This is a sequel to Lies 2 - Lies, Damn Lies.

017. Truth

Tell The Truth

Wilson stood in the middle of the bedroom and scrubbed his face with one hand as guilt welled within him. He'd just lied to House and not a small lie, not a lie about something insignificant, but a great big lie. He'd lied about where he'd been for that last couple of hours, claiming a meeting with his lawyer. Nothing could be further from the truth and he had a nasty suspicion House knew he was lying. There had been a flash of…something in House's eyes when he'd glibly told his lover about the supposed meeting. It had been hidden fairly quickly but it had been there.

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, yanking his tie off as he walked to the door of the bedroom. A quick glance showed him that House was sitting on the sofa, eyes on the television and a stiff expression on his face that told Wilson all he needed to know. House knew he'd lied and no doubt suspected why.

Wilson tossed the tie on the bed then carefully pushed the door until it was almost closed. He retreated over to the far side of the room and pulled out his cell phone. He quickly dialled a number and waited.

"He suspects," was the first thing he said quietly when the person on the other end picked up.

"Why do you think?" he said with exasperation. "Because I'm a terrible liar, especially with him."

There was a pause as he listened intently then he sighed.

"Look, I'd better confess," he said wearily as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "The hospital won't like it if I don't. You know the kind of mood he can get in. He'll take it out on everyone and in a sense this is my fault."

He listened again and grimaced.

"Yes, I know but this is for the best," he said. "Trust me. I've done this before."

With that he hung up and tossed the phone on the bed next to his tie. He changed into jeans and a t-shirt then steeled himself before walking back out into the living room and sitting down next to House. He winced inwardly as House stiffened and his expression became bleak though his eyes never left the TV.

"Greg, I…lied to you just before," he said slowly.

"I know," came the acid reply. "Your lawyer called confirming your meeting for tomorrow."

Wilson really did wince this time and he slumped on the sofa. "I'm sorry," he said softly.

"I'm sure you've said that many times before," House said, his voice going from acid to downright nasty.

Wilson sighed; he'd expected this. His track record wasn't very good and it was natural that House would make this assumption.

"Greg, the only person I've had sex with in the last couple of months is you," he said calmly. "And that includes today."

He got a quick look of scathing disbelief and sighed again; it was going to be a long night.

"I knew this was going to be a mistake," he muttered.

"Did you now?" House said bitterly.

Wilson rolled his eyes. "Not us, Greg," he said with irritation.

"Then what?" House snapped.

Wilson grimaced and shook his head. "I told them not to get me involved," he muttered to himself. "I told them I'm a bad liar at the best of times and hopeless with you."

House's eyes narrowed. "James," he said impatiently.

"Oh, for…" Wilson said with exasperation, throwing his hands in the air. "You've been nominated for a Lasker Award and the hospital wants to make a fuss about it whether you win or not. Especially if you win and from the whispers a few people are hearing you're a very good chance to do so. Cuddy dragged me into the planning because they all know how much you hate fuss and they figured I'd need forewarning to…to coerce you into coming along."

House stared blankly at Wilson for a long moment. "A Lasker Award?" he said warily.

Wilson smiled slightly. "Yes, a Lasker Award. Which there is a good chance you might win if you haven't pissed off the members of the jury."

House blinked and the tension that had been there since Wilson lied to him drained off in an instant. Wilson subtly relaxed as well and waited for his lover's reaction. As he watched a tiny smile curved House's lips and a certain amount of smug satisfaction settled in as well.

"You're a terrible liar," House said, his smile modulating into a smirk.

Wilson rolled his eyes then chuckled. "I know."