Alright, so I've been anticipating The Conversation with to mild trepidation. I'm not sure if I did alright on this one. I mean, I've gotten shining praise all around for my rendition of the most entertaining guy out of a lab coat (and thank you all for the encouragement!) but this might be... off. Tell me what you think.

Oh, and, for those of us not reaised on Star Trek, Uhura is the black, female, hot communications officer in the original show, and George Takei played Sulu, her boyfriend. In case you start to wonder later on.

"I can not believe you just did that," Jimmy said, horror and mortification in every syllable. It was a really fun thing to wake up to. Alright, I wasn't really sleeping, but I had been thinking a bit and that's never good news for the universe. Court had apparently recessed while I wasn't in.

"I know, it was really cool, wasn't it?" I gushed, welcoming back my inner cheerleader with open arms. "I'm amazed that Judge," for the name I affected a flawless Irish accent, doubt you not, "Seamus O'Flaherty didn't have you clapped in irons and fingerprinted slash cavity searched." (Mmm, good idea. Write that one down.)

Jimmy ran a hand down his face. As I followed it down, I noticed puffy eyes and down-turned lips. "I'm going through a divorce, House, it's not a joke. Now he's going to think I'm not taking it seriously!"

"Gee whiz, James, heaven forbid a man on his third marriage and divorce should be a bit laid-back about the whole thing." I hit his shoe with the end of my cane, 'pisshaw' on the tip of my tongue. He looked ready kill, though, so I settled for, "Come on, the first was practice, the second a dress rehearsal; now it's your chance on Broadway!" He didn't seem to appreciated the jazz hands and overly peppy smile I offered, but I did them anyway. Just because Jimmy doesn't properly appreciate them doesn't mean I should deny the world my awesomeness.

He looked at the sky for a moment, chewing on his bottom lip. My mind wanted to say something about it (first on the list: 'I can do that for you…' ; close second was 'You don't chew your lip when you're frustrated, Jimmy, you sigh and shake your head') but I couldn't because he really was thrown for a loop. He brought his eyes down to stare at me, and I could read him like a book. He said, "Are you stalking me, or something?"

I let my shoulders sag as he disregarded the tension and smiled. "I didn't even go to your House," (come on, give me a break - the look on his face was priceless) "this morning, I went to Julie's work and muscled my way through till I got some addresses."

He slid onto the standard park bench next to me, the grin he'd found not reaching his eyes or voice as he chuckled, "In other words, you waited around until she didn't come in and asked where you could find her."

"She's a woman, Jimmy, I felt obligated to make sure she was safe."

His raised his eyebrows and nudged me with his elbow. "Oh? Did you ruin my case instead of hers on accident, or something?"

I nudged back. "You're worse than a woman; you're my woman." I broke into a bit of laughter, and he eventually followed suit. "Anyway, I thought we agreed I was perfect in every way? I don't make mistakes that big. Except that time with the tequila, cold compresses and rabies shots all around."

He leaned his elbows on his knees, hands clasped together. "You sure you didn't come because you missed me? I wonder how long it took you to even notice I was gone."

I affected a pout and whined, "What kind of friend do you take me for?"

"You didn't notice that I was gone until you paged for a consult over something profoundly funny or stupid," he scolded.

"Well, yes, that too. Did you know Cuddy's not a Trekkie? She would make a great Uhura, you see, she's got the right," I held my hands in front of my chest, struggling over the next word, and finished "intelligence."

"I can almost see her straddling George Takei with black boots and a short skirt," Jimmy droned. "But, really, why'd you come?"

I stared ahead for a few seconds, and said quietly, "Because I wasn't around for the first one, but I was for the second, and you were a mess." I brightened, looked at him, and worked to stand up. "After all, you're nothing with a wife and girlfriend and friend-with-benefits to run back to."

"You sure know how to twist the knife."

"Masochist. You wouldn't be around if you didn't like it." I started walking in the direction of my bike and waved an arm. "Come on, let's hang out at my house. But drive your own car."

"Why should I? I still have two days off, I should be treating this as a vacation, since it's the only one I'll get for another six months."

"Just come, you crybaby." I watched him sit for a moment longer and added, "There's beer."

"Fine, fine," he sighed, standing and heading for his car. "I'll meet you there." Swayed by alcohol. What an addict.

…Says the guy that can't help but stare at Wilson's back as he walks away.

This was bad. He had been chewing on his lip, with meant he was conflicted, and he hadn't even been angry when appropriate, so he was a bit detached from the world. And, from his face, though it was carefully shaven and straight-laced, my Jimbo hadn't been sleeping. Damn and blast, he was trying to make a decision. Why not just tell me what it was about and ask my advice or something?

Divorce!Wilson was really bad for my nerves. Plus, a small part of me was wondering if he had missed me, too. This wasn't good at all; now I was going to be all sighing-schoolgirl-after-childhood-friend forever. Damn hormones and addictions and chemicals in all forms. It's not as though any real emotion has to do with this, right?