A/N: please note that I made several things up for this chapter; so don't go rushing off to Jersey to see this magnificent Hotel because I doubt that it actually exists. And I'm real real real sorry this took so long I've been on vacation and staying at my grandma's house so no internet access.
Chapter 2 (Cameron)
The hotel certainly was "swanky" as House had put it. The three of us walked in through the front doors, Sara and I still arm in arm with the Silent Grissom lagging just behind. I could sense that he knew we needed some catch up time and seemed content with carrying bags and observing everything around him in this city. I immediately respected him for that. He seemed very much the right man for the, slightly hermit-like, Sara.
The two of us moved up to the front desk where a whole crowd of Criminalists and Doctors stood awaiting their room keys. As we stood in line Sara leaned over and said.
'This place is huge!'
'Third biggest hotel in Jersey' I replied. I knew this but I'd never been here before and it was magnificent, like something from the set of Phantom of the Opera. It had high vaulted ceilings and elaborate paintings and sculptures all around. The floor was made up of marble slabs with plush red carpet making walkways. There was a sitting area around a large fireplace with winged armchairs and claw footed sofas. And this was just the main entrance. The hotel also consisted of two ballrooms, enormous dinning rooms, as well as hundreds upon hundreds of individual rooms.
'Ladies' said a male voice that yanked me from my thoughts. Sara pulled me up to the front desk where a pimply teenaged boy stood; he looked as if they had hired him on as a desperate last minute resort before the flood of doctors and CSI's came in.
'Where here for the teaching seminar, I'm a doctor and these two are Criminalists.' I said, I continued to give him the information he needed. He finally handed over two Passkeys' to Sara. She slipped one in her pocket and handed the other one back to Grissom. I received only one; as soon as I opened my mouth to ask about it the pimply boy spoke.
'You're fiancé already came and got his key, rooms 205 and 206.' He didn't say anything about fiancés sleeping in separate rooms.
'Fiancé?' Sara asked me wide eyed,
'Fiancé!' I repeated, I looked over at Sara 'I don't…' I paused and looked over at the boy. 'Thank you' I said and herded Sara away. The three of us reached an elevator and stepped in, with the amount of people there, it was a shock that we got it to ourselves.
'I do not have a fiancé' I said sternly.
'Then why…' Sara started
'Because my partner for the seminar is a jackass that's why.' Sara looked at me ludicrously 'don't ask' I said 'you'll find out soon enough.' Sara didn't push it any further. She just smiled her gap toothed smile at me. She'd had that smile since we were kids.
CSIHOUSECSIHOUSECSIHOUSE
(Sara)
Ali and I parted and went our separate ways after she let Grissom and I off the elevator. The two of us strode down the hallways, each one falling exactly into stride with the other. We passed door after identical red door until we finally came across two with brass numbers on the front that read 123 and 124. Grissom pulled out his passkey and read the number.
'124' he said and looked up, he slipped the passkey into the slat in the door handle, there was a click and he easily opened the door. I followed him into his room before going into mine. It was gorgeous. The room was huge with an en-suit bathroom sitting area and kitchenette. It was painted and furnished in warm colours and the Four-poster bed had more pillows than I could count.
'Nice' Grissom said simply as he dropped his bags on the crushed velvet couch by the fireplace.
'Well that's the ultimate understatement' I said looking around in awe, Grissom merely shrugged, he was the king of understatements. I fell onto the bed and curled up in the nest of pillows while Grissom began to unpack his things and place them in various drawers and cupboards in the large wardrobe.
'I can understand Ali and her partner having separate rooms, but why don't we share one. Less money that way.' I suggested, Grissom looked over his shoulder at me, that boyish smirk on his face.
'Ecklie's paying why would I want to save any money? I intend to have room service every other night, order the lobster at dinner…' I smiled and laughed slightly as he spoke. He moved over to the edge of the bed. 'And I expect you to get a spa treatment while we're here, and you and miss. Cameron to go shopping… anything we can do to waste money.' I laughed a bit harder now; it was good to see a more playful side of Grissom. I always knew it was there, just very hidden away, and it was a rare and special occasion when I got the chance to see it.
'Oh don't worry' I said resting my hand on his face 'Ecklie will be bankrupt by the time we get back to Vegas.' Grissom smiled at me and kissed my hair before going back to his clothes sorting.
CSIHOUSECSIHOUSECSIHOUSE
(Cameron)
I slipped my key into the door and stepped into the outstanding room. I smiled as I stepped over the threshold but froze in my tracks and my smile vanished. There sitting on the couch with his feet up on the armrest was House.
'Fiancé?' I asked slamming the door and storming into the room.
'Good afternoon' he said sarcastically.
'Fiancé?' I asked again throwing my carry-on bag at him. He caught it and tossed it to the floor.
'Only way to get a key, you have the reservations under your name.' He paused 'I'm not sure he believed me.'
'Oh gee I wonder why?' I said sourly as I ditched my other bag on the floor by the wardrobe.
'Because I'm to ridiculously handsome and charming for you?' he guessed, not moving as I came around to grab my carry-on.
'Because you're a cranky old man with a gimp' I shot back. I bent to retrieve my bag and felt a sharp smack across my rear. I jumped and looked at House who was lowering his cane. I stared at him.
'I couldn't help it' he said with a shrug 'it was to easy.' I rolled my eyes and moved over to the wardrobe, well out of Houses reach.
'Go away, you have your own room' I said.
'Yeah but in that room there is no Cameron to irritate.' I heard him get up off the couch, immediately my senses perked as I awaited him to do something to make me mad. I continued to hang my clothes in the wardrobe. House made his way to the other side of the room. The mini bar, of course, glancing over my shoulder I pulled out a white plastic bag and hung it quickly in the closet.
'What was that?' he asked
'What was what?' I replied innocently.
'That bag you just put in the wardrobe?'
'Nothing' I said, making a move to shut the doors. He was up behind me in a flash. He stuck his cane out to prevent the door from closing.
'What it is it?' he asked again. He was right next to my ear this time.
'Nothing' I repeated, turning around to face him. I stared up into those piercing blue eyes, they looked frightening when they were only an inch or so away. 'Nothing' I said again and made a move to close the door. He caught my arm and pushed me away from the door. He pulled it open and looked at the white bag.
'A dress' he guessed looking at me.
'Yes' I replied slipping between him and the wardrobe and slamming it shut.
'Can't wait to see you in it' he hissed and limped toward the door.
'Jerk!' I called,
'I know' he replied as he shut the door.
