Disclaimer: There's a reason they call these things fanfiction, and it's not because David Shore makes them.
Summary: There was something in the way he'd touched her shoulder, but Allison Cameron couldn't quite put a finger to it. His touch was… vaguely familiar. Robert Chase and Allison Cameron first met at Princeton – Plainsboro. Or did they? Angst, nostalgia, humor and romance, all in two chapters. Chameron.
Chapter One
"God, this is too much... augh!" a 17-year old Robert Chase grimaced as he leanes against the aged oak tree. His head had been threatening to crack open since the night before, and this morning it wasn't doing any better. Sneaking out for an early morning change in scenery had seemed like a good idea while he was in the house, but now that he was in the quiet environment of the yet-deserted park it didn't seem to help. Or did it?
"If dad were here… oh, crap." The pain seemed to intensify as his thoughts turned to his estranged father. It had been a little more than two years since Rowan Chase stepped out of their lives and right now his son had yet to begin to learn not to care.
He brought a hand to his blond head and attempted to sleep the pain away. "Might as well sleep right here."
"Hey, you're not feeling that well, are you?" an unfamiliar voice said softly.
"That's putting it lightly," he mumbled, opening an eye to glance at the stranger. She was American - that much he could tell from her accent. Here reddish-brown hair – more red than brown, actually – fell in loose waves across her shoulders as she looked at him with a striking pair of puppy-dog eyes. "Who are you and what are you doing here? …. No offense, but…"
She laughed easily. "Vacation with some friends. But I'm an early riser and they're not, so…" She settled in beside him as she curled up to face him. Here eyes were filled with concern as she set her gaze upon his face.
"You do realize I'm not to be much company," Robert said as her closed his eyes in pain once more.
"I know." Strange. She was still smiling.
"Ungh." He was in agony, and this beautiful creature he'd have asked out on a better day had to be here and see it.
"Here." To his surprise, she'd placed her hands on his head and began to smooth his locks back.
"What are you doing?"
"Ssshhh."
Her hands gentle yet firm, she began to massage his aching head. He continued to close his eyes as he let her fingers take the pain away.
"Hey, thanks," He reached up to hold her fingers I his. "I feel better already."
"Good." She smiled, seemingly unmindful of their intertwined fingers.
"You do this all the time? Taking care of random strangers?"
"Only strangers I like."
"Hmm. You'll make a good nurse."
"I'm going to be a doctor."
"You'll make a good one, too."
"Really? You think?"
He glanced at her and noticed she had a bit of a cleft chin. He liked it. "Yeah… I can tell. Crap, wait…" He fumbled for his phone which had just started ringing.
"Robbie, where are you? I've been looking all over…" His mother's voice, fearful and worried, came over the line. "Robbie, are you leaving me like your father did?" She always asked that question, even in the now-rare times that she was sober.
He sighed. "No, Mum. I'm just outside. I'll be back." Hanging up and shoving the phone into his pocket, he turned to face the girl who had been his angel, if only for a few moments. "Look, I really have to go now…"
She cocked her head. "You good enough to go?"
"Yep." He laid his hand on her left shoulder. "That meant a lot even if I don't you. Thank you, alright?"
"You're welcome," she smiled.
"Take care, okay?" With that, he stood and jogged away, turning back only once.
She smiled and waved at his retreating form. She'd have loved to ask a lot of questions, but something held her back. Something told her that her questions would only lead to more.
Ooo000ooO
"Where on earth have you been?" his mother's speech was slurred as she tottered toward his in her nightgown. She leaned in close to see his face, so close he could see the vacant depths in her eyes and smell the alcohol on her breath.
"Outside, Mum," he answered shortly, grabbing her wrist and trying to pry the gin bottle from her surprisingly strong grip.
"Don't take it away, Robbie, please…" she begged.
"It's bad for you, Mum! Look, you're getting worse…"
"I'll be worse off without it… Please don't!.. No!" She cried as he finally managed to tear it away. "Come on, baby… Give it back to Mummy…"
"No, Mum."
"Give it back to me!"
"No!"
Smack. His head reeled to the side as she slapped him with all the drunken force she could muster. "I'm sorry, baby…" she stroked the cheek she had just made scarlet. "But this is all I have…" Tears streaming down her vacant eyes, she staggered back into the kitchen to drown herself once more.
Robert leaned against the door frame and slid to the carpeted floor. "You have me, Mum," he whispered.
Only one person seemed to truly care… and she happened to be a total stranger.
Ooo0ooO
Author's note: If you're wondering where the humor went, it's in the next and final chapter. Oh, and Foreman makes his entrance, too.
Reviews, comments, and constructive criticism are always welcome. Spam isn't.
See ya in the next chappie!