"Meaning" 20/?
Title: Meaning
Author: Aphrodite Roslin
Pairing: House/Wilson
Rating: PG13
Warnings: More big Wilson ouchies. Big talk of homophobia.
Spoilers: None that I can think of
Summary: All House ever wanted was meaning. Without it, what was the point?
Disclaimer: Let this be notice that I do not own House, Wilson, or anyone or anything else in this story. If only... Well, I would say I own my characters, but really they own me.
A/N: Again, sorry for any mistakes. You know me!
“Oh, good heavens!” House awoke five hours, thirty-nine minutes, and thirteen seconds after Wilson stopped breathing to the ear piercing sobs of Mrs. Rebecca Wilson. Damn. This was the last thing he needed right now. Don’t get him wrong, he liked Mrs. Wilson. She was a good woman, but House was too tired and irritable to be comforting a terrified mother right then.
“Hi, Mrs. Wilson,” House greeted tiredly, standing from his position next to Wilson’s bed and subtly releasing the younger man’s hand. “Mr. Wilson.” House nodded to the tall, thin, gray-haired man standing in the doorway, relieved that he was there as well.
“Oh, Greg! Oh, honey!” Mrs. Wilson ran to him, wrapping her arms around his neck tightly. Rebecca Wilson wasn’t a tall woman, but she wasn’t exactly short either. Wilson obviously got his height from his father. Rebecca wasn’t fat by any means either, but she had a healthy amount of meat on her bones. House supposed the everyday person would refer to her as “average”. He preferred the term “standard”.
“What’s happened? Lisa’s message said he was sick, but it didn’t tell us much,” Rebecca said as she pulled away from their embrace but kept a hold of his forearms as she spoke.
“We’re not sure what’s wrong right now, but my team is working ‘round the clock,” House assured her. “They’re close to the answer. We just have to narrow it down.”
Mrs. Wilson opened her mouth to ask another question when House’s pager went off. It was Cuddy. He didn’t need to guess what she wanted to yell about.
“I’ve gotta take this. I’ll give you a few moments with your son,” he told them as he slowly slid away from Mrs. Wilson’s grasp. She looked unsure, so he gave her a short grin as his only available offer of comfort. Nodding to Wilson’s father as he exited, House made his way toward Cuddy’s office.
“Good morning, Sunshine!” House announced six minutes and thirty-two seconds after he left the Wilson’s alone.
“House, did you assault one of my nurses?” Cuddy ignored his comment.
“Assault is such a strong word -”
“You broke his nose in two places!” she interrupted.
“He had it coming,” House continued nonchalantly, masking his underlying annoyance.
“He had it coming? Thank you for the explanation, House! That clears it all up!”
“You’re welcome. It’s a good explanation.”
“I just spent four hours sitting in this office trying to convince him not to sue your ass then put you in jail, and the best defense you can give me is that he deserved it? What’d he do, talk bad about your shoes behind your back?”
“He was talking about Wilson! I heard that little prick laughing and cursing him for being with me! Wishing him dead! The man probably is dying! What would you expect me to do? Really. I wanna know. What would you have done?”
Cuddy hesitated, her intimidating demeanor beginning to falter.
“Are you being serious?” she asked. Her tone sounded skeptical, but she had no doubts he was telling the truth.
“Of course I’m being serious!” House continued, his frustration getting the better of him once again. “What motivation could I possibly have for making something like that up?”
“None, of course. I’m sorry,” Cuddy gave in uncharacteristically. She knew she should do more, punish him somehow, but she couldn’t bring herself to do so. He looked so pathetic standing there so hurt and sleep deprived. She wondered when he’d last eaten. It looked like it had been days. It seemed whatever was killing Wilson was beginning to take House with him.
“Can I go now? Wilson’s parents are here,” House sounded slightly calmer now. Cuddy nodded her consent.
“Here, take these with you,” Lisa reached down to open the large drawer in the middle of her desk.
“What is it?” House questioned, leaning up on his tiptoes to try to get a better look.
“A video and pictures of the ultrasound,” she explained, finding the aforementioned items and holding them out to him. “I had copies made for you.”
House reached out somewhat tentatively and took them from her hands.
“Thanks,” he said shortly, still slightly upset.
“Now go take care of our boy,” she gave the best grin she could muster. House simply nodded before heading quickly out the door. As soon as he was out of earshot, Cuddy picked up her phone and dialed the newest number she had committed to memory.
“Mrs. House? It’s Lisa Cuddy,” she began. House wouldn’t like this at all, but it wasn’t as if she could get Wilson down here to make everything better.
Twenty-seven minutes and nineteen seconds after House left Cuddy’s office, he sat at his and Wilson’s usual table, staring at the blank walls of the nearly deserted cafeteria. He couldn’t bring himself to go back to his lover’s room. Not while Jimmy’s parents were there. He had no idea what to say to them. He doubted Wilson had ever had the chance to tell them about their new…living arrangement, and House really did not want to be the one to break the news. Sure it wasn’t exactly something you would normally lay on two people whose child had a very really chance of dying in the extremely near future, but House new his own personality. He’d give it away somehow, that much was obvious. Then things would be awkward, and it would all go downhill from there.
House gave a heavy, exhausted sigh. Lying spread out in on the table in front of him were Cuddy’s ultrasound pictures. He couldn’t get over how strange it was. He hadn’t had sex with Cuddy since college, yet here, growing inside of her, were their children. And House was excited. Genuinely excited. All he wanted to do was to run and tell Wilson all about it - the only person he could talk to. But he couldn’t because the man was once again lying in a damn hospital bed, wasting away while House stood by and watched helplessly.
And as terrible as it may sound, House found himself feeling angry - angry at the younger man for doing this to him. He was angry that he was in this situation; that Wilson was lying there sick and useless while House needed him here - well. It wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair. There was so much happening, and House needed someone to share it with, but, instead of a smiling and ever-attentive face, all he got were closed eyelids and emotionless lips wrapped around a plastic tube.
Glancing up at the clock on the far wall, House saw that it was nearly time for lunch. That meant Wilson’s parents would be kicked out soon for the nurses’ regular exam. His first thought was he was glad he wasn’t the one who had to inform Mr. and Mrs. Wilson of this. His second thought was that he had to pee. So, gathering his belongings, he stood and made his way to the nearest men’s room.
Setting his things on the driest part of the sink, House strolled over to his usual spot, unzipped his fly, and began relieving himself. Looking to the side, House was overcome by the most ridiculous feeling of loneliness he had ever felt. This was really getting out of hand. Was he actually getting this empty feeling because he missed his “pee buddy” standing two urinals away? He really needed to get some sleep. Better yet, he needed to get back to Wilson. Zipping his fly back up, he washed his hands quickly, picked up his things, and headed for his best friend’s room.
Three minutes and seven seconds later, House peered inconspicuously through the glass wall of Wilson’s hospital room. To his relief, the only elderly person in sight was the nurse, and she appeared to be finishing up her work. Taking a deep breath, he strolled inside, dismissed the nurse, then stood by Wilson’s side; staring down at the still, pale face of the usually vibrant younger man.
“Hey, Jimmy, I’m back. Sorry I was gone so long, but you know how I feel about parents. You’re a patient, so yes even yours,” House was grinning unconsciously as he spoke, but his smile quickly fell into a frown as he glanced at the monitors surrounding his lover’s bed. Remembering the items he held in his hands, an idea sprang to his mind and he decided to run with it.
“Listen, it was Cuddy who paged me about an hour ago, but you probably figured that out already. She gave me a copy of the ultrasound video, and I thought you might like to hear something,” House set about loading the room’s standard VCR with his video and turning the television to the correct channel. Turning the volume up to its highest level, he pressed play. As he did so, the rhythmic tunes of his babies’ heartbeats began to fill the silence. Each soft thud brought a shiver to House’s skin.
“Hear that? That’s our children, Jimmy. Mine, Cuddy’s, and yours. Yep you heard right. Children. It’s twins. We’re having twins. I knew I was good, but damn! I didn’t know I was that good.” Just then, Wilson’s eyes began to blink as he awoke from his drug-induced slumber.
“Hey, there you are,” House gave another grin, intentional this time, as deep brown eyes squinted open to look up into his. “It’s about time you came back to me. I was starting to talk to myself.” Wilson simply stared back, looking dazed and very confused. “Listen, Jimmy, just hang in there a little while longer, all right? I know this sucks. It’s no picnic for any of us either, but we’re so close. Do you hear that? Our babies’ hearts? If nothing else, that is what you’ve got to hang on for. I can’t do it without you. I…I love you, James. Do you hear me? You have to remember that, okay?”
A solitary tear made its way down James’ smooth cheek, curving slightly onto his chin, and dripped gracefully onto the pillow next to his head. House felt his heart drop into his stomach at the sight. Not knowing what else to do, House dipped his head and placed a soft, lingering kiss on the corner of Wilson’s mouth, being careful to avoid the breathing tube. Wilson’s eye’s squeezed shut as he did so, more tears escaping silently as the soothing rhythm continued infinitely in the background. House placed another quick kiss there before pulling back, tears beginning to form in his own eyes. Letting out a sigh that could almost be mistaken for a sob, he rested his forehead on his lover’s and stayed there. It was the only contact he could keep with the younger man that Wilson could still feel. As the beat in the background drifted away into static, the door flew open and House’s team flew inside.
“House, we’ve got it! We know what’s wrong with Wilson!”
Sorry for the delay everyone, but, as usual, life interfered. But it is here nonetheless! I hope you enjoyed it! All your reviews are all wonderful and very encouraging! Keep 'em coming, and I'll be back ASAP! Thanks again, everyone:D
Author: Aphrodite Roslin
Pairing: House/Wilson
Rating: PG13
Warnings: More big Wilson ouchies. Big talk of homophobia.
Spoilers: None that I can think of
Summary: All House ever wanted was meaning. Without it, what was the point?
Disclaimer: Let this be notice that I do not own House, Wilson, or anyone or anything else in this story. If only... Well, I would say I own my characters, but really they own me.
A/N: Again, sorry for any mistakes. You know me!
“Oh, good heavens!” House awoke five hours, thirty-nine minutes, and thirteen seconds after Wilson stopped breathing to the ear piercing sobs of Mrs. Rebecca Wilson. Damn. This was the last thing he needed right now. Don’t get him wrong, he liked Mrs. Wilson. She was a good woman, but House was too tired and irritable to be comforting a terrified mother right then.
“Hi, Mrs. Wilson,” House greeted tiredly, standing from his position next to Wilson’s bed and subtly releasing the younger man’s hand. “Mr. Wilson.” House nodded to the tall, thin, gray-haired man standing in the doorway, relieved that he was there as well.
“Oh, Greg! Oh, honey!” Mrs. Wilson ran to him, wrapping her arms around his neck tightly. Rebecca Wilson wasn’t a tall woman, but she wasn’t exactly short either. Wilson obviously got his height from his father. Rebecca wasn’t fat by any means either, but she had a healthy amount of meat on her bones. House supposed the everyday person would refer to her as “average”. He preferred the term “standard”.
“What’s happened? Lisa’s message said he was sick, but it didn’t tell us much,” Rebecca said as she pulled away from their embrace but kept a hold of his forearms as she spoke.
“We’re not sure what’s wrong right now, but my team is working ‘round the clock,” House assured her. “They’re close to the answer. We just have to narrow it down.”
Mrs. Wilson opened her mouth to ask another question when House’s pager went off. It was Cuddy. He didn’t need to guess what she wanted to yell about.
“I’ve gotta take this. I’ll give you a few moments with your son,” he told them as he slowly slid away from Mrs. Wilson’s grasp. She looked unsure, so he gave her a short grin as his only available offer of comfort. Nodding to Wilson’s father as he exited, House made his way toward Cuddy’s office.
“Good morning, Sunshine!” House announced six minutes and thirty-two seconds after he left the Wilson’s alone.
“House, did you assault one of my nurses?” Cuddy ignored his comment.
“Assault is such a strong word -”
“You broke his nose in two places!” she interrupted.
“He had it coming,” House continued nonchalantly, masking his underlying annoyance.
“He had it coming? Thank you for the explanation, House! That clears it all up!”
“You’re welcome. It’s a good explanation.”
“I just spent four hours sitting in this office trying to convince him not to sue your ass then put you in jail, and the best defense you can give me is that he deserved it? What’d he do, talk bad about your shoes behind your back?”
“He was talking about Wilson! I heard that little prick laughing and cursing him for being with me! Wishing him dead! The man probably is dying! What would you expect me to do? Really. I wanna know. What would you have done?”
Cuddy hesitated, her intimidating demeanor beginning to falter.
“Are you being serious?” she asked. Her tone sounded skeptical, but she had no doubts he was telling the truth.
“Of course I’m being serious!” House continued, his frustration getting the better of him once again. “What motivation could I possibly have for making something like that up?”
“None, of course. I’m sorry,” Cuddy gave in uncharacteristically. She knew she should do more, punish him somehow, but she couldn’t bring herself to do so. He looked so pathetic standing there so hurt and sleep deprived. She wondered when he’d last eaten. It looked like it had been days. It seemed whatever was killing Wilson was beginning to take House with him.
“Can I go now? Wilson’s parents are here,” House sounded slightly calmer now. Cuddy nodded her consent.
“Here, take these with you,” Lisa reached down to open the large drawer in the middle of her desk.
“What is it?” House questioned, leaning up on his tiptoes to try to get a better look.
“A video and pictures of the ultrasound,” she explained, finding the aforementioned items and holding them out to him. “I had copies made for you.”
House reached out somewhat tentatively and took them from her hands.
“Thanks,” he said shortly, still slightly upset.
“Now go take care of our boy,” she gave the best grin she could muster. House simply nodded before heading quickly out the door. As soon as he was out of earshot, Cuddy picked up her phone and dialed the newest number she had committed to memory.
“Mrs. House? It’s Lisa Cuddy,” she began. House wouldn’t like this at all, but it wasn’t as if she could get Wilson down here to make everything better.
Twenty-seven minutes and nineteen seconds after House left Cuddy’s office, he sat at his and Wilson’s usual table, staring at the blank walls of the nearly deserted cafeteria. He couldn’t bring himself to go back to his lover’s room. Not while Jimmy’s parents were there. He had no idea what to say to them. He doubted Wilson had ever had the chance to tell them about their new…living arrangement, and House really did not want to be the one to break the news. Sure it wasn’t exactly something you would normally lay on two people whose child had a very really chance of dying in the extremely near future, but House new his own personality. He’d give it away somehow, that much was obvious. Then things would be awkward, and it would all go downhill from there.
House gave a heavy, exhausted sigh. Lying spread out in on the table in front of him were Cuddy’s ultrasound pictures. He couldn’t get over how strange it was. He hadn’t had sex with Cuddy since college, yet here, growing inside of her, were their children. And House was excited. Genuinely excited. All he wanted to do was to run and tell Wilson all about it - the only person he could talk to. But he couldn’t because the man was once again lying in a damn hospital bed, wasting away while House stood by and watched helplessly.
And as terrible as it may sound, House found himself feeling angry - angry at the younger man for doing this to him. He was angry that he was in this situation; that Wilson was lying there sick and useless while House needed him here - well. It wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair. There was so much happening, and House needed someone to share it with, but, instead of a smiling and ever-attentive face, all he got were closed eyelids and emotionless lips wrapped around a plastic tube.
Glancing up at the clock on the far wall, House saw that it was nearly time for lunch. That meant Wilson’s parents would be kicked out soon for the nurses’ regular exam. His first thought was he was glad he wasn’t the one who had to inform Mr. and Mrs. Wilson of this. His second thought was that he had to pee. So, gathering his belongings, he stood and made his way to the nearest men’s room.
Setting his things on the driest part of the sink, House strolled over to his usual spot, unzipped his fly, and began relieving himself. Looking to the side, House was overcome by the most ridiculous feeling of loneliness he had ever felt. This was really getting out of hand. Was he actually getting this empty feeling because he missed his “pee buddy” standing two urinals away? He really needed to get some sleep. Better yet, he needed to get back to Wilson. Zipping his fly back up, he washed his hands quickly, picked up his things, and headed for his best friend’s room.
Three minutes and seven seconds later, House peered inconspicuously through the glass wall of Wilson’s hospital room. To his relief, the only elderly person in sight was the nurse, and she appeared to be finishing up her work. Taking a deep breath, he strolled inside, dismissed the nurse, then stood by Wilson’s side; staring down at the still, pale face of the usually vibrant younger man.
“Hey, Jimmy, I’m back. Sorry I was gone so long, but you know how I feel about parents. You’re a patient, so yes even yours,” House was grinning unconsciously as he spoke, but his smile quickly fell into a frown as he glanced at the monitors surrounding his lover’s bed. Remembering the items he held in his hands, an idea sprang to his mind and he decided to run with it.
“Listen, it was Cuddy who paged me about an hour ago, but you probably figured that out already. She gave me a copy of the ultrasound video, and I thought you might like to hear something,” House set about loading the room’s standard VCR with his video and turning the television to the correct channel. Turning the volume up to its highest level, he pressed play. As he did so, the rhythmic tunes of his babies’ heartbeats began to fill the silence. Each soft thud brought a shiver to House’s skin.
“Hear that? That’s our children, Jimmy. Mine, Cuddy’s, and yours. Yep you heard right. Children. It’s twins. We’re having twins. I knew I was good, but damn! I didn’t know I was that good.” Just then, Wilson’s eyes began to blink as he awoke from his drug-induced slumber.
“Hey, there you are,” House gave another grin, intentional this time, as deep brown eyes squinted open to look up into his. “It’s about time you came back to me. I was starting to talk to myself.” Wilson simply stared back, looking dazed and very confused. “Listen, Jimmy, just hang in there a little while longer, all right? I know this sucks. It’s no picnic for any of us either, but we’re so close. Do you hear that? Our babies’ hearts? If nothing else, that is what you’ve got to hang on for. I can’t do it without you. I…I love you, James. Do you hear me? You have to remember that, okay?”
A solitary tear made its way down James’ smooth cheek, curving slightly onto his chin, and dripped gracefully onto the pillow next to his head. House felt his heart drop into his stomach at the sight. Not knowing what else to do, House dipped his head and placed a soft, lingering kiss on the corner of Wilson’s mouth, being careful to avoid the breathing tube. Wilson’s eye’s squeezed shut as he did so, more tears escaping silently as the soothing rhythm continued infinitely in the background. House placed another quick kiss there before pulling back, tears beginning to form in his own eyes. Letting out a sigh that could almost be mistaken for a sob, he rested his forehead on his lover’s and stayed there. It was the only contact he could keep with the younger man that Wilson could still feel. As the beat in the background drifted away into static, the door flew open and House’s team flew inside.
“House, we’ve got it! We know what’s wrong with Wilson!”
Sorry for the delay everyone, but, as usual, life interfered. But it is here nonetheless! I hope you enjoyed it! All your reviews are all wonderful and very encouraging! Keep 'em coming, and I'll be back ASAP! Thanks again, everyone:D