Presenting the fifth revision of the 21st chapter... Yah, I revived it five times but I ended up liking this chapter than the first one I did. Thanks to Iane_Casey for making me realize it's better to take one step at a time. :)) I also thank those who give this story a review last time and for those who willingly look for updates. Don't worry guys, I am working things out with my brain.

Now with not so much ado, happy reading!

From where he was standing, Wilson had the clear view of what he wanted to see. His office balcony offered more than what he expected. He never thought being on the fourth floor of the hospital would still give him the perfect view of the hospital's parking lot in spite of the trees that seemed to miss their shaving creams and razors for the last two weeks.

This wasn't how he imagined this day will play out. Disappointed, his eyes began to trace the gothic design of the tiles beneath him. There's no reason to be looking at the horizon knowing there's nothing more to be hoped for. Things have already been said and done and after the call he received from a friend of his a few minutes ago, he knew the decision of fate might never change.

A sound of an engine being turned off caused him to lift his head up. Bingo, just the right car he'd been waiting to see since he walked in that morning.

Shouldn't the driver supposed to be walking out now? But no, the person who bears the name on the signage before the black Lexus was still inside. If he doesn't know any better, he would have thought the driver had passed out from the absence of motion he could see.

But he doesn't have to wait any longer as the person still strapped with seat belt lifted her arm up until palm meets face. The creature moved but, for James Wilson, it wasn't just plain movement done by someone.

Far from him, away from his comforting arms, was Lisa Cuddy... crying her heart out.

The door leading to the office of the head of the board member was pulled open that jolted both Wilson and the secretary on their seats. Unlike them, Cuddy and Brits weren't surprise to see the oncologist to be there that as soon as the dean turned to face him again, the head of Department of Psychology knew exactly what he needed to say and do.

"I'll keep you updated," Brits said.

"Thank you," Cuddy gratefully returned before watching the man nod and walk back in his office.

"Hey," she heard her friend gently say as she let her head stayed sideway.

There's no reason to lie or hide her decision. Knowing Wilson, she's certain House already called him but she could still feel the hesitation in her veins to look back at the awaiting man before her.

"Hi," she greeted as she find herself doing what she needed to do, that was to face him.

"I heard," he said watching the forced smile on her lips fading.

"Yah," she nodded in agreement.

With her eyes momentary landing on the working secretary a few steps away from their side, Wilson got the cue. Extending one arm, he let the woman lead their way out of the office and went beside her by the time they reached the almost empty hallway.

"Conrad is the most likely candidate to replace my position as your new dean," she said as they continued to move towards the open end of the wing.

God, if only he could tell her to stop mid-sentence he would have. Hearing the decision about administration replacement only made the situation feels real. Not that it isn't but for Wilson, inwardly denying that everything was happening was the last rope he was grasping on.

"He's off to start on Monday," she added wanting nothing else but to end this conversation at once.

"Cuddy," the oncologist finally called out, his hand reaching for her arm causing her to come to a halt.

"The rest of the board will have an emergency meeting at three this afternoon," she informed before the man had the chance to open his mouth to speak. He wasn't surprise on her actions but he didn't expect it either. He knew Cuddy wanted to avoid this conversation and she started it by speaking up first as soon as her eyes met his.

"Are you sure about this?" the oncologist asked after a few seconds of silence as she looked at something beneath them.

To his worry, she shook her head once and admitted, "No but I know this is what I'm supposed to do. When..." she gulped, fluttering her eyes closed before lifting her heads up to find her hazel eyes staring back at her, "when Amber died, you did the same thing. You moved out of the city and even House could tell, it did something good for you. It's just my turn to take the card."

He couldn't protest, he knows she's right.

"House called me..." he informed as soon as her eyes landed on the floor again.

"I know," she said.

"I take it he wasn't on your side on this."

"No, he isn't," she confirmed feeling the guilt for being selfish slowly creeping in again.

"Hey," her friend's voice and touch that landed on her shoulder pulled her from her thoughts.

"If you think living on Mars would make things better not just for you, then do it," he said with a smile that caused Cuddy to make her own in spite of the obvious tears that began to glisten her grey eyes.

"It's just that..." she began to say only to be cut off mid-way.

"Sshh, don't drown yourself that way," the oncologist said pulling her for a hug that she needed since she left the park earlier that day. At first, he couldn't help but to feel conscious of who might and what might those people think if they saw him holding the dean close as this but the moment he felt her shake, his worry for her grew bigger than what he had for other people's opinion.

"I feel so selfish," she confessed, her voice cracking, with head buried on the man's chest who had his arms around her back.

"I told you, if you think this is the right thing to do, do it," he comforted, tapping her back at the same time.

His words were meant to give her strength but Cuddy found herself losing control of her self as the waterworks in her eyes grew heavier as she heaved on. Her knees were shaky as her mind thought twice once again about her decision.

What if she's wrong about the move she's about to make? Are the things she gave up worth it?

The words of retreat were already seating on the tip of her tongue but she couldn't even open her mouth to speak. The pain of leaving Plainsboro and all the things and all the people living here numbed her throat. She'll be missing a lot of things, but at least for now, Wilson promised to hold the greatest of all her greatest.

"Take your flight," he said, "I'll look after House for you."

He was hurting.

He never told anyone about it but the traces of suppressed tears under his eyelids proved how he forced to treat the night like nothing happened.

And there's nothing more he thought would help him negate the pain than Jack Daniels. Indeed it was helping. Each swig he takes sent fire down his throat and each gulp momentary black his mind out from the pain he was feeling.

Why didn't Stacy made him feel this way? Why didn't she shot daggers straight to his heart with her words of good-bye? He would have appreciate it if she did because at least from that he would have known how to handle this kind of pain that seemed to be squeezing his heart tight.

But she didn't. True, she said good-bye but it didn't hurt like how he was feeling right now.

'Damn House,' he thought as he pressed the glass's rim to his lips, 'she's just a woman.'

"Just a woman," he repeated after a nod as soon as the liquid left his throat.

But before the other part of his brain kill the other for pointing such, a knock brought him out from his drunken thoughts.

For the first three thuds he didn't bother to ease up, hoping whoever was the unwanted visitor would get his cue that he wanted to talk to no one for the night. The knock went on though and with scowl on his face, he was left with no choice but to stumble on his couch and side table on his way to door in his present state.

"I came by to invite you for drink," Wilson said as soon as the green door before him was pulled open, "the invitation's kind of useless now."

House rolled his eyes in return. "So just leave. I'm not done celebrating," he said as he watched his friend's brow arched in confusion.

He was deflecting and the man whose eyes were now eyeing something on his left arm knew it. Busted, he gulped and looked away.

"You cut yourself," Wilson pointed out in a flat tone with eyes unable to meet his friend's blue ones.

"And you're worried," the diagnostician stated, feeling as if they're playing the state-the-obvious contest.

Knowing he'll get nothing in return, House sighed after a brief pause between them. Wilson won't leave him like this so he stepped aside and pulled the door wider.

"Come in," he softly said before watching his friend did as what he was invited to do.

Did I overdo the emo-state House? Oppsy...

Anyway for the whole chapter, I hope you like what happened.

Thanks for reading! Reviews will be warmly welcomed. :)