House x Wilson

4

Wilson picked up his phone and clicked on Cuddy's call icon. He was in his little office so he knew he probably wouldn't be disturbed. He needed advice from someone who knew 'relationship House' instead of 'friend/colleague House.' Wilson knew she was pissed with him and held a lot of bitter feelings regarding her ex, but he needed the relationship to at least work for longer than an evening. He placed the device to his ear. "Lisa? I need advice. It's about House."

Cuddy sighed in exasperation. Wilson knew that she had no romantic interest in him anymore. She had moved on. The second he crashed that car she had moved on. She had thought Wilson was done, too, but apparently he was conned into going back. "I'm sorry, James, but I'm not doing this anymore."

"That's completely understandable but I need advice on me and House. Not you and House." He really hoped she'd concede. No one had seen all the sides of House. Except for Cuddy.

Cuddy rolled her eyes. That boy would go to hell and back just to help a friend out when he knew very well he probably wouldn't return the favor in a million years. She stretched out on her couch, keeping an eye on her daughter and holding tightly to her dark iced tea. "Fine." Wilson would be Wilson, after all.

"We had sex," Wilson said, frankly. He spun in his chair, holding his breath as he waited for a response.

Cuddy almost spit out the cold drink in her mouth. Maybe this wasn't manipulation. House hardly ever used sex as a tactic. It was always fun and lighthearted to him. "Okay. Need bedroom tips?" She joked.

"He says my turn to chase him. What should I do?" He asked. He tapped his pencil on the desk as he waited for Cuddy to gather up her thoughts.

"Just ask him out. He likes bluntness. Take him to dinner and watch a movie," she replied. Wilson probably thought House wanted some big romantic gesture but in reality he wouldn't care how memorable it all was. It all meant the same thing to him. A warm feeling filled her chest and she expressed a small smile. She was happy House was moving on and she was happy Wilson was doing it with him.

**********

House paced around his team, listing the new symptoms out loud. They looked at him expectingly, taking in each word he said. He had created this competitive environment where coming up with the first and best idea was more than just encouraged. Each one wanted to be the one to come up with a 'House idea'. "Man, late 40s, early onset Alzheimer's, presenting with—"

Wilson shoved the glass door open and five pair of eyes turned to him. He bit his lip, stepping back in surprise. He was not expecting House's whole gang to be there. He wasn't about to come out to the entire diagnostics department. The head diagnostician's eyes were examining him and they glittered in amusement. "Um.. House... can I have a word, please? Alone?"

The only one of House's team who noticed anything off about the two department heads' exchange was Chase. He knew House and Wilson were closer than most friends so watching the the oncologist stumble over his words was a curious occurrence. They weren't known for dancing around their feelings. They either told the truth or they lied. No comforting placations or platitudes. It was admirable. Now he couldn't help but wonder if something was going on with them.

House nodded. As humorous the nervousness he caused Wilson was, he wanted him to relax and go with the flow. If this was actually going somewhere, then pretending they were as fragile as china dolls probably wasn't the route to go. He stepped into the other side of his office, where his desk and trusty tennis ball were located.

Wilson followed behind him. He tried to clear his mind of the bad possibilities but they just weren't going anywhere. "Free tonight?" He asked.

House fell into his chair and began to slightly spin. He put his feet above his desk and leaned back. "My place or the hospital?"

Wilson's eyes darted towards House's ankles. On his left foot was a bulky black ankle monitor the court had placed him in when he began his parole. "I'd rather take you to a nice restaurant, but it looks like that's not an option." He said, pointedly.

House was on house-office arrest and Wilson took every opportunity he could to rub it in his friend's face. "You use that fancy restaurant move with everyone you date. How's that been working out, by the way?" He countered, staring holes into him.

Wilson's muscles immediately relaxed. Their usual banter was strangely comforting. He gave himself a supportive pep talk (because god knew House wouldn't) If they started dating their chemistry would not be lost and if they stopped dating their chemistry would not be lost. All dating would change is how they looked at each other. They were practically a couple already. "We'll do your place. Meet me at 6:00." He got up and stalked out of the room.

"Bossy." Wilson heard House mutter a second before the door shut with a bang behind him. He smiled at the ground as he walked back to his office.

House stepped back into the room with his team. Something he had said to Wilson made the man feel less scared of him. Good he thought. If Wilson was able to push the demons away, surely he, himself, could. Wilson was the insecure one who thought of consequences. House had to be the one to keep the ball rolling. It was definitely a challenge due to him also being a bit skittish. Someone would have to step up.

House pointed at the file he had left on the table. "Ideas?" He asked.

Chase narrowed his eyes. House seemed to be in a better mood and Wilson had left in a rush. Did he just win an argument or something? "What were you talking about with Dr. Wilson?"

House raised an eyebrow. It was certainly out of character for Chase to question his boss' personal life. He must have suspected something when Wilson walked in and stuttered like an idiot. House shrugged. "Dinner plans," he turned to his other three team members.

Park, Taub, and Adams glanced at Chase, then at House, with slight curiosity in their eyes. Chase looked away. Their judgmental stares were the last thing he wanted to see.

"Ideas?" House repeated.