house_wilson_ghc | "Stuck in the Middle", post-ep No More Mr. Nice Guy

Category: House/Wilson friendship, angst
Rating: PG
Spoilers: No More Mr. Nice Guy
Summary: Wilson's stuck in the middle.

“Stuck in the Middle” (1/1)
by Lisa Michelle

“Don’t keep looking at your watch,” House told Wilson. “This
is still my time with you. Stop thinking about her.”

“We’re not even doing anything,” Wilson said. “We’ve polished
off a pizza and we’re just sitting here watching episodes of The L Word
that you’ve TiVo’d,” Wilson said.

“And you said we weren’t doing anything.” House drained the
last bit of beer from the bottle.

“I’m getting another beer.” Wilson got up and went into the
kitchen. “You want one?” He called to House when he got to the
refrigerator.

“Yeah,” House replied.

Wilson returned with the two bottles minus their caps and handed
one to House. He looked at the magazine selection on House’s
coffee table. “Soap Opera Chronicles? Don’t tell me you subscribe
to this?”

“Of course not,” House replied.

“You stole it from the hospital, didn’t you?” Wilson asked and
sat back down.

“No, borrowed,” House clarified.

“Of course.”

“Hey, if they wanted the magazine, then why leave it in the
waiting room?”

“Do you have a newspaper around here somewhere?” Wilson asked
as he looked down at the coffee table.

House shrugged and turned the volume up on the remote.

Wilson got up, rummaged underneath the soap opera magazines
and pulled out a paper from last week. He sat back down and began
to rifle through it until he found the crossword puzzle. “You got a
pen?”

“Why?” House asked.

“For the crossword puzzle,” Wilson replied.

House picked up his cane and flung it down on the section of
paper on Wilson’s lap. “No crossword puzzles.”

“No crossword puzzles?” Wilson repeated.

“Not on my time.”

“Oh, I get it. I’m only allowed to do activities sanctioned by
you,” Wilson commented.

“Yes.” House took his cane away and propped it on the arm rest
beside him. “Watch TV.”

“Why do I feel like an only child in an ugly divorce case?”
Wilson mused, taking another pull on the beer.

House looked at him. “Is that your second beer or third?”

“Second,” Wilson replied.

“Good.”

“Why?” Wilson asked.

“You don’t need to get drunk again. I don’t want any crap
from your girlfriend.”

“So, you are afraid of her?” Wilson said, trying to hide a smile.

“Yes, afraid if I look directly into her eyes, I’ll turn to stone.”
House grabbed the soap opera magazine and started leafing through
it. “You realize you’re going to have to choose either her or me.”

“You two are going to have to come to some sort of truce,”
Wilson told him. “I don’t think Amber’s going anywhere anytime
soon.”

“Well, not without her broomstick,” House commented.

Wilson took another sip of his beer and snuck a peek at his
watch. “I’m going to have to leave in a few minutes.”

House tossed the magazine back onto the table. “Why? Does she
have something special planned?”

“Nice try. She doesn’t tell me anything because she thinks
I’ll tell you,” Wilson said. “However, if you don’t say anything,
I guess I can tell you this.” Wilson leaned closer to House.

“What?” House muted the television and leaned in closer to
his friend.

“She’s at home in bed waiting for me. Naked.”

“Stop.” House cringed. “I don’t want to throw up my dinner.”

Wilson got up and put his coat on. “She’ll leave you,” House
said. “I’m much more annoying and obstinate than she is. She
can’t beat me at that.”

“Maybe not, but I don’t think she’ll give up so easily.” Wilson
headed for the door.

House watched Wilson leave. “You’ll have to choose a side one
day. Remember that.”

House heard the door shut and went back to his beer and the
television.

****
END (1/1)