Chapter 12

Wilson set his alarm for 5am - Marcy was picking them up at 6am and their flight was at 7am. He had had his large dose for the week, House had had his PT and they had both stocked up on pain meds. House had seemed a little bit off since he had come back from his 'blind date' and he still hadn't told House where they were going and there would be yet another surprise when they got back. He just hoped he was going to be able to sleep, he felt like a kid at Christmas.

Wilson woke up, but it wasn't to the sound of his alarm, he looked at his clock and it said 2.30am, what was that, that he could hear? then he realised what it was. It was House pacing. Must be some break through, he felt a little sad House hadn't had breakthrough pain for a couple of weeks now, which meant that this one would be a doozy. mmm should I go and see if there is anything I can do or should I just go back to sleep. He knew how House was about his pain. He lay there for a little longer, then he couldn't stand it anymore - he had to go and see if there was anything he could do - even if he got shouted at.

Wilson walked into the living room and saw through to the kitchen which is where House was now pacing. He walked to the doorway and stood there with one hand on his hip and the other running through his hair pondering which route to take.

House was now sitting against the table they had bought rubbing his leg, he couldn't see any crutches anywhere - just the cane.

"Hey, you want some coffee" Said Wilson which was a really stupid question.

"No, I'm good at the moment thanks" Said House sarcastically

"how long have you been out here?"

"About an hour" Said House quietly

"What? and it hasn't subsided yet?" Said Wilson concerned

"NOPE!" House said closing his eyes and increasing the rubbing on his thigh, the wave of pain was just reaching its crest and it made him catch his breath. Then it slowly ebbed away. "FUCK that hurts! hasn't hurt like this for a while - I was beginning to think that we might have things a little under control"

He repositioned himself, he now had his head down on his left arm which was on the table and he was bent right over. The pain was going all the way up to his back now.

Wilson walked tentatively over to House and went to put his hand on his back. Then he stopped and hesitated - House didn't like contact - but hey lets give it ago. He put his hand between House's shoulder blades, he felt House immediately tense under the touch, but he didn't say anything. Wilson started moving his hand in a circular motion - hoping it would give some comfort.

"House, when did you last take some meds"

"about...half...an...hour...ago"

Wilson walked off to the kitchen and came back with a heating pad. He moved a chair into position and gently touched House on the shoulders "Come on sit down I've got the heating pad"

"not...yet...can't...move" House stayed that way for a few more minutes until the wave of pain and subsided again. He began to move and Wilson guided him to the chair and gave him the heating pad.

"So, you back on the cane now?" Said Wilson obviously questioning what House was doing.

"not really, I like to pace when I get break through, doesn't really work the same on crutches. But the cane wasn't any good either - I need a new one" He said gesturing towards the cane that was now broken.

"your knee looks swollen again - what's really going on with the leg House? This can't just be from riding - it would be gone by now"

"It's Fine!"

"No its not and you would have been back on the cane by now as soon as possible - regardless of the bearded lady says"

"I told you, I'm doing as I am told for once - that's what you are always nagging at me for - now that's wrong too!"

"House! I'm not...well ok maybe... but there is more to it than you are telling me. So just tell me then maybe I won't keep nagging at you!"

"Can you get the crutches?" House said bluntly to Wilson

Wilson walked off to House's room to retrieve his crutches. By the time he came back House looked a little more at ease.

"I'm not giving them to you until you tell me what's really going on"

House looked at Wilson "It's nothing serious, just hurt it when I died"

Wilson stood in front of House and raised his eyebrows.

"I fell through the floor of the building and had no choice but to land on both legs. It jarred my ankle and my knee and damaged my ACL - I couldn't exactly go to the hospital now could I?"

"Why didn't you say something? your such an ass, no wander you've had trouble keeping upright"

"It's getting better, the thigh just felt left out tonight, the knee and ankle have had all the attention and walking those few steps with the cane has just made everything worse" Said House sadly

Wilson gave House his crutches "So how long do you think before you can get back on the cane?"

"Don't know, maybe never" Said House flatly as he walked away.

"Wait, why? you always get back on it"

"Because getting the ACL damage fixed is extremely difficult with the utility of my leg, I can't do half the exercises needed to get it done and I can't put a brace on it either, and the 2 together is normally how it gets fixed"

"You've never tried putting a brace on it. I always thought that one of them would be good for supporting your leg"

"I have tried them Wilson and yes a brace would have made my leg much better actually"

House was now getting angry with Wilsons attitude.

"Well I've never seen you try one " Wilson scoffed

"You don't know everything Wilson!"

"When then?"

"Why do I need to justify myself to you - if you don't believe me then that's your problem not mine!" House was now really mad "Do you actually think that I like being in this much pain? Pain that one day will probably kill me! Pain that NEVER goes away!" with that he turned and left Wilson standing beside the table.

5.00am came around quickly, neither Wilson nor House went back to sleep but both had stayed in their bedrooms. They were both ready to go when Marcy came for them.

"Hi guys - you ready to go" She said looking between them, she could tell straight away that something wasn't quite right between them. She gave Wilson a peck on the cheek and a questioning look but he just gave her a small shake of his head as if to say 'not now'.

They moved to the car in silence, House was spread out on the back seat with his leg up on the seat. Wilson sat in the front with Marcy. They arrived at the airport, as it was an internal flight there wasn't any need to book in early, so she just dropped the off outside "So I'll pick you up on Friday?"

"Yes please" Said Wilson pulling her in for a kiss

Wilson picked up the luggage and lead the way. House was trailing quite away behind, his leg was still very sore from the breakthrough pain he had had in the early hours of the morning. By the time House had caught up with Wilson he had already checked them in and was heading for the departure lounge.

House hadn't even asked where they were going, with no sleep, pain meds and ramped up pain he was fairly oblivious to what they were doing.

"We have about half an hour before we can board, you wanna get some breakfast" said Wilson

"No, thanks" Said House and looked away

"House I'm sorry for what I said"

"yeah" Said House looking at Wilson "Where are we going anyway?"

Wilson pointed upto the board. House looked up "California - what's in California?"

"No! the one above" Said Wilson laughing

"NEW ORLEANS! What? We are going to New Orleans! Wilson Why would you want to go to New Orleans" Said House with a smile on his face that was going from ear to ear.

"Because I know it's somewhere you've always talked about going to properly - not just for a medical conference, it's where we first met and I wanted us to experience it together, maybe I'll understand more about the music you like"

"Wow! this is a surprise" Said House smiling at Wilson

They boarded the plane and took their seats. Once they had taken off, House got his back pack down from the overhead holdall. He pulled out a leather bound journal that had had a lot of use and handed it to Wilson.

Wilson took the journal from House and looked at it "What's this?"

"Just open it and read, you've got time"

Wilson thumbed through the journal and his mouth fell open when he realised what it was. "House this is a pain journal"

"I know what it is Wilson - I'm the one who has been keeping it and can you call me Gerry before anyone hears you?"

Wilson continued to look through the journal, "why are you showing me this now?" Wilson knew that this was a big deal for House to be showing him this.

"Because I realised this morning that you don't trust me. I know I have given you good reason to not trust me, but you are my best friend and I want you to be able to trust me, so I am showing you this"

"I do trust you House, it's just that you always deflect and pull stupid stunts it's hard to see past that"

House just nodded "The bearded lady suggested I go to the pain clinic they run each month"

"you should - they might find something that works"

"Wilson - nothing works - for long anyway. The only thing that came close was Vicodin. I can't go to the pain clinic anyway - the Dr running it will know me"

"How do you know he will know you?"

"Because he contacted me a few years ago inviting me to join his club, so to speak"

"Did you?"

"No!"

"So you haven't met him"

"No, but he knows my history, it's unlikely that he'd come across 2 patients with the same history"

"Well, Gerry's history is slightly different to yours - it might work - is he good?"

"He's very well respected and has done alot of research - he's got a good reputation"

"So why didn't you sign up for his club before when he contacted you?"

"Wasn't in the right frame of mind"

"mmmmm"

"It was just before I went to Mayfield"

"Oh ok - give it a try"

"I'll think about it"

Wilson carried on reading the journal, he was totally blown away by what he was reading. House had documented everything that he had tried, including the illegal ones and the rat trial. Then he found sections where he mentions using a brace, not once but 3 times, not that there was much detail.

"So you did try a brace - I never saw you with one"

"Why would you, you weren't around"

Wilson gave House a questioning look

"Ok - the first time wasn't long after the surgery, they spoke to me about it in Rehab, in the first session as a look forward type of thing, as I didn't go back, I decided at some point to give one a go, I went to a private PT place, it didn't work - I thought it was because the surgical site was still tender. 2nd time was after the DBS, the leg was really weak and my balance was off so we tried again - it was ok at first - actually did help - but it didn't last. 3rd time was in prison. Having a walking aide in prison, is an open invitation to get beat up - full blown sign of weakness - so they suggested the brace as its under your clothes in the hope that I wouldn't need a cane, mmmm not happening - it didn't work"

" So how does it 'not work' - it felt better with in and then it didn't"

"They do help with the support and balance, but having something constantly around my leg just ramped up the spasming. Nothing touched the scar site so it wasn't that, I just think it was the pressure around my leg just made things worse. I tried to stick with it in prison I lasted about a month hoping it would adjust and get used to it, but it didn't I had to take it off in the end, I couldn't keep up the spasming." He looked away seeming very vulnerable. " I had to go back to using the cane, but I guess it gave my right arm and shoulder a break though"

Then came the announcement "LADIES AND GENTLEMENT PLEASE PUT HAND HELD LUGGAGE IN THE OVERHEAD HOLDALL AND FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS AS WE ARE COMING IN FOR LANDING"

House and Wilson looked at each other and smiled, "put it away - this is it"