This is another in the "Sounds of Silence" series – a sequel to Prompts 093 and 094.
Note: Italics indicate signing
095. Cry
Meet The Parents
His mother had cried.
Wilson had finally gotten the courage up to go and see his parents and tell them the news. He'd taken House along for moral support and for translation purposes, if necessary… and because he needed someone to drive him around now. They were five weeks into learning ASL… and he was ten days out of hospital… and House had mastered it a lot quicker than he had. In fact House had even come up with a system of bastardised signs since he found using sign language with a cane to be somewhat difficult. Wilson hadn't minded that; actually enjoyed the private language he and House had in a juvenile twelve year old kind of way.
He'd been putting off telling his parents what had happened. He'd had House tell them that he'd been in a small accident and that he was fine but that had been in the days when he still held out hope that his hearing might come back. He was now well past that time and had finally decided that he ought to come clean with his parents. House had reported that his parents had sounded confused but pleased when he'd called to let them know that they were coming on the weekend and Wilson had winced. They'd probably wanted to know why it was House calling and not him but had been too polite to ask.
When they'd pulled up in front of his parents' home, Wilson had almost lost his nerve and told House to keep driving. He'd looked over to find House watching him with a mix of sardonic amusement and understanding.
Are you joining the 'I hate visiting my parents' club now? House had signed with a smirk. You get a free t-shirt and a lifetime supply of beer. You wear the t-shirt, I'll drink the beer.
Wilson had laughed at that and felt some of his nerves dissipate. Certainly enough to get out of the car and walk up to the door, House limping along beside him. They hadn't even gotten halfway to the door when it opened and his mother emerged, smiling delightedly.
There had been the usual round of hugs from his Mom and Dad and he knew they were saying something to him but without being able to see either their faces or House's hands, he was entirely lost. Finally House took charge of the situation, grabbing him by the arm and dragging him into the living room. His parents had followed, looking startled and confused. House had pushed him down onto the sofa and directed his parents to sit opposite. House had then sat down on the sofa and nudged him.
Wilson had swallowed hard and clenched his hands into fists on his knees.
"I… um… I… was a little more badly injured in the crash than House told you," he stammered.
His parents had immediately shot frowning looks at House who had rolled his eyes.
"It's not House's fault," Wilson had said hastily. "I told him to say that. Mom, Dad… the accident has… I'm deaf."
His parents had looked utterly blank for a moment then his mother had started crying. His father immediately wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulder and gave Wilson a look of concern.
"James, what are you talking about?"
Wilson hesitated then glanced over at House, almost pleading for his assistance. House sighed and gave him a put-upon look.
"The accident caused swelling on the brain," House said in a matter-of-fact tone, signing for Wilson's benefit as he did so. "This is the most likely cause of the hearing loss. We hoped that once the swelling subsided that his hearing would come back but it hasn't. It may never."
Wilson had the impression that it was the way House was signing more than his words that convinced his parents and then he had the dubious honour of watching his mother cry even harder. He scrambled to his feet and started walking hurriedly towards the back door. When the thump on the floor came, he paused in the doorway to the living room and hesitantly turned to look at House. Thumping the floor with his cane had become House's favourite way of getting his attention when he was too far away to poke and he had nothing to throw.
House was limping towards him, not saying anything, and Wilson turned and continued walking out into the back yard. He stopped in the middle of the yard and just slumped where he was standing, staring down at his shoes. He was aware of House standing next to him, leaning on his cane with both hands and just waiting.
"I don't know… if I can deal with this," Wilson murmured.
House's hands appeared in his field of vision and Wilson knew his cane would be propped against one hip.
Give them time. It's a shock.
Wilson looked up and gave a small, rather wry smile. "You're being understanding? Who are you and what have you done with House?"
House grinned and snickered. Enjoy it. It's not going to last, he signed.
Wilson gave a small huff of laughter, all he could manage at the moment, and leaned against House. He felt the movement as House snorted then he was being drawn into an embrace. He went willingly, wanting the reassurance right now. They stayed like that for several minutes then Wilson suddenly felt House tense and turn his head. He winced into House's shoulder, not really wanting to deal with this and heard the rumble of House speaking. It wasn't until House poked him in the ribs that he looked over towards the house though he steadfastly refused to move.
His father was staring at them with a look of surprise and mild discomfort and, when he looked at House, his lover was staring back at his father defiantly.
"Dad?" Wilson said hesitantly.
His father stared at them for a moment longer then he sighed. "Your mother would like to speak to you."
Wilson frowned, not having quite caught that, and House freed one hand and used their sign language to pass on the message. Wilson grimaced and nodded before reluctantly pulling away from House. They walked back to the house, his father watching them as they approached then leading the way back into the living room. They sat down on the sofa again and waited while Wilson's father sat down next to his wife. Wilson looked over at his mother and was relieved to see that she wasn't crying any more though her eyes were rimmed with red and she was clutching a tissue in one hand.
There was a moment where nobody spoke or moved then the questions began. House translated all of them though Wilson was able to pick up most through lip-reading. He still watched House's hands though, partly because House had a tendency to add little comments of his own that made him struggle not to laugh and partly because he just liked watching House's hands. Some of the questions were easy to answer but others were much, much harder and some he almost resented being asked but accepted when House pointed out that his parents were just being… parents.
Finally his mother seemed to be satisfied… upset but satisfied and she smiled at him. That was when his father decided to drop his bombshell.
"So how long have you and Greg been together?"
House paused before sighing and signing the question and Wilson winced. His mother stared at her husband then back at her son and House.
"James?" she said weakly. "What is your father talking about?"
Tell the truth, House signed with a sour look on his face. Better to get all the shocks over and done with. Besides they're more likely to let this slide right now because they're still in shock and feeling sorry for you.
That's cynical, he signed back.
House snorted and grinned briefly at him. You are talking to me, you know.
Wilson gave a small laugh then looked over at his parents.
"Not long," he said in answer to his father's question, hoping his voice was as firm as he wanted it to be. It was hard to tell without being able to hear it. "Though I suppose in some ways the answer should be 'a long time'."
His father sighed and looked resigned and slightly discomforted but he was surprised to see a small, pleased smile break out on his mother's face.
Your mother is a strange woman, House signed with a tiny half-smile on his face.
I'd object but you're right, Wilson replied with an answering smile.
"James, are you happy?" his mother asked quietly.
Wilson hadn't been looking at his mother but House had heard the question. He prodded Wilson in the ribs and signed the question before pointing at Wilson's mother.
Wilson looked over at his mother and smiled slightly. In spite of everything, he actually was happy. House wasn't letting him wallow in self-pity which he might have done otherwise, instead he was poking him and prodding and pushing him into dealing with what had happened and moving on. Wilson thought that attitude was somewhat ironic considering House's stubborn insistence on wallowing in his own pain but well… that was an issue to deal with when he had come to grips with own situation. He shook those thoughts from his mind and answered his mother's question.
"Yes, I am."
AN: I'm aware that the two of them are using words in their signing that might be considered advanced but, as I mentioned in my LJ, I kind of figured House would have been annoying the crap out of their teacher until he could learn the words he wanted to use rather than just waiting.