Disclaimer: I don’t own House, sadly never will.

A/N: I want to send a big thank you out to BOYS DON’T CRY for reading over my story, and correcting my bad grammar and spelling. You saved me a lot of bad reviews, and saved the readers from a few headaches lol! Hope I restructured the sentences you pointed out satisfactorily

Sticks and Stones

CHAPTER 1: Fractured

Wilson stood ridged his shoulders squared, his brow creased with a look of contempt marring his features. One could literally feel the anger radiating off his persona as he found himself amidst a confrontation with his best friend. House was limping ungracefully away towards the hall trying to escape the tension that was coming close to smothering both the hot tempered men.

“Fine! Run away like you always do y… you coward!” Wilson spat as he watched the older man’s retreating back.

House’s body tensed as he came to an abrupt halt turning halfway to toss a look of hatred back at the young oncologist. “O-h don’t give me that crap Mr. good and noble. YOU don’t know anything about it! Why can’t you just leave me alone? Everything would be fine if you’d just mind your own damn business.”

“Oh yes because you’re SO- good at minding your own! I was trying to help, that’s what friends do in case you’ve forgotten!” Wilson hissed tossing his hands up in the air to emphasize his exasperation.

“I don’t NEED your help so quit trying to fix me when you can’t even fix your own fucked up life!”

“My life? You think my life is fucked up? I’m the epitome of the American dream compared to you!”

“Yeah I can see that, how could I have possibly missed it?” House sneered sarcastically. “A beautiful hotel room with a white picket fence, and three alimony checks mailed with love and affection to your perfect ex-wives” he finished in a dramatic and mocking tone. Wilson cringed and gave the man a pointed look “This, this isn’t about me anyways, it’s about you and… “That’s right it ISN’T about you it’s about me!” House interrupted raising his voice “It’s about MY life not yours. The key word there is MY, so leave ME ALONE!”

“You’re a bastard! I…I don’t even no why I try to help you, in fact, I don’t even know why I try to be your friend anymore!”

“Well, maybe you shouldn’t, I NEVER asked you to be my friend! May-be I don’t want you to be either!”

Wilson’s eyes darkened as he covered his hurt expression quickly, trying to not give his opponent any more ammunition than he already had. Grinding his teeth a few times, he set his jaw and turned abruptly to grab his coat and brief case from beside the couch. With a quick swoop he snatched his keys off the coffee table and turned on his heel to head towards the front door.

Houses eyes followed the seething frame and its every move “What do you know, look who’s running now! I guess that makes you a coward too!” he spat taunting the younger man.

Wilson’s hand hesitated on the cool metal of the door knob. He took a deep breath trying to calm himself before uttering his final parting words “You once told me you didn’t want to push this until it breaks…” pausing he looked at the floor, his back to the older man in a stance that declared his resignation.“…I think, I think that maybe it just… did” his voice cracked as he turned the handle and started to pull the door open. House’s hand slammed against the wooden surface,throwing the door closed and causing the young oncologist to flinch andturn. His gaze met the sight of House's frame towering menacingly over him.

“We’re NOT finished yet!” he hissed.

“Maybe you’re not but I AM” Wilson growled threateningly, pushing House away from him trying to get out of the corner he had been trapped in.

“I’m finished with this conversation and I’m…” pausing a moment he pulled his keys out of his pocket twisting them slightly within his fingers until one of the silver keys became detached. “…I’m finally finished with you!” he spoke with finality, pushing the key into House's chest for good measure. Instead of grasping it House watched as it dropped and clattered to the floor.

Anger flashed in the older man’s blue eyes as they met with Wilson’s defiant brown.

“FINE LEAVE!” he snarled with venom. “I don’t need you anyways!”

“You’re wrong, you’ve ALWAYS needed me, ALWAYS, ALL the time!” he hissed angrily “I’M the one that doesn’t need you! You’re a sarcastic, misanthropic son of a bitch who’s going to die in pain and alone, who DESERVES to die in pain and alone!” not waiting to see or hear Houses response Wilson turned on his heal and stormed out the door, letting it slam in his wake.

House stood wide eyed, hurt clearly etched on his features. His anger had drained out from every pore on his body and left him feeling empty with regret as he stood staring at the vacant space were his friend had just been standing. Taking a deep breath he moved forward to follow suit, but stopped himself when he heard the Volvo’s familiar engine roar to life and its tires screeching as it sped quickly away.

Hanging his head he looked down at his feet, his gaze falling on the discarded key. Bending over with painful grunt he gathered it into his shaky hand letting the magnitude of what it represented sink in. ‘What have I done?’ he thought regretfully as he wrapped his fingers tightly around the piece of metal, letting it dig painfully into the skin of his palm.

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