Turbulence:

Part One

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A/N: Well, here it is, nearly two years after it was promised—the sequel to Cameron Takes Flight! CTF was the story of Cameron learning independence, but this is about her struggle to love without losing that independence. I hope you enjoy it!

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Unnecessary disclaimer: None of the characters or storylines appearing in the TV show "House, M. D." belong to me.

Abstract: It's easy for Cameron to fly free when the past is nothing but a memory. What happens when her old life finds her again?

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House fidgeted with his jacket as he waited on the doorstep of a small stucco cottage surrounded by wildflower fields. The door, painted green, showed no signs of opening. House leaned forward and placed his ear on the door, listening for movement inside. At that moment it whipped open, and House jolted backwards, nearly losing his balance.

Allison Cameron stood before him, blonde and unfazed. "My lawyer was told not to reveal my location," she said simply, arms folding across her chest as she spoke. A smirk crossed her features. "Of course I should have known that wouldn't stop you."

"I have my ways," House responded, unable to hide a hint of a smile at the familiarity of it all.

House sized her up quickly, realizing that not all was the same. She looked good—healthy and relaxed, not the harried, stressed doctor he had known. She stood with her arms crossed a moment longer before opening them to pull House into an unexpected hug. "It's good to see you," she said, muffled by his shoulder.

Reciprocation wasn't really his style, so House stayed silent once he had recovered from the shock. That wasn't exactly the reception he'd expected. "Come on in," she added after releasing him. "Coffee, tea, or beer?" she asked, disappearing into the kitchen as House trailed behind her.

"What kind of beer?" House asked, wandering around her living room. It was cool and shaded from the sunny outdoors.

"I've got Corona and Guiness," she replied from the other room.

"You drink Guiness?" House questioned, settling in on the well-worn couch.

Cameron laughed as she joined him in the living room. "No, the Guiness is Steve's. I drink the Corona."

"Steve?" House asked suspiciously.

Cameron rolled her eyes as she passed the drink to him. "Relax. He's just a friend."

House didn't acknowledge the response, quickly switching gears. "I hear you work at a children's hospital these days. I'm shocked you're not on the floor in the fetal position crying about all the sick children," he mocked.

She shrugged, refusing to rise to his bait. "I have my escapes."

"So you're into drugs now? Get drunk? Get high?" House probed, only partially joking.

A slight grin crossed her face. "You could say I get high," she cryptically. She changed the subject. "Why are you here?"

"I'm offering you a job."

"You are or Cuddy is?" Cameron asked, bemused. She crossed her arms over her chest, resuming the defensive position she'd held at the front door.

"Lisa doesn't know I'm here," House replied.

"So it's Lisa now, is it?" Cameron asked. "You guys together?"

"Not anymore," House said darkly, and Cameron wisely didn't press further.

"That's why I'm here," he added flippantly. He sighed and spoke like a schoolboy reciting a script, "Wilson thinks you're my only hope for love now." Cameron shook her head. "So, he made me come and do this in person," he clarified, looking for a reaction.

"Right," Cameron said, sounding surprised and a bit annoyed. Wilson didn't say a word to her before she left and never attempted to keep up with her. Suddenly now he takes an interest? "Well, I don't want the job."

"You don't even know what it is yet!" he complained.

Cameron gave him a knowing look. "Cuddy doesn't know you're here. So you must be offering me a job in your department. You realize I run my own department."

"I can convince Cuddy to give you a better deal," House insisted.

"You really think your ex-lover will hire me after you've come down here to seduce me at your best friend's insistence?" Cameron asked in disbelief. She held in a laugh at the absurdity of it all. House was in her living room, offering her a job and maybe more. After the way they'd parted, this was the last thing she had expected.

"The equivalent position in Jersey will pay more than you're making here!" House insisted.

Cameron shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I'm not going back."

"Why?" House challenged. "Does your new boss have some dirt on you? Because I'm sure I can come up with something worse."

The question seemed to come out of nowhere. "You like flying?"

House was caught off-guard. "Why?" he asked, regarding her suspiciously.

"Would you like to fly with me?" she asked, her eyes lighting up.

"Is that a euphemism or did you get your pilot's license?" he snarked.

"Something like that," she said with a laugh. "You can stay in my guest bedroom while you're here. I'm guessing you didn't bother booking a hotel?" She didn't pause for him to answer. "It's down that hall and to the right," she pointed. "Go get settled in. I need to make a couple calls."

House took his suitcase to the guest room, but soon snuck out into the shadows of the hallway to listen to Cameron's conversation.

"I need a crew for tomorrow morning," she spoke into her cell. "Are you in?" She paused. "Perfect! Tell the guys to meet at my place at seven if they can come. Thanks!"

House made a face at Cameron's back. He didn't like not knowing what he'd gotten himself into.

It wasn't long after House had snuck back to the guest bedroom, a mostly white room with large windows shaded by the deep overhang of the roof, that Cameron came back to talk to him. "Settled in?" she asked, surveying the open suitcase, still full of clothing. House was peering in the closet. "Or are you too busy snooping?" she continued with a sigh. She started pulling things out of the suitcase.

"See, I knew if I waited long enough, I could get you to unpack for me," House responded triumphantly. Cameron just rolled her eyes and handed the clothes to him.

"I don't have time to do this for you. I have to feed the animals and get ready to go," she said as she headed down the hall.

"The animals?" House echoed.

Cameron, from the kitchen called back to him. "Cat and dog. Ringo and Shannon."

House hung up his clothes haphazardly, still leaving half on the bed. "Why would you name your cat after the worst Beatle?" he asked disdainfully as he followed her into the kitchen.

"Ringo is not the worst Beatle!" Cameron responded as she popped open the can of cat food. At the sound of the can opening, a gray striped cat came running.

Cameron emptied the can into the cat's bowl before opening the back door and shaking the bag of dog food. A shiny black lab came running inside with tail wagging. "Shannon," Cameron indicated.

She turned to him after grabbing her keys and purse. "You're coming with me. I can't very well leave you here alone to poke around," she said.

House shrugged, unable to argue with her logic. "Where are we going?" he asked, but Cameron ignored the question, leaving him to follow her to the car.

…

House and Cameron stayed silent during the ride until they pulled up in a long line of cars in front of an elementary school.

"So it's mommy now, is it?" House asked rudely.

Cameron gave House a look. "I've only been gone a couple years. Seeing as time travel hasn't been invented yet, I don't know how it's possible for me to have a kid in elementary school."

House rolled his eyes, but continued to stare at her pointedly, waiting for an explanation.

She sighed. "You know the program Big Brothers Big Sisters of America?" Her voice was apprehensive.

House's eyes rolled skyward. "Oh, here we go," he muttered.

"Well, I've got a little sister," she finished. "Amy," she supplied.

House shook his head. "I should have known. Your healing complex knows no bounds. A very small sick puppy for you to nurse to health?"

Cameron smiled, more to herself than him. "Not exactly."

Moments later, a tiny girl with long black hair ran up to the car. "Hi Allie!" she said as she bounded into the backseat.

Cameron's face lit up. "Hey Amy!" She glanced over to her passenger seat. "Amy, this is my friend, House."

Amy gave him a funny look. "What kind of name is House?" she asked bluntly.

"What kind of name is Amy?" House retorted immediately.

"An awesome one!" Amy replied, sticking her tongue out at House who promptly stuck his back at her.

Cameron, pulling away from the curb, interjected, "Okay Amy, the park today?"

"Can we get ice cream too?" the little girl asked.

Cameron laughed, giving in. She couldn't deny Amy anything. "Okay, the park with ice cream it is."

…

House and Cameron sat on the bench with the last of their ice cream, watching Amy playing on the playground equipment. Cameron waved across the field to two boys playing Frisbee with their dog.

"Is she why you won't leave?" House asked when he had finished his ice cream. Cameron's eyes drifted to the girl, the closest thing she had to a child of her own. "No," she said truthfully.

"I won't leave until I know," he told her seriously.

"I know," she replied, pushing a strand of hair away from her face. "How long are you planning on staying, anyways?" she asked, glancing at him.

He shrugged. "Well, Lisa commanded—I mean suggested—that I use up some of my vacation time, so..."

Cameron's eyebrows shot up in realization. "Wait—does that mean—you just broke up?" she asked incredulously. "You shouldn't be here," she said, looking angry.

He rolled his eyes. "Relax, Cameron. I'm not here for rebound sex or anything. I had a couple hookers last week. I'm good."

Cameron gave him a look of disgust. But before she could comment, Amy ran up. "Allie, come play!" she begged, pulling Cameron's hand. "Please?"

Cameron turned towards the girl. "I'd love to."

She walked away without a word to House.

…