[If you'd asked Stephen ten minutes ago, he wouldn't have thought House was capable of empathy. Of course, it's a special kind of empathy that leads a person to advise someone to kill himself, even with the caveat that he has a decent chance of "surviving" it.
Is he willing to die for that, to take the risk? He's not sure that the answer is no, even knowing that he's never going back to his old life no matter what happens here.
He doesn't turn, just lets House on by him as he draws one of those hands down his face, forces his breathing to stay steady.]
Your secret's safe with me. If anyone asks, you're still an asshole.
[He does turn, decides to risk just a little sincerity.]
no subject
Is he willing to die for that, to take the risk? He's not sure that the answer is no, even knowing that he's never going back to his old life no matter what happens here.
He doesn't turn, just lets House on by him as he draws one of those hands down his face, forces his breathing to stay steady.]
Your secret's safe with me. If anyone asks, you're still an asshole.
[He does turn, decides to risk just a little sincerity.]
Thank you.