Title: Gotta Run 4/6

Summary: Remember the days when Wilson and House were friends? So do I.

Word Count: 5378 total

Head Count: House, Wilson, OC. Cameo appearance by Foreman. Chase gets three lines, because it's in his contract. Cameron and Cuddy have the week off.

Directions: 2 C. fluff, 3 T. angst, 1 C. heavy drama. Beat ingredients well. Cook in hawt oven til a crisp golden brown. Season to taste (S1, S2, or S3).

Disclaimer: Don't own. Don't even rent. Just squatting illegally. (Hey, back off, Tritter. It was a joke, man! Can't you take a joke? No, really. Put those cuffs away. I--)

A/N: This is set in early fall, a few weeks post Cane and Able.

A/M: "A chapter a day keeps the No-New-Ep-for-Two-Weeks Blues away."

A/NAuthor's Note

A/MAuthor's Motto

Chapter 4 Doc

The next few days House claimed he was too busy to have lunch and Wilson saw nothing of him until the end of the week. He was on his way back to his office from clinic, perusing a file, when he nearly collided with House in the lobby. Before he could speak, however, House was accosted by Chase and Foreman, who had test results they needed to share with him. As they had a quick conference near the elevators Wilson saw a man approaching the reception desk turn to stare at House. House apparently noticed him, too, because he turned his back and ducked his head, but it was too late; he'd been spotted.

The man, an African American in his early forties sporting dreadlocks and a goatee, made a detour in their direction.

"Yo, Doc, my man!" he exclaimed. "What's happenin'?" He held out a fist and to Wilson's astonishment House—who seldom shook hands—bumped knuckles with the guy. Even more astonishing, the man followed the gesture with a one-armed hug. This time House did not reciprocate, standing stiffly, and looking self-conscious. The whole exchange caused the onlookers to raise eyebrows, all except for Foreman, who simply smiled.

"Grateful patient?" Wilson whispered to Chase. Chase shrugged.

"I guess," he said.

"Quick," hissed Wilson. "Have him stuffed."

"Where you been, man?" asked the stranger. "We missed you down at Joe's."

"I've been busy. And sick," said House. "Last couple months."

"Actually," said Foreman helpfully, "he got shot."

"No shit!" exclaimed the man. "That why you're here? You still sick?"

Everyone smiled at this, but House said only, "I work here."

"Yeah? Like a… security guard or something?"

At this, everyone laughed out loud except House, who nodded and said, "Yeah. Or something." Wilson gave him a long look but turned to the man and explained, "He's a doctor."

This time it was the stranger's turn to laugh. "I thought Doc was a nickname. You mean you're the real thing?"

"Got the diploma and everything," said House. Then, clearly trying to change the subject: "What are you doing here?"

"My niece had a baby."

"So," said Wilson slowly. "Not a grateful patient, then?" He gave House a pointed look.

"Fine," House sighed, and performed the introductions. "This is Whitey"—that got an amused smirk from Foreman. "Whitey, this is …everyone. You can talk amongst yourselves. I've gotta run."

Whitey grabbed his arm as he turned to leave. "Like I said, Doc, we miss you. Nobody plays like you. Johnson tries, but he's shit. So, come by tonight, man. Yeah?"

House grunted non-committally and kept going. As Whitey headed off for the reception desk, Wilson and the others caught up to House at the elevators. "Tonight?" Wilson said. "Tonight's Friday. So it's not poker you're playing. Poker's Thursday night. What's happening tonight?"

"It's my Men's Support Group. We drum and share feelings." House poked the elevator button again with his cane and glared at them in exasperation. "Why does everyone assume I don't have a life outside of this building?"

"Because you don't?" said Chase.

House just shook his head and entered the elevator. The others stared until the doors closed.

"What's Joe's?" Wilson asked the group at large.

"Pool hall?" suggested Chase. "OTB parlor?"

Foreman shook his head. "Smokey Joe's. It's a jazz club," he said. "And Friday is amateur night."

The others looked at him in astonishment. "How would you know?" asked Chase.

"Because I've been there," said Foreman. "When House was playing."

TBC Tomorrow