[ Will isn't even going to dignify that initial comment with a response, and also because he understands it's a throw away line for House. Probably words out of his mouth before he was aware of speaking.

As the older man spoke, the ex-profiler inched over onto his side, facing his friend. He watched the haggard profile, as House gave one of those rare glimpses, into his vulnerable heart. The reasoning was sound, and Will knew the man struggled with these types of fears. Not without reason, House was the master of self sabotage.

Reaching under the warming cocoon of the sleeping bags, Will lightly curled his fingers around House's forearm, tracking it down, until he could grip the other man's hand. ]

House. [ He began, in those soft and solemn tones. ] I highly doubt any of us are going to survive long enough for even you to screw up this relationship.

I sat there, while you were in that induced coma ... and all I could think about was the very real possibility that this time you weren't coming back. [ He'd gone and he'd done his investigating, like a good boy, but there had been a few hours. ] There seems to be a line drawn in the sand, between the few of us who weren't infected through our tablets and the rest of the group. If this place is true to form I suspect we'll find ourselves separated, and not by choice.

[ Pushing up on his elbow, he looked down into brilliant blue eyes, his own calmly serene. It had been the same serenity he'd felt, when he realized he'd lost the ability to save himself.

Zero sum game. ]