Let us start off with a disclaimer: I do not own House MD and its characters and settings and all that jazz.

Author's Note: This story is set after season 6, so spoilers are a given. Several slight modifications: Cameron has returned to PPTH after a couple of months MIA. Thirteen did NOT request for a leave of absence. She just can't do that... :'C

Several unimportant & ignorable comments (w/ major spoilers):
I've always had the suspicion that the writers/directors of House are intentionally keeping Camteen as far away from each other as possible, because they just KNOW that if both of them ever have more screen time together... one thing will lead to another, and Thirteen is just going to end up jumping the other woman. Hence the...making Cameron get together with Chase before Thirteen enters the scene...making it seem like they don't get along...forcing Thirteen into a horrible relationship with Foreman (stupid guy made her blind)...making Cameron marry Chase...making Cameron leave PPTH, and then making Thirteen take a leave of absence! Like WHUT THE HELL. GOD. In order to make myself feel better as I enter into this House withdrawal (I've been watching all summer), I will imagine that Thirteen can't stay away from Cameron any longer and they've decided to elope together. And then they can return to PPTH. Together.

Okay, I'll stop.

Chapter 1: Preoccupation

The night was still young, but a fair amount of the people in the Grand Hall were already ranging from being intoxicated to flat out inebriated. It was the latest event hosted by the Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in order to celebrate the anniversary of its foundation. The formal dinner-dance, accompanied by (due to popular request) an open bar, took place at a classy hotel in the city. All of the staff and workers associated with the hospital were invited to this private event. Oh, and let's not forget to mention the wealthy donors that made it all happen in the first place.

The men were in fitted tuxes, ties and all, looking handsome, smart, and presentable. The ladies donned flattering dresses that accentuated every curve on their bodies. Everybody looked amazing tonight, especially under the light of the glistening chandelier hanging above. The hall was filled with deep murmurs of conversation, broken sporadically by contagious eruptions of laughter here and there. Old jokes were shared and new stories told; everyone was having a good time.

Our favorite chief diagnostician sat at a table with Doctors Cuddy and Wilson, engaged in a lighthearted banter with the former while the latter quietly listened on to their power-play. Or foreplay, whichever you prefer.

The ducklings sat together at a separate table near by. Foreman, Chase, Taub (along with his wife), Thirteen, and surprisingly, used-to-be-duckling Cameron. But in all honesty, the ER attending had no choice but to sit there, despite the obvious unavoidable tension and awkwardness between her and her ex-husband. Seatings were arranged and reserved, and Cameron really did not think it would be a good idea to sit with a group of her ER nurses. Besides, she'd been back for over a month now, and it'd be impossible to avoid Chase forever. She knew it was tough, but she couldn't find it in her to leave a job and place she loved because of someone she used to love. She got over House, and in the time she's been gone, she was well on her way to getting over Chase as well. The only problem was... he wouldn't let go just yet. He would be persistent, trying to rekindle old feelings, convinced that he could find a way to make her actually love him. But she knew he would end up blindly getting his hopes up only to be disappointed, again. Sure she still has some feelings for him, but just not in the same way anymore. Both of them would have to learn to move on. And in order for that to work, Allison knew she had to push him away, even if it required her to be cold and cruel at times.

For most of the evening, Chase and Foreman had strayed off to the bar as a means for the Aussie to distant himself from his ex-wife. Nobody could blame him. A couple months divorced and yet Cameron was looking absolutely stunning and in great shape. Her white, strapless dress hugging her form so elegantly... her blonde curls naturally falling over her shoulders in such a glamourous way... not overly accessorized but just enough to complement herself in a sense that made her look even more beautiful than she already was. Almost every person who chanced a glance at her did a double take.

"Is that...?" "Doctor Cameron?" "Yeah, she's the one who divorced that rich Australian doc." "I thought she left PPTH." "She did, but she came back, like, two months ago." "Wait, she's single now, isn't she?"

Despite some people's attempt at whispering, Cameron still managed to overhear a few of the many comments, remarks, and gossips spoken behind her back. It irritated her, to say the least, but she tried not to let it get to her. This was supposed to be a fun social gathering, and she wasn't planning on letting anyone ruin it for her.

The dance floor began to pile up as people eventually finished with their dinner. Taub and his wife stood up to go dance, leaving a slightly embarrassed Cameron alone at the empty table. Foreman and Chase were probably still at the bar, and Thirteen was... off somewhere unknown. The blonde doctor sighed, bringing a glass of red wine to her lips as she wondered to herself whether coming to this dinner-dance was a good idea. Lucky for her, Wilson seemed to have noticed her solitary state and decided to come help out a friend in need. Seeing the oncologist approach, Cameron greeted him with a smile.

"Care to dance?" he asked with a tad bit of shyness. He offered her his hand.

Relieved to have some company at last, the ER head nodded almost immediately in response. "Sure."

Thirteen was sitting by herself at the bar, cradling a cold glass of Bailey's in her hands. It was well off into the night and she had already been hit on by at least twenty to thirty different men, and not to mention a couple of bi-curious women. It could be the result of the intern's undeniable attractiveness, but with what she was wearing tonight, her sex appeal must've increased by twenty-five percent. Remy Hadley was in a black halter dress with a thin V-neck strap, her wavy brown locks tied back in a bun with several stray strands hanging loosely on the sides of her alluring face. She was drop-dead gorgeous. Almost every person she walked past had their eyes following her slim figure longingly, like a fish being reeled in.

Sighing, Thirteen downed the rest of her drink and scanned the dimly lit dance floor. Maybe tonight would be less boring if she actually tried to enjoy herself for once. Dancing wouldn't be too bad, would it? She should at least try to have a good time instead of sulking by herself.

Just as she was standing up, she saw Foreman approaching her from the side. 'Uh oh...' She had a bad feeling about this. He was coming fast and by the time she's scoped out all possible escape routes, he was standing right in front of her.

"Wanna dance?"

She looked up and scrutinized him briefly, before sighing again and letting him pull her to the dance floor. The music was slow, but refusing to get intimate with her ex, Remy kept her distance, dancing at arm's length.

"So how've you been?" asked her colleague, attempting to make conversation and ease the awkward silence between them.

"I'm...good. I've been going clubbing all night, bringing random women home with me... You know, the usual," she told him, half-jokingly. The mention of her past nightly activities managed to make her smile. It did not have the same effect on her dancing partner though, but she couldn't care less.

As soon as the song was over, Thirteen watched as a man walked over and tapped Foreman's shoulder lightly, his gaze fixed on her as he silently asked for permission. Thirteen smiled while the other doctor nodded reluctantly and went off brooding. Her new partner was a handsome young man with dark hair and grey eyes. After a little talking, she concluded that he wasn't that bad; he seemed pretty polite and smart, and quite funny too. But Remy wasn't looking for a relationship. Well, at least not with an average guy like him.

By the start of the next number, the brunette found herself in the arms of another man. She mentally sighed as he introduced himself. Jack or John or...something. She knew that it didn't matter, and she braced herself for meeting more Jacks and Johns to come later in the evening.

After her dance with Wilson and a couple of drinks, Allison Cameron found herself on the dance floor again with this guy named Chris from the radiology department. She didn't want to at first, but boy was he persistent. She didn't want him to feel bad...and, well, it was only one stupid dance. Unfortunately for her, "Chris" happened to be the talkative type. He practically bombarded her with endless questions as they swayed off-beat to the music. Not having the heart to ignore him, the blonde just answered with short, curt responses. She grew increasingly impatient for it to be over, and she couldn't help but wonder if the band was prolonging the song with another chorus just to spite her. When it finally ended, she was more than relieved. Stepping away from her partner, she turned to head to the bar, only to be blocked by a blonde man standing in her way. Her heart sank. 'Chase.'

"May I have this next dance?" his voice thick with accent.

"Uh... I dunno..." She glanced at the bar, then met his eyes again. "I don't think—"

"Just one dance? Please, Allison?"

The blonde sighed in defeat, the edges of her mouth curving into a frown. "Fine." It's just one dance. She made sure to stand as far away from him as possible.

After having changed partners for the umpteenth time, Remy decided that she needed to take a break. Finding a spot at the bar once again, she sipped at her Kamikaze. A good song was playing but she thought she'd sit this one out. She scanned the dance floor to observe the many couples. After a while of surveying, her eyes stopped at a certain pair of blondes at her far right.

'Hmm...' Remy thought as she studied Cameron and Chase. It was clear that they were not back together, and that they weren't planning on getting back together. She carefully examined their body language. Apparently, Chase still seemed interested in his ex... but in opposition, Cameron's expression was neutral, almost emotionless. Nothing there; no spark, no chemistry. Something kept telling the young intern that they just didn't look good together anymore.

Remy took a while to recount all the things she knew about the pretty, blonde doctor. All the rumours about her compassion, generosity and kindness... Her attachment to broken people... The story of her early marriage to her boyfriend with cancer... How she used to be in love with House... And now she saw for herself living proof that Allison Cameron was completely over Chase too.

Thirteen mused over these thoughts over and over again in her head. Yeah, it is unquestionable that she seemed a little messed up, but then again, aren't we all? Besides, Remy tended to be careful about judging people. Other than those things she'd heard, she didn't know much about Doctor Cameron. They were a little bit more than acquaintances, but definitely not close enough to be considered friends. Interactions with the ER head had always been limited, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Both were busy and worked in different departments. In Thirteen's defense, she forbade herself to get to know the blonde because she knew nothing remotely good would come out of it. Firstly, they didn't seem to have that much in common, and Cameron never exactly showed any interest in her replacement. Secondly, Remy couldn't help being extremely attracted to her colleague. Thirdly, she was with Chase at the time. And lastly, she was married to Chase at the time. She knew that if she ever had the opportunity, she would totally jump Allison Cameron. But it just wasn't right...not with the aforementioned circumstances. Oh, and let's remind ourselves that the former House duckling was as straight as an arrow.

Remy sighed as she watched the pair dance some more. She couldn't help but notice the uncomfortable and slightly frustrated look on the woman's face. She didn't want to be there. And she clearly didn't want Chase.

As the song was coming to an end, Remy downed the rest of her drink and stood up. In a split second, she made a decision and acted on it no matter what her logic kept screaming at her. The fresh rush of alcohol in her system was in control now.

- end of chapter -

Omgad, what is Thirteen gonna do? I know the beginning is slow, but be patient and there will be major Camteen later on. Thanks for reading! :D

Oh, and one more thing: Baileys...Yummm.