DISCLAIMER: I do not own House MD or any of its writing credits.

Set before House's original team dissolved…

Just Breathe

When Things Changed

The fall air was crisp as the gentle breeze blew around James Wilson as he stood outside his office on his balcony. He was standing alone that Friday evening staring, thinking, and being. His eyes suddenly fixed on movement belonging to his friend through the glass of House's office windows.

House was moving quickly, hands writing with definitive purpose across his sacred white board as Cameron, Chase, and Foreman clamored to keep pace with his rhetoric. "Well, duh." House said as the possibility of the unknown ailment was ruled out as being lupus.

"We aren't getting anywhere on this one, kids. Look, since it is the weekend and the patient is stable for now, and I'm feeling generous, you can go home and we'll all come back for round two on Monday." House said with a sigh, dropping the marker onto the counter as he headed to his desk.

"Are you serious?" Foreman called at his back.

"Yeah, I mean we could keep going. The man's life isn't going to get any better until we can stop whatever is causing his blindness and his bleedings." Cameron said with genuine concern.

Chase looked at both of them as if they were crazy, "I think House is right. We should go now, come back refreshed and ready in a couple of days."

Without turning, House said "Go. It's done. I'm done. Enjoy your weekend."

Five minutes later, House was seated alone at his desk, doing little more than aimlessly moving papers about until a knock sounded at his glass door. He looked up to see his only friend smiling gently at him. "Are you actually doing paperwork, or am I so tired my eyes are playing tricks on me?"

Wilson sat down across from him as House rolled his eyes and started tossing his ball lightly in the air. "Whatever. I'm just thinking about this case."

"No breakthroughs and yet your team is gone early for the weekend? That's definitely a first. What's up?" Wilson inquired.

"Nothing. We just aren't hitting it today, so I let them go free. What are you doing here anyway? Don't you have any lives to save in cancer-land?" House bounced back.

"I saw you alone while I was outside taking a break. Thought I'd drop in on you to keep you company, and also to ask you what you are doing tonight." Wilson replied, brushing House's abrupt sarcasm aside.

"I'm not doing anything special. Why, do you have something in mind?" House asked, venom gone from his voice.

"Not really, I was just asking." Wilson said, watching the up and down movements of House's ball.

"How about our usual dinner and tv combo?" House asked.

Wilson thought about that for a minute before suggesting "What if instead of Chinese takeout and reruns, which I'm not downing, we went to a nice restaurant for a change. My treat."

House frowned and said "I don't know if I have the energy for something like that Wilson, let's just go home."

Wilson smiled to himself at House's use of "home" instead of "my place" as it seemed like the word included him as sharing it. However, he kept on the counter argument with "Come on, House it's Friday night. Let's go have some fun."

Defeated, House sighed heavily and said "Fine. But after that it's couch time."

Wilson laughed, "Ok, deal. Let me get my coat, I'll meet you down in the lobby."

While waiting for Wilson, House was thinking to himself as he watched patients and staff walk by, about Stacy, his life before the infarction, his life now, and then his thoughts turned inevitably to his only friend, James Wilson. House smiled slightly as he thought of his one true companion on this Earth, and then wondered briefly what his life will be like when he is no longer there. These thoughts always secretly saddened him, but before he dug too deeply into that dreaded scenario, the man in question walked up to him, eager to go eat.

As the two headed to their cars, Wilson asked "Have you thought of where you'd like to go?"

"No, I thought you were running the show tonight." Replied House, with only a little edge.

"Ok then. How about that new Italian place that just opened up on 38th? I've heard it's really something." Wilson suggested, noting House's irritation.

"Fine by me. I'll meet you there." House said, turning to leave Wilson to get in his car.

"Wait. You can ride with me if you want." Wilson knew that with House's leg, driving wasn't the most comforting activity. And besides, he looked forward to not having to drive in silence.

"I don't need your help, Wilson." House snapped, as House knew very well by now what Wilson was thinking.

"I just want to talk with you. That's all I meant by it." Wilson said, looking into Houses eyes.

House calmed down a little and apologized. He walked to Wilson's car and got into the passenger side.

While drivin to the restaurant, they talked a little about the goings on of the hospital, Cuddy's outfit that day, etc. After arriving and being seated, the conversation took a more serious turn.

"So when am I going to meet Mrs. Wilson Number Four?" House joked.

Wilson groaned, "No House, I'm not seeing anyone right now. Can we please change the subject?"

"Now Wilson, come on, it's been a long time now. This has to be a marathon run of singlehood for you. What's the problem?" House asked, in a mocking tone but with a real curiosity.

"I just haven't found anyone yet. And what's with you? Stacy's been gone almost two years now, shouldn't you be getting back in the game too?" Wilson countered.

House stared at him seriously for a few minutes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you, I just wanted you to stop teasing me." Wilson said empathetically.

"Please, you can't hurt me Wilson. Don't pride yourself." House said, turning back to his food.

Wilson remained silent and then said "Seriously though, there's no reason you have to be alone. There's someone out there for everyone, I believe that."

House didn't look up when he said "Maybe being alone is a practical choice for some people. Not everyone has to be with someone. Believe that."

After that, they resumed small talk and relatively pleasant conversation during the remainder of their dinner. As they were driving "home," they passed by a small park with a decently sizeable pond. House knew that what he'd said before was occupying his friend's mind, and he knew that Wilson liked walking.

"Wilson, let's stop here for a minute."

"What, why? I thought you wanted to go home?" Wilson asked surprised by House's random statement.

"Just do it. What's it gonna hurt?" House said.

Wilson parked the car on the unoccupied street side. They got out and Wilson moved to catch up with a limping House who had already made direction toward the pond. They moved slowly, wordlessly together until they reached their destination and stopped.

House looked down at their reflection, which portrayed both of them standing close together, naturally, comfortably. House's bitterness of the world began to melt away briefly, before his thoughts that he'd begun to have in the lobby of the hospital started to creep back to pierce his mind. He looked up at the full moon that was the only source of illumination at their present location, then turned to Wilson.

"House, are you okay? You haven't seemed yourself lately." Wilson commented and queried.

House looked into Wilson's eyes and found that for once, he was speechless. How could he answer such a question? Time is finite. Wilson would not be sitting with House on the latter's couch forever, nor should he be expected to. He couldn't help but suspect that the reason for Wilson's finding a mate had been unduly suspended by his occupation with House. And he appreciated it, though he'd rarely show it. In this moment, he saw himself looking into the eyes of the one who he treasured above anyone else in the world. Wilson was the only person who he needed, or even wanted, in his life, and that is when he realized that his feelings for his friend had changed.

"House? What's with you tonight?" Wilson asked seriously.

"Nothing, Wilson. I…thank you. For tonight, I had a great time." House spoke, fragmented.

Wilson was shocked. House never thanked him for anything, so it was puzzling that he would choose to do so for something so insignificant as a dinner that Wilson had prodded him into in the first place. "It's no problem. I enjoyed myself too. What's on your mind though? You can tell me."

"I'm tired. This case has me stretched thin these past few days. Sorry if I haven't been up to par with my bastardly ways for you. I'll make a better effort come Monday." House joked, poking Wilson on the arm.

House turned to head back down the path toward the car before Wilson could interrogate further. Wilson sighed. As always, House would tell Wilson on his terms and in his own time. However, Wilson did not let this strange behavior slide so easily, and resolved to question House about it later. For now, though, he was content to simply drive House "home" and relax within the familiarity that was their mutual companionship.