House MD Fanfiction

An Extra Layer

Hilson, smut, 3,287 words
By: sassyjumper

“House? Are you listening to me?” Chase crossed his arms and gave him a stern look.

“Yeah, yeah,” House answered impatiently, and dishonestly. He knew Chase was droning on about negative results from a spinal tap, but his attention was being drawn down the hall, where Wilson stood hovering over a file with Sandy. He appeared to be wearing a sweater under his lab coat.

Interesting.

“So it’s probably not GBS,” Chase continued to harp on their case. “His muscle weakness is getting worse, fast. What now?”

Wonder if it’s a sweater vest. He hasn’t worn one for several winters now.

“Well?”

House sighed. “GBS was a mundane possibility anyway. Why am I even paying you?”

“You aren’t.”

“Good—didn’t sound like something I’d do. Get Neuro to do a single-fiber EMG, like I wanted in the first place.” At Chase’s look he added, “I know, I know. I don’t care what the nerve conduction tests showed.”

“Another invasive procedure? Don’t you think—”

“No. Just do it,” House said, watching Wilson head for his office. “Gotta go. Fashion consult.”

“Ah, yes,” Chase said as House limped past. “Wilson’s sweater vest.”

House whirled around. “So it is a vest?…Wait.” He narrowed his eyes. “Why are you noticing Wilson's wardrobe choices?”

Chase smirked and gave a little shrug. “He came in this morning to get coffee, and I just noticed. I notice lots of things.” The smirk morphed into a weird little smile.

House glared. “What does that mean?”

The annoying smile grew wider. “I’ve, uh, noticed some changes in you two. That’s all.”

House just stood there for a moment, willing his face to remain impassive. He wasn’t completely sure what the weasel was implying, but he had a good idea.

He took a step toward Chase. “Uh-huh. Well, Wilson likes to keep his changes close to his sweater vest. So whatever thoughts you have on his attire, I suggest you keep them to yourself.”

Chase held up a hand. “Hey, I’m not gonna start any sweater vest rumors. I’ve got a questionable medical procedure to arrange.”

“Damn right,” House grumbled, tossing in another menacing gaze for good measure. As he continued on his way, though, he couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride for his protégé's observation skills.

Well, make that pride with a side of unease. Wilson really did like his privacy, and they’d agreed to keep the shift in their relationship between them. Of course, they’d reached that agreement silently, by ignoring the issue entirely. So House briefly considered the possibility that he was wrong about Wilson’s feelings…

Nahh, he concluded as he barged into the other man’s office.

Wilson was standing behind his desk and didn’t look up or flinch at the invasion. He was too busy rolling up his shirtsleeves—in a sort of safe-for-work striptease that usually grabbed House’s full attention. But right now his focus was elsewhere.

Sweater vest.

It was a deep blue with a slight V-neck, revealing a hint of burgundy tie. The shirt underneath had faint crisscross lines that made it look like graph paper. The whole ensemble—completed by dark-gray dress pants—was full-on, unapologetic dork.