Chapter 14: Persuasion
Wilson walked into Cuddy's office.
"Hey," he said. "We need to talk."
She raised her eyebrows curiously.
"About House,"
She waited patiently, her head resting in one hand.
"And you," he added.
Cuddy's eyes widened for a second and then she put her head down and went back to work.
"What do you mean?" she asked mildly.
"You know exactly what I mean," insisted Wilson.
"I don't think I do," objected Cuddy.
"I know you do. You and House. I spoke to Chase."
"Oh God," sighed Cuddy, and her head sunk back into her hand. "Well, I don't see what there is to talk about," she disagreed.
"I do," said Wilson. "You and House; you're together?"
"No," Cuddy sighed.
Wilson's shoulder's dropped and he frowned.
"We were," she added.
He contemplated quietly.
"What happened?" he questioned gently.
"Just what you'd expect with House. We were together for a week and then he drove me away." She looked guilty. "After I drilled him about his addiction."
Wilson sighed.
"Again?"
"It was different this time," she protested. I… I loved him. I thought I loved him."
Wilson raised his eyebrows.
"You thought you loved him?"
"Well, I don't anymore, so I guess I was wrong. He's such a bastard."
"I think you do love him," Wilson disagreed. "I think you still love him. You always loved him. Now that I think about it," he got excited, "it was obvious. You've loved him forever," he accused.
"No," Cuddy disagreed. "Only since college."
Wilson's smile broadened.
"So that's why you hired him."
"That was not the whole reason," Cuddy protested.
Wilson's smile was now so broad that it was from ear to ear.
"Well then, what are you waiting for? Go and tell him!"
"I'm not apologising to that Son of a Bitch. I told you. I don't love him anymore."
"You can't change you're mind that quickly."
"Oh yeah? Just watch me. If I can manage it, I'm never speaking to that bastard again."
"You're making a big mistake," Wilson sang warningly, "And you can't avoid him forever."
"Eventually he'll die," Cuddy pointed out brightly.
"Yeah? Well, so will you."
House was in his office when Wilson got there. Before he said anything else, he stuck his head through the door and said simply, "Chase told me everything."
"I'm gonna kill him," stated House. "I guess you're gonna wanna talk now, eh Jimmy? Best buddy's regular advice-about-girls chat. Info from the Man of Many Wives, is it?"
"You're being an idiot," he said bluntly.
House furrowed his brow, frowning.
"Oh, well thank you."
"Why are you driving her away?"
"I'm sorry, who are we talking about?"
"Cuddy!" Wilson almost yelled, unsuccessfully trying tobottle up his anger.
"Oh, her," said House.
"Do you love her?"
"I thought I did."
"Oh, please, let's not go through this again? Do you love her? Yes or no?"
"Yes," House admitted submissively, not looking at Wilson.
"But you're not going off Vicodin for her?"
"No," he said.
"Well, I wouldn't expect you to. But couldn't you have compromised? What did you do? Call her a Bitch?"
"I should have."
Wilson glared at him unkindly.
"I said she didn't deserve any more respect than I've always given her," he confessed, looking at the floor.
"Perfect," concluded Wilson sarcastically.
There was silence for a moment.
"You know," said House. "I once told Stacy, that I would give up my leg to save her life. I would have done the same for Cuddy. But it's not her life that's on the line. It's mine. So, I guess I'm just in the same situation I was in with the infarction. I don't care if I live or die. But Stacy did, Cuddy did. Do you think, maybe it's time I started caring too?"
Wilson nodded.
"Apologise," he ordered.
"No," House shot back defiantly.
"Your loss," Wilson told House as he left the office.
House sat at his desk determinedly.
