Two Halves
He woke out of uneasy dreams filled spears and knives with his right
leg on fire. He gritted his teeth to prevent a groan from escaping.
Rolling over he reached for the bottle of pills on the nightstand table.
The clock said 4:12.
Impatiently prying the bottle open, he shook out two white capsules and dry swallowed them while he tried to move his leg to a more comfortable position. In long experience he knew this was probably going to be fruitless but he tried anyway. Groaning in spite of himself he rolled himself to his left side. The pain subsided to a shriek and he lay there panting, the sweat rolling down his face.
Clutching the pillow and staring at the
clock he waited for the pills to take effect. He went over 2 new cases
from the hospital in his head and reviewed the latest MRI on the first
patient.
4:17. He rolled onto his back again and went over couple favorite piano
pieces unconsciously fingering on the blanket. The pain subsided a little
more.
4:24. He took some deep breaths and tried to relax enough to get back to sleep.
4:43. He opened his eyes irritably. It wasn't going to work. He was awake for the day. He lay there for a little while watching the shadows on the ceiling changing as the tree outside his window swayed with the wind but they reminded him too much of his recent dreams. With an effort he sat up in bed, groaning softly at the renewed pain in his leg. He swung his legs to the side of the bed and reached for his cane. Leaning heavily on it he got up from the bed and headed for the living room. His routine when his sleep was interrupted was to sit at the piano and lose himself in the music.
As he entered the living room he stopped
in surprise, eyebrows lifting. There was a figure sleeping on his couch.
******
Wilson had shown up at his door early in the evening. Another fight with Julie or he just couldn't bear the tension of being at home. House wasn't sure. The younger man refused to talk about it. He had brought pizza and beer and they settled into the familiar routine of talking and watching TV with periods of long comfortable silences.
At 11 Wilson reluctantly looked at his watch and stood up. He gathered the empty pizza container and the beer bottles and took them into the kitchen. House rose also and went into the bedroom.
As Wilson was getting his coat on, House reappeared and said. "Catch!"
He threw a pillow and blanket at his friend. Wilson caught the pillow but the blanket fell in a heap at his feet. He bent down and picked it up with a questioning look at House.
"If you don't stay here tonight, you'll go home and fight with Julie all night and then you'll be impossible to deal with tomorrow." House grumbled as he turned back to the bedroom.
"Your hospitality is overwhelming." Wilson said as he tossed the blanket on the couch beside the pillow.
House turned back and leaned on his cane glaring at his friend.
"Go to sleep. And if you snore, you'll sleep in the garage." He growled and walked into his bedroom.
Wilson shook his head and grinned as he
made up the couch into a bed.
***
It came back to House as he stood watching his sleeping friend. He shook his head in irritation. No piano playing tonight. He limped over to the chair across from the couch and sat down on it heavily. He laid his cane in between his legs and waited for Wilson to stir.
Wilson did not move. He was curled up on his side with his knees drawn up and his hand tucked under the pillow. He looked young and very peaceful. House watched his chest rise and fall in a slow steady rhythm. He leaned forward struck by an overwhelming urge to push the lock of hair back that had fallen over his friend's forehead. With an effort, he shook his head and leaned back, resting his head against the back of the chair. Both hands still grasping the cane he continued to watch Wilson.
Finally he closed his eyes and relaxed
listening to the soft inhale and exhale of the younger doctor's breathing.
*********
Wilson woke slowly, at first not realizing where he was. Opening his eyes he saw Greg House asleep on the chair across from the couch. His head was resting on the back of the chair with his mouth slightly open. The lines of pain in his face eased for the moment.
He gazed at his best friend for a couple of minutes trying to figure out why he was sleeping in such an uncomfortable looking position when he had a perfectly good bed.
Shaking his head slightly he got off the couch and padded into the kitchen to make coffee.
end