Picture Puzzles Part 5
Title: Picture Puzzles Part 5/?
Rating: R this part (NC-17 later parts)
Paring: House/Wilson/Chase
Disclaimer: Don't own them, as we all know.
Summary: House worried can be both good and bad.
Warnings: Mention of abuse in the past to more than one character.
Oh, lookie, I've a shiny new beta in the form of
recrudescence who has checked over this part for me. Anything left messed up is all my own falut.
(Part 4)
*****
It felt very early when Chase woke. Opening his eyes Chase decided it was a little before dawn. He smiled to himself. Leave it to House to find a radical way to treat shock. Chase lightly fingered the marks on either side of his neck. Hmmm. If only I was really theirs. It’s a nice thought though. Chase turned his head to just make out Wil…, no, James, lying on his stomach with his face turned towards the others in the weak morning light. Chase turned to look at House who was lying on his back, one arm across his stomach, the other arm curled above his head, and his face turned towards Chase.
Chase rolled onto his side towards House and flung an arm across the other man’s stomach. Laying his forehead against the outside of House’s shoulder, Chase settled back into sleep.
****
Struggling to wake completely House started to sit up when he realized he was being held down. Going still he tried to get his mind to shake loose from the nightmare he’d just been having. It only took a few moments and a deep breath to decide that the arm pinning his arm down was Chase curled into him like he’d curled into Wilson the first morning.
House slowly blew a breath out. He isn’t holding you down to hurt you, Greg. You’re fine. Wonderful. God, I need him to move. House pushed on Chase with his trapped elbow. The younger man rolled away from him with a small grumble to lie on his back. His head turned away from House towards Wilson.
House stared at the marks he’d made on Chase as he tried to calm down. I need to get a grip. They aren’t him. They aren’t going to hurt me. I know that. House sat up and rubbed his face with both hands. I do know that. I just have to believe it.
Pushing himself back against the headboard House sat and watched the others waiting for them to wake up.
****
Chase woke when his nice comfy body pillow tensed. Staying still he waited to see how badly House would react to having his arm across him. When all House did was push him off Chase allowed his head to loll on over so he was facing Wilson. He listened intently to House as he moved around before stilling again.
He’ll hit me with the cane if he ever knew I thought of him as comfy. Bugger. Considering how he never lets on how bad things are he probably had quite the nightmare.Chase thought for a while on what House might want when he couldn’t just ask. Chase knew what he’d want, but translating that into something House would accept was harder. After some more consideration Chase decided to try his idea anyway.
Careful to stay relaxed Chase rolled back towards House with a small sigh. Chase quickly buried his face in House’s hip in case it gave away the fact that he was awake. He made sure his right hand was against House’s hip under his own cheek while he folded his left arm so his hand lay tucked under his chin against House’s thigh.
House tensed under Chase’s touch, but relaxed after the younger man had lain still for a few minutes. Chase waited for House to push him away again and was pleasantly surprised when House laid a hand along his spine between the shoulder blades.
****
House watched Wilson start to wake up as he held Chase against his leg. I think Chase is awake. House brought his right hand across his body and buried it in Chase’s hair. He reached out with his other hand and could just graze Wilson’s shoulder. Come on, Wilson, wake up. If I’ve got to cuddle I want you to suffer too.
As if Wilson could read his mind he jerked awake and lay staring at them with bleary eyes. Wilson cleared his throat and spoke quietly. "Hey."
"Hey." House pointed at Chase with his free hand. "He’s mauling me."
Wilson maneuvered until he was sitting up facing them. "He is not. Of course, you could wake him up and we really could maul him."
House could feel the smile through the fabric at his hip. Definitely awake. This has possibilities. "We’d have to get his shirt off. We can’t maul him any higher up."
Wilson smiled as he eyed the marks he’d made on Chase. "He looks good marked. Think he’ll ever want to mark us?"
House grinned. "Oh, yeah. I can wait, but you obviously can’t. He can have your left side. I get your right."
Wilson shook his head fondly. "Sides. You are such a two year old."
House raised an eyebrow. House extracted his right hand from Chase’s hair and in a lighting quick movement grabbed Wilson by the neck and pulled him into a kiss. House could feel Chase roll enough to watch them. A quick squeeze on Wilson’s neck caused a gasp that House used as an opportunity to explore with his tongue. He brought his left hand to Chase’s mouth and let the young man suck two fingers in.
Finally breaking away, House eyed the stunned look Wilson now sported. "Still think I’m a two year old?"
Wilson shook his head and look down at Chase who was still sucking on House’s fingers. "You’re awake."
House pulled his fingers away from Chase despite the noise of loss Chase made. "You’re a master of the obvious, James. Chase, sit up for us."
Chase sat up and let them pull his shirt over his head. He started to lie back down until House pushed him to sit against the headboard with his discarded shirt for padding.
"We want to explore you. If you can be patient and hold still for us you’ll get to mark Wilson."
Chase, mindful of what House had said to him about orders and asking the night before, just nodded. Wilson cocked an eyebrow.
"House, I can’t go to work with a visible hickey."
House reached across Chase to pull on the hem of Wilson’s t-shirt. "Then you better let us at skin that doesn’t show at work."
Wilson snorted, but he pulled off his shirt anyway. "You just want to see me get goosebumps."
House laughed. "You are weird, Jimmy." House turned to Chase. "No pulling my hair or pressing me against you. You can do that stuff to Wilson though, that'd be fun to watch."
Not waiting for an answer House started to explore his side of Chase’s chest. He watched Wilson’s tentative movements out of the corner of his eye. When Chase’s hand came to rest on his head House forced himself to stay relaxed. Several bites and kisses later House pulled back to watch Wilson as he became more confident and started biting harder. Chase was panting with his eyes half closed holding himself very tightly to keep from squirming.
Robbie’s going to strain something at this rate."Jimmy."
Wilson pulled away from Chase, who made a small noise in protest, to look at House. "What? Did I do something wrong?"
"No. Come here." House pulled Wilson onto Chase’s lap and deftly turned him so that his back was against Chase’s chest. "Your turn." House reached across Wilson to tap his left shoulder just above the outer end of the clavicle. "Here, okay?"
At Chase’s nod House attacked his own spot on Wilson’s right side. He could tell when Chase followed suit because Wilson suddenly shivered. Holding Wilson firmly House sucked hard on the skin he’d captured.
"Oh, God."
House released his mouthful and pulled back to check their handiwork. Wilson lay slumped against Chase who was grinning as big as House had ever seen. I wonder what he’ll look like when he I finally let him at me. Hmm. Maybe it’s from having Jimmy’s weight on him. House brought a thumb to Chase’s mark, rubbed it firmly and smiled when Wilson gave a small moan.
House pushed Wilson off Chase to lie on the bed. "There’re macadamia nuts somewhere. Robbie is hungry."
Wilson’s glare would have had more punch if he didn’t still have a small smile on his face. "You just want pancakes."
House pouted. "Chase hasn’t ever had them."
Wilson sighed. "Fine, but I’m showering first." Wilson pushed himself up. Turned and quickly kissed Chase. When he pulled away from that he leaned across and pecked House on the nose before padding barefoot from the bedroom.
House turned to see Chase eyeing him. "What?"
"Why’d we stop?"
House pulled Chase down the bed until he lay flat. "Cause I needed to."
Chase glanced at the doorway. "He couldn't tell that?"
"He knows. We just don’t talk about it. He hit his talking about things quota for the month." House moved closer to Chase. "You’ve hit your quota too. I’m going to try something. You tell me if it bothers you."
"Okay."
House laid his body down on Chase, careful to settle his bad leg on the outside of Chase’s leg so there’d be no chance of it getting squeezed on accidentally. Once settled House pressed himself down onto Chase. The sudden relaxation and small gasp of the younger man were very telling. House could feel his own anxiety rising at the idea of Chase's position and quickly backed off to sit back up.
Chase lay with a huge goofy smile on his face. House couldn’t help but smile back. I’m getting sappy. Shit.
Wilson came to stand in the doorway. "Bathroom’s open."
"Chase, get me the fifth shirt from the left in my closet. It’s dark green."
Chase blinked a couple of times before starting to move.
"House, Chase isn’t colorblind. He’s quite capable of telling colors apart at work."
House turned towards Wilson. "He’s colorblind. Just because labs use colors that are easy to distinguish under good light and the red tinge on a person’s skin makes those colors easier to identify, doesn’t mean anything except he’s learned to deal with it."
"He is not." Wilson’s voice started to raise. "Just because you feel the need to diagnose everyone doesn’t make him sick!"
"Colorblindness isn’t a illness and you know it!" House watched from the corner of his eye as Chase backed away from them both to press his back against the wall beside the closet door. House forced himself to lower his voice. "Quit talking like he isn’t in the room, Wilson. Ask him yourself."
Wilson took a deep breath and visibly calmed down. Turning to Chase he frowned. "Chase?"
Chase had slid down the wall to sit in a huddle. He had buried his head in the arms he’d crossed over his knees. House maneuvered himself until he was sitting on the closer side of the bed.
"Chase, come here."
Chase slowly unfolded and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. House motioned Wilson to come over as well. House pulled Chase closer to him and got Wilson to sit on the other side of the young man. House kept his eyes firmly on Chase knowing full well that Wilson was trying to catch his eye. If guilt is what it takes to get Jimmy to see past the wombat’s veneer then guilt it will be.
"We’re going to fight, Robbie. That’s what Wilson and I do."
Chase stared at his folded hands.
"House is right. We fight, but Chase, we aren’t mad at you."
"Robert."
Wilson cocked his head. "What?"
"You can call me Robert. I am colorblind. I just don’t like anyone to know."
House turned Chase’s head towards him. "Eyes up." Once Chase was meeting his eyes House gave him a quick kiss. "Better. We aren’t going to tell anyone at work. Everything that’s color-coded also has a label or symbol so no one needs to know. When we fight we won’t ask you to take a side. Understand?"
Chase nodded.
"Good. Shower’s yours. After we eat we’re going to go get a pennywhistle." House pushed Chase up and towards the door. "Have a good wank while you’re in there."
Chase turned and glared. "I’m not British."
"I’m American and I say wank. Don’t I Wilson?"
"Well, actually, I’ve only heard you use ‘wanker’ once, so, no."
"I just did a minute ago. Twice. So, yes."
"Okay, maybe you’re five."
House stuck his tongue out at Wilson. Chase laughed and continued on into the bathroom.
Wilson moved closer to House and they listened to the bathroom door close and the water start up.
"Do you even know a place to get a good pennywhistle?"
House dropped his chin to his chest. "Yeah, I do. No more fighting about the wombat in front of him, deal?"
"Deal. Food needs fixing. You okay?"
"Yes, Mother."
Wilson harrumphed and headed to the kitchen. Once by himself House thought what was gathering dust in the spare bedroom and how he wasn’t exactly sure he was ready to let them know. Because going to get Chase the type of pennywhistle he deserved meant them finding out. House sighed. They’ll find it out anyway. Quit being a coward, Greg.
House limped over to his closet to find clothing.
****
Driving Wilson’s car sucked, but House wasn’t sure he’d remember the turns fast enough for someone else to drive. Chase hadn’t eaten very much at breakfast, but that hadn’t been unexpected. House figured he’d try his new idea for getting Chase to eat this evening.
Finally he turned into the drive of the house he’d wanted. Parking was simple, navigating the uneven ground to the door was harder.
House pounded on the door in the time honored ‘shave and a haircut’ pattern and waited. He could feel Wilson and Chase at his back. Both had tried to pry out of him why they weren’t just going to a music store on the way. He'd held firm by ignoring them both.
The door opened and a older man stepped into view. "May I help you?"
"Hi, Master Lynn."
The older man’s face lit up. "Master Gregory! It’s been far too long. We’d thought you lost to the mundane hordes. Come in, come in. Who are your friends?"
House limped into the house followed closely by the others. "Brown headed one is James Wilson and the blond is Robert Chase."
Lynn greeted each man and invited them all to sit. "I’ll go get Katria. Make yourselves at home."
As soon as Lynn disappeared deeper into the house Wilson turned to House. "Master?"
"I’ll explain later."
Wilson looked like he was about to protest when a whirlwind of a woman came into the room and hugged House. "Master Gregory!"
"Hi, Kat." House could see the eyebrows on both Wilson and Chase disappear into their hair. House waited for Kat to break the hug. "Kat this is James and Robert."
Once greetings were exchanged House caught hold of Kat’s arm. "Does Master Lynn still sell?"
Kat beamed. "Oh, sure. Do you know what you’re looking for? We’ve smoothed the path to the workshop when Grandpa turned seventy. He doesn’t have a full dulcimer right now though." Kat stood up and led them through the house.
"Nothing so elaborate. Robert needs a good pennywhistle."
Kat let them precede her out of the back of the house. "Just a pennywhistle? Grandpa won’t let you go home without a panflute at least."
They were shown into a large building. Kat disappeared into the depths of the building. Lynn appeared from behind a divide. "Will you start coming to events again, Gregory? We are sorely in need of chirurgeons, even if they are unofficial."
"I’ll have to discuss it with my partners, but perhaps." House missed the stunned expressions on Wilson and Chase, but Lynn did not. "If we did, they might be talked into chirurgeon duties as well."
Lynn smiled. "Oh, doctors then. We’d love to have you all in any case. We’ve missed you Gregory." Lynn pulled a stool from under a bench. "Here sit. What did you do to the leg?"
House settled on the stool. "Blood clot. I lost some muscle in the thigh."
Lynn nodded. "You didn’t lose the leg, though, that’s good. Do you remember Ioan?"
House thought for a moment. "He’s the Navy Seal that ended up in a wheelchair, right?"
"Yes. He authorized in combat archery a while back. I think he’s more well protected than Their Majesties during battle."
House smiled. "Good try, but no."
Lynn smiled right back. "Well, what about the young blind lady that waterbearers in the Middle?"
"They use Marco polo on her, don’t they?"
"Yes, of course."
House nodded. "Still got talk to them about it first, Lynn."
Lynn turned towards the direction Kat had disappeared "Katria! Have you found what you’re looking for yet?"
"No! Where’d you put the blue box?"
Lynn sighed and turned back to House. "I’m going to go rescue m’lady. You talk about it while I’m gone. You aren’t going home until I have an answer, Gregory."
They watched Lynn disappear into the building. House waited to see who would break and ask first. Predictably it was Wilson.
"House, what the hell?"
Chase piped up. "It’s the Society for Creative Anachronism isn’t it?"
House cocked his head. "You’ve played?"
Chase shook his head. "I never had time, but I had friends that were saving money for Pennsic War. So I’ve heard some. I thought I’d try it someday."
"Pennsic is huge. I like Lilies best though. The Calontiri know how to party." House turned to Wilson. "The SCA recreates the middle ages. Pretty much anything that had contact or influence on Europe up until 1600 is used."
"Oh. Knights, kings, and all that?"
House grinned. "There’s lots more than just fighting and royalty. Master Lynn isn’t going to let us go home until we decide if you two are willing to go to a gathering of these people."
"An event, right?"
"Right." House kept his eyes forward on the pretense that he was watching for Lynn. And I know that Lynn has held up Kat and is listening, waiting for us to decide. House knew that he’d never hear the end of this from Wilson. As soon as he gets told what I got peerage for I’m doomed.
"Okay. I wouldn’t mind. What’s with the Master thing?"
"It’s an honorary title given to someone when they’ve been awarded a Laurel. You can look it up when we get home." House raised his voice. "So unless my evil boss says we can’t have the time off, we’ll be at the next event."
Both Lynn and Kat appeared carrying boxes. "Oh, good. We’ve the Kingdom A&S in a couple of weeks. Would that give you enough lead time?"
"We’ll be there unless something happens." House tugged Chase close enough to be able to push him forward. "He’s the one picking."
Lynn handed Chase a plain, but beautiful wooden instrument. While Chase looked it over Lynn glanced at House who shook his head. Lynn raised an eyebrow.
"You still make those zebrawood ones?"
Lynn smiled. "Oh, yes." Lynn dug through the box Kat had been holding and produced a carrybag with triskeleans embroidered on it. "Here this is the one you want."
Chase carefully unpacked the instrument. It was dark and light stripped wood with an intricate knotwork pattern carved along the back. "It’s wonderful."
Lynn positioned the instrument in Chase’s hands. "The fit is good. Try it." Chase played a few bars of a simple melody. "Perfect."
House stood. "We’ll take it, Lynn. What do I owe you?"
Chase’s head popped up and he started to protest until Lynn spoke. "Show up with your men at Kingdom A&S and I’ll have the dulcimer done for you. We’ll haggle who owes what then."
"You’re evil. We’ll be there." House left the workshop and headed up the path to the house.
****
Lynn plucked the instrument from Chase’s hands. "The carrybag comes with it. If you can get him to the event that will be payment enough."
Chase nodded. "We’ll be there."
Lynn turned to Wilson. "What do you play?"
Wilson blinked. "I don’t."
"Hmm. Give me your left hand."
Wilson held out his hand. Lynn turned it over and carefully looked at Wilson’s fingers. "Guitar, I would think."
"What made you think I played an instrument?"
Lynn smiled. "Gregory would never take someone to his heart that wasn’t more than just eye-candy. You should go now. Gregory might leave without you if he has the keys."
Good-byes were exchanged and Chase followed Wilson up the path holding his new pennywhistle in its bag to his chest.
"Wilson, why did House call Lynn evil?"
"He left House feeling he owed Lynn something."
"Oh." Chase frowned. "He’s never mentioned the SCA to you?"
"Never."
*****
(Part 6)