"I'm really not in the mood for company for right now."

"I brought food," Wilson said, holding up a big greasy bag and six pack of beer.

"Jimmy..."

"I can't eat all of this by myself."

"Why don't you share it with your wife?"

"My wife isn't speaking to me."

House paused for a few beats, then held the door open. His friend clomped to the living room, leaving the scent of burgers and fries in his wake.

Limping back to the living room, House found the younger doctor taking burgers the size of dinner plates out of the bag, followed by two giant orders of steak fries. Steve McQueen went bananas at the sight of all the edibles so close, yet so far. Using a bottle opener on his keychain, Wilson opened up two beers.

Picking up the top bun and looking the mayonnaise, cheese, bacon, and greasy hamburger patty, House said, "Yummy. Do I even want to know how much cholesterol is in this?"

"Nope," Wilson said, wiping ketchup off his chin. "But I'm sure we can finish these and not have a heart attack in the meantime."

"That's nice. You should put that on a greeting card." House washed down a bite with beer. "Why do you always buy this crap beer? I get more of buzz from iced tea."

"You never complained before."

"I'm complaining now." He looked over at his friend. "What's up with Julie?"

"The usual," said Wilson, nibbling on a fry. "You're never home, Jimmy. I think you're having an affair, Jimmy. She hasn't talked to me for two days."

"Yikes."

"The only thing I can do is wait for her cool off and hope she'll eventually pick up the phone."

Wilson then changed the subject, talking about various goings-on at the hospital since House had been resting at home. He opened two more beers and handed one over.

"Where's Cuddy?" Wilson asked.

"Home, as far as I know," said House, staring at his beer bottle as if he wished to crawl into it and avoid Wilson's questions.

"You didn't have a fight, did you?"

House drained half his beer before he said, "No. I just wanted to be alone for a while. Why do you care what Lisa and I do?"

"Lisa?" Wilson asked, watching his friend blush. "My God, it really is true. Dr. Gregory House is in love with Dr. Lisa Cuddy. I'm waiting for the sky to fall in."

"Dr. Wilson, Jimmy, do you remember what I said about my cane and your groin area?"

"The moon will turn red and the mountains will crumble..."

"For Christ's sake..."

"Alright alright." The younger doctor smiled and sipped his beer. "It's nice to see you with someone again all these years after Stacy, even if that someone is your boss."

"Stacy and I have separated."

Wilson frowned. "Stacy's been gone for eight years."

"That's right," House said, finishing his second beer.

"So how can two people who haven't seen each other for eight years be separated? By definition aren't you already separated? I don't get it."

"You don't have to get it. Lisa gets it, and that's all I care about."

"Wow, you're really serious about her, aren't you?"

"I guess you could say that."

"Wow," Wilson said again, shaking his head and packing the remains of his dinner back into the greasy bag. "And you have no problem with the fact that she's the Dean of Medicine?"

"I have no problem with it. Lisa doesn't have a problem with it. You didn't have a problem with it before," House said pointedly. "Why do you have one now? I'm not married and neither is she."

"So that makes it all okay?"

"It doesn't make it anything. Lisa just happens to be my boss, that's all. And I'm getting a little tired of justifying the actions of two very consenting single adults to a man who has been married how many times?"

"Alright. Point taken." Wilson opened the last of the beers and grabbed the remote. "Is The O.C. on tonight?"

He couldn't find The O.C., but did find a documentary on tornado chasers. For two hours they made fun of the crazy people going after giant vacuum cleaners. After it was over, the younger doctor gathered up his things.

"I need to get home."

"You said Julie wasn't speaking to you."

"She isn't, but she's letting me sleep on the couch. I should be there in case she decides to throw something at me. I'll consider that progress. See ya later."

"Just remember to duck," House called after his friend.

He cleaned up the beer bottles and looked at the clock. It was 11:15pm. He had been up for nearly eighteen hours and was feeling tired. Tomorrow it was back to the hospital and clinic duty. Back to everything. He washed up, brushed up and went to bed.

As House drifted off he wondered if Lisa was curled up in her bed, sleeping in his tee shirt.