Summary, disclaimer, etc. in chapter 1.

Glad you guys liked the last chapter. :)

Jealousy

July 1999

Wilson paused outside of House's room, trying to sober up. He'd give everything away if he went in there grinning like he was now. Unable to pull it off, he found one of the rehab unit's nurses and asked how House's PT session this morning had been. He cursed inwardly as she gave him the report; he'd only wanted his face cleared, not to be depressed. Well. Good thing he hadn't brought champagne.

He knocked on House's door, waited until a polite interval of time had passed, and let himself in.

House was sitting in the room's arm chair with his leg up on the bed. Dressed in his own pajama bottoms, t-shirt, and socks, he would have been out of place if he'd looked at all healthy.

"Hey," Wilson said with carefully-controlled neutrality as he seated himself on the edge of the bed. "How's it going?"

"I'm tired," House muttered. He waved a hand at the room, "of all this. Bored. Ready to go home."

"Should be just a few more days," Wilson said. "You're still weak and your kidney function—"

"I know that," House interrupted irritably. "I can still read even if I can't walk."

"Sorry," Wilson said immediately. "Habit."

"Yeah," House sighed. He glanced up at Wilson from his eyes-on-the-floor sulking position and smiled a little. "Congratulations, by the way," he said.

Wilson leapt up, hands in the air, a disappointed groan on his lips. "Who stole my surprise!" he exclaimed.

House chuckled. "One of the nurses mentioned it," he said. "I think she floats to your department." He did his best to leer at Wilson, lowering his voice suggestively, "She really likes you."

"Who is it?" Wilson asked quickly.

House barked out a laugh and Wilson caught himself.

"I mean, so I can review her status," he said nonchalantly, trying to cover his mistake. "She may want to come to oncology full time."

"Sure," House said rolling his eyes. "That's exactly why you want to know her name. Real smooth, slick."

Wilson waited for House to continue. When he didn't, Wilson asked, "Well? Her name?"

"Damned if I know," House said, rubbing his forehead tiredly. "They all blur into one person after a while."

"Fine," Wilson said with affront. "Hold out on me."

"It doesn't occur to you that I might not want to remember their names?" House said testily.

"Like you can forget," Wilson said sitting on the bed again. "But that's okay," he added quickly, holding his hands up. "I'll figure out who it is on my own."

"See if you can get through Christmas with bride number three first," House said derisively. "I'd make a bet with you but I wouldn't want to win it."

"Speaking of," Wilson said, "are you and Stacy still on speaking terms? I didn't see her today."

House hesitated. "I…got angry and said some things I shouldn't have said yesterday," he admitted. "She came by this morning but it wasn't pretty."

Wilson nodded in acknowledgement and sped to a less contentious topic as quickly as he could.

"How is the pain management coming?" he asked.

House tossed his head back and groaned in frustration.

"That well, huh?" Wilson said.

House grunted.

Didn't want to talk about it. Okay. Wilson read that loud and clear.

"So," House said after a moment. "Now that you're a department head, you're going to have even less time to hang out."

"Probably," Wilson acknowledged.

"Does Julie realize how much she's going to lose?" House asked.

Wilson recognized how loaded the question was. "She knows I'm getting a raise and that more money means more responsibility, later hours," Wilson said carefully. "She's okay with that."

"More responsibility for you, more status for her?" House said. "Makes sense."

Wilson shrugged. "She's happy for me."

"Good for her," House said, unable to keep insincerity out of his voice.

"You're not?" Wilson asked.

House half-shrugged. "If you want to make your workday harder and longer, that's your prerogative." He paused and cracked a smile. "Just don't forget the little people when they teach you the secret handshake and give you the key to the executive washroom."

"You could have had it if you'd wanted it," Wilson pointed out.

House sniffed. "Not with my record," he said.

"Even with your record," Wilson said. He shrugged. "You've got the name. The name brings in the donors."

"Look at you," House said. "Got the lingo down already." He sniffed to himself. "When it comes time for you to jump through the ring of fire, let me know. I want to watch."

"Why didn't you take it if you wanted it?" Wilson asked.

House shrugged. "I didn't want it," he said. "Overachieving isn't my style."

Wilson grinned wryly. "Says the guy with all the renown."

"Jealous?" House asked with raised eyebrows.

"Positively green," Wilson said.

"That can't be good," House said, making a face.

The corner of Wilson's mouth quirked in response.

"Well," House said with finality, "have a drink for me tonight." He held out his hand.

Wilson glanced at House's extended hand with confusion, then up at House who nodded 'go on, take it.'

"Thanks," Wilson said, slightly bewildered, shaking House's hand. "Wish you could be there."

"Yeah," House said, turning his attention back to the television. "So do I."

Wilson paused, eyebrows knitting. "Are you trying to get rid of me?" he asked.

House shrugged. "You've got better things to do."

Crap. He was doing it again. The pity party.

Wilson sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Come on," he said, "don't do this."

"I'm happy for you," House said. "Really, I am."

Wilson couldn't tell if he was being sincere or not. But House wasn't exactly approachable right now. And Wilson understood. He did. It had been a difficult day for House. He and Stacy were still fighting. Wilson's success was a reminder of how much House's life had changed. He understood. He did.

"If you say so," Wilson said carefully. He stood to go. "Well," he said, "I'm going to go."

"Think you can use your new powers to get me out early?" House asked hopefully.

Wilson shrugged and tried to smile. "I'll see what I can do." Of course House knew he had no control over… No. House knew. He was just trying to get a rise…

Wilson turned toward the door, annoyed that his friend wasn't acting like much of a friend.

"Hey," House said, interrupting Wilson's thoughts.

Wilson stopped and turned around.

"You deserved it," House said.

Wilson tried to read his face. He did look sincere this time.

"Thanks," Wilson said. He smiled briefly and let himself out.