This story takes off from the last lines spoken by Cameron in the episode "Lines in the Sand" (Great episode by the way).
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Summary: While working on a case, House is forced to re-evaluate some things and change the 'one patient per week' rule when one of his own becomes patient number two. HCIIIII
Chapter 1
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"All change is bad? It's not true, you know."
Her words broke the silence between them, forcing him to acknowledge her presence next to him. Of course, he already knew it was her the moment he heard someone walk into his office.
Was there anyone else present in the hospital that was as pathetic as she was?
As nauseatingly empathetic?
No.
There was no doubt about it.
Who else except Allison Cameron would stay at the hospital past sunset, long after working hours were over to stand by his side while he watched a middle aged man shuffle in a not-so-graceful manner across the floor, re-installing his old carpet?
Then again, Wilson was sometimes just as equally pathetic and annoying as Cameron. Especially when trying to lecture him on something that he didn't give a damn about, and because he keeps the junk his patients gives him, even though they already croaked.
So Wilson had made a point that some doctors received gifts while implying that he didn't?
Well, ha! He sure showed him.
Aaron-what's-his-name gave him a PSP, which is a hundred times better then a box of sand and a poor excuse of clumped up plastic trying to pass itself off as bear. And of course then there was that time Wilson decided to teach him a lesson in humbleness, which for the record, had completely backfired once Cuddy had cracked. Now that was truly pathetic.
But who cares for modesty?
Not him, that's for sure.
Humility was overrated.
And boring…
And just not fun.
But being a jerk?
It was much, much more entertaining. Probably only to him though, since sarcasm was usually lost to the lesser minded.
It didn't matter though, since he was the only person that mattered.
If he was bored, he wouldn't be interested, and then lives wouldn't be saved and that's always bad…at least that's what everyone else keeps telling him.
Guess humility wasn't one of the prices he had to pay for being brilliant.
Ahh, when will that Wilson ever learn?
He rolled his eyes.
Even so, now that it was established that there were two pathetic individuals in Gregory House's life, the chances of it actually being Wilson entering his office to watch carpet be re-installed after everything was done for the day, were still slim to none. A person is unable to go against his nature, no matter how hard he tries.
He just wouldn't be able to help it.
In other words, the Oncologist was probably far away by now, banging one of the new nurses he recently hired, or a patient he was treating or worse, having hot crazy monkey sex with Cuddy.
House grimaced mentally at that last thought but showed no trace of the repulsion and disgust he was feeling. His appearance managed to stay intense and solemn.
It took sheer willpower and mental mastery of self control, but he was able to keep from gagging.
The words 'Cuddy' and 'hot sex,' especially 'hot sex,' should never be allowed to be used in the same sentence, let alone with the name 'Wilson' thrown into the mix.
He had to lift his head to see if something would catch his attention and therefore get that horrible image out of his head.
Damn over thinking!
Well they could, and then they would actually form a sentence, for example: Cuddy and Wilson are having hot sex; but then the frisky would probably cross the Mexican border, go into hiding and never come back. Best case scenario.
Oh well, it wasn't like he would be needing it anyway, now that the seventeen year old was out of his life.
Damn.
She was almost legal too.
Damn again.
Of course there was Cameron…
Better to keep the frisky then.
He sighed inwardly as his thoughts drifted back to the present and to what Cameron had said. However, instead of responding immediately, he continued to stare at the bloodstained carpet for a few seconds before finally turning his gaze to meet hers. He looked at her, and she at him, their eyes meeting.
A look of understanding was written on her face.
All change isn't bad?
A tiny smirk, barely visible formed across his features as he continued to stare at her.
Did she really believe that?
Moments passed before, he broke the gaze and turned his attention back onto the floor. Cameron's own eyes followed, her gaze also settling onto the spot in the carpet so clearly blemished by blood, House's blood.
The two simply stood there, silence once again surrounding them.
A few more minutes had passed before either of them spoke.
This time House was the one to break the silence.
"It's late." He stated, his tone calm and face inexpressive. He was still staring at the carpet, purposely avoiding her gaze.
"I know it is." Cameron replied.
It was quiet again.
"Listen, I…" She began, but her voice drifted off.
What was there to say to someone who didn't like change?
House turned his head once more to face her, leaning closer towards her at the same time.
Cameron could feel her heartbeat involuntarily quicken.
"It's late." He repeated.
"I know that, but…" She was cut off by House's sudden movement.
He took a step backward to give her direct access to the door, the 'thump' from his cane hitting the floor magnified in the noiseless room. "So what part of 'it's late' don't you understand?" He asked. "Go home."
Cameron's face fell as she nodded slowly.
There was nothing more to say.
"Ok." She responded, a solemn smile replacing the look of hope formerly on her face.
She knew that she couldn't expect to get much from him.
He was after all, House.
"Goodnight." She tried again as she watched his attention leave her. He began staring at the cane in his hand; his expression showed that he was deep in thought.
After a few more seconds had passed, when he still did not respond, she proceeded to leave.
He waited until she was halfway out the door before he called out her name.
"Cameron."
She stopped walking and turned around but stayed where she was.
She stared at the man before her, wondering what he was doing.
With cane in hand, he took a few steps forward, closing the distance between them but still maintaining a level of space. "Cameron…"
It was her turn to cut him off.
"You know," She started. "It's kind of late, I should be heading home."
House nodded, the expression on his face said it all.
She gave him a tiny smirk. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Don't be late." He retorted.
"I won't."
A sense of deja vu washed over them.
She proceeded to leave his office, when a sudden feeling of dizziness swept over her and she stumbled a bit. She turned back just in time to see House raise his eyebrow at her. "I'm fine," She told him, shaking it off. "I just tripped."
"I wasn't ask-"
She quickly left without another word, not giving him the chance to finish whatever he was in the process of saying, walkking down the hall and heading toward the parking lot to get to her car.
So after both the guy re-installing his carpets and Cameron had left, House was alone in his office again.
Just the way he liked it.
"What to do…" He asked out loud, to no one in particular before limping over to his desk and sitting down. "What to do..."
The only downside to when he was alone was that it usually meant that there was no one around to be a jerk to, or to annoy.
Where was Wilson when you needed him?
He sat back and relaxed into his chair and scanned the room.
There was still nothing to do.
More minutes passed as he looked around, still sitting at his desk in the dark.
He finally decided that it was getting pathetic.
Might as well head home.
He grabbed his bag and started out, taking one last look at his office.
Everything was back in its place, nothing had changed.
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He entered the parking lot, cane and bag in hand as he made his way to his bike.
He drove away, engines roaring, looking forward to another night of watching 'the L word' on mute.
Yep, this was the life.
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A/N: Hey, this is my first House fic., and I haven't written in ages, so please be gentle xP. I have a pretty good idea of where this is going. However, any thoughts or suggestions will be appreciated.
I'll do my best to update when I can, so please review!
Things will pick around the next chapter or so.
Until next time…