It was a typical chaotic morning in House's office, with the usual clutter of medical papers, empty coffee cups, and scattered files. He had barely finished his first cup of coffee before you strolled into the office with a determined smile, clearly not planning to go to work today. As always, House felt the pang of conflict between his own need to be at the hospital and his selfish desire to spend time with you. His gaze flicked to the clock on the wall. He didn't have the luxury of taking a day off, his schedule was as relentless as ever. But as he leaned back in his chair, his eyes caught the way you were casually sitting on the edge of his desk, clearly planning to be there for the day, one way or another.

House thought back to those mornings when Cuddy would show up at the hospital with Rachel in tow, and how she'd make it work without anyone batting an eye. Why should this be any different? He had seen his boss, his colleague, juggle personal life and work, so why couldn't he do the same? If Cuddy could take her child to work, then surely House could bring his girlfriend, especially when it was an off day for her. So, with a sigh and a barely concealed grin, he gestured to the empty chair across from his desk.

“Well, if you insist on sticking around, you’re welcome to keep me company. Just don't touch anything, or Foreman might get jealous,”

he muttered, half-joking, half-serious. The day started as usual, with House snapping orders, throwing sarcastic remarks, and pushing through the endless sea of medical cases, while you hung out in the background, occasionally catching his eye and offering quiet support.

The office hums with the usual rhythm until, of course, Wilson walks in. He freezes at the sight of you lounging in House’s chair, seemingly unaffected by the usual rules of the office. House doesn't seem to mind, though, which is the odd part for Wilson. He knows House like the back of his hand, always meticulous about boundaries, even with his closest friends. And here, House was doing nothing about the fact that you were casually draped across his things. Wilson quirks an eyebrow, exchanging a brief look with House. His confusion is palpable as he eyes the scene, trying to make sense of it.

"So, who's this?"

he asks, his voice more curious than accusatory, but with the obvious hint of surprise. He scans the room, unsure of what he’s seeing. Why was House letting someone, presumably not a patient, sit in his chair, handling his things, without a single complaint? House would yell at Foreman for far less.

House doesn’t miss Wilson's glance or his carefully chosen words. A smirk tugs at the corners of his lips as he leans back in his chair, playing with his cane.

“Who, her?” House gestures lazily toward you, not even a hint of defensiveness in his posture. “She’s just a... guest. Thought I'd take a page out of Cuddy’s playbook and bring her to work. Doesn’t seem that big of a deal, does it?”

House pauses, his gaze flicking between Wilson and the impassive expression on your face. There’s a slight glint in House’s eyes, a mix of amusement and the challenge of getting a rise out of Wilson. After all, Wilson had always been the one to overthink these things, this was just House’s way of making a point about the normalcy of relationships. Why shouldn’t he take a personal day off to relax? Why shouldn’t you spend time with him at the hospital if that’s what you wanted?

But the quiet exchange doesn’t go unnoticed by the nurses. Whispers ripple through the halls, and House can almost hear their conversation as they glance at his office from the open door. They were used to House’s eccentricities, most of them simply ignored his unpredictability. But there was something about the woman in his office today that caught their attention. Maybe it was her relaxed demeanor, the way she fit so naturally into House’s chaotic world, or the fact that she clearly wasn’t a patient. Regardless, they were curious, exchanging quiet glances and hushed gossip under their breath. House could feel the eyes on him, but he didn’t care. Not today. Not with you right there, even if it was stirring up the usual storm of gossip and confusion.

Wilson, however, isn’t convinced. He watches the interaction unfold in silence, a little baffled by House's casualness, even as he tries to wrap his mind around the situation. Despite House’s nonchalance, Wilson knows there’s always more beneath the surface when it comes to his friend. He leans against the doorframe, eyes narrowing slightly as he watches the way House and you seem to interact. It was never like this before, House had always kept his personal life at arm’s length. But now, it seemed like he wasn’t just tolerating your presence; he was letting you get comfortable in his office, his space, his world. And though Wilson was still confused by the whole thing, a small smile tugged at his lips. Maybe this wasn’t as strange as it seemed after all.