Chapter 26

It took a few days but Roz was finally intercepted by a librarian carrying an envelope. She had gotten three feet beyond the metal detectors when a woman called out her name as she approached.

"Doctor Wilson asked me to give this to you." She offered the package to Roz.

Roz didn't know whether she should be relieved that he got in touch with her or pissed that he was now following her. She headed for her usual carrel in the back area of the English Literature; the dullest and quietest place in the building. Natasha crawled under the cubicle while her master unloaded her backpack and removed her jacket before taking a seat. The envelope seemed ominous while at the same time held hope.

She unfolded the paper and began to read:

First of all, don't get mad at Wilson. He was just the messenger. Second, don't stop reading. I need to explain a few things; things that should only be said face-to-face. I have a proposition for you. To hear it requires a visit to my apartment (a request you made of me earlier this week, by the way). Hear me out before you write me off. Call Wilson for a ride.

H

PS I don't think you should be hanging out at the library alone.

Roz folded it back up and returned it to the envelope? Who in the hell does he think he is? She tossed the envelope aside, proceeding to pull out what she had been working on. Once the papers and books were spread out, her desire to continue waned.

"Damn him!" She started packing everything back up.

"Do you need help with anything," the librarian appeared out of thin air.

Roz jumped. Why did House have to remind her not to be alone? Now she was nervous, verging on paranoid. "No thank you. I forgot something at home." She shrugged. "I can't move forward without it." Her smile was fake. The minute the librarian left, the scowl crept back across her face.

Standing in Dr. Cuddy's interoffice, Roz found herself face-to-face with her replacement. She could see the Dean of Medicine working at her desk and wanted to walk right in, but knew the assistant was there to keep her from doing just that. "I'd like to see Dr. Cuddy," Roz announced.

Before the temp could say anything, Cuddy was waving Roz in. "What are you up to," Cuddy approached her and gave Natasha a pat on the head.

Roz found it harder than she expected to speak with her boss. "This is a bit awkward for me."

"Let me guess: it has to do with House." Cuddy ushered her to the couch.

"I'm not here on a professional level. I figure you know the boys better than anyone else."

"The boys?" Lisa asked nervously. "Wilson is part of the problem too?"

Roz nodded, bowing her head in embarrassment.

"Well, Wilson has been known to facilitate some of House's dirty work-mostly unbeknownst to him. But he's also the one who tries to smooth things over when House wants to make amends."

"Dr. Wilson seems sincere. I'm not so sure about Dr. House's intentions."

Cuddy relaxed, a smile crossing her lips. "If House is messing with your head, it's because he likes you. Otherwise he'd ignore you like he does everyone else."

"I get that. I'm not sure of his motives."

"He's a manipulative bastard who likes to play with people. He believes the experience he delivers is eye-opening and life changing for the person he's playing - like a game of cat and mouse-but what he doesn't realize is the emotional distress it's causing that person. He's a bit Machiavellian in that the ends justify the means. He'd rather be the evil genius than the brilliant doctor who stood by and did nothing."

"He's found out some things about me." Roz felt she had no choice but to come clean.

"I know about the private detective." Cuddy patted Roz's hand with reassurance. "The hospital does background checks as well." She saw panic flash in Roz's eyes. "Don't worry, your job is secure."

Roz exhaled a breath she hadn't realize she had been holding. She handed the note from House to Dr. Cuddy. "Should I trust him?"

Lisa scanned through it and gave it back. "You should at least let him squirm. He'll be doing a lot of it as he gets himself out of this one. This and the fact that the information he has is useless against you."

"Does he know it's useless?

Cuddy saw a glint in Roz's eyes akin to what she had seen in House's so many times before when he was formulating a plan.

Wilson opened his door and was startled by Roz & Natasha blocking his exit. "Whoa!" He took a step back. "How long have you been standing out there?"

"Long enough."

"What can I do for you?" He stepped aside expecting her to enter his office.

"Not a thing." She didn't make a move.

"Well, I'm on my way out for the day."

"Don't let me stop you." Roz stepped aside letting Wilson through. She waited until he reached the elevators and then headed that way. The elevator doors opened and Wilson got in followed by Roz and the dog. They rode to the lobby.

Roz waited for everyone to exit before she left the elevator and followed Dr. Wilson to the front doors.

Wilson was very conscious of being followed. It unnerved him. He turned on Roz, almost knocking her over. "Are you stalking me?"

"Feels weird, doesn't it?"

"I get it, you're annoyed with me. I tried to track you down; leave messages, but I always seemed to miss you."

"How'd you know about the library? Did you follow me there?" Roz followed him toward what she assumed was his car.

"House has a sixth sense about peoples' movements and motives. I followed up on his guess of the library and confirmed it with the librarian."

Roz stopped in her tracks. "So what does he want from me?"

It was Wilson's turn to squirm. "He wants you to get back to what's normal for you."

"There's nothing normal for me. Six months ago my life changed. Normal has taken on new meaning because I'm a different person."

"You don't want to finish your thesis? Graduate? Have a career?"

"They're not my top priorities."

"What is," Wilson asked sadly.

"I don't know." But she did. Roz wasn't ready to verbalize her aspirations for fear that others would think them petty.

"You should talk to House anyway."

"No need. It's not like he has damning evidence against me. There's no threat if I don't."

"If you don't, neither one of us will be at peace. He's pretty persistent."

Roz thought about it for a few moments. "Fine, I'll do it for you. Pick a date and time."

"Why should I choose?" They ended their walk at Wilson's car.

"The letter said you'd give me a ride."

"Oh, well I certainly could. I just assumed you'd drive yourself."

"Dr. House is evidently aware that I'm not driving these days. He should really call off his watch dog."

James stopped what he was doing, a frown on his face. "House can't know you're not driving. Lucas has been off the case since the night-wait a minute. How did he know?"

"There are some days when I wish House would stop playing games and be forthcoming with his intentions." James Wilson was incensed with his friend's behavior. He thought he knew House's motives for this meeting, but now he wasn't so sure. He had an inkling that the great doctor had noticed something about Roz's past, present or future and wanted to grandstand over his epiphany.

"Why are you so anxious?" Roz was beginning to regret her decision to meet with Dr. House.

James glanced over at her. "For as long as I've known House, he's always had a card up his sleeve. This time I think I know what card that is."

"All the better to beat him at his own game."

Wilson returned his attention back to the road. "I don't think you'll want to know what that card is." He pulled into a 7-11.

"Great. You can just let me out here."

"I think you should hear him out. I also think that we better get some beer and arrive with a gift of food. We want to keep his mood positive."

"Why are you deferring to him? What does he have over you?"

"Nothing," James said quickly. "Do you drink? Wine? Beer? Nevermind, I'm sure he has something if you need it."

"I'm fine," Roz was becoming irritated.

"I'll be right back." Wilson hurried into the store.

Roz watched him move through the aisles like a man on a mission. If she had ever thought James Wilson was a normal guy, this proved her wrong. She looked over the seat to Natasha who was sitting on the floor. "He is one strange bird."

Wilson opened the door to 221B unceremoniously. He hadn't called in advance, and was surprised that no one was even curious about someone entering. House was reclined on the couch staring mournfully at the piano. The day aide was at the kitchen counter engrossed in a novel of some sort.

"House," Wilson called out but got no response. "House!"

"Hey, Wilson," House acknowledged him in voice only.

"Something wrong?" James walked to the kitchen to unload the groceries on the counter.

Roz and Natasha entered the apartment. It felt different from previous times she had visited. House was very subdued. Roz had to wonder if he had taken a little extra Vicodin again. She was almost tempted to check a few of the places where she knew he kept his back up stashes.

"Brought you company and food," Wilson taunted.

House was slow in coming out of his reverie. "Oh."

James looked from his friend to the aide. "I hate to interrupt that fascinating story, but how long has he been like this?"

"About an hour," she said looking over the book. "Said he wanted to be alone with his piano. Then he banished me to the kitchen."

"Well, you're shift's almost over. I'll take it from here."

"You sure?" She seemed to realize he wasn't happy with her.

"Yeah, we have some personal business to discuss. He'll be okay."

"No problem," she walked across the room to the coat rack, donned her jacket and left without so much as a good-bye.

Roz took off her coat and unlaced her boots before pulling them off. Natasha took the freedom as a sign to go over and put her head in House's lap.

"What do you want, mutt?" Natasha look up, her tail wagging. "What'd you bring me," he called over his shoulder, ignoring the dog.

Wilson arranged the food on three plates, handing the first one to House and the next to Roz.

They ate in silence, Roz barely looking up from her plate. House was relishing every morsel. James sat like the third corner of the triumvirate watching the other two warily. It stayed quiet even as Wilson cleared the plates and washed the dishes.

Roz stared at House. House stared back. Wilson returned feeling like a referee at a duel.

"It's got to suck being right here and not being able to play any of the instruments," Roz broke the ice.

House winced. "Playing piano relaxes me; helps me think through things."

"Like I said, it's got to suck."

"I suppose no worse than being a criminologist and a victim."

Roz realized she was smirking in response. "Why do you care so much?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Uh, let's see...it has nothing to do with you?"

"Are you certain?"

"Well, unless you're the person who made me the victim, I'm pretty sure."

Wilson jumped in for the first time. "This is a great battle of witlessness, but in the interest of time, House, you should just get to the matter at hand."

"So start explaining." Roz sat back, her arms crossed in front of her chest.

House reached for his dossier. "This is a paper trail I hired a private dick to dig up."

"Why? What did I do to deserve your attention?"

"Absolutely nothing. I was after something that might cause Cuddy some grief. I wasn't expecting what I found." He put the file down.

"There's nothing in there that Dr. Cuddy doesn't already know about."

"True. I got curious as to what you could be hiding. I opened up Pandora's box."

"Never figured it would bite you in the ass, eh?"

"Wasn't the first time; won't be the last."

"If that's your idea of an apology-"

"That was so not an apology."

"You've explained yourself."

"Not wholeheartedly. I want you to continue with your thesis, graduate and kick some criminal butt."

"Those aren't my priorities now."

"No," House smirked, "your first priority is to see Dr. Barnes. I made an appointment for you. It's tomorrow at two."

"You guys are unbelievable!" Roz was shaking her head. "This one calls my shrink and you-"

"Wilson! How could you?" House said with mock disgust.

"Me?"

"You're like meddling children."

"I like to meddle. I'm good at it. You, on the other hand, are not good at hiding symptoms."

Wilson turned to Roz with a solemn look. "Remember that card up his sleeve? Here it comes."

"Your range of motion has decreased, you're limping more and well, let's keep my last bit of information between me and you. Keep your paws to yourself. I don't like to share."

Roz blushed. How could he possibly know about the few Vicodin she swiped? He was never in the room.

James gave his friend a concerned look.

House shook his head as if to say "don't go there."

"Fine. Are we done?" Roz got up.

"Not hardly. Now that we've taken care of your first priority, I have a request."

"Ask away," she figured he was going to press every button he could find.

"I'd like to see your research and read your thesis."

It was a simple request. She could hardly believe that was all he wanted. "You must really be bored."

"If I'm going to invest my time into persuading you to finish your doctorate, I figure I had better make sure it's worthy of my time."

"Yeah, because my finishing outweighs you saving a few people."

"I don't save people. I diagnose illness and prescribe treatment. If they live-bonus for them."

"You are a saint above all others," Wilson said with exasperation.

"You thought it was a worthy cause," House sneered at his friend.

"It is. It's your approach to nurturing that needs work."

"This is all you want? My research? Fine, you can have it."

"And if I deem it worthy of completion, I want your world you'll finish."

"I'm not going to guarantee that."

House shifted so he could appear more forceful. "You have spent years working to be top of your class. Why would you throw it all away?"

Roz got up and walked to the window. She focused on a snow frosted tree. "After your infarction, did you want to jump back in to being a doctor?"

House didn't answer. He was shocked that she even brought it up.

"I know you're no stranger to it." Roz peered at him sideways to see if she got a reaction.

"And here you are full of contentment and adept at joyful annoyance."

"Jealous much?"

House exhaled heavily. "Don't transfer how you feel on to me."

"And you're in denial. How many years has it been? What did you lose in life because of it?"

Wilson got up and went to the bar. He poured two whiskeys and returned handing one to House. Earlier in the evening he assumed Roz would end up needing a stiff drink.

House downed the drink before answering. "I'm kind of a lost cause. I don't want you to have to lose anything." He held out his glass to Wilson, indicating a refill was in order.

Roz turned from the window to face him. "Right now I'm just trying not to lose myself."