Ch 5- The Common Good

Wilson entered House's office wondering how he would be able to broach the subject of pain medication so soon after a close scrape with death. House was watching his soaps, which would at least have put him in a good mood, Wilson reasoned. The diagnostician looked up as the oncologist entered. "What's up?" House asked, turning back to the television.

"Not much. Just had some free time so I figured I'd catch up on our hanging out time," Wilson replied as nonchalant as he could manage. He settled himself down in a chair opposite House and turned his attentions toward the television.

"You want to go bowling tonight?" House asked. "Cuddy is spending time with the kid so I'm free."

Wilson nodded. "Sure. I haven't been in a while."

"Ok." House reverted his fixation to the appliance and Wilson resigned to the fact that he wasn't going to get any information out of House while 'General Hospital' was first and foremost on his list of things to do. He would wait until they went bowling to talk about the Vicodin that House was possibly not in need of.

"We're bowling tonight," he told Cuddy on the phone when he got back to his office. "I'll talk to him then." Cuddy thanked him for the update, and then they both went back to work. Both of them were anxious about what was going on with House and his opiate addiction.

The bowling alley was fairly empty when the two doctors walked inside, ready to knock some pins in the gutter to relax their bodies and minds from work. "You want a chili dog?" Wilson asked House after paying for a few games.

"Yeah. And a coke," the diagnostician replied choosing a lane and pulling his ball out of the bag. Wilson returned after a few moments with food and the two men fell into the familiarity of hanging out and eating, while tossing heavy marble at plastic pins.

"So how are you doing?" Wilson asked after a while, both had ordered a round of beers and things were going smoothly.

"Fine, and yourself?" House replied, looking strangely at Wilson. "Why do you want to know?"

"I mean, how are you doing without the pills? Since the detox?" Wilson told him.

"Surprisingly well," House said, realizing that Wilson was getting back into his old habit of being the caretaker. "But how did you know I was off the pills?"

"Wishful thinking," the oncologist replied. "I had hoped that after detoxing you would realize that you were better off without them."

House rolled his eyes. "Yes, mommy, I'm off the pills. I don't need them yet. When I need something I'll take it."

"Do you think you could stay off them for good?"

"I don't know. I thought we came to bowl, not chat about my medicinal habits."

"Just conversation," Wilson replied, carefully trying to drown House's suspicions. "How's Cuddy treating you?" He raised one eyebrow.

"Let's just say, dating the boss has some perks…" House replied, a grin returning to his face.

"Ohhh hooo hooo…did you have sex in her office?"

"That's my next option," House replied. "We were too busy groaning all over my apartment to get into the hospital…"

"There's always tomorrow…" Wilson winked.

"By God, there is," House replied. "Just make sure you don't come to chat about new equipment after lunch." House's voice had taken on a mischievous tone and Wilson could tell that the hospital would be ripe with administrative sweat the next day if it was left up to House.

The rest of the evening went well and Wilson made a call to Cuddy after his bowling experience with House to inform her of House's clean status. She was relieved and excited to hear the news, but couldn't talk long because House was on the other line. Wilson went to bed pleased with himself and with the way House and Cuddy were seeming to work out.

Tuesday afternoon found House on his way to Cuddy's office with a plan to detain her for a while. He locked the door after entering, to her surprise and intrigue and then winked at her seductively before crossing the room. "I'd like to propose a break from work, boss," he said with a laugh in his voice. Cuddy was only too happy to oblige her boyfriend and crossed the room to shut all the blinds in agreement…