House noticed her dress had changed, hairstyle, perfume, the way she presented herself throughout the hospital; confident, content, strong and frankly, he didn't approve.
He found himself always studying her. Noticing the way she worked with patients, how she spoke to colleagues in comparison to him, the way she ignored his snark with a quip of her own, fighting to get her points across, and the smiles she flashed to the new man who came to pick her up in front of PPTH.
She wasn't the same Dr. Cameron he had hired three and a half years ago. The naïve doctor who had fallen hard and fast for him. The doctor whose emotions were shredded by his honesty; his lies. Lies. And that's all anything ever was between the two of them. Every word was chosen carefully to mask the truth because of his pride and maybe, fear.
Honesty brushed aside even in his mind. Always trying to convince himself, even when no one else was around, that he didn't care about what Cameron was doing each night, and yet, he would fight this internal battle to hold off any strangulations. Wilson accused him of being jealous which House justified his actions and remarks as concern because she could just as easily date a guy who turns out to be a serial killer.
Interviewing is a pain in the ass.
House hated that his best friend always thought that he knew him better, knew what he was feeling, what he 'really' thought. Seriously, what the hell does he know anyway?
Because of his "concern" for her safety, it was alright that he monitored her social life. It was alright that he named them each by the day. It wasn't stalking, it wasn't obsessing, it was...simply watching. Tuesday was a one time thing. Thursday was granted a second date. Next Monday, though, made it to four, but she didn't seem to be committed to him afterwards. 'Probably sucked in bed,' and clenched his jaw at the thought. Worrying hadn't come along until, Mike (this one had a name), came to pick her up for a sixth date.
That night, on the corner of her street, he sat on his bike and waited for her to come home. After watching her several times like this he discovered a pattern after each date: the goodbye kiss meant that the night went well, but she wasn't interested in seeing them again. Bringing them up to her apartment had to be measured by time. If an hour passed, it was a clue that there would be another date. Less than twenty minutes meant that she was interested, but if another man came along, she would accept. Half an hour was tricky to decipher. He had to go by her attitude the next morning. And if she didn't show up at all, well, she had a good time.
It was almost twelve when Mike pulled up to her place. He opened the car door for her and they walked hand in hand, laughing, and as Cameron was taking her key out of her purse, Mike pushed her up against the door, pressing his body and lips to hers. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she held him tightly, pushing against the door to press into him with more force. House watched the way she reacted to Mike, how caught up she was, and wondered if she ever thought about him doing that to her, if she was picturing him right then instead of Mike.
They finally pulled apart, giving Cameron enough time to unlock her door as they stumbled inside. House revved up the engine and headed back home. He didn't need to time this date because Mike was clearly going to be around for a while.
Another few dates and Cameron dumped Mike. Who knows why? He thought about asking but figured that it wasn't worth prying because he was gone, and that was all that mattered. House was ready to go home when he spotted Cameron at her desk and decided to ask her to get a drink with him. They left shortly after and drank at a bar that was a few blocks away from House's place. The whole time they talked, laughed, and challenged one another on their knowledge of music. They each had a few beers and two shots of tequila silver before they decided to leave.
They called a cab and when it pulled up in front of House's place, he asked Cameron if she would want some coffee. Agreeing she got out with him. Once they stepped inside, House didn't waste anytime and grabbed her by the arm, practically dragging her in and impatiently pulling off his shirt as their lips crashed. He fumbled with the buttons of her blouse, her fingers skating through his hair and down to his bare chest, enjoying every shock of pleasure that shot to her core at the touch of his skin. His body shuddered when her nails scratched along his sides, unable to bite down a groan when she unbuckled his belt, button, and slipped a hand into his jeans to firmly grasp his unbelievably hard cock.
Tugging her shirt over her shoulders, he held her tightly around the waist, grinding to provoke encouraging moans for more. As they broke apart for air they desperately needed, Cameron took the opportunity to let him know that this was sex with no commitments which House agreed, letting her know that was his intention. Lies.
They stumbled to his bedroom, clothes scattered across the floor. Lying on his back, she stroked his cock as he worked his fingers in and out of her, circling her clit with his thumb. It was like a competition, much different from their silent games at work, to see who could get who to cum first, who was able to control themselves. After she came, he grinned with victory while guiding her onto his lap and with one quick thrust, filled her completely, smirking again as she gasped at his size. The rhythm they created was filled with need; quick and hard as his fingers pressed into her thighs, her nails scraping his chest and digging into his shoulders, a guaranteed brand for the week.
Grunting, heavy breathing, smacking lips and moaning echoed through out the room as their pace elevated, working impatiently for release. House pushed himself up into a sitting position, wrapping his arms around her back, bucking frantically, wanting more and not getting enough of her, trying to shove deeper inside to satisfy his desire. Seizing her neck, he firmly pressed his lips to hers, biting her lip as he moved away to capture her neck with his open mouth, leaving wet trails from his tongue as he moved to the curve of her shoulder. His face pressed into the side of her neck, muffling the uncontrollable grunting, as he felt his climax approaching. He pulled away, her eyes closed as he scanned her features, detecting any shift, then looked down to watch him drive into her hot core. A few thrusts later, her head tilted back as she cried out and he followed after another thrust, emptying himself entirely.
She didn't stay and called a cab to take her home. House told himself that he didn't mind because this was what he wanted. He had to satisfy his curiosity, but wasn't going to deny that it was good and wouldn't mind doing it again if he could.
The next few months went by with Cameron still dating. The nights she was free, House would propose that they go to either his or her place and they would have sex again, then leave to their own homes. It was just sex and Cameron would always point this out and he would tell her to stop acting full of herself because he only wanted her body. Lies.
After each encounter, House found himself growing more and more disappointed because there was nothing more and they never spent the night together. House tried telling her one night that his car wouldn't start in hopes that he could stay, but she drove him home. He couldn't deny it anymore. All the time he spent with her only made it difficult to let her go and watch her with other men as he sat on his bike at her corner. She never talked about her dates and he never asked. He already knew.
Sitting in Wilson's office, he asked for his advice. Wilson was stunned at first, not because of the sex, but the fact that House was actually admitting his feelings. The only solution he provided was what House knew along. He had to tell her. It seemed simple, at least it was in his head because there, everything would work out and Cameron would love him back. But this was reality and it sure as hell wasn't easy.
That night, Cameron came to his place. Holding her hand, he lead her to his room and kissed her slowly and gently as he closed the door. As they made it to the bed, clothes on the floor, House rolled Cameron on to her back and settled himself between her thighs, something he had never done. If he couldn't tell her how he felt, he was going to show her in hopes that she'd understand.
His movements were slow and mild, each thrust said something different, everything he wanted her to know, but too afraid to say. Leaning down he kissed her fervently, pulling away to stare into her eyes. He laced her fingers in his, bringing it up to his lips and kissing her palm, eyes never tearing away from hers.
Cameron jerked her hand away from his grasp and told him to stop. Looking down at her, he was confused, her eyes shielded all emotion and weren't telling him anything. When she opened her mouth, he was hoping she'd say what he couldn't, but unfortunately, this really was reality, and instead she told him to fuck her. He nodded once and turned his head away, closing his eyes to hide the hurt and disappointment that he was sure would be apparent. Placing his hand on the headboard for leverage, he drove into her with force and anger. Bucking into her harder and faster, giving her what she wanted so then she'd leave and he would be able to drink it off, adding a few vicodin into the mix. The plan didn't work and it pissed him off because he couldn't just tell her. When he came inside her, it was nothing satisfying, only regret and even disgust were feelings consuming House at that moment.
This was their relationship and a month later, her fellowship came to an end. Everyone congratulated her and wished her luck while House stood outside on his balcony with Wilson, thinking about her and how difficult this was to let her go. He figured she'd be better off not knowing about his feelings. Wilson didn't say anything to him, which was helpful because, strangely, House didn't want to be alone at that moment and words would only make him shout at his best friend to leave. There was no scotch in his drawer to comfort him anyway.
House stared straight ahead when Wilson finally spoke up, telling him that she needed to know because maybe she was waiting to hear the words. It sounded like a good idea. Grabbing his cane, he went to the lobby where everyone was saying goodbye. This wasn't going to be easy. Limping up to her, he hoped that once he reached her, the words would just come out of his mouth before they even registered in his mind. It had to be that fast. Stepping in front of her, he offered to carry the rest of her things to the car and she thanked him.
After he put the last box in the backseat of her car, he stood, leaning down, and kissed her. Smiling, he took hold of her arm, pulling her towards him and hugged her, whispering for her to not leave. Still in his embrace, she told him that she had to move on, make a name for herself and before she could continue, he finally said it... those three words that contained so much meaning and yet not enough. It was silent and he was nervous. His body tensed, his heart thumped as she pulled back only to hold his gaze and smile.