Chapter Four

As he walked down the hallway he looked over his shoulder and saw the busy lives of everyone around him. With his hand in his pockets and his head lowered, Wilson wondered what the day might bring. Answers? I just wish he would let me in Wilson thought.

The IV fluids dripped into his arm slowly and painlessly. House was resting, wondering how much longer he had to lay there.

Some of the times we have been

Across the shadows of the valley

Set apart by the waters of the blue stream

Until we meet again.

"Hey…you had us worried," Wilson said as he entered House's room. He approached House's bedside and looked at the monitors to see his progress. Pulling the tape from the EKG machine he saw his heartbeat had lowered and was no longer erratic. Setting his sight on the IV, he noticed it needed changed soon as he wrote some notes on his friend's chart. He no longer needed the oxygen as his breathing had steadied. His blood pressure was good, as well as his color.

"Now don't get all serious on me now," House joked. "I don't care if you want to play doctor, but I know the truth. Pretending to read all these fancy machines. You really are an architect. They are going to catch on to you soon you know." House again was hoping he didn't try to push the issues.

"How are you feeling? Are you still dizzy?" Wilson asked, unnoticed to his friend's sarcasm. Wilson looked up from the chart and was waiting for an answer.

"Just that warm and fuzzy feeling from all the attention. You know how much I love attention. Now can I get back to work?" House started to get up from his bed and Wilson stepped over and put his hands on his shoulders.

"Where do you think you are going? An hour ago you collapsed in my arms. You expect me to let you go back to work? I'm not letting you go anywhere until you explain to me what is going on!" Wilson demanded. "If you don't want to talk about whatever is going on, then I'll give you time on that. But please…." Wilson softened, "…please tell me how long you have been getting dizzy like this."

House could see that Dr. Wilson was losing his patience. He didn't want to upset him and he could tell his lack of information was doing just that. "I'm fine," House replied. "I've been stressed. I didn't eat much today and got dizzy, that's all. Don't worry; I've got medical insurance if you're worried about getting paid," House replied. He could tell this wasn't a good enough answer for Wilson. "James, I….I appreciate your concern but really, I'm still getting over the flu. All I need to do is go to my office and rest. I promise I'll stick to desk work for a few days. I don't feel dizzy anymore," House replied.

"Maybe….maybe if all the tests come back ok I'll let you go home tomorrow. But you are not going back to work for at least a week," Wilson ordered. "House, you can be so stubborn. You need to take care of yourself. I'm your friend and I hate seeing you like this, but I hate even more that I can't help you. I can't help you until you let me."

Oceans beneath, sky's above

Rolling thunder all around

A sight unseen, a story untold

Until we meet again.

How much House wished he could just go to his office. Or be home, away from anyone, and concerns be forgotten. How he hated the spotlight and microscopic questions.

"How long has your head been hurting? You told me outside your head hurt," Wilson asked, curiously as he looked at House's chart and sat next to his bed. Wilson didn't know how much more he could talk to House without him just answering in mockery. Unbeknownst to Wilson, House really did want to talk to him. It was getting over the hurdle of his self-conscious self more or less. If anyone would understand him, it would be his friend Wilson.

"I've had a headache for a few days. Probably from all the coughing from the flu," House replied honestly, much to Wilson's gladness. "When I….I was outside it seemed like everything blurred and I couldn't stay standing," House replied to his question.

" I know…" Wilson said softly. "That's when I caught you. I could see you had been struggling before though, Greg. You had that, 'Oh no, not again.' look in your eyes when you grabbed me. Had you passed out before today?"

How did he know that? House pondered. "I almost did when I saw what was happening on the television. You know those pesky little remotes don't change the channels fast enough. They can send people to the moon but can't invent faster remote controls." House said gleefully.

"You can be impossible!" Wilson shouted as he stood up and left the room.

Wilson walked outside House's room and threw his head into his hands, running his fingers through his hair. Cuddy walked up behind him and asked him on House's progress.

"How's he doing? From the looks of it, not too good," Cuddy questioned.

"He won't talk to me. Every time get gets close, he backs off. I want to know what is happening. I want to know how often he has been feeling like this. I want him to let me talk to him and figure out what is going on." Wilson wished that Cuddy would have more information but she did not. House was just plain out being stubborn.

Sadness grows like a flower

Apart from the silent beauty

A ray of hope amidst the dreams

Until we meet again.

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