Disclaimer: Neither House M.D. nor any of the onscreen characters belong to me, alas.
Note: This story's a totally different take about the night HIV-at-risk Cameron and Chase spent together. I also made use of two original characters Alana and Joe. I did not describe them physically such that you can imagine them as you want.
-!-
Cameron had just finished showering when she heard the doorbell. Opening her apartment door, she saw her best friend Alana with two paper shopping bags in her hands. "Hey," Cameron greeted her, taking one of the bags from her.
"Hey," Alana replied, leaning forward to plant a peck on Cameron's lips.
They deposited the bags onto the coffee table and Alana took off her leather jacket and hanged it on the coat rack.
"So what do you want me to do?" Cameron asked, rolling up her sleeves.
"No no no," Alana replied, wagging her index finger, "I enjoyed a day off today while you were stuck at the hospital. So you're just gonna sit there, have a wine of glass and relax while I prepare dinner," she said, gesturing to the kitchen countertop.
"Okay," Cameron smiled and watched as Alana opened drawers and cabinets to take out all the things that she would need. Cameron took two wine glasses, filled them and then settled in one of the bar stools.
"So how was our lovely Dr. House today?" Alana asked sarcastically.
"Oh, House was his usual self, you know, exasperating Cuddy, dumping his clinic duty on Foreman, placing bets with Wilson, alienating the family of our patient," Cameron shrugged, "Routine stuff basically."
"What about Chase?" Alana asked pointedly.
"What about him?" Cameron said, feigning ignorance.
"Come on, this is getting absurd now. Just talk to him!" Alana told her, frustrated, turning to face Cameron.
"I dunno what to tell him!" Cameron exclaimed, her voice shaking slightly. "I'm so confused," she muttered after a pause, her eyes fixed on her wine glass.
Alana studied her for a moment. She took the bowl of salad and sat on Cameron's right. "Alright, let's do one thing. I'm gonna ask you a few questions. Just answer them as truthfully as possible, okay?"
Cameron glanced up to meet Alana's eyes and nodded, her forefinger still stroking the rim of her glass.
"That night when you were high on crystal meth, why did you call Chase?"
"I don't understand."
"I've seen you high that one time back in high school. You didn't do anything unreasonable then. I'd like to believe that night also you knew exactly what you were doing when you called Chase over. I mean, it's not as if you don't have any other cute single guy friends. Matt or Daniel would have loved to sleep with you. So why Chase? Is it because you knew of his crush on you?"
"No…not exactly… it's hard to explain," Cameron pondered, "I knew he wouldn't take advantage."
"But is it not what you wanted?" Alana looked at her quizzically.
"I knew that he would be a perfect gentleman and not force me to do anything I did not want," Cameron explained.
"How was it? I don't want the sordid details," Alana grinned, "but I dunno what actually happened. I mean, I only know that you two spent the night together."
"We didn't actually make love that night…," Cameron's voice trailed off.
"No?" Alana was stupefied, "but doesn't crystal meth render one totally sexually liberated and horny?"
"Yes but huh…Chase's deft fingers and his tongue were more than enough if you see what I mean and I obliged by the same," Cameron stated, biting her lower lip. Cameron met Alana's eyes and they both burst out laughing. "It was the best making-out, fooling-around moment of my life with a guy ever," she added honestly, blushing. "Actually it really didn't last a moment, more like the whole night till the early hours of morning," she conceded.
Alana looked at her, thrilled to see the sparkle in her eyes and the tinge of red colouring her cheeks. She was seeing her like that after a very long time. "As much as I'm enjoying this, w can stop if you want."
"There's no need," Cameron said, smiling brightly.
"Hmm, Chase said after that night that this should not happen again and you agreed."
"It felt like a good idea then."
Alana knew beforehand that she was stepping into forbidden territory but she risked it anyway. "Because Chase wasn't good enough for you? Because Chase wasn't House?"
"No!" Cameron exclaimed vehemently, her mood souring immediately. "I was already over him at that moment in time. After our non-date and seeing him yearn for Stacy, something broke inside of me. House will always be…special to me, but I…he no longer affects me," she added quietly.
Alana gently caressed Cameron's back, cursing herself for being so stupid. "Sorry about that Allison."
"It's alright. I'm fine," Cameron smiled slightly, not wanting to make Alana feel awkward. After all, she was only trying to help her come to terms with her feelings. "I just did not want any kind of thing going on with a co-worker."
"What could explain this flip-flop about Chase then?" Alana questioned her after a couple of minutes.
"I'm not sure myself," she mused, sighing and then said after some time, "Maybe the little things that were there before that night but to which I had never paid attention."
"For example?"
"Sometimes during the day when there's not much work, he disappears. I followed him once. He goes to the neonatal intensive care unit where premature babies are monitored inside their incubators. Such babies suffer from apnea spells, that is they stop to breathe transiently. One way to help them remember to breathe is to tap on their hands or feet and Chase does that. There's another department where pregnant women as early as the sixth month who risk losing their baby stay at the hospital only. Sometimes Chase goes there to talk to them, to reassure them and plays the guitar for them."
"Really?" Alana looked impressed.
"Yep. Looking at him, one wouldn't really believe that he's such a musical buff. He also knows how to play the violin and the piano."
"Wow."
"Besides, he remembers how I like my coffee. He has the art of reading my mood and knows when to leave me alone and when not to. He remains calm and composed most of the time despite House's insults and comments. At least so much more than Foreman and me," Cameron smirked. "His being so handsome doesn't hurt either, does it? Those brilliant blue eyes, that blonde hair, that slender tall body," she said dreamily.
"And most important we should not forget his big —"
"Alana!" Cameron interjected.
"Sorry I've never seen him barefoot. I'd have thought that he does have big feet," Alana nudged her. Cameron could not help but laugh. Alana could be such a kid sometimes.
"What comes out of everything that you've said?" Alana asked.
"I like him…" Cameron slowly stated, stunned by this epiphany.
"Na you really like him Allison," Alana emphasised with a smile. "So will you make a move tomorrow?"
"No I can't," Cameron whined.
"If you don't talk to him tomorrow, I'll kill you," Alana threatened.
"Hmm what if I don't talk to him but I tell you I did so? How will you know?" Cameron said, amused.
"I will know. I've got spies at the hospital."
"Yeah right," Cameron scoffed.
"I'm serious. So?"
"I'll see tomorrow," Cameron replied unconvincingly.
-!-
