Wilson wasn't surprised when he came to see House on Saturday morning and he still was depressed. House had always had a problem with depression even if he wouldn't admit it. There was good news though, his bruises had significantly started to fade away and he was already doing exercises with his right hand. He also was now able to wear a light hospital gown so he wasn't just laying there nude with bandages and a scrap of material.
"Hey House," Wilson said sitting down in one of the chairs and sighing as he saw that House was watching one of his medical drama shows again. "Wasn't this one on yesterday?"
House sat there with a brooding look on his face and shrugged in response to Wilson.
Wilson tried to make conversation, "So how have your hand exercises been going."
House shrugged again not speaking.
Wilson had been getting tired of this for the last couple of day. "You want me to get us something to eat?"
"Not hungry." House said never taking his eyes of the TV.
"Hey I got you to talk that's new," Wilson said with a smile.
Wilson could see House narrow his eye even thought he was still looking at the TV. "So how long do you plan on doing this? You know the whole silent treatment and hardly eating."
House glared at Wilson and then looked back at the TV.
"Jackie said you got into it with another nurse." Wilson said seeing Houses jaw flex. "What's that two times since you broke up with Cuddy. House?" He rolled his eyes as House just sat there, and finally decided he had enough he walked over and unplugged the TV.
House gave Wilson a look like he was about to start yelling and then let out a heavy breath of air from his nose and leaned back in his bed and closed his eyes.
Wilson shook his head and walked over to House. "House what happened with the nurse? I need to know."
House turned his head away from Wilson and Wilson had the suspicion that if he had covers he would have them pulled up over his head.
Jackie walked in and House looked over at her. "Alright asshole you listen to me and you listen good you've been into it with too many of my nurses." Jackie looked over at Wilson, "He got into with another one of my nurses this morning. That's Thursday, Friday, and now today. This shit has to stop or we'll have to put restraints on him."
"You fucking trying it and it'll be the last thing you do." House said almost growling as he leaned toward her.
Jackie looked at him with a worried expression and then turned to Wilson, "He's loosing it. It's not going to be long before he hurts himself or someone else."
"He wont tell me what he got into it with the nurse about." Wilson said looking at her.
Jackie looked at House, "This morning he didn't want her changing his gown so he kept holding her back and yelling until she finally gave up."
"I can change my own gown, I told her that." House said looking at her.
"It's her job to help you and to make sure you aren't getting sores since you can't move well." Jackie say at him.
"What happened yesterday?" Wilson said staring at House.
Jackie sighed, "He pushed a nurse."
Wilson too was now giving House a worried look.
House looked at them and then away, "I told you I didn't mean to. I even apologized to her."
"What do you mean you didn't mean too?" Wilson asked troubled by Houses actions and words.
"I was asleep and I woke up and could feel pressure on my arm, so I looked to find a hand there and someone leaning over me, I freaked a little that's all." House said.
"Can we talk outside?" Wilson asked Jackie.
Jackie nodded and walked outside with him.
"How many fucking times do I have to tell you not to let the nurse's touch him with out his permission? He's been through something no one should have to go through, then he found out he might be HIV positive and ended the only relationship he's had in 10 years. I can get him to change his gowns and check him for sores it that is what it takes but tell your nurses to keep their damn hands off of him unless he okays it first." Wilson said with irritation.
Jackie shook her head, "You don't get it. Listen I feel sorry for the guy, but my main objective is to make sure he's getting better medically and we can't do that with out touching him. We've been waiting until he's asleep and we knock him out to put on more ointment and wash his burns, but now he hardly sleeps anymore. The nurse that was in there was trying to give him some Ativan to give us a couple of hours to clean his skin and put on ointment, but he woke up and freaked out. Now I'm sure you know what's going to happen if we can't properly treat his burns."
"It'll put him at risk for an infection," he sighed.
"He can't afford what kind of set back that might have on his recovery. With burns like his he has to knocked out, the cleaning of his skin would just be too painful and I would ask him to let us knock him out but you know he'd never agree to it." Jackie said and then put her hand on Wilson's shoulder, "Believe me we are doing all that we can for him, but if things don't change we may not have any other choice but to restrain him and give him something to keep him calm."
Wilson was getting frustrated, "I understand that you want to get him better, believe me that's what I want too. But... if you do this, if you put restraints on him and keep him doped up, especially now after what happened, he may never trust anyone again. I'm the closest friend he has and he hardly trust me right now, hell he's hardly talking to me. House is fighter, physically I think he can just about make it through anything but emotionally... he's always had a hard time." Wilson looked at Jackie's questioning eyes. "When I met him he wasn't crippled, he had been with his girlfriend for a little over four years and he was happy and then his leg happened and his girlfriend, who cheated on him and had always been abusive, left him only a month later."
Jackie swallowed, "By abusive you mean what exactly?"
Wilson looked down, "Emotionally and physically even after his surgery. It took him fifteen years to finally give love another shot and then this happens. I don't know how much more he can take emotionally before he looses it and if that ever happens I'm afraid we'll never get him back."
Jackie frowned, "I understand you're scared. I've tried to get him to talk to one our of the psychologist but he keeps refusing. I wish there was more we could do for him in that regard but there just isn't. So I'm trying my best to get him better physically for the moment."
Wilson ran his hands through his hair and over his face. "Alright maybe if we both just go in there and talk to him calmly we can get through to him." Wilson said and then let out a heavy sigh and opened the door. Wilson blinked and looked around.
Jackie looked around him and ran into the room looking at the empty bed. She could see blood on the floor so she walked over to it and saw a smeared trail that was ended by the closed bathroom door.
As soon as House had heard the mention of restraints he knew he had to get out of there. So he unhooked himself from the machines took out his morphine and IV drip then pushed himself off the bed. He cringed as he felt the burn on his leg rip open then grabbed his cell phone and dragged himself into the restroom locking it. House breathed heavily as he leaned against the wall across from the door and looked at his phone. All the sudden like a ton of bricks it hit him, he had no one to call. He closed his eyes and knew the minute Wilson had walked out with Jackie he would turn on him, and Cuddy didn't want anything to do with him she wouldn't care, she wouldn't come. House could feel himself sweating as he started to panic, there was no way of calling the team with out them finding out what all happened.
Wilson was now standing by Jackie and tried the door which was locked. "House open the door."
House didn't hear him as his head was throbbing and his heart was pounding at the idea of being stuck in this place with no way out. He could already see them strapping him down in his mind and decided he wouldn't let them take him. He opened his eyes and looked at the small cave he had gotten himself corned into he grabbed a old dirt covered piece of cloth and wrapped it around his leg, putting pressure on it to help stop the bleeding. He could hear the faint foot steps and knew they were getting close as he looked around for weapons. He smiled as he saw that there were grenades all round him and gathered them up dumping them in his lap. If he was going to have to go he was taking them all with him.
Wilson had been pounding on the door for a couple of minutes, when he finally stopped. "Alright we need a key to this door and it would be a good idea to get some male nurses in case we have to drag him out."
Jackie nodded, "I'm also getting some Ativan before he ends up hurting himself or anyone else."
"It's probably for the best," Wilson said in a defeated tone.
Jackie was back in four minutes with three male nurses and two security guards and unlocked the door.
House could see the dust move as he saw them at the mouth of the small cave. They were the Pakistan's his unit had been trying to kill for the last two days. " أنت ذاهب الى جميع يموت يا ابناء الكلبات." (You are all going to die you son of bitches.) He screamed.
The intire group looked around at eachother in confusion as House hurled a phone at them and smiled with victory.
Cuddy looked down at her cell phone that was ring and saw that it was House. She sighed trying to decide if she should answer and finally accepted the call.
House saw the grenade bounce off of one of them and land by there feet and explode, but was utterly shocked when the men stood there staring him down with flesh torn off and hanging from their bodies. "ما يمارس الجنس مع أنت؟ " (What the fuck are you?) He asked with wide eyes in almost a whisper. Then threw another grenade in the middle of them.
"Hello," Cuddy said and could hear noise followed by a man speaking Arabic. Cuddy looked down at her phone with confusion and made sure it was suppose to be House.
Wilson walked through the group and looked at House.
"Fuck Hobbs, what the hell are these guys. Get your ass over here." House yelled at him.
Wilson realized that House was talking to him and walked over to him.
House grabbed some soap bars and shampoos and handed them to Wilson, "Wake up solder this is war, take these and we'll take out as many as we can, and if you see a way out take it. Don't try to be a hero and come back for me, just go you got it?"
Wilson gave House a worried look, "House where are you?"
Cuddy blinked in confusion as she listened to the conversation on the other end of the phone. "House? Wilson? Can you hear me?" She asked
"What do you mean, I'm in Pakistan just like you. Now lets get to it Hobbs." House said looking at him as if he was crazy and tossing another grenade out.
Wilson closed his eyes for a moment and then grabbed both of Houses arms firmly, "House we aren't in Pakistan we are in Princeton New Jersey. I'm not Hobbs, I'm your friend Wilson. They aren't the enemy they are nurse who are trying to make you better. House let them make you better, please for me." Wilson had tears in his eyes as he finished.
"What did they do to you, did they give you some kind of drug are something? Snap out of it Hobbs, we can still win this!" House said then looked at the Pakistan's standing at the mouth of the cave with rage, "ماذا فعلتم له الله عليك لعنة الزنوج ال " (What did you do to him you god dammit?)
Wilson tightened his grip as he felt House jerk towards them and looked at him with sad eyes.
"Hobbs let me go!" House yelled at him.
"House, this is for your own good. I hope someday you'll understand I have no choice." Wilson said holding on tight.
House's eyes looked at him with disbelief, "Don't do this Hobbs! They are just using you! No Hobbs let me go!" He yelled as he saw the Pakistanis move closer one of them holding a pistol at him.
Cuddy swallowed as she heard the shear panic in Houses voice.
Wilson wasn't able to hold House still, but he was able to keep his arms down so that the security guards could get a good hold on him and then he held his legs afraid that House would hurt himself more trying to defend himself with them.
"No... get the hell away from me, NO!" House yelled as he saw them shoot him in arm. He watched the blood flow from the wound and started to get light headed, "Hobbs don't let them kill you, I know you are a good man. I know that part of you is still there." House barely mumbled the last part as his body went limp and he was out.
Wilson let go of House's calf's and scooted away from him.
"House!" Cuddy screamed on the phone and Wilson looked over at the phone and picked it up as the men picked House up and carried him back to the bed with gloved hands.
"Hello," Wilson said.
Cuddy swallowed, "Wilson, what happened?"
Wilson looked at House and shook his head, "I'm not sure, you mind coming by later?"
Cuddy felt nervous, "Wilson I'm not sure that's a good idea."
"No, don't worry about it Cuddy you're not dating him anymore it's not your problem." Wilson said full of anger.
Cuddy was surprised by his sudden change in tone, "Wilson it's not like that, it's just I don't want to upset him anymore than he is."
"Oh I have a feeling he isn't going to be aware enough to even know." Wilson said bitterly.
Cuddy knew it was still going to be awkward for her, but could tell Wilson needed her. "I'll be over in an hour, we can get something to eat."
"Great," Wilson said in a defeated tone and hung up.
Cuddy made it there in 45 minutes and peeked in the open door of Houses room. She could see House staring at nothing in the corner with a blank look and walked in slowly.
"Hey," Wilson said from one of the chairs.
Cuddy looked over at him and gave him a small smile, "Hey," she said back and walked over to House. He had padded restraints on all of his limbs and didn't respond to her at all. She frowned as she could see a bandage around his thigh that was half soaked in blood. "House?" She said and waved a hand in front of him, but he didn't respond.
"Don't worry he doesn't know you're even here. They've been sure to keep him heavily medicated so he's just pretty much a vegetable right now." Wilson said watching House.
Cuddy walked over to Wilson, "Where do you want to get food so we can talk?"
Wilson sighed, "I'll just call a place that delivers I don't feel comfortable leaving him right now."
Cuddy nodded, "Sounds good."
Wilson called a close Chinese place and ordered for him and Cuddy then hung up the phone and leaned back in the chair.
"So, what happened?" Cuddy asked sitting down in the chair beside him.
Wilson laughed bitterly, "He lost it. He had a psychotic brake." He looked over at House and shook his head, "Cuddy he didn't even know who I was, or where he was. He.. he thought he was in Pakistan back in the Marines, he was throwing soap at us as if it was explosives." Wilson chuckled slightly, "You know it would be funny if it had scared the shit out of me."
Cuddy looked at him, "Wilson this is House when is he not scaring the shit out of people. That's what he does, but he'll be alright in the end he always is."
Wilson scoffed still looking at House, "Like you would know, when were you there? You didn't check up with him after his leg, or after Stacy left. You didn't keep up with how he was doing after the Ketimin treatment failed, or during the Tritter investigation."
Cuddy looked from Wilson to House, "I felt like the last thing he needed during those times was to see me."
Wilson looked at her with frustration, "All he needed was to know that someone cared, that someone in his life wouldn't just walk out on him because he made a mistake."
Cuddy looked at him with a hurt expression not knowing what to say.
Wilson looked away, "Sorry, I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at myself."
"But why are you mad at yourself Wilson? You haven't done anything wrong, you were there for him." Cuddy said watching him.
Wilson looked at her and shrugged, "Sometime I was, sometimes I wasn't. I was too worried about teaching him a lesson to realize that the Ketimin treatment hadn't worked. During the Tritter investigation I turned on him, I ratted him out." Wilson gave a small half laugh, "He's right, I never asked what Tritter had done to him. I just assumed that he was in the wrong and was being stubborn, it never even occurred to me that Tritter might have done something to him." Wilson shook his head, "What kind of best friend doesn't even ask? Then he risked his life to save Amber and what did I do, I walked out on our friendship and told him I wasn't even sure we ever were friends. I acted like he had done something wrong when he had risked everything to try and save her."
Cuddy sighed, "So you haven't always been there for him. It's not like he's been the best friend to you. There is no reason for you to feel guilty for not being perfect he sure as hell doesn't."
Wilson looked at her stunned by her coldness, "You have no idea how much he's been there for me. He's been there to help me though every divorce. He went to the lawyers with me, talked me through my depressions, and then pushed me to let go and date again every time. He's been in all of my wedding on time and dressed formally even thought he hates weddings. He's been happy for me and wished me the best even if he didn't think I was with someone that was really good for me. House strongly disagrees with cheating and yet he's never thrown it in my face when I was getting divorced." Wilson gave her a small smile, "He'd kill me if he ever finds out I told you this, but when I'm sick, suddenly a delivery guy comes to the door with egg drop soup that's already been paid for. Some how he always knows I'm going to be sick even before I do. House may not seem like it, but he's a good friend. He's never asked me to sacrifice anything for him or our friendship. I'm not saying I never have made sacrifices but he's never asked me too or even expected it."
Cuddy looked at House, "So is being his friend worth all of this?"
"He didn't ask for this, you know that right?" Wilson asked with a calm anger.
"I didn't say he did, but he does get in a lot of messes. I'm just asking if his friendship is really worth all of the headache." Cuddy said still looking at House.
"Wow, you really can't wait for him to get to that sad lonely death you were telling him about can you?" Wilson asked angered by her insensitivity. "You know you may get it sooner than you ever dreamed."
Cuddy looked at him with worry for the first time since she had gotten there, "What do you mean by that? You know I didn't mean what I said, I was just so mad at him."
"I'm not sure if he's going to really come back." Wilson said looking at House, "I'm not sure he had enough to come back for. He's been living in constant pain for the past decade, he's scared he'll never be able to walk again, he just broke up with his girlfriend and might have..." Wilson suddenly stopped himself.
"Might have what?" Cuddy asked
"Might have lost his mind," Wilson said quickly.
Cuddy looked at him as if she wasn't sure that was what he was about to say, but then smiled at him, "He's got a good friend."
"A good friend," Wilson repeated, "So I guess you aren't his friend anymore?"
Cuddy looked at House, "I know it's wrong, but I can't help but still be mad at him right now. Even with all that he's going through, I'm mad, because he hurt me Wilson."
Wilson frowned, "I know he did, but it hurt him too."
Cuddy rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to speak when Wilson stood up in front of her.
"Don't you dare roll your eyes at how much it hurt him to end it with you! He was sobbing so hard when I came back in here that the bed was fucking shaking! The only other time I've seen him like that was when Stacy left him! It was over an hour before he calmed down enough to even speak!" Wilson said furiously.
Cuddy looked at him shocked and then at House, "But then why did he do it?" She asked partly confused partly angered.
"Because he cares more about your safety than what he wants." Wilson said starting to calm down some.
Cuddy looked at him as if he was crazy, "So now you believe that he is a marked man that people are coming after too?"
"No," Wilson said.
"So then there isn't any real threat," Cuddy said with certainty.
Wilson sighed, "No, there is a real threat, it just isn't people coming after him."
Cuddy shook her head and thought about what he was saying, "Then what is it?"
Wilson looked away from her, "I can't tell you that."
"Oh this is just great," Cuddy said with irritation, "He tells you what the hell is going on but decides not to tell me why he broke it off."
"I told you he's trying to protect you," Wilson said.
"From what Wilson?" Cuddy asked.
Wilson swallowed, "Maybe if he comes out of this you should ask him that."
Cuddy gritted her teeth, "And the only possible way for him to protect me was to break up with me?"
Wilson closed his eyes, "No, but he felt it was the safest thing to do."
"Since when does House care about being safe?" Cuddy asked with skepticism.
Wilson shrugged, "He doesn't when it's his safety but he isn't going to risk yours."
"So you think he made the right decision?" Cuddy asked him seriously.
Wilson licked his lips and looked at her, "I don't know, I've never been in his situation. But, if he truly loves you and want's to make sure you're safe, then... yes, he made the right decision. I just hope he can live with it."
Cuddy was surprised by his words, "What do you mean? What's been going on since I left?" Cuddy asked with concern.
"He's been depressed. Not eating, not talking, not sleeping and not allowing anyone to touch him, even me. He screamed when I just reached out to him. He's been getting in to it with the nurses of course, because they have to touch him to treat him and he wont allow it." Wilson looked back over at House and smiled, "This is the first time I've seen him sleep since the break up."
Cuddy looked over to see House's eyes closed and see him taking deep breaths.
There was a knock on the door and Wilson quickly got up and paid the delivery guy. "Alright, well the food is here." Wilson said and starting pulling out containers and putting them on the rolling tray in front of both of them.
Cuddy looked at the food, "It looks good, you know this might be the first meal you've had in the same room as House and not had your food stolen."
Wilson frowned, "Yeah," he said with a sigh and started eating his food.
Cuddy decided it would be best to just stay quite and eat. She was about to take a bite of her steamed dumpling when she heard a noise come from House and they both looked at him. He seemed to be having a bad dream his head was moving slowly from side to side and he was mumbling something.
Wilson walked over to him and tried to listen. He looked up in confusion, and then Cuddy went over and leaned to listen. She felt goose bumps on her skin, he was talking in that same child like tone he had the night they slept together. "Can't stop shaking... Yes sir Colonel ... I'll do better,... please no, no!" Cuddy bit her lip and gently felt of his head, it was hot. "He's got a fever," She said softly and reached her right hand up to his hair as his head was still moving and he was still mumbling. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and ran her fingers through his hair in a stroking motion. His face relaxed and he stopped moving his head as she continued.
Wilson watched and smiled, "You're good with him."
Cuddy looked over at Wilson and sighed looking back at House, "If only he could realize that."
"Don't wanna be alone," House mumbled and Cuddy stopped touching him wondering if she'd woken him up.
"House?" Wilson said but didn't get a response and then looked at Cuddy.
Cuddy swallowed and House's face looked stressed, "Never leave me... with him again," he mumbled.
"Do you know who he is talking about?" Wilson asked Cuddy.
Cuddy shook her head, "Is it just me or does he sound like a child?"
Wilson frowned.
"Mom?" House mumbled with a wrinkled brow.
Cuddy looked at him with a hanging mouth, she didn't know what to do. Slowly she started stoking his hair back and his face relaxed. Cuddy looked to Wilson for help.
"Ask him about his dad," Wilson whispered.
Cuddy looked back down at House and frowned, she wasn't sure this was a good idea since House didn't seem to know what he was saying. "What happened sweetie?" She asked.
House didn't say anything but he frowned.
Cuddy sighed, "Greg, did daddy hurt you?"
House swallowed, "I was bad... try to be better... don't be mad," he mumbled in the same tone.
Cuddy frowned, "I'm not mad, tell me what happened." she said in a soft tone.
"Fell.. grass stains... on pants... didn't mean ... kid pushed me." House said weakly.
Cuddy rubbed the side of his face, "What did daddy do?"
House's head slowly moved from side to side. "Classified... I'm good soldier."
Cuddy looked to Wilson, "Did he grow up in a religious home?" she whispered to Wilson.
Wilson nodded, "Jehovah's Witnesses, basically Christianity without all the holidays, presents and hope."
Cuddy looked back down and House, "Greg, God doesn't like it when you don't obey me, now please tell me what daddy did."
House's face looked worried, "God... hurt me?"
Cuddy felt guilty at hearing his child like voice ask her that question, "No sweetie, God doesn't hurt people, but you want God to be happy right?"
House nodded slightly, "He made wash... pants... ice water."
Cuddy sighed it wasn't as bad as she had thought, "Did it make you cold?"
House frowned, "Started shaking... Coronal said stop... couldn't...then he... put me in water with ice."
Cuddy glanced at Wilson then back at House, "Then what happened Greg?"
"Lots ice... water turned pink... sharp ice cut me... wanted out... Coronal held down... said I had to be strong." House said with a frown.
Cuddy blinked at the image in her mind, "How long?"
"Turned blue... grabbed shoulders... push down hard... couldn't breath," House was moving his head slightly again, "Lots of water... then black... woke up on ground... coughing water... I'll be good."
Cuddy tried to keep her voice calm and steady, "Sweetie, do you know how old you will be next year?"
House's face calmed slightly, "Six next year... five in week."
Cuddy wiped her eyes quickly and combed his hair with her fingers, "Did it hurt?" she asked in a kind voice.
House's lip curled up slightly, "I'm big boy... didn't cry... me like Colonel."
Cuddy felt ill, "Greg you need to go to sleep?"
House nodded slightly, "Love you mommy," He whispered then moved his head to the right to sleep.
Cuddy didn't know what to say back and turned around to walk out of the room into the hall. She leaned on the wall across from his room and looked through the window at him as she wiped hers eyes again.
Wilson walked out in the hall looking down.
"I'm never doing that again. He never would have told us that if we hadn't manipulated him." Cuddy said giving Wilson a guilty look.
Wilson looked up at her, "Okay," he said and walked to the nurses station. "Jackie, he's got a fever."
Jackie sighed, "I'll go check, but it's probably an infection from that bathroom floor." She walked by Cuddy giving her a small smile and walked into Houses room.
Wilson stood looking through the glass beside Cuddy as they watched the nurse take his temperature then take the bandages off of his leg. Then Wilson quickly went inside the room.
