Cutting (PG-13)

[deelaundry]

Posted to house_wilson

Title: Cutting
Author: Dee Laundry
Pairing: House/Wilson
Rating: PG-13
Words: 784
Summary: Midquel for My Fathers' Son. Jack’s not always an angel.

Hey, what took you so long? And why does Jack look like his head was attacked by a retarded squirrel with tiny blunt hedge clippers?

You know how he doesn’t like haircuts?

Yes.

I discovered this afternoon that he really, really doesn’t like haircuts. Jack, go play in your room.

He seems fine now.

He’s not getting his hair cut now.

Was he really that bad, or was the hair cutter just incompetent?

She was the owner of the shop. Did her absolute best. It was all Jack. He was…. worse than you can imagine.

I can’t –

A screaming fit from the second his name was called until the moment I pulled my wallet out to pay.

Well, if he –

Screaming, House. Rising to the decibel level of planes taking off. I’m not exaggerating. Every single person in the place was looking at us; they must’ve thought I was torturing him.

You can’t take him to your beauty salon; you’ve got to go to one of those kid places where they know how to handle him. Let him watch a video or something.

It’s a unisex stylist, and we didn’t go there. We went to a kids’ salon, with cartoon pictures on the wall, and video games, and personal TVs, and none of it helped one damn bit.

You should’ve taken his favorite toys for distraction.

Legos, and cars, and Mr. Bear, and a brand new Penny in Pigtails sticker book, and the salon’s remote controlled helicopter and plastic soldiers… none of it helped.

You hate him playing with war toys.

I would’ve let him have an unloaded gun if it would’ve calmed him down. I had to get in the chair with him and physically hold him in place.

Is that why it looks like a Tortoiseshell Persian exploded on you? Next time you can bring some snacks, little treats he doesn’t normally get.

I had Wheat Thins, Goldfish, mini rice cakes –

Mini rice cakes are not a treat! No wonder he yelled.

Marshmallows, gummy bears, and Cheetos.

Seriously? I thought you thought the orange dust was toxic.

It is. I was desperate. I let one of the stylists buy him a Coke.

No.

Yes. He wouldn’t close his mouth enough to suck on the straw. It was agony, the whole experience. Next time I’m going to get up in the middle of the night and shave his head while he sleeps and be done with it.

You’re not balding our son.

OK, Mr. Sensitive. A buzz cut, then. I can’t handle another trip to the salon.

A buzz cut? No. Flashback central. If it was all that traumatic to you, you weeping wuss, let his hair grow for a while until he matures out of the phobia.

You’ve got a solution for everything, don’t you? Fine.

Hey, why are you walking funny? Are you cheating on me? Getting something on the down low?

How could I possibly go any lower down than we are? We’re already so low we’re in the damn sub-basement.

Wow, somebody pissed in your cornflakes.

I’m walking “funny” because I wrenched my knee when my leg was wrapped around your son, trying to hold down a screaming tornado.

You shouldn’t have had to do that. You could’ve –

And you know what he was sobbing? In between the inarticulate howls of rage? “Daddy,” that’s what he was saying. “Daddy loves me; Daddy wouldn’t hurt me.” The stylists thought he was trying to reassure himself, and the whole time he’s calling out for you and stabbing my fucking heart.

He didn’t mean it that way.

You have no clue how he meant it. You weren’t there.

It doesn’t take two of us to run an errand like that.

You wouldn’t know; you never run them.

Hey, when you were recovering, I –

We should both be there for things like this. He needs both of us.

You do fine.

I do fine.

That’s what I said.

Yes, I know. I am echoing your sentence in a scoffing manner because you don’t fucking know! You don’t know what I go through; you don’t know what it’s like.

When you were –

When I was! When I was! I’m so sick of hearing about that, and all the wonderful things you did for Jack.

Hey, I –

I almost hit him today, House. I was this close to raising my hand and smacking my son.

But you didn’t.

As far as you know.

Wilson.

I needed you there, House. We should’ve been there as a family.

We’ll make Marjorie take him next time. Sneak it into her nanny contract under “other duties as assigned.”

Yeah. Whatever.

Wilson?

*slam*

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, this hurts. I know what you mean about haircuts though, my son was the same way.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

It was not good. Not good at all.

Thanks for reading

[purridot.livejournal.com]

I needed you there, House. We should've been there as a family.

OUCH. It's so sad that that particular thread of pain, that runs through the while series, is flickering even here, when they were physically all together as a family :-(

But... the dialogue was also pretty damned funny! :-)

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Thanks. The pain's there the whole time, unfortunately. Wilson's ability to cope with it is what goes up and down. : (

[narcoleptic-ll.livejournal.com]

*ouch*

At first I was smiling thinking of how I was whenever my mum wanted me to go and get a haircut, which I didn't get until I was like 3 or 4 years old... and she *did* cut my hair when I was sleeping.

And then, an amusing circumstance became an argument and my stomach just knotted.

It’s a very powerful piece and I liked it. I have no idea what the “My father’s son”-verse is, but I’m finding out right now ;)

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Thanks. This brings up the central conflict of the whole 'verse -- House's need to have his relationship with Wilson in the closet. Usually Wilson copes but after this particular experience, he just can't.

There are several stories in the My Fathers' Son universe. Start with the original (link above) and then the rest of the fics are listed in a separate section on my fic list (http://deelaundry.livejournal.com/31872.html).

[savemoony.livejournal.com]

*wibble*

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I know. Wilson's not happy right now.

[hirenkoi.livejournal.com]

Oh God... Can´t stop laughing! XDDDDDDDDDD
Wilson is so... mother. \o/

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

He is the mom, isn't he? But here he's getting very tired of having to do so much alone, unfortunately. Thanks.

[suiciderunner.livejournal.com]

Poor Wilson.. he just want House to be THERE once in a while, but House just can't or won't do it. I don't think he really gets why it's so important to Wilson.

The first part is funny, and I can't say no to MFS fics, even if they are sad and angsty.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I don't think House lets himself know how important it is to Wilson. Because if House admitted it was important, he'd have to acknowledge what his fears are doing to the people he loves. So he has to downplay everything instead. Sad.

Thanks.

[hry2007.livejournal.com]

Ouch. It's so real in that it starts out amusing... I could never put up with that.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Thanks. For Wilson, I think it's like the frog in the boiling water, he accepts a little, and then a little more, and before he knows it, things are where he never imagined they'd be.

[bukabe16.livejournal.com]

sheesh House, I never thought you were such a coward.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

It's sad, isn't it? Thanks.

[silsbee329.livejournal.com]

You are so good at the dialogue. (And the title is perfect.)

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Thanks. This was a sad one to write.

[namasteyoga.livejournal.com]

It's a scary moment for parents, isn't it, when they come close to hitting their child in anger (as opposed to a specific punishment issue, I say solely because I was raised in a spanking family, and that's a whole different thing). Of course, I think what's scariest/most frustrating for Wilson is that he could reach that point.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

It's a scary moment, for sure, and made worse for Wilson here because he has a lingering fear that he doesn't love Jack enough. The most frustrating thing is that he can't get House to acknowledge how he feels and provide support. Rough. Thanks.

[melp.livejournal.com]

I'm conflicted. The dialog was so painfully good and real and back and forth funny and just a little snarky and then WHOMP. The woobies.

I really enjoyed this and its prequel. And now it looks like I have to go back and read them all. :D

Definitely looking forward to that. Thanks for the great read! <3

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Yeah, those woobies were lurking way before Wilson even got home. : (

[jdr1184.livejournal.com]

You know, Dee. I love Jack. I really do, but every time he pulls that you're not my Daddy stuff and breaks Wilson's heart, I want burn all his toys and make him nothing but broccoli. I know the brat didn't mean it, but I still hate it. Make House eat broccoli too while you're at it.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

The only thing I can say in Jack's defense is that he's become petrified of getting his hair cut. If House had tsken him, he would've begging for Pop.

Thanks.

[sodiumbisulfite.livejournal.com]

This was very heartbreaking. At first I thought it was humorous, but as I kept going I could just feel Wilson's heart breaking, and House seeminlgy un-caring attitude. *snuggles Wilson*

I hope there will be more in this 'verse? I am really quite fond of it!

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

There'll be two more in the next couple of weeks. An NC-17 piece requested during the RSL BD Drive, and a short scene from the Key West trip Wilson was planning in "Papa's Retreat." Thanks!

[hannahrorlove.livejournal.com]

I think the ending's stronger here than the original draft - one of the issues with dialogue-only stories is lacking the ability to describe tone and actions, but having it right at the end, and presented as a sound, which maintains the dialgue feel, works very well in communicating how deeply Wilson is feeling this.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I don't like to do "asterisks" in dialogue-only (MSTs being an exception) but you're right, this needed it. Wilson is pissed, no ambiguity at all to it. Thanks.

[idonmatrix.livejournal.com]

Great dialogue. Is there a follow-up because I have to know if they had makeup sex after Wilson went wild :)

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Not for several days. Wilson slept in the guest room that night, and spent the next few days flirting with every woman in the hospital, silently daring House to stop him.

House caught him alone by a nurses' station and said quietly, "You don't have to be such an asshole."

Wilson stared at him for a minute and then said, "No, I don't have to." He grinned and raised his voice. "But that's what makes it so much fun; am I right?" He popped House one on the shoulder and walked off whistling.

Wilson eventually cooled down, but it took a while.

[xaipw.livejournal.com]

Mini rice cakes are not a treat! No wonder he yelled.
Hee!

DEE! First you made me laugh, then you made my heart break for poor Wilson. Stop that!


You know, I panicked a bit when I saw that title of this fic. I was a afraid that you had gone over to the EMO! dark side. ;)

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

House, for once, doesn't know everything -- the chocolate chip rice cakes are yumsters.

I did have brief thoughts that that connotation of "cutting" might come up in readers' minds, but otherwise it's so apt that... I left it in.

Thanks.

[evila-elf.livejournal.com]

First I was loling. Then I was wibbling.

Love these fics, and great job with Dialogue Only..I could 'hear' each one clearly and even get a good idea of the reactions as they were talking. Awesome! :D

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I love dialogue only, and getting the tone and implied reactions depicted correctly is a challenge.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

One of my kids was like that, too, so I totally get what Wilson went through.

*shudders*

House should go next time. Ha, I'd love to see him trying to hold onto a screaming, struggling child while sitting on the chair. See what he'd say then!!

[layne67.livejournal.com]

ps I'm so happy that you're writing in this verse. Would there be more soon?

[daisylily.livejournal.com]

Yup, that's just right.

*cries*

Every time I read a MFS fic I want to shake some sense into both House and Wilson...

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

They need a shaking, don't they? Thanks for your help; it was invaluable.

[lz1982.livejournal.com]

So sad. Jeez. No constructive comments here, sorry.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Thanks. This is a tense one.

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

Pleaase don't get pissed at me for this. I think you're a very good writer, but I can't see House with a kid. At. All. My OOC alarms are going off full blast.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Not pissed at all. I can see how it seems abrupt, given that this is a midquel to an already established "universe" that I first wrote in My Fathers' Son (http://deelaundry.livejournal.com/7091.html), a long story that went in-depth into this family. You might find it more believable if you read that first.

Or not; it's up to you. : )

[dangomango.livejournal.com]

I don't want to hit either of them - I just feel sad for them both. And dude, I have *heard* this fight, which makes it five thousand times worse :/
(Of course you wrote it well)

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Thanks. And sorry that you've had to hear this fight in person. The things layered in here are just so not good. : (

[hibernia1.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, another story in MFS-verse, great... Lovely and funny and at the same time as heartbreaking as ever - especially the fact that Jack was calling for "Daddy"... you have great insights. Thanks for sharing!

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I had a request for MFS-verse in the RSL BD Charity Drive so my mind keeps going back there lately. (I'll finish two more short fics in this 'verse soon, I think.) Thanks.

[inlaterdays.livejournal.com]

Aw. Poor guys. But you have their voice pitch-perfect, as always.

The way you can make them be funny even while they are fighting is so them...makes me smile while at the same time it stings like crazy.

- You can't take him to your beauty salon...
- It's a unisex stylist...

I am echoing your sentence in a scoffing manner because you don't fucking know!

Wonderful. ~hugs~

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

You're too good to me, bb. Seriously. *hugs*

[livelove423.livejournal.com]

*is sad for Wilson* Ouch. That hurt. Can this universe never end, please?

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Wilson tries not to let things get to him in this 'verse, but sometimes he's not successful. Two happier ficlets coming up in the next few weeks (I think). Thanks.