AUTHORS NOTE: You thought I forgot, didn't you? Well, I didn't. I just got a nasty case of strep throat, and school, and life in general. But I've been working on this the whole time. Here it is folks, the first chapter of Dedication. (If you haven't read Appreciation, I'd recommend doing so.) Read and review, lovelies.

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Mornings were too bright, too early, and a little too hopeless as of late. House shook the snow off of his jacket as he walked into the hospital, drawing a breath and steeling himself for the day. For seeing Cameron again.

What had she said? Just think about me. How the hell could he not after that night? How the hell could he look at her and not remember the feel of her soft thighs, not remember the way she looked when her eyelids fluttered closed in pleasure, not remember the way she'd moaned his name. The arch of her back, the scent of her hair, the flush in her god damned cheeks. The way she had somehow gotten his heart and refused to keep it.

All he had been doing was thinking about Cameron. He had not made a move to touch her, to talk to her about that night. Sure, he was hurt, but the puzzle of her actions was more than enough to distract him too much from the seeping void of grayness.

He walked past the room to find his ducklings all gathered at the table. Cameron's hand was resting on Chase's shoulder as she laughed her breezy laugh. House's stomach clenched when he gaze caught his through the glass. He turned around and walked away heading straight for Wilson's office.

"I slept with Cameron!" House exclaimed as he banged into Wilson's office, not noticing a pretty nurse standing with him, "Oh. Hello there. Isn't this awkward?" He fanned at his face as though he was a debutante caught in a faux pas.

As the nurse said farewell to Wilson, House took the seat behind Wilson's desk leaving Wilson to have to lower himself into the seat meant for visitors. They stared at each other in silence until House once again exclaimed, "I slept with Cameron." He even threw up his hands for dramatic effect.

"I slept with Cuddy," Wilson said deadpanned.

House leaned closer over the desk, "Really?"

"No. And seriously, you need to stop falling for that."

House shrugged his wide shoulders, "Hey, it's inevitable and when it happens I don't want to scoff you off like you're doing to me. You know why? Because I'm a good friend." His voice was sarcastic, but his distress was real.

"Wait... you're serious?"

House groaned and put his head into his hands. Wilson smiled over at his friend, feeling it was safe because he could not see it.

"Stop smiling Wilson, or I swear to God I'll smack it off your face." Wilson coughed and adjusted his tie.

"Sorry. So what's the problem? You slept with her, and now she's showering you with sweet nothings and a promise of a less bleak future? That bitch." Wilson hissed.

"Don't call her-" House stopped himself and groaned again, putting his head back into his hands.

"Oh my God. You want her. You like her. You... love her?"

"Oh shut up, Miss Congeniality."

"Desperation in the form of Sandra Bullock references. Sad. It's only eight in the morning. You usually save those for two a.m. when you're drinking me under the table."

House waved a hand for no apparent reason, but it shut Wilson up so it hadn't been completely without it's benefits.

"Can we just... Can't we... Help?" House settled on.

"Okay. What happened?"

"Do you want a blow by blow?"

"I'll pass, thanks. Just a general idea of the situation will do. A vague, obscure picture. No burning mental images. It's too early."

"She and I.. we. Ugh. Okay. Well. The thing is. Okay. Wow, rewind. I sort of kissed Cameron. Then I insulted her-"

"That's hard to imagine."

"Sarcasm doesn't fit as well on you as it does on me. Anyway, after that... she kind of just came after me. Took control. And we had a bet going which ever one of us caved first got whatever they wanted and..."

"SHE WON!"

"I'm putting out feelers for a new BFF as we speak. Anyway, she told me all she wanted from me was to remember her. To think about her," House spat out bitterly.

"And now you're freaking out because you want her badly, but you feel rejected."

"Did you have to phrase it like that? I feel like a nineteen year old girl."

"You're really stupid sometimes."

"Hey-"

"Cameron wants you. She played a part to get you to notice her, to make it okay for you and her to be... well, you know, together." Wilson gestured awkwardly, "Now she's afraid that you won't want her to stick around so she's doing some damage control to keep her dignity intact."

"You sure you're not really a shrink?"

"Pretty positive, if I am though I feel really bad for my patients. Besides, that's just basic. Anyone who wasn't emotionally retarded, no offense-"

"Oh, none taken.

"Could've seen that."

"So what should I do?"

"Try showing a little fight, a little dedication."

"I can do that. I can definitely do that. And don't think I'm going to forget all the insults you just bounced off me. You'll get yours. So be expecting it."

"I always am!" Wilson shouted nervously as House shut his door.

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House conveniently ran into Cameron who was scurrying down the hospital hallway, her shoes making a rhythmical squeaking noise.

"Cameron?" He questioned, now feeling confident once again about where he stood.

"House?" She shot back, he noticed the color that bloomed high on her cheek bones and let a smug look over take his features.

House pointed to an empty hospital room, and moved Cameron somewhat unwillingly inside. He closed the blinds purposefully.

"What... What is this about? If it's about the test results I have them right-"

House put his hands on her shoulders and as soon as he touched her she stopped talking. Looking into her eyes he backed her slowly against the door and pressed his lips against hers. He felt as though he was sinking in her softness, swimming in a sea of shivers and pleasure. He was weak from fighting the tide so he let it take him where it wanted.

He nibbled on her lower lip and she made that purring noise that killed him the night he had came to her. Came with her. Her leg rose and rubbed seductively against his good one. She gasped as his tongue slid inside her mouth, tickling and teasing, sending her head spinning. He didn't pull back until he was sure she was boneless, until he was sure she would try to tug him back for more. Which she did, but he continued to pull back.

He looked into her eyes once more.

"I remember you. I remember the feel of your body against mine. I remember the way you move your hips when you're close to having an orgasm. I remember the way your breasts fit in my hands," He said as he brushed his lips right under her ear, feeling her shiver was a small victory. "I remember the way you moaned my name, I even remember the way your finger felt against my lips."

"House-" He brushed his lips tenderly over hers until she fell silent again.

"I think about you when I get up in the morning, I think about you while I'm watching television. I think about you when I see a woman with your color hair, or someone who does the slightest thing to mirror your mannerisms. I think about you at night before I fall asleep, and that's not even getting into the dreams I have. Basically, all I've been able to think about is you."

"House-" She tried to protest.

"No. I know you're scared. I know I'm... well, scary," He gave a sheepish smile so out of place on his face, "But the thing is I want you. You're mine. And I'm willing to make you see that. I'm willing to fight, to show a little dedication. If you think this is over, you're a very stupid girl."

Running a hand slowly down her side, from the end of her ribcage to her hipbone he stepped away. Gave her a slow, warm once over and pulled her away from the door and opened it.

"And I don't hire stupid people," House threw casually over his shoulder as he left Cameron standing there with her thin finger touching her bottom lip.