Wilson followed House down to his office. House didn't say a word to him the whole way there, and Wilson was getting a little worried. Their friendship meant a lot to him, and he didn't want it to end this way. If he had known how strong House's feelings for Cameron were, he never would have pursued her. Now it was too late. He wasn't willing to give her up, not even for House.
When they were finally in his office, House shut the door behind him. He wordlessly sat down. He knew he was making Wilson squirm. It was part of the plan. He looked at his oldest, dearest friend for a long time before speaking. "I think you know why I wanted to talk to you alone."
Here we go, thought Wilson. He was mentally bracing himself for the worst.
"There are some things I think you should know about Dr. Cameron."
This wasn't what Wilson expected. "If you mean she's in love with you, I know. Everyone knows. It's kind of hard to miss."
"That's not what I mean." House raised his voice slightly. "And she's not in love with me. She thinks she's in love with me, and maybe she's in love with the idea of me, but she's not in love with me. She thinks she can save me from myself. She's in love with being a saint. Saint Alison. Did you know she married a dying man?" He'd meant to build up to it slowly.
"She didn't mention that." Wilson was surprised. He thought they were close enough now that she would have mentioned something like this. It hurt him that she would discuss something like this with House and not with him. It struck him that he was with a woman who was in love with another man. A wave of sadness washed over him.
"I'm sorry James. I just want you to know what you are getting involved with. She only wants you now because she thinks you need her."
"I do need her," Wilson mumbled.
"You don't need her. No one needs another person." He kept stressing the word need. "You want to need her. You want her. She's pretty, and sweet and you are lonely."
"And this has nothing to do with you wanting her?"
"I don't want her."
"Please." Wilson said in disbelief.
"I like having her around."
"Right, because she's pretty and sweet."
"Yes, and because she can stand me." House looked suddenly humble. Wilson couldn't remember the last time he'd seen this kind of sincerity in his friend.
"Well, you're not the easiest man to like. I guess you should hold on to every friend you can get."
House felt a sense of relief. Wilson was the only person with whom he could truly open up. There was Cuddy, but she was a girl. There are certain things you just can't talk about with the opposite sex. Besides, Cuddy was so in love with him she'd probably get jealous if he talked to her about another woman. He smiled. He'd have to go tease Cuddy later. That gave him something to look forward to.
"House, thank you for telling me the truth, but it doesn't change anything."
"You're really in love with her." It was both a question and a statement. Realization washed over House. Up till now, he'd imagined Cameron was the rebound girl. The sweet young thing that made the divorce hurt just a little less. Now he could see it in Wilson's eyes. The man was in love.
"Yes. I am in love with her." He thought it would feel better when he said it, but the realization that she had shared something so personal with House and not with him was still in the back of his mind. It hadn't occurred to him that House forced the information out of her. It didn't matter that he'd never asked her about her past romances. All he could think was that she'd shared more of herself with House than with him.
"You don't seem to happy about it."
"go to hell!" James stormed out. He was furious. He'd been a fool to think she could love him. She was in love with House, and he knew from experience that women never got over House. Stacy hadn't, not really, and Cuddy certainly hadn't. Why did he think Alison would be any different? Why did he think she would ever love him?
He left the hospital. He couldn't face her again today. He needed time to think. If he saw her now, he would say something he would later regret.