The events of the weekend were still running through House's mind when his phone went off in his pocket. He dug it out and flipped it open to answer. "Hi, Wilson."

"Where are you?" Wilson responded in an exasperated tone. "I've been up and down this street and can't find your place."

"I'll be right down." House closed his phone and shoved it back in his pocket. He had offered to pick Wilson up at the airport in Nashville, but Wilson had insisted on getting a rental car.

Now he had managed to get himself lost in this town. Only Wilson could manage such a thing.

House made his way down the stairs at the back of the building, entering through the doctor's office and stepping outside to see if he could flag Wilson down. Finally, he spotted an unfamiliar vehicle crawling down the street, and House waved his cane to get the driver's attention.

Sure enough, it was Wilson. House pointed at the driveway with his cane, and Wilson pulled in, heading toward the back of the building. House made his way back through to meet him.

Wilson was pulling his suitcase out of the trunk when House caught up to him, already clearly a little agitated. "You sure are hard to find."

"I offered to pick you up." House reminded him.

"Should have taken you up on it." Wilson grumbled as he closed the trunk and looked up. "You live up there?"

"Yep." House answered. "Still working on the doctor's office. Should have it open by the first of the year."

Wilson shook his head. "I still can't believe it. You're going to be a country doctor. Perpetual clinic duty. What happened to you?"

House shrugged as he led Wilson up the stairs to his apartment. "Just trying to stay out of trouble. Figured you'd admire that."

"Don't get me wrong." Wilson answered as he followed House inside and set down his suitcase. "I'm glad you've…I don't know, settled in, I guess. But why here?"

"This is where the bike died." House told him bluntly. "Come on, I've got a schedule to keep."

Wilson looked equal parts exasperated and exhausted. "What could you possibly have to do?"

"Well, let's see." House leaned on his cane as he grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. "I've got a seminar to teach, need to see about getting my bike into storage for the winter…I'm a busy man, Wilson. Vamonos."

Wilson ran his hand through his hair, shaking his head as he followed House out of the apartment and joined him in his car. Normally he would have stopped in at the café, but he was running behind as it was.

"Okay, so what made you decide on teaching?" Wilson asked as they drove. "I mean, I always thought you'd be good at it, but you didn't seem to like the one you did teach."

"Needed something to do while I was waiting for my license to transfer." House answered. "Put together my CV and sent it over to Vanderbilt to see if they'd bite. They did, so here I am."

"Huh." Wilson still sounded skeptical. "Just like that?"

"Just like that." House replied. "Been a pretty good gig so far. I don't have to publish, I don't have to do research, just come in, dazzle them for a few hours a week, get paid."

"Have to admit, that's pretty easy money." Wilson responded. "Almost not even worth going into general practice."

"Well, I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere." House told him. "And I'm qualified. Overqualified, some might say."

Wilson scoffed at that. "See your ego hasn't shrunk any."

"Still a god among men, Wilson." House replied as he parked and shut off the car. They climbed out and started toward the building, joining others on the elevator and pushing the button.

The door opened at the next floor, and Foster stepped on, nodding to House. "Morning, House."

"Morning, Foster." House turned to Wilson. "Wilson, this is my boss, Foster. Foster, this is my…friend, Doctor James Wilson."

"Pleasure, Doctor Wilson." Foster responded smoothly, extending a hand to Wilson.

"The pleasure's mine, Foster." Wilson nodded, responding in kind. "Can't believe you convinced this guy to teach."

"Oh, House has been quite a welcome addition." Foster told him. "His seminar's already full for next semester with a waiting list. I've tried to convince him to add a couple more, but he refused."

"Right." Wilson laughed quietly. "Might cut into his other job."

Foster chuckled slightly. "We need rural and small-town providers. House is doing quite a service to the community."

House almost burst out laughing at Wilson's incredulous expression as the elevator opened at their floor. "That's us. Come on, Wilson."

"Nice to meet you." Foster called behind them. "Enjoy your visit."

His students were already gathered in the hallway as House and Wilson approached, and he unlocked the door to let them in, making his way to the desk and setting down his backpack.

"You may notice we have a new student today." House announced to a round of quiet laughter. "This is my friend Wilson. He's visiting from New Jersey. Say hello, everyone."

There was another round of murmured 'hellos' before everyone settled in, and Wilson took a seat near the back of the room. House couldn't help the slight edginess he felt. Deep down, he knew he felt he had something to prove to Wilson, that he hadn't completely lost his mind in deciding to stay here.

"Okay, let's pick up from last time." House started. "The patient presented with what?"

One of his students piped up with the answer, and they were off and running. They bounced ideas off each other, with House only guiding them when they went too far off track, and generated a spirited discussion as they worked toward the diagnosis.

The seminar went quickly, and before House knew it, it was time to wrap up. "Congratulations, your patient gets to live another day. We'll pick this up next time."

The students gathered their things and filed out, leaving Wilson and House alone in the room. Wilson approached House, his hands in his pockets. "Got to admit, you've really got a knack for this."

House shrugged, trying to appear casual as he cleaned off the whiteboard. "Not much different from what I was doing. Just noone's life hanging in the balance."

"It's good for them." Wilson told him. "And it's good for you, too."

House closed his backpack and picked up his cane, and the two of them left the classroom. "Admit it, you had your doubts."

"Of course I did." Wilson answered with a short laugh. "Cuddy did, too."

"You can tell her that I'm doing just fine, and I haven't lost my mind." House responded.

"You don't mind if I reserve my judgement." Wilson commented.

"You will anyway."

Wilson nodded in acknowledgement as they stepped on the elevator and headed back down and out to the parking lot. As they pulled into town, House pulled into a spot in front of the café. He could see Caroline just inside, smiling and nodding to one of the other regulars as she wiped down the counter.

Something fluttered inside him, the memory of their date and those kisses still crystal clear. If he could have, he would have taken it further. But they were probably still a long way from that, and that was fine with House. They had all the time in the world as far as he was concerned.

Wilson's short laugh snapped him out of his thoughts. "This place is right out of 'Fried Green Tomatoes'."

House shot him a look but otherwise chose not to respond. He had known that Wilson would make cracks about how backwards and country this place was, but that didn't make them any less irritating. "If you're nice, I'll buy you lunch."

Wilson's eyebrows shot up. "That would be a first."

"I'm a changed man, Wilson." House answered as they entered the café, the bell over the door announcing their presence.

Caroline looked up, greeting him with that little smile of hers. "Afternoon, Greg."

"Caroline." House tried to hold his voice steady as he eased himself on to a stool. "This is my friend Wilson. Wilson, Caroline. Her mom runs this place, Caroline helps out when she's not in school."

Wilson's expression was curious as he extended a hand to Caroline. "It's very nice to meet you. Hope House isn't driving you too crazy."

Caroline merely looked amused as she did the same to Wilson. "Oh, no. He's a very sweet man once you get to know him."

"He…right. Yes." Wilson seemed to be momentarily rendered speechless. "I'll take your word for it."

She turned her attention to House. "You want your usual?"

House nodded, a warmth surging through him, and Caroline poured him a cup of coffee before turning her attention back to Wilson. "Anythin' for you?"

"Uh…give me a minute." Wilson stuttered slightly. "Thanks."

"Well now, who have we got here?" Marge appeared from the back. "Greg, this must be that friend of yours you were talkin' about."

"The one and only James Wilson." House told her. "Wilson, this is Marge. Caroline's mom and proprietor of this establishment."

"It's nice to finally meet you." Marge greeted Wilson warmly. "Greg's fixin' to open up that doctor's office. Can't tell you how nice it's gonna be to finally have a doctor in town again."

"That's what I hear." Wilson answered. "And nice to meet you, too."

Marge turned to pick up an order from the window, and Wilson leaned over toward House. "This place is straight out of a movie. It can't be for real."

House shrugged. "I didn't believe it either. Place has a way of growing on you. I don't know."

Wilson regarded House curiously. "Say that again."

"What?"

"'Growin''." Wilson sat up straight, wagging a finger. "I thought you sounded different. I couldn't figure it out. But that's it. You've got an accent."

"I don't." House answered sharply as Caroline returned. "Caroline, tell Wilson that I don't have an accent."

"You don't." Caroline told him. "If anythin', your friend here's the one with the accent."

"Told you." House mocked Wilson.

"Right, next time we talk you're going to be all 'y'all' and 'yee haw'." Wilson mocked in return.

Caroline frowned ever so slightly. "Have you decided what you wanted?"

Wilson had the grace to look embarrassed at Caroline's tone, and scanned the menu before placing his order. He leaned over toward House again. "What did I say?"

"You know damn well what you said." House snapped quietly. "Jesus, Wilson."

Wilson fell silent after that, and it wasn't long before Caroline set their meals down in front of them, setting Wilson's down a little harder than necessary. "Y'all need anythin' else?"

Wilson flushed bright red as House barely managed to contain a laugh. "No, Caroline. We're all set."

Caroline managed a slight smile at House, returning to the back, and House could hear her talking to Marge. Soon, she emerged again, with her jacket on and her purse and backpack slung over her shoulder.

"Back to class, huh?" House asked.

"'Fraid so." Caroline sighed. "Just about to the end of the semester."

House nodded. "Do well. Learn things."

Caroline smiled a little more broadly, touching his shoulder as she left, the bell dinging as she did so.

Wilson wiped his mouth, a slow smirk spreading across his face. "I see why you stayed. Should have known there was a woman involved."

"I made that decision before…whatever, you wouldn't believe me anyway." House huffed irritably. "She's a nice girl. I like her. But it's complicated."

"Always is with you."

They made stilted conversation throughout their meal, and before long, Marge reappeared. "Y'all get enough to eat?"

"Yes, ma'am." Wilson answered. "That was very good."

Marge beamed. "Well, now, that's good to hear. How long you gonna be here? You could come on over to the house for Sunday supper."

"Oh, I'm only here for a few days." Wilson told her. "I appreciate the offer, though."

"Well, maybe next time, then." Marge's smile faded ever so slightly. "I'll ring you up."

Marge cashed them out, and House left a good-sized tip on the counter before they climbed down and headed back out. One more stop, then he could call it a day.

It was another short drive to Mike's garage, and House pulled in and shut off the car. "You don't have to come in. I won't be but a minute."

"All part of the small-town tour, right?" Wilson responded, climbing out to join him.

House merely shook his head as he entered, Wilson not far behind. Mike looked up from the counter, greeting House with a smile and a nod. "Hi, Doc. Your bike's all set. Those boys worked on it over the weekend."

"Hope you're not going to charge me weekend labor."

"Wouldn't dream of it." Mike answered with a laugh. "You know I always cut you a break on the labor."

Wilson looked utterly lost, and Mike turned his attention to him, extending a hand. "Don't believe we've met. I'm Mike. I run the place. My boy works on Doctor House's bike. He's crazy about motorcycles. Just got his license over the summer thanks to the good doctor here."

Wilson nodded and shook his hand. "James Wilson. Doctor James Wilson."

"Another one, huh?" Mike commented. "Well, any friend of the doc's is a friend of mine. Good to meet you."

"You too."

Mike turned his attention back to House. "Now, I've already talked to Steve over at the storage place. He's got a place for your bike all set up."

"Great." House replied as he signed the estimate and gave Mike his credit card. "Suppose the weather's not too bad. I could ride over there."

"It ain't far." Mike told him, rattling off directions as House mentally filed them away.

"Sounds good, thanks, Mike." House told him before turning to Wilson. "Do you mind following me?"

"House, are you crazy?" Wilson asked before shaking his head. "Don't answer that. Sure, I'll follow."

Mike entered the garage to wheel out House's bike, and he couldn't help the little bit of excitement that coursed through him. One last ride before he put it up for the season. He'd make it a good one.

He climbed on, nodding to Mike before putting on his helmet and starting it up. The boys had done a good job, as usual, and soon he was out on the road, watching to make sure Wilson was still behind him.

Soon, he pulled into the storage facility, stopping in briefly at the office to get the key and sign the paperwork before finding the unit and parking the bike for a moment. He climbed off and unlocked the unit before rolling his bike inside and closing it up, locking it and fumbling with the key as he put it on his key chain.

Even that short ride had made his hands numb and his leg ache. A dumb move, to be sure, but it had to be done.

Wilson was already climbing out of the car and getting in on the passenger side when House climbed in on the driver's side. Fortunately, the drive had been long enough for the car to warm up, and his fingers soon had enough feeling in them that he could grip the steering wheel, and they were soon on their way back to his apartment.

Once they were upstairs, House settled in on the couch, Wilson in a nearby chair. "Well, that's it. That's my life here."

Wilson nodded. "Seems like you've settled in just fine. People really seem to like you around here."

"I don't know why, but they do." House answered. "They're…they're okay. Good people."

"Especially…what's her name again?"

"Caroline." House responded quietly. "I don't know what's going to come out of that. Like I said. It's complicated. We're taking it slowly. She has a lot going on and so do I."

"That's not a bad thing." Wilson told him. "I'm happy for you. Really. I was worried about you at first but…you seem—"

"Don't say it."

"Happy." Wilson finished. "You seem happy."

House considered that for a moment. "Maybe. As close to happy as I get. Anyway, you want to see what's on TV? Closest Chinese place is the next town over and they don't deliver."

"That's okay." Wilson let out a short laugh. "We can take another road trip to go after it if you want."

That sounded just fine to House.