And you make excellent points RNwannabe :) The fact that he has had a long relationship with House may be just because House has never left, negating the need to get a new "House". But, in a way, House left him. B&B and The Tritter arc are good examples. If Wilson had wanted he would have had a perfect excuse to go find another "House" (not that I think it's possible!). But he didn't. House fills something in Wilson's life that nobody is able to. the fact that he never replaced Stacy I think he did, with Wilson. Sure they were already friends before Stacy (according to Bonnie's timeline, anyway) but after Stacy left Wilson was cast in the role of the companion for all things (well, except sex maybe, to my dismay..). To be fair, I can't actually say who needs who more or who would hold up better. That's why I love them together so much!

Since I posted the question, I suppose I should give my own take on it. but the fact that he never replaced Stacy, and appears visibly upset when the prospect of losing Wilson presents itself indicates to me that House would really be emotionally screwed if Wilson weren't there I agree with this and everything else you said. I don't think that Wilson replaced Stacy because Bonnie said, "you always needed him," indicating to me that they already had a codependent relationship, even when Stacy was around, granted Wilson had to take on a larger role when she left but I wouldn't call him a replacement. By that logic who would "replace" Wilson? The only one who comes close to what they have is Cuddy. House is visibly scared and upset anytime he thinks he's going to lose Wilson, B&B, and WAM are the best examples. But, in a way, House left him. B&B and The Tritter arc are good examples. Both of those instances were more of Wilson leaving House and they weren't so cut off from each other or for a long enough time for Wilson to start looking for a replacement. B&B didn't even last a whole episode, I think Wilson values House more than to have a new best friend by the end of the day. As for the Tritter arc, I think Wilson wanted to stick with that until it was over because he loves House. Neither situation was as permanent as a divorce. I short, I think that House needs Wilson more.

What about the idea of different people filling different roles? House/Wilson = friend/lecturer. Wilson/chick = sex. I think I ask that because they do seem to be so apart for a lot of the time. They aren't inseperable, they are just connected.

I agree wholehearted with what was said earlier the need House and Wilson each have for the other. Wilson does supply the emotional component in House's life that no one else does. I also think that House supplies something to Wilson that no one else gives him. Wilson is generally seen as the caring "good guy" person but there doesn't seem to be anyone in his life who sees past that mask. House, I think, does, he seems to recognize that Wilson has this other maniuplative side to him that is not shown to others. Or at least not recognized by them. I guess that my viewpoint is that it is more of a symbiotic relationship where each of them supplies something to the other that is irreplacable.

I guess that my viewpoint is that it is more of a symbiotic relationship where each of them supplies something to the other that is irreplacable. Yes! That's what I'm trying to say, but you explained so much better! By that logic who would "replace" Wilson? I don't want to see that happen, but Cuddy is a good bet. Deelaundry wrote an awesome fic called "Function" about how House would cope with Wilson's death. Cameron was the replacement. I hated that fic because it was so plausible that was painful to me to read it - I'll try to find a link. I agree that House is afraid to lose Wilson, but it didn't prevent him to do what he thought was right (B&B) or swallowed his pride (the Tritter arc) - and I'm not implying that he was wrong about that. I think I ask that because they do seem to be so apart for a lot of the time. They aren't inseperable, they are just connected. That's because you're not a crazy shipper, Sheep :D And here's the link to "Function" - http://deelaundry.livejournal.com/50340.html

What I find so compelling about the relationship is the complexity. Are House and Wilson just friends and lecturers? I think it's both less and more than that. House is a lousy, mooching selfish person. Not the best friend, if you ask me. But he will go to the mat to save a life. Wilson is a pedantic smarmy person with a stunning history of infidelity (if we're to believe House and, well, you know....) and dubious ethics. He's got a very dark side to him. But, (Tritter) he'll also go to the mat if he cares about you. Does Wilson just see women for the sex? According to Bonnie, no. He 'dates" and then they attack. (I'm all for it, by the way....I know Wilson wouldn't stand a chance of getting out of my home with his dignity intact. Especially if he rolled up his sleeves.)

Yes, Wannabe I do agree that Wilson is the political manipulator with the people around him, but, and this is where we differ, I think that he also has a need for someone who sees past the "good guy" mask he wears with the world. House fills that need and, although it's only my opinion, I think that at least some of Wilson's depression in S3 was because without House there was no one who did see him without that mask and accept/like him without it. I also think that on some level Wilson is afraid to be seen without the mask by most of the people he knows. That's what I meant about "symbiotic" earlier, they each give the other something essential that no one else does.

or swallowed his pride (the Tritter arc) - and I'm not implying that he was wrong about that. I think maybe I'm missing something here. Doesn't apologizing in the Tritter arc show that House is willing to take (for him) huge measures to keep Wilson? Are we agreeing or disagreeing here? Anyway, Function was an absolutely heartbreaking fic, it stayed with me for a while when I first read it. Beautiful stuff. That said, I don't think that House would really be whole if ,God forbid, Wilson were to die. I think he would outwardly appear the same but I think that some of that flare would be missing. While he and Cuddy have a fun relationship and it's clear that they both care about each other, House is far and away closer to Wilson. As for the ducklings being replacements.... :lol:

I think in short, Wilson needs House as someone who sees who he really is, which is a hell of a task, and House needs Wilson to feel human.

Quote: or swallowed his pride (the Tritter arc) - and I'm not implying that he was wrong about that. I think maybe I'm missing something here. Doesn't apologizing in the Tritter arc show that House is willing to take (for him) huge measures to keep Wilson? Are we agreeing or disagreeing here? Sorry, I wasn't clear. I wasn't talking about him swalloing his pride and apolologizing to Wilson, but swalloing his pride and trying to avoid that whole mess to reach those proportions. But I agree with you that he showed how much he wanted to keep Wilson in that scene. Misanthropicobs explained much better than me what I feel about their need to each other: it's a symbiotic relationship. I don't think I can say that Wilson needs House more or vice-versa. They both need the other to keep their lives at least tolerable. I don't think that House would really be whole if ,God forbid, Wilson were to die. I think he would outwardly appear the same but I think that some of that flare would be missing. I agree. But (there's always a but with me...) my point is that we already saw that House can make connections with others - not the same that he has with Wilson, but connections anyway, Cuddy and the ducklings are the best examples. Wilson, on the other hand, seems to have only House. His interactions with the others seem quite uncomfortable, like he's acting (which I think he is). And the Tritter arc and the whole living in a hotel thing also show us that Wilson is probably more lonely than House actually is. Or I could repeat what hry wrote: I think in short, Wilson needs House as someone who sees who he really is, which is a hell of a task, and House needs Wilson to feel human. ITA!

RNwannabe I have to tell you that your argument about sociopath!Wilson gave me chills! I see Wilson as a good person. He has good intentions at the heart. It's in the execution that he fails. All his most idiotic and stupid ideas and actions were dictated because he really cares. He didn't engender the bet in Detox and the lie in Meaning just because he was evil and wanted to torture House. He did those things because he truly believed that he could help House, because he loves House. That old saying about the roads to hell being covered with good intentions, remember? I also think he's a person with a lot of self esteem problems. He sees himself as not good enough, someone who does not deserve to be loved, who is not worthy. And that's why he's always pretending. He probably thinks that if the others could see the "real" Wilson, they would hate him. House sees the "real" Wilson and likes what he sees. So Wilson needs House, not only to do a reality check, but to prove to himself (Wilson) that he isn't worthless. Like someone else already said it's a hell of a task!

It is at the emotional level that House would go batshit if Wilson weren't around. Cuddy seems to think that it's her mad administrative skillz that keep House employed, and I readily grant that has a lot to do with it, but I also suspect that without Wilson's moderating influence even Cuddy couldn't stand him. Seeing how Cuddy viewed Wilson as disposable during the Tritter arc, I have this desire to have Wilson temporarily leave PPTH and see things go to hell. we already saw that House can make connections with others - not the same that he has with Wilson, but connections anyway, Cuddy and the ducklings are the best examples. Wilson, on the other hand, seems to have only House. Another example of how House and Wilson are ying and yang (to quote Doris Egan). House the bastard has people who care about him, Wilson the nice guy doesn't.