A/N: Yay, finally another House story!

This is in answer to my own prompt: "Secrets."

Please R&R! Thank you! No slash intended.

Spoilers for Season 2, Episode 5: "Daddy's Boy"

Orange Glow

Wilson is the last to stand at the door, watching. He hasn't forgotten their faces - House's parents. He remembers them from the last time they'd met. Once Stacy had left, after the infarction, they had flown in to see their son and help care for him until he'd convinced them to leave. Mrs. House had always appreciated Wilson, and the oncologist had never forgotten his conversation with her.

"I want to thank you," she'd started, her wrinkles lenient in the orange glow. Wilson had looked at her inquisitively. "For being a friend to my son."

He'd bowed his head, with no real desire to drink the coffee in his mug.

"I didn't do anything special," he'd murmured.

"You stayed," she'd said. "You stayed when you didn't have to. And you help him - so much."

He'd looked up at her, their eyes meeting again. It had been a long three weeks. Greg had started PT, there had been a handful of fights, tears all around, and painful exhaustion. Mr. House still hadn't passed over the denial phase, and even with Mrs. House around to help, Wilson had still felt strangely alone.

"I love him so much," she had confided, looking away. Her hand had quieted her own lips, and he been able to read the tears that had wanted to come. He had swallowed, not knowing what to say.

"I know you do, too," she had continued, looking back, her words nailing themselves to his heart. He had shuddered, bit his lip, looked through clouded eyes at his coffee again. And she had touched his arm.

"It's all right," she'd whispered, in Greg's timeless kitchen. Wilson hadn't been able to look at her again, holding on to his mug too hard. "It's going to be all right. I know it."

But she had begun to cry anyway. And so had Wilson. But he had never felt ashamed in front of her.

A week later, when she and Mr. House had finally decided to leave, she had hugged Wilson goodbye, as Greg leaned on his cane near them.

"You will always be like a son to me," she'd told James. Even now, it made a string in his heart twinge.

He watched her make his best friend smile, soften Greg up in a way no one else could. Not even Wilson. And he knew she had no idea how grateful he was for her. She looked over in his direction, caught sight of him, and smiled. He smiled back.

He had never told Greg about those weeks after the infarction, spent with Mrs. House. It had always been their secret. Wilson had never told Mrs. House how she had saved him or how grateful he was for her. And Mrs. House, until tonight, had never told Wilson…..

"In my prayers, I thank God for giving my son his one, true friend," she whispered, leaning into him at the door, while House bussed his own tray. Wilson stopped breathing, as she smiled at him and slipped past into the hall.

"Hey," Greg said, approaching him. "Spying, too? People in this hospital need to get new hobbies."

Wilson stared at him, brown-eyed tender.

"What is it?" House asked. Wilson blinked, his lips parted and his heart starting again. He shook his head.

"Nothing."

Greg raised an eyebrow.

"Did my mom talk dirty? I always remind her she's not as young as she used to be…."

"She just - told me a secret."

"A secret? Nice. What is it?"

Wilson smirked.

"Aw, come on! You can't keep it from me, it isn't fair," House whined, glaring at his friend. Wilson leaned in and whispered in Greg's ear.

"You're a bastard."

House rolled his eyes, and Wilson smiled, slipping from the doorway.

"And you owe me a dinner," he said.

"I thought it was the other way around," House replied. Wilson turned his back and shut his eyes, as he walked away, leaving House in the door with his cane.