Wilson stalked purposefully across the ground floor of the hospital, flicking through his latest patients file. It was a standard case; forty-five years old, female, smoker, family history of cancer. Squinting at the notes towards the bottom of the page, he was so engrossed he failed to notice the nurse buried in her clipboard and they collided roughly, sending both their work cascading to the floor.

'Doctor Wilson, I'm so sorry.' She was notably younger and quicker, beating him to the scattered mess with ease. 'I wasn't looking where I was going.'

'It's fine,' he reassured her reaching down to help, 'I wasn't watching either.'

Gathering the last of his papers she slipped them inside the manila folder and smiled politely, handing it over. Though they hadn't officially been introduced, she'd heard about the doctor through the hospital grapevine and had to admit she was pleased to finally meet him. 'Call it even?'

'Sure.' He returned the smile and helped her to stand, surprised by the next words out of her mouth.

'If not... I could make it up to you with lunch?' She blushed slightly, hoping the invitation wasn't to forward. Though she didn't mind asking guys out she knew the devastating rumours regarding his last girlfriend to be true, and didn't want to push him.

Wilson hesitated slightly. The nurse, Nicole...he noted reading her name badge, seemed nice enough. She was certainly pretty enough, but he just wasn't sure he was ready. 'It's not that I don't-'

'It's fine.' She reached out, brushing his arm lightly. The last thing she wanted to do was make him feel awkward. 'I'll be around. If you change you're mind, you know where to find me.' With a gentle squeeze she let go, smiled, then returned her attention back to her clipboard.

He watched her leave feeling a small pang of regret. When he was ready to start dating again she was definitely going to be the first to know. In fact, maybe the only person to know... House would give him hell if he got wind of this.

Smirking slightly at the thought, he turned on his heel flipping open his case but before he got a chance to start re-reading it his gaze caught a familiar figure standing oddly motionless halfway up the stairs. Frowning slightly, he crossed the short distance closing the folder.

'Cameron?' He called up, waiting patiently for a response but after receiving no indication she'd even heard him, he took the steps two at a time reaching her with a gentle nudge, 'Allison?'

Flinching at the contact, she turned sounding almost startled, 'Sorry, what?'

He stayed silent for a moment studying her features. She was pale, incredibly pale. All the colour had drained from her cheeks and her eyes were unfocused and glassy. He didn't need to be a doctor to know that something was definitely wrong.

'You look like hell, what's going on?'

Cameron swallowed the dryness in her throat, plastering on a fake smile. She should have known better than to take the stairs in her sick condition but aside from a little physical exertion there was nothing to worry about, she just needed to catch her breath.

'I'm fine really, it's just the flu.'

Wilson looked doubtful keeping his hand positioned lightly on her arm, 'Are you sure? Maybe you should sit down.'

She shook her head indicating that it wasn't necessary but the movement set off a wave of dizziness and her vision lurched, causing her to stumble. 'Woah, I've got you.' Wilson grasped her waist, concern filling his features, 'Come on, you should-'

'Wilson!' House's impatient voice greeted him from the bottom of the stairs, 'If you two love birds are done, I could use you for an actual work related matter.'

Having regained her composure Cameron pulled back slightly from the man supporting her, 'It's okay, I'm fine. Go see what he wants.' She held the banister tightly, taking in a deep breath. For once she would've gladly accepted his help but it wasn't worth the aggravation of dealing with House.

'You sure?' Wilson felt anger bubble beneath his concern as she nodded and he reluctantly let her go, huffing down the steps. Though there were times he found House's jealousy somewhat amusing, this certainly wasn't one of them.

Coming face to face with the man in question, Wilson led him away making sure they were out of hearing distance before letting his frustration take over, 'That wasn't what it looked like, she's sick'

'Really?' House didn't look at all convinced by the excuse. 'Let me guess, she just happened to fall for seemingly no reason? And you just happened to be there?'

'Believe what you want, it's true!' Clearly on the defensive, he would've protested more had a muffled cry not gained his attention. Turning to locate the source his eyes widened as they fell on Cameron's unconscious form at the bottom of the stairs.

Despite physical capabilities House reached her first and he scowled, kneeling down beside the pair. 'I told you she was sick.'

'Or she's going to great lengths to keep your cover. Seriously, how much did you pay her?'

Though he'd never take the comment back he knew she wasn't faking and ran his hand along her neck checking for a pulse. Feeling it beating steadily beneath his fingers he moved further down making sure she hadn't cracked any ribs in the fall, grunting in annoyance at the people who had crowded to see what was going on. 'If you're done staring, a gurney would be useful!'

Wilson threw a sympathetic smile towards the concerned hospital staff as they dispersed but it quickly turned into a frown as his eyes landed back on Cameron. Her colour still hadn't returned and a faint bruise was starting to form on her forehead, contrasting against the pale skin. 'She must have knocked herself out on the way down.'

'Really? You think?' Satisfied nothing was broken House sat back up, reaching for his vicodin. Though the pain in his leg had been manageable for most of the day, the added strain of kneeling was causing it to seize up and he dry swallowed two pills, slipping the vile back into his jacket. 'If someone eventually gets their act together, have them bring her up to diagnostics.'

'Why?' Wilson watched him stand, sounding confused, 'It's just the flu. They can hook her up to an IV in emergency.'

'Are you kidding? They make enough noise in there to wake coma patients. I've thought about sending some down to test the theory but then I'd have nowhere to eat my lunch.' He started to turn but Wilson was quick, reading between the lines.

'You think there's something else wrong.'

It was a statement not a question but House dismissed it, not willing to risk being wrong until he was sure he was right. 'Don't be stupid. Of course it's the flu.'

Despite the unnecessary remark Wilson thought he saw a fleeting look of worry grace House's features before he limped away in the direction of the elevator. It was often hard to read his friends intentions, more so if they involved the women currently sprawled out in front of him, but he was sure this time the man was acting out of concern.

It would've been almost unsettling but he'd long suspected House was harboring a soft spot for the pretty doctor and he let out a sigh, wishing for once the man would drop his facade and quit being so stubborn.