Fic : Duncan

[menolly_au]

Title: Duncan
Characters: House & Wilson
Rating: PG
Spoilers: For 8.16 - Gut Check
Words: Two one hundred word drabbles
Genre: Angst
Summary: After the final scene in 8.16 Wilson and House both contemplate what has happened.




Wilson pottered around the loft, picking up discarded beer bottles and putting them out for recycling, and cleaning the kitchen of the pizza debris. Pizza with House had been... good. He was sure that House was right, he'd make a lousy father, he'd fail at it like he'd failed at all his relationships except being House's friend. He picked up his cellphone and called up the picture of 'Duncan' that Beth had sent him. The kid really did look a lot like him. He stared at the picture for a few moments and then deleted it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

House sat on the couch back at his apartment and had a glass of scotch to chase down the beer he'd had at Wilson's. He was glad that Wilson had taken the deception well. It was for Wilson's own good after all, he had stupid, idealistic, dreams about being a father. Most people would make lousy fathers, and Wilson was no exception. House had made him realise that his little fantasy of having a child was just that, a dream. Wilson's reality was his job, and his friendship with House. Wilson didn't need anything else.

Comments

[barefootpuddles.livejournal.com]

He was sure that House was right, he'd make a lousy father, he'd fail at it like he'd failed at all his relationships except being House's friend.

(and)

Wilson's reality was his job, and his friendship with House. Wilson didn't need anything else.

Yeah, this does seem to be both their world views right now. Which might be okay if House had been a better friend, and not in jail after the car thing and the broken wrist and the running off to an island and the going off to study dark matter and the otherwise being willing to abandon Wilson.

IMHO, if there ever was someone who needed something else in his life (perhaps not another wife though) it is Wilson.

[yarroway.livejournal.com]

A dark and frighteningly possible take on the episode. Chilling.

[luridlurker.livejournal.com]

They sure thought exactly that at the end of that day, well done, menolly.

Nevertheless do I think that Wilson would make a superb father for a normal (not Duncan) kid with the usual neediness he feeds so well on and responds unfailingly to. Duncan was not needy so he did not press Wilson's buttons. I wonder what would have happened if Wilson had started to have feelings for the kid. Then, House's cruelness would have been unredeemable. And I still don't think he did it for Wilson's best. He did it because he doesn't want to share Wilson - and with his decision to not change and for Wilson not to change either, he is choking life itself out him bit by bit. As barefoodpuddles said: Wilson needs very desperately another direction in life.
Or he will have no life anymore rather soon (actually what he does and did for a long time is solely existing).

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Absolutely my thoughts.

Great work, menolly. You've captured exactly what I think each of them were thinking at the end of the episode.

[jahmat.livejournal.com]

Sadly, this harkens back to Wilson's, "We're not friends anymore, House. I don't think we ever were..." It just seems that House rarely does anything to be a good friend to Wilson. He is needy and Wilson feeds on that, but there is no real giving on House's part.

[sassyjumper.livejournal.com]

So good. I wish the writers had tried to convey some of the deeper, darker stuff underlying the pranks.

I can see House feeling like he needs to show Wilson that he doesn't need anyone else besides him (House); if he truly thought Wilson was aching for a kid, that would've threatened him. And if Wilson truly believes he can't succeed in any relationship besides his one with House, then his easy forgiveness of the hoax makes more sense. I do think they love each other (and don't just feel like they have stick together because they don't have anyone else). And I hope that there's some acknowledgement of that before the end. Thanks again for your wonderful writing!

[srsly-yes.livejournal.com]

So sad. Your drabbles add needed depth to last night's episode. I wonder if House's situation with John fed into his perception of Wilson as a father.

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

Well done. No, excellently done. Liked these a lot.

[damigella-314.livejournal.com]

I dread watching this episode, luckily this fic was very readable even without.

Most people would make lousy fathers
I can't imagine a sadder view on House' childhood and youth than this. So true to the character we've all loved.

he'd fail at it like he'd failed at all his relationships except being House's friend
That's unfortunately not a completely irrational thought for Wilson. He has so many failures in his life. Still, the clicking away of the boy's photo... I love how you can make a full blown metaphor of a technology that didn't even exist ten years ago.

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

Somehow, I can't help thinking that it would be much darker than you've painted. But it's a good story.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

I'd love to know how the writers saw this story, and why they think Wilson wasn't angry at House (in either case, not telling him about the pregnancy for 11 years, and then for the ultimate deception) Most people don't like being made fools of. I guess we're supposed to think that Wilson is *so relieved* at not being a father after all he doesn't mind. Maybe this will all make sense by the end of the season.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I think there is something very sad about House 'proving' to Wilson that he doesn't need (and can't handle) any other relationship except for his 'friendship' with House.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks, that episode struck me as a dark exploration of the H&W friendship.

[jezziejay.livejournal.com]

Oh, I have to see this ep now! Perfectly executed thoughts - although I'm still wondering how what House did could be okay with Wilson. Not that I don't doubt it is...

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

I think you're right, this friendship is choking both of them by now. What House did was completely over the top for a momentary mention by Wilson that he might like to be a father. I see no reason why Wilson wouldn't be a good dad, he certainly cares for his patients enough.

Thanks for reading :)

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

I think House has sometimes been a good friend to Wilson (the DBS being the ultimate example), but he also balances it with doing some awful things to him - for 'Wilson's own good', and to keep Wilson for himself. It doesn't seem to be a healthy relationship really.

Thanks for reading :)

[taiga13.livejournal.com]

I'm late so I'll just echo everyone else's comments on how great this is.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

I think you make a good point, House obviously has a lot of baggage when it comes to the question of fathers and sons.

Thanks for reading!

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

I hope that by the end of the series some of this stuff might make more sense. Thanks for reading :)

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Glad you liked them, that episode certainly does give one food for thought :)

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

House seems to have a very dim view of families generally, and parents in particular, not surprising but a little sad I think. (I noticed that the POTW was another one of those patients with no family apparently visiting)

Thanks for reading, hope I haven't put you off the episode too much:)

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Somehow, I can't help thinking that it would be much darker than you've painted

Wilson might poison the pizza? :) I know what you mean though, it does seem a fairly screwed up relationship they have by the end of the episode. Thanks for reading!

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reading :) I'm still struggling myself to see why Wilson was okay with it.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it :)

[rividori.livejournal.com]

I think House's thoughts here (and Wilson believing them) add to show just how controlling he was in this episode. They're both very sad.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

I think the whole thing was sad really, including the final scene with the pizza. It doesn't seem that healthy of a relationship for Wilson to be in at the moment. Thanks for reading :)