Thursday
James Wilson walked into PPTH whistling. Cuddy was working in the clinic and saw him come in. She stared at him until he disappeared into he elevator. She leaned over the desk and furrowed her brow. What on earth could make him that happy?
In his office James flipped through his date book. He had three things going on in the next two days. A meeting with a patient today, a haircut and his date with Lizzie on Friday. He smiled when he saw her name written. It was their first official date and after having been through the dating process so many times, Wilson had to admit to himself. He was nervous. He was still sporting his goofy grin when he ran into House in the hall.
"What the hell's wrong with your face?" House asked him.
Wilson shook his head. "It's called a smile, House. You might try it someday. I promise it wont hurt too badly."
House's reaction was expected. "Okay, then. Why are you smiling?"
Wilson's grin widened. "I have a date with Lizzie on Friday." House could see it in his friend's eyes that he really was happy about this.
Still, ever the showman, House put on his disapproving face. "Isn't she like just out of high school?" he asked.
Wilson crossed his arms over his chest. "You've read her file enough to know how old she is."
"So how old is she then?" asked House.
"Twenty- eight. She's ten years younger than I am. Her birthday is in May. She'll be twenty-nine."
House nodded. "Just checking to see if you knew what you were getting into. Her mother's crazy, you know. Don't know too much about her dad though. He's the real mystery."
Wilson let his arms drop. "Why don't you just ask her?" he asked. Then, his face lit up. "Or. You could get the scooby gang and hunt for clues to the mystery!" His words dripped with sarcasm.
"Because I prefer to do things the hard way. You know that. Besides, I can always ask you." House was grinning now. This wasn't a good sign.
Sighing, James said "Her father was never around. She never knew him, nor did her mother ever speak his name. Lizzie isn't even sure if her mother knows who her dad is." He re-crossed his arms. "I hope that satisfies your curiosity, because that's all I know."
House flashed his winningest smile. "It'll have to do. I'll ask her myself on Saturday night." He placed his hand over his mouth daintily and gasped. "We're going out!" Wilson rolled his eyes.
"I have to go now. I have this thing to do, it's called work. I do this all day. You?" He grinned at the older man.
House placed a hand over his heart. "Oh, that hurt. I think I'll go drown my sorrows in an episode of General Hospital. See ya." With that, House hobbled away, looking smug.
"You didn't win anything, House." Wilson hollered at him. "So stop acting like that."
As House reached the elevator and stepped inside he called back to Wilson "What?! I'm sorry, you're too far away!" then the doors closed, leaving James Wilson in the hall alone.
Heaving out another sigh he continued on his day. He met with his patient and filed some paperwork, and drank three or four cups of coffee. By the time lunch drew near, he was ready for the break. Sitting down in the cafeteria and preparing to eat he heard the familiar sarcastic voice from behind him. Rolling his eyes, Wilson turned to see House giving Cuddy an hard time... again.
"Why?" she asked.
"Why not?" he retorted. As Wilson watched he was sure that House was thoroughly enjoying himself. "It's just a simply question Cuddy, are you or aren't you?"
Cuddy sighed and shifted her weight from one hip to the other. She was obviously annoyed. "I'm not." she said with finality.
House sipped on his coffee and stared into her eyes. "Liar." he said to her and walked into the cafeteria. "James!" he said all too enthusiastically. "How are you?" he asked as he sat down opposite Wilson.
"What do you want?" James asked, barely looking up from his sandwich.
House leaned in. "Cuddy's seeing someone." he said giddily. "She denies it but I saw her give some guy a kiss as she was coming into work today."
Wilson looked up. His face belied amusement. "You were here early enough to see Cuddy come in?" he asked.
"Today was special." House began. "I heard Cuddy's new boy toy was dropping her off this morning and I wanted to get a good look at him."
Wilson continued to stare at House. "Heard?" he asked. "Or eavesdropped?"
House took another sip of coffee. "What's the difference?" Wilson could only hang his head and shake it.
"So?" he asked finally.
House smiled widely. "He's a nerd. Kind of guy you'd expect to still be living with his mom." House was really loving this.
Wilson shrugged. "To each his, or her, own. It isn't our business." he finished his sandwich and removed the lid from his cup of coffee.
House smirked. Not a good sign. "You only say that because you're dating a high school cheerleader." A couple of other doctors who were walking by gave Wilson a reproachful look.
Wilson sighed. "Lizzie is plenty old enough. Why do you care anyway? Wait does this have to do with the whole paternal thing?" Wilson smiled and restrained a laugh. "You're being protective of her." He let a laugh escape. "Oh, this is too much. I have got to tell Lizzie what she's done to you."
House stood up suddenly. Unusually quick for a man in his physical condition. "Don't you dare." he growled. Wilson leaned back in his chair, trying to keep his face a safe distance from House's hands, which were clenched around the handle of his cane. "Not a word."
Still grinning, Wilson agreed. "Ok, I wont say anything to her. Christ!"
"Good." said House with finality. He remained seated as Wilson stood. "Going so soon?" he asked.
"Unlike you, I have patients that I want to see." Sniped Wilson. House put his hand over his heart. "You have to have a heart to have a heart attack, House. I'm not buying it." He turned and walked out of the cafeteria. His thoughts solely on Lizzie.
It was almost three o-clock. Lizzie said she would call his office when she got home from work. The desk clock ran a bit fast so he gave her a few extra minutes before he started to get a bit worried. No, not worried. He was afraid she wouldn't call. All manner of things wandered into his head. She's forgotten, she changed her mind and never wants to talk to me ever again. He was just about to give to up as a loss when the phone rang. He wasn't expecting it so he jumped a little in his chair. Feeling stupid he picked up the receiver and said "Hello?"
"James!" came Elizabeth's voice over the phone into his ear. It was like music, he thought. "I almost didn't get out of work today. The main doors, which are automatic, decided to break down ten minutes before clock out time." She giggled. Wilson liked it when she giggled. "They had to get a cro-bar to pry the doors open. It was... interesting." She paused and he could hear her breathing deep. She had rushed to get in to call him. It made him smile that she was hurrying for him. "So, how has your day gone?" she asked him.
Wilson sighed and let himself laugh. "House has been taunting me all day."
"About what?" she asked.
"You." he said flatly. "He keeps saying that I'm dating a High school cheerleader. Implying that you're too young for me." He knew he was ratting his friend out in a way but at the same time, he really wasn't.
Liz laughed. On her end of the phone she was busying herself by taking off her shoes and socks and flexing her toes into the shaggy carpet of her apartment. It soothed her. She saw it in the movie Die Hard and tried it. And it really worked, how about that. "You aren't that much older than me though. What is it, ten years?" she scoffed. "Please. My grandparents were twenty years apart. An arranged marriage. My granny was only seventeen when she married my grampa."
Wilson whistled. "That is quite a gap." He leaned back in his chair, the silly grin returning to his face. "So, what are your plans for tonight? A little tv and some popcorn like usual?"
Liz laughed on the other end. "Wow, you really know these things. Am I that predictable?"
Wilson returned the laugh. "It seems to be nightly ritual. TV, popcorn and maybe ice cream if you have it."
"You've known me for how long? Little more than a week and you know these things about me?" Liz leaned over the arm of her couch and played with her hair absentmindedly.
"I noticed a pattern. If I call you between seven and nine you're usually eating popcorn and watching some kind of prime time procedural show."
"I cant help it." she tried to defend herself. "I like my crime tv. And popcorn is a staple for a good show. It's mandatory. I think I read it somewhere. It might even be in the constitution." Wilson laughed out loud and she laughed too. "What?" she asked innocently.
"You're too much. I'm not supposed to be having this much fun at work. House sees to it that I'm miserable most of the day. With me so happy he's concentrating all his efforts on Cuddy."
"Aww, poor Cuddy. I'll have to have a talk with him on Saturday." she replied.
"About that?" said Wilson. "How long are you gonna be out?"
"Keeping tabs on me? Afraid the old man'll put the moves on me? Have no fear, I know self defense."
"No. Eww." Wilson groused into the phone. Liz laughed. "I was just wondering if, when you're done showing House the underground punk scene, if you were willing to spend some time with me?"
"I might be persuaded." was her reply. Liz was relaxed on her sofa when there was a knock at the door. "Shit, I gotta go honey, there's a knock at my door. I'll talk to you later though, wont I?"
"Wilson smiled. She called him honey. "Of course. I'll call after CSI though. I know how into that show you are. Last time you said all of three words to me. I think you talked more to the tv than me."
Liz laughed and got up and walked over to the door. She peeked through the peep hole. "It's my friend Amy. I'm Gonna let you go for now, ok Hun?"
"Yeah. Talk to you later."
"Bye then."
"Bye." After he hung up the phone, James Wilson sat in his chair and reveled in the fact that Liz had called him "honey". He liked it.
&&&&&&&
Liz pushed the off button on her phone and opened the door. "Its about god-damned time!" she spat at her friend. "I've been waiting on you for three days!"
Amy pushed her way past Liz and stepped into the apartment. "You're a slob." she replied.
Liz looked around the room. There were a couple of empty glasses on the kitchen table and her coffee table was strewn with old paper plates and junk mail. "Nothing that can't be cleaned up in ten minutes or less." she relied happily, and she went to work picking things up and tossing them into the trash.
"How you feeling?" Amy asked.
"Better." Liz replied. "How are Danny and the girls?"
"Great!" gushed Amy. "Little Jasmine is walking now. Danny adores her, it's just a shame she isn't his."
"And you're sure he's completely ok with that? Raising another man's child?"
"Oh, yeah. He loves both girls to death. He said to me the other day that he was meant to be their daddy, it doesn't matter if he's either of their father's" Amy was whipping out her pictures. The child in question, Jasmine was the smaller girl, she was a lovely brown color with her hair in tiny coal black pigtails. Her sister, who was about three in the picture was of similar completion to her parents. Danny and Amy were both of Irish descent and their auburn hair and grey eyes had been passed down to little Brigit.
Liz glanced at the small photo. "They're beautiful Aim." she said as she tossed the full trash bag into a corner of her kitchen.
"Now." Amy said as she sat down on the sofa. "I hear you have a new boyfriend. A doctor, even."
Liz rolled her eyes. "He isn't my boyfriend." she said. The two young women laughed and Liz added "Yet."
Amy shook her head at her friend. "When are you gonna settle down like Dan and me?"
"You mean when am I gonna squeeze out kids like you so you'll have someone to whine to when they get our of hand who understands." Amy stuck her tongue out at Liz. Liz laughed. "You about ready to head to the club?" she asked.