The early morning was going by very slowly, mainly due to the lack of a cynical sarcastic doctor by the name of Gregory House. The diagnostic department passed the time with the occasional crossword puzzle, joke of the day, and complaint that their own boss wasn't there. Allison Cameron had grown increasingly annoyed by his absence and left the office in search of someone who would know where House was.
Wilson was also having an uneventful day, which never happened when his best friend was there. It was actually quite relaxing sitting in his plainly decorated office, drinking his black coffee, and just pondering how he would fill his day. By the time he was thoroughly enjoying all of this a knock came from his door.
"Come in," Wilson said, replying to the sound.
The slender brunette peered in before making a full entrance. Cameron's honey streaked hair glowed in the morning sun that filled the small room. "You wouldn't happen to know where House is would you?" she asked in a shy voice.
It wasn't like the pair had never shared a private conversation together, on the contrary, very many private conversations had started to happen causing each one to ask their selves if it was due to House or the mere fact that they wanted to be alone with one another.
"My guess is he's off moping about Stacy," he said while motioning towards an empty chair across from his desk.
Cameron took a seat then eyed him strangely, "Wait. I thought he didn't want to be with her anymore. Why would he be moping?"
He sighed becoming bored with the idea that Cameron still had feelings for House. "Don't tell me you still are attracted to him?" That came out of his mouth with a little bit too much jealousy than he would have liked.
Taken aback by his comment but trying to maintain a calmed attitude she answered, "I told him a long time ago that I was over him and I was telling the truth. We just weren't meant to be." She shifted in her seat hoping the awkward silence would some how automatically fill up with conversation.
After a minute, Wilson gave an accepting nod. "Stacy was the only woman House ever loved. He just realized they weren't meant to be either." Cameron kept watching him as if asking for more information. "It doesn't mean he has to be happy with the realization."
Cameron knew how House must have been feeling. Doing what is right even if it meant hurting yourself. She was daydreaming for a little while before she figured out that Wilson was watching her intently. "Well he better get over here," she sputtered out turning a light shade of pink. Trying to hide her face, as it grew warm, " Cuddy was looking for him when I got here. She wanted to introduce him to our new lawyer."
Wilson smirked when he caught a quick glimpse of Cameron's blush, "New lawyer? Already? That was quick."
The woman sitting across from him coughed quickly then looked back up to him, "Her name is Helen Jordan, a friend of Cuddy's from college. She seemed nice when I met her."
"Well I'll give House a call and tell him to get over to the hospital before Cuddy threatens to fire him for the hundredth time," he said jokingly.
Cameron stood up from the chair and smiled. "Thanks," she said softly. This was nice. Having a moment with Wilson was always calming even if it was House centered.
He watched her turn her back to him, hair falling from her shoulder and hitting her neck. "Allison…" he said in a whisper. Those light green eyes of hers met his dark brown. "You look nice today."
Another smile crept from her strawberry lips as a different way of saying thank you. Before Wilson knew it the only thing of Cameron's in the room was the faint smell of her vanilla perfume. "Smart Jimmy. You look nice today…. great line," he told himself like a mental slap on the head.
Greg House swerved in and out of traffic for fifteen minutes before reaching Princeton Plainsboro. The parking lot garage was moderately quiet due to everyone with a reasonable job having to be there already. With one smooth motion, House got off his motorcycle, grabbed his cane and hobbled to the entrance.
His cell rang not to limps after he got off the bike. Seeing who the call was from he answered, "Now honey what did I tell you about calling me at work? Only when you think you hear the little men in your head," he said scaring a man taking a smoking break.
"Shut up," sighed Wilson. "You do know that Cuddy will have your ass if you don't come to work today."
"Oh Cuddy had my ass last night and she said it was perfect. That's a lie. She actually screamed that my ass was perfect," his voice slightly muffled by the hospital doors sliding open.
Wilson had grown accustomed to ignoring House when he felt like being funny. "Don't you remember Cuddy telling you the new lawyer was starting today? Helen Jordan I think is what Cameron told me," he lied. He knew exactly what Cameron had told him because he always remembered exactly what the woman would say to him.
That was a kick in the stomach for House. Not only was he recently getting over the absence of the love of his life, for the second time, but he also had to put up with probably some over bearing Cuddy-wannabe trying to take the place of Stacy.
House walked past the staff of nurses giving him dirty looks as he came into work two hours late. "I'm here so I guess I will be able to meet this wonderful spinster lawyer we are getting."
"Tell me how you came to the conclusion that she doesn't have sex based on her name and occupation," Wilson said with interest.
House picked up the pace as he saw the elevator door about to close. "Hold the elevator!" he called out right into the cell causing Wilson to jerk away quickly. A tall auburn haired woman held the door for nothing but a nod from House.
"Before you nearly made me deaf, I asked you how did you come to the conclusion that she doesn't have sex purely based on her name and occupation," he repeated.
"I can tell you a lot of things about this new lawyer. She doesn't have sex because she is too career- driven like Cuddy. Yes I'm sure she gets drunk on Cosmopolitans and sings karaoke when she's lonely but other than that she's a loner," he explained while watching the floor lights change.
"You get all this from a name and occupation?" Wilson asked in disbelief.
With a sigh House went more into detail, "She is a lawyer, meaning it has taken her a lot of work to get to where she is today. She isn't going to worry about a relationship when she has a great job. She'll drink because that job doesn't give her any thing to snuggle up to at night and the singing is just for a little fun."
"You do know that it will be sickening if you're right?"
"Get ready to puke," House sighed. "I'll see you for lunch." With a quick click he finished the call and spent the remaining 10 seconds with the auburn haired woman in the elevator. He noticed that she wasn't wearing any perfume, which was smart on her part. Always bad to wear perfume in a hospital where God knows who could be allergic to it? Stacy never wore any either. The little reminder of her made him smile until he realized that she wasn't in his life anymore.
The door slid open to reveal Cuddy storming out of his office wearing a red pencil skirt and white blouse. He was just about to stay in the elevator until she spotted him. "House!" she yelled.
He cringed as several staff members turned to watch the show. "My Cuddy how fetching you look in that skirt. Really works well with your eyes," if it wasn't for the sarcasm it could have been taken as a very nice compliment.
"House you can't show up to work two hours late just 'cause you don't feel like coming. A phone call would have been fine, telling me you were going to be late, or you were in a severe motorcycle accident and the only moving part of your body was your mouth," she complained. "Here I am trying to show Helen that we run a respectable place where we have a wonderful staff and you undermine my authority."
He put his phone into his coat pocket then looked at her with a cocky grin, " Now I don't see her anywhere around here so it isn't really undermining your authority if she doesn't know about it."
"We haven't really met but we have seen each other," came a voice from behind him.
He turned to see a familiar set of legs coming from a black skirt, a green blouse, and the deepest shade of auburn hair he had ever seen. For the first time in a long time House was silent.
"I'm the spinster lawyer who drinks Cosmos and sing karaoke," she added with a sly grin. "Most people call me Helen though."
Cuddy watched as the two before her exchanged looks. "You two have already met?" she asked confused.
"Yes…" House began while giving Helen the once over. "In some cultures it would have been rude of you to listen in like you did," he suggested.
"And in many cultures it would have been rude of you to call me all those things," the smirk never once leaving her face or his.
"Greg House, Helen Jordan…Dr. House runs the diagnostic department," Cuddy still wasn't completely sure whether the two had officially met or not.
"I've heard a lot about you, Dr. House. I've actually read a lot about you. Seems you like to get into trouble," she said while raising an eyebrow.
"It's all a lie. I'm really a deep sensitive caring compassionate person who loves horseback rides and long strolls on the beach," his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Helen laughed and nodded, "Kind of like how I like Cosmos and singing karaoke?"
"I think you are missing the point here. I was being sarcastic and I don't really do those things. You on the other hand are a spinster and sing karaoke."
She thought about it for a moment and gave in. "I have to admit that I am one for karaoke bars but I like my scotch."
Cuddy was satisfied that the two knew each other well enough for one day and decided it was time to show Helen more of the hospital. "We better get going. You have clinic duty House."
Ignoring his boss' comment her look at Helen as she was being dragged away. "What about that spinster part?" he called out.
Helen looked back with a grin. "Usually if I'm singing and drinking the spinster thing is out of the question." Moments later Cuddy and Helen disappeared behind the elevator doors leaving House with a different view of how this new addition to the staff would be.