This is a sequel to Cane 2 - Omniscience so make sure you read that one first.
007. Hospital
There's An Us
Wilson stood outside House's office and watched his friend. House was leaning back in his chair behind his desk, absently twirling his cane and staring at the ceiling, clearly deep in thought. He glanced through the glass to the conference room and saw that the whiteboard was clean and there was a noticeable absence of the three usual denizens of that room. Making the assumption that House didn't have a patient and his team was off making themselves useful somewhere else, he pushed the door open and ambled in.
"Wondered how long you were going to stand out there," House said, not removing his gaze from the ceiling or stopping the twirling of his cane.
Wilson sat down and eyed his friend. "Would you say that a hospital is a confined environment where everybody knows more about everyone else than is really normal?"
That got House's attention and Wilson was inwardly amused to see that not only did he now have House's gaze riveted on him instead of the ceiling but he'd also managed to stop the twirling of the cane.
"That revelation only came to you today?" House said with most of his usual sarcasm thought there were definitely hints of curiosity and a bit of wariness.
"Well, not really," Wilson said, slouching down in his seat and managing a casually introspective air. "I just had it brought home to me today, that's all."
House smirked. "I see. And what in particular brought it home to you?"
"I realised the nurses in this place really do know everything," Wilson offered.
House snorted derisively. "I could have told you that. They're everywhere and see everything and they gossip. You want to know the truth about something, ask a nurse."
Wilson smiled in satisfaction. He knew that already, of course, he just wanted House to admit it. It would make it easier in the long run.
"So why do you spend so much time pissing them off?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of his plans for a moment. "Surely they won't share their gossip if you annoy them."
House snorted, twirling his cane again. "I piss them off because I prefer them to do their jobs properly. Besides who says you need to ask them for the gossip. If you know where to go you can listen for free."
That was good segue back into his plans so Wilson took it.
"Mmm, that's a point," he said idly. "That's what I found out today. You get some surprisingly good gossip that way."
House's eyes narrowed and he stopped twirling his cane, letting the end of it thump down to the ground.
"Yeah?" he said, eying Wilson suspiciously, suddenly aware that this actually was leading somewhere.
Wilson leaned back in his chair a little more and laced his fingers together over his stomach, jiggling one foot lightly and ostensibly staring out the window while surreptitiously keeping an eye on House's face.
"They gossip about us, you know?" he said lightly, keeping his amusement at having managed to unsettle House well-hidden.
House snorted though he was still staring at Wilson with narrowed eyes. "Like that's news?"
"No, I mean they gossip about us," Wilson replied then he paused a beat before continuing, "Apparently there's an us."
He nearly cheered when House went absolutely still and his face went blank. Then as suddenly as that had happened, House relaxed and what looked like sardonic amusement bloomed in his eyes.
"That's not news either," House said scornfully. "They've been saying that for years. They think that's the only reason why you put up with me."
Wilson raised an indolent eyebrow and was pleased to see the slightly suspicious look return to House's face.
"Actually there's apparently only kind of an us," he clarified.
House blinked again and Wilson approved of the wary, uncertain look in his eyes. He wasn't often able to do something like this to House and he generally enjoyed it when he did.
"Really?" House said warily.
Wilson rather suddenly pushed himself to his feet, noting the twitch that drew before ambling over and closing the office blinds. When he turned back, House was watching him very warily.
"Apparently there should be an us but we're each of us too dumb to notice that the other wants there to be an us," he said brightly.
He watched while House worked his way through that atrociously worded sentence then had to swallow a smile at the myriad of emotions that swept through House's eyes when he had. He ignored the fear-worry-concern-alarm that he'd seen and took heart from the surprise-delight-desire-want-need-joy that had followed it then really did smile when House abruptly shut down. Now that was the reaction he'd been expecting.
He walked over to the desk, pausing briefly then continuing around so that he was standing directly in front of House.
"The nurses in this hospital really do know everything," he said softly. "They always know the truth."
House's eyes widened briefly and the shuttered look was replaced just for a second by hope.
"Did you know that one of the nurses I overheard wants to lock us up in a small room until we get a clue?" Wilson said conversationally as he plucked the cane out of House's hand and rested it against the side of the desk. "And that she gets through the hours you're tormenting everyone in the clinic by imagining you and me together…naked? Apparently that makes it hard for her to hate you."
House blinked and looked something like a rabbit caught in the headlights as Wilson nudged his good leg. House almost automatically spread his legs enough to allow Wilson to move in closer and Wilson smiled warmly as he continued speaking.
"And that the other nurse didn't want to know about that because she has to work with me and she'd never be able to do that if she was picturing us together…naked." He paused and pretended to consider things. "I like that idea, you know? Not the nurse picturing us but us…together…naked."
Deciding that he both liked the tiny gasp that admission wrung out of House and thought that the stunned rabbit look didn't suit his soon-to-be lover at all, he leaned forward, braced his hands against the arms of the chair and kissed House. For a long moment, nothing happened and Wilson began to wonder whether the nurses had perhaps made a mistake in this instance then House shifted under him. He felt a hand grab his tie and pull him even closer as House's mouth opened under his, returning the kiss, all warm lips, wet tongue and insane heat.
They only separated when the need to breath became urgent and Wilson gently rested his forehead against House's. In return, House let go of his tie and grabbed his hips, pulling him closer, a tiny smile on his face and a lazy look in his eyes.
"I like the nurses in this hospital," he said idly as he trailed on hand up Wilson's side then slid it over to rest on his chest.
"I'll tell them you said that," Wilson replied, cupping House's face with one hand.
"They'll never believe you," House said with a smirk. "I'm not nice. I don't like anyone."
"Not even me?" Wilson asked with amusement. He already knew what answer he was going to get and didn't intend to pay attention to the words.
"Nope," House replied flippantly but his eyes said something completely different.
"Okay then," Wilson said calmly, letting the look in his eyes give his answer.
"Cool," House said as his hands started undoing the buttons of Wilson's shirt.
Wilson batted them away with a laugh then stepped out of House's range. "Oh no, not here," he said with a grin. "I may like those nurses for bringing certain things to my attention but there is no way I'm feeding their perverse little fantasies."
House pouted. "If we're actually going to do this, I'll thank you not to call it perverse."
"It's not perverse," Wilson said with exaggerated patience as he did his shirt buttons up again. "But their fantasies are."
"How do you know?" House countered with a smirk. "We should find out. They might be fun."
Wilson stared at him for a moment until he saw the look of mischief on House's face then he rolled his eyes.
"I think we can come up with enough fun on our own," he said in a suggestive tone as he headed for the door.
Heat flared in House's eyes for a moment. "I'll hold you to that."
"Good," Wilson called over his shoulder as he left.