A/N: Okay, here comes the slash! No action though, just thoughts. If it creeps you out, please don't continue reading. And thanks again to those who have commented.

Chapter 7

As House and Wilson entered the apartment, the younger man walked directly to the couch and sank down into the cushions. The cyclizine had helped with the nausea, but his head was still pounding and the combination of the medication with the concussion had made him feel very drowsy.

House eyed his friend as he limped towards him. "Why don't you go to bed?"

"I'm tired, but I really need to take a shower first."

"I'll get some towels for you." House disappeared into the spare bedroom. When he returned, he found Wilson dozing on the couch. As he sat down next to him, the younger man's head jerked up.

"Sorry," House said quietly. "There are towels for you in the bathroom and there's also a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants."

Wilson smiled. "Thanks." Taking a deep breath, he leaned forward placing his elbows on his knees and resting his head in his hands.

"What's wrong?" House asked, concern apparent on his face.

"I'm feeling lightheaded again."

House placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Is this how you felt before your attack?"

"Can't remember. But I feel weird."

"When's the last time you ate something?"

The younger man leaned back on the couch. "Let's see… I had an apple for lunch."

"You might feel better if you have something to eat……"

"No, House, I can't. Please don't even mention food."

"Sounds like the cyclizine didn't help you at all." House was worried.

"No, it did. But the idea of food……" Wilson stopped talking as he leaned forward and rested his head in his hands again. "I'll be okay; just let me sit here for a little while."

The two friends sat silently on the couch. After several minutes, Wilson looked at his friend. "I'm feeling better. And I really need that shower."

"Well, I'm glad you were the one to say it."

Wilson smiled as he slowly stood.

"You still okay?"

"Yeah. But…do you think you could come into the bathroom with me and wait while I shower?"

"Why, Jimmy!"

"I'm not asking you to take the shower with me."

"Well a guy can always dream." House leaned into his cane and stood. "Let's go."

House didn't want to encroach on his friend's privacy so he waited until he heard Wilson get into the shower before going into the bathroom. Lowering the toilet seat he slowly sat down, resting his chin on the handle of his cane. He glanced at the shadow behind the shower curtain, the silhouette jolting him back to the moment he had realized that his best friend was alive. It was difficult for him to even think about. He couldn't imagine his life without James Wilson. He had wanted to get closer to the other man for a very long time, but never acted on his feelings for fear it would ruin their friendship.

House had never really discriminated when it came to sex. As far as he was concerned, sex could be great with a man or a woman. But Wilson was the first man he ever had feelings for and it unnerved him. And now he felt as if the events of the evening had given him another chance to do something about it…to act on his feelings. Now that Wilson was divorced, he didn't have that barrier to deal with. And as far as the other man's feelings towards men, there had been several nights when the two of them had stayed up drinking late into the night when Wilson had mentioned his past 'encounters' with men. He even went so far as to speculate that his marriages didn't last because of his conflicted feelings.

The biggest factor now…and a major one….was House's fear that their friendship could end if he attempted to alter the dynamic of their relationship. And he couldn't allow that to happen.

House was pulled out of his reverie by the sound of the water being turned off. He picked up the bath towel he had prepared and limped towards the shower, reaching it just as Wilson pulled the curtain back. He handed him the towel.

"Feeling better?"

"Yeah. Felt good."

The young doctor stepped out of the shower and began toweling himself off. "You okay for me to leave?" House asked.

"Um…sure. I'll be right out."

House went into the spare bedroom and sat down on the bed waiting for his friend. It didn't take long for Wilson to enter the room wearing the older man's sweatpants and t-shirt, his hair damp from the shower. He walked over and sat down next to House.

"I'm exhausted," he said quietly.

"But you smell great."

Wilson laughed for the first time that night. It made House smile. "Get some sleep," he said, standing and walking towards the door. "If you start feeling sick I want you to call me." He pointed to the night stand next to the bed. "There's a plastic bowl by the bed if you need it."

"Did you steal that too?"

"No. I borrowed it. How's your head?"

"Bad."

"You should've said something," House said with an edge to his voice. "I know you don't like taking medication but it's stupid to suffer with pain. I'm getting the sumatriptan."

Wilson shook his head slowly as House left the room, realizing that the older man was right. When House returned with the syringe and alcohol wipes, the two friends stared at each other for several seconds, concluding with the younger man lying down on his side as he pulled down the waistband of his sweats. House smiled. "I was afraid we wouldn't get to play doctor tonight."

"Yeah, but I was supposed to be the doctor."

"Life just isn't fair," House said, as he injected Wilson in the fleshy part of his hip.

"Ouch…Jesus, House, that hurts."

"Payback."

"So payback is sticking me with a needle?"

"You have your fun, I have mine. You're done."

The young doctor pulled his waistband back up and walked to the side up the bed where he slid under the covers.

"I'll be checking on you throughout the night, and I'll probably be waking you up periodically. I hope you don't like sleeping with the door closed because it's staying open."

"That's fine…I'm easy."

"That's exactly what the nurses said about you."

Wilson rolled his eyes. "Good night, Dr. House." He reached up and clicked off the light as his friend left the bedroom.