"This is insane," Wilson said. He looked up from the five postcards that were fanned out across his desk. "You're insane."
"Fine. I'm insane. Let's see you come up with a better explanation." House lounged comfortably in the nearby office chair and waited.
Wilson stared down at the postcards again, as if by the intensity of his gaze he could force them to give up their secrets. "It's what I first said. A joke. Someone's crazy idea of an incredibly elaborate joke."
House shook his head. "Too elaborate," he said. "Besides, who do we know that's clever enough to pull off something like this?" He caught Wilson's narrowed glance. "Aside from me, of course," he quickly amended.
Wilson sighed. "And you think this theory of an ... alternate universe makes more sense."
"It's actually the simplest explanation, Jimmy. And you know what Occam said about simple explanations."
"Yeah, and he probably cut himself shaving all the time. It's still insane," Wilson mumbled.
"No more insane than any other theory, or anything you or I see on the nightly news," House replied calmly. "And by the way, this came today."
He tossed another postcard on the desk. Wilson groaned. "Do I want to see this?" he asked. House leaned back in his chair, his eyes dark and unreadable.
Wilson looked at the front of the card for awhile without touching it. A night-time shot. A structure that bore more than a passing resemblence to the Eiffel Tower. Printed across the top of the card were the words "Visit the Heart of the Empire! See Tokyo Tower!" He glanced up at House, who was watching him quietly. He flipped the card over.
An anime-style stamp showed a brown-eyed boy peeking out from behind a leaf or a curtain. The postmark bore Western numbers and indicated the card had been mailed two weeks ago. And the message on the card ...
House -- flight took long way round to avoid rebel missiles in Hawaii. Don't know what to say or do. Miss you & feel terrible. Please respond, even if it's just to tell me to go away. If you want to send something Cuddy has hotel address or can send to Amex office 2-5-1 Kyobashi, Chou-ku. Love (sometimes not sure why), Wilson.
Wilson stared at the card. There seemed to be some dust in the room, or too much light, and he swiped at his eyes.
"Uh," he said.
House leaned forward and took the card from him, his movements surprisingly gentle.
"Let me guess," Wilson finally said. "Cuddy didn't have a clue as to what hotel --"
"I didn't bother asking her," House cut him off. "It's beyond that."
Wilson looked at the card in his friend's hand.
"Is there an American Express office in Chou-ku?"
House nodded.
"You're not thinking about ... doing something, are you?"
House looked at him. "Why not?" he asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.
"Because -- we don't know anything about this? Who these people are? What they've done? What if this other Wilson is a real bastard? What if the other House doesn't want to see him again? Ever?" Wilson waved his hands in the air, in that nervous Wilson way he had. "House, these people aren't us!"
"I know that," House said quietly.
"So ... what are you going to do?"
"I don't know."
tbc
