Hello friends, hope you're all having a nice weekend. Spent the day watching the X Files, perfect, so there is an X files inspired line in this chapter, Enjoy,

Hameron forever, as always, Nic.

I do not gaze at Scully.....

8

"Want to hang out tonight?"

House asked nonchalantly, throwing his tennis ball against the wall above Wilson's head and catching it upon its return. Wilson's looked up from the papers on his desk, confusion on his features.

"But it's poker night, are you inviting me?"

House threw the ball against the wall once more, revelling in the annoyance that graced Wilson's face.

"It's cancelled"

Wilson sat up now, leaning back in his chair and giving House his full attention.

"Poker night is never cancelled. You're up to something"

House threw the ball once more purposely hitting the books above Wilson's head and grinning as he snatched the ball off of his desk in annoyance.

"Forget it. I'll stay home with my laptop; LuciousLInda0800 is probably missing my sweet dulcet tones"

He stood up, stepping forward to take his ball from Wilson, but failing as Wilson pulled it way.

"Wait a minute. Where do you want to hang out? Mine right?"

"You have food, beer, heating, what else could a man want?"

"I knew it!"

Wilson announced, grinning proudly and tossing the ball between his hands.

"Knew what?"

"You want to see Cameron. I'm actually surprised you lasted 2 days without thinking up an excuse"

"Forget it"

House stated flatly reaching forward, annoyed that Wilson could see right through him, and grabbing the ball from his grasp before heading towards the door.

"Bring your wallet. We'll play poker. At least you'll have a reason to gaze at Cameron"

House turned back towards him, meeting Wilson's smug grin.

"I do not gaze at Cameron"

"You've got it bad my friend"

"Don't you have a dying patient to save?"

"Really bad"

XXX

"Beer?"

Wilson asked, holding his apartment door open and allowing House to enter.

House followed him to the kitchen, taking his coat off and holding up his wallet as proof for Wilson before throwing it on to the table.

"Got any food?"

"I thought we'd order take out"

House nodded, walking over to the sofa, sitting down and subconsciously looked down the hall towards the bedrooms.

"She's putting Caleb to bed"

"I wasn't looking for her"

"Yes, you were"

Wilson laughed, shaking his head and opening the cooler.

"No, I wasn't"

"You're blushing"

"I'm not blushing"

"Do you have butterflies in your tummy?"

House threw a cushion at him, narrowly missing the beers in his hand.

"It's times like these that I wish I still had my cane. A good sharp whack would wipe that smirk off of your face"

"I'm not going to have to put you both to bed am I?"

Her tone was playful but the look she threw him as she reached Wilson made his body ache. He watched as Wilson handed her the beers and she walked towards him her hips swaying, each step stripping away one more layer of his defence. She held out his beer, never breaking eye contact and smiled as he took it hesitantly before heading back to Wilson.

"Shall I order the take out?"

Wilson nodded, sipping his beer and handing her the menu.

"Numbers are marked"

She thanked him and removed her mobile from her pocket before disappearing down the hall once more. House watched her form disappearing, unable to focus on anything else. Wilson's voice drew his attention.

"Stop checking her out and set up the cards"

XXX

Two hours later, cards now spread across the table and long since forgotten. House leant back in his chair, laughing deeply and taking a swig of his beer, Cameron and Wilson sitting opposite , laughing as much as he.

"He did get you with those anti-depressants though"

Cameron announced, sipping her beer and smiling at House.

"Don't remind me. Even now I still cringe at the memory of winking at that patient while examining her."

Wilson slummed back, covering his eyes with his hands in embarrassment, chest heaving with laughter and trying desperately to catch his breath.

"The cane, now that was genius. The best hour of my time I've ever spent, sawing through that thing...... when you went down...."

Wilson could not finish his sentence as deep laughter over came him once, eyes watering. Cameron joined him, cheeks flushing red.

"And do you remember the cane with the flames?"

Wilson announced voice higher now.

"And the motorbike jacket..."

Cameron gasped, making Wilson clutch his stomach in laughter.

House sat upright, trying to look undignified but falling miserably, a smile finding its way to his lips easily.

"Hey, chicks dig that jacket"

This comment caused the mouthful of beer Wilson had just taken to almost escape and he had to hold his hand over his mouth until he was sure it would stay down.

"I forgot that we were in high school..."

He finally managed to retort, standing unsteadily.

"....I need to take a leak"

He stumbled his way towards the bathroom and Cameron laughed at the sight before rising, picking up her empty bottle and turning towards the kitchen. House reached for her hand, taking it softly, making her turn towards him in surprise.

"I thought you liked that jacket"

His voice was intimate, serious.

She smiled and he saw the mischief in her eyes as she slowly leant down until he could feel her warm breath fanning his ear, making his skin shiver.

"Personally, I prefer you with nothing on"

She whispered intimately before releasing his hand, pulling back and walking over to the kitchen.

He felt his mouth go dry, robbing him of a retort he would have found so easily before, and his heart rate increase to a pace long since forgotten.

This is what she did to him.

Wilson appeared once more, stretching widely as he made his way back towards them.

"I'm off to bed..."

Cameron announced walking towards him.

"...Four years olds don't give you the pleasure of a lay in"

Wilson hugged her and she turned to House, wishing him goodnight.

He watched her disappear down the hall until the light devoured her, staring at the space she had occupied long since after she had gone.

Wilson voice broke the silence.

"You ok? You look like you've just seen a ghost"

He had.

The ghost of a world he had moulded carelessly to match his every whim, a world that had now transformed. She had changed, was stronger now. He had seen the beginning of that change an eternity ago and now her metamorphosis was complete, blossoming in to something he had always known she would be. She was changed in all the ways that had made him doubt them so many years ago, doubts that he no longer remembered, every one atoned. He was in her shadow now, at her mercy. When he closed his eyes it was her who stood before him, holding his heart in her hands, hers to keep for eternity.

She had all the power now.

And she knew it.