Last chapter before the end of the weekend. I don't own anything House-related.
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House awakened the next morning feeling far closer to human than he had since falling on his face in front of Wilson's office nearly two weeks ago. He pulled the blankets over himself and Anthony against the early morning autumn chill, not quite ready to leave the bed or the man he was sharing it with.
He was truly home now. Anthony had been a regular visitor once he had transferred out of ICU, visiting during his lunch time and after work, but the nights were his alone. Those nights had gotten damned lonely, and there was nothing to chase that loneliness away.
That was behind him now, and he gently pressed his lips to the younger man's neck and shoulder while spreading his hand out along Anthony's stomach, hoping to tease him awake.
Anthony shifted slightly and murmured something unintelligible. It seemed to be working. House traced a line up Anthony's neck to the space between his earlobe and his jaw, leaving a firm kiss there. He could hear an appreciative sigh from the younger man, and he rolled over slightly, his green eyes finally fluttering open to greet House.
"Good morning, hon." He gave House a sleepy smile as he turned all the way over to face House.
"Sure...is." House leaned over him, tracing the contours of Anthony's face with his fingers, ending by cupping his chin in his hand and tilting it upwards for a soft, lingering kiss. "About to...get...better."
"You're up for this?" Anthony slipped his hands around to House's lower back, regarding him with a hint of concern.
A teasing glint seemed to flash through House's bright blue eyes as he slipped a hand inside Anthony's sleep pants. "As up as...you are."
"You're bad." Anthony snickered, spreading his fingers out along House's back, enjoying the sounds of pleasure that escaped him at the touch.
"And you...love it." House shifted so he lay over Anthony, leaning down to lightly suck and nibble at his neck. He arched upward at the feel of House's tongue and teeth, a low moan escaping him as he wrapped his arms around House, sliding his hands under the waistband of his pants to take hold of his backside.
House growled at the move, easily moving from Anthony's neck to his mouth, his lips pressing firmly against the other man's, pushing them apart with his tongue, insistent on entrance.
Anthony made a sound that was part moan, part sigh, part whimper, and it served as a massive turn-on for House. He reached down to fumble with the ties on Anthony's sleep pants, reluctantly breaking away from his lips to pull them off his body and toss them aside.
He paused to lean back on his knees, wincing slightly as his right leg tried to give him grief for the unforgiving position. For now, he chose to ignore it in favor of admiring the view before him.
Anthony's eyes were hooded, carefully watching House as he smoothed his hands over his body, arching to meet his touch whenever House found a particularly sensitive spot. He nearly quivered beneath House, and he knew that Anthony had been anticipating this nearly as long as he had.
All the more reason to draw this out and take it slowly, House thought to himself as he lowered himself over Anthony once again, starting at the tender spot on his neck and slowly working his way down to the hollow space just above his collarbone. Anthony gasped below him, removing his hands and clutching at the back of House's head as he ran his tongue to the spot where his collarbones separated, flicking the space sharply before leaving a soft kiss there.
"Aaahhh..." Anthony twitched as House slowly smiled, spreading his hands out over his chest, brushing the nipples with his thumbs before rolling them between his fingers, following close behind with his mouth, alternately sucking and flicking at them with his tongue. He could feel Anthony squirm beneath him, groaning as he arched his back, all but begging for more.
House shifted downward, leaving a trail of kisses down Anthony's stomach, his hands following a similar path, separating at his center. His hands spread out along the younger man's thighs, gently pushing them apart to allow House easier access for what he had in mind.
Anthony pushed himself up on his elbows, watching House's head move around below his waist, his breath shortening as House's hands moved all over his legs, finally settling on his hamstrings as he moved to take Anthony into his mouth.
It caught Anthony off guard, even though he'd been watching the entire time. He could feel House's tongue and lips roll all over him, one hand shifting to stroke him underneath while the other was still wrapped around his thigh.
House's fingers drifted lower, gently playing around his entrance, almost acting as if he were unsure. Anthony reached down to stroke his head, encouraging him.
He suddenly moved off Anthony, sliding slowly up his body until he could reach the drawer on the small bedside table, finding what he needed. House examined the small bottle with a half smile. "Starting to run...low."
Anthony snorted, running his hands over House's head as he started working his way back down Anthony's body, leaving a line of kisses down his chest and stomach. "You're buying the next one."
"Fine by me...if it means I get...to keep doing...this." House had squeezed some lube out onto his fingers, rubbing around the outside before sliding a finger inside Anthony, moving in and out in a slow, easy rhythm.
Anthony moaned softly, pushing House's head downward as he spread himself further. House quickly took the hint, taking the younger man into his mouth, working over him with tongue and lips while sliding a second finger inside him.
It was all so slow, sweet, almost tender, and Anthony wanted it to last as long as he could possibly make it. He closed his eyes, stroking House's head as the older man pushed deeper inside him, the pleasure building so slowly that Anthony was almost unaware of the coming explosion until it was right on top of him.
"Ahh...damn...Greg...ahhh..." Anthony bucked upward, his fingers curling in House's hair, taking hold as he went over, coming down with a shaky sigh. He relaxed for a long moment, feeling House's head resting against his hip and his hand caressing his thigh.
Finally House pushed himself up so that he lay half on Anthony and half on the bed, leaning in for a long, languorous kiss, slipping his tongue in easily to tangle with Anthony's. Anthony took in the slightly bitter taste from House's mouth, finding it oddly sexy.
He ran his hand along House's right thigh, evoking a short grunt from the older man. "Sorry." Anthony whispered.
"S'okay." House murmured, wrapping his arm around the younger man's waist, pulling him in closer. He broke away from Anthony's mouth and started down his neck again, shifting so that he was between the younger man's legs again, pushing up against him.
"Hold up there, big guy..."
"I know...I...know." House pushed away from him just long enough to wrap himself up, feeling a bit foolish at forgetting. Soon he was there again, slowly pushing his way in, watching Anthony's eyes go wide at first, a soft breath escaping him as his eyes fluttered closed, giving himself to the pleasure he was receiving.
House shifted slightly, and Anthony thought he heard the older man making grumbling noises above him. He opened his eyes, reaching up to touch the slightly frowning face. "Everything okay?"
"Mm-hm..." House braced his hands on either side of Anthony, shifting so he sat back on his knees, leaning more heavily on his left while trying to ignore the pain and slight cramping in his right. He paused, moving his hands to stroke along Anthony's stomach, spreading his fingers out as he did so, seeming to appraise the younger man that lay under him.
Finally House slipped his arms under Anthony's legs and started moving in and out of him again, finding his rhythm and a position that worked for both of them. He bent over Anthony, kissing anywhere he could reach, pumping harder into him as Anthony wrapped his legs around him.
He slammed fiercely into Anthony one last time, coming undone with a loud groan, shaking as he collapsed on top of the younger man, breathing heavily from the exertion. House wrapped his arms around Anthony, laying his head on his chest and listening to his heart thumping in steady rhythm.
Anthony folded his arms over House's back, enjoying the closeness and intimacy between them, knowing that House would have to move before too long. House sighed into his chest, reluctant to move, even as his leg insisted he do so. He just wanted to ignore that particular master for just a little while longer.
Eventually House lightly kissed Anthony on the neck, murmuring in his ear. "Need...coffee."
"You're going to have to get off of me, then." Anthony laughed softly.
House groaned softly. "Don't want...to. You feel...too...good."
"Then there can be no coffee." Anthony pondered the idea. "Unless, of course, you want to take a crack at it."
"No way." House slowly rolled off the younger man to lay on his back. "Wouldn't want to...cut in...on...your action."
Anthony leaned over to give the older man a soft kiss before slipping out of bed and finding his pants. "I thought so. You might want to think about getting a move on. Didn't your mother say she was stopping by on her way to the airport?"
House rolled his eyes. "I...guess."
Anthony stopped at the end of the bed on his way out, squeezing House's outstretched foot. "Need anything?"
House shook his head, looking deep in thought. Anthony merely nodded as he left the room. If something was on House's mind, and he didn't want to share it, the best thing Anthony could do was leave it alone.
House lay on the bed for a while longer, absentmindedly rubbing his aching, stinging thigh. His body had give him fair warning going into...that particular position with Anthony that he would pay for it later, and now he was, in spades. Damned if he was going to let Anthony know that, though. The look on the younger man's face as House had entered him had been worth every bit of pain he was feeling right now, and he would gladly do it ten times over just to see that look.
House knew damn well he couldn't possibly keep that up forever, and the idea of his body telling him what to do and how to do it sat poorly with him. He was starting to feel handicapped in more ways than one.
"Hon, are you going to..." Anthony stopped when he saw the pained expression on House's face. He sat on the edge of the bed, placing his hand over House's. "What do you need?"
"I need you...to leave me...the hell...alone." House snarled, quickly rolling over to his left side.
Anthony twisted his lips in frustration. It was always one step forward and two, sometimes three, steps back with this man. He settled himself on the bed and carefully wrapped an arm around House.
The older man stiffened, but didn't try to pull away. It was a step in the right direction, at least. Anthony placed a light kiss on the back of House's neck, and he could feel House start to relax in his grip. "Let's try this again, okay?" House was silent, but eventually nodded. "What do you need?" Anthony softly whispered in his ear.
House didn't know where to start. He couldn't keep doing this. He couldn't keep pushing Anthony away, but he couldn't let him all the way in, either. Finally he blew out a long sigh, touching the hand that curled itself around his body. "I can't...do...what we...did...again. It hurts...too much."
"So we'll find other ways." Anthony spoke softly. "It's not that big a deal."
"It is to...me." House's voice held a note of sadness. "I'm tired of...my body...holding me hostage."
A lump grew in Anthony's throat at House's sudden confession. "I wish like hell there was something I could do."
House took hold of Anthony's hand, guiding it to the scar on his thigh. "This...this changed...everything. Nothing you...can do about...that."
"So what can I do?" Anthony lightly rubbed the scar. "Let me amend that. What can we do?"
"We?" House started to turn over to his back, puzzled.
"Yes, 'we'." Anthony kissed him on the forehead. "We're together, right? It only makes sense that we should work through these things together."
House frowned, clearly skeptical. He pressed his lips into a thin line, deep in thought. He had told Anthony just last night that he trusted him. So what the hell was the problem now? He sighed heavily, brushing his thumb along Anthony's fingers. "I've been...dealing with this thing...alone for a...long time. I don't know...any other way."
"We'll figure it out as we go, okay?" Anthony turned over his hand to grasp House's thumb. "One step at a time. Just...trust me."
House managed a half smile at that. "Already...do."
"Now then." Anthony squeezed House's thumb and kissed him lightly on the lips. "One more time. Do you need anything?"
House nodded, gesturing toward the nightstand. "Both those bottles." He pushed himself to a sitting position as Anthony handed him the bottles, and House took one pill out of each, tossing them both back and easily dry swallowing them. Anthony rubbed House between the shoulder blades as House waited for the meds' desired effect to kick in. Finally he waved the younger man away, slowly swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "Okay...enough babying. Get...out."
Anthony chuckled, relieved that this particular storm had blown over. A knock at the door jolted both men from their thoughts. "That's probably your mom. Better get moving."
"Yeah, yeah...I'm...going." House grumbled as he found a robe and wrapped it around himself.
"I'll keep her entertained for a bit. Don't be long."
House rolled his eyes. "Who do you...think...you are? My...mother?"
"God, no." Anthony teased. "That'd be weird."
A ghost of a smile played around House's lips as Anthony strode down the hall to answer the door, House close behind. He couldn't resist reaching out to smack him on the rear as he turned toward the bathroom, an innocent look gracing his rough features when Anthony's head whipped around at him.
Anthony merely shook his head as he answered the door. That man was exhausting in more than one way, that was for certain. Thank God House's mother was far easier to deal with.
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Anthony swung open the door and greeted Blythe with a warm smile and a quick hug. "Morning, Blythe. Coffee's ready if you want some."
"Thank you, Tony." The older woman briskly strode into the kitchen, returning with a steaming mug and setting it on the end table. She noted that the younger man was still padding around in a t-shirt and pajama pants, and she tilted her head. "If I'm interrupting..."
"Not at all." Anthony seated himself on the couch, taking a long sip from his own mug.
Blythe glanced around, as if looking for House. "Is Greg here?"
Anthony nodded down the hallway. "He's in the shower. Should be out soon."
Blythe nodded, twisting her fingers in a gesture Anthony had seen her son do a hundred times, easily. She sighed heavily before finally speaking. "When Stacy left him, he was devastated. He didn't come out and say it, of course, but I could tell just by our phone calls."
Anthony was fairly certain where this was going. Wilson had given Anthony a similar speech not so long ago. Out of respect, he nodded to Blythe to continue. "I never want to see my son suffer like that again. I'm not sure he would survive another heartbreak."
Anthony cradled the coffee mug in his hands, inhaling the rich scent before answering. "I will admit, I haven't know Greg very long." He took a brief sip of coffee before setting the mug on the coffee table. "I do know that I care for your son very much, and...I don't want him to suffer, either."
Blythe smiled a little, taking a delicate sip of her own coffee. "I wasn't sure what to think at first, you know. Now that I've seen the two of you together...I think you're very good for him."
"Ah, you...girls are gossiping...and giggling about...me again." House's deceptively light tone carried through the living room as he passed through on his way to the kitchen for a cup of coffee.
He soon reappeared, settling in next to Anthony and lifting his leg to rest on the coffee table. Anthony patted his leg and rose from the couch. "Think I'll hit the shower while you two visit. I won't be long."
House managed to bite back a comment, admitting to himself that Foreman might have had a point about his mouth being slower than his brain. He didn't see any need to make his mother uncomfortable, not when they seemed on the verge of rebuilding their shaky relationship.
They were both quiet for a long moment before Blythe broke the silence. "As I was telling Tony...I think he's very good for you." She studied her son carefully. "You're very good together. I know you told me you were happy with him." She smiled warmly, leaning forward to meet her son's eyes. "Now...I have proof."
House's head dipped down, a hint of a boyish smile crossing his face. He didn't have to say a word. His facial expression said it all.
Blythe rose from her chair, finishing the last of her coffee and taking her mug to the kitchen. House had pushed himself off the couch by the time she returned, towering over her as she gathered him in a warm hug. "I should be going. Airport security takes forever these days."
House slowly hugged her back, almost delicately, as if she would shatter in his arms. "It was...good to see...you."
"You too." Blythe laughed gently. "I'll have to visit on a happier occasion."
Anthony had just strode into the room as Blythe and House were saying their goodbyes. "Leaving so soon?"
"Yes, Tony." Blythe answered, wrapping him in a similar hug to the one she had given her son. She reached up on tiptoe to whisper in his ear. "Take good care of him. He needs you." Out loud she told him, "Don't be a stranger."
She turned to House, hugging him one more time. "And that goes double for you. Please, stay in touch."
"I'll...try." House's expression was sober as he returned the hug, slowly letting her go.
The apartment door closed behind her, and House simply stood in the living room, thumping his cane on the floor. Anthony rubbed him between his shoulder blades, studying him carefully. "What's on your mind?"
"Don't know." House looked thoughtful. "I think I...kind of miss her." He glanced down at the floor. "I...miss her...but not...him. Something's wrong with...that."
"Maybe." Anthony shrugged.
"Last night, before...she left...she said she...loved me." House's voice went soft, and Anthony thought he detected just the hint of a crack. "I can't remember the...last time...she said that...to me." He frowned. "He...never said...it."
Anthony's heart ached for House, trying to imagine going so long without ever hearing those simple words from someone. He wrapped his arms around House's waist from behind and kissed his shoulder, pressing his cheek into his back. "I love you. I even tell you I love you. Does that count for anything?"
House's mouth twisted into a small half smile as he covered Anthony's hand with his own. "It counts. It just...doesn't change things."
"This is true." Anthony squeezed House, not sure if he had done any good or not. "You hungry?"
"I could...do with a...little something...something." House grinned.
"Funny man." Anthony laughed and released him, heading into the kitchen. House tilted his head and watched him go, alternately amused and warmed by Anthony's words. While they didn't make up for anything in his crappy childhood, they made a hell of a lot of difference right now. House supposed that was what really mattered.
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