Down the Rabbit hole

**Sorry this one took me so long to come out with. The block set in and I have been really trying to make this story as good as it can possibly be. I’m aware that the new season differs from my story. I’m just going to go ahead and continue with what I started, but enough jibber jabber. Here is the new chapter! Hope you like it. ^_^**

Wilson pulled into his usual spot in the parking lot. He was early today. He had always been early to work, but after Amber died it had become an obsession with him. If he wasn’t there early then he wouldn’t go at all.

He had made a small habit of sitting in his car for a few minutes, drinking his coffee, and listening to the radio before he built up the courage to face what was left of his life at the hospital. It was a nice time for him. He was out of the apartment, which he knew was a good thing, and he had some quiet time to think…and remember.

The last few weeks had been extremely painful for him. Everytime he turned around in that apartment, something else reminded him of Amber. Bits of her spirit were everywhere, from the bed that they bought together, to her favorite cereal that had taken Wilson a few weeks to notice wasn’t getting eaten, to her unfinished book that lay still open on the table.

It had taken him a long time, but Wilson slowly managed to get rid of her old things. Things that were superfluous, her clothes, her toiletries, were easy to get rid of, but the rest had not been so easy. It had taken Wilson a full week to decide if he wanted to keep an old handkerchief of hers that had been worn thin with use. It was in a box in the closet.

Slowly, Wilson began the less than pleasant process of turning off the car so that he could actually start the day. He pulled the keys out of the ignition and stepped out of the car. As he did he ran straight into a figure he hadn’t seen pushing him back against the car, and knocking her on the ground.

“Oh! I’m so sorry,” said Wilson as he reached to help up the young woman. She had fallen face foreword, but didn’t seem to be hurt. As he pulled her up he made note of her white lab coat and her long coffee hair. “No, no, it was my fault,” she said as she brushed her pants off and turned to look at him. “I wasn’t paying attention. I’ve had something on my mind recently.”

Wilson got a full blast of the most fascinating dark blue eyes to complement her coffee hair.

“…Dr. Wilson?”

It took him half a second to realize that he still had his hand on the arm he had used to help her up before he snatched it away, but not before he felt a rush of color go to his cheeks.

“Ah, sorry. I just didn’t recognize you Dr. Hadley…took me a second to get my bearings I guess.” Wilson chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck. She returned his laughter with a smile.

“Just call me Thirteen. As degrading as it is, that’s what everyone around here calls me anyway. You might as well also.”

“Really? You want to be called Thirteen?”

“It’s almost a badge, actually. I know that isn’t what House meant for it to be, but once you get to know him, that’s exactly what he does. By forcing you as far away as possible he brings you closer.”

Wilson’s smile with more than understanding.

“You’re speaking to the master. I have personally spent years of research in the field of Houseism and come up with quite similar conclusions.”

Her eyes sparkled with amusement before suddenly turning darker. She looked at him with concern, and before she even opened her mouth Wilson spoke.

“I’m fine… We’re fine. House and I had a talk the other night, and I think things will be back to usual… or unusual… whichever.”

Thirteen didn’t look entirely convinced. He held out his hands in submission.

“Honest! We’re on speaking terms again… I think we’ll be fine.”

“I more worried about you, Wilson. It hasn’t even been a full month yet. Are you sure you’re going to be all right?”

Wilson paused. She could see the barely hidden grief darken his usually bright puppy eyes. He turned his head away from her slowly as he spoke.

“It’s… been hard…I’m not going to say that it hasn’t, but Amber would have wanted me to go on doing what I do, and living my life.”

He turned back to her and smiled. His smile was a sad one, but one full of hope. She knew he would be alright, eventually. It might take some time, but she knew that he would heal. She gently rubbed his arm with sympathy.

Their moment was broken suddenly by a car that pulled up ahead of them and parked in the Dean of Medicine’s spot. It was Cuddy’s. But the surprising thing was who was with her. Thirteen and Wilson watched Cuddy and House get out of the car foaming at the mouth trying to get at each other’s throats.

“I don’t know why I even let you come into work today!!”

“I would have made your life hell and you know it.”

“You already make my life hell!”

“Oh, and you’ve been such a peach this past week! I can’t get a decent night’s sleep with you snoring like a gorilla with a deviated septum!”

“I don’t snore. You’re such a liar!”

Wilson and Thirteen somehow found themselves following the pair toward the doors of the hospital. House and Cuddy seemed oblivious to their presence, and continued on their destructive path. People stepped out of their way anxiously as the two moved closer to the sliding glass doors.

“Oh PLEASE!! I thought North Korea had finally bombed us last night! I dove for cover under the bed when you made the WIDOWS SHAKE!!!”

“Well, at least I don’t drool when I sleep! I felt like I needed to wear a bathing suit just to be in that bed!”

“You know, no one is MAKING you be in that bed, woman!”

“Oh PULEAZE!! You cry like a three year old girl every time I made the smallest mention of going to sleep on the couch, House!”

“Hey, it’s not my fault that you can’t resist my charms. I mean when it’s so completely obvious that you’re attracted to me.”

Wilson noticed Cuddy go slightly redder at that comment. Whether or not it was from anger was an entirely different story.

“You’re right, House” She retorted sarcastically. “I mean come on, who could resist a TOTAL stud muffin like yourself?”

House’s eyes slightly narrowed.

“Oh, you didn’t know? I’m also a masochist who LOVES misogynistic men. They’re simply dreeeeamy.” Said Cuddy as she batted her lashed annoyingly.

“Look, your whips and chains fetish is none of my business. What IS my business, however, is the fact that your elephant like trumpeting every night has kept me up to the point were I can’t function as a good doctor.”

“Funny, I never thought of you as a good doctor.” Said Cuddy with a slight glib
“Well, I never thought of you as a woman who snores and has sex dreams quite regularly, but who am I to judge what you do with your personal life?” House retorted with quirk in his lip.

Cuddy looked aghast. She stood there for a few seconds staring unbelievingly at House before she turned away in a huff and continued toward the hospital entrance. She appeared to be fighting for a comeback before she stopped abruptly before the sliding glass doors. House looked at her with a smug look a triumph waiting for a reply that he could throw back in her face.
Cuddy didn’t look at him for a few seconds, but a content smile began to spread across her face. She turned to him lightly before saying, “Two words,”

She paused for dramatic affect. House’s eyebrows furrowed in a look of confusion as he tried to think of what she was going to say. Slowly, knowing began to spread over his well sculpted face. He opened his mouth to protest something, but she beat him to the punch, lightly.

“Morning…Wood…”

House stared at her in disbelief as she smugly walked past him through the sliding glass doors. His mouth hung open as he watched her pass, and as the doors began to close behind her, she reached out and caught them preventing them closing before adding, “Oh yes, I seem to have forgotten to mention the fact that you have 4 hours of clinic duty today.” She faked an expression of apology before letting her hand off the door. She muttered rather audibly as she walked away, “hmm, silly me.”

He stared after her dumbly for a few seconds before he charged the doors. They opened to the main entrance lobby, and Wilson and Thirteen watched as House began to bellow in front of many waiting patients and staff, “NO, I WILL NOT SLEEP WITH YOU WHILE I’M AT WORK, DR. CUDDY!!!” Wilson cringed as House leaned into a nearby witness and muttered, “Pre-menopausal women these days, want sex whenever and wherever they can get it.” And with that the sliding doors shut.

Wilson and Thirteen stood in stunned silence just outside the doors. Wilson finally brought up a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, while Thirteen finally began to stammer.

“Did he…” she began

“Are they…” he continued

The two finally looked at each other before saying, “…sleeping together?”

“Cuddy would never… well… SLEEP… with House.” Wilson responded rather quickly.

“And House would never… you know… with Cuddy! I mean, he’s a perv but I don’t think there’s anything really there… do you?” Thirteen replied.

Wilson rolled his eyes. “Please, House has been into Cuddy for years, but his pride would never allow him to actually admit it. Especially not if she didn’t feel the same way, and CERTAINLY not in front of other people. But, Cuddy is smarter than to go for a guy like House… isn’t she?”

Thirteen put her hand over her mouth as she thought. “I’m not so sure. Cuddy did blush when House made that ‘You like me’ comment.” She replied. The two fell silent for a minute before Thirteen continued, “Either way, what was all that business about the snoring! That means that even if their not ‘sleeping’ together, then they must be sleeping together.”

Wilson shrugged his shoulders. “I guess they must be.” He let out an exasperated sigh. “What is it with those two and their pride? Why don’t they both admit that they have a thing for each other and get it over with? It would save us all, a lot of hassle.”

Wilson watched as Thirteen smiled and let out a most becoming giggle. She looked up at him sweetly before saying, “Yeah, but where’s the fun in that?” She gave him a small smile. Wilson felt his cheeks flush slightly, and he couldn’t help but look away. She was just so cute.

“Of course we can’t forget the fact that they may still be lying to themselves of course.” Thirteen continued.

“Oh yes, that would be just like House.” Wilson said exasperatedly. He messaged his shoulders as if getting ready for a marathon... or more likely a huge pain in the neck.

“And it's not to far of a stretch for Cuddy, either. They really are a lot similar then they let on, aren’t they?” retorted Thirteen.

Wilson nodded slightly. The two doctors had finally begun to walk into the hospital together. Thirteen watched as Wilson’s handsome face contorted into a look of concentration. She had always thought he was so beautiful when he pulled his brows down like that. It brought out the line of his jaw so well.
Wilson turned and looked at her, and as she quickly realized her staring, she looked away. The two finally reached the elevator at the back of the lobby. Wilson pushed the up button before saying.

“You know what? You’re right.”

“I am?” Asked Thirteen in confusion.

“Yeah, those two are almost perfect for each other.” A smile was beginning to play on Wilson’s lips.

“Oh God, what does that look mean?” Thirteen asked as the two of them stepped onto the elevator together.

Wilson looked at her mischievously before saying, “Only that I think it’s our turn to have a little bit of fun with House.”

And with that, the elevator doors closed.

**I know this one is just a plot builder, next one shouldn't take as long**