A/N: I wrote this for a prompt over on Live Journal, based on the song "Set Fire to the Rain" by Adele. It's kinda angsty but I'm in an angsty mood. I wrote it in less than 2 hours so don't expect much, just enjoy it for what it is.

Tortured Souls

House stood outside Cameron's apartment, out on the lawn, watching her through her bedroom window. It had just started to rain but he didn't care. He had to see her. He had to know.

Cameron was well aware that House was outside but she pretended not to be. She had no intention of letting him in. If she did, she didn't want to think about the consequences. Not like there would be any. Not really. She was leaving Chase and PPTH for good. She had no more ties.

So why was he consistently tearing her heart in two?

They had unfinished business.

She knew she'd never be able to get him out of her head, or her heart, no matter how much she fought it. No matter what, he would always win. Always. And she'd continue to play his games, knowing that.

The rain came down harder and she walked to the window. He was still out there, leaning heavily on his cane, looking up at her with sad eyes.

Maybe, just maybe, if he stayed put, her curiosity would get the better of her and she'd come out. Or at the very least, let him in out of the rain.

Cameron sighed and walked away from the window again and closed the curtains.

House's heart sank and he sighed with defeat as he turned around to leave, but then he heard the door open and he froze.

"Are you going to come in before you freeze?"

He turned back around but he didn't move.

"What do you want, House?" she asked, her voice pleading. "Please, tell me, because I'm all out of questions."

"I don't want you to go," he shouted over the heavy rain.

"So, what? You're just going to stand out here and watch me pack?"

"You don't have to leave. Leave him, yeah, but not leave town. I'm still here."

"You made it very clear that you don't want me," she said, arms folding across her chest. "Many times, in fact. You knew how I felt. You still played your vicious games. Well I've had enough. You can't do that forever and then expect me to drop everything and forgive you. I deserve better."

House nodded. "I know." He took a few steps forward. "I don't deserve you. I probably never did. But I need you. And I don't need anything."

Those words, and the way he spoke them, made her eyes sting with tears and she quickly wiped them away. "I just need to know one thing," she added, as he took another step closer, narrowing the gap between them.

"What?"

"Did you mean it?"

"When? Did I mean what?"

"Years ago, when I asked you if you liked me, you said no. Was that the truth?"

"What do you think?"

"God damnit, Greg!"

Upon use of his name, he winced but he didn't say anything.

"Stop answering my questions with a damn question!" she shouted over the rain. "Why can't you just tell me straight out? It's just us here. Nobody else. You don't have to pretend with me or speak in riddles." Then she threw her hands up. "You know what? Fuck you and your games! I'm going to bed. I have plane to catch in the morning."

"Are you really leaving?"

"There's no point in staying. There's nothing left for me here. Not even you, if you can't answer one simple question!" Then she turned to go back inside and this time he followed her to the front door and used his cane to stop her from slamming it in his face.

"No," was all he said before he pressed his body against hers. His lips and his face were soaking wet from the rain and his scruff rubbed against her chin but she barely noticed. She didn't even hear the front door slam shut as he shoved her up against it.

Her hands slid up his wet shirt and up to his shoulders, pushing the soaked jacket off of him and then her fingers quickly began unbuttoning his shirt that wasn't as wet.

"Everybody lies," he mumbled between kisses as he unbuttoned her blouse and shoved it off her shoulders, revealing a beige satin bra beneath.

"Even you?"

"Even me. I was...I thought you just wanted to fix me. I...was protecting myself. Both of us...from getting hurt."

"I don't know where you got that idea," she breathed, her breath becoming quicker as they moved from the door to the hallway toward her bedroom. "I never wanted to fix you. I love you just as you are. Always have."

They stood in the doorway of her bedroom, the only light being a dim lamp in the corner. It was enough for House to see the outline of her body and her smooth, pale skin.

"Still?" he asked, backing her into the room and closing the door behind them. Once her knees hit the end of the bed, she sat down. And so did he.

"Why is it so hard for you to believe?"

"I'm not the easiest man to love. Ask anyone."

"Maybe that's part of the reason I love you. Because you're damaged like me. We get each other..."

His lips kissed her neck and her throat as his hands explored her curves and felt her soft skin under his fingertips. "Don't go tomorrow," he whispered between kisses as they rolled across the bed and he pulled the covers up over them. "Stay. With me."

"Why?"

"Because I'm tired of hiding my feelings from you. You deserve better. I want to be better. I'm tired of being miserable. You don't make me miserable."

Cameron was speechless. "I..."

He gathered her into his arms and buried his nose in her soft blonde hair. "I don't think you want to go," he said.

"I don't...but I'm afraid to stay. Afraid to get hurt."

"You don't think I am?" He gently stroked her back as he held her close to him. Being with her under the covers made him feel like he was protecting her. From what, exactly, he didn't know. But she wasn't running away from him, so he took that as a good sign. "We'll just take it one day at a time. I'm game if you are."

Cameron glanced up at him and he glanced down at her. When he kissed her again, he felt alive for the first time in years.

He was finally where he needed to be.

A/N: If I get enough feedback I MIGHT be tempted to write some smex :) And no, it's not a bribe to get more reviews. I have an idea in my head but I have to work on other things as well. If enough of you like this story, maybe I'll add another chapter. Just sayin ;)