Chapter 1
"I don't know, what do you think?"
"It's a bunch of crap to make the greeting card companies rich."
Wilson smiled, "True".
"So, are you going to get me any flowers for Valentine's Day?" House smiled, "You know, everyone practically thinks we're a couple anyway. May as well make it realistic, we could pull it off you know. Just think of what Cuddy would say."
"And your team."
"Ya," House smirked, "Night sugardaddy."
"Night House, or should I say shnookums?"
House stood to leave Wilson's office and said, "Wait, what if you showed up just a little late tomorrow, with your hair still wet from the shower?"
"Why?" Wilson said hesitantly.
"Well, what would that look like if I showed up a little earlier than normal, you know about the same time as you, with my head wet?"
"You are just plain evil."
"I know. Until tomorrow, loverboy." If Wilson didn't know any better, he would have sworn he saw his gimpy friend skip on his way out.
"Happy Valentine's Day Foreman."
"Thanks Cameron, you and Chase have any special plans for tonight?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Cameron said with a smile.
"Where is Chase anyway?"
"He's already down in the clinic, no patient to work up. I was just about to head down there."
"Wait up a second, I'll join you. Just want to grab a cup of coffee."
Cuddy waited downstairs in the lobby for Dr. Wilson. She hoped he was Ok, it was not at all like him to be late. The roads were particularly icy and she couldn't help but imagine all kinds of horrible accidents.
"Dr. Cuddy?"
"Oh, hi Dr. Cameron."
"Have you seen Dr. Wilson yet?"
"I was just wondering that myself, he's never late." Cuddy said.
"Ya, I know. He said I could borrow a reference manual and it's in his locked office."
"Well, you can always just ask House to break in for you, he doesn't have any boundary issues."
"Oh, I wasn't trying to get into his office, I just wondered if you'd seen him. House isn't in anyway, it's too early yet."
"Sorry, I was being sarcastic. I hate Valentine's Day. When I see Dr. Wilson, I'll let him know you're looking for…" Her voice trailed off as a rather bedraggled Wilson walked into the lobby with a wet head, and yesterday's rumpled clothes on.
"Dr. Wilson?" Cuddy asked, "Is everything Ok?"
"Oh, hi. Yes, fine. Uh, late night," Wilson said both eyebrows raised slightly.
"Am I mistaken or are you wearing what you wore yesterday?" She looked at him in obvious confusion. "House is starting to wear off on you."
Wilson said nothing and did his best not to smile or give away any hint of the charade he and House were about to pull. "Well, I need to get up to my office. I have a change of clothes up there and a patient in twenty minutes. See you later." And Wilson left.
Cuddy stared at Cameron in disbelief, "Well, it seems Wilson has himself a girlfriend. Hey, you forgot to ask him for that manual."
Cameron smiled at Cuddy, slightly shocked, "I'll catch up to him later." Just then, House walked in.
"What in the world is going on this morning?" Cuddy muttered to herself, House was never early.
"You're early," Cameron said.
"Nothing like the sweet smell of coffee, chocolates and flowers on a glorious Valentine's day morning" quipped an unusually cheerful House.
"Are you…happy?" Cuddy stared at House.
"I read The Secret. Ask, believe, receive. It works."
"Your hair is soaking wet House, you're going to catch your death like that. You rode your motorcycle through icy streets with a wet head?"
"Cameron, there is no scientific fact that says wet hair will cause death. And to think you call yourself a doctor." House turned towards the elevator.
"Wait," Cameron paused, "House, did you shower with Dr. Wilson?"
House feigned the smallest hint of being caught, complete with a slight intake of breath and the almost imperceptible aversion of his eyes, "No. Did you shower with Cuddy?"
"No!" Cameron gasped.
"House, you didn't," Cuddy said.
"No, I didn't. Honestly, can't two men just be friends? I had the most incredible night with Wanda last night. Like I said: ask, believe, receive."
"Ok, just stop right there. TMI, I have no interest in your love life," Cuddy said.
"Who said it had anything to do with love?" House retorted. He looked at them as if his precious time was being put to no good use standing there, and yet he couldn't bring himself to leave the girls in such a savory state of absolute mayhem. He was most definitely going to enjoy this, and at the same time he realized he would likely deal with the repercussions later. House saw many clinic hours in his future, but it would be more than worth it.
"Wait, where are you going?" Cuddy demanded.
"No patient, thought I'd catch up on my soaps, do lunch, nap a bit. You know, the usual."
"House!" But before Cuddy could insist he work in the clinic, the elevator doors closed on an all too pleased House.
House hobbled to his office, waited a few minutes to be sure no one would enter, and walked out onto his balcony. Wilson was waiting for him.
House motioned to the clothes spread out on the balcony wall, "Yesterday's clothes huh?"
"Ya, for effect."
"Nice touch."
"Thanks."
"You're a little too good at this," House said as he looked at Wilson. He was impressed.
"Oh, that's nothing. Look at this little gem,"
"Why James Wilson, I do believe that no man has ever given me a rose before." House mockingly swooned in a thick southern accent.
Wilson smiled, "I thought you'd like it. We need just the right moment for this to work. They need to see me handing it to you, and they need to think we're trying to hide our love affair."
"Oh you naughty, naughty boy. I knew there was a reason we were friends."
"Only friend." Wilson smirked.