"How's gay brother doing…?"

Morgan flopped down in the chair opposite House's desk meeting his questioning gaze with a small smile.

"Little better already. And glad that we finally know what's going on… How are you doing?"

A brief nod. "I'm fine."

Morgan was hard-pressed not to roll his eyes at the glib reply.

"Pain any better?" He finally pressed gently.

Just a nod and the expected look off towards the side.

Morgan cleared his throat.

"You know, when I came into the room yesterday, during the examination... What you said."

House's expression immediately closed off.

"Forget it. I was just tired."

Morgan slowly nodded. "Because I have absolutely no idea why you would think that I see you as anything but – "

"I don't! Just… leave it."

Another hesitant nod, but Morgan was still frowning slightly.

"I also realize that you were… tense yesterday. You were in pain and had recently been attacked by someone, but – "

"Do we really have to do this?! I was hurting, I was tired. Explains all my reactions yesterday. Nothing more to it than that. – It wasn't a big deal and I certainly don't need to be analyzed over it by you or anyone else!"

Morgan reflexively froze, a little stunned by the sudden vehemence of House's response. He paused briefly, then replied in a deliberately light tone:

"Still somewhat tired today, huh?"

House visibly deflated at that, looking off towards the side again before forcing himself to meet the other man's annoyingly mild gaze.

"I overreacted yesterday; it had nothing to do with you. – Let it go."

This time, Morgan nodded more decisively, then pushed himself to his feet.

"Okay! So… You up for some dinner?"

House couldn't help but laugh out briefly at that.

"Thought you said you weren't gay," was all he finally replied in a tone that started to approximate his usual gruffness.

A mildly exasperated eye-roll. "I'm not. – You only ever have dinner with gay men?"

"Right now, I don't have dinner with anyone… Ankle bracelet, remember?"

Morgan simply shrugged. Then: "Cafeteria?"

House kept his gaze fixed on the orthopedist, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"Why do you care so much?"

Morgan didn't seem at all surprised by the change in topic. "You mean: Why do I mind that you seem to expect me to physically attack you the first chance I get and/or be superficial enough to confuse a physical disability with a massive psychological disturbance?!"

One corner of House's mouth lifted slightly, before he once again focused on the orthopedist. "So, this is all about my image of you?"

Morgan hesitated slightly, then took an audible breath.

"It's about your image of me; and it's about your image of you. Sure, you're an ass. But I get the distinct impression that you underestimate the respect people have for you." When House just looked slightly stunned, but didn't return anything, he bravely continued: "I'd let you drag my brother to an underwater pool party with a hundred naked people if you thought it might be diagnostically relevant… And you may come of as extreme and also very difficult at times – or actually most of the time really – but you're also very obviously a thoroughly decent person." Stunned silence. "That's why I care. Because it hurt yesterday to see the picture you apparently think people have of you."

House still didn't reply anything but took his cane now and pushed himself to his feet, wincing slightly when his left arm was obviously hurting again.

"And while we're already on difficult subjects – and I promise this is the last one I'm gonna be breaching tonight." Morgan nodded towards his wrist that was now sporting the brace again. "I wouldn't have to analyze what happened to it in the first place to see whether or not something can still be done about it."

House threw him a challenging look.

"What makes you think I wouldn't want you to analyze."

Morgan just scoffed slightly at that, not dignifying the ridiculous question with any sort of verbal reply. Instead, he held the door open for House and followed a step behind the other man.

"Whenever you do decide that you'd like to have it checked, just send me a request for some x-rays, alright? Just some pictures. No kind of talking involved…"

He thought he saw a minute nod, but then House suddenly stopped walking and eyed him seriously.

"I understand that you're an orthopedic surgeon with surprising passion for his field. – But you can't fix everything."

Letting the statement stand for a moment, Morgan finally replied with a sad smile and a small nod. "That's true." He patiently held the other man's gaze. "There's every chance I can fix a misaligned ulna bone though."

House rolled his eyes at the dogged reply, but some of the tension seemed to leave his shoulders and he slowly started walking again.

"Why do I get the feeling that you're simply looking for a reason to finally cut into me."

Morgan smiled. "Paranoia, that's why. – Something I really can do nothing about…"

"Finally, the man shows some insight."

Morgan watched House lift his cane to push the elevator button. He was still moving more carefully than usual, still paler than he should be, but the IV fluids, pain medication and finally a few hours of rest had certainly done him some good. Which was a relief; yesterday, Morgan had been seriously worried about the man and very conscious of his own role in the whole situation…

It was almost funny how starkly his feelings now contrasted with their relationship just a couple of months ago. How – in a way – close they'd become, when all they'd intended to do in the beginning was to defend their territory and establish clear boundaries between them.

He now noticed that House had turned towards him, frowning slightly, apparently waiting for some sort of comeback.

Saved by the bell, he thought when the elevator door finally opened.

On the ride down, he felt House's gaze resting on him, until the older man finally spoke again: "You worried about him? He should really be fine, you know…"

Morgan had to smile slightly at that. He had read the emotion correctly, just not the object of his apparently poorly veiled concern…

"I know, House; but thank you."

"Then, what's up?" House – for once – simply looked curious.

Morgan replied with another small smile. "Just thinking; about neighbors, I guess… and fences."

House frowned again at that, then smiled minutely as well. "You're a strange man, Morgan."

Morgan couldn't help but laugh at that. "Love you too, House."

Thank God for strange.

THE END 😊 Thanks for sticking with this! See you next time :)