A/N: Finally! I have been so busy and sick… Hopefully there won't be such a huge delay before I get the next chapter up…

Also, I apologies if this isn't very good, I am still sick so I'm not really sure about it…

This is the sequel to "Running Away". I really hope you like it ^_~

Disclaimer: I still don't own House… Although if I did I would make sure it wouldn't keep being pushed to a different time because of baseball…

Puzzles

14. Judgment

I had almost forgotten the letter, until I first saw Wilson after being released.

I was more than a little nervous, but he never mentioned it. I was simultaneously relieved and disappointed, but I pushed all thought of it aside.

Until one day, about a month after my release, I found an old letter on the kitchen table. Wilson had already left for work, so I had no qualms about looking at the letter, not that I really would have even if he had been home.

It had been folded and refolded so many times that it was almost falling apart. I felt my heart sink when I saw that it was my letter. I took a deep breath, obviously the letter hadn't bothered Wilson that much because he had agreed to let me stay with him even though he had gotten it. But why had he never mentioned it?

Then my eye was caught by a envelope lying on the table. I picked it up, a single word, House, was scrawled across the front. Curious now, I opened the envelope and pulled out a letter written in Wilson's almost illegible scrawl.

House,

I know you think I never got your letter, and knowing you, you would have preferred to continue thinking that.

I know that right now you are probably freaking out about why I never mentioned it before.

Don't worry.

I was nervous when I first got the letter, the last time I had talked to you I had refused to help you. I was terrified that you had given up on me, that you didn't want to be my friend anymore.

I didn't even open it for the first few weeks I had it. When I had I realized that my judgment was even worse than I thought. And we both know that my judgment sucks…

We don't need to get into that (again) right now. This is far more important:

I love you.

Have for years, but I trusted my instinct, my judgment, I was sure that telling you would drive you away.

I wouldn't have been able to survive that. Which shows exactly how much you mean to me, how much I need you, I survived three divorces, who knows how many relationships, Amber's death. All that, but I would not have been able to handle your rejection. So I followed your lead, I repressed the hell out of my feelings.

Now I wish I hadn't. I don't know how much of your breakdown was me, but maybe if I had told you, you wouldn't have ended up in Mayfield.

But that is the past, and no matter how much we may wish to, we cannot change the past.

I don't know how you will feel after reading this, but hopefully things between us will change for the better.

If nothing else, we can worry less about being alone, abandoned.

I love you House, I am only sorry I did not tell you sooner.

Love,

J.W.

****

Wilson called hello from the doorway then headed into the kitchen, I heard him hesitate-looking for the letters-before heading to the fridge and grabbing a beer. He gave in without another word and sat down next to me. Wordlessly I handed him back my letter.

He smiled and I smiled back. No words were needed, we had already said all that had to be said for now.

I reached out and pulled him closer. His smile grew brighter and we kissed. I would have to remember to thank whoever it was at Mayfield that had made me write than letter.