Please let me know if I've conjured up any questions you may have. :o)

CHAPTER NINETEEN – The Unexpected Phone Call

Later that night around eight, House is lying awake in bed after having a good, much needed two hour sleep and watching t.v. Well, the t.v. is on but he's not really watching it. In his mind he's going over what Cuddy told him earlier about Wilson's parents; he's been doing a lot of thinking lately. He's always liked Wilson's parents and can't understand why they would prevent him from seeing their son. But he is confident that Cuddy will take care of it; she's never left him down before.

His thoughts are interrupted when he hears the sliding door to his room slide open and turns to see Cameron, Chase and Foreman walk in. He frowns at them but tries to hide a smile.

"What are you guys doing here so late? Got a patient you can't diagnose?" he asks hopefully.

"Yes. You, House," Foreman says with a smile.

"No use beating a dead horse with a stick, er, uh, cane," Chase jokes, and that makes House smile.

"Touche, Chase. How's Wilson?" he asks fidgeting on the bed trying to get his legs comfortable.

"He's better," Cameron answers. "Dr. Marsden was just in with him and he was taking him off the respirator." House nods. "Is there anything we can get you before we leave for the night?"

"Where's Cuddy? Isn't she his attending doctor?"

"Oh, she still is. She went home after she left your room a couple of hours ago," Cameron answers.

House frowns at her and she can see his brain cells churning inside his head. "How do you know she was here? You haven't been here since this morning," he asks accusingly.

"Oh, I ran into her in the ba…hallway. She hasn't slept much and was exhausted. I told her we'd check in on you before we left tonight," Cameron says but House catches her slip of the tongue but doesn't say anything.

"Yeah, regardless of the fact that I had a date tonight and I had to disappoint her and cancel it," Foreman states.

"Oh, don't worry, Foreman. I'm sure she would have been disappointed more if you kept the date," House says and Chase snickers, which results in Foreman giving him a dirty look.

"Well, it's good to see you haven't lost your sense of humor," Foreman says back.

Just then the phone rings but House ignores it. "Don't you think you should get that?" Cameron asks.

"Nah, it's just a bill collector," he retorts. The phone continues to ring.

"We should be going, really," Foreman interjects. "We'll see you tomorrow." The three leave the room.

The phone still continues to ring. House sighs, looks at it then reluctantly picks it up. "Hello?"

"Hi, Greg. How are you feeling?"

"Oh, great, Mom. Did you get Dad to the airport to catch the flight?" he asks, hoping against all hope that he has.

"Yes, yes. He really wanted to come and see you before he left but with all the rain we've had back home he was worried about draining the sump pump. You know how your father can be."

'Yeah, I do,' he thinks snottily to himself.

There is a moment of silence before Blythe asks, "Have they told you when you can come home?"

"Dr. Nguyen says day after tomorrow. You know, you don't have to stay with me, Mom. I'll have a nurse…"

"Gregory, I wouldn't even think about that! You're my son, aren't you? I can even make that brisket you like so much."

House's stomach churns a little then has to smile. He loves his mom, even though sometimes he doesn't let himself know it, OR her. "Ok. I know I'll lose debating with you. I'd like to spend time with you," he says as he tries to convince himself.

"Ok, you get some sleep, honey. I love you."

"Love you, too, Mom," House says as he places the phone in the cradle.

He lies back in bed and tries to relax to sleep, but he can't. He had that two hours' sleep and thinks that's what is keeping him awake. He closes his eyes and while his body gels out on him his mind is completely wired. He waits about an hour before he presses the button for the nurse to bring him a sedative.

A few minutes after the nurse leaves and he finally feels groggy enough to fall asleep peacefully. That is until the phone rings and jerks him back to reality. He irately reaches for the phone and rather bitterly says, "What?"

"Oh, uh, sorry. I thought I was calling the nice patient," says the female voice.

A wave of nausea roils in his stomach at hearing her voice. It is the one voice he isn't expecting to hear, rather the one voice he doesn't want to hear. "Oh, he's in room 412," he says, relaxing back down comfortably.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm so tired of everyone asking me that," he says with a little sigh.

"It's not every day that you're shot, either, which in itself is something to ponder," she says. He thinks he can detect a smile on her lips; he always could, though. "I heard from Lynn about Wilson and called Cuddy. Think I woke her up, though."

"Yeah, I've been wearing her out," he snickers, starting to sound sleepy and slurring his words.

"Oh, I'm sure you have. You need to stop throwing the bed pan at her!" she orders but then laughs, and he joins in on the friendly bantering, although his eyes are closed.

An awkward moment of silence is shared between the two as both are at a loss for words, specifically over the fact that he is where he is.

"Well, I just wanted to say hello and I hope you feel better soon," she says honestly.

"Thanks. I'll be fine," he tells her.

"Yes, no doubt. Take care of your self," she says.

"I will. Bye, Stacy."

House hangs up the phone and throws his head heavily on the pillow. 'Ok, now this sucks. Now I know I'm not gonna get any sleep now.'

But within minutes he slowly drifts off to sleep, a peaceful sleep for a change.

HOUSE MD HOUSE MD HOUSE MD

Ok, folks! Here's a preview of what we'll see in the next few chapters: House and Wilson become roommates, House goes home to recoup and Chase and Cam marry…I mean date. :o)