Authors note: I don't own House or any of the characters. This is set after season 5 and might eventually be Hameron. So you all are warned! Hahaha. Enjoy and please review.
What You Need
Part 1
"Hello, wife," Robert Chase murmured as he stared at his new wife, Allison Cameron.
Her eyes had only fluttered open from being asleep, deep blue eyes staring into the lighter blue of the Aussie's. Both were in the state of their honeymoon period. Everything seemed well with the world and Cameron had never been happier, Chase looked happy as well. Yet Cameron knew with certainty something was the matter.
Why hadn't House been at their wedding? She hadn't asked Chase and didn't really want to. For he would either think she was still obsessed with House or he would believe she was thinking about New Jersey and the hospital on their honeymoon. Reminding herself not to worry, she sleepily smiled up at him.
"Hello, husband. I had a wonderful night."
"Me too." He nuzzled her neck. "I was thinking after breakfast we could go for a swim."
Cameron nodded. "Sounds great. I was wondering if you'd do something for me? Can you go get me a mocha?"
"Sure." He was already out of bed and pulling on his jeans over his boxers and a shirt. He shot her a smile. "I'll be back, don't go anywhere. Stay in bed. You look great just lying there."
"I will," she promised as she watched him leave the room. As soon as the door was shut she swung her feet to the ground and feeling a little deceitful headed to the phone. She just had to know the truth. The reason House had been absent from their wedding.
It was true her former boss had never been sentimental and scoffed at such things as love, marriage and babies while the whole world awed over them. But deep in her heart, Cameron still knew House and he would have come to her wedding. More than anything she had wanted him there. Somehow life wasn't the same when she didn't at least see House or know where he was. It had been the time of her life working for him for three years even though she had been madly in love with him. He hadn't returned her feelings and had constantly rejected her.
Despite this and now being married to another man, she still cared for Gregory House. He should have been at her wedding. This is all she thought as she dialed the number by heart to Lisa Cuddy, the dean of medicine's office. On the fourth ring the phone was picked up.
"Lisa Cuddy," the woman smoothly said.
"Hello, Dr. Cuddy," Cameron murmured, looking towards the door lest Chase entered. "This is Allision Cameron-um Chase. I can't talk long."
"Dr. Cameron," Cuddy warmly greeted. "How is the honey moon and Dr. Chase?"
"Oh, it's wonderful. You should see Australia. It's so warm here and laid back. But the reason I was calling was about… House." She let out a breath. "He wasn't at the wedding."
The older woman sighed and Cameron felt her heart drop. The grave note in Cuddy's voice seemed to predict a bad response. Then Cuddy sighed again and spoke:
"You were probably one of the few who noticed House's absence. This is in the strictest confidence, and I shouldn't even tell you. Wilson and I are the only ones who know and I'm sure House wouldn't want anyone else to know. But he always did like you; Cameron and I know you cared for him. I'm afraid after Kutner's death he wasn't the same. He's at Mayfield."
Gripping the phone tighter, Cameron took a breath. House at Mayfield? But that was a psychiatric hospital and House wasn't insane. Why, he had given her advice about Chase and her commitment issues. For once he had been there for her. Gregory House was brilliant and the best damn doctor she knew. Tears welled in her eyes despite her resolve not to. She should have known something was wrong and tried to be there for him.
"Dr. Cameron?" Cuddy asked, in a piercing voice. "Are you alright?"
"Y-yes. Yes, I'm fine Dr. Cuddy. Is there anyway I can go and see him when I return. He is allowed visitors isn't he?"
Another sigh. "Yes, but the only person he'll see is Wilson. His mom and I have even tried to see him and he refuses. He's still as stubborn as ever."
"You miss him, don't you?" Cameron asked fondly.
"Yes, I do. He's a pain in the ass, but the best doctor. Things aren't the same without him here. Cases aren't' solved and no lawsuits… Dr. Cameron, if you do go see him, I'm not sure if he'll see you, but if he does just be there for him, to listen. Wilson told me he's not exactly the same man."
House not the same? Realizing she had staid too long on the phone she quickly let Cuddy go with a promise of updating her, should she see House. Cameron knew she would see House. There was doubt about it. Now the problem would be brining it up to Chase. He was sensitive when it came to House because she had loved him for years and many believed she still held a torch for him.
Yet if Cameron thought about House, feelings were there. She wasn't head over heels in love with him now, but still the thought of him brought warmth to the pit of her stomach and a smile to her face. She would always go to House and had to, for him and for herself. To make sure he was okay. Everyone needed a friend after all and even though he might reject her caring as he had in the past, Cameron would still go to Mayfield and see House. Everything seemed simple until Chase entered the room with her mocha and she felt like a guilty child.
The thought crossed her mind; perhaps she didn't have to tell him. It would only be one visit after all. But the other part of her couldn't lie and it was her moral duty to tell Chase. After all he was her husband and she would feel too guilty. Smiling sweetly at him as she grabbed her mocha and sipped it, she stared him in the eyes.
"Robert did you notice House wasn't at our wedding?"
"Uh, yeah. But House rarely goes anywhere, well except the cafeteria, home and the bar."
"But," Cameron insisted. "He would have gone to our wedding. I know he would have. I thought something might be wrong so I called Dr. Cuddy. He's at Mayfield."
"At Mayfield?" A frown appeared between Chase's brows. "But why? House isn't insane."
Cameron nodded, becoming nostalgic and looking out towards the window. "I know," she murmured. "I have to know why he's in there. To know if he's okay. He was there for me about you and talked sense into me. If it weren't for him, I might have not had the courage to marry you." She gave him a smile. "I have to… see him."
Chase frowned. "Cameron he's a grown man. He's no longer your boss and you aren't in love with him. Why are you thinking about him on our honeymoon? This is supposed to be our time, not House."
Fire flickered to her eyes. "That is a selfish comment. Don't you even care about House, Robert? If it weren't for him we wouldn't have the jobs we have today and we wouldn't have been together."
"If it were for him not rejecting you we wouldn't be together," Chase reminded her.
The barb hurt. The fire left her eyes and her shoulders slumped. "How could you say that?" she whispered. "Even after all this time you don't trust me and think I love House? I married you, Chase! Not House."
"Sometimes I wonder if you would have married the man," Chase thoughtfully said. "I'm always the one who wanted more with us and it was never returned until House rejected you completely. But you would have been miserable with him, Allison, surely you know that, right?"
"And you think I'm any happier with you when you act like this," she retorted angrily. "At least House was only arrogant when it came to cases, not relationships. Yes, I would have married him, does that answer make you happy?"
"Fine," Chase muttered. "I'm going for a walk alone."
Cameron shrugged and winced as he slammed the door behind him. She took a few steadying breaths to control her anger and paced the room. Then sat back down and looked up the number to Mayfield.
XXX
Later, Chase returned with flowers in his hands as an apology. Cameron forgave him. Guilt gnawed at her. She had to be a good wife and he did look truly sorry. That night they made love, but it wasn't the same. There was pleasure, but Cameron's mind was thousands of miles away, thinking about Gregory House. Turning her back to Chase that night, Cameron hugged her knees to her stomach and her mind drifted back to the days as an immunologist, working for House:
"I like damaged people," she told House, staring at him straight in the eyes. "It explains everything I do…"
TBC
