He woke up, the room was bare

He didn't see her anywhere.

He told himself he didn't care, pushed the window open wide,

Felt an emptiness inside to which he just could not relate

Brought on by a simple twist of fate.

He watched the minutes tick away on his clock. He was sitting on a chair, the only piece of furniture in the room other than the bed. Where in God's name was Wilson? He had called him half an hour ago.

He should have been here by now, House thought to himself.

Fidgeting with his cane, he decided to get up and open the curtains. Yes, darkness was his friend, but he was starting to feel suffocated by it at the moment. He needed light and air.

He walked to the window and opened the shade, gazing around at the outside world. He scanned the streets for Wilson's car, but saw no sign of it. All he needed was a small favor and Wilson couldn't even do that for him. No wonder why Amanda threw him out of the house all the time…

There were three sharp raps on the door and House grumbled.

"God, I didn't know there was room service at such a crappy motel," he murmured to the empty room.

He dragged himself to the door and put his ear on it.

"House, open up. It's Wilson."

He unlatched the deadbolt and opened the door.

"It's nice that you showed up. I really appreciate it," House told him with a noticeable lack of appreciation.

"I'm not here to pick you up. I'm here to tell you what a bastard you are. This is getting old, House. Real old."

House turned his back and sat down on the chair he had just recently vacated. Ah, lecture time. It was one of his favorite reasons to bug Wilson out of bed in the early morning. It got him a rare gem of a speech of morality out of the philandering Wilson. House did so love hypocrisy. He watched his friend and noted Wilson's angry look as he stood in front of him, with his hands on his hips.

"You'll never guess who I met walking down the street. You didn't screw her did you, House?" Wilson seethed.

"No, I thought you would do a nice job of that. You always do well with the damaged ones. They seem to be more giving. 'Oh, poor little Dr. Cameron. I'll take you home and show you what love is really like. I'll be tender and kind…'"

"Oh, do shut up! I'll leave you here. I took Cameron home, yes. But just because I'm a decent human being who wouldn't let her be raped out there on the street doesn't mean I wanted to get into her pants!"

"Yes it does."

"House, I couldn't do that to her."

"Or me, but that goes unsaid. How would Amanda have taken that? She would have found that you went to pick me up, but actually went back to another woman's apartment. Gosh, they do get so touchy about those things. Tsk, tsk."

"Amanda and I are none of your business."

"So watching my best friend's marriage fall apart is just my nightly entertainment?"

"Stop changing the subject."

"Would you have slept with her, my dear friend? Did the thought flit across your mind?"

"Why do you care so much? House, she loves you! How blind can you be! Last time I checked, being a 'cripple' doesn't impair your sight. You love her, too. I see it."

House looked at him dejectedly. Wilson was right and House wasn't going to lie to his friend. It was no use arguing—Wilson had taken a bit of law school before medical school and no matter how much House's comments stung, Wilson could always bounce back. That's why they were friends.

"Where's she going? She said Philly…"

"Leaving this morning, my friend. She already reserved the tickets on the earliest train out. I'm sorry, House," Wilson told him sympathetically.

"When's the train leaving?" House questioned.

"6:30."

House looked at his watch. It read 5:57.

"Wilson, we have to go the station. Are we gonna make it, Robin?"

"Of course, Batman. The Batmobile never fails."

House, in a rare gesture, let a small smile creep onto his face. The small spat had been forgotten and they were united in their goal. Wilson wanted to find House a woman—he was tired of caring for House and knew he needed a woman's touch. House followed Wilson as he walked out of the room.

He had chased after her once. And he was about to do it again.