Work Text:
" Wilson's disease "
Gregory House x James Wilson [ House MD ]
Wilson's disease. It's rare, often inherited, a gene mutation causing excessive copper to effect the liver, brain, and corneas. I have Wilson's disease. But mine effects the heart.
It was late in night, 12 am to be exact. Most doctors would get off at this time, but a doctor like me spend his nights in pain gripping onto the little life I have left to care about. Sighing I got up with a grunt the pain in my right leg reaching up to the hip, using my left arm to help me stand from the bed up. Fully standing now leaning on the night stand for support reaching for the phone. Oh this dreaded phone that coasts to much. Opening the phone ignoring all the messages, some from Cuddy, some from Foreman, non worth my attention and time, slowly scrolling I saw one from Wilson. My friend that's been on and off. We'll, we've been off and on. Every argument starts nasty, but ends sarcastically over dinner. I opened the message as I decided I could fit the only person who cares even just a little bit, into my day.
Work quickie ( James Wilson ) 12:01 am
Greg, can I come over..?
My eyes read the message over again, feeling like it was just a tired hallucination, but no matter how much I tried, it was still there. I sighed starting to type with on hand the other grabbing my cane to help me move around the dirty house.
Me 12:02 am
Sure, make sure to bring a condom for our 'late night activities'
I texted sarcastically putting the phone in my pocket as I've reached the kitchen and started to make coffee, washing the ground holder, putting new one's in, placing it back in the machine starting it, feeling a buzz in my pocket. Pulling my phone out seeing who could've possibly texted me.
Work quickie ( James Wilson ) 12:03
Haha, very funny. I'll bring beer.
Looking at the text I smiled, he clearly gets my sarcasm. Closing my phone leaving my friend on read as the coffee pot started to make coffee. Grabbing two mugs out of the cabinet placing them down--I grabbed my cane to support me. Walking to the living room taking a seat on the couch that's pretty warn in. I tossed my cane aside somewhere pulling a bottle outa my pocket that read ' Vicodin ' I opened the top and tipped the bottle, an all too familiar feeling with the pill inside my hand. Looking at the long white pill that helps me live through the day with minimal pain. I take no hesitation to pop the pill in my mouth, not needing water after years of taking the opioid. I sigh lifting my leg with the support of my hand onto the coffee table massaging what little thigh muscle I have left, groaning as the pain subsided with the opioid. My left hand went and grabbed the TV remote to turn on the TV with a click. Scrolling through the channels I found the Monster Truck channel me and Wilson watch and put it on hearing a car pulling up and the slam of its door. I sigh as I lifted my leg off the coffee table and got up using the couch to support me before I hobbled over to the door grabbing the handle, turning it and finally opening it to see a just now arriving Wilson.
"Hey." Wilson said in a monotone way, his hair disheveled looking like he's been running his fingers through it from stress, his suit and tie looking sloppy, his eyes red and puffy, and holding two bags.
"Hey." I replied back looking at him longer as I should feeling my stomach flip at the sight of him clearly looking like he's been through something, but I'd never show it. I stepped to the side allowing him in and closed the door to keep the heat in. "Bad stripper?" I said blandly, I refuse to out right ask what's wrong, scared I'd be opening a can of worms I can't close.
"Ha, very funny House. But no, just... Lonely." Wilson said as he placed the bags down on the coffee table, watching him closely to make sure he's physically okay. Seeing his physical shape is fine I sighed walking over to the sofa as he took a seat, following close after him settling next to him..
"Lonely huh? Did a hooker cancel last minute?" Asking as I reach for the bags on the coffee table grabbing the beers out of one handing him one and cracking one open for me.
"No, just.. I miss her, you know." Wilson said looking down at the beer can studying it like it was the most interesting case in his life. Sighing I shifted in my seat looking at him with indifference on my face but eyes clearly understanding.
"You still miss Amber huh?.. I thought you were over her. What's the problem this time?" I ask half sarcastically but forcing the tone that made it seem like I was trying to care. Looking at his eyes darken with sadness while he looked at me, pained me deeply. I know he's hurting and I know my pushing away probably hurts him more, but even he knows for the best he shouldn't get too close to me.
"I think.. it's the fact she loved me truly, I miss love." Wilson softly spoke as he opened the beer can he had been studying and took a deep sip of the alcohol. Looking at him seeing his hurt, the way his heart speaks through his eyes makes me wonder. What is so good about love? I study his eyes, maybe a little longer than I planed, seeing his dark blue eyes shift under the lighting of the TV making them look almost on fire, the prettiest dark blue eyes I've seen.. I sigh snapping myself out of my mind taking a deep breath before responding,
"So, you miss love, but aren't willing to go find it?" Looking away focusing on the TV as I spoke to him, not baring to look into his eyes knowing what I said must've hurt him.
"Greg.. Its hard when, according to your wise, whimsy words, that all I do is give and give before I get bored and break up with them." Wilson said with a sigh pinching his nose bridge looking stressed trying to suppress my venom for words. "I just want something that gives me that non empty feeling again. I mean, you fill it but.. I need more, you know?" Wilson said looking at me waiting for a response, for something to click in me,--for something to make sense in my head. I study his forward eyebrow finding it endearing he relays on my input.
"More? What, you want me to kiss you to sleep or somthing?" I said scoffing as I finally take a sip of my beer, the warmth of my hand around it making it luke warm against my lips and throat feeling the liquid settle in my stomach feeling the liquid drug starting to take a small affect.
"I don't know House, you think it would work?" Wilson said looking at me with a soft sigh with this half serious half tired face. Choking on my beer at the question at hand looking at him surprised, softly coughing "What?? Are you serious?" I said surprised as my heart was fluttering from choking.. or maybe something deeper.
"You know, people always say were a gay couple, they say were so cute together, tat were perfect for each other because we balance each other out! And I'm SO SO desperate for love I'm rambling to my friend about how I think we could work as a couple." Wilson said with a deep sigh, mostly out of frustration as he covered his eyes with both hands trying to massage his stress wrinkles on the forehead with his thumbs. Looking at him still surprised my icy blue eyes looking over his frustrated body signs and the way his shoulders were so tense, clearly indicating he wasnt lying. Could he really want to try to do something like this over missing a feeling? Were friends, he would ruin a friendship over this? What if he doesn't want to ruin a friendship over this indicating why he asked to try it out.. Thinking it over and over again in my head weighing my options and outcomes my eyes still looking at Wilson who has now shifted positions to look back at me. I turned my answer over in my head one last time before opening my mouth to speak..
"Maybe you're right, we should try it out and see what happens." I said my face still surprised my eyes carious as my mind is looking at Wilson like he's a puzzle I desperately need to solve. His feeling for me, --his dead girlfriend, and his mental state all waiting to be solved and put together like a unsolved puzzle. Maybe he needed this to ground himself, maybe I'm deflecting because the Vicodin is slowly subsiding. All I know is that my friend needs me, and no matter what happens, I'll try to be there for him just as he's been there for me so far.
"Are you sure?.. I mean- This could go wrong in every which way me or you could possibly imagen right now.. It might be too ri--" I cut James off of his nervus rant as its something he often does before backing out of something. "I promise you, It'll be fine. We try it out for a few days and see if it works out, if it doesn't, that's fine. We can stay as friends." Looking at him I could tell the gears were shifting in Wilson's head, going over what I just said, processing his emotions. He's always been way more put together than me. Always being able to regulate pain and emotions while spontaneously also having care for other people. Maybe that's what makes him a good Doctor deep down, his regulation and control.
"Try it out... Maybe your right." James said with a sigh as he sat with his back against the couch his composer seeming more relaxed than when he came in. Looking at his eyes wondering what was the next move to be between them. Trying to analyze the moves he could be thinking about inside his stupid oncologist brain. He was caring, more intact than me, and could make sense of what ever he was feeling. Suddenly I could feel how close James was to me, the gap between us on the couch not that big, our legs crossed closely together as if our bodies were drawn together by shear will or just by nature.
"So, how are we gonna.. ' Try it out ' ?" I asked looking away from Wilson feeling that I've been staring for too long, possibly making him uncomfortable. James on the other hand looked at me studying how the light from the TV flickered across my side profile, enhancing my features.
"Maybe, start where most people start with; A dinner?" Wilson spoke as he soon followed my eyes back to the TV watching as a Monster Truck flips over and the channel switches to a ' BE RIGHT BACK ' probably trying to save the guy who almost killed himself with the stunt. "Yeah, that sounds good. Maybe at that sandwich place we've been meaning to go too." I said in response feeling the conversation starting to flow more and more as we talk, the stress of the previous decision clearly coming off of both our shoulders, feeling more at ease with each other but there is no denying there is a new found flame between us, the way our breath was in sync, stealing glances at each other and how we would occasionally touch hands while relaxing on the sofa, there was defiantly something there, and I am willing to explore it. With Wilson, the only man in this world that could get me to love. My Wilsons disease.