CHAPTER 6:
Weeks had passed and House became more comfortable in his new surroundings. He kept himself busy by observing the interesting clientele Mayfield had to offer. For House, his stay was far from boring which kept him content for the time being, since he was locked away from the people who mattered to him. His curiosity about the other patients was the only thing keeping his mind busy right now. He found his best observations came from just sitting in the patient's lounge. Of course, he could also sit in that lounge indulging in one of his other obsessions….watching Prescription Passion. It was in that lounge where we come upon House now partaking in his favorite pastime of soap opera heaven. He sat on the couch with his arms sprawled out on top of it and his feet propped up and crossed on the table in front of him.
Unfortunately, his peacefulness was interrupted by a male orderly who announced, "Dr. House, you have a visitor."
House then turned his head to see Wilson standing behind him.
He signaled with his head, saying, "Come…sit…I don't want to miss anything."
Wilson rolled his eyes and with dry wit said, "Good to see you too." He then took a seat on the couch next to House on his left side.
Giving Wilson a quick play by play of the action on the screen while still fixated on it, House told him, "Evan is cheating on his wife Angelina with this whore named Susan. Angelina just found out and is getting ready to bitch slap Susan."
"Compelling television at its best." Wilson sarcastically remarks.
House gives him a look and counters by remarking, "Shut up, Mr. Telenovella."
He then turns his attention back to his soap where we see an attractive curly-haired blonde pull a gun on a thin, attractive straight-haired brunette.
Absorbed in the action House comments, "She's toast."
"You're really into this. Aren't you?" Wilson says.
House tells him, "Hey, it's the first time I've been able to watch this in peace without Cuddy hovering over me. So, shut up."
He then turns back to the program to notice it has ended with a "to be continued."
Frustrated House exclaims, "Damn! See what you did now. I missed the ending."
"Glad to see your overwhelming enthusiasm over me taking time out of my busy day to come see you." Wilson jokes.
House removes his feet from the table, resting them on the floor, and plops his hands on his lap.
"What did you expect? A parade?" House quips.
"A thank you maybe…I appreciate you coming….oh but I forgot "thank you" and "appreciation" aren't exactly part of your everyday vocabulary." Wilson tells him flatly.
"I figured…why ruin our friendship now with social niceties? House remarks.
There is a pause a moment.
Then Wilson asks him, "How are you feeling?"
House jokes, "Cheery, horny, pissy, bored. The usual."
"Good to see you haven't stopped deflecting." Wilson says drily.
"I must say though. Group therapy is interesting." House comments.
Wilson surprised says, "Oh?"
"Yep. See that guy right there. "House nods his head to a scruffy salt and peppered hair guy with a flannel shirt on playing checkers with another patient.
Wilson acknowledges, "Yeah."
"He's got a gambling problem. I like to bet him how much time it'll take for my spit to land on the concrete. I've won a hat and a flannel shirt so far."
Wilson shakes his head at him.
House nods his head to a man sitting on a chair all primped, running a lint brush across the arm of the chair, "That guy. He's OCD. I like to screw with him by leaving my top button opened and my shirt wrinkled. I also like making him think I don't wash my hands after I take a piss. It's quite amusing."
Wilson says to him, "You're an ass."
"Speaking of asses, how's Cuddy? I'm surprised she didn't come with." House asks amusingly.
"She's….okay. She's really…busy." Wilson says clearly lying.
House smirks, "You're full of crap."
"Yeah, I am." Wilson admits. "She's still having a hard time dealing with this, because she feels guilty." Wilson says.
House says with a bit of sarcastic arrogance, "She should."
Wilson remarks, "Now who's full of crap."
House diverts his eyes to the floor.
Wilson says, "She was part of your delusion because she means something to you. She still doesn't know anything about it, because it's not my place to tell her. I'm going to leave that up to you."
"Gee thanks." House says flatly. There is silence for a minute.
Changing the subject Wilson says, "Your team is doing well under Foreman. No one has died yet."
"Yet." House emphasizes. "There's still time. I'm going to be here for awhile, remember."
Wilson shakes his head in disgust and says, "Oh, come on. Not like you haven't lost patients before."
House agrees, "No…but I have a better track record." He says with an amused look on his face. "Plus, I don't let them die in vain without a reason. Those idiots will just let a patient die. Where's the fun in that?"
Wilson humorously says, "Not obsessing over people to the point of insomnia. You're right the lack of hallucinations and delusions…. my God that's no fun at all."
"It is when you have delusional sex." House counters.
"Yes….delusional sex with your boss….a woman you've been hiding your feelingsfromfor years, because you're too big of an ass to tell her what she means to you. I can see how happy that makes you." Wilson says with sarcasm.
"You can spare me the lecture. That's what my therapy sessions are for….idiot." He says mockingly.
"Glad to see this place hasn't changed your personality." Wilson quips.
"I've gotta be me." House jokes.
"Yeah…well….I hope you're taking this seriously, House, because this may very well be the only chance you have left to make things better for yourself. So, don't screw it up." Wilson tells him as he gets up from the couch.
House looks up at him saying sarcastically, 'I'm so glad we had this little chat."
As Wilson gets ready to leave, House calls him in a more serious tone, "Wilson!"
Wilson turns around.
House says quietly, "Say hello to Cuddy for me."
Wilson gives him a small smile and says to him, "I will."
Wilson exits as House sits there thinking about Wilson's words to him. Deep down House was aware that Wilson knew he was screwing with him. House was taking this very seriously, but didn't want to sacrifice his bravado in front of the people closest to him. He figured he'd save that for his therapy sessions with Dr. Scott. However, he hoped at some point he could be more open about what he was feeling. It would at least save him from the hell he was experiencing right now.