House woke up sweating again and trying to catch his breath, he looked around to see that the chair Taulb had been in was now empty he itched his chest and smiled as he saw his hands were still free.

"Hey, still having nightmares?" asked one of the many nurses House hadn't bothered to learn the name of.

He cocked an eyebrow at her, "Who say's that they are nightmares?"

She sighed, "You know what, I would fight with you if there was a point to it, but there isn't. So it's time for a shower."

House grumbled as he pulled the covers over his face, "Come back later," he mumbled.

She pulled the cover back down, "Sorry, I've waited as long as I can, it's already past supper. See I was nice enough not to even wake you up since I knew you wouldn't eat." She said as she started unhooking him from the equipment.

House frowned, "What kind of jello did they have?"

She rolled her eyes, "Cherry with whipped cream, and yes I saved you some."

House gave her a smile, "At least I have one friend in here... Nancy?" He said as he read her badge.

She shook her head, "So how did you manage to get loose today?"

House gave her a sly grin, "Oh you know, how these things go. Someone feels sorry for the bad boy cripple and starts talking to him. Next thing you know they are untying the bad boy so he can do some bad things to them." He said wagging his eyebrows.

She cocked an eyebrow at him, "I'm pretty sure the doctor hasn't signed off that you can do... "bad things"." She said putting quotation marks around 'bad things'.

House smiled, "I'm a rebel."

"Is there anyway I can tell you to get naked, that you won't take the wrong way?" She asked looking at him.

"Absolutely, NOT! Mrs. Nasty Nancy." House said as he sat up in the bed and saw the windows to his room were open, "You mind closing those."

Nancy looked over and closed the blinds, "There," she said and turned around to see him standing on his shaky right leg as he tried to get turned around to sit in the wheelchair. "Wait," She said running up to him and wrapping her arm around his waist. "What do you think you are doing?"

House tried to remain calm at her touch, he kept reminding himself that he still had on the gown. "I've gotta learn to do this for myself at some point." He said and suddenly lost his balance but she had a tight hold on him and guided him down into the chair.

She looked down at him with a frown, "You aren't naked."

House didn't look up, "Well look who's the eager beaver?" He said though his voice was tight, "I'm sure you can wait until we get in the shower."

She put on some special gloves that went up to her elbows and put on a plastic gown that covered her, "Alright here we go," she said and tried to push the wheelchair only to look down and see him holding the wheels so it wouldn't move. "Now you know we have to do this," She said softly.

"I know, it's just, I want to try pushing myself in." He said.

"Okay," Nancy said letting go of the wheelchair, "but remember to be careful with your right hand, it isn't completely healed and I don't want you hurting it. Actually really this isn't a good idea maybe you..." She stopped talking as she saw him move the chair tentatively at first and then he turned around in it.

"Hey, look now I've got wheels." He said smiling while wagging his eyebrows.

She smiled as he rolled back and forth, then grabbed the wheelchair pushing it on the ground, "No, wheelies!" she said smiling.

House looked up at her and grinned, "I don't think it really counts if you're smiling."

"Don't make me be mean. Now get in the shower, while I grab the cleaning supplies and when I get in there I want you naked!" She said as she walked away.

"That's what they all say!" House said as he wheeled himself into the large shower and took off the gown along with the bandages. He heard other people moving outside the show and became nervous when Nancy came it. "Who's out there?" He asked.

"Just the cleaning girl, she's going to get you some nice clean sheet and a clean pillow." She walked around and looked at him, "I'm impressed, you actually listened to me."

House chuckled and looked down, "Well it's always nice to hear a women say she's impressed when she see's you naked."

"So Mr. Independent... are you going to let me wash you today or are you going to give it a try." She asked.

"I'll give it a try," He said as he turned on the water and she pulled the curtain to standing outside in case he needed something. House sighed as the warm water ran over him. Twenty minutes had passed by the time that he was finally done washing and scrubbing which had left him feeling raw and worn. He moved the wheelchair so that he could stick his head out of the curtain and saw Nancy standing there looking at him.

"Are you done?" She asked looking down at him.

House ticked his tongue against his teeth, "All except my back," he said looking up at her.

She gave him a smile, "Oh good, I was beginning to feel rather useless with your new found independence." Nancy opened the curtain and House quickly moved his hands to cover his right thigh and genitals. She lathered the rag and started rubbing his back. House let his head hang as she rubbed his muscles as if giving him a massage every now and then she would rub one of the burns but she was careful not to over do it. When she was finished she rested the rag on his shoulder, "Alright, you're all done now."

House nodded with his head still hanging and turned off the water. "Towel?" he asked trying to figure out the best way to do this.

Nancy quickly handed him a towel and watched while biting her lip as he tried to stand facing away from her.

"If you could dry the seat of the wheelchair and put a dry towel on it I can get the rest when I sit down." He said as he held on firmly to the safety bars that lined the bathroom.

She started as soon as the words were out of his mouth though it took her twice as long as she kept looking back to him to make sure he was standing steady. "Okay it's dry and there's a clean dry towel for you to sit on, just be careful." Nancy said watching him as he slowly lowed himself to the chair, and started drying off his front, still facing away from her.

"Ready for my stylish hospital gown," He said looking over his shoulder.

Nancy handed it to him with a smile, "You know, I think you pull it off rather nicely."

House grinned as he put it on, "Well I have to say I look better with it on that I do without it." He said as he pushed his wheelchair out of the shower.

"Wait," She said as she grabbed a towel and dried his hair. When she was done she could tell he was a little tense but all in all he seemed alright.

House froze when she touched him but it was soon over and he sighed. She stripped off the long gloves and the plastic gown. "So, what are you waiting for?" She asked.

House wheeled himself out of the bathroom and into his room to see Wilson now sitting in the visitors chair.

Wilson raised an eyebrow, "Wow, I didn't expect them to let you in a wheelchair this soon."

"He kind of stole it from me," Nancy said looking down at House who was giving a mischievous grin as she put on new gloves.

House pulled up by the bed and let the left armrest down and pushed himself up on his right leg. Wilson quickly stood up and went to his side. "I'm fine, okay well I'm still rather wobbly but, it's good right?" He said turning slightly and sitting on the bed while Nancy hooked him back up the the machines and made quick work out of bandaging him up.

Wilson blinked as worry left his face and smile took it's place, "Yeah House, it's great."

"Oh, there you go over praising again." House said and then looked at Nancy, "You should see how excited he gets when I eat something."

Nancy smiled and grabbed the wheelchair to leave.

"No... wait... you don't have to take the wheelchair back." House said looking at it longingly.

Nancy sighed, "Actually I do. I'm sorry but they only just took off the restraints today and I wasn't even suppose to let you use it yourself. I'll leave a message for Dr. Tucker about how good you did with it, but he has to okay me leaving a wheelchair in your room."

House looked down with disappointment, "Yeah," he said giving the morphine button a couple of pushes.

Nancy pouted slightly, "You did great today, but don't rush it alright."

House nodded but still looked at the chair as she rolled it away when she left, then looked at Wilson with a gleam in his eye, "You could bring me a wheelchair to practice with."

"House, she right you need to take it slow, and if I bring one up here you won't take it slow." Wilson said reasonably.

House sighed and looked Wilson in the eyes, "Fine, I promise I'll take it slow." he said seriously.

"House..." Wilson whined.

"No, seriously I will take it slow, not even out of the room I swear," House said now with imploring eyes.

Wilson felt guilty when he looked away, "I'm sorry House, but I'm not going to until Dr. Tucker thinks it's okay."

House couldn't believe Wilson was saying no. "I'm ready you saw me. I can do this Wilson."

Wilson still didn't look at him, "I'm not changing my mind on this House."

"And why the hell not?" House asked irritated.

Wilson looked up at him, "Because, as happy as I am to see you excited about something, I'm not willing to put your health in jeopardy for it."

House stared at him, "My DOCTOR told them to give me 2 milligrams of Ativan every four hours and you let him! MY DOCTOR let them put restraints on a man who almost died the last time he was tied down!"

Wilson looked at House sadly, "You mean you."

House looked at him like he was an idiot, "That's what I said."

Wilson sighed, "No House, you said on a man who almost died."

House blinked, "It's the same thing you knew who I was talking about."

Wilson swallowed, "No House, it isn't the same thing at at all. Talk to me about what happened, and I'll bring you a wheelchair."

House narrowed his eyes on Wilson, "Fine!" he spat.

Wilson blinked in surprise, "Ummm, okay just start at the beginning."

"NO! I meant FINE as in you can keep your fucking wheelchair." House said with frustrated anger.

Wilson was taken aback by House's anger, "House you need to talk about this."

House shook his head, "Why does everyone keep saying that! How can you tell me what I need? Did it happen to you? Do you have any idea what it's like to have no control over what's done to your body?"

Wilson licked his lips, "No, but maybe if you talk to me about it I could understand."

House's eyes boarded into his, "You think you can understand something like that by talking to me. You think it's that simple. You will never know what it's like unless it happens to you and I can tell you, you don't want to understand! You don't ever want to know what that feels like, because it's not something you ever forget!"

Wilson saw House's eye twitch as he had talked and swallowed at the meaning behind those words.

"Well, you are going to have to talk about it tomorrow, the police will be here to take your statement." He watched as House looked away, "What did Tritter do to you?"

House took a breath, "Why?" he asked his eyes now glued to Wilson's.

"Because I should have asked then, but I didn't, and I want to know." Wilson said truthfully.

House closed his eyes, "Why?" he asked again.

Wilson swallowed, "Because I care House."

House looked down, "He wanted me to scape the rash on his penis to send off for test and when I told him that it wasn't necessary because I already knew the reason for the rash. He got pissed, and acted like I didn't know what I was talking about and when I got up to leave he tripped me and I fell into the medical cabinet. Then he said that the only reason I get away with acting the way I do is because I was a cripple."

Wilson thought about it, "What happened when you two talked in Cuddy's office?"

House rolled his eyes, "Oh well see he first told me how much he wanted to kick my ass, and then said he would accept an apology instead. So I told him that he could say I said whatever he wanted but that I wasn't apologizing to him."

Wilson took a deep breath, "House?"

House looked up at him waiting.

"What happened during the 48 hour he had you locked up?" Wilson asked and as he saw House look away he called him, "House... look at me." House swallowed nervously. "House you didn't do anything wrong so stop looking down as if you should be ashamed or embarrassed. Just look at me and tell me."

House blinked at Wilson even thought it sounded like an easy task House was having problems as his mouth would open to start talking and close on it's own. It took a couple of minutes and Wilson was about to give up when House finally spoke, "Tritter took away my vicodin and then he... he hand cuffed me to the bars and started hitting me. He didn't allow me to eat, but every two or three hours he would come in and just to beat me, even when he wasn't on duty. That's why I said there was nothing to worry about, I thought he had gotten what he was after then."

Wilson remembered how sore House had been when he picked him up at the Police Station and shook his head. "Why didn't you tell me?"

House was irritated, "I didn't see a point to it. I thought it was over."

"The point is to turn him in and make sure he never does that to someone else again, to get justice for what was done to you." Wilson said looking at House.

House narrowed his eyes on Wilson, "See, that's exactly why I didn't tell you."

"You mean because I wouldn't have just let it go like you did! I get that you're proud House and don't want people knowing something like that was done to you, but where the hell is your self respect!" Wilson said loudly

House's hand was shaking as he gripped the bed rail tightly, "I still have self respect, he didn't get what he really wanted. I never apologized, I didn't make a sound while he hit me even when he kicked my thigh. He wanted to break me but he couldn't," House said now with a bitter smile and dark eyes as he let out a menacing laugh, "no... no he wasn't even close."

Wilson watched House with worry, "Were these guys close?"

House's eyes never wavered, "They were closer to killing me than breaking me, but finding out about the HIV did make it closer than most, except Korea."

Wilson frowned, "Even this you didn't involve the police, I called them. You've been avoiding giving them your statement about what happened. It's like you don't think they'll believe you or..." Wilson swallowed, "you've been conditioned to just except people treating you like this."

House stared at him with intensity, "People do keep treating me this way and they always will because I'm an bastard. I've just learned to except it."

Wilson's face was troubled, "You can accept people will physically hurt you, but you still can't accept peoples kindness, or help." He sighed, "I've always joked that you were fucked up in the head House but I guess I never realized how much. You need help, you're allowing things that never should have been allowed and pushing away what everyone needs."

House raised an eyebrow, "I'm not everyone, I don't need peoples kindness or help, and I definitely didn't allow people to do this to me. I fought them I've always fought them, so don't try to make it sound like I'm some scared child who just laid there taking it saying yes, sir with each hit."

"Yes, sir?" Wilson repeated thinking about it and suddenly his eyes locked with House's, "Oh my god, that's what this is about."

"Shut up Wilson," House demanded.

Wilson wasn't fazed, "That's it isn't it, that's exactly what he did, your father..." Wilson froze as he saw House push himself out of the bed as the equipment he was attached to moved with him.

House was standing on his right leg while his left leg hung uselessly, "Don't say another Fucking word you hear me." He said looking down at Wilson as he swayed holding on to the bed railing with his right hand.

Wilson was as still as a statue as he looked up at House, his eyes swayed back and fourth following House's. Seconds seemed like hours some how as both men watched the other. As long as House and Wilson had been friends there had been fights, disagreements, and times in which the other crossed some unknown boundary. But nothing quite like this, which is why Wilson couldn't let it go, he wasn't sure if he was right, but he knew that he had gotten closer to the truth than House liked. Very slowly and soft Wilson spoke, "Tell me I'm wrong House."

House stared down at Wilson as he tried to decide what to do, so far it was between knocking in his teeth, telling him to fuck off, lying, half-truth, avoidance, or... he could explain exactly what his childhood was like and make Wilson flesh crawl as his stomach turned. "What the hell makes you think I owe you an answer? HUH!" House watched as Wilson just sat there searching his eyes, "Answer me dammit!" He said leaning toward Wilson which made him lose his balance and Wilson stood up quickly catching him around the waist. House jerked as his body tensed up at the touch.

Wilson could feel House's muscles tighten and hear his rapid breathing. He could hear his hand grasping and finally get a hold of the bed. Wilson released the railing for the bed and pushed him up against it trying to make him sit down.

House gave him a hard shove, "Get off me." Wilson let go and stood watching as House leaned against the bed. "Never act like you KNOW my family again, because you have no fucking clue as to how my family is or was." Houses voice had been low but strong.

Wilson felt his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed, "House I..."

House interrupted him, "Did I ask for an apology? No, I asked for you to promise you'll never act like you KNOW my family. So... can you do that or do I go from having one friend to no friends."

Wilson saw the seriousness in House's eyes, "I promise I'll never do that again."

House nodded as he sat down on the bed and rubbed his left ribs, when he felt liquid he stopped looking down to see he had pulled a stitch out and was bleeding. He looked up at Wilson with big worried eyes, "I'm bleeding."

Wilson looked down at the blood on House's gown, "House it's okay, it looks like you just pulled a stitch. We'll just call the nurse, it'll be fine."

"I know that you idiot, I'm not worried about that. Did any get on you?" Wilson blinked and took a step back to look at his gray suit jacket to see the right side smeared with blood. "Just on my jacket." Wilson said.

"Take it off let me see," House said looking at the spot with worry.

Wilson sighed, "House we need to get a nurse in here to stitch you back up."

"I'm fine, I can stitch myself up if I need to but I'm not calling anyone until I'm sure you didn't..." House stared at the blood stain, "get my blood on your skin."

Wilson took off the coat to see some blood on his light blue shirt and looked at House who was looking paler as he watched. Then he stripped off the dress shirt to reveal a white under shirt that had a smaller amount of blood on it and finally he quickly took off his undershirt and looked down to see clean flesh. He smiled and looked at House who looked at the pile of cloths Wilson had taken off.

"Put them in the Hazardous Waste Material bag in the corner," House said coldly now looking at his hands which were shaking.

Wilson licked his lips and hung his head, "House, I'm sure that's not necessary."

"Really?" House snapped looking up at him, "You're sure I don't have HIV, because today I found out my infection is only getting worse even though I'm taking two different antibiotics."

Wilson closed his eyes at the news, although it could be a lot of things causing that, HIV was among the list. He looked back at House, "Even if you did have HIV, the chances from catching it from my clothes are zero House."

"If they are zero then why is there a protocol to discard any material with HIV blood in the Hazardous Waste Materials?" House said watching him closely.

"I don't know House," Wilson said.

"Well I do, because in 2003 a girl age 7 was playing in her mothers laundry and some how got the virus. So put on gloves, and throw them out, they were ugly anyway." House said coldly.

Wilson sighed, "And if I do that what do you expect me to wear?"

House shrugged, "I'm sure there's an extra gown around here some where."

Wilson grimaced, "Hey, take off the gown let me see how bad it is," he said as he walked towards House.

"No! Stay away from me," House said as he pushed himself as far away from Wilson as he could on the bed accidentally pressing the call button.

"Hello, Dr. House is everything okay?" Asked a female voice over the speaker.

House looked startled but kept his eyes on Wilson, "I pulled a stitch or two, so I need someone to come in here and fix it up. I'm bleeding so make sure they were the appropriate coverings."

"We'll have someone there shortly Dr. House," she said back.

Wilson put his hand's up in a surrendering motion, "Alright, I'll just watch when they get up here."

House didn't say anything or move until he saw Wilson put on gloves and throw away the clothes. As soon as he saw the cloths hit the bag he narrowed his eyes on Wilson, "You're an IDIOT!"

Wilson looked at him both surprised and confused, "Hey, I'm just doing what you said."

"Not that. How many times have I told you not to touch me? And then what do you do? You grab me around the waist!" House said glaring at him.

Wilson looked at him like he was crazy, "You were going to FALL! Do I have to remind you that you broke your FEMUR and the last thing your right leg needs is to be on the floor so dirt can get into your burn and infection. What should I have done House?"

House had pulled himself back into the bed and was keeping pressure on the wound. "You should have let me fall."

Wilson was about to yell when he noticed the slight shaking in House's hands, and took a deep breath first. "I'm not going to stand back and watch you fall, not when I know it could literally set you back weeks for your recovery. Maybe you shouldn't be jumping out of the bed to stand, and then I wouldn't have to touch you."

"I wouldn't have been standing in the first place if you could learn when to stop pushing issues that have nothing to do with you! But no you just have to keep pushing and pushing. You're just like everyone else, you don't listen to me. You just keep trying to force me to do what you want!" House was taking heavy labored breaths as his eyes were dark on Wilson's.

Wilson looked in House's dark eyes, "I hear you House, it's just... I'm worried about you. You hold everything in, and you never try to let anyone in to share the burden of the weight. I don't want you to crumble under all of it."

House looked away, "I did try, on the way to my fathers funeral and you..."

Wilson waited for House to finish, but realized he wasn't going to say anything else. "I know you did and I'm sorry for how I acted. At the time I thought you were trying to con me into turning around, but that doesn't mean you can't tell me now."

There was a cough and both men looked over to see Jackie with gloves and a plastic gown on. "Let's get this over with you're interrupting my supper."

House took his hand off of the wound and pulled back the gown to look at it. Four of the seven stitches over his ribs were popped. And blood was seeping out with each breath.

"Shit, I thought it was only one or two." Jackie said as she looked at it and grabbed the alcohol to clean the him up with then quickly did the four stitches.

House tensed up as she touched him but stayed still watching patiently for it to end.

She sighed and put some gauze over the stitches since it was still bleeding a little. She looked at him to see him watching her, "You alright?"

House blinked and nodded.

"Looks like its covered pretty good but we need to change your sheets and get you a new gown on," She said looking worried.

House pulled himself to the edge of the bed away from her and took off the gown then stood on his right leg which was weak from blood loss.

Jackie quickly got a chair to his side and holding his arm guided him down into it. "You don't need to be standing yet," she snapped. Then quickly grabbed him a new gown and threw it on his lap as she pulled off his bedding and put on clean sheets. When she turned around House had the gown on and she noticed the beads of sweat on his brow. "Do you feel hot?" Jackie asked taking in his flushed face.

House felt weak and dizzy as he tried to concentrate on what she said. He slowly shook his head.

She changed gloves so that she had on a clean pair and put the back of her hand on his head. "God you're burning up." Jackie said as she put her arm under his arm to pull him up. He stood up and she turned him quickly as his right leg buckled under the weight making him land half on the bed. She helped him get the rest of the way on the bed and pulled his gown away from his right thigh get the covering off with haste.

Wilson walked over to take a look and ran a hand over his mouth as he saw how swollen and red it was.

House had his eyes closed at this point, "It's worse isn't it."

Jackie could already see new puss in the hole. "Yeah, but your bodies still fighting it so that's a good sign." She took her time draining the infection which she was able to do with a syringe this time. When she was done she looked at him and cocked an eyebrow as she noticed he was sleeping. Then she looked over at Wilson, "Alright, spill it. What's up with him? I was a nurse for 15 years and I've been a PA for over 10 and I've never had someone fall asleep while draining an infection. It's rare to have someone who can be quite."

Wilson looked guilty as his mouth twitched and then he looked at House's sleeping frame and swallowed looking back up at her. "He was clinical diagnosed with Extreme Tolerance to Pain, which is rare, in the since there has been less than 60 documented cases ever. His four is the average persons ten on the pain scale."

Jackie frowned, "If he had a nerve condition then why didn't you inform us about it."

Wilson looked down, "It isn't a nerve condition, his nerves are fine. At some point he was..." Wilson couldn't help but look back at House who was still sleeping, "conditioned to be this way."

Jackie felt ill at ease, "What do you mean conditioned?"

Wilson glanced at her and back down, "Forced to withstand unimaginable pain for long periods of time until his tolerance scale more than doubled the normal. To get as high as his scale is it's most commonly done when the persons a child, but he claims it's from his time in the Marines."

Jackie felt the hair stand up on the back of her neck and arms, "Claims?" She said waiting for Wilson to explain but he stood there silently watching her. She let out a sad chuckle, "I never would have... the great Dr. House... I mean he's a genius right, so I thought that if anyone would have had an easy life, it would be him." Jackie looked at House and then to the ceiling. "He never makes so much as a peep about the pain, but... when I look in his eyes, I swear I've never seen someone in so much pain, you know what I mean?" She said looking in Wilson's eyes.

Wilson nodded as the tingle of worry consumed him, "Yeah, I know."