Took a while to get out, but it's finally here.

BTW I did have an X files slip up in the last chapter which I have since corrected. Sorry, I had X files on the brain when I wrote it. Those who watched the show will understand. ;-)

"What!" Wilson's mouth hit the floor, never expecting to hear the words House had just uttered. "She said-She said it-What did you say?" Wilson asked him quickly all in one breath. House just shook his head, "I didn't say anything." Wilson's face fell, his excitement quickly extinguished. 'Of course he didn't say anything. Of all the times to say nothing, he chose the worse possible moment!'

"What happened?" Wilson demanded an explanation.

"She just stormed out of here. Even if I knew what to say, I wouldn't have had a chance to say it." House said disgruntled.

Wilson gave a deep sigh.

"You knew what to say, you were just too afraid to say it." Wilson suggested.

"I'm not afraid…I just…It's complicated." House stuttered to Wilson.

"Now is your chance to make things a whole lot easier for everyone. Just tell her how you feel." Wilson said gently, trying to keep calm.

"But-" House began but was cut off by Wilson.

"But nothing House! Go tell her how you feel before you lose her!"

House stared at his hands deep in thought, like he was trying to solve one of his cases. "I can't." House said simply.

"Do you want to be miserable for the rest of your life?" Wilson asked aggravated.

"I don't want to be miserable." House said honestly. "But I don't want her to be miserable either."

Wilson softened, regretting his harsh words. 'House had probably given this a lot of thought.'

He had. House had seen the damage he could do to a person; he didn't want to do that to Cuddy.

"You're so sure you'll make her miserable, but what if she needs you to be happy?"

"Yeah, she needs a misanthropic, drug addicted, felon to be happy." House said sarcastically.

"Hey, you need a workaholic, guilt ridden, perjurer to be happy. Who are you to judge?" That earned a grin from House, who was staring off into space again.

"I'm never going to change. She's better off without me."

Change was House's biggest fear. He loathed it. In his life, change took away everything he loved, and brought him nothing but pain.

"You don't believe that. The woman can't even go out on a date without you sabotaging it. How would you react if she got a family of her own?"

House took a few minutes to answer, unsure of what to say.

"I'll be happy for her." He said somberly.

"I don't believe you." Wilson shot back. "If you'd be happy for her, then why bother screwing up her dates every chance you get?"

"They were all idiots…she deserves better."

"And who would be better?" Wilson asked.

House shrugged. "Not me."

Wilson rolled his eyes. "House…you have to risk it. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it. Stop fighting it."

"It would never work."

"You don't know that."

"I'll screw it up somehow. I always do."

"Maybe, but the both of you seem pretty miserable right now anyway so…why not take a chance?"

House glared at Wilson. The man had a point, but he didn't have to like it.

"She's insane to love me. What have I ever done to deserve it?" House asked, truly bewildered.

"How about save her life? I know you'd do it again in a second, and so does she. Cuddy knows you aren't the arrogant ass you pretend to be. Well, you are an ass, but you're a sensitive ass who would rather stick a knife in an outlet, than admit how much you care. But you do care…probably more then most."

House fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation.

"You're both crazy."

Wilson groaned, losing his temper. "You're the only one who's crazy, House!" Wilson threw his arms in the air. "Cuddy just admitted she loved you. Are you really going to sit here and sulk like that's a bad thing?"

Hearing Wilson say those words made something in him awaken. He was right. It was probably the best thing that has ever happened to him, and here he was trying to ignore it. House suddenly felt light headed, and it wasn't because of the drugs coursing through his body. His thoughts were filled with Lisa Cuddy, and all the emotions she stirred up inside him. No one had ever made him feel so many different things at the same time. Could he really give her up? Could he live never knowing if she was the one? He doubted it.

Wilson met House's gaze, and saw there was a small grin tugging at his lips. A spark ignited within House's icy blue eyes and a full blown smile appeared on his face.

"I love her too, Wilson."

Wilson smiled back, relieved. He could sense the weight of almost 20 years worth of repressed feelings being lifted off of House's shoulders. It was a long time coming, but the words had finally been spoken by both parties. Now the only thing left was to get them in the same room so they could tell each other the news…properly. That of course wasn't going to be easy given House's current state.

"I need to see her." House said urgently.

"Are you going to tell her?" Wilson asked him, praying his friend had finally seen the light.

"I don't know, I just…I have to talk to her." House said with a determined look on his face. He tried to sit up, but Wilson pushed him back down on the bed.

"Whoa, hang on! You can't just wander around the hospital with two fractured ribs, a concussion, and now an infection."

"Then get me a wheelchair." House growled at Wilson.

"How are you going to get by the nurses? You're not supposed to be out of bed."

"I'll think of something." House sat up, wincing as he leaned against the headboard.

Wilson knew House was in no kind of shape to go speeding through the hallways to declare his love for Cuddy, but after all these years, there was no way he was going to keep them apart any longer then necessary.

"I'll distract the nurses." Wilson said. "I'll distract them, and you make a break for the elevators."

House nodded, agreeing to the plan. "Good, now help me get this IV out." House said gesturing to his arm.

Wilson removed the IV, and began to bandage his arm. 'House better not screw this up, or Cuddy was going to kill the both of them.'

"Wilson?"

"Yeah?" Wilson asked, not looking up.

"Thanks."

Wilson smiled. It wasn't everyday House thanked him for something.

"Anytime."

TBC...

A little short, but the next part will be up much quicker, I promise.