"House, MD" Speculative Fiction

Title: "Beethoven's Damnation"

Owned by David Shore

Written by Aquarius Seth

Disclaimers: All the following mentioned characters are copyrighted by David Shore, so they are his babies. He managed to sell the television idea to Fox Network after talking to Heel-Toe, Bad Hat Harry and Z Shore Productions. USA Network came along and offered money for syndication rights, which they received.

Author's Note- I'm not in the equation so that's why the disclaimers are here. Oh if you haven't seen "Birthmarks" I recommend you catch it either when it re-runs on cable or see if you can download entire episodes on the net. I don't know if it's available on the net but it's possible. I like watching my episodes on Tuesday nights on Fox so I don't do episode watching on the net. Why am I recommending you watch "Birthmarks" first? Well this piece depends heavily on what happens in "Birthmarks" so you might want to catch it. I'm going to jump to the end of the episode with the bottle-throwing scene; I see no point in rehashing the episode here so I'm not going to. Thanks. As always, please read and review. It feeds my starved ego. (Psst…I made up the only address in this spec. It has no actual existence as far as I know and if it does exist, it does not co-exist in the world of "House, MD." Thanks.)

Rated R for AC, AL, AS and possibly SSC later on. You've been forewarned.

Word Count: 1,381

(Wilson, House)

Chapter Three: Shades of Exposure

The sound of scattering glass filled my ears as I watched the window break. A few drops of liquid splashed onto my face as I took a step back. I watched as the amber liquid dripped onto the reposed in the open casket right below the window.

I glanced at my traitorous hand and looked back up at House for some reason. He was grinning at me like an idiot.

"I'm not bored yet." I heard footsteps rushing towards us but I could not look in any direction except up from House's victorious smile.

"House?" I whispered as I heard doors opening nearby. He came towards me and I felt my stomach tighten as I stared hopelessly into his blue eyes. I needed him to offer me some reason why. I needed him to justify my actions for me because my muddled brain couldn't do anything at the moment-except remember how to breathe and how much I loved this man.

"Excuse me but what happened out here?" Someone asked and House glanced over his shoulder. Feeling beyond idiotic I followed his gaze. A short, slightly overweight man in a black suit stood only a few feet away. I was able to focus on his short curly brown hair that was starting to show some gray in places and that was about it.

"We were having a productive conversation and you?" House bit out. I closed my eyes and tried to defuse what come become a worse mess than it already was.

"I'm so sorry. I'll replace the window." I offered as House took another step closer to me.

"The hell you will." He whispered.

"Shut up House. It's only fair, I damaged property." I mumbled.

"Nope. This one's on me." He pulled out his debit card and let the edge brush against my forearm briefly before he turned to the director. "So how much for the colored glass?" With the grace of a magician he maneuvered the director into one of the adjacent offices as I stood there trembling.

I nearly jumped when I felt Blythe's gentle hand on my bicep. I focused on her and tried to say something understandable.

"Can I ask you for another favor James?" Maybe it was a secret power owned by all mothers but I found myself nodding at her. She held a single key out at me. I took it and waited for an explanation for its appearance. "I'm going to go with my sister-in-law for the night. She's going to run the show for me and I really don't want to leave her alone. Can you take Greg home for me? He's bound to get into the liquor cabinet if I leave him to his own devices and I can't deal with him being drunk right now. Take him home for me."

"You don't want him to accompany you to the rest of the funeral?" I asked stupidly.

"No. He has already done more than I ever expected him to. I appreciate the fact that he's here; he doesn't need to be here for the rest of it. He'll be impossible to live with if I forced him to go to the rest of this. I think the military service will push him to be more rebellious. I don't think you want that, do you? I know I don't." Did I want that? Rationally I didn't but a small part of me wanted it more than I was willing to admit to myself. I nodded at her and took the key. "There's food in the fridge. There are clean sheets in the guest bedroom and his room. I'll see you later on dear." I could have sworn I saw her wink at me but it was so fleeting I could have been mistaken.

I had managed to take a few steps towards the funeral parlor's offices when I heard the familiar lopsided gait of a step, cane and then step. I froze in my spot and watched as House slipped his free hand into his coat pocket. I saw him move his hand long enough for me to realize that he was checking on the DNA stick. I frowned and met him half way. I grabbed his elbow and squeezed until he let the vial go and remove his hand from his pocket.

"I can't believe you did that! I'm grateful no one noticed what you did! You would have broken your mother's heart." I seethed quietly through clinched teeth.

"I can't do that Wil he already shattered that long before I was walking." He sighed softly and looked at the open doors that lead back inside to Mr. House's viewing.

"Your mom gave you a free pass for the rest of it. I don't feel right taking you away but…." I whispered and waited for him to tell me what he wanted to do.

"She's right. I would only taint the rest of it."

"House." I sighed unable to keep the wounded sound out of my voice. He looked back at me. His blue eyes were clouded over and his face was pinched in a rare expression of genuine agony.

"Wilson I left home as soon as I legally could, not that I was home that often anyway. When I became a teenager I was only home when she demanded I'd be home. There was peace after dinner was done and I washed dishes for the night.

"I'm sure he bitched to his buddies about what an ungrateful son I was. I'm sure anyone that actually knew him is still reeling from the fact that I actually showed up for the eulogy. Let's go." He sighed.

"Go where?" I asked as we began walking towards the front entrance doors. His shoulders drooped ever so slightly and there was a slight hitch in his step.

"Home?" His voice had a defeated air to it. I felt the emotional dagger shred a healthy chunk out of my heart with that one word.

I gently touched his arm and he glanced my way. I opened my palm and showed him the key his mother gave me. He looked at it and then at me. I saw the confusion in his eyes. Caught unprepared I stuttered like a kid asking a girl out for the first time. "Your mom gave me…shit…she said this…damn it." I exhaled deeply and dragged my free hand through my hair.

Without a word he took the key from me and let his fingers brush mine for a moment longer than necessary.

"1523 Jonas Street. I'll show you the way." I could have sworn I heard a bit of hope in his voice and dare I hope happiness?

To Be Continued.