House had called Thirteen into his office, so naturally she followed him in and shut the door behind her, mentally preparing for some sort of idiocy.
"How many people on the team have you not slept with?" House asked, swinging his cane back and forth while sitting in his office chair. Thirteen rolled her eyes, wondering why he insisted on calling her in here to ask her such an asinine question.
"Wouldn't it be easier to ask how many I have slept with?" Thirteen responded with a question in return. House shrugged.
"That depends on how many there are. Which brings us back to my question," House said. Thirteen thought for a moment before replying.
"Just Foreman," she replied. House gave her an exaggerated shocked look.
"Just one? You've only slept with one of them? What, are they all not attractive for you?" House inquired with a mocking tone. Then again, his tone was always mocking. "Let's see… Chase is too much of a manwhore for you. You're in it for the conquest, and he presents no challenge. Then there's Wilson, but you see him as too moral. Kutner is not attractive enough for you, and Taub is… well, married. And that leaves Cameron," House went down the list, ticking off a finger for each name he mentioned.
"Cameron's so straight that she makes laser levels look crooked," Thirteen responded blandly.
"Oh, the woes of a hot bisexual doctor with an uncontrollable libido stuck on a team with people who are either not her type or too straight. It must be hard being you," House spoke dramatically. Thirteen took a controlled breath before saying anything that approached what had just come out of the sarcastic doctor's mouth.
"You treat people like mirrors. You look at them and see yourself," Thirteen observed. House mulled this over with overdone gestures.
"Let's see… hot bisexual doctor with an uncontrollable libido… you're right, Thirteen, the only difference between us is that you like dick as well as-"
"Is there anything else?" Thirteen cut him off, watching the conversation devolve rapidly.
"Back to what was said about Cameron… you said she'd straight as an arrow basically. So, I want you to make some sort of sexual joke about the two of you next time the team meet," House stated. Thirteen carefully raised one eyebrow. She wasn't quite sure where this was headed, but she was certain it wasn't anywhere good.
"And just why would I do that?" she asked the obvious. House gave her a toothy grin.
"I'll give you fifty bucks," House offered.
"Make it a hundred and you've got your day's entertainment," Thirteen countered. House smacked the desk with his cane.
"Deal," he responded. "And it better be good. I want to see her blushing after it!" House called after the brunette.
It was only about an hour later when the team next met to discuss a patient. Thirteen found herself distracted, as she kept looking over at Cameron and trying to work out how she was going to work in a comment that would satisfy House's demands.
"We can add hemorrhaging to the list. The patient started just now," Chase said.
"Maybe he picked up a sexually transmitted disease. Several of them are consistent with his symptoms," Kutner added. So now they were on the topic of sex. Perfect time to bring it in and earn an easy hundred dollars.
"I already tested the girlfriend. She came back clean," Chase refuted the theory.
"We should ask him without the girlfriend in the room if there's been anyone else. You know, that hot blonde coworker that you just can't keep your eyes off of who finally takes you up on an offer for drinks and then some. We've all been tempted," Thirteen interjected, staring right at Cameron as she spoke.
There was a heated silence in the room as everyone looked at Thirteen and then back at Cameron. Cameron's eyes held steady with Thirteen for a few seconds before the blonde looked down at her papers hastily with a faint blush on her cheeks at what the younger female doctor had just implied.
"Well then, Chase, you go interrogate the patient, and Kutner, I want you to distract the girlfriend. Give her some medical forms to fill out. The rest of you gents, I want you working on my clinic duties," House directed, breaking the tension like glass.
"What kind of forms?" Kutner asked.
"Oh, I don't care. Whatever's on the top of Cuddy's desk," House waved off the question. Chase and Kutner left, leaving Cameron and Thirteen alone with House. Cameron excused herself instantly, muttering something about getting a cup of coffee. Once she left, House started a slow clap.
"Congrats, you win a hundred dollars. I owe you tomorrow. I like what you did there, nice and subtle. But you managed to embarrass the straight doctor," House complimented. Thirteen felt a little empty; though she was receiving money and praise for her antics, she felt a twinge of regret. She didn't think that Cameron would react so strongly.
"Alright, you're good to go. Why don't you take an early lunch?" House suggested. Like he actually cared when she ate. As long as she showed up in time to help solve the puzzle, she knew House didn't actually give a damn if she ate at all or for two hours.
Nevertheless, Thirteen took House's suggestion, heading down to the cafeteria. When she entered, it was pretty empty since it wasn't even noon yet, but there was Cameron standing in line to order a cup of coffee. Thirteen walked over and stood behind her.
"Hey," she greeted the blonde. Cameron looked over at the other doctor in surprise.
"Oh, hey," she greeted without any enthusiasm. Thirteen cringed on the inside.
"You know, I'm sorry about what I said back there," Thirteen apologized. She knew that bringing up the topic, even in an apology, was bound to backfire, but she did it anyway. To her surprise, Cameron smiled.
"No big deal. Let me guess, a dare from House?" Cameron asked. Thirteen was amazed. She hadn't reacted in anger, and she's even guessed what the motivation had been.
"Yeah, a stupid one," Thirteen admitted. Cameron laughed.
"Aren't they always? I hope he's paying you for it," Cameron said. Thirteen found herself grinning along with Cameron.
"Yeah, and he actually told me to take a lunch break. I think he might have hit his head or something," Thirteen replied. She paused for a moment as Cameron ordered a coffee and then stepped up to order a simple sandwich. "Hey, do you want to sit down? God knows you need a bit of a break," Thirteen offered. Cameron shrugged.
"Why not?" she responded. The two women sat down on opposite sides of one of the booths. Thirteen took a moment to look at the woman in front of her. She may not have meant to embarrass Cameron, but that didn't mean that she hadn't meant what she said. Cameron was hot, and there was no way around it. That beautiful blonde hair combined with her stunning blue eyes, symmetrical features, and a fantastic body made for one very attractive woman.
"So, how did you know that House had put me up to it?" Thirteen inquired. Cameron took a sip of coffee and Thirteen took the opportunity of it being Cameron's turn to talk to take a bite of her sandwich.
"He's been poking at my sex life ever since I accidentally let slip about a one night stand I'd had a few weeks ago," Cameron admitted. Thirteen wondered what the guy had been like, what type Cameron had. Probably tall, dark, and handsome like most women.
"Well, he does the same for me, but it's usually just slipping in comments about me liking it both ways," the brunette agreed. She watched as the blonde took another drink of her coffee, lips curling around the rim of the cup. Thirteen found herself unwittingly licking her lips in response.
"He's a bastard," Cameron said. Thirteen cracked a smile.
"Of course he is," Thirteen affirmed. Cameron stood up.
"I'm sorry, but I've really got to get back to work. I should check on how the hemorrhaging patient is doing. Enjoy your lunch," Cameron said with an apologetic smile.
"Thanks," Thirteen responded. And a nice ass, Thirteen added to the list of attractive qualities she'd mentally been making earlier as she watched Cameron walking away. The brunette stared down at the rest of her sandwich, suddenly feeling lonely at an empty table and not really all that hungry. With a sigh, she got up, dumping her lunch in the trash and heading back up to work on the case.
On her way up, just as she was getting in the elevator, House came into view yelling for her to hold the door for him. She complied and waited for him to hobble into the metal box.
"Oh goodie, I was hoping I'd run into you," House said as the elevator door closed and they started their assent. "Now, since it was so much fun last time, I think you should make another uncomfortable situation for our little sexy blonde," House said. Thirteen shook her head.
"That's enough, House. I'm not playing your little game," she replied. House gave her his cranky look as if she'd just stolen his ice cream.
"Yes, and I'm not a cantankerous bastard. Of course you'll play," House mocked with much sarcasm. Thirteen controlled her emotions, like she always did around most people.
"No, I won't. If you want to see her embarrassed, just say something yourself," Thirteen argued calmly. The elevator dinged and the young doctor walked off without another word, leaving House to gape at her retreating form, surely already planning his revenge in some way. But she didn't care.
"Fine! I don't need you anyway!" House called out after her. Thirteen smirked; he sounded like a whining bitch. She left the office, knowing that this was far from over. House had a goal in mind, most likely a childish manipulation, but he would never let go of his ridiculous goals. Thirteen was ready to play his game, whatever it ended up being.