Chapter 16 - Normality
House's POV

I was watching Prescription Passion and popping a Vicodin when I heard a knock on my condo door. I groaned at the fact that I was in my bedroom, and would have to limp all the way down the hall. I decided not to answer, but the fucker kept knocking, so I grunted at my intolerable leg pain and maneuvered to the door.

I opened it to see Wilson staring at me. Looking a tad drunk, his caramel brown hair was a little messy and he was wearing an expensive suit with a loose tie. He just sighed and smiled wryly at me.

"Hi," he said.

"You're drunk," I said blankly.

"And you're high," he instantly countered.

I shook my head while asking, "What do you want?"

"Can I come in?" he questioned, and I walked away towards the couch, motioning for him to follow. I heard him shut the door and we sat down awkwardly next to each other.

"How have you been?" he asked.

"As good as I can be," I answered, echoing what he had told me before.

He just sighed and looked away. "I'm sorry." I also looked away as he continued. "I just felt overwhelmed, and needed to be alone for a while. I never-"

"I missed you," I interrupted.

He looked at me with sad eyes and said, "I missed you too." I sighed and he laughed nervously. "I want things to go back to normal, House."

"Our normality is...abnormal."

He smiled. "I miss the abnormal."

I finally cracked a smile. I could not not forgive him. "It's okay, Wilson. I would've done the same thing. You panicked - it's normal." He smiled at me before I asked, "How have you been?"

He shrugged. "Pretty crappy." I asked him to extrapolate , and he sighed. "I haven't found a job yet. All of the Oncology floors around Jersey are packed."

"How are you still living in your apartment then?"

He looked away, ashamed. "I barely am. They turned off my hot water. Bonnie's friends with the landlord, so she found out, which is awful. She said I could shower at her house, when, if this was her, I would help her financially instead of opening my shower curtain, you know?"

I smiled. "That's because you're a schmuck." He smirked, and I offered, "You can shower here if you want to. It's better than spending time with your ex wife. Besides, cold showers are only good for one thing , and it's not getting clean." Wilson laughed, thanked me, before I asked, "Do you want to go get a drink?"

He nodded and said, "I could use about ten drinks right now."

I smirked and we left my apartment. We headed to a bar called Charlie's, and ordered a few drinks.

"Why are you all dressed up?" I asked. "Eloped in Vegas?" Wilson smiled, and I inquired, "Did the nurse take you back?"

"Oh, God, no," Wilson answered. "You ruined that for me." I grinned and took a sip of beer when he said, "I was on a date with Cuddy."

I had just taken another drink of alcohol when he said that, so I began chocking on it from surprise. Wilson just smiled when I was able to swallow.

"Seriously?" I asked, and he just nodded. "Are you guys a couple?" I questioned. He shrugged, so I tried, "How many dates have you gone on?"

He thought for a second. "We've been going on dates every Friday for about 2 months, so...probably 10 or something."

I nodded. "Yeah, I think you two are a couple."

He sighed and took a drink. "I really like her, though. She makes me happy."

I nodded again and smiled. "Good for you."

He stared at me. "You look upset," he analyzed.

I looked back at him. "Why would I be upset?"

"I don't know, but you are."

I finished off my forth drink and laughed a little. "You sure I'm not just drunk?"

Wilson shrugged, but didn't answer. We were soon loaded, and headed out the bar door. While Wilson was pathetically trying to call a cab, I was writing a check. The late and humid July air blew across my face as I signed the check for $1,000 dollars to a James Wilson. I tore it from the check book and folded it before discretely placing it in Wilson's jacket pocket.

Chapter 17 - Speechless
Wilson's POV

I smirked as I pulled the check from my pocket. I placed it on the counter while wondering when House managed to put it in my pocket. He knew I wouldn't that much money from him, so he had to be a cunning bastard about it. I wasn't upset over the money, but I felt a little ashamed that my best friend was treating me like a charity case, even though I knew he on;y meant well.

I was as drunk as I probably ever was, aside from the day after Amber died. I wobbled to me bedroom and collapsed onto my bed. I took my shoes off with my feet and kicked them off the bed. I blinked when realizing that I still lied on the right side of the bed, subconsciously thinking Amber was lying beside me. I stretched my arm out to cover the left side, feeling a comfortable anguish overcome me.

The phone rang right when I started drifting off to sleep. I turned my lamp on and picked up my phone, seeing it was Cuddy's home number.

"Hello?" I asked groggily.

She asked if she woke me, and I told her 'no'. I could almost hear her smile as she said, "I got you your job back."

I was immediately a million more times awake as I asked her, "How!?"

"I talked to Volgler. He was having problems with the oncologist he hired to replace you, and House was being and even bigger as, which I didn't think was possible," she said, us both laughing. She continued by saying, "I suggested that you come back, and he unhappily agreed."

I was speechless. I finally managed to thank the hell out of her, and she just laughed, saying I could start again tomorrow. I ended the conversation soon after by telling her that I love her, and she told me she loves me too. I hung up feeling completely embarrassed and not understanding why I told her that. It was probably because I was so thrilled that I got my job back, but I love you? That's heavy.

I sighed, and was about to go back to sleep when I decided to call House and get his opinion. He shouldn't mind; he wakes me up in the middle of the night all the time. I reached over and grabbed the telephone and dialed his number.

"Hello?" he asked.

"I just told Cuddy that I love her," I informed.

"Hm," he said, pondering. "Do you?"

I sat and thought for a moment. "I don't know," I replied slowly.

"You said that she makes you happy," he said. "You probably haven't been happy since before your first wife."

I smirked and asked, "But 'I love you'?"

"Well, she got you your job back, which I just heard about. Congratulations," he stated.

"Thanks," I said. "Do you think I meant it or I just said it because I was excited over the job thing?"

"I don't know what the hell you think," House said. "You sound like you're worried, though. Like you don't or something." I was silent and he said, "You do like her, right?"

I sighed. "Yeah, but-"

"But what?"

"I enjoy being with her. Talking to her - being a friend. Lisa's a great friend, House."

"She's just a friend," he more or less stated than questioned.

"Yeah," I answered slowly.

House sighed. "You need to end whatever you have with her and soon. You know, Cuddy. She probably loves you. Don't lead her on. End it fast, like ripping off a band aid. The last thing we want is a love sick Cuddy."

I groaned a little. "I just don't want to hurt her."

"Band aids don't very much or for very long if you rip them off fast," he said metaphorically.

I nodded and sourly said, "You're right."

"I always am," he boasted.

I chuckled and we fell silent for a few seconds. I sighed and we eventually ended our first phone conversation in almost 3 months.

I finally laid my head back down on my pillow again and simply blinked.

My friendship with House was healing, but doesn't that mean the rest of my life will develop wounds? I mean, when it comes to a roller-coaster friendship with House and a life full of misery...you just can't have one without the other.

Chapter 18 - Kiss Me
Cuddy's POV

I was all smiles when Wilson walked into my office on Monday morning. My smile soon faded to it's dreaded opposite as I could sense there was something wrong. I asked him what was up, why he looked upset, and he just sat down in front of, avoiding eye contact.

"I really like you, Lisa," he told me. I smiled at him, and he sighed. He was silent for a while before standing up to leave.

"James?" I called to him, and he stopped. He turned around looked at me as I stood up and walked over to him. I stood in front of him, searching in his beautiful hazel eyes for a trace of something-anything, but I found nothing.

"Kiss me," I told him, and he looked away. He bit his lip before finally looking back at me.

He shook his head and sadly said, "I can't."

"Why?" I asked quickly.

"I'm not good enough for you," he immediately answered.

"Yes, you are, James! Don't give me that!" I yelled, becoming upset.

"I want to be your friend, Cuddy," he said. "Go back to being what we always were. What I was good act. I don't want to hurt you. I don't want you to be my forth ex-wife."

I unbelievably started crying. I felt an overwhelming feeling of sadness and rage overcome me. I told him to leave, and he obliged slowly without saying 'goodbye'.

I sat back down in my chair as tears fell from my eyes. I wiped them, smearing my eyeliner and the words I wrote in fresh ink on papers under me became drenched and smeared also. I wiped my eyes again and sniffled as House walked in.

"I need a brain biopsy on - whoa.." he started and abruptly finished on a fading note. "What happened?" he asked, seeing my tears.

"Wilson broke up with me," I spat as I tried to stop sobbing.

"Oh," he simply said. He stood in front of me uncomfortably and watched me cry. He eventually walked over to me and placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Stand up," he ordered.

I looked up at him and asked, "Why?"

"So I can hug you," he muttered while looking away.

I just looked at him, and gave him a wry, sad smile. I stood up and we wrapped our arms around each other. This level of affection from House was startling, and I felt more tears come just from this simple hug from him.

We ended our embrace and I looked into those killer, sexy blue irises. My knees grew weak as he put his hand on my cheek and stepped closer. My mind was going numb, but I was able to grab his hand as he began to trace is down my neck.

"Don't kiss me," I commanded.

House made a face as he whispered, "Why not?"

I continued to stare into his eyes, attempting to not feel sucked into them. "Because you'll just make my heart hurt more than it already does now."

"But I like you," he argued.

"That's what you said last time, but then said you didn't want a relationship," I quipped.

"I want a relationship!" he announced. He sighed, looked away before looking back at my frantic eyes. "Maybe I'm just a coward, or maybe I'm just stupid - I don't know or care anymore," he softly said. "But I like you, Cuddy. I think I always have, in a way. I want a relationship...I want to be with you," he confessed.

I bit my lip, but didn't let my eyes lose grasp of the electric contact they had with his.

He sighed and simply blinked. "Can I kiss you now?" he asked.

I smiled at him as everything else melted away. "Please," I softly said.

House leaned down and I leaned up until our lips finally met. A feeling of magic went down my spine as I slipped my tongue into his mouth. My heart began to race, anxious about what we were doing.

We released our tongue tango, and I caught my breath quietly. I smiled at him again, and he smiled back, but it soon faded.

"What about Wilson?" he asked quietly.

I looked at him and shook my head slowly. "Screw him."

Chapter 19 - Boy Wonder
House's POV

"Do you want to go hunting with me tomorrow?"

Wilson was sitting in his chair, reading a newspaper in his office. His face was covered, but he quickly put the paper down and thought for a fast second.

"No," he answered.

"Aw, c'mon, James," I whined.

He made a face at me. "No, Greg."

"It'll be fun," I tried persuading.

"You know I hate hunting," he countered.

"You don't have to shoot anything. You can just come with me," I attempted.

"I don't really trust you with a gun," he muttered. I just sighed heavily, and he looked at me warningly. "Are you seriously going to pout?" he asked me.

I nodded, unashamed. "Yes. All day."

He groaned. "Fine," he said. "I don't want to go hunting on my only day off, but I really don't want to listen to you beg and plead like a 5 year old all day."

I grinned. "We're going out a 4 AM."

"Ugh, seriously?" he whined.

"You can sleep over at my place tonight so you don't have to drive over in the morning," I offered.

Wilson's eyes narrowed, but his expression was humorous. "Do you just want me in your bed, House?"

"You know it," I joked. "I'll wait for you by the exit since I get off a few minutes before you," I informed.

He sighed. "Slumber party before hunting with Wilson and House. How enjoyable," he said, his statement reeking of sarcasm.

I smiled and started to limp out of his office, but stopped myself. "Oh, by the way, I made out with Cuddy yesterday. We're an item-ish thing now."

"What?" he questioned frantically. I began repeating what I just said, but he quickly interrupted. "I just broke up with her, and-"

"...She comes crawling on over to me."

Wilson shot me a look. "You don't have to be such a dick about it, House." I just sighed, and he said, "I've been calling her office, but she never answers my calls. She's been avoiding me for the past two days!"

I shrugged. "You're Dr. James Evan Wilson - boy wonder. A super oncologist. You have a charm; women love you because you actually care and are considerate and sensitive of their feelings," I analyzed. "I guess there's something negative to that crap since you have 3 ex wives."

He rolled his eyes, but I quickly said, "I'm really glad you're back here, Wilson."

He just sighed. "Me too."

I nodded to him, and walked out, beginning the wait for the end of the day.

***

I checked my watch, and looked up to see Wilson walking in my direction. I sighed once he reached me.

"You're late," I informed.

"Are we stating the obvious?"

"Patient?" I asked.

He nodded. "This little boy, Lenny. His chemo was all screwed up. I had to switch the scheduled time and do the treatment at 5 instead of 3."

I nodded. "I love your excuses," I said as we began walking to the front door.

He smirked. "What else would I be doing at a hospital? Going to the secret strip club in the basement that only you don't know about - ah, shit, I just told you!"

I laughed. "Perhaps."

Wilson rolled his eyes. "Why do you think I'm lying?"

"Because everybody lies," I reminded. He sighed, and I just smiled. "I'm just screwing with you," I confessed.

"I know, but it's annoying," he said.

"I'm trying to annoy you. I want you to get pissed off so you'll kill some deer with me," I replied.

Wilson laughed. "I'll shoot you, not an innocent deer."

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, Mother Teresa."

He just shook his head, but cracked a smile. Wilson took his car and I took mine and we met at my place. We entered my condo late, and had a couple bottles of beer while watching General Hospital reruns. Wilson had one of his hilarious drunken hiccup fits before we decided to hit the hay for the night.

He slept on the fold out couch in the living room while I slept in my bed. I walked out to get a drink of water and he was fast asleep. I smiled at him, and grabbed a blanket from the nearby closet. I placed it on his body and sighed contently.

I was so glad he was back in my life.

Chapter 20 - Hunting
Wilson's POV

I woke to the smell of eggs and the TV turned up all the way. I groaned when I opened my eyes and saw House staring at me.

"Good morning, sunshine," he greeted while handing me a plate of eggs. I sat up and sat down beside me. I looked at my watch which read 3:45.

"Why so early?" I asked groggily.

"Early?" he questioned. "We're running late."

"Late for being early?"

House nodded. "All of those early-birded stupid-ass hunters are killing deers without us."

I shook my head. "I hate hunting," I mumbled. "Wake up early and walk around a forest when it's below freezing. Then shoot a helpless animal, if you even find one. Then brag about killing the 8 point buck you killed, and how you have it's head mounted on your wall," I ranted before taking a bite of breakfast.

House shrugged. "It helps the increasing population."

I made a face as we both finished our eggs and glasses of milk. "If there was a high species than humans and they hunted us like deer, would that be okay?" I inquired.

"It's too early to be thinking hypothetically," he ended, and I just laughed.

He took the dishes out. I was pulling my shoes on when House handed me a camouflage coat.

I gave him a weird look, but couldn't help but laugh. "Are you serious?"

House just nodded. "If we're going, we're going in style."

I laughed again as we walked out the door and into House's car. We drove to some weird creepy forest where I supposed we were going to to this stupid thing. We walked up to the top of this hill and lied on our stomachs, awaiting the poor deers.

House spotted one, but I stopped him. "You can't shoot that one. I named it when we came in."

He gave me a weird look. "They all look the same."

I shook my head. "That one doesn't have an ear," I pointed out.

House sighed. "I know I'll regret asking, but what did you name it? Bambi?"

"No, I named it after you," I informed. "It snarled at us, which means it's grumpy, and it has a slight limp." He couldn't help but smirk. I then said, "I thought you never saw Bambi. I thought you hated everything by Walt Disney."

House nodded. "I do, and I never saw it," he answered as we saw a buck approach out of the trees.

"Don't kill that one, it' so beautiful," I fought.

House looked at me funny. "You realize that if you liked dicks up your ass, it would be the least gay thing about you?"

I rolled my eyes but smiled. House gave a smile and said, "I thought you thought that the deer was deer House's mom, and didn't want me to shoot it 'cause it would be like Bambi."

I turned to him, my eyes narrowed. "I thought you never watched Bambi."

He sighed. "Once or twice."

"Did you cry?"

"Nope."

Minutes went on, and an hour almost went by before House said, "I wanted to ask you about your girlfriend. That's why we're here."

I made a face. "You took me to hunting to ask me about a girlfriend I don't have?" I asked. "Why can't you act like a normal misanthropic friend and take me to a diner or something and interrogate me there?"

He shook his head. "That's so overrated and no fun."

"So, you'd rather torture me?"

"Yes," he boldly answered, and I just rolled my eyes.

"Why are we really House?" I questioned. "You know that I was just with Cuddy, what? 3 days ago?We're here for something else," I analyzed.

He bit his lip and looked away. I studied his face, and smiled slightly as I asked, "You wanted to spend time with me, didn't you?"

He sighed, but said nothing. I took his gun out of his hands and opened the ammo case, finding that there were no bullets in it.

I just looked at him and he muttered, "I hate hunting too."

I made a face. "Then why did you want to come?"

He sighed. "I knew you hated it, so I wanted to see if you would actually come or not."

I stared at him. "You're trying to measure how much BS I'll take for you?"

"I guess," he said quickly.

I just grinned and stood up, amused. "I care about you, House. I'd give you a kidney, I'd take a bullet for you and, yes, I would go hunting with you."

He smirked and nodded while also standing up. "Sorry, it was stupid."

I shook me head. "No, it wasn't. I understand. I actually had fun."

He made a face. "Really?"

I nodded. "Of course."

He smiled at me and we stood in front of each other. For some reason, he moved closer to me in such a way...and his eyes met mine. Again, for some reason, my heart started racing and I felt something in my heart bloom. I breathed heavily, but softly, and simply blinked.

"We should go," House whispered to me, and began walking to the car, ending the wrong, yet right moment.

Chapter 21 - Vision Impaired
Cuddy's POV

1 MONTH LATER

"You can do brain surgery, but you can't tie a bow?"

House smirked. "Tying a ribbon involves incredible concentration and perseverance."

I rolled my eyes, but felt him tightening the bow on the back of my shirt. I thanked him, but he didn't reply. I looked at him sadly, but he looked away.

"You ended it with me," I reminded softly. "We knew it wouldn't last. That's why we avoided it for so long."

He sighed. "Have a nice time with...?"

"Josh," I informed.

"Get him off a Jewish dating site?" he asked.

I shot him a dirty look. "Don't be like that."

He didn't respond, so I ordered him to do his clinic hours and he weirdly obliged, leaving my office without a word of objection.

I sighed and walked out of my office to find Wilson standing by the door. I pretended that I didn't see him and hurried to the elevator, but he stopped me. He grabbed my wrist and whirled me around.

"You can't avoid me forever," he stated.

"Watch me," I spat.

He just tightened his grip on my arm. "I am sorry," he apologized slowly.

I sighed and stopped trying to walk away. I looked at him and nodded slowly. He let go of my arm, and I walked away swiftly.

I entered the elevator door and it closed in front of me. I swore underneath my breath shakily, feeling unwanted tears well up in my eyes. I didn't want to feel negativity towards James, but it was natural and I couldn't control it. I hoped that with time, I would offer acceptance and he would accept it.

Then there was House. We were together for a few weeks, a month at the most, until he decided it was over. I understood, and was actually a little relieved. Aside from the sex and House acting a little bit less of an ass, there was no difference from being a couple and not.

Now, as I was headed to a date with a good guy named Josh. It wasn't a blind date, but it was a little vision impaired. I've talked to him online and over the phone, but never in the flesh. It was a little nerve wracking.

I sighed as I sat in a booth at a small cafe where we had planned to meet. I checked my watch every few minutes, realizing he was 20 minutes late. The September rain was pouring, so I continued to figure that he was running late due to the weather.

I ordered a cup of coffee, and sipped it slowly. I stared out the window and watched the hundreds of raindrops slam onto it. I hummed a tune and took another sip of coffee. I looked down, and heard quick footsteps. I smiled and looked up, expecting my date, but was welcomed by Wilson instead.

"What do you want?" I asked dryly.

"I just wanted to talk," he said as he sat down.

"About what?"

He sighed. "I'm really, really sorry."

I looked away and bit my lip. "Are you so afraid of, of having something or someone special in your life that you can't even admit to doing something out of goodness?"

He looked at me, but summoned no answer.

"Vulnerability isn't always the same thing as weakness, James."

"Please, Lisa. I'm sorry."

The tone of his voice made my bitchiness crumble. I simply stared at him before nodding a little and giving a small smile. He released a sigh.

"Where's Josh?" he asked.

I sighed and set my mug on the table. "I think he stood me up."

He looked at me sadly. "I guess it's just the two of us."

I smiled. "Cheers," I said as we clicked our glasses together.

Chapter 22 - Electricity
House's POV

My hand traced down his sweating back, sliding freely towards his waist. I bit my lip as our eyes met and a feeling of sensuality drenched my spine. My heart raced when he gave me a sexy smile, and ran his fingers across my stomach. I moaned with pleasure, but all that came out was a raw vibration that tickled my throat.

We laid intertwined in each others arms and tangled in the bed sheets. I forced my eyes open to watch every move he made. The erotic events that were taking place made my mouth dry and manhood ache.

I thought he was going to stop teasing me, but he placed his luscious lips on my neck and kissed instead. I slowly ran my fingertips down his back again., soaking in the feeling of this sexual experience. I drew my left hand up and ruffled his messy, brown locks.

He stumbled on top of me and our tools below the equator graced. This time, a deep moan was released from both of us, and I slightly smiled. My feet tensed up as I moved them against his. He overlooked me, feeling power and dominance.

He placed his wonderful lips against mine and kissed, and an overwhelming sensation overcame me. His tongue slipped by mine repeatingly, until we released the mouth embrace.

He took a deep breath and exhaled it, the hot air blowing from his mouth and onto my face. His hazel eyes met by blues when hoarsely asked, "Do you feel electricity?"

I looked at my forbidden lover, confused and surprised by such a question. I searched in his confident and sexy irises for an answer, a meaning, but found nothing.

"This is a dream," I stated to him.

He gave a chuckle, while toying with my fingers. "Of course it is," he said with a bleak sense of humor. "You're happy..."

I awoke with a sudden twitch, and threw my head into the trashcan immediately. Instead of the taste of vomit, I tasted blood, and continued to hurl up more. Water fell from my eyes as I coughed up the last drops, and attempted to catch my breath. I felt like the blood vessels in my eyes had exploded as I fell back onto my bed, not sure about what happened.

Tears fell from my eyes and I quickly wiped them away. I shivered from the September air that blew from my window, so I got up to shut it. I did, and as I walked back to my bed until I recalled the dream I just had.

My heart sped and my head spun. I tried to think of a reason why I would possibly have a dream like that, but came up short.

I quickly changed into clothes and pulled my shoes on, clumsily tying the laces. I raced out of my condo as fast as my leg would allow and hopped onto my neon orange motorcycle, driving straight to Wilson's.

I parked quickly outside of his apartment, and stepped onto the pavement, dodging a puddle on the street. I limped to his door and knocked insanely. I called his name, and knocked again while extremely long seconds passed.

He opened the door in his blue pajamas and his hair messy. He just blinked and asked groggily, "You do realize that it's 4 in the morning, don't you?"

"I had a bad dream," I informed as I walked in and sat down on his couch.

"Do you have a boo-boo you want me to kiss too?" he asked sarcastically as he closed the door.

"It was about you," I tried.

He just sighed. "Couldn't you have waited to tell me at work? I'm back there, remember?"

"We kissed."

He made a face, and he put his hand up before finally saying, "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Time-out," he demanded, paused, and asked, "We kissed?"

"Yes," I answered blankly.

"We meaning you and me? Us?" I nodded and he tried, "W-well it doesn't necessarily mean you...[/i]like[/i] me or anything..like are attracted to me. It just means you care about me...as friends."

I shook my head and his eyes narrowed. "Is this a joke?"

"No!"

Wilson sighed. "Maybe you ate something weird."

"Maybe" I said.

He gave me a weird look. "Did you enjoy it, House?"

"No," I said quickly, so quickly that it showed I was lying. "I mean...I don't know," I added.

Wilson looked at me before looking away. He looked back and opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

"I'm sorry for waking you," I apologized quickly, and I limped out without saying 'goodbye'.I hopped on my motorcycle, and headed back home; hoping and wishing that I was still dream.