Title: Mending a Broken Man
Disclaimer: Angst, language, and slash.
Chapter Thirty-four: No Future in the Past
Why was he standing at the foot of the bed? Why was he watching him sleep when he wanted nothing more than to be somewhere else? What had prompted him to come to this point? He looked around the room at all the gadgets, all the electronic machines that monitored this or that. It was so early in the morning that no one would expect to see him there. That's why he was standing at the foot of the bed. There would be no witnesses. No one to badger him for details that he didn't want to give, details that he would sooner rather forget. He looked at the man in the bed, the one that laying sleeping quietly even though he'd taken a turn for the worse. His skin was deathly pale, his cheeks hollow and gaunt. There were black circles under his eyes. He looked like a cancer patient and that made House wonder if maybe that was what was wrong with Jacob. He would have to ask Wilson for an opinion later in the day. That was, if Wilson ever showed up. He was usually up before House and ready to go when House rolled out of bed. Now the tables had turned and House was the first one gone.
Wilson would be upset, there was little doubt in House's mind about that. But he wanted to shake up the younger doctor. Something was bothering him about Wilson and he hoped that acting indifferent and maybe a touch uncaring would bring it out. He thought of just asking Wilson what was wrong but he figured that most of it had to do with Jacob. Everything had been going smoothly until Jacob showed up.
Even House knew that that was a lie.
He'd been unable to concentrate long before the arrival of someone from his past. He'd had sleepless nights and his leg hurt him more than usual. This was going on before Jacob arrived. But things had gotten worse after his arrival. House noticed a change in Wilson. The way he kept bringing up his doubts about their relationship. When he did that House played along with him knowing all the while that Wilson really wanted to talk about something else. What was it that the oncologist didn't feel he could bring up? Why throw doubt into their relationship? Unless of course he wanted that doubt to be there. Maybe he had found someone else but he didn't know how to let House off easily. Maybe his last act of love would be breaking House's heart as gently as he could.
Whatever it was, it would have to wait until Wilson felt that he could say it. Until then House would go on playing the oncologist's little games.
But at the moment he had more pressing issues to take care of. He smacked his cane against the side of the hospital bed, making a loud bang and scaring Jacob awake. "We have to talk."
"About damn time," Jacob said, his throat dry, his voice somewhat raspy. "I was wondering-"
"Shut up," House said. "I met to say that I need to talk and you need to forget that you even know how to, though at the rate you're going you might actually forget. That's not the point, though. I don't know why you're here, Jacob, but I want you gone. As soon as you're stable enough I'm going to have you transferred to another hospital. I can't have you around. I might do something I'd regret and I never regret anything that I do."
"Still the same ole Gregory House," Jacob said.
"I told you to shut up," House remarked.
"Why?" pushed Jacob. "Afraid of what I might say, is that it? Afraid that I might bring more of your past with me? Are you afraid of what might happen between you and that oncologist? Oh, don't give me that look. I saw the matching rings, House. I'm not an idiot."
"Do you know how much I want to see you gone, Jacob? When I go home at night I dream of smothering you or injecting you with too much of this or that," House told him.
"You wouldn't dare."
"Yes, I would. I wanted you out of my life then and I want you out of it now," House whispered harshly. "You were no good then, Jacob. You were never any good."
Jacob narrowed his eyes. "You're still mad about that car accident, aren't you? After all these years…"
House didn't say anything in reply. He just turned around and headed for the door. He was about to leave when he heard the bed rise up. He turned to look over his shoulder and didn't care for the evil glint in Jacob's eyes. They sent a shudder racing down his spine.
"He's a good looking man, Greg."
"Keep away from him. Or I swear you'll be leaving this hospital permanently confined to a wheelchair," House said with complete calm and a hint of menace.
"Threatening a patient? What would your boss think?"
"To be honest? I don't think she'd care," House replied, before walking out the door.