Happy Birthday, Dr. House

[captainjack]

After being in New York, except not, there was no way Jack was going to let House's birthday go by without some kind of recognition. He woke up early and baked a cake. Okay, so it was one layer and kind of lopsided, but it tasted okay. It was the thought that counted, not the food, anyway. He'd promised Crowley future favors in return for some wine

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[misanthrope_md]

House nearly turned tail and tried to escape when he saw the party in the rec room, because as soon as he saw Jack in the center of it he knew what the celebration was. But he forced himself to dig in his heels, and promised to make an effort to enjoy himself. Even though he wasn't feeling terribly festive. What he really felt was... old.

[Feel free to tag him here - either bombarding him when he walks in, or assuming that the party's been going on for a while.]

[silver_crucifix]

"Planning an escape?" Stacy came up beside his elbow, raising an eyebrow at the scene that met her. She'd had plans in her mind to do something for Greg tonight, but maybe those didn't have to die just yet.

[misanthrope_md]

"I wouldn't expect too much of a crowd," House said with a snort. "I wasn't exactly voted Most Popular."

[silver_crucifix]

"And you always hated crowds," Stacy agreed. "It's why we used to avoid the bars at happy hour, remember?"

[doctorcuddymd]

Cuddy wouldn't have missed this for the world. She hadn't forgotten - in fact, House's birthday was the last event she'd let herself forget - and the party in the rec room had to be either Jack or Wilson's doing. She flashed the former a grin, drawing her own conclusions. It had the potential to be an interesting day.

[dr_robchase]

He'd only dropped by because he was near and he figured a quick happy birthday wouldn't hurt and besides, he still was nose-in-a-book, sitting in a chair and waiting for House to have a second as he sat cross-legged, thumb absently brushing at the scar on his ankle as he read, head bowed to the pages.

[captainjack]

"You didn't eat the cake, did you?" he smiled, sitting on the arm of the chair and leaning close. "I baked it. That should say it all."

[dr_robchase]

Chase glanced up, just barely, attention still deep in the land of Freud and his fixations. "I haven't yet," he said. "I'll get there as soon as I finish this section and I'm sure I won't get mauled for eating the sugar."

[captainjack]

"I was supposed to put sugar in it?" he deadpanned.

[toshiko_san]

Tosh wasn't really in the modd for a party, but this was Jack's partner. That made it important. Grabbing a juice of some sort, she lingered at the edges, smiling a bit at people who went by.

[pawnoffenric]

Ace paused when she saw Tosh, who at this moment looked to her like salvation. "Hey! I- Er. How're you?"

There was nothing that could be so awkward as Ace trying to talk to House, so Tosh was an angel in comparison.

[toshiko_san]

Tosh's smile grew when she saw Ace. Someone she knew, and liked. "I'm okay. Been better, but alright. How are you?"

[pawnoffenric]

Ace hesitated, and then nodded. "Pretty much the same." She bit her lower lip, and looked back over her shoulder at House.

"I... kind of figured that coming was the right thing to do. You know."

To say that she was rubbish in social situations was an understatement.

[real_buzzkill]

Wilson was starting to feel human again, finally. Wandering into the rec room, he saw the people and the vague party atmosphere, and... oh yeah. House's birthday.

What do you know? He'd forgotten again. He poured a glass of wine and looked around the room to see who was there.

[captainjack]

Jack had heard what Wilson had done for him, so when he saw the man walk in, he headed straight for him. He already had two glasses of wine in his system, but that had no effect on his judgement. At his most vulnerable, the one man he trusted less than anyone on the island had not only not taken advantage of his weakness...he'd taken care of him.

It had taken Jack longer than most to process that, to figure out why. He still didn't know why, but he was grateful.

"Wilson," he smiled, cocking his head to the side. "Just the guy I wanted to talk to."

[real_buzzkill]

Wilson took a step back, wondering what he'd done now.

"Sure," he said hesitantly. "What's up?" He'd try; he had promised himself he'd try, and he was going to try, for House's sake.

[captainjack]

"Thank you," he said, honestly and as plainly as possible. "For taking care of Greg. And me."

And then the impossible happened...Jack hugged him.