Missing scene, "Needle in a Haystack"

Category: House/Wilson friendship
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Needle in a Haystack
Summary: Missing scene for the episode.

“Accommodating” (1/1)
by Lisa Michelle


The sounds of scraping outside his office door made Wilson
look up from his paperwork. He wondered if someone was trying
to get in, but he didn’t have any appointments until well after
lunch. He was just about to get up and look when the noise stopped.

He turned his attention back to the file he was working on,
but didn’t have time to complete the sentence he started writing
when the noise returned. Pushing back his chair, he stood up and
walked to the door. He opened it and saw House outside the door
in a wheelchair.

“Finally,” House said, looking up at him from the wheelchair.
“I’ve been out here trying to get in for five minutes.”

Wilson looked down at him. “What are you doing in a wheelchair?”

“I was coming to tell you, but I couldn’t get in,” House explained.
“Move.”

Wilson stepped aside and held the door open for his friend. House
wheeled himself inside, but got hung up on the leg of small table
inside Wilson’s office. “Hey, a little help here.”

Wilson let the door shut and pulled the table over a few inches
to accommodate House’s new method of transportation. “I didn’t
realize I had to make my office wheelchair accessible.”

“That’s the problem with you able-bodied people,” House said.
“No one gives a second thought to us cripples.”

Wilson leaned against his desk and crossed his arms over his
chest. “Okay, let’s hear it. Why are you in a wheelchair?”

“It’s a good reason,” House replied.

“Oh, I’m going to reserve that judgement until I hear your logic
on this one,” Wilson told him.

“That new doctor. The researcher. Doctor Whitmer,” House said.
“She’s in a wheelchair so Cuddy gave her my parking space.”

“And?”

“There’s no and,” House replied. “That was my space.”

“She’s in a wheelchair, House,” Wilson reminded him.

“Which means she sits on her ass and pushes a lever backwards
and forwards all day,” House concluded. “Yes, let’s roll out the
red carpet for her.”

Wilson rolled his eyes. “This still doesn’t explain why you’re
sitting in a wheelchair.”

“Cuddy told me I couldn’t last a week in one.” House rocked
the chair back on two wheels. “I’m going to win my space back.”

Wilson winced as House showed off in the chair. “By pretending
to be more disabled than you really are?”

“Yes.”

Wilson shook his head. “You don’t know when to quit, do you?”

House set the chair back down on all four wheels and leaned
forward. “I’m disabled, too.” He pointed a finger at his chest.

“You can walk.”

“No, I can limp,” House clarified. “Now I have to limp further
and that’s just to get into the hospital. Never mind the snow tracked
in and the slick floors from the janitors’ mops. This place is a death
trap for me.”

“Yes. How do you make it through each day?”

“I’m going to win at this game,” House told him. “She’s not
going to beat me.”

“Why you’re not asked to speak at disability conferences I’ll
never understand,” Wilson deadpanned. “Now are you through
ranting?”

“For now.” House looked at his watch. “It’s lunchtime.”

Wilson uncrossed his arms, walked back to his chair and sat
down. “Go ahead. I’ve got some work to finish up.”

“Yeah, like I can go and get lunch all by myself like this.”
House moved his arms out to his sides.

“If you want some help, all you had to do was ask,” Wilson
said.

“Well, it’s either that or I’m going to have to go and get one
of those companion dogs,” House replied. “You provide me with
slightly more intelligent conversation than it would.”

Wilson sighed, dropped his pen and ran a hand over his face.
“Fine, but it’ll have to be quick.”

“Yes, that’s right. Make the crippled man hurry,” House said.
“Haven’t we suffered enough?”

Wilson got up, walked to the door and held it open for House.

House maneuvered the wheelchair around and wheeled himself
to the door. “See, now you’re making yourself useful.”

****
END (1/1)