CHAPTER 16

Later on that night at House's, he and Wilson were engaging in a game of poker.

Looking at his cards, Wilson begins the conversation by asking, "How was your date with Cuddy last night?"

Examining his cards, House answers, "Good. She was looking exceptionally hot last night. Lots of cleavage to admire during dinner."

"What did you talk about?" Wilson inquires.

"How annoying and needy you are." House quips.

"Better than talking about your massive ego." He throws a few chips down. "I raise. So, is there going to be another date or did you find a way to screw something up last night?"

"I did screw something….just wasn't the date itself. I see your raise and raise you ten more." House tosses another handful of chips into the pile.

"You slept with her? So, your delusion became your reality on the first date. I'm impressed. I call. What do have?"

Fanning his cards down, House says, "A straight….which will probably beat the skimpy pair you have in your hand."

Wilson looks at his cards and then at House and begins to say, "How the hell did you….."

"You were chewing your lip. Every time you do that you have a crappy pair of something. My advice….don't do that if you want to actually win a game."

Wilson throws down his cards and exclaims, "God I hate playing with you!"

"That's not what Cuddy said." House smugly jokes while playfully batting his eyebrows.

House takes the cards and starts shuffling them.

Wilson wonders, "Just curious to know…..what do expect to get out of this relationship other than sex?"

"Hopefully less clinic hours." House quips.

"You can't treat Lisa like one of your dime store hookers you know." Wilson remarks.

Looking at him for a second he says, "If hookers cost a dime, I'd use them every day." He looks back at the cards again and remarks, Fortunately for me though, Cuddy comes for free, so I don't have to claim her on my taxes."

Wilson takes a more earnest tone with House and says, "I'm serious, House. This is not a game. There's a lot involved here….your jobs…..your feelings….plus she has Rachel. You have to decide if that's something you're willing to accept, because Rachel comes with Cuddy. It's not like Cuddy's going to want to send her back. And knowing you and your need for attention, you'd have to be willing to share it. The question is whether or not you're willing to do that."

House stops shuffling and looks at Wilson.

Annoyed with him House says, "God….why do have to be such a killjoy? I talk about sex with Cuddy and you immediately turn it into an intervention on my personality. I think I'm going to go back to Mayfield."

House starts dealing the cards and Wilson begins assembling his hand.

"I'm just saying that Cuddy is someone you've been silently pining for…for years. Commitment is a big thing and not something to brush off like dandruff." Wilson tells him.

House abruptly stops dealing.

Looking at him curiously, House says, "Wait a minute….you're going to lecture me on commitment…..the man who goes through wives as quickly as beer goes through me. Listen Don Juan, in case you've forgotten, I lived with one person for five years. That's more commitment than you saw in your first three marriages."

"Don't deflect. This has nothing to do with me and everything to do with you and your ability to push people away. Stacy left because you were a miserable ass after your infarction and you pushed her away. Cuddy on the other hand knows how to deal with your stubbornness and insanity and is willing to put herself through that torture with you. She's already ahead because she's been doing it for half your life. She should be sainted." Wilson says. He then starts putting what cards he has in order.

"After last night and this morning in the shower….trust me…there are no angelic qualities about her." House jokes.

"Must you keep turning this conversation into sex?" Wilson wonders as he continues to order his cards..

"Yes, because it's way more interesting than hearing you give me advice on serious relationships. Do you honestly think I wouldn't have gone through all that I have if I weren't serious about what I wanted? Granted it took a year, a delusion, and three months in a psycho ward to make me realize it, but did it ever once occur to you that I might just be a little….nervous about starting over. Let's face it. Cuddy is the first woman that I've ever really been interested in since Stacy." House says reflectively.

"I know. That's why I'm trying to help you, because I am all for this. I…think Cuddy is perfect for you. She thinks like you. She's kind of crazy herself. She's confident, compassionate, smart, beautiful, and she gives a damn about you. That's more than I can say for a lot of women who've come into contact with you. But most importantly, you have to remember that both of you easily hurt. That's why you have to cut the crap with her and be more sensitive to her feelings, because things that may be important to you may not be important to her. And this game of hostility you play with her, while fun for you, won't help in the times when you really need her. That's something you have to keep in the back of your mind, because if you don't you will screw this up and there may be no on left." Wilson tells him.

There's silence for a minute as House absorbs what Wilson has just advised him.

Then House breaks the moment by saying sarcastically, "You know….now I think I understand why Kutner put a gun to his head."

"I know this a lot for your inflated head to absorb….so I'll put it to you in a way you'll understand. Don't be an ass and learn how to talk to her without being a condescending, sarcastic jerk." Wilson tells him.

Mockingly House says, "It's good to know I have such caring friends there when I need them in a time of emotional crisis." House starts dealing the cards again.

"Too bad it's only one." Wilson retorts while continuing to assemble his hand.

"Hey, I'm not the one clinging to the friend from the insane asylum." House quips.

"I can't believe you ended up there before I did after all these years of me dealing with you." Wilson shoots back.

House stops dealing for a moment. Holding some cards hidden in his right hand, he looks at Wilson with a sly grin and says, "Admit though…..you love it."

Wilson drily says, "What can I say? I guess I'm a glutton for punishment."

Then the two of them look at each other and laugh. Then, House finishes dealing the hands.