Nope, didn't abandon this one, either. Been busy writing Johnny's own story for NaNoWriMo...look for it on Fiction Press in the near future. In the meantime, enjoy this one. As usual, I don't own anything related to House.
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House dozed off and on for the next couple of hours, finally giving up on sleep as morning light crept into the room. Despite the comfort of the bed, too many thoughts were racing through his mind to allow him to fully fall asleep.
Johnny still lay next to him, an arm thrown across House's chest, his back rising up and down as he slept, the occasional snore escaping him. He looked so calm and peaceful that House hated to disturb him.
He huffed irritably and rolled to his side, running his hand down Johnny's back. Johnny snorted and shifted, opening one eye and giving House a slight smile. "Morning."
"Yep." House answered quietly, letting his hand rest at the small of Johnny's back, spreading out his fingers.
Johnny moved closer, sliding a leg over House's and moving his hand over House's chest and stomach, finally ending with a long, lingering kiss.
House studied Johnny, looking for any indication that something, anything was amiss with the man, but he found nothing.
"What's up, man?" Johnny was giving him a baffled look.
"Nothing." House shook his head. "Just thinking…you know, about last night."
Johnny cracked a smile at that, his eyes crinkling in amusement. "You mean this morning?"
"That too." House rolled his eyes.
"It's cool." Johnny leaned over and gave House a kiss in the middle of his chest.
"You're not…sore?"
Johnny shrugged. "Probably no more than you are when I get done with you."
"Yeah, but you pound me on a regular basis." House pointed out.
Johnny snorted at that. "True. Still…I'm good. No sweat. Why are you asking?"
House knew his thoughts would come out sounding overly sentimental, if not downright girly. He wasn't prepared for that. "No reason."
"Right." Johnny chuckled, shifting so that he was on his knees between House's legs. House tensed when Johnny ran his hand over his right leg.
Johnny frowned a little. "Sore?"
"A little." House tried to sound casual about it.
"I'll leave it alone, then." Johnny continued on, leaning over House and running his hands up his arms, holding them lightly over his head while planting a firm kiss on his lips.
House thought he was going to melt into the bed. Johnny's tongue slipped easily into House's mouth, his already hardening cock rubbing against House's still soft one.
The other man reached down in between them, taking hold of House and stroking him lightly, the long fingers wrapping fully around him, his thumb sliding over the tip.
Johnny pulled back from House's mouth, slowly working his way down until he reached the tip of House's cock, playing around it with his tongue before taking it into his mouth. House let out a groan at that, gripping the back of Johnny's head as the other man continued to work at him, stroking and sucking, his thumb slipping down to stroke his balls.
Finally House could feel himself hardening in Johnny's mouth, the sensation building as he started to get closer to the edge. Just when he felt he was going to go over, Johnny pulled away, sliding back up House's body with a wicked grin on his face.
"Fuck." House groaned as Johnny hovered over him.
"Not this time." Johnny chuckled, dipping down to capture House's lips in a hard kiss while taking both their hard cocks in his hand and stroking.
House arched into Johnny's hand, spreading his hands out along Johnny's back and holding on for all he was worth. The sensation started building again, and Johnny's rough breathing was helping it along.
Johnny suddenly unloaded with a rough groan, shooting sticky warmth between them as House followed not long after. He gave House a quick kiss and rested across House's chest, propping his chin up on his hands. "Not a bad way to wake up, huh?"
"Not bad at all." Before Johnny had come along, House couldn't recall when he'd last been awakened with a round of sex that hadn't involved his own right hand.
He knew better than to expect this to last, however. Nothing good ever did in House's experience.
Johnny tilted his head slightly and looked at House with an amused expression. "Thinking too hard, brother."
House merely shook his head, letting his hands run down Johnny's back. "Doesn't matter."
Johnny frowned slightly, but didn't say anything, pushing himself up and giving House a quick kiss in the middle of his chest. "Your story."
He was off the bed and in the bathroom before House could answer, and House could hear the shower running.
House closed his eyes and threaded his fingers together behind his head. The whole night had seemed like some ridiculous fantasy. Not only jamming with Johnny, which had become more and more normal, but jamming with Mick Ronson on top of that was almost too much. House had half expected to wake up in his own apartment on the leather couch, with a bad case of cottonmouth from too much bourbon the night before.
Instead, he was lying in a luxurious bed recovering from a night that had lasted well into early morning, and not in a bad way. Waking up with Johnny's hands and mouth on him hadn't been a bad thing either, not at all.
"Shower's all yours if you want it." Johnny's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Sure." House managed to roll out of bed, grabbing his cane and limping into the bathroom. His leg wasn't bothering him too badly for a change, but he was taking no chances.
He stepped into the shower, turning it up almost as hot as he could get it before scrubbing himself down, letting the steam envelop him, allowing his thoughts to wander again.
Was Mick going to become a regular fixture in Johnny's life again? If so, where did that leave House? Surely Mick and Johnny had a hell of a lot more in common that Johnny and House did. And Mick had a powerful charisma. Even House realized that. It was only natural that Johnny would be drawn to that, even after so many years.
He huffed irritably and rinsed himself off, reaching for a towel before he stepped out of the shower. It was inevitable, House figured as he dried off and wrapped the towel around himself, that things would end between him and Johnny eventually. That was just the way things went.
Johnny was just snapping up his shirt when House came out of the bathroom. He fixed House with a concerned frown. "You alright, man?"
"I'm fine." House snapped as he searched for his clothes.
"You don't sound alright." Johnny pressed. "Something bugging you?"
House huffed irritably, finally gathering up his scattered bits of clothing and sitting on the bed to dress. "You and Mick used to be close, right?"
"Sort of." Johnny shrugged casually. "But that was a long time ago. I was just a kid." He tilted his head at House. "What's on your mind, man?"
House shook his head. "It sounded a lot more logical in my head."
Johnny let out a chuckle, sitting down next to House on the bed and looping an arm around his shoulders. "You don't have shit to worry about. I'm not going anywhere as long as I can help it. Kind of got to like you too much for that, you know?"
"Right." House still had his doubts, but didn't have anything concrete to back them up.
"So I'm thinking we'll bail out here in a bit." Johnny continued casually. "Got a lot of work to do on this album I'm supposed to be recording."
"Sounds good." Truthfully, House was good and ready to go home himself. Hanging out and playing music all night had been a good time, but he was getting too old to stay up all night as he did. Matter of fact, he might just take a nap while Johnny was working.
It all sounded so normal, in an odd sort of way. Just another couple on a quiet weekend. Except that House and Johnny were anything but normal. House wasn't even sure they qualified as a couple, or why he would even think about the two of them that way.
A short chuckle drew House out of his thoughts, and he turned his head to see Johnny shaking his head. "You ever going to learn to just let shit go?"
"Probably not." House grumbled as he finished dressing and heaved himself off the bed.
Johnny caught him before he could get too far, sliding his hands around House's waist and coming to rest on his back. "Guess I'll have to do something to relax you a bit when we get back to your place." He murmured in House's ear.
A little thrill went through House at the thought, and he could feel a slight smile curving over his face. Johnny laughed a little in response, pulling back a little, his eyes scanning House's face. "Yeah, I like that look a whole lot better."
House rolled his eyes, slipping out of Johnny's grasp and heading out of the room. He could smell coffee coming from the kitchenette, and he followed his nose to investigate.
Mick was at the counter with his back to him, turning when House eased into a stool. His rough face lit in a wide smile. "It's about goddamn time. Thought you two would be out all day. Coffee?"
"Sure."
Mick poured him a cup and shoved it in front of him, gesturing toward the sugar and cream. House took two packets and ripped them open, dumping them in and stirring before taking a long drink.
"Not bad for hotel coffee, right?" Mick asked him, that grin never leaving his face. "Usually it's complete shit."
"Not bad." House didn't feel like talking just then, preferring to enjoy his coffee in peace. The scraping of a stool next to him disturbed the momentary silence.
"Ah, there's the other half." Mick commented casually, pouring another cup of coffee and setting it in front of Johnny. "Sleep alright, love?"
The endearment made House tense, even as Johnny reached over and ran his hand along House's shoulder before answering Mick. "Always, man. Always."
Mick's eyes settled on House. "I can imagine."
The thought that Mick Ronson was standing there undressing House with his eyes was a more than a little unnerving. House quickly drained the remains of his coffee, clearing his throat when a little went down the wrong way. "Don't we have to get going?"
Johnny threw him a slightly baffled look, but it quickly disappeared as he nodded. "Yeah. Got a lot to work on before I head back to New York."
"Ah, too bad." Mick looked a little sad. "You know, I'm playing a couple of shows in New York. You should join me for one of them. A special guest, you know."
Johnny looked a little skeptical. "I don't know, man. Kind of got a lot going on these days."
"Right, right." Mick waved his hand around almost dismissively. "But surely you can set aside one night."
Johnny glanced at House and let out a little huff. "I'll think about it. No promises."
Mick extended his hand to Johnny, that slightly sad smile still lighting his face. "Suppose that's the best I can hope for, love." He turned to do the same to House. "Pleasure to meet you, House. Hell of a jam we threw down last night, eh? Wouldn't mind doing that again."
House took Mick's hand, slightly surprised by the firm grip of the older man. "Good meeting you, too."
With that Mick followed them to the elevator and escorted them down, making idle chat with Johnny the entire time. He clapped Johnny on the back in a brief hug before turning to House and doing the same thing.
"You take good care of the boy." He whispered in House's ear. "He needs you."
That was the last thing House expected to hear. He sure as hell didn't know how he was supposed to accomplish that. It seemed that Johnny did a perfectly good job of taking care of himself. "Yeah, sure." He muttered before quickly pulling away and following Johnny out of the hotel.
"What did he say to you, man?" Johnny asked him as they climbed into the Mustang.
"Nothing." House answered. He figured that if Mick had meant Johnny to hear his words, he would have done so.
"Huh." Johnny threw House a skeptical look as he started up the convertible, pushing the button to put back the top. "Been waiting all winter to do this."
House pulled his sunglasses out of his jacket and shoved them on his face. "Home, Jeeves."
Johnny laughed and slid a pair of aviators on his own face, backing out of the space and negotiating his way through Philadelphia and on to the highway. It was a chilly ride, but exhilarating all the same, and before long, Johnny was pulling up in front of House's building.
"Shit." Johnny shivered a little as he put up the top. "Think I've probably had brighter ideas than that."
House was shivering himself inside his leather jacket, but he didn't care. Flying down the highway with the top down had him yearning to take the bike out for a ride. "I've ridden the bike in colder weather."
"No shit?" Johnny looked impressed.
"Yep." House nodded, slowly climbing out of the car and making his way to the door. "I'll ride that thing until it snows. I can handle cold."
"Must be hell on your leg." Johnny commented behind him.
There was that, House had to admit. His leg registered anywhere from a dull ache to a screaming pain that wouldn't let go after a cold weather ride.
He simply shrugged as he unlocked the door to let them into the apartment. "I handle it."
"Just suck it up, huh?" Johnny sounded puzzled. "That's no way to live, brother."
"Don't have a better option." House was getting irritated with this line of conversation. "It's not your problem anyway. Mind your own business."
The door closed behind him, and long arms wrapped around House's waist. "You're probably right. Didn't mean to get nosy."
House relaxed a little in Johnny's grip, cursing himself for snapping at the other man. He covered Johnny's hands with his own, stroking lightly with his thumbs.
"Don't know about you, man, but I could use a warm-up." Johnny told him, wrapping himself tighter around House and leaving little kisses up and down his neck.
House closed his eyes and relaxed further, leaning into Johnny. "You say that like you've got something in mind."
"Yep." Johnny let out a little laugh and guided House forward toward the couch. "Turn around."
House turned toward Johnny and leaned against the couch, letting Johnny press into him, his hands moving under House's shirt. He shivered a little at the touch. "Your hands are cold."
"Give them a minute." Johnny murmured, spreading his hands out over House's back and capturing his lips in a hard kiss, his tongue pushing in and tangling up with House's, his hardening cock pressing against House.
House was already warming up, and he moved his own hands under Johnny's shirt, feeling the warm skin underneath, the muscle moving under the skin. His own flesh was hardening slowly, and he instinctively moved against Johnny, evoking a low moan from the other man.
"Getting a little warm in here." Johnny told him between kisses, his hands moving further up House's back. "Sure you don't want to lose a few of these clothes?"
House pulled back enough to shrug off his jacket, content to let Johnny push his t-shirt up and off his body, tossing it aside. Johnny proceeded to dump his own jacket on the floor, and House started undoing Johnny's shirt, spreading it open and sliding his hands over Johnny's chest.
Johnny hummed, arching into House's touch, his nimble fingers reaching down to undo House's jeans, sliding his hands under the waistband, starting to push them down.
"House?" He heard a familiar voice, but he was far too lost in the feel of Johnny's mouth and hands on him to pay any attention.
"I think you've got company, brother." Johnny murmured.
"They can come back." House answered without thinking.
"House, I—oh, my God." The voice suddenly registered as House heard the door swing open.
"God dammit." House muttered, pulling back. "Wilson, what are you doing here?"
Wilson was in the doorway, blinking, his mouth wide open, as if he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. "I…uh…I was in the neighborhood?" His face was turning redder by the minute, and he jerked his thumb back toward the door. "I'll just come back."
"Yeah, good plan." House snapped, quickly moving to fasten his jeans. "You do that."
With that, Wilson was gone as quickly as he'd arrived, and House slumped against the couch. So much for keeping his private life private.
"Go talk to him." Johnny told him.
House rolled his eyes. "There's nothing to talk about. Serves him right for barging into my living room without knocking. Now, where were we?"
Johnny gave House a meaningful look. "He's your friend, right? The one from the show?"
"Yeah." House shrugged. "So?"
"So you obviously didn't say shit to him about us." Johnny explained. "Seems you've got a little explaining to do. You'd better go catch him."
House huffed irritably. "Fine, I will. But you'd better still be here when I get back."
Johnny responded with a wide grin, leaning down for a quick kiss. "Don't sweat it, man. I'm not going anywhere for a while."
He backed away, bending down to hand House his shirt. House quickly pulled it over his head and grabbed his jacket, tugging it on before limping over to the door, grabbing his cane on the way out.
Wilson was still by his car, pacing back and forth, running his hand over his head and muttering to himself. House took a deep breath and made his way down the steps to join him.
"Wilson." The other man turned and lifted his head, scanning House's face with a confused expression.
"House?" Wilson responded. "You mind telling me what's going on?"
"As if it wasn't obvious." House snapped.
Wilson threw up his hands. "I don't just mean…that, which is disturbing all on its own. I mean…how long has this been going on? And why didn't you tell me?"
"First of all, it's really none of your damn business what I do and who I do it with." House told him firmly, closing the distance between them with a few steps. "Second of all…not that long. Just a month or so."
Wilson leaned against his car, shoving his hands in his coat pockets with a worried expression on his face. "I don't know what to say. If I hadn't walked in on you two, I never would have believed it."
"Yeah, about that." House huffed. "Next time, learn to knock. No telling what you would have walked in on if you'd shown up five minutes from now."
"I don't want to know." Wilson shuddered. "So, what does it all mean? You're into guys now, or what?"
"Just the one." House shrugged.
"I don't get it." Wilson muttered. "I don't get it at all."
"You don't have to." House snapped, getting more frustrated by the minute. "This has nothing to do with you. Believe it or not, there is a part of my life that has absolutely nothing to do with you."
Wilson looked at House with a hurt expression. "You kept this from me. Why?"
House threw up his hands in frustration. "For this reason. Because you can't stand the idea that I might have a life without you. Because you would find a way to make it your business, even when it isn't. And believe me, this is none of your business."
Wilson's expression became a little harder as he pushed himself off the car. "Well, that's it, then, isn't it? You're shoving me aside in favor of some washed up rock star. That's great, House. That's just great."
Before House could argue the point, Wilson rounded the end of his car and climbed in, starting it and driving away without so much as a goodbye.
House stood out on the sidewalk, watching the Volvo pull away, his heart sinking. He had gained so much with Johnny in their brief time together, but in the space of a few minutes, he had lost a twenty-year -old friendship.
He sighed heavily and returned to the apartment, where Johnny was playing something on his guitar, frowning as he went over each note.
He looked up when House closed the apartment door, a concerned expression on his face. "Damn, brother. You look like you just lost your best friend."
House leaned against the apartment door, staring at the floor. "I think I just did."
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You know what comes next. Read and review.