Chapter three people!! What's this? That better not be crickets I hear! You know the drill: read and review!

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Chapter Three: Confidence

House suffered his way through clinic slowly and painfully. He practically ran, lame leg or not, when it ended. Get out, get out, get out! Ran through his head.

Endless cases of runny noses and sore throats. He wouldn't be surprised if he himself got something.

He needed entertainment. Wilson would do.

Wilson was staring into space, chin cupped in his hands, when House burst in. He leaned his cheek up against one hand so that he could see House properly.

"Yes?" he asked. House frowned at his chum's nonchalance.

"You, my friend, do not drink during work," House said matter of factly. Wilson pushed himself back in his chair at this.

"Well, maybe I do."

House looked over at his friend with a knowing look. "This is so unlike me, but here goes: What's wrong?"

It sounded forced, but the near drunk Wilson didn't pick up on it. He shook his head a little tipsily.

"I'm not getting involved." He threw his head back on his chair, closing his eyes. He seemed to sober up a little. House sat down across from him.

"You know what's wrong with Chase, don't you?" Wilson opened his mouth to protest, but House cut him off.

"And you had the nerve to ask me 'what's up with him'?" He looked over at Wilson in mock disbelief. Wilson closed his mouth tight.

A slow, crooked grin spread across House's face. "I'm impressed."

"House!" objected Wilson in slight exasperation.

"Yes?" replied House with perfect bambi eyes. Wilson sat for a moment, silent.

"Chase randomly confided in me yesterday," confessed the weary doctor. House nodded.

"Obviously." Wilson had half expected him to say 'duh!' He glanced over at the wall, deciding what he wanted to say next.

"And he told me…" Wilson continued slowly, much to House's impatient annoyance, "that he likes you." Silence.

"Does that make you jealous?" House asked in a baby voice. Wilson grimaced.

"I'm being serious." House stopped.

"Huh?!" he asked with a funny, scrunched, unbelieving look.

"I think it would be best if you had a talk with him." Wilson glanced over at him. "I know it's not your style, but…"

House rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine, I'll let him down nicely," he replied.

"And here I thought that you would make a big deal out of it, and do something drastic, like kiss him, just to make a bang," Wilson said after a moment of thought.

House grinned. "Is that what you want me to do? 'Cause, you know, I wouldn't have any qualms about doing so…" he left his sentence unended.

Wilson looked up at him. "Do what your heart tells you to. And not-" he said, cutting off House's objections by pointing to his head, "-what that snarky head of yours wants. You should be fine." He pushed on reading glasses and started shuffling papers.

"So that's it. Now you're just going to ignore me." House sounded surprisingly needy. Wilson glanced his way.

"Yes." The statement left no room for argument. House sat there for a second longer.

"Alright," he said finally, limping his way out.

He had a heart to heart talk awaiting his attention. How fun.