Child's Play

Disclaimer: SUE ME! .:pause:. This is one of those times when I really hope no one reads these.

A/N: May help if you've read Kiss Chase…because otherwise you're going to have no idea what the hell I'm talking about. A BIG thank you to phyco352 for inspiring me to write faster, and to KangaRoo526 for giving me such an awesome idea…which will probably be used in chapter 5.

Chapter 1 – Just a game

When Cameron walked into the Diagnostics Office in the morning, and saw only Chase sitting, drinking a mug of coffee, and staring at the wall, she dropped her bag by the table and stood in front of him.

Chase smiled up at her, and opened his mouth to say something, but Cameron beat him to it.

"I'm sorry, Chase," she said firmly, hiding her nerves. "It was a game. I got caught up in it."

Chase looked at her in confusion.

"Sorry," she repeated. She sat down, pulled out a sheet of test results she had to check, and put on her glasses to see.

"Wait." Chase stood up and walked over to her. Cameron didn't raise her head, but she wasn't reading.

"Don't say you didn't mean it."

"Ok," Cameron agreed, still not bringing herself to look at him. "But you know what I'm thinking."

Chase didn't speak. The silence drew Cameron's eyes up. Chase looked away. He dropped his head, and headed for the door.

"Chase, I'm sorry," Cameron repented, but Chase kept walking. Cameron sighed in frustration and got up. Though she wished she could say she knew exactly where to find him – she didn't – she didn't bother hurrying to follow him. She thought that perhaps if he had time to cool off, he'd listen to what she had to say.

The hospital was unusually quiet as she walked through the halls – not really quiet, just unusually. There were still plenty of nurses, patients, and doctors wandering around. Cameron reminded herself that it was early…things would speed up sooner or later. She received smiles from only two nurses as she passed, though she hadn't been expecting any.

Her shoes tapped lightly on the floor, but it was merely a pin drop amongst the early morning bustle.

Cameron's first stop was the lab, even though she doubted Chase sought comfort in empty test tubes like she did. She put her head around the corner, and appreciated the glass walls, as they allowed her to stop and turn around once she spied Foreman, running some tests.

Next, she tried the roof. She didn't really think Chase'd be there either, but she sometimes caught House making an escape up there.

She tensely opened the door when she reached the top of the stairs, glanced around quickly, and upon seeing no one, was forced to close it again, against the biting breeze.

Cameron began to wish she had hastened to follow Chase when he left. She couldn't think of any other place he'd be. She walked slowly down to the cafeteria, wanting to be alone, and knowing there'd only be a few night shift workers, and early morning workaholics down there, eating a small breakfast. Feeling the need to walk, she took the stairs instead of the elevator.

Cameron was right; when she reached the cafeteria, there were only four people sitting at the tables. Two young interns sat together, eating what looked like soggy cereal, and chatting quietly. There was a doctor Cameron recognised from dermatology, reading the paper. The last was a blonde, the only one in a white coat, sitting with his head in his hands. Cameron took a second look at him, and distinguished Chase's miserable figure.

She walked quietly up behind Chase, and took the seat next to him. Chase looked up at the scraping of the chair beside him. When he saw Cameron, he made to get up, but she put her hand gently on his arm. Chase heaved his shoulders wearily and sat back down.

Chase hung his head. Cameron was feeling a little uneasy at the silence. Chase's face was turned away from Cameron, so she couldn't see his expression, but she could take a good guess at what it was.

"I…just…want to say-"

"What?" Chase's tone was cold and distant, and Cameron detected slight irritation as well. At being disturbed, perhaps, but she didn't think so. Cameron tried to speak, but she couldn't make herself spit out the words.

"I…I--I didn't…"

Chase stood up.

"Right. You didn't."

"Wait," Cameron requested desperately as he stalked away.

Chase's hands found his hips as he slowed down, and turned around. He squared his jaw bracingly. Cameron looked up apprehensively at Chase.

"But I do…" Cameron bit her lip anxiously. "I…I don't…"

"What are you trying to say?" Chase demanded. "Because it's not helping."

"I really…can't…but…" Truth be told, Cameron didn't know what she was trying to say. "It's just that…I can't…"

Chase gave an impatient flick of his head, and left Cameron standing, her mouth open. She shut her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, he was gone. That hadn't gone nearly as well as she had hoped.

Cameron stayed where she was for a moment, tense and alert. She spun wildly when she heard a chair scraping, but it was just the solitary doctor leaving his seat.

She figured she'd better get back up to Diagnostics before House noticed she was gone.

As she walked dejectedly towards the door, she saw the two interns watching her carefully. She hadn't realised how loud she and Chase had been.

Embarrassed, Cameron scurried away quickly, wondering whether the conversation had benefited her or Chase at all.