Title: Freeze Out

Author: SrslyNo

Summary: House and Wilson meet at a medical conference after years of silence.

Characters: House and Wilson

Rating: PG

Warning: Sad. No violence.

Disclaimer: Not mine. Never will be.

A/N: darkwilson drabble. Prompt: 67, Face-to-face. Another guilty pleasure. I really need to do some work, but this is addictive.

Unbeta'd.

This drabble received a lot of requests for a sequel on LJ. I'm beginning to write a draft, but can see this going in several directions. I'm open to any suggestions if you would like to see this continue. Please feel free to comment or send a message. Thanks! :D

Hopkins extended an invitation for Wilson to deliver the keynote address at the national medical conference. An honor he could do without, but the medical director dropped the airline ticket down on his desk as if it was an edict, "I've let you slide on public appearances, but this means a lot to the hospital. Trinity can spare you for a few days. Take Dr. West along if you like, but you're going."

Two weeks later, his speech met with enthusiasm and a bevy of questions, but Wilson knew the gauntlet wasn't over. He couldn't get away fast enough from his eager colleagues, and as the doctors melted away, he fell prey to the man leaning on a cane.

It was awkward meeting face-to-face. Neither wanted to extend a hand for fear one would reject the other. House saw icy resolve. It meant more to Wilson to give in than for him, so he spoke first.

"You look ten years older than when I last saw you."

"How odd, because it's been five since the last time we spoke." The glacier cracked, "I see you haven't changed." It was a momentary spy hole into the past that sealed back up as Wilson transformed into granite.

The wall of silence froze both of them. There was nothing left to say. House's eyes betrayed sadness as he turned and walked away.

West came rushing up, "Sorry Wilson, was that House? I got tied up with hotel checkout and our air confirmation." He lowered his voice, "Did he ask questions?"

Wilson held himself erect and walked deliberately slow to disguise the telltale limp, "No, and we didn't talk about anything personal. He's a curious son-of-a-bitch, but he doesn't suspect, and I don't want him ever to find out, got it?"

Fin

Thanks for reading. Comments welcome.