Fic : Beating the Drum

[menolly_au]

Title: Beating the Drum
Characters: House & Wilson
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Spoilers for 8.15 Blowing the Whistle
Words: approx 650
Summary: Conversational post-ep to Blowing the Whistle. Wilson and House have a few things to discuss.



House caught up to Wilson as he was crossing the lobby, on his way out of the hospital. He fell into step beside him, noticing that Wilson was moving more rapidly than normal, House had a hard time keeping up.

"So, pizza?" he asked his moving target.

Wilson shook his head. "No, I don't think so, House."

House made a face. "Oh, you're pissed because you were wrong about the hepatic encephalopathy? You're sorry that I'm not dying? Sorry to disappoint you."

"No, I'm pissed because you pulled this crap, again."

"Hey, I told you I was fine. It was the team who were running around finding symptoms that didn't exist. Don't pin this on me."

"Yeah, and you played along with them. Once you knew they thought you were sick, that I thought you were sick, you decided to go along with it - to push their buttons, because you thought it was fun, because...I don't know why. Why do you do anything?"

"I don't do anything without a reason." House realised he was being left behind in this dash across the parking lot, "hey, Usain do you think you could slow down a bit? Cripple here." He held up his cane for emphasis.

Wilson stopped and turned around, placing his hands on his hips. He was pissed apparently.

"Oh, I'm sure you had some perfectly logical reason that you rationalised to yourself. Some convoluted argument for pushing people even further away than you already have. Did it occur to you, for one moment, that your team might be concerned about you? That they might be worried that you were sick, that you might die, and that maybe, just maybe, they wanted to help you?"

House scoffed, "they were just worried that I mightn't come up with the diagnosis and they'd have to do it. Taub was practically pissing in his pants."

Wilson threw his hands up in the air. "Yes, you're right, that's all it was. God forbid that they actually care about House, the person. Or that I care about you. Well, you know what House? if you keep doing this, then one day there'll be no-one left who actually does give a damn. Will you be happy then? Is that what you want? Because if that was what you wanted you might as well have stayed on that beach on Fiji."

House looked away, swallowing hard. It had been a close run thing, he hadn't ever intended to come back here, to practise medicine again. He had thought that he would never see Wilson again. Then when he'd returned, when Foreman had dragged him back here, it seemed like he had lost Wilson anyway.

"I don't want to get rid of you," he said simply, hoping it would be enough.

"I don't want you to die, House, of liver failure or anything else. I don't want to ignore the symptoms the next time, when they might be real, because I think you're just being an ass and playing stupid games. I want your team noticing, I want them in there fighting for you, because you need someone in your corner. You don't... " this time Wilson looked away, a catch in his voice, then he looked back, his eyes steady and bright, "you don't have to be alone."

House fiddled with his cane, he didn't know what to say. Finally he gave a small nod of acknowledgement, hoping it would be enough for Wilson.

Apparently it was because Wilson gave a huge sigh and turned to keep walking, going slower this time. House fell into step beside him.

"So, pizza?" he asked again, hopefully.

He didn't like to admit to himself how relieved he was when Wilson said yes.

Comments

[yarroway.livejournal.com]

Beautiful. This is just what the episode needed.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Wilson seemed pretty annoyed at the end of the episode and I can't say I blame him. Thanks for reading :)

[barefootpuddles.livejournal.com]

Ah, a bit of actual meaningful dialogue. I could hear the entire thing being spoken in the actors voices in my head and see it in my mind clearly too, gestures and all. I wish the show would add some gravitas like this.


Wilson stopped and turned around, placing his hands on his hips. He was pissed apparently.

House probably has them categorized into some numeric system that indicates levels of 'pissed off-ness'. ;)

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yes, I think House has the full range of 'Wilson is pissed reactions' catalogued by now, he's seen them enough :)

[petitecuriosity.livejournal.com]

IAWTC.

[rividori.livejournal.com]

Wonderful! It's a good thing we have fic writers to give us these meaningful scenes.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it :)

[waylandsmithy.livejournal.com]

This episode hasn't aired here yet but going by the spoilers, your Wilson hits just the right note!

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reading even if you haven't seen the episode :)

[damigella-314.livejournal.com]

I am sorely tempted to skip watching this episode. This beautiful fic made perfect sense on the basis of the episode discussion only. Wilson's accent on the word again may include the same thought on the part of all of us.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

The POTW and his brother make nice eye candy :) And Hugh Laurie did some good work with House 'dying' but it all turns out to be pointless, so... unless, as has been speculated, he really is sick in which case I take it all back :) Thanks for reading :)

[srsly-yes.livejournal.com]

Can't say much about last night's episode. It didn't hold my interest and I fast forwarded through much of it. Really, the writers should hire you. Your House and Wilson have more soul and oomph. This scene should have happened. :-)

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks :) I quite enjoyed the 'House is dying' bits but then knowing it's all faked... shrug, pointless. Thanks for reading :)

[tombedelalune.livejournal.com]

the missing bit of the episode, indeed.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks :)

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

DEFINITELY the missing scene! I was so pissed. At least when he faked syphillis he let Wilson in on it.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

House fakes being sick again, yawn. That's how I felt about it - too late in the show for this. (Unless it turns out to have some greater meaning in which case I take it all back) And yeah, Wilson has a right to be really pissed off, no wonder he avoided House for two days.

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

this needs to happen on the show. beautifully written.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks :) glad you enjoyed it :)

[jezziejay.livejournal.com]

I didn't see the ep - I haven't seen the show for quite a while - I just tune in now for your post ep fics because you write what should happen. Lovely :)

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I can't *not* watch the show, but it does get frustrating at times! Glad you enjoyed it anyway :)

[lz1982.livejournal.com]

Nice fic. I'm so tired of the "There's something wrong with House...oh wait, no there isn't...but what if there is...never mind, there isn't!" trope. It's not interesting anymore. Something needs to happen that actually "sticks" and matters.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Yes, that was exactly my feeling at the end of the episode, there's only so many times you can cry wolf before people get sick of it and tune out. Thanks for reading, glad you enjoyed it.

[roseofpain84.livejournal.com]

Oh, this rings so true.
I can hear their voices and everything.
I'm now going to pretend it really happened. :-D

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks :) Glad it worked for you, thanks for reading!

[rslhilson.livejournal.com]

Exactly what should have happened. Thank you for this!

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for reading :)

[resm.livejournal.com]

What a brilliant way to end/resolve the episode! Certainly better than Wilson sitting at a desk being more or less unconcerned anyway. And you're absolutely right about House not needing to play them all to see who'll be there for him when he falls. If he can't trust that Wilson's the guy for the job after all these years, he really doesn't deserve him as a friend. I loved, given this idea, that you made House secretly relieved that Wilson still wanted to get pizza with him. At least your House isn't as clueless.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it :) I thought in the last scene Wilson was trying to act indifferent but he seemed really tense and annoyed to me - as he should be. The whole thing made no sense to me, House's team went running to Cuddy several times when they thought House was acting insane/being reckless or whatever. They're always doubting him, it's not like they're going to blindly follow him off a cliff.

[idonmatrix.livejournal.com]

This is sweet. But I beg to differ with resm. Wilson was not unconcerned in the last scene. He was pissed because House was being an ass once again.

Really before this show ends, I need House and Wilson to come clean with each other. I really, really need that.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reading :) Yes, Wilson came off as pretty pissed to me in the last scene (and House said he'd been avoiding him for two days which adds weight to that idea)

[jahmat.livejournal.com]

Wilson was really pissed at House...but he's had many reasons to be. The brain cancer bluff was the worst. His best friend is an oncologist; faking brain cancer to get high...not nice! Wilson is NOT happy!

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Yes, who could blame Wilson for being angry after that episode? Thanks for reading :)

[blackmare.livejournal.com]

Thank you. This is the story I wanted to write, after the episode.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks! After Wilson's genuine concern in that episode, and after everything he's been through with House, it seemed a slap in the face for House to just be faking it (and not to let Wilson in on it at least). Thanks for reading!

[sassyjumper.livejournal.com]

Don't mind me, I'm just going to go back and read all your fic I've missed : )

This is exactly the kind of final scene that could have given that episode some sort of emotional weight. We got the almost throw-away line about Wilson avoiding House for a couple days. But I wanted more. So thank you!

And while I'm here, I still think House might have been faking-the-faking. I don't actually want him to be sick, but if he is, that's the only thing (IMO) that could give the last ep a point. Sorry for rambling! ;)

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reading, I'm glad you think it fitted well with the episode.

I'd actually like it if House was hiding something more serious instead of just being an ass and faking an illness (for the third time). I like some angst :) just as long as he doesn't die in the final episode...

[petitecuriosity.livejournal.com]

Am just reading this now...but it's beautiful. I could definitely read their voices while reading this. You really have Wilson's brand of frustration pinned down with sharp, quick steps, and eloquent language.

I like that House is passing off his prank as nothing, that Wilson expresses just how legitimately concerned he was, and that he argues back that whatever reason House found for doing this, it was one he rationalized for himself.

I like that he turns around and pushes one of House's buttons, saying that he stood have stayed in Fiji, when he felt like his buttons were pressed just a bit too hard.

I really like the frank conversation that follows, where House expresses that he doesn't want to get rid of Wilson and Wilson expresses just how much he cares about House. You've truly illustrated Wilson's worry in his want to be sure that House is really sick the next time (which, perhaps he fully expects?) and for House's team to be on board as well.

I truly always feel as though the mention and acceptance of sharing food is a signal for the two of them that they are okay, that there is forgiveness. It's a subtle communication and you've captured it here wonderfully.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

I truly always feel as though the mention and acceptance of sharing food is a signal for the two of them that they are okay, that there is forgiveness.

As per todays episode :)

Thanks for reading and your lovely comment, glad you liked it :)

[maldeluxx.livejournal.com]

Lovely, and so them... now I want pizza XD <3<3