Wilson combed his hair in front of the bathroom mirror, meticulously brushing each blonde lock into place. An emotional emergency with one of his patients had pressured him to get ready for work today. Wilson peered into Houses bedroom as he straightened his tie. House was snoring gently as his arm was cradled around Etta, both of them soundly asleep in his bed. Wilson tip toed inaudibly beside the bed and nudged House awake.
"Gonna go to work," Wilson whispered.
House grunted. "Its Saturday."
"Patient emergency. I'll be back before you know it."
House rolled his eyes. Keeping his voice low,"so you woke me up to tell me your going and that you'll 'be back before I know it'? Why tell me? I never would have known!"
Etta stirred slightly causing both men to hold their breath. After she had settled Wilson and House exhaled a breath of relief as Wilson begged goodbye and departed for the hospital. Leaving House and Etta to sleep in this early Saturday morning.
Wilson entered the lobby of the hospital. Princeton Plainsboro was tranquil beside the few people decorated in the clinic and the male nurse organizing and shuffling documents at the desk. The 7 o'clock morning summer sun peeking through the windows of the hospital greeting the people within.
"I apparently got a call about a patient," Wilson questioned. His mind still groggy from a disrupted sleep.
The nurse standing at the desk nodded . "She say's she's had enough. Thought you might be able to talk to her. She's waiting in your office." He handed Wilson the patients file as Wilson hastily perused it then closed on itself again.
Wilson thanked the nurse and marched to the elevator, clutching his patients file within his hands. He fastidiously weaved what he would say to his patient when he arrived at his office. He just hoped she wasn't a lost cause like so many other patients of his. This patient was important. He knew he had had issues with motivating her to pursue her treatment before. It was like a sempiternal battle with most of his patients.
Wilson strode down the hall and headed towards his office when suddenly a firm clasp on his arm brought him to a.
"Dr. Wilson I didn't know you were in today."
Wilson turned round to the hands owner." . Nice to see you. Gotta patient problem." He hastily explained gesturing to his office, eager to attend to his patient.
"Your friends with , right?"
"If he did anything to annoy you I can assure you the answer is no," Wilson joked light heatedly as he attempted to hurry his conversation with . God knew he was one of the slowest speakers in the hospital.
chuckled. "No its just after his daughters appointment I wanted him to contact me again as I gathered some information for him about his daughters condition, he probably doesn't need it being a doctor himself but-"
Wilson injected immediately,"no wait- are you talking about Houses daughter. Houses Etta."
Simpson confirm. Nodding his aging head."Yes. Its just he seemed upset so I guess that's why he didn't try to reach me."
Wilson stood confused, concerning growing as Simpson blathered. "What condition? Is she okay."
"Sorry I can't tell you. Confidentiality rules. But get House to give me a call." Simpson attempted to turn to leave but Wilsons hand abruptly caught his arm, almost paining him as he grasped him.
"Anything you can tell House you can tell me. Is there something wrong?"
Doctor Simpson looked anxiously at Wilson who seemed to be growing slightly ill-tempered with him. "Sorry I can't. Haven't you got a patient you have to get too?"
A frail young woman sat patiently on Wilsons office chair. Her skin obviously once vibrant was now dull and her eyes once alive with life was now filled with weariness. She played with the strap of her purse she had set within her lap, pulling her exhausted fingers.
"Hey," Wilson greeted softly as he opened the door. "Gracey. Its good to see you."
"James," she smiled delicately.
He took his usual office chair as he grasped her hand within his on the desk. "I heard from the nurses you aren't having the best time."
"I don't think I can do this anymore," she confessed honestly.
Wilson raised an eyebrow sympathetically. "You've said that before. Two years ago, remember? You got through it then."
She placed her second hand on his and smiled warmly. "I have just had enough this time."
Wilson shook his head stubbornly. "We can beat this. I know we can. You feel like this now but I promise you this; we're going to be okay. Just give it a little more time," he suggested.
Gracey sighed. "I'm not exactly mother Theresa. I won't be leaving anything behind, James."
"Live a little longer and you can do all those things you told me about; Italy, marriage, babies. You can do it all but you won't be able to if your no longer breathing."
Gracey chewed on her dry bottom lip thoughtfully. "Do you really think I'll live that long to do all those things?"
Wilson smiled warmly and softly pecked her lips, gently dragged a finger across her cheek affectionately. "I know you will."
Chase looked lovingly down at Ettas face as he fed her. Watching her suckle hungrily on her bottle as he cradled her on Houses couch. Ettas dark hair blending into Chases dark leather jacket as he held her in his arms. He always savored the time they spent together on a Saturday morning. She would soon be 7 months old. Where has the time gone? Chase thought to himself. It felt as though it was only a week ago that she was a sweet newborn, born on the first day of January. But now she was growing quickly.
Chase turned his head as he heard the door open, expecting it to be House.
"Hello," Wilson said slowly in bemusement. Surprised to see Chase sitting in Houses apartment with his daughter. Wilson set his bag down as he approached the couch where Chase and Etta situated.
"Hi," Chase replied awkwardly.
"Wheres...Um- House?"
"Round the store. Dominika forgot diapers yesterday and we're running low," Chase explained as he continued feeding Etta in his arms. "Be back soon, though. He thought you were going to be at work today."
Suddenly it hit Wilson as he watched Chase hold Etta. It was him. Chase was the one who took the photo. In no universe thinkable would House permit someone to hold Etta, a person so dear to him that he adored, let alone babysit her unless they were already close to her and him in some way. Wilson stood beside the couch quizzically.
All this time I suspected it was Foreman, Wilson thought.
