Disclaimer: I don't own House nor any of his colleagues, friends, crimes or bad habits. If I did, House and Cameron would have made very different life choices. :)

"Come in, it's open!" called Cameron as she rushed from the lounge into the bedroom, hurriedly buttoning her shirt and searching for her other shoe at the same time. "Thank goodness you could sit for me on such short notice, you really are a lifesaver..."

Cameron stopped dead as she stepped back into the lounge room, the earring she was trying to attach forgotten. She stared, open mouthed and white faced at the man standing just inside her doorway.

"Oh my God" she managed to whisper, shock rendering her almost mute.

"You should be more careful who you invite in." House spoke quietly, his eyes taking in the sight of his (once upon a time) protege.

"House" Cameron whispered in amazement, "You're dead."

"I look pretty good for a dead guy then, I suppose." he replied with a smile, leaning on his cane.

"Oh my God" Cameron said again, finding her voice. She walked towards House quickly and threw her arms around him. He took a small step back as her weight unbalanced him, then returned her hug with a laugh.

"Woah, I know it can't have been easy for you, thinking you'd never see me again" he snarked "but hello, still a cripple, even if I'm not dead."

"Oh my God" Cameron repeated, grasping his shoulders and holding him at arms length so she could look at him properly.

"At this point, I'm beginning to think that Oh my God is your new name for me" House smirked. "I have heard it before though, usually from underneath me in bed..."

Cameron slapped his arm and laughed."You haven't changed, that's for sure."

"What are you doing here?" Cameron finally managed a sensible question. "Where have you been? It's been five years, House. Everyone thinks you're dead!"

"That, my dear Cameron, was the idea." House smiled down at her and she couldn't help but notice how much happier and relaxed he seemed to be.

"Oh my God, I'm running so late now!" Cameron looked at her watch and frantically started gathering her bag and jacket. "What are you doing here, House? I'm running late for work so I don't have time to sit and catch up with you now. Are you staying in town, or do you live here now...I don't even know where to begin!"

House limped over to the hall table next to Cameron's front door and picked up her keys, which were partially hidden by the mail propped against the vase of nearly dead flowers. He held them out to Cameron and she grabbed them from him.

"Thanks."

"I just got into town, I thought I'd look you up." House stepped aside as Cameron started towards the front door. "I haven't worked out where I'm staying yet, I was just going to play it by ear when I got here."

Cameron stopped and turned back to him. Her eyes were wide and vivid green, watching him closely.

"I have to go to work now" she said quickly, "but I'll be home by midnight at the latest. You can stay here if you want? The babysitter should be here shortly" she said, checking her watch again. "Actually, she should be here already, damn it. Josh will be getting off the school bus soon and she's supposed to here for him."

Cameron looked at House again, her eyes begging him to stay.

"I can stay until the sitter comes." House replied and Cameron's face relaxed into a smile.

"Thanks" she smiled as she headed for the door once again, "I appreciate it. Help yourself to whatever food you can find, there's beer in the fridge. You can use the shower if you like and there's a phone book in the cupboard where the phone is, if you want to ring around for a hotel room." She pointed quickly to the kitchen where the phone was sitting on the bar.

"Thanks." House said quietly and ducked his head as he followed her out the door. "Can I come back tomorrow? I really would like to catch up with you." He looked up at her then, his blue eyes zeroing in and holding her green ones. Cameron felt her heart start to do that little dance it had always done when in his presence.

"Sure." she replied, dragging her eyes away from his and taking a deep breath to try and slow her heart. "Come by around 10. Josh will be at school and I'll be done with the chores." She smiled at him then as she opened the door to her car.

"Sounds good." House said smiling back at her, his eyes roaming over her face. "It's good to see you, Cameron. I've missed you."

Cameron blinked, her mouth hanging open in shock, for a second. "Wow, maybe you have changed."

House smirked at her then, holding her car door as she got in and put her seatbelt on. Closing the door, he tapped on the window and Cameron opened it, an expectant look on her face.

"Don't count on it." House gave her a quick salute then stepped away from her car and walked back towards her front door. He stopped on the doorstep and waited until she waved and pulled away, before turning and going inside. Closing the door, he made a quick scan of the lounge before heading towards the kitchen. Rounding the bar, he opened the cupboard and pulled out the phone book, then sat down to look for a hotel/motel.

I hope you've enjoyed this first chapter and my first foray back into the fan fiction world. :) I will try my very hardest to keep the momentum going and update regularly. Thanks for reading, feel free to leave feedback (good or bad) for me.