Title: Instant Messaging and Its Consequences (2a/2)

By: lbc

Pairing: House/Wilson

Words: 2240

Rating: for mature adults

Genre: slash in part 2b

Summary: House is upset over Wilson's instant message.

Note: Parts 2a and 2b complete the story. Sorry part 2a got a bit long.

"You know; it's been pretty nice without House here, hasn't it? Dr. Wilson sure is easier to get along with."

"Dr. House is in pain; he makes us think; have you got something against that?"

"Jeez, sorry. Some days you remind me of him, but seriously I wonder how Foreman's held up being with House for the last four days?"

Allison Cameron turned to stare directly at the blond Aussie, "Do you know how immature you are sometimes? Dr. Foreman does his job and is very good at it. That's all I care about; why are you so nosy?"

"Nosy? Look who's talking about nosy, wanting to know everything about the life of House? Give me a break!"

"Oh grow up; he's our boss, we should be concerned."

"Well, if you want to be concerned; be concerned about us; House is going to be back soon and then what?"

Just then, Doctors Lisa Cuddy and James Wilson passed by the area where the ducklings nested when they were away from House's radar. Chase nodded his head towards the two, "Speaking of concern, what do you think those two have been talking about considering all the time they've been spending together?"

"Well, Dr. Nosy, maybe the budget is up for review or something. After all Dr. Wilson is the Head of Oncology; maybe he's has to submit his reports or something."

Chase leered knowingly, "Yeah, well maybe he's submitting something else. After all he's good looking, and Cuddy isn't too much older than he is, AND he's divorced!"

"Dr. Chase; you can be a real idiot. You know Dr. Cuddy mentioned the recognition dinner to review this year's achievements. Maybe Dr. Wilson is helping her to coordinate that program?"

As Allison Cameron walked away, Chase said, "Yeah, you don't fool me, if Wilson's got another interest that leaves House free for your clutches!"

Alison Cameron kept on walking so she did not see her boss limp into his office with his shoulders slouched. He had been in a bad mood since he had received Wilson's last e-mail, and now overhearing about Wilson and Cuddy's frequent meetings did not make him feel any better. No wonder Cuddy had sent him off to that stupid conference to give a few lectures. It was a good way of getting him out of her hair while she had her wicked way with James Wilson, who had just gone through another rough divorce and really didn't need Cuddy pawing all over him.

House picked up his report that was over 50 pages long. After all, if he had to go to that conference, he was going to pay Cuddy back by making her read all that drivel about what had occurred. As House limped towards Cuddy's office, he never stopped once to question why he was so worried about Wilson or why he was placing the entire blame for the "seduction" of James Wilson on Lisa Cuddy and not admit that James Wilson was a big boy now and could certainly fend off any female that he was not interested in.

Bursting into Cuddy's office as he often did, House was prepared to throw the report on Cuddy's desk and promptly depart, but this time, he stopped . . . he stopped because James Wilson and Lisa Cuddy were sitting side by side behind her desk, practically cheek to cheek. The fact that they were looking at some paper or other scarcely mattered - - the two were practically giving each other Louisiana Lip Locks or something of an intimate nature.

House gave them one of his more lascivious smirks and oozed, "Well, isn't this a cozy scene! I spend the last four days informing the medical populace about the virtues of good diagnostics, and I return to find you two playing doctor. Really, couldn't you two wait? Here's my report. I'm sure you'll want to SHARE that as well. Meanwhile, I have clinic duty."

At that point House turned and limped out of Cuddy's office, failing to notice the surprised looks on the two people's faces.

"Well, what brought that on?"

"Hard telling with House. Maybe the conference didn't go as well as he led me to believe or maybe his leg's hurting."

"Well, let's just hope he's not as snarky tomorrow evening. You know there will be a lot of important people there. You will try to get him into a neat suit, won't you?"

"Yeah, well that may take some doing, but I'll get him there, dressed appropriately even if I have to tie him up and drag him there."

"Good, I think everything else has been arranged. Thank goodness, you thought of sending him to that Conference. It made it easier to get things done. The ducklings didn't question anything, did they?"

"No, they seemed distracted so I didn't try to enlist their help; just let them know that they were to be there."

Lisa Cuddy looked at the huge report and after leafing through it replied, "Heavens, I think he thinks I'm going to read all this. Talk about getting revenge."

As Wilson walked out of her office, he laughed. "That's House all over - - he loves to get revenge!" As James Wilson uttered those words, he had no idea how true they would become.

Eric Foreman had arrived at his usual time, but he had managed to remain hidden for approximately half an hour. The extra baggage that seemed to get mixed in with his job always bothered him. Being away from the less than relevant thoughts of Cameron and Chase had been a vacation, but when Greg House's temper had roared into high gear, Foreman had taken to the hills . . . well, the hills in this case were really every lecture . . . no matter how boring . . . that was on the agenda for the Conference. He had heard about medical procedures for hours ad infinitum, but it had kept him away from Greg House and his sarcasm that dripped with pent-up anger.

Foreman shook his head as he realized that House had actually been "almost human" until near the end of the conference. Foreman had tried to keep in contact with the hospital and his colleagues throughout the four days so he knew nothing had happened there. What had gone wrong? He refused to accept that House was any more irritable because of his leg. What could it have been?

At that moment, Foreman ran into his two colleagues. As usual their immature bantering totally repelled him - - being six years their elder he could not believe that he had ever acted like that, but they were a source for news . . . maybe, just maybe they would know something about House's most recent mood.

"Foreman, what are you doing here?"

Foreman scrunched up his face as if Chase's IQ had dropped to single digits and replied with a tone, reminiscent of House, "I believe I'm doing my fellowship here, duh!"

"That's not what I meant; we didn't know you were back; why didn't you e-mail us that you were returning?"

"Why should I? Were you doing something that you shouldn't have been?"

Cameron's eyes opened wide at the mere thought of her doing such a thing, but she turned to Robert Chase with a glare that spoke her thoughts. When she didn't say anything, Foreman ignored all the baggage and got right to the point.

"Did anything happen while we were gone? House was really in a bad mood the last day or so."

Both ducklings shook their head. "No, can't think of anything. Maybe he heard about the recognition dinner tomorrow night."

"What recognition dinner?"

"Apparently, the Board has decided to give a 'small' dinner to recognize the achievements of PPTH for this year. They felt that they had to do something to sort of overcome the loss of $100,000,000 when Vogler said adios. So that's what they're doing. Nothing big, just pat-our-own-backs time."

"Oh great, no wonder House is mad if he knows about that."

The three ducklings separated, in preparation for running the gauntlet of the return of House, but, in fact, no one saw the caustic diagnostician after his clinic hours. It was only late in the evening that James Wilson tracked down his friend, in that most extraordinary of places: the darkened MRI lab.

"What are you doing here?"

Wilson really couldn't see the blue eyes well, but he knew they were glaring at him. "Trying to avoid people, especially certain . . . doctors, get the idea?"

Wilson shrugged and tried to pass off the chronic sarcasm. "Sounds like a good idea especially after your attitude. I don't know what's got you goin', but I was asked to find you and tell you that Cuddy would like to see you."

"Well, thanks a bunch. I'll bet she would like to see you a lot more, or maybe she's already seen a lot of you?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Look, Wilson, far be it from me to lecture you on your own life, but she is your boss and it might be smart to stay away from her . . . at least, until your divorce papers cool. Sleeping with the boss isn't a good way to keep your job even though it is a way to get the job, in the first place."

"Are you trying to say that I'm sleeping with Cuddy?"

"Oh give me a break; I don't care who you sleep with, but you've made three bad choices with three females who you've slept with and God knows how many others. Wake up, Wilson. Cuddy switched sides to keep Vogler's millions, do you really want to keep your job, just by keeping her bed warm?"

"What a hypocrite you are, House. You slept with Cuddy, and she was your boss."

"Oh yeah, bring up the orgy again. Lisa Cuddy was grateful for my attention, and, at least, she wasn't an older woman, and I wasn't married!"

James Wilson's brown eyes were full of fury; his hands clinched in fists as he made one step forward then stopped. He straightened himself and in a voice as cold and normal as he could make it, he replied, "You're right about one thing, House, and only one thing. I have made some bad choices in the people I've slept with, but the worst choice I ever made was sleeping with you. You talk about me sleeping with older women. How about you seducing an 18 year old boy?"

With those words, James Wilson whirled around and went out the door. He rushed down the corridor, barely thinking. By the time he got to the entrance to the hospital, he had cooled down enough to think. He was panting as if hyperventilating. In the many confrontations that he had had with House over the years, none had ever hurt so much. After a minute or two, Wilson managed to control his emotions. He took the elevator to the Administration floor and knocked on Lisa Cuddy's door. The Administrator immediately admitted him.

"I . . . I can't get House to wear his suit. I . . . can't even stand to face him anymore. You'll have to get someone else to do the recognition tomorrow night. I'm . . . not even sure if I'll show up."

Looking totally beaten the younger doctor turned and walked to the door. "James?"

Wilson turned and stared, saying nothing. Cuddy asked quietly, "What happened?"

"He . . . he . . . " Clinching his hands turned and walked out of Cuddy's office.

After a short amount of time, Lisa Cuddy found Greg House's refuge in the MRI lab. She was furious but held her fury even when House looked up from his forlorn vigil on a chair in the lab. "Well, he ran right to you to cry about what I said, did he? You two must really be close."

"I don't know what you're talking about. Dr. Wilson said nothing to me, but I gather that something happened; he was upset."

"Well, don't you worry; I'm sure you can comfort him."

"Dr. House, I am not going to discuss this now. You will be in the cafeteria of this hospital tomorrow night at 7:00. You will be dressed in your best suit; whatever that may look like, and you will be civil to everyone. I will not ask you to speak on the accomplishments of the Diagnostics Department if you wish to designate one of your assistants, but you will be there."

House began to open his mouth, but Cuddy continued, "I will not hear any remarks now. Thursday morning you will report to my office at 8:00 am so that we can discuss your . . . behavior as well as the report you have submitted. Your schedule for tomorrow has been altered. When you arrive tomorrow, please check the assignment board."

With supreme dignity, the 5'6" woman whirled and left the large cavernous room and the badly battered figure of Greg House.

End of part 2a