A/N - I hate doing sequels. But I realized that in some way this story was not finished. The only thing that really challenged their realtionship was an illness. So what would happen when something they can't control with medications walked into their lives? So read, reveiw and tell me what you think! And remember before you flame that this sequel was a request. I try to keep all my readers happy!
Anything But Ordinary – Part Two
Chapter One – The Truth Hurts
Cameron now enjoyed mornings. Gone was that little stab of loneliness she felt when she woke up in the morning, replaced with something far more satisfying; morning sex. She thought that sharing her life and her silly little routines with someone would be the worst thing that she could do. She was a fairly private person, making sure that she kept a large chunk of her life completely separate from those around her. But rather then being uncomfortable, it almost felt natural. She lay in the bed for a little while longer, content with her thoughts before attempting to roll over. She failed miserably thanks to the rapidly growing puppy that had made himself a neat little bed directly behind her back. Cameron reached behind her, gently pushing the puppy down the bed a little.
"I really wish you would stop sleeping behind me Astro"
Astro moaned but didn't wake up, just stretched out a little more, his long limbs bumping into her. She could finally turn over before picking Astro up and dumping him on House's chest. Astro yawned and opened his eyes before crawling up House and began licking his cheek. House groaned and turned but Astro continued to lick until House finally opened his eyes.
"Good morning Astro."
The puppy wagged his tail and rested his head on House's chest. House turned to Cameron with a small smile.
"He's going to get too big for this bed soon"
"I know but he just gets so cold at night. We'll kick him out when it gets warmer. Plus he cry's"
"He needs to learn"
"I know. He's just too cute for me to be mean"
House had tried many a time to put up a tough guy act when it came to Astro. He failed almost as quickly as Cameron had. Astro could be the most annoying animal in the world but much like Cameron, all he had to do was whip those big brown eyes at House and that was the end of it. Astro had House and Cameron wrapped around his fluffy paw and he knew it. The first time that House had slept over, Astro had gone to sleep in his clothes, leaving his thick fur all over them. At three months old he had chewed up a pair of House's shoes, expensive ones. House had said nothing, just went out and brought another pair. Cameron was stuck with telling Astro off, which had become a regular thing now that he was getting bigger. Cameron still had to laugh the first day that they had gone out with Astro. He was still quite small, House said that he was the runt of the litter, so House had just tucked him under his arm and they went wondering down to the pet store. They looked so cute together. They had been watching TV when an old re-run of the 'Jetsons' came on and that was it. Astro was christened and House had moved in fairly quickly after that. He still had his own place but the top drawer, the only one that Astro could not reach, had become his.
"We have to get to work"
House made the comment but he made no effort to follow it through. He stretched over and pulled Cameron closer to him, kissing her. It was in that moment that Astro started to whine, demanding attention and his breakfast. House groaned and broke the kiss. House got out of bed first, popping his morning Vicodin and picking Astro up, tucking him under his arm like a football before heading for the kitchen. Taking advantage of his distraction, Cameron moved quickly, gathering a change of clothes before heading to the bathroom for a shower. When she got out, House moved past her and closed the door behind him, still looking half-asleep. Cameron took a cup of coffee that House had laid out for her before starting some eats for them both. She winced at the feeling of spilt kibble beneath her bare feet, kicking it towards Astro, who had turned into the messier eater she had ever seen.
"You need to learn some table manners young man"
Astro grunted, in a way that sounded far too much like House, and continued to eat his breakfast. Cameron was almost finished the bacon when House can out, a trail of steam following him. He took a seat and Cameron put the plate in front of him, kissing his cheek, enjoying the smell of his freshly soaped skin.
"Hopefully, we'll have an interesting case today"
"If not, you still have all that paperwork to do?"
"Are you going to play secretary again?"
Cameron smiled before eating her own breakfast, ignoring House's comment. Things were different at work now. They tried to maintain the working relationship that they had, pretending that nothing had changed. But it had and soon the secret was out. Wilson spotted it first, commenting how House was giving Cameron a lot of rides on the back of his bike in the mornings. When he figured it out, he told Cuddy and soon the entire hospital knew. Cameron got the brunt of it every time House gave her a seemingly easy task. She got the looks from Chase and the verbal lick from Foreman but it was nothing that she couldn't handle. The pros by far out weighed the cons.
The first person that they ran into when they stepped into hospital was the one woman that Cameron was certain that she would never see again; Stacey. The trio stood there awkwardly before Cameron decided that the conversation would not move if she was there. She leaned forward and in a rare display of public affection, she kissed House on the cheek before moving to the office. House watched her go before turning back to Stacey.
"What are you doing here?"
"Mark divorced me. And you hooked up with a pretty young doctor"
"You make it sound like Cameron is a high school student."
"She might as well be"
House shook his head and began to move away but Stacey stopped him with a tug on the arm.
"I never would have thought you moved on with her"
"What can I say Stacey? I'm full of surprises"
House tugged his arm out of her grip and made the long work to his office. Stacey had been the love of his life for so long that it almost destroyed him what she left him. Now that place that she used to fill was taken by Cameron. They had made a little life together. It wasn't perfect but it worked for both of them. He, for the first time in a long time, was happy. Having Cameron in his life had done that. He finally arrived at the office and he glanced at Cameron, who handed him a coffee before taking her seat. It was time to get to work and forget about everything else.
He had sent the troops to go and run a series of tests on their patient and he was sitting in his office going through his mail when Stacey walked in. She didn't say anything until she was sitting across from him.
"I want to have a coffee with you"
"I have to check it with Cameron first"
"So she's your girlfriend and yet you still call her by her last name?"
"At work, yes. Home is another story"
"She has you completely whipped huh?"
House sighed and pushed his chair back so he could stretch out his legs.
"What do you want Stacey? More importantly, why are you here?"
"I want to talk"
"What do you think this is?"
"More privately if you don't mind"
"You can come to dinner tonight. You could even meet the dog"
Stacey's face fell and House a warm rush of triumph.
"You have a dog?"
"Not really me. Astro belongs to Alison"
"I don't think you're girlfriend would like me coming over for dinner"
"Alison is very open minded"
"How about you check it with her first and get back to me?"
"Fine"
He watched her leave and for the first time he realized something that had never occurred to him before; he was happier with Cameron then he had ever been with Stacey. He still loved her but more in a sentimental way then anything else. After all, she had been the love of his life for so long that he could barely remember a time when he didn't feel that way. Until now. Now he was happy and it nothing to do with Stacey or Vicodin. It was all Cameron. He also knew that every single principle that Cameron held dear would not allow her to say no to Stacey's request. She would agree to dinner and be quiet and polite, giving away no hostility. Only she and House would know the true emotions bubbling beneath the surface.
House paged Cameron deep into the afternoon and waited for her out on the balcony. He didn't want to risk anyone else walking in on this conversation, least of all Stacey. Cameron's smile was tight and her body language stressed as she came to stand beside him.
"What does she want?"
"To talk. She wanted to come over to dinner tonight"
"Why? She wants to talk to you, not to me. I'll be nothing more then a third wheel"
"I want you there"
Cameron shook her head as she sipped her coffee.
"This is not my problem. Take her out to dinner and sort it out."
House moved closer, putting his hand on her back.
"Alison, her arrival changes nothing. I care for her but not the way I care for you"
Cameron turned and pressed her face into his neck, breathing his scent in deeply. She was terrified that this was it. Stacey had been his big love at one stage and she knew that it had been hard for him to shake those feelings. She wanted nothing to change between them but she wasn't going to hold them back if it did. It would hurt her but she wanted House to be happy and if him being happy meant getting back together with Stacey, then that is what he should do.
"Greg, I'm scared"
"Of what?"
"Losing you"
House pulled hug, stroking her hair.
"You're not going to lose me"
"Stacey was your big love. I'm not"
House pulled back and looked at her, his face pulled into a frown.
"Have I ever said that to you?"
"No, I-"
"You only need to worry if I said that to you. I promise that when I take her to dinner, the entire night I will wish it was you across from me. Not Stacey. Understand?"
Cameron nodded, trying to push the doubts away but they wouldn't budge. She was worried about House, about them and about what Stacey would do to that.
Cuddy watched as Stacey continued to pace her office. Stacey had never offered any kind of explanation as to why she was here. But Cuddy knew that if Mark had divorced her that only one thing would being her back.
"Why are you here Stacey?"
Stacey paused in her pacing, settling herself in a chair across from Cuddy.
"I don't know. I guess I thought that House would……I don't know."
"He's happy Stacey. He's happier then I have seen him be in a long time."
"Because of her"
"Because of Cameron. Did you hope that in coming back he would drop everything and you could return to the way things were?"
Stacey smiled slightly, shrugging her shoulders.
"Sad isn't it?"
Cuddy returned the smile but her heart wasn't in it. Why would it be? House had changed since he had started dating then living with Cameron. She had seen it for herself outside of work when she had been invited to dinner a couple of weeks ago. She had seen the affection between House and Cameron, the understanding that they for each other. When she had first heard from Wilson that they were going out, she was concerned. If things turn pear shaped, she could lose a member of an incredible team. Cameron would not want to be around after something like that. But then she had seen the happiness that they had and she was content with that. She was certain that House would never hurt Cameron the way that he had hurt Stacey. House had finally grown up.
"Stacey, I think you should leave them alone"
"Why? How do you know that Cameron is nothing more then another woman to fill an empty bed?"
"He's changed. He changed for her. For them"
"You want to know the truth?"
"About what?"
"Mark. I divorced him. For House"
Cuddy shook her head and could feel the panic rising in her chest. She could not let this happen. She would not stand by idly and watch Stacey destroy what had made House so happy.
"He's not giving up on Cameron. They work well together"
"How do you know what he really feels?"
"Wilson is not the only one he talks to Stacey. I know more then people give me credit for"
"She almost died didn't she? A few months ago she was sick and now House lives with her. You don't find that at all suspicious?"
"So you think they are together because House wants control?"
"It would not be unheard of"
Cuddy gripped the pencil in her hand, her knuckles turning white. What had happened to Stacey since the last time that they talked? Gone was the calm, rational woman, replaced with one who could not see the truth.
"It's not about control."
"What is it then?"
"It may be a bit of a jump but it may just be love. I hate to say it but it may even be more then what you had with him"
Stacey frowned and stood pulling on her coat.
"I guess we'll find out"
"Stacey, what are you going to do?"
"Something I should have done a long time ago"
And with that, she left Cuddy alone. Cuddy felt another rush of panic. She picked up the phone and dialed Wilson's number. She didn't know what else to do.