Disclaimer: I don't own House or any of the established characters, but a girl can dream.
Authors Note: This is a story I started a long time ago. It's clearly more Cameron/House centered than the one I've currently been writing. This one isn't finished, but I thought it might tide some readers over while they wait patiently for a Cameron/House connection in my other story. Hope you like it. Please review if you can, it really makes my day.
The office was strangely still as Allison eased herself gently into her desk chair. They had been busy this week, last week too. Three new cases in and it wasn't even Thursday yet. Foreman was still only working part time since his exposure to Nagleria and Cuddy had not totally cleared him for clinic duty yet, so the brunt of the work was falling on Cameron and Chase.
She sighed as she surveyed her desk. The mail loomed in front of her in a semi -organized stack and she eyed her notebook where several phone messages from yesterday had been quickly scribbled down. She giggled softly to herself as her eyes fell over the words 'Chase- Hair Stylist Called' hugely written across several inches of paper in House's handwriting. As the smile faded from her lips, she realized it would be a while before she would be able to get to those messages.
She fumbled for her eyeglass case and slipped on her glasses. Her eyes felt tired and a bit dry, but she gave them a quick blink and went to work. Returning the phone calls went quickly. "Thank God for answering machines", she thought.
She took in a long breath and exhaled slowly as she picked up the first referral letter. Her eyes quickly scanned over the polite greeting from the hopeful patient's family physician. Fifty-five year old man with muscle fatigue, dizziness, weight loss and chronic back and shoulder pain. Otherwise, in good health all his life it seemed. Three previous doctors had yet been able to find a treatment that relieved him of his symptoms.
Tapping her fingers along the arm of the chair while she debated tossing the letter in the 'maybe' file, her left hand moved absentmindedly up from the letter and across to her right breast.
"Still there", she thought. Each lump pronounced enough to where she could feel their rounded shapes through her bra and thin weight of her cotton blouse.
She dropped her hand and quickly flipped open her date book. Had it really been almost two months since she had first noticed them? She couldn't help but think how weird it was- the line between being a doctor and worried patient all at the same time.
She knew immediately that the lumps were suspicious. But, she also knew that she'd need to wait another cycle before she jumped from concern to panic. "Right, Allison. Easier said than done", she sighed and went back to her work.
Four floors down, House shifted his stiff right leg for what seemed like the tenth time. Even with the amazing way Cuddy's breasts looked in her thin floral blouse it couldn't take his mind off the fact that he was now trapped in a never ending administrative meeting from hell. "Wouldn't you agree, Doctor House"? Cuddy's voiced trailed off as she waited for his response. "House!" she bellowed.
"Sorry, I was just thinking about last night", as his eyes rose up mischievously to make his tanned forehand wrinkle ever so slightly. "What do say we kick everyone out and have another go at Headmistress and naughty schoolboy?" His acerbic sense of humor fell on deaf ears and one slightly annoyed Cuddy. "House, get out. If you can't contribute like an adult for five minutes, I don't need you". "Go play with your yo-yo or whatever it is you do to make everyone think you're deep in thought".
"Great! Don't have to ask me twice- well, except for last night, right Mistress?" he shot back rapping his cane several times with playfulness on the inside of his right palm. He rose amazingly fast out of his chair for someone so uncomfortable just five seconds before. Leaning in over Cuddy's desk, he gave her one last appreciative glance down at her cleavage before she kicked out her chair and stood to meet his gaze. "And, since you'll have some newfound free time on your hands", she volleyed back with a tone that indicated she was about to win this match, "you can give two more clinic hours before tomorrow afternoon" she smiled back victoriously.
Undeterred, House gazed over to Wilson who managed a vague smile, unwilling to commit too much to it least he also incur Cuddy's wrath.
"Lucky bastard", Wilson thought to himself and returned his focus to Cuddy who had gone on talking about the budget as if House had already been long gone.
Allison had made her way through more than half of the referral requests that now sat in three neat piles on her desk. She barely glanced up when House pushed his way through the heavy glass door that led directly to his office. He hadn't been gone nearly long enough for one of Cuddy's famous budget meetings. A small smile curled on her lips as she could only think of what it was that caused him to be ejected so early.
"Good meeting?" she called out through the glass wall separating her desk from his space. "Works every time" he quickly replied while stopping long enough to switch on the television before plunking his long frame down in his desk chair.
"Where's Chase?" he asked over the familiar soap opera theme music.
Cameron took her glasses off and pushed herself away from her desk. She walked over and stood casually in the door jamb just inside his office. "In Radiology getting that contrast MRI on Mr. Marindino" she answered back gently almost too low for him to make out that she had really spoken at all.
House lifted his gaze from the television and eyed her intently. She never quite got used to those eyes, she thought, boring into her as if trying to read her most locked away thoughts. Subconsciously, she pulled her arms over to cross her chest.
She looked pale and tired, he thought. He would throw the description of thin into that list, but she always looked thin- did she ever eat? Her eyes were red and he could just make out the beginnings of small, dark circles underneath them. He also noticed that she was just close enough for him to smell her perfume. God, the way she smelled was intoxicating. Instinctively he shook his gaze away from her, reaching for the pill bottle in his jacket pocket while casting his eyes back toward the television.
"Well, when you see Chase, tell him he's got two more clinic hours to do this week" House blurted out without even taking his eyes off the screen.
"So what did you do? No, let me guess….leering at her breasts followed by witty sexual banter capped off with some snide comment about your suspicion of her true gender".
"Love to share it with you, but can't. It's all right there in your employment contract. You should really peruse over that one day. You'd be a-mazed at the things I'm allowed to get away with". House lobbed back.
Cameron threw her head back slightly and let a soft laugh roll out before she turned and walked towards the door and then into the hallway. She was completely unaware of the brilliantly blue eyes following her every move.
"Great. What the hell did I do?" Chase shot back at her as he closed the glass door to Mr. Marindino's room behind him. The fifty-five year old man had been brought in the previous night suffering from debilitating migraines, back pain and two episodes of loss of consciousness at his work. He was stable, but after running a myriad of all the usual tests, they still were nowhere near a diagnosis.
"Well, my guess would be that House earned those extra hours for being kicked out of Cuddy's meeting this morning" Cameron replied shrugging her shoulders and looking just a little sorry for Chase.
Engaged in his thoughts on what a bastard House was, Chase walked right by Dr. Wilson who was just now making his way back up to his office from the meeting. Cameron slowed her pace to say hello.
"Dr. Wilson?" Her voice was tenuous at best. Somehow she had managed to move to stand directly in his path, abruptly grinding his gait to a halt. "Do you have a minute? I was wondering if I could talk to you- confidentially" she could hear herself blurt out at the last second.
Shifting his folders and coffee mug, James Wilson took in a small breath while turning his free right wrist over to glance at his watch and then letting his eyes search up towards the bank of elevators.
"I'm heading back to my office and have a patient in about 20 minutes, but yeah. You want to talk there?" he asked looking for the first time into Cameron's big smoky blue colored eyes. She nodded silently and realizing the object of his penetrating gaze, she lowered her eyes downwards and quickly mumbled "I'll meet you there".
Cameron hung back in the elevator for a second or two after the doors had slid open on the fourth floor to make sure House wasn't anywhere in plain sight. As bored as he was by their current cases, the last thing she needed was House poking his nose into this.
After assuring herself that he was well ensconced in his office, she made her way quickly to Dr. Wilson's office door and let herself in.
To her relief, the blinds to the window directly facing the balcony were partially drawn. Looking around, she was quick to see that Wilson's office was neat and dark. Two large, comfortable chairs sat opposite his beautiful wood desk. Tissue boxes were strategically placed at various spots in the office- never quite too far from any one place someone might sit.
Suddenly, a wave of indecision swept over her. Cameron could feel she was beginning to clench and stiffen up. What seemed like a good idea a few minutes ago now began to unravel on her very quickly.
Dr. Wilson pushed open the door just as she started to turn on her heel and make a break for it. "Sorry. That was a long meeting. At least House managed to get out of there sooner" he said sheepishly and then turned to her, offering her a seat with a sweeping motion of his hand.
"I'm sorry; I know you're busy. We can do this another time" she said and sprang back to her feet from the chair she had just come to settle into. "Cameron, please. It's fine. So, what's up?" he asked, noticing for the first time how anxious she appeared.
"I need… I mean, I was hoping I could get your advice" she stammered. "Oh-kay, he dragged the word out. Shoot". Cameron moved towards the edge of the ample chair.
"Normally I would never think to ask you this, but we've been so busy lately. And, with Foreman not being back up to speed enough to be here full time – well, there's been no time to get away from the office. House wouldn't even let me take a couple of hours last week to get my Father a birthday present". Wilson's eyes looked lost. She was babbling and tried to refocus.
"So, anyway two months ago, I found two lumps in my breast. My right breast" she managed to get out just before slumping towards the back of the chair.
"I wanted to go through another menstrual cycle before I hit the panic button. One lump appears to have had no measurable increase in size, but the other clearly has. There's also less mobility with the larger lump. It's probably nothing, I know". Cameron could feel her blood rise up like heat and spread across her chest and neck.
She looked up at Wilson's blank stare. "Have you mentioned this to anyone? I mean, I assume you haven't said anything to House?" Wilson managed, finally moved passed disbelief of the words coming out of her mouth enough to reply.
"Considering how well he treated me during my HIV exposure, I don't think I want to go there again. That's something I definitely couldn't deal with". She said quietly, almost regretfully while she picked at the hem of her skirt.
Wilson couldn't help but stare at her in silence. God, she was lovely. Everything about her made him want to just scoop her up into his arms and ease away all her fears. He cringed at the decadence and the danger of the thought.
He couldn't imagine what it was that kept House walled off from the possibility of a relationship with her. She was strikingly beautiful, intelligent, and funny and was obviously capable of sticking around long enough to put up House's crap and whether he wanted to admit it or not, House was definitely attracted to her. Wilson shook his head slowly and decided he would never understand his friend. It seemed like love wasted.
"Cameron… Allison", he stammered. "I know this must be overwhelming, but try to keep in mind that most cysts are completely benign. The odds are in your favor, you know that. You're young; you're otherwise in good health. Is there any history of this in the maternal side of your family?" he asked, holding his breath.
Swallowing hard, Allison managed to tell him that she remembered her mother's sister had a double mastectomy when Allison was ten, maybe twelve years old. Thankfully, she survived and went on to live a normal life. Her aunt would have been about Allison's age now when she got sick- maybe a few years older if any.
"Let's do this…" Wilson started to tell her with all the professional and personal empathy and compassion he could find for his young friend. "I'll call my nurse and get her to set up an exam. Allison, if you're comfortable with me looking at you I can see about trying to get something set up in the next twenty four hours. If anything looks suspicious, I can do a biopsy also. If you would prefer someone else, I can make a few calls and see where I can get you in".
"No, I wouldn't be able to get away long enough to see anyone else" she replied quietly.
"Ok, well then let me see what I can set up. Think you can do it tonight or tomorrow?"
Allison closed her eyes briefly and nodded. She had to get this behind her and get on with things. "And, whatever you do Dr. Wilson, I don't want House to find out about this" she said, almost desperate in her request.
Wilson studied her face before settling in on her eyes. "You have my word".
From his stealthy place behind the tall potted tree on the balcony, House could see somewhat directly into Wilson's office. The blinds were half closed, making it annoyingly difficult to see exactly who the poor bastard was at the receiving end of the bad news today. A slight smile emerged from the corner of House's mouth as he thought about his friend Wilson. "What a guy" House said, half laughing as he pulled the foil seal off of his pudding, throwing it in the brick flowerbed.
If there was one thing he had learned about James Wilson over the last decade of knowing him, it was his impeccable gift of empathy. And, even from this vantage point, House could see that Jimmy was pulling out all the stops.
"There's the shoulder pat", House ticked off in his brain as he watched Wilson lean in and rest his hand gently on the shoulder of what clearly looked now to be a woman. He was halfway done with his pudding and had begun to lick the spoon front to back in order to get every possible bit of chocolate.
"This brings us to the crying, cue reaching for the tissues as he throws in a hand squeeze –with two pats- for good measure and he closes with the … ". The words froze on House's tongue. His plastic spoon served with the same frozen fate as it stalled inches from his open mouth. Completely forgetting that he was skulking, he moved towards the brick divider that separated his office from Wilson's.
House's pulse sped up and he felt his heart beat loudly in his ears. Cameron and Wilson were both standing now, facing the door to the hallway. She reached up and gave Wilson a hug which appeared to take Wilson by surprise. He watched as the small, polite pats by Wilson left on her back turned in to medium sized circles with his hand over her back and shoulder blade.
What the hell was she doing in there? And why was Wilson man-handling his Fellow? His mind raced trying to think of something he had done that would have sent her running to Wilson for consolation.
But, then something else started to gnaw away at his brain. It made the muscles of his stomach twist and pull tightly while the muscle in his jaw began to flex. House could feel the wave of jealousy start to rise and then wash over his thoughts.
"God damn it", he thought to himself as he threw his back and shoulders up against the hard brick wall of the building. The last thing in the world he needed right now was to be distracted any more by Allison Cameron. In the last few months, it had been getting harder and harder to resist the urges he so desperately wanted to act upon. Defiantly, he crushed the plastic pudding cup with his hand and stormed back inside his office.
Ten minutes later, Cameron made her way back to the office. She could see House was in his good chair listening to his iPod.
"Find Chase?" he called out, pulling one ear bud out of his ear. She was startled by the deep, rich tone of his voice and moved quickly to the safety of her computer. "Oh, um yes. He's all up to speed" was all she could manage to get off her tongue.
His lack of response made Cameron think House had simply returned to his music, completely ignorant of the bombshell she just dropped in Wilson's lap minutes earlier. She had no sooner congratulated herself with getting away with it when she heard the distinctive thump, tap, thump tap as House made his way over to her desk.
"Lunch?" he said flatly. "What?" she said mulling over whether she had in the shock of the moment interpreted his question in the correct context that it was meant.
"Foreman and Chase. Are they at lunch?" he drew out the last four words as if she was hard of hearing. "Ah, lunch, yes. Chase is. I think Foreman's still in Rehab" she smiled nervously back at him.
"Hungry?" he bantered back. Frozen, almost unable to look up at House, she stuttered "Sorry, what?"
House rolled his eyes mockingly. "Gosh, this is fun. I could do this all day if I didn't have to go save a life of something". Then he asked forcibly, "Have you eaten?" Cameron slowly shook her head no. "Well, go get some food. And, while you're grabbing one of your delicious plates of bunny food, pick me up a Rueben". He pulled a ten dollar bill out from his right corner jean pocket and dropped it in front of her hands on the desk. "And if you see Chase and Foreman tell them to get their asses back here. These cases aren't going to solve themselves".
Cameron wasn't sure what startled her more- the actual money from House's pocket that was lying on her desk blotter or that he had actually taken time to notice she hadn't eaten yet today. She decided it was a safer plan to just grab the money and head to the cafeteria than to expend anymore time trying to figure out House.