It was a beautiful June day, House was riding his motorcycle around the university. He was thinking through everything that would probably go wrong in the Philippines, what if there was a typhoon? During his time in the country, there have been three significant storms, one of which was called Monang. He had recalled the thunder; lightning and the wind.
House hated the wind most; he hated the electric fans at home. Wilson had a fan in the study that he hated. The sound of it and how the fan felt was greeting on his nerves.
He parked the motorcycle at a park near PPTH. The team had no case. It was a frustrating day After Cuddy had browbeaten him into working the clinic. House was sent plenty of mothers and their kids. The crying got to his nerves; he told a parent that his son wasn't dying rather unkindly. Cuddy was called; she had reprimanded him for being callus in front of the father. As he stormed out of the exam room, Cuddy's words echoed. "He can't control himself."
"Control yourself, Rory." His mother's voice played in his ears. House slammed that thought out of his mind. The fact was he couldn't change the fact that he was autistic, even if he wanted to.
"Penny for your thoughts?" House was startled by Wilson's words. He turned around. "I heard about the incident in the clinic; You alright?" Wilson's voice resonated in House's ear.
He sometimes hated that he and Wilson had been best friends before turning their relationship romantic. Wilson knew him very well. House nodded. "It wasn't fair." He knew he sounded childish, however, he didn't care.
"I know." Wilson just smiled. "So you ran from the hospital to the apartment, got your bike, rode it."
"Yes, did Cuddy called you?"
Wilson shook his head. "No, I heard it from Brenda the clinic nurse."
"Am I a bad person to say that I want something to go wrong in the Philippines so that I could help?" House asked.
The constant pressure on House to be somewhat normal was taking a toll on him. "We could do Doctors without Borders if you want."
"You're missing my point, Jimmy." Said House as he faced Wilson now. "I wished for a distraction, not to create one."
"Well, yeah. I know what you mean." Wilson said. "Back to the hospital, or you want to go eat out?"
"Eat out, definitely."
They loaded the bike to their SUV, It was a Volvo bought by Wilson for its safety features. House thought that it was a boring car.
They headed to dinner at a small pub outside of Princeton. It was an LGBT bar, which was own and operated by Dylan Crandall, House's friend. They ordered the usual, House loved their Rubin sandwiches, for he could order it dry without pickles. He'd been a picky eater all his life.
"Where's Dylan?" House asked a waiter.
The waiter sighed. "Crandall is out picking Leona from NYU."
House resumed eating his sandwich. Meanwhile, Wilson ordered BLT. He was aware that Wilson was watching him. "What?"
"Is it just me or you looked handsome today; In your gray jeans and a rolling stones shirt? " Wilson said, as he looked House over.
House rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I know, you like objectifying your spouse." They ate the rest of their meal in comfortable silence. After dinner, they shared coffee crumble cake.
House wondered outside; while Wilson paid the bill. The diagnostician was deep in thought; as the parking lot of Crandall's.
Wilson halted his pace. "Greg? You alright?" Wilson knew not to worry about the pacing, it's just stimming. House nodded, Wilson led him in their car.
Once in the comfort of the car, Wilson asked. What's on your mind, You know you're a bit distracted?"
House wanted to lie, but Wilson would deduce it out of him. "I overheard Cameron and Hadley talking about my birthday. Wilson could certainly guest the meaning of that statement. "Don't talk to them. it's my business, not yours." Wilson nodded.
They drove back, while they were in the car headed home Wilson asked, "So, what do you want to do on your birthday?"
House sighed, "Monster jam. Then dinner and drinks with you."
"Of course, your wish is my command," Wilson said sardonically. He called. 'Siri' the car's assistant. "Are there any monster jam shows near Princeton on the eleventh?" House smiled. Siri answered with an affirmative. In Trenton, five o'clock. Wilson booked two tickets.
House didn't like surprises because he knew needed for what to expect. Wilson always asked him what he wanted to do on his birthday or what he wanted for Christmas.
They arrived home. As soon as House was inside, he kicked his Nike's AirMax 90's and went to his piano. While Wilson went to the study to work on House's infectious disease speech.
The next morning while Wilson was working on paperwork, n there was a knock on the door. It was Cameron and Hadley. Wilson had the urge to roll his eyes.
"Dr. Wilson?" Cameron said.
"What can I do for you, lovely ladies?" Wilson said sardonically.
Cameron looked at Hadley, urging her to speak. "Its House's birthday next week," Hadley said. "And we want to surprise him."
The woman looked at him strangely. "Why?" Hadley asked.
Wilson sighed again. "He doesn't like surprises." Cameron quirked an eyebrow. "Don't go behind his back," Wilson warned.
Wilson quirked a brow. "Who are 'we'?"
It was Cameron who said. "Just the two of us, Foreman doesn't want to be bothered, and Chase said no right away."
Wilson sighed. Chase knew that House was autistic; House had informed him because he had a meltdown in front of Chase that first year. He told Chase that House hated birthdays. "Please, don't bother him, girls."
The women looked at him strangely. "Why?" Hadley asked.
Wilson sighed again. "He doesn't like surprises." Cameron quirked an eyebrow. "Don't go behind his back," Wilson warned.
"I don't understand, Dr. Wilson; House hated surprises?" Cameron asked, fishing now.
Wilson peered the outside his office into House's. "Cameron—" He halted when he saw House. Cameron and Hadley peaked at the balcony door. House was pacing and muttering on his side of the balcony. "Cameron, Please, don't surprise him, now shoo."
The moment Cameron and Hadley left, Wilson went outside to speak with his partner. "Greg? Everything alright?" Wilson asked, preventing House's pace. House halted; he fished out a paper from his pocket. "Clinic schedule?"
House nodded. "Yeah, Cuddy came earlier, telling me since I would be leaving in a week and a half, I should just work in the clinic. Yeah, that would work." The last part was said with his bitter sarcasm.
Wilson knew how much House hated the clinic, and his apprehension wasn't because it was boring. His spouse was reminded of how inadequate he was when dealing with people. "Well, what do you want to do?"
House sighed. "You know, I hate clinic duty, help me with it, Jimmy."
Wilson smiled. "Yeah, I'll talk with Cuddy. You have a case?" House nodded.
On the eleventh, Wilson woke House up with his guitar, "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday, dear Greg. Happy birthday to you." He sang and played the familiar song of greeting.
This was not a surprise for House, who the past 10 years of being together, and six years of marriage; Wilson always did that for him.
"Thank you." He said automatically.
"I got you something," Wilson said, handing House a package wrap in blue wrapping paper. "Well, I brought you that cause you might want to play; while we were on the road."
House opened the present with gusto. As soon as the gift was opened, he smiled. It was a Martin LX1 travel-size acoustic guitar. "Thank you, Jimmy. I love it, really." His smile touched his blue eyes.
For someone who hated surprises, the genuine smile was huge. "I made you, your favorite food macadamia nut pancake, go to the breakfast bar before you play your new toy."
House nodded and left their bedroom with his guitar on his left hand. He sat opposite Wilson on the breakfast bar, they ate in contented silence. After the meal, they went shower.
Wilson had an appointment today in another hospital. Afterward, he and House would be going to Trenton to watch a monster truck rally and dinner at Rafael's; House's favorite sit down place.
Wilson drove House to work.
House went to his office; after Wilson drop him off at the main entryway to the hospital. He stood near the edge of Wilson and his office's. Cameron and Hadley were discussing inside; There was a medium-sized box, on top was a chocolate cake. He finally entered his office.
As soon as he was inside, the two ladies got to their feet and began singing the birthday song. House nearly put his hand in his ear. The sound greeted on his nerves, like nails in a chalkboard. Unlike Wilson's tone, gentle and soothing, theirs was a little high pitch.
He didn't saw Chase entered. "Stop it, guys!" He heard Chase yelled, "Look at him. You're overwhelming him."
Cameron and Hadley looked at Chase and at House. "What do you know?" Cameron asked, looking at House.
Chase started to speak, however, House had beaten him to it. "I have a sensory processing disorder." "SPD?" Cameron asked. "That condition is associated with Autism." House practically saw as the cogs turned in her head.
House ran from his office to the clinic to accomplish his duties, four hours in hell. He texted Wilson. 'Cameron's brilliant idea pushed through; I thought you informed them.'
Then his phone rang, It was his father. He should turn off his phone. The patient a four-year-old kid with pink eye asked, "Dr. Greg, what's wrong?"
He loved working with children when the parent wasn't being insufferable idiots; thinking that their child had ebola if they have simple flu. He answered matter of factly. "My father is bugging me." His tone invited no questions.
After spending his time in the clinic House went up to his office. A package was laying on his desk. "To House, from Robert Chase,' it read. House opened it. It was a yoyo, fidget cube and a weighted blanket. He smiled a bit. He won't thank Chase, not his style, but he could buy him a lollipop.
At five Wilson entered House's office. "Hi," Wilson said shyly.
"Oh, hi," House said putting his things in his blue backpack; and changing from his lab coat into his jean jacket. "Let's go!" He said walking to Wilson and giving his spouse a kiss on the lips. "How was your day?" House asked while they walked to their car.
"Boring."
They headed to watch the monster truck show. While there, Wilson watched House; he looked happy, peaceful even. When his favorite truck came, Gravedigger; House almost squealed in glee. Wilson smiled; He was happy to see Greg happy.
After the show, House and Wilson ate at Rafael's.
End of Chapter 2