Terrors
Title: Terrors
Pairing: House/Wilson
Word Count: 968
Rating: R (language)
This is for the sickwilson_fest.
Prompt 67: Wilson has night terrors. This takes place after 5 x 24, Both Sides Now.
Disclaimer: Of course the characters belong to David Shore and company.
Terrors
It started when House was in Mayfield. Wilson woke up sweating one night, even though it was cool out, his was heart pounding and a thousand pound weight lay on his chest. He sat up and looked around. It was still the middle of the night, the room was dark except for the streetlights streaming in through the open window. Everything looked normal. But he was still sweating, still gasping for breath.
He shakily made his way to the living room and sat down on the couch. He put his head in his hands. He sat there like that for a long time, then he leaned back and closed his eyes. He stayed there till the morning came, and then he got dressed and went to work.
The next night the same thing happened again. He stayed up as late as he could, watching old black and white movies on TV, then he went to bed. But soon after he was up again, sweating, shaking, gasping for breath. He spent the rest of the night on the couch again.
The next day Wilson fell asleep during a budget meeting. Wilson assured Cuddy that he was fine when she questioned him afterwards, but the kept his head down and didn’t look into her eyes.
.
He went to Princeton General later that week, just to make sure that it wasn’t his heart. They poked and prodded him and said he was fine, his heart was strong, everything was alright. Wilson thanked the doctors, but he knew they were wrong. His heart wasn’t fine.
But somehow he kept going, grateful when he made it through a night without the panic, without the terror, without the sweating and pounding in his chest.
And anyway, House was actually doing better, he would be back soon, and everything would be alright.
But it wasn’t.
House was released from Mayfield, Wilson drove him home. They were silent during the car ride, neither sure what to say. But even as he kept his eyes on the road, he could feel House’s eyes on him.
“Wilson? Are you okay?”
“House, I’m fine” he said. “The important thing is that you are okay now.”
But that was it, they were both silent the rest of the way. Wilson spent the evening with House, they had pizza and things almost seemed okay.
“Do you want me to stay?” Wilson asked.
“No, go home” House replied quietly “I have to get used to this place again, and you look like you need your bed.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes Wilson. Go home. I’m fine.”
Wilson shook his head, and went home. And that night was the worst. He woke up drenched in sweat, shaking and gasping for breath.
“Fuck” he said out loud. Then he sat at the kitchen table till it was time to go to work.
He picked House up on the way.
“Are you sure you’re ready to go back?” Wilson asked.
House stared at him.
“Yes, I’m ready. Cuddy better think so too. But what the hell happened to you?”
Wilson turned away.
“Wilson?”
“House, I said I’m fine” Wilson snapped.
Then there was nothing but silence the rest of the way.
“House, I didn’t mean to…” Wilson said quietly after he pulled into the parking lot.
“Forget it.”
“House?”
“I’m glad you’re back.” Wilson said softy, as he opened the car door.
House looked at him, and smiled. “Me too.”
…….
The day passed by quickly, Wilson admitted three new patients, House spent the day with Cuddy and the board, convincing them that he was fine. After that was another night of pizza, and soda, but not beer. Wilson stared at House when he wasn’t looking. It was almost as if everything was all back to normal.
But it wasn’t.
That night was by far the worst. Wilson went to sleep in his bed, sure that it would be alright. House was home, everything was fine. He fell asleep right away, but not long. after he was awake. He was soaked in sweat, he heard himself screaming, his heart was pounding, and his hands were shaking out of control.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck” he yelled out loud.
He sat there for awhile, till he could almost breathe again, then he quickly changed into a clean t-shirt and shorts and ran outside.
He drove around for a while, and listened to the radio so he wouldn’t have to hear himself think, but it didn’t really help. His heart was still pounding, his hands were still shaking despite being clenched on the steering wheel.
He drove some more, and then he stopped. He looked up, all the lights were off. But he got out of the car, and stood at the door, breathing hard.
He knocked and knocked and then he waited, and then he knocked again.
Finally, after a while, the door opened. House stared at him, rumpled and sleepy but with concern on his face.
“Wilson, do you know what time it is?”
“House, I....I…..just…….”
“Wilson?”
“House, I just .. didn’t know what else to do. I can’t take it anymore. I don’t….I don’t know what it is……..I just get so scared…..it’s like I’m …..dying or something….” Wilson managed to say, then he wiped his eyes, and looked down at the floor.
House stared at him, then he reached out and put his hand on Wilson’s trembling arm.
“Come on in, it’s going to be okay” House said softly, and he led Wilson inside, into the apartment, and to the safe, warm bed.
“Lie down” House said quietly but firmly, and Wilson obeyed.
And then it really was okay. Wilson was finally able to sleep, the terrors were gone, banished by House’s arms, holding him so tight.
At least the terrors were gone for the night.