Day 20: Confrontation

The sterile hospital room was totally quiet, save the 'beep, beep' of all the various monitors. Dr. Wilson had left several minutes ago to get some coffee, so Cuddy was sitting alone with House. She was startled suddenly out of her near slumber by a new sound. At first she thought it was just someone outside talking a bit louder than necessary so that she could her it on her side of the glass wall. But as she looked up, her eyes met intense blue ones, eyes she hadn't seen for far too long.

"House! Oh my God! You're awake!"

She jumped out of her chair to get a better look at her finally conscious patient and the monitors.

"How're you feeling? Can I do anything? Do you want..."

She was interrupted by House who had caught her wrist and pulled her down so that he could be sure she heard him.

Best Friend: See his mouth, he tries to speak

He cannot move, his voice is weak...

Me: My dear friend, can you hear me now?

I'll try to tell you how I feel

Best Friend: I feel the pain inside of you

Tell me please, what can I do?

Me: Listen well to what I have to say

I have to tell you...of my betrayal (Chapter 15)

"I've even seen you on that day. Later. You were crying in your office. I...well, I... just wanted to say that... well, I'm sorry I made you cry."

House's voice was still quiet and Cuddy supposed that all the meds circling through his system had loosened his tongue a lot. But then, he had apologised. HE had apologised to HER! In all his years he had never apologised to anyone!

Of course, she had hated him that day – but she knew that what she had done to him was much worse than everything he had ever done to her.

His little speech had cost more energy House had hoped it would. He felt tired and exhausted but before he could go back to sleep there was something he had to do. Or better, someone he had to see. And he had to make sure that the apology he had given Cuddy was taken seriously. Mostly because he was fairly sure she would never hear the word "sorry" from him again.

Me: The truth is out, I feel relieved

You hate me now you've been deceived?

Best Friend: Oh no, in a way we are even now

Come back to us...somehow

It had taken longer than usual for Wilson to find some coffee, but now he had two cups of steaming liquid and was hurrying to get back to Greg's room. He still hoped Greg would wake up so that he could at least try to apologise. He knew and feared that although it would be an honest apology, House wouldn't accept it easily.

As he approached the room he could see Cuddy standing in the room leaning over Greg.

Why in God's name would she do that unless...

The cups hit the hospital floor as Wilson ran into Greg's room, making Cuddy jump slightly.

She turned, and Wilson felt like flying, dancing and singing when his best friend and lover gave him the curious and slightly amused look that only House could do – the first that he had gotten in weeks.

"House! Greg! You're awake! I'm...you...wow!"

All the things he had wanted to say swirled around in his head and all he could do was stare at the man he loved more than anyone else in the world.

House was so happy to see Wilson again he was sure everybody could see it on his face.

He's still with me. Now everything will be alright. Our relationship will be alright again. The other things...well, we'll see...

He was so tired. But Wilson was there. Now he could fully concentrate on recovering from his coma.

Deep inside, he could once more hear his feelings – most of them happy that he had found his way back. He was sure Agony and Fear were angry they had lost. But why should he listen to them? He had won.

He was alive!