Buying It [companion to Selling It]

[kidsnurse]

Title:  Buying It
Characters:  House, Wilson
Genre:  General/friendship
Rating:  G
Word Count:  570
TimeLine:  Sometime prior to the Season Four finale
Part Two of Selling It

Wilson stares at House's rapidly departing back.  He's surprisingly successful in swallowing his anger at what House has just put him through, but his puzzlement remains.  Something's... off, and he needs to figure out what it is.  Last time he'd let one of these convoluted conversations with House slide, he found out three days later that apparently, he'd made a $1000, online, nonrefundable donation to Save A Sloth--in House's honor.

 

Absently, he takes a prescription pad from his lab coat and starts to scribble out information so familiar to him that he scarcely needs to think about what he's writing.  So when his pen runs out of ink, he's still on auto-pilot as he reaches across the desk to grab one of House's, and he almost misses the torn scrap of paper that flutters to the floor when his movement disturbs the organized chaos of House's desktop.

 

He's tempted to just leave it there, half-hidden by his chair leg, but finally picks it up.  No sense being blamed later when he claims I lost the cure for cancer.  Or the secret to life.  Or worse--his bookie's new phone number.

 

Wilson glances idly at the scrap as he's replacing it, and then draws it closer to him.  It's a few simple math equations, written out in House's lazy scrawl:  8 x 500 = 4000.  2 x 500 = 1000.  5 x 500 = 2500.  And off to the side alone, 7500 and 1g.

 

As the meaning of the seemingly random numbers begins to dawn on him, Wilson looks at what he's just written on the scrip pad.  Gregory House--  Hydrocodone/APAP 5/500, and it hits him--hard.

 

"Damn it, House!"  Wilson stands and begins to pace; his mind is racing.  Why didn't you tell me, you idiot?  And me--how the hell could I have been so oblivious, so... so willing to buy into your game?  Russian roulette with the acetaminophen... you're in pain.  Lots of it.  You're afraid your liver's gonna crap out, and I'm standing by, watching it happen.

 

Wilson grabs up the scrap of paper and heads down to the pharmacy.

 

That evening, he isn't surprised to find House in his darkened apartment, curled tightly on the couch.  He tosses the paper-wrapped bottle he's carrying at House, and waits.

 

House unfurls the ragged scrap of paper and glances at it, then quickly away.  Wilson can tell that House knows immediately he's been busted--he won't look towards Wilson, choosing instead to study the tiny printing on the bottle's label:  Hycodan 5mg tabs.

 

It's not perfect, of course, but at least it doesn't contain acetaminophen.  The important thing is, it's still House's drug of choice--hydrocodone.  No, Wilson thinks, the important thing is we'll be able to get a grip on his pain without killing him in the process.

 

House raises his head, finally, and looks quizzically at Wilson.

 

"So it took me a while to figure it out.  You could sell mink coats at a PETA rally," Wilson says defensively.

 

"And you'd be first in line to buy one," House retorts as they stare coldly at one another.

 

Wilson's secretly amused.  We're probably the only two people on Earth who could manage to glare the apologies across a room, he thinks.

 

Wilson breaks eye contact first.  He grabs the TV remote and tosses it to House.  "Find something good," he orders.  "I'll get the beer."

And on to Deciphering It

Comments

[misanthropicobs.livejournal.com]

YES another one. You have absolutely no idea how good it is to read about House & Wilson being friends, especially in view of the current stuff going happening on the show. Will read again and comment more later, my dinner is burning but saw this and had to read.

[kidsnurse.livejournal.com]

thanks--can always count on you.

[takes-a-fairy.livejournal.com]

Re: House and Wilson friends again
What misanthropic said...it is good to see that again.

Tonight's ep should be very interesting. Hopefully, I won't be in the middle of something and forget to turn it on, like the first two eps. hee

[arhh.livejournal.com]

This was excellent :) Thanks for sharing :) Glad to see you around again. How have you been?

[kidsnurse.livejournal.com]

glad you liked it. i liked the first one a lot more, but am just glad to be writing, after a fashion, again.

[maineac.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I always find HOuse's pov easier and more fun to write. But I lurved this:

We're probably the only two people on Earth who could manage to glare the apologies across a room, he thinks.

Heee!

[kidsnurse.livejournal.com]

oh, house's pov is actually much harder for me to write, more painful. but i'm always surprised, after i do, at how pleased i am with the end result.

and i believe they are the only two who could manage 'apologetic glares'! :-)

[angelcat2865.livejournal.com]

Wonderful as always, so glad you are back.

[kidsnurse.livejournal.com]

thanks. :-)

[misanthropicobs.livejournal.com]

Ok, I'm back. Again, I liked this very much. Seeing this side of Wilson after what seems to be a very long absence is something I've missed a lot. This is the Wilson who can, with some work, see behind the walls House erects around himself. I really liked seeing how he is willing here to make that effort. That he thinks House is worth it.

Also I really liked the description about apologizing with glares. It fits both of them so very well These two really don't put their feelings into words. They both are hidden individuals who no one around them knows except perhaps the two of them. Both have walls but have granted each other permission to come inside the walls of the other person. The nonrefundable donation seems like typical House. It's something that I could see him doing.

I liked the feeling between them in this story. It's something that's been missing for awhile and this really reminded me of that and how much I like seeing it in action.

[chaoskir.livejournal.com]

OMG! I'm so glad you are back. I do love it. Thanks a lot for sharing. I really, really missed your fics with your Wilson-House-interactions. No, really, I'm glad you are back.

[kidsnurse.livejournal.com]

i'll try to stick around, okay?

[brynnamorgan.livejournal.com]

Lovely sequel, hon. Just lovely! :-)

[kidsnurse.livejournal.com]

thanks--part three of this two-parter [g] just posted today.

[(Anonymous)]

Hey...you're back!I'm so happy!You're one of my favorite authors and you always capture House and Wilson perfectly!

[kirili.livejournal.com]

he'd made a $1000, online, nonrefundable donation to Save A Sloth

I lol'd. SO much love for sloths. So... slothy, and yet a deadly sin.

They're so cool they even SWIM sodding slowly. Just ambling. You know, when part of the Amazon is underwater?

ANYWAY, YAY YOU. This is fantastic.

[kidsnurse.livejournal.com]

happy you enjoyed it!!

[lab38.livejournal.com]

Oh, this was *so* good. Liked it *at least* as much as the first part. :) I think it complemented the first part perfectly, and only both chapters together show the whole picture of what is House and Wilson...

Thank you so much again! - This was just so good to read, after all the torture we're being put through right now by the *official* writers... ;) *hugs*

[kidsnurse.livejournal.com]

and the whole picture is where the fun--and the heartbreak--really lie. hey--just posted a warm/fuzzy part three to this [!], if you're interested.

[hibernia1.livejournal.com]

Oh, great pieces, as always! I'm glad Wilson figured things out, which probably wasn't easy with House leaving only vague hints (well I can totally relate to that, it's not like Wilson's always perfectly willing to take his pain seriously, for whatever reason that may be [probably not even always unwillingness but sheer despair, maybe, that it's getting worse & worse], and it's never fun to talk about one's pain). And I'm glad he (W.) did something constructive with it. And that they 'glared apologies' (wonderful image). Apart from that: great you're writing again, I missed your amazing talent! *hugs*

[kidsnurse.livejournal.com]

thanks, and hugs back!

[angelfirenze.livejournal.com]

Um...good grief, if I keep reading your stuff, my love of Wilson will be fully restored. Do I even want that? *grapples* Whatever, I'm just glad you're back. So glad, I'm too excited to type properly between instances of finding myself flapping my hands with barely restrained glee.

[kidsnurse.livejournal.com]

i'm so happy you're so happy, sweetie!

[mich8283.livejournal.com]

It's good to see you and you come bearing gifts for us. I can't begin to thank you for sharing your writing, you know I love to read it.

So few words with such a powerful impact.

I don't even know how many times I've read these two pieces since I found them in the middle of last night, they're that moving that I just want to re-read them again and again.

Selling It was heart breaking and Buying It was emotionally easier but still a strong follow up. In the midst of the angst on the show it's a comfort to come here and know H/W can still get through things with a few “glares.”

(Sorry, I didn't split this in two – one for each part – but I suck at reviews.)

[kidsnurse.livejournal.com]

it makes me feel good to know that my writing could have such an impact, and you've no idea how very much i appreciate your taking the time to let me know. thank you.

[smiddlecn.livejournal.com]

I confess, If I'd found that piece of paper I'd have no idea (unlike Wilson) as to what the heck House was figuring out.

The line about House being able to sell mink coats at a PETA rally is priceless (and probably true).

I always enjoy your stories. Now I sit and wait for the writers of the show to get these two back in sync...

[kidsnurse.livejournal.com]

thanks--and ditto on your last thought!

[takes-a-fairy.livejournal.com]

*cheers loudly* Yayyy...they're friends again!

Kidsnurse, I'm so glad I followed Mare's rec and read the first part. I ended up "watching" that thread so I'd be e-mail alerted to anything new! Going for the third part shortly. The way I tell if a story is good is if I can "see" them interacting in my mind's eye while I'm reading. This is sooo H/W how can I pick a favorite line?

This part totally amused me:
*"So it took me a while to figure it out. You could sell mink coats at a PETA rally," Wilson says defensively.
"And you'd be first in line to buy one," House retorts as they stare coldly at one another.* And of course like everyone else, I liked the glared apologies.

Though, I had to wonder if House purposely left that piece of paper, with the numbers on it, where Wilson might find it?

Very, very, kool fic woman. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[kidsnurse.livejournal.com]

wonder if House purposely left that piece of paper

no--not consciously, anyway.

and you're welcome.

[daisylily.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I like this fic (or these fics :D )

I love the way that they understand each other so well.

[kidsnurse.livejournal.com]

this is the way i most enjoy writing these two--imperfect but trying, appearing oblivious but caring. you know--the way they used to be on the show. :(

[daisylily.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping that's how they'll be now that they're back together - after all, they've both acknowledged their attachment to each other and Wilson's admitted that he and House belong together.

*crosses fingers*

[kidsnurse.livejournal.com]

i hope so--i hope it so much that i had to write Deciphering It (http://kidsnurse.livejournal.com/48714.html), the third part of this two-parter, because... well, because that's the way they should be, always.