Disclaimed.

I'm disappointed in the drastic drop in reviews but oh well I'll get over it. I know my story isn't as uncommon as I would hope but I'd like to think it's a bit different. I'd like to thank those of you who have faithfully reviewed cause it means a lot to me. So here it is! And by the way, any medical information in this story that is wrong I'm sorry about but hey I'm only 16. I'm not exactly a doctor. ...Smile...

House's head rolled from side to side. Eyes clenched tightly shut and sweating slightly, he thrashed around, grinding his teeth and every once in a while letting out a grunt or moan. Walking past the room, Foreman noticed what was happening, and he rushed in. He tried to hold House's arms down without crushing any of his injuries. For a moment he thought about paging someone. But at the moment his hands were full and he was too worried about House hurting himself to rush over to make a page.

"House...House how bad is the pain?" A confused look settled on the doctor's features when House replied.

"Don't...please...I'm sorry...I'll be good...Mama help me!"

The older man was asleep. And apparently having one hell of a nightmare. Or memory...Foreman thought with dismay. Gently, he shook the mans shoulders. Hoping to wake him before anyone else got there, he tried talking to him.

"House...House it's me, it's Foreman...it's just a dream, you have to wake up." House just thrashed harder, so Foreman held him down harder. Unexpectedly, House's fist flew out and hit Foreman in the jaw.

"Let me go!" All of the sudden his eyes flew open and he shot up in the bed. Looking around he saw that he was in fact in the hospital, and it was all just a dream. He looked over at Foreman, who was holding his face and staring at the man.

"You ok now?"

"Did I hit you?" House examined the knuckles of his hand, and used the other to wipe the sweat off his brow.

"You got one helluva left hook considering your right handed."

"I used to box. I uh...I didn't mean to...you know...punch you. Um...sorry and stuff. But next time just stay back." House as always, tried to cover his apology up with aggravation. Didn't work the way he had hoped.

"You think it'll happen again? Do you have dreams like that a lot?"

"Everyone has nightmares Dr. Phil."

"Yeah but not everyone punches their employees when they're asleep."

House said nothing. Just looked around the room.

"You gonna tell Cuddy?"

"Why should I? It's your business not mine. Or hers for that matter. But I do think you should maybe get some help. Of course I've thought that since I met you."

"And the opinion of a car thief should matter to me because..."

"You are a jackass. Even when people try to help you! Do you actually try to push everyone away? Or is it just your way of asking for pity."

House's eyes shot to the younger man and he almost growled out. "I don't want your pity. I don't want anyones pity. That was kind of the point of me not telling anyone anything about anything! It's why I pretend my limp is a swagger and I make a joke about my vicodin. Because I don't want your damn pity! Just get the hell out, I don't even want to look at you. You know nothing about me so quit pretending you've figured out who and what I am. You'll never know. So just go away and leave me alone."

Foreman turned to leave, but turned when House called after him.

"Hey Foreman...just so you know. Figuring out why I am the way I am won't stop you from becoming like me. Two paths, one destination. Welcome to Houseville kid. Population, you and me. And no matter how far you run or how many cars you steal...you can never leave."

Foreman said nothing, just walked out. House sat in silence for a few minutes before he decided to page Wilson.

Expecting the worst, the young looking oncologist rushed in, only to find House perfectly ok, just sitting in his bed looking bored. As he became increasingly annoyed, he pushed back the urge to yell at his friend for worrying him so. Instead, he spoke calmly, if a bit tense.

"Did you page me because you are BORED?" House turned to look at his friend.

"No...I just can't reach my guitar or piano. Either or which would come in quite handy right now." Annoyance melted away to leave room for concern.

"Why, what's wrong?"

"Nightmare. Foreman walked in. I punched him in my sleep. We had it out. And I still can't reach my scotch, but I'm not in the mood for a lecture, so I settled for something I know you will get for me. I can't get out of this damned bed without help, and the nurses all hate me. Plus I don't want them thinking I'm human or anything. It would ruin my reputation."

Walking over, and handing House his guitar he sat in the chair.

"You punched Foreman? You've already socked Chase, when does Cameron get a turn?"

"Ha...Ha...Ha. I thought he was my Dad." House began checking the tuning on the worn out Epiphone.

"Oh...I see the resemblance."

"Damn it Jimmy...this is why! This is why I don't tell you anything! The one time I try to be serious and 'share' with you, you can't stop mocking me!" Wilson was a bit shocked and chagrined.

"I...I'm sorry...I just thought since that's what you do to me it would make you more comfortable."

"No...doing it to you makes me comfortable. You doing it to me makes me feel like I'm a little kid again and my Dad's yelling at me for crying over a skinned knee. Is that how you feel when I do it to you?"

"House...no I'm sorry...I didn't realize. When you do it to me I just know it's you being you. I didn't think...I'm sorry."

"It doesn't matter. I'm not even mad at you. I just don't want to be here. But of course I can't go home for another couple of days, and even then there's the months of physical therapy, and once I'm off the drip it's going to be hell and I'm just tired. But I can't even sleep because all that happens when I try to sleep is I see my Dad glaring down at me for being 'weak' and needing help for every God damned thing I try to do nowadays! Yelling at me for not realizing how lucky I am. Ha! What a load of bullshit that is."

Wilson just looked at his hands and chewed on the inside of his cheek. What do I say to that?

"Stop trying to figure out how to make me feel better. I'll be fine...you can go back to work now."

"If you're sure..."

"Yeah."

Wilson was almost at the door when he heard House softly whisper, "Thanks." Looking at his friend's reflection in the door he saw him staring down at his guitar, half hoping Wilson hadn't heard him. James gave a small smile and kept walking. He knew they would both just become uncomfortable if he turned around. So he just walked on, whistling a tune no one knew. House gave a small grin. How does he know me so well?

Cameron strode happily down the hallway to House's room. I hope he doesn't have my book...I'm such a girl. She chuckled to herself. Her quick pace stopped abruptly when she reached House's door. She looked in and saw her boss looking extremely forlorn as he strummed a song on his guitar. He plays beautifully...never would have thought. She walked in.

"House of the Rising Sun. Great song. Of course who didn't love The Animals?" House jumped at her arrival. He had been too lost in his own thoughts to notice her. "Or Bob Dylan for that matter." She continued.

"What do you know about good music? You're probably going to go out to your car and listen to Britney Spears or something equally atrocious. Although nothing equally atrocious comes to mind."

Cameron laughed. "Haha...she's too bubbly for me."

House just looked at her.

"What? House I've got more soul than you give me credit for, you know. I'm not some little girl who screamed and fainted at the sight of some stupid boy band. I never wanted to grow up to be the likes of Britney or Mandy Moore or Jessica Simpson. Now I won't lie, after hearing her second album I quit disliking Christina Aguilera but she isn't some little pop princess. She does at times have some meaning to her. You should hear her song Beautiful. It's kind of amazing." She smiled and sat in her chair.

"You should hear Elvis Costello's cover of it. Christina's voice is kind of wobbly for me. He's got a bit more grit to him."

"Oh I'll have to look it up sometime."

"Well here, hand me my Ipod...I have it on there." She complied and watched him scroll through to find the song before he handed one ear bud to her. Taking it, she leaned in a bit closer than necessary so they could share the ear phones. House's breath caught in his throat when he realized she was so close that he could feel her take in each breath. He took a deep breath to calm himself. All it served to do was fill his lungs with the scent of her shampoo. Finally, he just gave in and watched her face. Her eyes were closed as she mouthed the words to the song. He took out the bud he had in his ear and he could hear her softly singing under her breath. She sings beautifully...ugh...I'm being such a girl. The song ended and she sat up. They were both sitting on his bed and she started going through his Ipod. He thought about telling her to stop, but he realized he didn't want her to. He wanted her to stay there in his bed with him. To just lay there and listen to old music and new music and no music at all. He just wanted her to be there with him. He shook his head at himself and looked at Cameron. She was bobbing along to some song on his Ipod. He almost laughed when he checked the screen to see which song. She looked at him and smiled.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Big fan of Fat-Bottomed Girls are you?"

"Haha I like Queen, what can I say. You obviously do too. It's on your Ipod."

"But you're...you!"

Cameron just laughed and went back to looking through his Ipod.

Cuddy was walking to check on House, but stopped short at the sight before her. There on the bed, was House and Cameron! Laughing and smiling, and apparently having a grand old time. Cuddy just smiled and kept walking. Those two better not hurt each other.