A/N: Hehehe, another chapter. My reviews have been lacking a little; are you guys still with me in here? Helloooo?
House woke up in a cold sweat, breathing hard. He squeezed his eyes shut against the throbbing pain in his leg and felt for a couple of pills on the table beside his bed, swallowing them dry. He opened his eyes and glanced at the clock. 3:17 a.m.
A dream had awakened him… a hot, steamy, R-rated dream…
He shuddered and closed his eyes again.
A hot, steamy, R-rated dream… about Cuddy.
His eyes flew open and he sat up in the blink of an eye. "Shit!"
"Well now, somebody had a long night last night," Wilson drawled, a gleam in his eye. "Did you have a visitor after I left? Or should I ask if Cuddy will be coming into work today?"
"Aww, shut it," House muttered. "Yes, it was a long night, like you wouldn't believe."
Wilson tilted his head to one side. "Spill."
"Go to hell." House shot back and limped to his office, the oncologist trailing behind. "I don't give a damn if Cuddy-" he stopped abruptly, in speech and in his tracks, causing Wilson to bump into him.
"House, what-"
House jerked his eyes from what had caught his attention in the first place. "Sorry."
Cuddy's gaze met his for a split second and then pulled away. House continued on, cursing under his breath and ignoring Wilson, who was grinning excitedly and chattering on about how he was so right.
"Busted," Wilson laughed and fell into a chair. "House, you are screwed."
House didn't reply.
"House."
House twirled his cane. "Apartment." He looked up and caught Wilson rolling his eyes. "Right. That's not what you meant."
"Admit it. You like her."
"Jeez, why won't you people leave it alone? I don't like her. I don't like anybody. This is me, remember?" House flipped his cane to point it at himself and pulled a face. "Grumpy old bastard who doesn't give a flying rat's ass about anyone, much less his boss…?"
"You like me," Wilson pointed out.
House glared. "Quit raining on my parade. I'm trying to make a point."
Wilson laughed and stood up. "You're not doing very well so far. I'll come back later when you've figured it out."
"Figured what out?" House flipped his cane again and slammed it against the floor, but Wilson was already halfway down the hall, still laughing.
With a curse, he swallowed a Vicodin and sighed. This was going to be worse than he thought.
"Shall I buy you lunch?"
"What do you want?"
"Who says I want anything?"
"House."
House smiled angelically at the cafeteria lady in response. "My dear Wilson, we're keeping the people in line waiting, so if you wouldn't mind saving us the time and just agreeing to my offer of warmth and kindness, we could move on. Pizza?"
"Fine." Wilson nodded curtly at the cafeteria lady and slid his tray over to grab it, following the older doctor to a table in the corner, far away from the other parts of civilization. Figures. "Always the anti-social, aren't you?" he continued, this time out loud.
"Why, Dr. Wilson, I'm surprised at you. Whatever is the matter?" House threw him the same smile he had given to the cafeteria lady only seconds before.
Wilson sighed and sat down. "Whatever," he said resignedly, and after hesitating, nibbled at his pizza, which of course didn't really look like pizza at all.
"What are you doing?"
A not so quiet "shhhhht!" was the reply Wilson got. He leaned against the doorframe as a curious expression creased his features.
Finally House pulled his head out of the vent in the wall and carefully placed the cover back on, grinning smugly. "I was eavesdropping."
Wilson's eyebrows shot up. "Eavesdropping. Where exactly does that air vent lead, and by the way, you looked idiotic."
"And I care why…?"
Wilson sighed. "Explain, House."
House echoed his sigh, albeit a fair bit more dramatically. "I didn't hear anything. Don't get your panties in a knot. What is it?"
Wilson gave him a blank stare.
"Never mind," House muttered, and stood up with the aid of his cane, staring out the window. "On the bright side…" Suddenly he spun around, excitement coming through in his tone.
"What?" Wilson eyed him warily.
"We get to go home soon!"
