Chapter 3
Later that night around, House and Mali were on the couch eating pizza and drinking beers when the front door open. It was Wilson, carrying a suitcase and looking a little ruffled up.
"Hey." He gave a nod and then headed into his bedroom. Mali and House watched him until he disappeared, glanced at each other, and then become bored with it and went back to the action movie on the TV.
About twenty minutes later Wilson walked back out with the suitcase still in his hand, but also now accompanied with a duffle bag. Both were filled with clothes and other necessities. He caught the attentions of the other two people in the room when he placed them on the floor to grab some stuff from the closet. Mali was the first to question him on it.
"What's with the suitcase?"
Wilson turned around with two sweatshirts in his hands. "Going on a short vacation."
House raised an eyebrow and took a sip of his beer. "Without me?"
"With Jayden."
"Aw, that's sweet." Mali turned to House and punched his arm slightly. "Why don't you take me on a vacation?"
"Because people get sick."
"Jeez, glad to know where I stand in your life."
"Oh, come on. I'm not God, I haven't invented a miracle drug that keeps people healthy…yet."
Mali rolled her eyes and stood up. "I wanna go to Hawaii."
Wilson laughed and stuffed the charger to his cell phone in his duffle bag.
"I wanna go to Hawaii and lay on the beach all day. Drink some martinis, tan, listen to the ocean in a soft, sea breeze." Mali found her way into House's lap, careful of his leg as always, and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Does that mean you in a bikini and me happy every night?"
"Mm-hmm." Mali smirked and placed soft kisses on the doctor's neck.
"Well then, I'll see what I can do. Maybe Cuddy can give me a week or two off. God knows I deserve it."
Mali smiled and moved her kisses to his jaw line, slowly inching her way to his lips. Wilson watched them for a moment and then gave them some privacy. He went into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. Of course, he was greeted to a pile of dirty dishes in the sink.
"Why can't either of you two do the dishes!" Wilson called out. When there was no answer and instead what he could have sworn was a moan, he just rolled his eyes and decided on doing them himself. Already clad in an old t-shirt, he didn't have to worry about rolling up the sleeves of one of his dress shirts and therefore went straight to work.
About five minutes later all the dished were done and now drying in the dish rack. He grabbed the towel off the counter, dried his hands, and placed it neatly folded next to the sink. He did a once over of the kitchen and sighed. It so bad, just a little messy, but the big problem was that Wilson wasn't sure how was going to survive the next week. The grumpy doctor had gotten used to his buying food and doing dishes that House never did it himself any more. Mali wasn't the housewife material so she didn't do it either.
Wilson was going to have to prepare himself for takeout containers placed everywhere in the apartment when he returned.
The sounds from the living room where no longer there and the oncologist wondered if they moved to the bedroom. Probably. Wilson grabbed his bottled of water and walked out of the kitchen. He was surprised when he saw them still on the couch, but only House was fast asleep and Mali was sprawled out with her head on his chest.
"Did he fall asleep on you?" Wilson joked, voice only a whisper when he approached the couch. Mali just smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
"Alright. I'm gonna go and head to your place; Jay's waiting for me."
"Staying with her till you two leave?"
Wilson nodded his head.
"Huh. Where are you going anyway?"
"Down south."
"Florida? She didn't mention anything."
"Uh, try South Jersey." Wilson sighed. "We're going to see her parents."
Mali's jaw dropped. "No way!" She sat up a little and stared at Wilson. "Wow, Jimmy, moving pretty fast, eh?"
"Yeah, well…"
"Okay, but if you are going to propose anytime soon let me know first."
Wilson raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"To make sure you pick out a good enough ring, that's why." Mali laid back down and started flipping through the channels. "But one thing before you do so."
"What's that?"
"Make sure you can never cheat anymore." Mali's eyes pierced him. "'Cause if you break her heart, I'll break your head off and personally plan your funeral."
Wilson nodded his head, a little faster than he had too, almost showing fear of the younger girl. "Alright."
"Good." Mali turned her attention back to the television and settled on an old western movie. "Have fun, and tell Jayden to call me tomorrow."
"Will do, to both." Wilson gave the blonde a wave, and then after grabbing his stuff he was out the door. The walk to the elevator was short, as House had gotten the closest apartment to it, and then was lucky enough to have the ride down the three stories to himself. He car was parked about three spaces from House's motorbike, which was in a handicap spot covered with its tarp. He stared at it for moment, wondering if House was going to take Mali out for another night trip across town.
The night got a little chillier as he settled his stuff into the backseat of his car and then settled himself into the front. The ride back to the apartment that Jayden and Mali shared was about twenty minutes. When Wilson started the car, the low fuel light came on and the oncologist then noticed the tank was almost on E. He was sure to run out before he got to Baker Street. A gas station was right around the corner and Wilson decided to spend the thirty bucks in his pocket on gas. It was better than breaking down on the side of the road and then waiting for House to come pick him up. The teasing wouldn't stop, especially when he left with Jayden. It would just start up again when he got back.
The gas station was pretty empty, aside from the other car there before him and the gas attendant himself. He didn't notice the other car would look familiar if he looked at it again, and instead asked the man for twenty-five dollars regular. His stomach growled and as the gas attendant pressed buttons on the pump, Wilson decided he would head into the little deli and grabbed a bag of chips.
He ended up getting more than he bargained for.
As he rounded the end cap of chocolate bars, Wilson ran into a familiar brunette carrying a loaf of bread and a jar of Tostitos dip.
"Oh, Allison! What a surprise, running into you…literally."
Cameron laughed a little and bowed her head a little, trying to hide her bloodshot eyes. "It's okay."
"So, what are you up to tonight?" He noticed the jar of dip. "Late night party?"
Cameron looked up a little and noticed a small smile on his eyes. If anyone asked her, she wouldn't hesitate to say he was handsome. But somehow, it was House she was attracted too.
"Um, just a little craving. You know, quick run to the convenient store."
"Yeah, same here. Just needed some gas as well."
The two doctors headed to the counter, Wilson now carrying a bag of Fritos. He allowed Cameron to go first and she paid for her things. Wilson did the same and then offered to walk Cameron to her car.
"Sure," she said, and the two headed outside. She debated on whether now was a good time or not to ask him. Would she ever get a chance to be with Wilson when House wasn't nearby?
"Um, Dr. Wilson, can I ask you a question? It's sort of personal, about House."
"Okay." Wilson wondered where this was going.
"Why is House dating Mali?"
When they approached Cameron's car, Wilson resisted the urge to lean against it. That was an unexpected question.
"I dunno."
"Really?"
Wilson nodded his head.
"I thought he told you everything."
"He does, pretty much, but with Mali…it's a mystery right now. All I know is that he likes her, she likes him, and they seem to be getting along just fine. She's good for him, you know? Mali doesn't pressure him to be something he's not; she encourages him to have fun and do things to make him more youthful. He's actually taking less Vicodin since she's come along."
Those words were painful to Cameron, no doubt. She knew they could be true – just had to be true – but somehow they didn't seem true to her. Yes, Cameron did want House to change, but she just wanted him to become less miserable and more willingly to be nicer.
"Is everything okay, Allison? I mean with Mali."
Cameron debated on how to answer that. She could lie and say things were just fine, or she could tell Wilson the truth and explain how awful she was and that she didn't think Mali deserved House.
"Things are fine, Dr. Wilson. Thanks for your concern."
"Listen, I know Mali can be a little, well, forward with her relationship with House, and that you may still have feelings for him but – "
"Dr. Wilson, no, you don't know. Now, if you will please excuse me, I have to get back home." She turned away from the doctor and paid the gas attendant twenty dollars. Then she got into her car, started it up, and drove away, never looking back to see Wilson still standing there.
