House's Liver - April 22nd
Apr. 22nd, 2011 11:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
damigellaTitle: House's Liver (Table of Contents)
Spoilers: Season 7 up to Ep 18. AU for further episodes.
Summary: It is very unhealthy to mix Vicodin and whiskey. Will get posted in real time. No post on April 21st, last post on April 23rd.
Rating: M for adult themes, occasional swearing.
Word Count: 7000 approx
Warning: possible major character death
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the House, MD characters, which is good since I tend to kill them.
Acknowledgements: many thanks to my efficient and helpful beta reader, George Stark II, who never complains no matter how many mistakes I manage to pile up in a single sentence. Further thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
yarroway and karaokegal for consults about Judaica. Any remaining errors are of course mine.
Back to April 20th
Friday, April 22
"Hi, Greg. I couldn't believe it when Wilson called me and told me you were dying. But now…you really look like shit."
"Thank you, Stacy. You, on the other hand, look beautiful as usual. Whoever is injecting you with botox is doing a great job. Too bad for the loss of facial expression."
"Anyway, I read your email and prepared all the paperwork you requested. Just sign wherever there's a cross."
"Thank you. I hope Wilson's paying you for this."
"He tried, but I refused. Greg…I'm so sorry."
"So am I. Poor Dominika will lose her green card, and I'll miss so many wonderful meals and massages and sex…"
"Greg. You're dying."
"Not right now. Now I'm talking with my lawyer. Do you think Wilson will marry Dominica?"
"Of course he will, if you ask him. He'd kill himself if you asked him to. Greg, do you really care about that woman? Do you…do you love her?"
"No, of course not. But I want to do what is right."
"Honest and blunt as usual. I'll miss you, Greg."
"Would that be a tear? Careful, or your makeup will run."
"It's waterproof. And it seems to be raining on your face as well."
House motioned the sheaf of papers in Stacy's direction. "Everything signed. Goodbye, Stacy."
"Bye, Greg."
*****
"Dr. Wilson? Do you have a minute?"
Thirteen smiled at the sight of the oncologist's gentle face inviting them in. She hadn't missed too many of her colleagues during her absence, but Wilson was one of them.
"What can I do for you?"
Foreman, as usual in these cases, spoke for all. "We're worried about House. We've been discussing a case with him since the day after you had him admitted, but… today he doesn't seem to be really there."
"We asked Cuddy what we should do, whether we should let him be. She told us to ask you." Taub added.
Chase intervened. "We're worried about him. How long can he go on without a new liver?"
Thirteen wasn't surprised to see tears glisten in the oncologist's eyes. He managed to keep control of himself, and answered in a low voice, "I don't know. Last estimate was until tomorrow evening. Foreman, you're right. Make up something so he'll stop obsessing about the patient, and…" Wilson looked around, uncertain, "maybe you all should go and spend some time with him. Today, while he's conscious. He might well not be tomorrow."
"How about you?" Thirteen wished she hadn't asked. The words had just escaped.
He didn't seem to mind. "I will be with him tonight." He grabbed a tissue and dabbed briefly at his own eyes.
Thirteen got up and moved quietly to the door, and wasn't surprised to see the rest of House's team doing the same. "Thank you, Dr. Wilson," she whispered, before closing the door behind her.
*****
"Hi, House, Dominika."
"Hi, Foreman. So how's the patient?"
"He's gone."
"Dead?"
"No. But his family found out about you and decided they can't trust a head diagnostician who's possibly not going to live to the end of the week; they had him transferred to some posh place in New York."
"Where he'll die."
"That's not our problem anymore. You are."
"No. You can't do anything for me, either."
"No, I guess not."
"You talked to Wilson, right?"
"Yes."
"So I'm going to see the whole team today, I imagine. In boring installments. Okay, your turn is over."
Foreman walked through the door, then turned around. "Thank you, House." He closed the door behind him.
*****
"Am I already delirious? Dominika, do you also see by Chase's side what would be a perfectly beautiful woman if she had a larger breast size and a smaller moral fiber?"
"Hi, House. Wilson called me two days ago, so I had time to ask for leave and fly in. And I'm staying at Chase's for these few days."
"Please be careful. Sleeping two nights in a row with the same woman may be a shock the wombat's not ready for."
"Don't worry, I'm sleeping on the couch, her husband wouldn't appreciate otherwise."
"Dying is spoiling my manners. Cameron, meet my wife, Mrs. Dominika House. Dominika, meet Dr. Allison Cameron, former colleague."
The two women smiled at each other. "Nice to meet you, Dominika. I've heard a lot about you. Please call me Allison."
"Thank you. I've also heard a lot about you, and you're even more beautiful than I was told."
"Actually, Cameron, Dominika is right. Your breast size has definitely improved…when are you due?"
"In six months, in theory. Probably earlier. I still hope they'll find you a liver so you can see them."
"Them?"
"If it's two boys, I might call them Gregory and James. What do you think about that?"
*****
"Hi, Cuddy."
She noticed House was nervous. Why shouldn't he? She was nervous, too.
"Thank you for seeing me. Alone."
House sighed. "I owe you that." He moved his hand just one inch towards her.
She grabbed the offered hand, brought it to her mouth and briefly kissed the palm, then held it in hers.
"I feel guilty about this. Maybe if I hadn't left you, you wouldn't have relapsed and your liver would be fine."
"Look, I get enough Jewish self-blaming in my life by hanging out with Wilson. It's not your fault. Hadn't it been for you, it would have happened months earlier, after the crane disaster. At least we had some good times together."
"And some bad ones."
"Yes. Try to remember the good ones, won't you? And…I'm sorry for Rachel. First Lucas disappears, than I do. You might want to be more careful whom you introduce her to next time."
"I will. Sex with you was great, you know?"
She was happy to see House smile, for the first time since she had entered the room. "It was. Wonderful, indeed. You're a hot woman, Cuddy."
"And you're surprisingly good at it for your age, or for any age. Too bad sex isn't enough to build a relationship on."
There was silence. Cuddy guessed they were both assessing the truth of her last sentence. Which was, unfortunately, very true. And now there would never be time to rebuild a friendship, unless a liver could be found in the next 24 hours. An AB+ liver. Like winning the lottery.
"Cuddy? I need you to do me a favor."
"I…sure. What is it?"
"Once I'm gone, take care of Wilson. If you can manage, sit shiva together for me. He…he shouldn't be left alone. He worked so hard to save me. I'm worried about him."
"I will. Anything else?"
"No. It's time for you to go, Dominika will be back soon. Come closer." He tasted a bit different than he used to. And all passion was gone. He was still a good kisser, but this was the final proof, if she had needed one, that their love story was over.
"Goodbye, House." She almost ran out of the room. She didn't know whether she was more afraid of him seeing her tears, or of having noticed his.
*****
"Hi House, hi Dominika."
"Good afternoon, Dr. Hadley, Dr. Taub."
"Is Masters coming later? I'm not sure when I might be free. I have a busy schedule today, and delaying until tomorrow might not be a good idea."
Taub looked embarrassed. "I talked to her. She said she wouldn't manage to avoid crying and she knew how much you would hate that. She said she has gone on your nerves enough already."
"Smart woman."
Thirteen looked straight into his eyes. "House, thank you for… for picking me up with a cocktail."
"My pleasure. I'm sorry I won't be able to keep my promise to you. At least, not unless I get a last-minute phone call from the transplant network of New Jersey." He looked with longing at his cell-phone, lying mute on his bedside table. Thirteen had trouble keeping back a sigh.
Taub couldn't resist. "I imagine that's not what would happen. They'd call the reception and have them page Wilson."
House laughed. "You're always going to spoil my best lines. You're right, of course. So, I hear you're back with your wife?"
"Well, no. But…"
"She still misses your schlong. I finally figured out what it is women like in you."
Taub became slightly red, and Thirteen laughed out loud. "Thank you all the same for your offer to…solve my problem, House. And don't worry, all the rest of the team have made me the same offer. Privately, in each case." Taub looked even more red.
"Good to know you guys will take care of each other. But now you should go. I'm tired, and any minute that passes the risk of soppiness increases. Greet Masters from me, and tell her she wasn't a major pain in the ass. Just a midsize one."
*****
Dominika looked at her watch. It was four thirty, but if felt like much later. Time had passed unnaturally slowly, with House drifting in and out of consciousness, while all kinds of people came "to say hello" which she clearly understood meant they were saying goodbye. House had asked her to leave the room twice, once to talk to his boss (and ex-girlfriend) and once in the morning to talk to his lawyer. Both times she had come back to find him very red-eyed.
The only one who hadn't shown up at all was Wilson, who had spent most of the previous day there. House hadn't asked to see him, but she had noticed him becoming restless and looking at the door with increasing expectation every time he heard steps in the corridor. There was yet another knock. She smiled with relief when Wilson finally came in.
"Thought you would never show up. Isn't it a sacred duty to visit the sick?"
"Actually, it's a negative mitzvah: I can't stand by idly when a human life is in danger. I haven't been idle very much in the last few days, but now I'm done and I can stay here as long as needed."
She noticed that he hadn't said until when. He spoke to her next. "Dominika, I think you should go home now."
"Wilson is right, go home. But first, come here and kiss me. You know, just in case." She understood that there were not so many hours left, and the two friends wanted to share them. One last time.
She felt tears running down her face and didn't know what to do about it. She kissed her husband, ignoring the sick taste of his mouth, and turned to Wilson. "Thank you," she managed to say.
*****
Wilson removed and hung his lab coat and tie. He then opened up the first few buttons of his shirt and rolled up his sleeves. Than he sat back on the visitor chair, as relaxed in his presence as House had seen him so many times in the past. "So, what would you do if you knew you had only one day left to live?"
House grinned. "Fill myself up with drugs and booze, but thanks to your intervention I can't do either."
Wilson smiled, but still managed to look a little bit guilty. "Maybe your original idea was the better one. This way you still have a chance, though."
House looked back and nodded. "A small chance, but better than none." He knew Wilson would be able to translate this into a warm, heartfelt thank you.
"I had hoped it would work faster." This he easily translated into 'Sorry it didn't work'. He smiled.
"You did your best in a difficult situation. Will you find and start my 'Best of Baywatch' DVD?"
"Only with muted sound, though. In this hospital the walls are made of cardboard."
"I have headphones. We can have one earbud each."
"Deal."
*****
"I think I dozed off the last ten minutes. Maybe I've had enough TV for now."
"Same here. Shouldn't you be having dinner?"
"I don't think so, I'm already fat enough. I'm learning from you and from now on am getting my main nourishment in form of pills." Wilson pulled out from his pocket a small vial and popped two caplets in his mouth, followed by a large glass of water from the sink. "Don't worry, it's just caffeine."
"You plan to stay up late?"
"All night, I think. How about playing truth or dare?"
*****
House went back to consciousness slowly. Damn it, he had dozed again. His last evening on Earth, and all he managed to do was to keep falling asleep. He made an effort and opened his eyes.
"Welcome back, House." Wilson must have been watching him. He realized that they were actually holding hands; to his surprise, he also realized that not only he didn't mind, but found the touch comforting.
"What's the time?" 'How much have I wasted sleeping?' went through his mind.
"Ten. It's early." The oncologist looked tired. "Want a couple of ice chips?"
"I'd prefer potato chips and scotch, but yes."
Wilson put an ice chip in his friend's mouth, his whole body shivering visibly at the contact of his fingertips with the moist warmth inside. He put another one when House opened his mouth again, and asked "Anything else I can do for you?"
The diagnostician thought. "I want you to call my mother. You know, afterward."
Wilson nodded.
House shifted in his bed, trying to find a somewhat more comfortable position. The spinal cath had been removed, but he had a morphine drip and wasn't in pain. He moved his legs, which were getting too little blood circulation. His heart must be becoming weaker.
"Should I massage your feet?" Wilson spoke as if he could read his mind. "They might feel warmer if I do."
House nodded. "You have experience with people dying, after all."
He answered simply "Yes," moved his chair near the end of the bed, and started massaging House's left foot, ankle and calf with some pleasantly-textured cream. After a few minutes House felt a wonderful warmth, like life returning in his limb. Wilson delicately tucked the foot in and started working on the other side.
"I didn't know you were so good at this."
"You never asked."
When he had tucked in the right foot Wilson briefly washed his hands in the room's basin.
House yawned. "I think I'll doze some more."
Wilson lifted the bedcovers, easily moved House sideways (his naturally slender body made much lighter by days of fasting) and lay down close to him, his right arm around the other's shoulders, their bodies touching all through their length. House rested back his head against the other's throat, and as he threaded his fingers through his friend's he thought that his last conscious hours might have been a lot worse.
*****
Author's note: The mitzvah comes from jewfaq.
This chapter was originally way shorter, as I had avoided describing the goodbye scenes. But then some people wrote in ff reviews and lj comments that they were looking forward to them, and I had a free day after all. So they are un-beta'ed, and any correction (especially of mistakes in English) will be welcome.
Epilogue
Spoilers: Season 7 up to Ep 18. AU for further episodes.
Summary: It is very unhealthy to mix Vicodin and whiskey. Will get posted in real time. No post on April 21st, last post on April 23rd.
Rating: M for adult themes, occasional swearing.
Word Count: 7000 approx
Warning: possible major character death
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the House, MD characters, which is good since I tend to kill them.
Acknowledgements: many thanks to my efficient and helpful beta reader, George Stark II, who never complains no matter how many mistakes I manage to pile up in a single sentence. Further thanks to
yarroway and karaokegal for consults about Judaica. Any remaining errors are of course mine.Back to April 20th
Friday, April 22
"Hi, Greg. I couldn't believe it when Wilson called me and told me you were dying. But now…you really look like shit."
"Thank you, Stacy. You, on the other hand, look beautiful as usual. Whoever is injecting you with botox is doing a great job. Too bad for the loss of facial expression."
"Anyway, I read your email and prepared all the paperwork you requested. Just sign wherever there's a cross."
"Thank you. I hope Wilson's paying you for this."
"He tried, but I refused. Greg…I'm so sorry."
"So am I. Poor Dominika will lose her green card, and I'll miss so many wonderful meals and massages and sex…"
"Greg. You're dying."
"Not right now. Now I'm talking with my lawyer. Do you think Wilson will marry Dominica?"
"Of course he will, if you ask him. He'd kill himself if you asked him to. Greg, do you really care about that woman? Do you…do you love her?"
"No, of course not. But I want to do what is right."
"Honest and blunt as usual. I'll miss you, Greg."
"Would that be a tear? Careful, or your makeup will run."
"It's waterproof. And it seems to be raining on your face as well."
House motioned the sheaf of papers in Stacy's direction. "Everything signed. Goodbye, Stacy."
"Bye, Greg."
*****
"Dr. Wilson? Do you have a minute?"
Thirteen smiled at the sight of the oncologist's gentle face inviting them in. She hadn't missed too many of her colleagues during her absence, but Wilson was one of them.
"What can I do for you?"
Foreman, as usual in these cases, spoke for all. "We're worried about House. We've been discussing a case with him since the day after you had him admitted, but… today he doesn't seem to be really there."
"We asked Cuddy what we should do, whether we should let him be. She told us to ask you." Taub added.
Chase intervened. "We're worried about him. How long can he go on without a new liver?"
Thirteen wasn't surprised to see tears glisten in the oncologist's eyes. He managed to keep control of himself, and answered in a low voice, "I don't know. Last estimate was until tomorrow evening. Foreman, you're right. Make up something so he'll stop obsessing about the patient, and…" Wilson looked around, uncertain, "maybe you all should go and spend some time with him. Today, while he's conscious. He might well not be tomorrow."
"How about you?" Thirteen wished she hadn't asked. The words had just escaped.
He didn't seem to mind. "I will be with him tonight." He grabbed a tissue and dabbed briefly at his own eyes.
Thirteen got up and moved quietly to the door, and wasn't surprised to see the rest of House's team doing the same. "Thank you, Dr. Wilson," she whispered, before closing the door behind her.
*****
"Hi, House, Dominika."
"Hi, Foreman. So how's the patient?"
"He's gone."
"Dead?"
"No. But his family found out about you and decided they can't trust a head diagnostician who's possibly not going to live to the end of the week; they had him transferred to some posh place in New York."
"Where he'll die."
"That's not our problem anymore. You are."
"No. You can't do anything for me, either."
"No, I guess not."
"You talked to Wilson, right?"
"Yes."
"So I'm going to see the whole team today, I imagine. In boring installments. Okay, your turn is over."
Foreman walked through the door, then turned around. "Thank you, House." He closed the door behind him.
*****
"Am I already delirious? Dominika, do you also see by Chase's side what would be a perfectly beautiful woman if she had a larger breast size and a smaller moral fiber?"
"Hi, House. Wilson called me two days ago, so I had time to ask for leave and fly in. And I'm staying at Chase's for these few days."
"Please be careful. Sleeping two nights in a row with the same woman may be a shock the wombat's not ready for."
"Don't worry, I'm sleeping on the couch, her husband wouldn't appreciate otherwise."
"Dying is spoiling my manners. Cameron, meet my wife, Mrs. Dominika House. Dominika, meet Dr. Allison Cameron, former colleague."
The two women smiled at each other. "Nice to meet you, Dominika. I've heard a lot about you. Please call me Allison."
"Thank you. I've also heard a lot about you, and you're even more beautiful than I was told."
"Actually, Cameron, Dominika is right. Your breast size has definitely improved…when are you due?"
"In six months, in theory. Probably earlier. I still hope they'll find you a liver so you can see them."
"Them?"
"If it's two boys, I might call them Gregory and James. What do you think about that?"
*****
"Hi, Cuddy."
She noticed House was nervous. Why shouldn't he? She was nervous, too.
"Thank you for seeing me. Alone."
House sighed. "I owe you that." He moved his hand just one inch towards her.
She grabbed the offered hand, brought it to her mouth and briefly kissed the palm, then held it in hers.
"I feel guilty about this. Maybe if I hadn't left you, you wouldn't have relapsed and your liver would be fine."
"Look, I get enough Jewish self-blaming in my life by hanging out with Wilson. It's not your fault. Hadn't it been for you, it would have happened months earlier, after the crane disaster. At least we had some good times together."
"And some bad ones."
"Yes. Try to remember the good ones, won't you? And…I'm sorry for Rachel. First Lucas disappears, than I do. You might want to be more careful whom you introduce her to next time."
"I will. Sex with you was great, you know?"
She was happy to see House smile, for the first time since she had entered the room. "It was. Wonderful, indeed. You're a hot woman, Cuddy."
"And you're surprisingly good at it for your age, or for any age. Too bad sex isn't enough to build a relationship on."
There was silence. Cuddy guessed they were both assessing the truth of her last sentence. Which was, unfortunately, very true. And now there would never be time to rebuild a friendship, unless a liver could be found in the next 24 hours. An AB+ liver. Like winning the lottery.
"Cuddy? I need you to do me a favor."
"I…sure. What is it?"
"Once I'm gone, take care of Wilson. If you can manage, sit shiva together for me. He…he shouldn't be left alone. He worked so hard to save me. I'm worried about him."
"I will. Anything else?"
"No. It's time for you to go, Dominika will be back soon. Come closer." He tasted a bit different than he used to. And all passion was gone. He was still a good kisser, but this was the final proof, if she had needed one, that their love story was over.
"Goodbye, House." She almost ran out of the room. She didn't know whether she was more afraid of him seeing her tears, or of having noticed his.
*****
"Hi House, hi Dominika."
"Good afternoon, Dr. Hadley, Dr. Taub."
"Is Masters coming later? I'm not sure when I might be free. I have a busy schedule today, and delaying until tomorrow might not be a good idea."
Taub looked embarrassed. "I talked to her. She said she wouldn't manage to avoid crying and she knew how much you would hate that. She said she has gone on your nerves enough already."
"Smart woman."
Thirteen looked straight into his eyes. "House, thank you for… for picking me up with a cocktail."
"My pleasure. I'm sorry I won't be able to keep my promise to you. At least, not unless I get a last-minute phone call from the transplant network of New Jersey." He looked with longing at his cell-phone, lying mute on his bedside table. Thirteen had trouble keeping back a sigh.
Taub couldn't resist. "I imagine that's not what would happen. They'd call the reception and have them page Wilson."
House laughed. "You're always going to spoil my best lines. You're right, of course. So, I hear you're back with your wife?"
"Well, no. But…"
"She still misses your schlong. I finally figured out what it is women like in you."
Taub became slightly red, and Thirteen laughed out loud. "Thank you all the same for your offer to…solve my problem, House. And don't worry, all the rest of the team have made me the same offer. Privately, in each case." Taub looked even more red.
"Good to know you guys will take care of each other. But now you should go. I'm tired, and any minute that passes the risk of soppiness increases. Greet Masters from me, and tell her she wasn't a major pain in the ass. Just a midsize one."
*****
Dominika looked at her watch. It was four thirty, but if felt like much later. Time had passed unnaturally slowly, with House drifting in and out of consciousness, while all kinds of people came "to say hello" which she clearly understood meant they were saying goodbye. House had asked her to leave the room twice, once to talk to his boss (and ex-girlfriend) and once in the morning to talk to his lawyer. Both times she had come back to find him very red-eyed.
The only one who hadn't shown up at all was Wilson, who had spent most of the previous day there. House hadn't asked to see him, but she had noticed him becoming restless and looking at the door with increasing expectation every time he heard steps in the corridor. There was yet another knock. She smiled with relief when Wilson finally came in.
"Thought you would never show up. Isn't it a sacred duty to visit the sick?"
"Actually, it's a negative mitzvah: I can't stand by idly when a human life is in danger. I haven't been idle very much in the last few days, but now I'm done and I can stay here as long as needed."
She noticed that he hadn't said until when. He spoke to her next. "Dominika, I think you should go home now."
"Wilson is right, go home. But first, come here and kiss me. You know, just in case." She understood that there were not so many hours left, and the two friends wanted to share them. One last time.
She felt tears running down her face and didn't know what to do about it. She kissed her husband, ignoring the sick taste of his mouth, and turned to Wilson. "Thank you," she managed to say.
*****
Wilson removed and hung his lab coat and tie. He then opened up the first few buttons of his shirt and rolled up his sleeves. Than he sat back on the visitor chair, as relaxed in his presence as House had seen him so many times in the past. "So, what would you do if you knew you had only one day left to live?"
House grinned. "Fill myself up with drugs and booze, but thanks to your intervention I can't do either."
Wilson smiled, but still managed to look a little bit guilty. "Maybe your original idea was the better one. This way you still have a chance, though."
House looked back and nodded. "A small chance, but better than none." He knew Wilson would be able to translate this into a warm, heartfelt thank you.
"I had hoped it would work faster." This he easily translated into 'Sorry it didn't work'. He smiled.
"You did your best in a difficult situation. Will you find and start my 'Best of Baywatch' DVD?"
"Only with muted sound, though. In this hospital the walls are made of cardboard."
"I have headphones. We can have one earbud each."
"Deal."
*****
"I think I dozed off the last ten minutes. Maybe I've had enough TV for now."
"Same here. Shouldn't you be having dinner?"
"I don't think so, I'm already fat enough. I'm learning from you and from now on am getting my main nourishment in form of pills." Wilson pulled out from his pocket a small vial and popped two caplets in his mouth, followed by a large glass of water from the sink. "Don't worry, it's just caffeine."
"You plan to stay up late?"
"All night, I think. How about playing truth or dare?"
*****
House went back to consciousness slowly. Damn it, he had dozed again. His last evening on Earth, and all he managed to do was to keep falling asleep. He made an effort and opened his eyes.
"Welcome back, House." Wilson must have been watching him. He realized that they were actually holding hands; to his surprise, he also realized that not only he didn't mind, but found the touch comforting.
"What's the time?" 'How much have I wasted sleeping?' went through his mind.
"Ten. It's early." The oncologist looked tired. "Want a couple of ice chips?"
"I'd prefer potato chips and scotch, but yes."
Wilson put an ice chip in his friend's mouth, his whole body shivering visibly at the contact of his fingertips with the moist warmth inside. He put another one when House opened his mouth again, and asked "Anything else I can do for you?"
The diagnostician thought. "I want you to call my mother. You know, afterward."
Wilson nodded.
House shifted in his bed, trying to find a somewhat more comfortable position. The spinal cath had been removed, but he had a morphine drip and wasn't in pain. He moved his legs, which were getting too little blood circulation. His heart must be becoming weaker.
"Should I massage your feet?" Wilson spoke as if he could read his mind. "They might feel warmer if I do."
House nodded. "You have experience with people dying, after all."
He answered simply "Yes," moved his chair near the end of the bed, and started massaging House's left foot, ankle and calf with some pleasantly-textured cream. After a few minutes House felt a wonderful warmth, like life returning in his limb. Wilson delicately tucked the foot in and started working on the other side.
"I didn't know you were so good at this."
"You never asked."
When he had tucked in the right foot Wilson briefly washed his hands in the room's basin.
House yawned. "I think I'll doze some more."
Wilson lifted the bedcovers, easily moved House sideways (his naturally slender body made much lighter by days of fasting) and lay down close to him, his right arm around the other's shoulders, their bodies touching all through their length. House rested back his head against the other's throat, and as he threaded his fingers through his friend's he thought that his last conscious hours might have been a lot worse.
*****
Author's note: The mitzvah comes from jewfaq.
This chapter was originally way shorter, as I had avoided describing the goodbye scenes. But then some people wrote in ff reviews and lj comments that they were looking forward to them, and I had a free day after all. So they are un-beta'ed, and any correction (especially of mistakes in English) will be welcome.
Epilogue