CHAPTER ELEVEN

The sun was just rising over the horizon as House stared out the window, face glued to the glass in silence as he had been the past three hours. Wilson was asleep closer to the bed so he'd be the first person she saw when she woke up.

House and Wilson barely spoke to each other since they'd followed the ambulance in Wilson's car, only reciting or confirming details on her recent heart transplant to the medics and discussing what the possible current complication might have been.

House felt like a complete fool for accusing them of sleeping together: in his mind, they were both adults, so what? But in his heart he felt betrayed. And Wilson felt like an idiot because he didn't realize he was starting to fall for Debra, and besides denying it to House, he was denying it to himself.

The glass door to her private room slid open and the smell of fresh brewed coffee filled the air. The noise instantly woke Wilson up and he looked up to see Cameron, in a wheelchair, with Brenda pushing her. In her lap was a tray-cup holder with three large cups of coffee. Brenda pushed her to Wilson, and she handed him a cup. He nodded and immediately took a sip.

Then Brenda pushed her to House, thanked Brenda and said she could leave. She sat staring at House, watching his breath steam up the glass from the coolness of the outside air.

"House?" she said softly.

He didn't reply.

"I've brought coffee," she offered.

He finally turned around and she tried to hide her alarm at seeing his normally gorgeous azure eyes so differently now looking soullessly back at her. From the blotchiness of his cheeks she could tell he had been crying, but he'd never admit to it. His eyes were swollen, blood shot and red, even the tip of his nose was red, giving a somewhat resemblance to Rudolph.

She pulled out his cup of coffee, his favorite – venti mocha 2 pumps peppermint – and handed it to him. He didn't take it right away but instead looked in her eyes then quickly looked away. He finally reached out and took the cup, their fingers lightly touching as he did. She took out her own cup, put it on a side table, threw the tray in the trash right beside her and pushed herself against the wall beside House.

The three sat in silence as they drank their coffee. House was in severe pain now from standing for so long, but if he sat in the hard hospital chairs for too long his butt would get numb. After House finished about half the coffee, he slowly scooted himself closer to Cameron, his back against the wall, face still looking out the window, and pushed her left shoulder with his right elbow. She'd seen him coming all along. She looked up at him and smiled, he smiled back. And the wall seemed to come down between them.

"I'm sorry, Cameron…" House told her, his voice soft and sincere.

"I'm sorry too, House."

"Oooookay…now kizzz an' makeup," came a voice from the bed.

House's eyes flew open, followed the place where the sound came from and slowly walked to her bed. Wilson was already there but he didn't mind.

"Debra, how are you feeling?" Wilson had just asked as Wilson reached for her forearm and gently squeezed it, just to let her know he was there.

"Fiiiine," she whispered groggily. "What happ…" Suddenly her eyes flew open as wide as House's had and she turned to where Wilson was standing. "Wuzz thur damge to my heart?"

"No, thankfully," Wilson said but House interrupted him.

"You really went off on me and your blood pressure just rose so fast your heart beat out of control. They've given you medication, some more to add to your list, but you'll be fine."

Debra smiled and relaxed back into the pillow. She finally turned and looked at her cousin, where she was able to see Cameron behind him. Debra waved to her and she waved back then she said to House, "Come 'ere."

He looked at her confused first then leaned in so his ear was closer to her mouth. She whispered so softly neither Cameron nor Wilson could hear what she said. He had a smile on his face when he stood back up, and squeezed her hand, nodding his hand.

"Now…you all go home," she insisted.

"No, we want to stay…"

"Okay, well, Jimmm ca' stay but you two half to leave," she said, winking at House then closing her eyes.

"We'll come back later, Deb, okay?" House said and was about to push Cameron out when he suddenly remembered something. He grabbed the plastic bag by his foot, took out the teddy bear and put it on the bed by her head and shoulder. She nuzzled her head into it and smiled. "Something to make you feel better," he said and pushed Cameron out into the hall.

With just Debra and Wilson alone in the room now, Wilson was dying to know what she'd said to him. A second later she told him.

"Next Saturday, Italian restaurant, double date…"

He looked at her surprised then felt excitement and happy and started to reply when suddenly it dawned on him that she couldn't have been talking about him and felt worse than a moron and idiot put together. She turned her head back to Wilson, grinned slightly and said, "Allison, Greg, me and…" and it seemed she had fallen asleep.

Wilson didn't really want to hear who she was talking about but felt absolutely crushed.

"…me and…you."

HOUSE MD HOUSE MD HOUSE MD

Out in the hallway, House had just wheeled Cameron into the elevator to go to his office for a bit. He had a little trouble turning her around then gave up and stood against the back wall while Cameron stared at him from her wheelchair..

"I'll scoootch behind you and pull you out," he told her seriously, no playfulness at all in his tone.

"'K," she answered. "House, can I ask what Debra said?"

"No."

"'K."

"She told me we have a date next Saturday," House said, fibbing just a bit.

The elevator door opened and Cameron was expecting him to walk around her to pull her out, but just stood there looking at her sheepishly.

"Double date, actually. Deb, Wilson, you and me." He hesitated a moment then bent over, his hands gripped on the arms of the wheelchair, their faces practically touching and mocked, "What do I wear?"

She smiled and said, "Do you remember speedos?"