of it, Wilson thought. "What did you tell her?" he finally asked.
House didn't move. "Asked her out on a date."
Wilson just lifted his eyebrows in surprise.
"First she was at it, but then I told her what I wanted to do with my cane and I think that scared her away for some reason." House's voice sounded dead serious and Wilson had to suppress a snort, he turned his face to House and saw that smile on his face. Then House turned his head too and they stared grinning at eachother, their eyes locked: blue meeting brown.
House's face was so close that Wilson backed away a little when he felt the urge to touch him, to kiss him. He turned away and gazed out into the sky again.
"I don't think she'll bother you again." Wilson heard House's voice, but couldn't take in the words anymore when he felt the almost familiar feeling of House's fingers playing with his. It started with a slight touch at the side of his little finger, then he felt the light prodding of House's finger tips on his own. He could feel the rhythm, it was like House was playing the piano, but instead of the keys, he tipped against his fingers.
Wilson didn't dare to look at his hand or at his friend's face. He stretched his fingers a little and House's fingers followed, he bent them and they followed again. It was a game and Wilson played along for a while. Then he turned his palm upwards and waited, House's hand slipped into his.
"I didn't do anything," Wilson pointed out as he finally glanced at their entwined fingers.
"Oops, guess it was me this time," House shrugged his shoulders, still glaring into the sky. "But you tried to kiss me the first time." He grinned and turned around to face Wilson.
Wilson sighed. "I knew you wouldn't let that go."
"'Course you knew, I've told you so."
They spent another few minutes in silence. Wilson wondered what would happen when they would let go. Would House turn back on him and start fighting? The thought only lasted for a second. It felt too good to be so close to him. He breathed in House's smell and leaned a little closer to catch more of it. His head tilted and almost hit House's shoulder.
"Can I …?" he asked. "Just for a minute."
House nodded with a slight smile on his face and Wilson leaned his head against his shoulder. He closed his eyes and felt the tension of the past days fall off him.
"Not gay, hm?" House mumbled.
"Maybe a little," Wilson answered softly, too lazy to move or talk.
.
House let out a low growl when he heard someone come into Wilson's office. He lifted his shoulder and pushed Wilson away a little. "Minute's over," he said shortly and looked over to the glass door.
Wison lifted his head and felt House's hand slip out of his.
"Wilson?" Cuddy stepped out onto the roof. "There you are. Can I talk to you for a minute?"
A minute. Wilson tried to shake off the cozy feeling of being so close to House. "Sure," he answered, but didn't move. He was still only about an inch away from House and he could still feel his warmth. Wilson did not want to go away.
"In your office?" Cuddy pointed back to the door. "Under four eyes."
House looked up. "You two got secrets? Or is it still this sex thing going on between you?"
Cuddy rolled her eyes. "Is sex all you can think about?"
House shrugged his shoulders. "Well, under the given circumstances …"
Wilson coughed and blushed. This was far more than what he had thought about. Far more than what he had allowed himself to think about. He scrambled over the wall and followed Cuddy into his office. He didn't dare to look back at House.
.
"I'm glad that you and House finally stopped fighting," Cuddy started the conversation. Wilson looked away and barely nodded.
"And the whole story with Rebecca's over as well," she continued. "She called this morning and asked for two weeks off. I gladly agreed and already sent her papers over to the hospital she'll start working at in two weeks."
Wilson barely listened to her. He was still confused about the little scene outside a few minutes ago. "Good," he simply said, keeping his eyes on his fingers.
"I thought these news would take some weight of your shoulders. I don't know what happened that made her change her mind, but she's gone and the gossip will end soon." Cuddy looked at Wilson suspiciously.
"Yes, it might end." Wilson agreed unconvinced.
"If there is anything else you want to talk about …" Cuddy put a hand on his shoulder.
"No, no. I'm fine." Wilson shrugged her hand off.
Another lie, Cuddy thought, but she turned and left his office with a concerned look.
.
Wilson was confused like never before. Until a little earlier, he had thought that House only played with him, took an advantage of a weakness, that Wilson had shown some days ago. Now he wasn't so sure after all. House had let him come closer than ever before. And it had been him to take his hand. He had not even rejected Wilson, when he had leaned his head on his shoulder.
Wilson put the pieces together like a puzzle: House liked him. Liked him in a much different way than this friendship had been so far. But this could not be! Wilson ripped the pieces apart again and tried to put them back together in an other way, there must be another explanation for House's weird behavior.
A knock on his door caught his attention.
He saw the cane first, then House's head showed up in the door. "Hey."
"Hey." Wilson stopped pacing his office. He had not even noticed that he had started to run up and down.
"Can I come in?"
"Sure." Wilson went back behind his desk and sat down. He felt much safer there with something beween him and House, somewhere to hide. House took a few steps into the office and stopped about half way to Wilson. Neither of them said a word, both were staring at the floor.
After a while Wilson started to examine his hands. There was no sound from House. Wilson looked up to him and found himself closely watched by these bright blue eyes. He held the gaze for a few seconds, then turned away again.
"What now?" House asked in a low voice.
Wilson looked at him in surprise. He had not expected a question like that. Mostly he had thought House would just pretend it had never happened. Mocking him would have been another possibility, but actually talking about it seemed so out of character, that Wilson had not thought about that. Instantly defence kicked in. Wilson was too afraid, House would start tormenting him with those stupid questions again.
"Nothing," Wilson answered quickly. "Forget about it."
House's eyebrows went up. "Forget it?"
"Yes, it was stupid."
"You told me you're gay and obviously you see more in our friendship than there was before." House's eyes were fixed on Wilson.
"Listen, this Rebecca thing really wore me out and I felt a little lonely lately. Just forget it. It was nothing." Wilson drew his eyes away and lifted his hands.
"Uh-uh." House looked another second at him, then turned and hobbled out of the office.
As hard as Wilson tried, he couldn't ignore the hurt look in his friend's eyes.
