crack_van | Declarations of Independence by namasteyoga (Not rated)

Fandom: HOUSE M.D.
Pairing: None. House-Wilson friendship.
Length: 11,178 words
Author on LJ: Author's LJ profile
Author Website: Namaste's House Fics
Why this must be read:

namasteyoga excels at writing long stories with layers of detail built up with the skill of a painter. This story from January 2006 is one of my favorites of hers. The story is set at the onset of winter, when House is putting away his motorcycle until spring. His thoughts turn to other winters in his past, when he was young and athletic. The observations of House's physical limitations are particularly well done:

Excerpt:

Now winter arrives with pain.

The cold grabs tight to his muscles and holds on until April, squeezing any sense of flexibility out of them.

And the snow hides ice. House hates the moment before he steps outside and has to stop, flip the metal snow clip over the rubber tip at the base of his cane. During that moment, usually just in front of a door, he feels exposed, as if some neon arrow has gone off over his head, pointing directly at his right leg.

Declarations of Independence