House looks shocked when Wilson reveals the real reason for leaving PPTH. It's then he realizes he needs Wilson. Even with the realization that Wilson doesn't like what House has made of him, he doesn't say directly he doesn't like House. Which means that he does like House, just not how House acts with Wilson.

"I'll change." He whispers as Wilson grabs his boxes.

"House, you're not going to change my mind."

"I'll stop taking Vicoden. I'll go to rehab, for real. I'll do my Clinic Hours. I'll even quit being a jackass to everyone." He says listing all the things Wilson's complained about in the past. He doesn't notice his shocked team and Cuddy standing in the doorway. They don't matter. Nothing does if his only friend leaves. "Anything." He whispers almost hoping Wilson doesn't hear.

"House..."

"You can't leave, Wilson. You're my only friend." He says looking at the floor. His father's voice yells at him for admitting his weakness, he can feel the sting of an imaginary slap and winces.

Wilson looks House over. He can't detect his normal sarcasm, or a lie. But he couldn't be telling the truth. House would never change, not even for him. But the thought was too tempting.

"Are you serious?" House looks up into his eyes wondering what he got himself into. Probably saved himself a couple hundred thousand for hiring a PI...but anything was worth keeping Wilson here.

"Yes." Wilson sighs and House is temped to smile.

"Fine. I'll stay. But if you don't start fulfilling your promise in two weeks then I really am leaving. No trying to get me to change my mind." He says with a frown.

"Of course." House says turning to the door, only now consciously noticing their presence. House frowns but doesn't say anything.

The next day House signs up for rehab. He doesn't take any Vicoden and gets his Clinic Hours done, he even does extra. He doesn't insult anyone out loud, not even his team.

Wilson's surprised. He should've threatened to leave years ago if this was how House responded. 'But then again we don't know how long this is going to last.' he thinks to himself.

Cuddy's shocked at how well behaved House is being. He doesn't try outlandish cures on patients waiting until he's 99 percent positive before administering treatment. He doesn't sit in his office, or an empty clinic room playing his PSP or watching cable. He even gets to work on time. It's a dream come true for her.

It takes to the end of two weeks for his current and former team to realize House isn't happy. Cuddy is too busy being surprised at this obedient House to notice. Wilson doesn't even have a clue.

House walks up to the steps to his apartment pausing to get the mail. Once he closes the door behind him he drops the letters and slumps against the door. "No one believes this pain is real. Not Cuddy, or Wilson, or Cameron even. So it must be mental." He whispers to himself. He slides down letting the tears fall from his face. He clutches desperately at his leg rubbing, trying to ease the pain but it only lessens slightly, all the while mumbling about being mental. A very still hour later the pain dulls and he limps his way to his room to get clothes for a shower. Once done, he doesn't even eat before falling into a pain filled slumber.

Wilson realizes House's changes may not all be good. He spends less and less time with House. Sure they go to lunch and House buys his own lunch, but they don't sit down after work to eat Chinese and drink beer while watching cheesy horror movies and chatting like the buddies they are.

"Wanna hang out tonight House?" He asks one lunch.

"I have rehab tonight," House replies with a barely noticeable flinch.

"Oh, ok." He says before they slip into an awkward silence.

It's later that day on his way out that Cuddy notices something is off with her Diagnostician. She shrugs it off as rehab and leaves it at that.

House's team, Chase and Cameron get together once House leaves for the day.

"I'm not the only one who's noticed am I?" Thirteen asks with a frown.

"Noticed what?" Kutner asks.

"House's miserable." Chase says for her.

"No you're not the only one." Forman says.

"What are we going to do about it?" Cameron asks.

"What do you mean 'what are we going to do about it'?" Taub says. "Why should we help if he doesn't want it?"

"How do you know he doesn't want help?" Cameron asks.

"He'd have said something." Taub says with a spidery smile as he sits down and grabs the paper.

"No he wouldn't have. He would be doing just like he is. This is all because Wilson threatened to leave. Him and Cuddy both haven't noticed but we have. We should do something, like tell them how miserable he is." Chase says his brow furrowed.

"And what would that accomplish? They'll either confront him, to which he'll deflect. Or they won't do anything." Forman says frowning.

A month passes and House's mental state only declines. He doesn't hang out with Wilson, at all. He doesn't have the strength to bother Wilson, let alone get up and hop the brick wall between balconies. His team brings him lunch and the walk to and from the Clinic is hell. He catches his team sharing worried looks when they think he isn't looking but he no longer has the strength to even mess with their heads. He sits whenever possible only getting up and walking if its absolutely necessary. His face is always blank to keep the pain from showing, and even music can't bring emotion to his eyes.

His leg throbs in time with his heartbeat, sharp angry stabs of pain asking why he's still putting up with this treatment. He constantly has to remind himself that it's all mental and Wilson will leave if he even shows signs of relapsing. It's hardly worth it anymore.

One day Cuddy is in the Clinic with House. She tries to banter with House but he deflects all possible openings for a rude come back or a comment on her state of dress. When he mentions they've been talking for fifteen minuets and he needs to get back to work she's shocked. She watches him hobble away calling the next patient to the exam room.

The last patient House has to deal with today (the end of two extra hours of Clinic Duty) is a woman and her little boy. 'Easy' he thinks. He reassures the lady that her Son only has the Cold and simple over-the-counter medicine would fix him right up in a few days. The boy, a rotten spoiled thing kicked him in the leg. His bad leg. Right over his scar. He bites his lip as the pen in his hand drags across the paper and tears well in his eyes. The woman apologizes profusely before telling her little son of a bit-Son, just Son that he won't be getting his ice cream later. He finishes writing the prescription painfully before standing and opening the door for them to leave. He limps after them placing the file on the counter telling the nurse he's done for the day and to sign him out. He painfully limps to the stairwell, wondering why the little demon brat's kick hurt so much before remembering he's off the pain meds and his leg constantly hits at least a 8 on the pain scale.

Lisa follows House and is surprised again when he goes into the stairwell. She smiles wondering if he can finally walk up and down the stairs again and catches the door before it closes. She peaks in and is shocked to find her Diagnostician sitting on the first step to the lower floor crying. She watches him lean against the wall sobbing clutching his leg face screwed up with pain. The smile slides off her face as her arms fall to her sides letting the door shut with a quiet click. She stands looking at the painted 1 mocking her, saying 'I've known longer then you have!' Abruptly she turns making her way to the elevator.