Now in this story, Cameron is thirty-three in 2010, and House is fifty-one, which is an eighteen year old difference. Chase and Cameron are still dating and not divorced or married. Cameron still works in the ER, and still goes to House often with cases for him. Plus, Kutner never killed himself and Thirteen never requested a leave of absence from the hospital. Please be understanding if these characters are a little out of character because this is my first House fic. :)
Prologue:
It was sunny outside, with a little breeze, not too hot and not too cold. A perfect day or so Cameron thought. She sighed as she marched down the familiar hall that led to the diagnostic conference room and House's office. She wanted to be outside, jogging maybe or just going for a walk in the park. It was a perfect summer day, and yet she had to work.
"A forty year old male with vomiting, anxiety, hallucinations, and paranoia, go," she spoke walking into the conference room. House's new 'ducklings' looked to her and then to House curiously as she tossed four copies of the report on the table before handing one to House.
"Drug abuse," House replied instantly not even once opening the file. "Now, you go."
"Toxicology report came back clean." She shot back and looked at his team. "Waiting for a formal invitation?"
"No, just permission from our boss," Thirteen replied a second later and Cameron resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She couldn't understand why House's new female underling didn't like her.
"Are you going to say something, House?"
"Just waiting on you to reveal your actual reason for being here; I told you before I'd fire Kutner." House replied, and Kutner widened his eyes before rolling them a second later. He couldn't decide whether or not House was telling the truth.
"The patient is my real reason for being here. Would I have any other?"
"Would you?"
The two stood facing each other for a second before Foreman cleared his throat and began speaking. "It could be Cryptococcus Meningitis."
Cameron nodded and leaned away from House as she took a deep breath thankful for the interruption. She wasn't sure if she could handle him staring at her like that for much longer. Cameron shot a look at House only to blush when she realized that he was staring at her out of the corner of his eye.
"But Cryptococcus Meningitis has many other symptoms, such as fatigue, memory loss, headaches, and confusion…" Cameron rattled off while pacing slightly.
"They could just have not shown up yet." Thirteen defended her boyfriend.
"He's been here for thirty-six hours as a low-priority. I've just now gotten to him. They would have shown up by now if he indeed does have it."
"It doesn't explain the paranoia or anxiety though." Taub said.
"Cryptococcus Meningitis has been known to affect a patient's mental health, personality, and behavior. Anyone of those could cause paranoia or anxiety." Kutner corrected.
Cameron nodded thoughtfully. "Go run a blood test to prove it." She ordered. No one on the team made a move to stand up as they looked to House for permission.
"You heard the woman. Go!" He replied before asking her, "What are you here for?" when the team finally exited the room so that they were alone.
"I toldyou. The patient," she replied. When he continued to look at her unbelievably, she rolled her eyes. "I don't miss you, House. I'll be back in an hour to see the results for the test." She spoke while walking out the door.
House watched her until she was out of sight. He couldn't actually tell whether or not she was telling the truth about that and it bothered him. It shouldn't bother him, he scolded himself. Then why did it? House frowned, removed his bottle of Vicodin from his pocket, and dry-swallowed two pills before retiring to his office.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
An hour later to the dot, Cameron was back as she said she would be. House had fallen asleep in his office chair only to have been awakened when she knocked his legs off where they were resting on his desk. His eyes popped opened quickly and he rubbed his neck as he moved to sit up straight in his chair.
"Hello, Sleeping Beauty," Cameron spoke while grinning cheekily.
"Who are you the wicked step mother?" He asked with faux curiosity.
"Wrong princess movie," she stated. "You're thinking about Cinderella."
"Of course you would know. What did you grow up waiting for your Prince Charming to come rescue you?"
"I did." She said truthfully. "But then my husband died and I met you. Thanks to you I realized that my Prince Charming was nothing but a guy in a tin foil."
"Are you saying that I'm your 'guy in tin foil?'" He winked mockingly.
"No, I'm not. I'm saying you ruined my hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Oh, and even my thoughts towards human nature," she shrugged. "You made me a better doctor while making me a worse person."
He opened his mouth to reply when his team walked in the room. Cameron sighed, thankful once again for the distraction. How did she always end up thinking that when she was around House?
"Test was negative for the meningitis."
"Which means that Scooby was wrong, does Daphne, Velma, or Shaggy have any other input?" He asked. Then he turned to Cameron. "What about you?"
"I don't know. What were you thinking, Fred?" She shot back. Suddenly, a blonde teenager walked in the room. House couldn't help but think that she looked strangely familiar. Sort of like…
"Mom?" she asked and looked around the room. House looked at her, confused.
"Can I help you?" he asked. "This is my office, and if I was going to throw a party, I would have brought some alcohol and strippers." He spoke about the large number of people in the room.
He expected Cameron to make some witty remark about already having alcohol in his desk and strippers on speed dial, but when she didn't he turned around. Cameron stood there for a second looking like a deer in the headlights. Her face was slowly turning purple. She wasn't breathing, he realized. When he stepped up to help her, she let out a ragged breath turning the teenager's attention to her.
"Mom!" the girl exclaimed rushing to Cameron's side. He heard someone inhale sharply and a second later he realized it was him. He heard his team gasp at separate times. That's when he saw Cameron lean slightly to the left. He realized what was happening before he saw it, but he couldn't reach her side to catch her in time.
She had just fainted.
Thanks for reading! Please review, tell me what you think, and if I should continue!
This chapter is un-betaed because I'm currently and unsuccessfully looking for one. If any of you are and are willing to help me with this story please review and tell me! If you know someone who is a really good beta and is willing to help please tell me! I'm looking for someone to help me right smut because I'm uncomfortable writing it. :)