Chapter 14

House was awake before Wilson this time, his leg was playing up for no good reason as usual. He paced around the room for a little while - as much as he could on crutches, he wasn't going to take a chance on not using them. He and Wilson made a right pair! It was their last day to see some more of the city and it had started off like this - not a good sign. But at least they could go and see some of it today, they would have to make arrangements to come back at a later date when they were both healthy.

Luckily it didn't last long this time and for that he was grateful. Wilson woke up just as House had slowed his pacing. "You ok?" Said Wilson

"am now - it's gone" Said House "So tourist guru, what do you have in store for us today?"

"I haven't got anything planned for today, but we are going to the Bourbon Street Blues Company tonight though. So today is upto you"

"There is still loads we haven't seen, shall we just wander again and see what happens"

"Whatever you want to do is fine by me - what about going to see a plantation house?"

"No thanks! New Orleans is about the music for me not where slaves used to live"

"Ok - just a thought! - didn't know if it was the whole of the southern history that you were engrossed in or just the music - now I know" He said with a chuckle.

"I'd rather just take in the musical history and just soak up the atmosphere and to be honest not sure how much the leg is going to let me do today -it's not happy"

They went down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast, making the most of the all you can eat buffet, loading up with bacon and pancakes, a good staple breakfast to start them on their way.

They milled around the streets of the French Quarter, House didn't think he would ever get enough of this place. They went into a museum and an exhibition of the local history and a few other 'touristy' things - that they wouldn't normally bother with.

They went into a nice air conditioned diner for lunch, as the heat was getting to Wilson. He was fast becoming dehydrated and tired.

They ordered their food and they were in for a treat as a band had just started playing as they were served their lunch. 'The Copper Bottom Band' were a new blues band that were playing a few gigs to help get them started.

"Hey Gerry are you ok, you're miles away"

"mmm, just thinking"

"Yeah well, I can see that!"

"I got a text message from Tammy asking if we could see each other again this weekend"

"Who's Tammy"

"My blind date"

"Oh, ok, so you want to see her again or not - she's obviously interested in you"

"Thinking about it!"

"There is something wrong here. Someone is genuinely interested in you, having already spent time with you and you're thinking about seeing her again -what's wrong with her - she got 2 heads or something?" said Wilson sarcastically

"No! quite the opposite actually, but that's not the point, I did find her good company actually" he said with a sigh.

"So what is there to think about?"

"I'm dead Wilson, how can I start seeing someone - I can't tell them anything"

"You don't normally have a problem with lying"

"Lying about things here and there is fine but everything all the time - that just doesn't seem fair somehow"

"You do actually liker her don't you?"

House just looked at Wilson and raised his eyebrows and shrugged slightly.

"Well I'm planning on spending the weekend at Marcy's, so why don't you ask her over for dinner, your good at deflecting maybe you could use your manipulation skills away from your history"

"If you keep on dehydrating the way you are your gonna be in hospital for the weekend"

"See your good at it"

"Are we done, I want to go back to the hotel my leg really hurts today"

"Yeah just going to grab some energy drinks, they might help with the dehydration"

Wilson and House both relaxed around the hotel for the afternoon. Although Wilson more so that House, the heat and the dehydration were playing havoc with him, but at least the hotel was air conditioned.

While Wilson was resting House rang Tony as he was getting more and more concerned about Wilson.

"Well he is drinking as much as he can and keeping out of the heat aswell. We bought some energy drinks to replace some of the electrolytes but I think he is losing more than he can drink. I think that we should come by the medical centre when we get back"

"Ok, well it sound like you're doing the right things, but yes it might be a good idea to come in just in case and we can check him out"

"Well our flight is at 10.00am tomorrow, so we should be back by 12noon, we will come to the medical centre before we go home."

House found a secluded spot in the gardens and took out his phone, he read the message again from Tammy. He really did like her company and would it be any bad if they got together again, it's not like they were teenagers and likely to fall head over heels and the chances are that it would be over before it got started so what did he have to lose.

OK dinner at my place at 7pm saturday night and dont be late was all he put and closed his phone. What was he doing, how could he start seeing someone, how could he knowingly get somebody else involved in his world of deceit. Too late now.

Then his phone buzzed again. sounds good can you send me your address - I'll bring dessert

Then his phone rang - it was Wilson "Hey come on , are we going out tonight or not?"

"Okay, Okay I'm coming, don't rush me. I'm a cripple"

He hadn't realised that he had been out in the gardens for that long, how time flies when you have got loads to think about.

Their last night in New Orleans was amazing, House felt like he was going to burst with all the emotions that he could normally push away, but tonight being there with Wilson - who was obviously not very comfortable and probably feeling quite unwell - was the icing on the cake. The bands that played were all on top form, the food was great, the alcohol was flowing but not needed and the company was even better, for someone who had died life was great. Yes it was actually good. He looked over at Wilson "Hey come on Sundance lets go back to the hotel"

"But there's another band on in a minute"

"yeah I know but let's not push it. I've seen enough and my leg hurts" He said lying through his teeth, he just wanted to get Wilson back to the hotel and in bed.

Wilson went straight to sleep when they got back to the hotel, saying that he would get up early to pack their stuff. They had to leave the hotel by 8.30am so it was going to be an early start.

When Wilson was tucked up in bed, House did their packing, they seemed to have accumulated alot more stuff than what they had come with - or at least House had. So he packed the new -t-shirts that he had bought in Wilsons bag, but the records that he purchased would go in his backpack, they were treasured items. Wilson had complained about the amount of stuff that House had bought, especially the records as he said it was a waste of time considering he didn't have anything to play them on now. Although he had plans to remedy that when they got back. He couldn't last much longer without being able to play his music. At least getting a record player would be easier and cheaper than getting a piano - one thing at a time.

The next morning as they left the hotel, House sat in the cab next to Wilson "Wilson I've been in contact with Tony, we are stopping by the Medical Centre on the way home, I think you need an IV bag of fluids to get you rehydrated"

"Yeah I think you are right, Marcy will be ok with taking us there" He said quietly, knowing that he was lucky to have a friend like House and that they were actually going home today otherwise he probably would have ended up in an emergency room in New Orleans and he didn't want that, you never knew who was going to be there.

Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this story and favourited it or me, it is heart warming and gives encouragement to keep going. There is still a long way to go with our guys on their journey, so please stay with us :))