Ok, so this isn't my first ever fanfic but it is the first I've ever posted. It's naturally a House/Cam fiction and I'm going for the subtle approach, with some Wilson/Cuddy. Hope you like it. No flames please, but constructive criticism is fine. Please, PLEASE review as I'd love to hear your thoughts.

This first chapter is pretty much an introductory one to the main ideas. It's perhaps OOC; tell me if you think so.

This is dedicated to my friends in the House fandom: Coco (because you are too cool for me to even write about. And you love Captain Jack.), Kayla (because you make me feel a little less insane and obsessive by being equally so), JC (because you make me feel immature for my age. Lol, no because you are generally just fab) and Sema, aka Limpy (because you are great to talk to on msn and are another fanfic fan.)

Enjoy!

Chapter one- Companionship

It was an ordinary week at Princeton Plainsboro. Since the shooting, House had gone back to his normal self. He was not the kind of man to be 'reborn' even after a near death experience. Everything was the same and that was the way House liked it. Wilson had flirted with the new oncology nurse; House had mocked him for it. Cuddy had worn a wonderful designer shirt, and House had decided to openly admire her "assets". Foreman had disagreed with House over their latest patient, and House had shouted. Chase had done his job, and looked attractive; House had made a comment about his hair. And then there was Cameron, who had been quiet and done her job, and House had snarked about anything and everything from her appearance to general demeanour. Then at the end of the day, House went home to his empty apartment, fed Steve, played his piano and drank scotch. Just the way he liked it.

It was not until Wednesday, however, that House became restless and wanted a challenge. They had solved the case in less than a day. Foreman and Chase were treating the patient, and Cameron had come to House before lunch to tell him she had noted his treatment in his medical file. At two thirty Cameron came back to House's office to tell him that she had completed two of his clinic hours, as asked.

"What do you want me to do now?"

He was on his game boy, and didn't remove his eyes from the screen.

"Sort the mail"

"Did it"

"And my clinic hours?"

"Yes, and the patient's files."

"Make me a coffee"

"Ahem!" She cleared her throat and nodded towards the steaming cup she had just placed on his desk.

"Cool. You're superwoman."

"One name for me. The other is proactive" This earned an obnoxious snort of laughter from House. She sighed. "What do you want me to do now?"

"Lap dance." He was pretty surprised at her reaction.

"Right, where's the CD player?"

Did she just find that amusing? She's smiling! Anomaly. Interesting.

"Do whatever you like"

"Ok... I'll be in the lab, I could run some gels". She turned to leave, but he threw his game boy onto the desk, and called:

"Cameron!" She spun around, a slight frown on her face. "On second thought, I want you to do something much more creative."

"Oh God" She closed her eyes.

"I want you to start slacking"

Her eyes snapped open, and her frown deepened, but a smile danced over her mouth for a moment:

"I'm sorry, what?"

"SLACK-ING" He drew the word out, leaning back in his chair.

She opened her mouth, closed it, and shook her head abruptly, lost for words. She silently walked forward and placed herself in the chair opposite Houses desk.

"O-Kay?"

"You, are a workaholic" He put his hands behind his head

"Right" She folded her hands neatly in her lap. This earned her raised eyebrows from her boss.

"So I want to see if you can do what I do for an afternoon. It's two thirty, so, you have three hours. Your mission, should you choose to accept it" She smiled at him then "Is to bring your laptop through here- I don't trust you otherwise- and to do NOTHING worthwhile for a whole afternoon"

"Dr House, you pay me to work, and I enjoy it, so..." But he cut her off.

"-I pay you to do what I say, go get the laptop, Cameron, or you're more messed up than I gave you credit for."

She couldn't argue, she couldn't let him be right. So she marched off, and brought in her laptop. Clearing space on one end of his desk, she set down the device and pulled up a seat. For the next half hour, she scanned pages of designer stores, looking for a new suit. She needed to treat herself now and again. House was on his own computer but she didn't care to look at what he was doing. Outside, the rain was falling and the sky was grey. She sighed at how very depressing the weather was. Moments later, a box appeared in the corner of her screen, alerting her to the fact that someone was initiating a conversation with her on msn messenger which she never actually used but had seemed to spread through the hospital like wildfire as an excuse not to work.

Strange she thought, and opened the message. It surprised her when she read the sending address: she looked up at him, but he didn't look back. So she opened the message.

"Enjoying slacking Dr C? No didn't think so. What are you doing? Research, no doubt" She took the bait, and pressed reply:

"If Chanel counts as research, then yeah."

"Chanel counts as rip off."

A few seconds later, he had still not made eye contact but the conversation continued. Cameron sent:

"Didn't think you were the kind to use msn. Interesting."

"And yet you added me to your friends list. More interesting"

"Oh, please, I add everyone to my friends list."

"Figures"

Cameron switched to more affordable websites, her idea of treating herself out the window due to that huge amount of her brain screaming 'think about the bank balance!'

After another ten minutes or so, House started to watch her. When she noticed she shifted uncomfortably in her chair and asked:

"What?"

"You're just dying to work, aren't you?"

"I want to do my job"

"You've done your job, for today at least. Tomorrow, same deal."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Work like a hamster on speed all morning, and then come slacking with your boss. We can even watch my TV... I tivo-ed Desperate Housewives. I figured that's your thing."

"Uh... yeah. But, doesn't Wilson usually slack with you?"

"Wilson has other things on his mind"

"New oncology nurse?"

"Yeah" Cameron couldn't help but notice House looked a little sad when he said this, and she felt sorry for him.

"Fine."

"I know she is... Didn't think she was your type, not dying, old or Australian..."

"No!" She shot back, "I mean... slacking. Fine."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

House grinned at his little duckling. He couldn't admit it to her, but he was lonely now Wilson and Malibu Barbie were hooking up. And Cameron at least made him feel less alone. The two of them sat in a comfortable silence for most of the afternoon. House showed Cameron some online games and videos which lightened the mood with her laugh ringing around his office. Cameron sent House some photos of Chase drunk and partying, only after he swore never to let Chase know she sent them. All in all the two of them really had a great afternoon. Cuddy wasn't hunting House down and the boys were busy doing their own thing. If fact, House could almost forget that his best friend was too busy for him and his leg hurt. Just briefly he felt young and carefree again. All because of a few photos of an Aussie doing the cha cha slide at one in the morning, tanked on vodka shots.