Reluctance
Chapter 3 – Make it a Non-Date

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Alas, I thought I knew so much
Of love, and yet I know so little!

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Thump, bounce, bounce, bounce, catch. House threw his tennis ball against his glass office door in boredom. It bounced back, he caught it, and he threw it against the door again. It was quite exciting… not. No new cases nothing to do. He hated to admit it, but his Gameboy was growing more and more boring. No new games nothing to do. He made a mental note to force Wilson into buying him a new one.

He sat in silence for once, only the sound of his game of catch with the office door interrupting the stillness. It was always quiet whenever House needed to seriously think about something. For a brief moment, his concentration on the tennis ball wavered, and it bounced out of his reach, past his chair and into the back corner of his office. House, aggravated, didn't make a move to get it. Let the damn thing roll away, he had a whole drawer full of them. He leaned back in his chair, cane balanced across his lap, and closed his eyes, rubbing his jaw with his hand.

Wilson witnessed this scene from outside of House's office. With that trademark expression, he pushed open the door and sat in the chair across from House, who had opened his eyes at Wilson's entrance. Noticing the smirk on his friend's face, House glared at him with annoyance.

"What do you want?" he spat.

"Having fun? Did the door throw harder than you?" Wilson teased.

House just looked at him, shaking his head. Sometimes he wondered why he even tolerated Wilson, let alone called him his friend. He sighed and stood from his chair, ruffling a few papers on his desk. Wilson suspected something was going on and was quick to ask.

"Okay, what's up?" Wilson's eyebrow rose and he crossed his arms, looking at House.

House, like usual, denied the question.

"Nothing's up, Dr. Phil," he sarcastically replied.

"Don't give me that. You've been sulking in here all day. You yelled at Foreman, nearly clobbered Chase with your cane, and you won't even look at Cameron," Wilson rattled off a few things.

House shook his head then, stopping Wilson from going any further. However, no sarcastic comment followed, and Wilson knew he had hit the spot. With a knowing look, he continued without hesitation.

"Ah, so your pretty lady doctor has your panties in a bunch?" Wilson guessed.

House snorted, gripping his cane harder with his right hand.

"First of all, she is not mine. And no, my panties are fine, thanks," House retorted.

"Something tells me otherwise," Wilson theorized.

He saw right through House. Ever since Cameron had joined the team, (what was it, one year and six months?), House hadn't been himself. Oh, he was the usual sarcastic bastard, but lately he had been leaning towards the quiet and pondering personality. Wilson, the one who knew him best, possibly better than House knew himself, found Cameron the cause of this whole ideal.

"Let me guess. Cameron gave you a card with puppies on it and wrote something inside that was supposed to be funny. You read it a million times and then, of course, you put it in your bottom desk drawer with the other one," Wilson continued.

House's expression was priceless. He glared down at Wilson, who just smiled and gave him a shoulder shrug. Knowing it was best to give in and save them both some time, House sighed and nodded.

"You're almost right. No puppies on the card," he said, and then added, "how do you know about the other one?"

"Snooping at its best, my friend," Wilson replied with a chuckle.

House limped back behind his desk, letting himself fall backwards into his chair. He sized Wilson up from across his desk, hesitating a moment before continuing.

"You don't like jazz, do you?" House questioned.

"Nah, it's too sappy. Why?" Wilson curiously asked.

"Cameron… she gave me these tickets to the New Jersey Jazz Fest on Saturday. She told me to bring you, but I guess I'll have to find someone else," he stated.

Wilson just shook his head and smiled. They were meant for each other, couldn't they tell? Checking his watch, he yawned and stood from the chair.

"Why don't you ask her?" he said on his way out the door.

House looked up at him, swinging his cane deftly from his fingertips. His eyebrows rose with surprise.

"Like a date?" House asked, almost with disbelief.

"Yeah, except for the date part. Make it a non-date," Wilson said.

"Huh, I don't think so. I'm not really good at that kind of stuff," House replied.

"Give it a chance House," Wilson said, leaving for his own office and patients.

House watched Wilson's retreating form until it disappeared around the corner. He tapped his foot on the floor, pondering Wilson's words in his head. A non-date? That didn't sound too bad. He sighed and stopped swinging his cane, leaning forward until his chin rested on top. It was going to be a long day.

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For I cannot stop myself loving her
From whom I shall never have joy.

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Author's Note: Hehe, I absolutely love Wilson! Please review, I need some encouragement, seeing as this chapter was extremely hard to write for some reason.