060. Fail

Rock

Wilson walked out into the outside area of the cafeteria and collapsed in a chair. He raised his face to the weak sunshine and squashed down his urge to cry. He lowered his head and scrubbed his face with his hands, leaving his face cradled in his hands once he was done. He heard someone approaching but didn't move until he felt a hand rest briefly on his shoulder. He raised his head to see Lisa Cuddy sitting down in the chair opposite his and holding out a cup of steaming coffee.

"You look like you could use this," she said simply.

Wilson swallowed hard and nodded, reaching out to take the coffee.

"Thanks," he said hoarsely before sipping gingerly at the hot liquid.

They sat there in silence as people came and went around them. An old couple, wife leaning heavily on the arm of her husband, a young child being chased by his older brother, both laughing wildly, a middle-aged woman looking worried and nervous, a young man smiling with relief.

"It's only his third day of physio," Cuddy said into the heavy silence surrounding them. "It'll get better."

Wilson looked down into his cup of coffee, noticing for the first time that his hands were still shaking.

"I just…it…" He swallowed hard and fumbled the cup onto the table. He ran a hand down his face and took a deep shuddering breath. "Watching him try…and fail…again and again." He made a noise that might have been a sob. "I don't if I can do it," he breathed.

"You have to," Cuddy said, her face full of sympathy. "He won't accept me and Stacy…Stacy's not coming back."

Wilson looked at her with surprise. "What?"

Cuddy grimaced. "She called me this afternoon. You know what he's been like with her since the operation. She honestly believes he hates her. She tried, James, and she still loves him but…she just can't stay."

Wilson scowled. "So she betrays him, has him mutilated and now she runs away?"

"James!" Cuddy said sharply.

Wilson threw up one hand and shook his head. "Sorry."

"She saved his life," Cuddy whispered.

"I know," Wilson said with a sigh.

"He needs you," Cuddy said. "He needs you to be strong. You have…the strangest friendship I've ever seen but it works. He still trusts you. You have to be there for him. He won't let anyone else help him."

Wilson nodded and picked up the cup again. He drained the coffee and stood up.

"Thanks for the coffee…and the talk. I'd…better get back."