.

[rehandle]

Comments

[rehandle]

[ Ah. He's - not in the right frame of mind to figure out what to do with that sentence, so: ]

What did he say to you?

[verbol]

Something about colour and consistency. Should I be taking notes?

[rehandle]

[ For god's SAKE HOUSE ]

No. [ Well - ] Just make sure to steer clear if I do start again.

[verbol]

Stephen, you shouldn't oozing at all. Just - come over if you think it's coming.

[rehandle]

[ That isn't the point, he almost protests, out of simple need to protest somehow when the unabashed offer lands like a strange little shock to the system.

But it isn't completely beside the point, is it? With Nami unconscious right when he'd been about to ask for her help... ]

And give House the satisfaction?

[ A little less seriousness in his tone, finally. ]

[verbol]

He already lost his bet with John.

[he's such a little bastard!] The option is there, anyway. Not like I'm doing much out here except chopping wood and using the kids for manual labour.

[rehandle]

They had a bet?

[ A pair of little bastards!! ]

Thanks. If I take you up on that I'll remember to call ahead so you can clear out the workforce. Do you have a full roof yet?

[verbol]

Oh, yeah. Full roof, all the walls are weather-proofed. Mostly. I'll probably insulate next weekend.

[how much wood can one man wood etc] If you call ahead, maybe you wizard them straight back to town so I don't have to hear 'em complaining.

[rehandle]

Right. It's a good job we don't all have a immutable telepathic connection for them to complain at you over...

[ Sorry to break it to you, bud. ]

[verbol]

I'm getting good at blocking them out.

[rehandle]

Well, practice makes perfect I guess.

[ A pause. ]

I might come by. Maybe tomorrow.

[verbol]

Yeah? Suppose I could spare some beer.

[rehandle]

Ever the gracious host. [ Here again that delay, thoughts moving from visit to the need for the visit to— ] How have you been sleeping recently?

[verbol]

[A beat. ] Usual. Not great. Why, my eyebags getting worse?

[rehandle]

[ It says something that he neither huffs a laugh or confirms in jest. ]

Nightmares?

[verbol]

Yeah, sometimes.

[rehandle]

Death?

[verbol]

Why are you asking?

[rehandle]

There's something going around. Bad sleep, dreams of dying. Some people aren't waking up.

Make sure you're not on your own out there too much.

[ Not that it'll make any difference. But he doesn't like the idea of Jim caught unwaking in nightmare throes with nobody there to at least watch over him. ]

[verbol]

What do you mean people aren't waking up?

[rehandle]

They're not dead, just sleeping. Something like a coma.

[verbol]

How many?

[rehandle]

I don't know. House might be a better call for numbers, he's taking care of people at the clinic.

[verbol]

Right - right. I'll head into town, then. Check in.

[rehandle]

[ Come on, Stephen. Just talk to him. It takes maybe ten seconds, a notable pause when thoughts have been flowing like conversation, almost like he's already gone - ]

My roommate's down with it. She's been out for about a week.