This is just the beginning. We'll soon go back in time to learn about the events leading up to the present.
2024
Amanda Cho was Dr James Wilson's secretary. This was her third year working for him, after his previous secretary had retired after eighteen long years with Dr Wilson.
"Amanda, could you please send these files to the respective stations? Oh, and I'm going out for lunch. Please take down messages for anyone who might be looking for me."
Dr Wilson emerged from the office, coat in his arms. He smiled at her, ever polite, despite the fact that he was running late and noticeably flustered. Amanda could understand why Nora, the previous secretary, had stayed for fifteen years. Dr Wilson instilled a kind of loyalty in you. He was a good boss. A top quality doctor. Never demanding nor unreasonable. He expected good work, but he made you want to do good work anyway. And he was always polite and considerate.
"Sure thing, Dr Wilson. Oh by the way, you were running late, so I took the liberty of picking up the fries for you. Piping hot and fresh. I got you a pasta salad as well. Oh, tea for you, and a chocolate milkshake."
"You're a lifesaver. I'll be back in…" Dr Wilson looked at his watch. "… an hour and a half?"
"Yup. You have a two o'clock appointment with Mr Wheeler."
"What would I do without you? Thanks, Amanda."
Amanda watched as Dr Wilson hurried down the hallway, shrugging on his coat as he headed towards the elevators. She knew where he was going. He had a routine. The whole hospital knew. Nora had made sure that her successor was briefed properly, and knew what to expect and do for Dr Wilson.
Every single day at lunchtime, Dr Wilson was not reachable. No lunchtime meetings, consults or appointments. It was strictly off-limits. He would pick up a reuben, or some fries, with special instructions for them to be in bite-sized pieces. Sometimes, a chocolate milkshake, ice-cream, or cake. And then it was a few minutes' walk over to Meadow View. Rain or shine, snowfall or not, he never failed to make his daily trip over.
As his secretary, she was one of the few to know that two hours each Saturday and Sunday morning were spent at Meadow View too. And sometimes if he ended early for the day as well.
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Dr Cuddy and some of the doctors from the Diagnostics Department would go with him. But everyone knew that Tuesdays and Thursdays were the days that Dr Wilson would go alone. Just him. For that short lunch break, it would be just Dr Wilson and his best friend.
Never disturb Dr Wilson during lunch, said Nora. Never. Take messages, apologise to patients, do whatever you need to do. Just never disturb him during lunch.
"Hi Dr Wilson. I was just wondering when you were showing up."
"My appointment overran. And please, Jen, how long have we known each other? Just call me James."
"I've known you long enough to notice that you have a few extra inches around the waist now," she teased, laughing at his embarrassment. "I'm kidding, James. You're still very much the lady-killer."
"Hey, I'm a one-woman man now," Wilson defended. "How is he today?"
"He's good. Obviously waiting for you. We had a pretty good morning. He's a bit tired, though. Didn't sleep that well last night."
Wilson smiled at the fifty-ish, portly lady in front of him. House's favourite. His own favourite too. "Thanks, Jen," he said, before making his way down the wide hallway of Meadow View towards Room 63.
Wilson pushed open the door gently and slipped inside the room.
"Hey buddy."
He crouched down next to the wheelchair, which was facing the window and in the warmth of the sunlight. It faced the meadow outside. This was House's favourite spot in the whole building.
" 'immy."
Jimmy it was today then. That meant House had missed him. Usually, it was a slurred "W'lsn".
Wilson noticed that the blanket on House's lap had slipped slightly, and was trailing the floor. He pulled it up to settle it higher on House's lap, tucking it in firmly around him. House liked the feeling of the blanket around him. Whether it was because he wanted an additional layer to cover his right leg, or whether it was because of the sensation and comfort it gave him when it was firmly tucked around him, they never knew. But they did all they could to make him comfortable.
He stood up, and wheeled the chair to the table where they usually ate lunch together.
He opened the paper bags and lay out the food on the table. Immediately, House's eyes seemed to light up at the sight of the chocolate milkshake.
"Mmmm, 'immy."
"Yup. I got you fries and a milkshake today. I was running late but Amanda picked them up for me. I told you about her, right? She replaced Nora, who retired. Nora's taking care of her grandchildren now. She sent me pictures of her grandson. Doesn't that make you feel old? - "
Wilson unpacked all the food, and upon noticing that the fries were still slightly too thick and long, he frowned and began to cut them up into smaller pieces.
" - Well Amanda's pretty good, but I still miss Nora. I still remember how you used to annoy the hell out of her, and she wasn't afraid to give it right back to you even though she's about a foot shorter than you. I'm pretty sure you were kind of intimidated by her… She was pretty kickass... Okay, I can practically see you drooling at the fries – "
Wilson reached over and gently wiped House's chin and corner of his mouth with the paper napkin before picking up a small segment of a french fry.
" – so here you go. Pretty good, huh? Fresh and piping hot from the cafeteria."
"Mmmm. 'Uhmm."
"Yum, huh? Knew it. You're still a monster for french fries after all these years. Well I can't keep up with you anymore. Jen says my pants are getting tighter… The nerve of her huh. But you… you gotta eat more okay? I don't like how thin you're getting. Milkshake? I promise you I didn't sneak any Ensure into it."
Wilson lifted the cup, and placed the straw at House's lips. House managed to sip quite a bit, more than he used to be able to, and Wilson couldn't help but grin at the slight improvement in House's strength. "Getting stronger by the day, huh? Jen must be working you hard."
"Jennnnn…" House agreed, nodding his head very slightly. "Lis…"
"Cuddy came to see you yesterday huh?"
"Mmmmm. K…K…"
"Yeah, I know Cameron and Chase dropped by earlier in the morning. Cameron's…"
House choked slightly on a fry, and the conversation was largely forgotten as Wilson hurriedly clapped on House's chest, trying to calm him down. "You gotta eat slowly, House… I don't want to have to do the Heimlich on you… I know I'm a doctor but I suck at that, you know? You okay? I know… I'm sorry that piece was probably too big…"
Wilson saw the tear trail slowly down the side of House's face, and felt the same guilt and heartache that always resurfaced somehow even though it had been a long sixteen years. He knew it was from the exertion of choking – House was now that weak -, but some part of him always wondered whether House knew.
Was it embarrassment? Sadness? Awareness of what he had lost?
What Wilson had caused him to lose?
" 'Immyyyy," House slurred mournfully, looking at Wilson. He wriggled slightly in the chair, raising both his arms as much as he could, reaching out towards Wilson.
"It's okay, buddy. I'm okay." House was remarkably attuned to Wilson, something everyone considered miraculous. Wilson leaned over, out of his chair, and gathered House into his arms. He gently lifted House's head, and placed it on his shoulder. He kept his hand on the back of House's neck to keep his head from lolling about, and rubbed reassuring circles on House's back. "It's okay… I'm okay… Are you okay?"
"Mmmm… 'Immy kay… Howz kay…" His voice trailed off, becoming barely more than a whisper.
"We're all okay… We're good... You want to eat more?"
There was no reply, only the sound of heavy, even breathing. House had fallen asleep. Wilson shook his head and chuckled. Wilson disentangled himself from House, and wheeled him back over to the bed.
He easily lifted House back onto the bed. He slipped the memory foam pillows under House's right knee, and then covered House with the thick quilt that his mother had made.
House stirred, mumbling. "No go, 'immy… stay…"
"Sure thing. I'll stay. Just rest."
Wilson rubbed circles on House's arm as he watched House drift off to sleep. When he was out for the count, Wilson checked the IV bags on the stand before reconnecting them to House's central line.
There was three quarters of the fries and slightly more than half the milkshake left. He finished off his pasta salad as he watched House sleep. He cleaned up, and threw away the trash. He checked his watch. Fifteen more minutes before he had to go back.
He settled down in the recliner, and watched House sleep. When the time came for him to leave, he leaned over to place a chaste kiss on House's forehead.
"See you tomorrow."