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“What is it about House causes you to be attracted to him, Dr. Wilson?”
"I don't, ah, I don't necessarily know what you mean."
Tritter looks down and takes a somewhat deep breath before crossing his legs with an exhale and meeting Wilson's eyes again.
"What is it," he takes a pause, drawing out his words, "about Dr. House," another pause, "causes you to be attracted to him."
"Slowing your words like I'm a child doesn't help explain what you're asking."
Tritter sighs, something frustrated, "you obviously are attracted to some attribute House has, and after interviewing some of his staff members, I can't necessarily understand what you are attracted to."
Wilson lets out a short laugh before leaning forward and intertwining his fingers on his knee, "he's a good doctor, was when I met him and he still is now, nothing is going to change that."
Tritter offers a small smile, the same threat as the ones you'd see on a monkey at the zoo, "you look at him the same way Dr. Cameron looks at him, just more sad."
"What are you implying?"
"What I'm implying, doctor, is that you're protecting him out of some love you feel for him," Tritter licks his lips and rubs a finger right under his bottom lip, "it's apparent he doesn't feel the same way, hence the sadness."
Wilson stares in silence with his mouth slightly open. He waits for words to form, if any will, "I'm not in love with House."
Tritter then clicks his tongue, "but there is some form of love there isn't there? Whether that be familiar or romantic, right Dr. Wilson?”
"Of course, if I had to, I do love him in whatever wicked way I can," Wilson says, there's a moment when Tritter's tongue pushes into his cheek and Wilson watches the movement, waiting for another sentence.
"Which one is it, doctor?"
"What do you mean?"
"Is the love familiar or romantic?"
"I don't see why that matters."
"Indulge me."
It's Wilson's turn to sigh, "the matter at hand is this addiction you think he has, I'm not going to testify against him."
"Evading the question."
"Not evading, moving on."
"Am I making you uncomfortable, Dr. Wilson?"
Wilson blinks a few times and counts the seconds as Tritter's face warps into something smug.
"I'm not uncomfortable," he is, "the love I feel for House is simply familiar, I've spent over a decade with him, we are family."
"How so?"
"What do you mean?"
"How are you and House family?"
"We've been through everything together and more. He helped me through my divorces, we stay up late to catch a watch, we celebrate together, get drunk, fight."
"And this is all under your label of familiar?"
"Yes."
Tritter hums and taps his fingers on the desk, his eyes squint ever so slightly at Wilson and Wilson worries Tritter can see into his head so he thinks about how dumb the man's tie is.
"Do you believe House feels the same for you?" Tritter tilts his head a little as he asks.
Stupid tie, stupid tie, stupid tie.
"I believe so, yes."
"Huh."
Tritter changes the subject back, offers discretion and protection but Wilson says no.
———
"Did you rat? Did you? Did you?"
Wilson pushes House's face away from his own, "close the door will you?"
As House stands straighter from his position on Wilson's desk he pushes the door closed with his good foot.
"Don't want to be seen with me?" House says it in a joking tone, the voice of 'I'm your dirty secret' which has Wilson shooting a glare his way.
"Tritter was asking me about your addiction-"
"Pain," House quickly adds.
"-and I don't know how much longer your team and I have until he pulls out the big guns."
"To hell with him."
"House-"
"What else did he ask about?"
Wilson chews the inside of his cheek, "that was it," he lies, leaning back in the chair as House squints at him, his fingers tightening around his cane.
"What else did he ask you about."
Wilson wants to tell him that repeating the question won't go anywhere but he settles for a half-truth instead, "he asked me what I liked about you."
"And?"
"Fishing for compliments?"
"Can you blame me?"
"I told him you are a good doctor."
"That all you tell him?"
Wilson lets out a short laugh, "yes."
House exits the office without a single word, leaving Wilson staring at the space where his friend just stood.
It's ridiculous really, the implications that Wilson is in love with House, that he's just as much and worse than Cameron.
He's not gay, he's not anything, he never considered himself anything.
Wilson's aware that House is an attractive guy, his personality isn't entirely bad, he has some redeeming qualities.
Wilson shakes his head and ignores that thought process.
———
The next day during lunch House steals the croutons off his salad.
"You could have just gotten a small cup of them."
House licks dressing off his thumb as Wilson follows the movement, "I like the ranch."
"Then you could have dipped them in ranch."
"Yours taste better."
Wilson rolls his eyes and lets House take his last crouton, it really doesn't bother him.
Cameron and Chase come by with a file in hand, "blood tests came back negative, Foreman is checking the apartment again."
They stare at each other before both doctors glance at Wilson then back to House waiting for any form of guidance.
"Do an MRI, did you really need me to tell you that?"
"It's about Tritter," Chase says.
"What about him?" Wilson asks before Wilson can stop himself.
Chase continues "he keeps asking about your addiction-"
"Pain," House quickly adds again just like earlier.
"Okay, and we just wanted to-"
"Do the MRI."
Cameron goes to say something but quickly stops herself and with a nod they're both gone.
"Kids," House says as if he knows anything about kids.
"You can't keep brushing it under the carpet forever you know," Wilson says, allowing House to steal his water.
"Yeah yeah."
"House, I'm being serious."
Something flashed across Houses face, something solemn and despondent, "I know."
“You plan on talking with them?”
“Tritter or the kids.”
“The kids.”
“What am I supposed to say?”
Wilson does a few hand movements that don’t get the point across, “tell them, tell them it’ll work out.”
“What if it doesn’t?”
“I mean, they can exactly sue you.”
House steals Wilson's fork and steals a few bites of his salad.
———
After House was locked up for the night, Wilson goes outside to get some fresh air. It's a little cold but not enough to need a jacket.
"Satisfied?"
Wilson turns to see Tritter, "in a way."
"I was wrong."
"About?"
"You and House."
Wilson looks forward at nothing in particular, "elaborate."
"About House not feeling the same, he does, he just doesn't know how to express it."
Wilson looks over again, "how do you figure."
"You have noticed you're the only one he cares for, haven’t you, Dr. Wilson?"
"I mean, I've noticed he's nicer to me than the others."
"No, he simply wants your validation."
"House doesn't need my validation."
"Stupidity doesn't suit you, doctor."
Before Wilson can respond Tritter is gone.
———
Seeing his best friend behind bars makes him stifle a laugh.
"At least you're not sharing."
House scoffs, "then who am I supposed to talk to?"
Wilson rolls his eyes and takes a step forward, "sleep, God knows you need it."
"God doesn't know a damn thing."
"Well, I know you need it."
Something flashes across Houses face before it turns into that jokey grin he always pulls, "did you just refer yourself to God?"
"Do you want me to pick you up tomorrow or not?"
Houses smile sticks, "I'm sorry."
"You said that earlier."
"I mean it this time."
"Did you not mean it the first time?"
"That's up for interpretation."
“You meant it.”
“Maybe.”
Wilson smiles, and his heart warms, "goodnight House."
House nods and gives a small smile, one of the private ones only Wilson witnesses, "goodnight Wilson."
———
When Wilson drops House back at his apartment he stayed behind. Drank a beer and sat on the couch while his friend showered, a night in a jail cell isn’t always pleasant.
Wilson's love for House is familiar, he knows it, but Tritter has him questioning it.
He's known House practically a third of his life so far, the idea of familiar love is all it can be. Right?
Wilson jumps at the sudden slamming of the bathroom door hitting the wall, "you're thinking too loud."
Wilson leans back on the couch and catches a glimpse of House with a towel around his waist limping into the bedroom.
"What am I thinking about?"
The sound of drawers opening harshly and the flap of clothes fills the air, "I don't know but I know you're thinking," House shouts despite not needing to, just wanting to piss off the neighbors.
"Are you good enough for me to leave?"
"What? Missing your stale hotel room?"
Wilson scoffs, "no, I was just asking if-"
"I know what you were asking," House comes into view, he's wearing an AC/DC with a hole in its side and Wilson can see a little bit of skin.
"Do you want me to leave or not?"
House looks anywhere but Wilson for a moment, "stay."
"Alright, I guess a few more hours wouldn't hurt."
"No, just stay the night."
House meets Wilson's eyes and there's a moment when he forgets what familiar means.
Wilson smiles, "I can do that."
———
"The wheelchair makes you look stupid."
"Sitting makes you look stupid."
Wilson rolls his eyes, "nice one."
House leans back in the chair and mindlessly spins on the wheels.
"You're going to hurt yourself you know," Wilson tries to sound indifferent but he knows he sounds more worried.
"Don't worry, Jimmy-boy, that's what hospitals are for."
They're in Wilson's office as House avoids Cuddy.
"How long are you planning on keeping this up?"
"Until I get my parking space back."
"I mean, hiding from Cuddy."
"I'm not hiding, I'm merely proving myself self-reliant.”
"That doesn't..." Wilson shakes his head and shrugs, "fine."
“You’re boring.”
“Sorry about that,” Wilson stares at his friend who tries to do another spin.
“You’re seriously going to hurt yourself.”
“I’m brimming with so much grace god didn’t know what to do with me.”
Wilson gives a short laugh, “I'm assuming that’s why you’re crippled.”
House winks at him, “atta boy, now you're getting it.”
“Right.”
"Wanna come over and watch The L Word?"
"Can't."
"We can watch Blade Runner instead."
"I just said I can't."
"I don't know."
House spins and hits Wilson's couch.
"Can't you at least do it outside, go bother someone else."
House lets out an exaggerated sigh, "you're no fun."
"That's me."
House moves for the door and Wilson pretends not to see his feet touch the ground.
"Bring Chinese," House says rolling out of Wilson's office.
"I just said I cant-"
The door slams shut thanks to House's foot and Wilson sighs.
———
"House might have cancer."
Wilson opens his mouth but now words form so Cuddy continues.
“You’re his friend, you need to get him to talk to you.”
“He won’t.”
"You don't know that."
"I do."
Cuddy's face softens, "you care about him, I care about him, and he cares about you."
"That doesn't mean he'll talk."
"I see how you look at him."
Wilson scoffs, he doesn't mean to but he does.
"You do care about him, everyone can see it, even he can, no matter how dense he might be."
When Cuddy leaves, Wilson sits on his couch and takes a moment.
He does care about House.
The idea of losing him is the scariest thought of all.
"Damn it."
Wilson wipes his eyes at the tears threatening to form and comes to the conclusion that the love he has for House can no longer be familiar.
———
House is a fucking asshole.
“Jesus,” Wilson groans, putting a hand over his face as he slides farther in the booth so he’s touching the wall.
Cameron sits in front of him, sipping a sweet tea, "He's an asshole."
"Oh do I know."
Wilson pulls his hand away and takes a sip of his own drink. The cafeteria at night is always empty but today it's a little full.
"Faking cancer is a whole new low," Cameron says with a sigh and Wilson simply raises his glass.
"I'll drink to that."
After a few moments of silence, Wilson has to ask, "did he really kiss you back?"
Cameron smiles, "he did, in fact, kiss me back."
There's a pang in his heart, "sympathetic, or was there real feeling?"
"The kiss?" Wilson nods so Cameron continues, "I think it was more sympathetic."
Wilson nods before asking another question, "what about him are you attracted to?"
Cameron smiles again but this time it's a little more guarded, "like, physically? Or personality?"
Wilson shrugs and takes a sip of his drink a little self-conscious, "uh, both, either."
"Well..."Cameron rolls her straw wrapper between her fingers as she thinks, "physically speaking he's attractive, tall, scruff isn't always a bad thing plus it suits him. Personality speaking he's a jerk who has a soft spot few have seen, he's self-assured, the small things, you know?"
Wilson nods, "have you ever seen his soft spot?"
Her mouth twists a little, "no, but I know you have."
———
"Glasses suit you," he doesn't mean to say it but it slips out.
House looks up a little confused before realizing he's still wearing them, "thanks, next are hearing aids, thinking about getting camo, what do you think."
Wilson rolls his eyes and sits in the chair across from House, watching his friend put away his new project, "glasses don't make you old."
"Sorry! Didn't quite hear you!" House shouts, taking off his glasses and throwing them onto the table.
"Ha ha," Wilson offers.
"Thought you were still mad at me."
"Well, the night is still young isn't it?"
House nods, "wanna watch a movie? Eat pizza?"
Wilson scoffs, "I'm assuming that I'm the friend."
"Pizza or movie with a friend, right?"
"Just a friend?" Wilson knows he's going into uncharted waters but he could easily blame it on the last few months.
"Unless you brought a condom then I guess we could change that.”
Wilson could take the opportunity to laugh it off, pretend it's a joke, but he doesn't, "that's not what I meant."
House sighs, "I know."
"I was thinking-"
"That's never good."
"I was thinking, maybe, you and I..."
House stares at him, and for the first time in a while, Wilson sees specks of fear, so he clears his throat and laughs, "what movie do you want to watch?"
"You can't just change the subject, now I'm dying to know what you were gonna say."
"House."
"You and I should... should what?"
"House."
"Get married? I mean it's not legal but I'm sure we could still elope."
"House."
"Ooh, A three-way? You, me, Cuddy. Me in the middle, obviously."
"House don't," Wilson stares at his friend who was going into dangerous territory.
"Come on, Jimmy! Finish your thought."
"I was thinking you and I should go on a date," it comes out so quickly and rushed Wilson's not sure House heard him. He did.
"Where's this coming from?"
Wilson sighs and covers his face with both of his hands so he doesn't have to look at House when he says it, "I've been thinking for a while, that maybe, my feelings towards you aren't.... platonic."
House doesn't say anything and it scares Wilson so much he can't bear to look.
"Can't you, I don't know, say something? Make fun of me? Call me a queer? Anything?"
"You really think I'd make fun of you?"
Wilson sets his elbows on the table and keeps his face covered, the darkness is comforting, "of course I would, you just did."
House's hand touches his exposed arm and tugs a little, "come on," his voice is way too soft to not be a trap, "stop being such a baby.”
Wilson allows his arms to fall but he doesn't look up, "I'm not being a baby, I'm just confused, upset, scared."
"Scared… of me?" House sounds distraught.
"Yes and no, scared of what you'll say, or the lack of."
"You... want to go on a date?"
Wilson lets out a sad laugh, "yes."
"Even after the experience I know you heard from Cameron?"
"It'll be different, I'm not Cameron."
"How does that make it different?"
"Because I know you better than anyone in this hospital, so you wouldn't have to put on a show, or try and drive me away, I'm already stuck with you."
"That sounds like a bad thing."
Wilson finally meets House's eyes, "It's not."
House chews on his bottom lip and for the first time in a while, he looks nervous.
"Okay."
"Okay?"
House shrugs, "I'll go on a date with you."
"Sorry, didn't quite hear you."
"Don't be a jackass."
"You're going to have to repeat that."
"Don't be a jackass."
"You know that's not what I meant."
House sighs, "I'll go on a date with you."
Wilson smiles, the anxiety still has his blood pumping but he's happy.
"You're an idiot," House says softly.
Wilson stands and House watches him with a confused look.
"You know what that means?"
House shakes his head.
"Seal it with a kiss."
"What are you, five?"
"Nine actually, one kiss, that's it, then we can go get pizza, or whatever other greasy food."
House squints up at him, "mhm."
"Come on, what are you gonna do? Run?"
"You underestimate me."
"House."
"Fine, one kiss."
Wilson's smile widens as he walks around the table and stands in front of his soon-to-be ex-friend.
"You're still an asshole."
House smiles, "wasn't planning on changing."
Wilson leans down, a few inches away from House, "I know."
It was House who initiated the kiss, and it definitely wasn't one.