Title: An Evening at Luigi's

By: lbc

Pairing: Wilson/House

Rating: G for now

Disclaimer: I would love to own these characters, but I don't.

Permission to Archive: No

Genre: suggestions of slash

Summary: Wilson is shot.

Note: This is short, could be developed more, but I'm new to the writing in this fandom so it's probably not worth it.

Greg House limped into the Emergency Room of Princeton-Plainsboro Hospital as fast as his aching leg could carry him. His suit, never terribly neat, was now covered in blood . . . James Wilson's blood. The two men had decided to go to one of their favorite restaurants, Luigi's, primarily because the younger man had claimed it was his treat. They had just started to enter the establishment when a man had stopped them. It had all happened so fast that it was a blur in House's mind.

Never able to keep his sarcasm to himself, somehow House had provoked the man which resulted in the two doctors confronting a gun, pointed at their bodies. Although the unknown man was clearly angry at the outspoken House, it was James Wilson's body which shielded his friend's when the gun went off.

Oblivious to the running feet as the assailant fled, House immediately began emergency procedures for his friend. Pulling open his clothes, it was clear that the bullet was still in the bleeding body, somewhere in the abdominal area. Thanks to helpful customers inside the restaurant, an ambulance was immediately dispatched to the site. House insisted on accompanying his friend in the ambulance.

Standing above the operating theatre looking down at the surgical team, working to save Wilson's life, Greg House's face was a mirror of despair and misery. He had known James Wilson since their university days. Even though there was almost a decade between them in years, Wilson had breachedHouse's vaunted barriers to become a valued friend. Wilson had become everything to him - - even more important than Stacey, but he would never tell him that.

The mere thought that Wilson would not live through the night so that he could even attempt to tell him of his importance, drove the scruffy looking man into deeper despair.

Suddenly, there was a great deal of commotion in the room below. The heart monitor had gone flat line. House's knuckles went white as the team fought for the life which was so important to him. From out of nowhere, Lisa Cuddy appeared next to House's side, but neither one acknowledged the other. House kept his entire attention on the efforts below - - it was as if his inattention would somehow end the effort to save Wilson's life. When sinus rhythm returned after several attempts at defibrillation, House's head dropped to his chest in total exhaustion. A gentle hand touched his arm; only then did House register the presence of the hospital administrator. House's blue eyes turned to look at the womanwith whomhe had done battle with so many times. The look in those eyes made Cuddy flinchat the emotion embedded there.

Not knowing what to say, the small woman fell back on her training. "I'm sorry about Doctor Wilson. Dr. Meadows has given me a full briefing on the extent of his injuries if you would like me to tell you?"

House shook his head; his eyes dull and glazed, "My friend's heart just stopped for 32 seconds; I don't need to know any more than that."

House turned back to look down at the procedure which was nearing completion. Realizing that House had completely forgotten her presence, Cuddy continued to watch as well.

Three hours and 22 minutes later, James Wilson was in ICU hooked up to the myriad of machines that monitored his condition. Greg House sat next to him, waiting. He had not left his friend's side since the unconscious man had been brought to hiscubicle in ICU. Not even the police, demanding to know what had occurred during the shooting, aroused House from his vigil.

Cuddy had stopped by several times, more for House's benefit than to check on Wilson's condition. She had already put ICU on notice that she was to be kept aware of any changes. In their common past, Cuddy had been close to House but only briefly. House always made it hard for anyone to get close to his bristly nature, but James Wilson had done it. Cuddy had been there when House had sufferedhis infarction. She had followed his medical surrogate's wishes when she had asked for a medical procedure which saved her lover's life but left him in constant pain. Cuddyknew that this decision had cost Stacey everything,just asit was James Wilson, who had stepped in and kept Gregory House alive.

The two men never spoke of that time, but Wilson had taken several months leave from his duties at a hospital in the west to bethere forHouse . A tremor of fear shimmered through Cuddy as she watched the obviously exhausted diagnostician sit watching his friend, in tune with every nuance of change.

"Why don't you get some rest? I'll stay with him."

At first, there wasn't areaction from the slender body then House turned slightly and stared, as if he was aware of Cuddy's presence for the first time. Shaking his head, he turned back toobserve Wilson.

Cuddy walked over and for a moment reached over, for a moment, to touch the man lost in thought and despair then let her hand drop. For Greg House, this was going to be a very long night, and no amount of comfort or company could help in the least.

Sighing, Cuddy turned and left the room.

The End?