Hi, as a huge thank you for my super fast reviewers with their lovely comments here is the next chapter. Thanks, Nic

2

Men at sometime are the masters of their fate-Shakespeare

The shrill of police sirens stirred House from his slumber. His body ached and his head pounded. He slowed his breathing as the memories of the night before flooded his mind like the sun on a beautiful summer day.

He remembered his lips crashing into hers and the soft murmur that escaped from her mouth, the softness of her hair as he pulled her closer and the curve of her hips as they stumbled into his room, the taste of her skin as he feasted upon her neck and the coolness of her lips as she feasted on his. The way his fingers trembled as he urgently undid her dress and the way her fingers trembled as she ran her hands over his bare chest and the perfect abyss that enveloped him when they finally came together. The feel of her breasts as she joined him in the shower, hands running along the crater in his thigh, hopeful of relieving some of his pain and the pout in her lips when she finally succumbed to sleep. Then he remembered watching her; her chest rising and falling gently and the fluttering of her eyelashes as she dreamt. Then he remembered silently watching her leave as the sun had begun to rise and the loss that he felt, uncomfortable, foreign and unwelcomed.

He sighed; he was in deeper than he could ever have imagined.

XXX

The door of the conference room swung open as Dr Gregory House entered. His eyes quickly flicked to the table but he was only met with Foreman and Chase's curious stares.

"You're early" Foreman stated with an air of disbelief.

"My plan was to sneak in a fill your stockings before you arrived but now you've ruined it spoil sports"

House ended dramatically by throwing his bag onto the table. Foreman smiled and shook his head. House took off his jacket and threw it on top of his bag and headed over to the coffee machine.

"So I only see two of my elves. Where's the third?"

He asked trying to sound as nonchalant as he could muster.

"Cameron's in A&E. They were swamped" Chase answered back while grabbing a bagel off a plate on the table.

House hoped that the disappointment that surged through him was not evident on his features. He sipped his coffee and hooked his cane onto the whiteboard.

"So, two men walk into a bar and one goes into cardiac arrest..."

XXX

The ER buzzed with the usual drama of a seasonal holiday drunken Santa's, angry elves and randy Rudolph's. House scanned the havoc carefully and then he spotted her carefully helping a worse for wear college kid to his feet. He watched her and immediately wished they could be back in his hotel room once more. Finally, fighting the nervous butterflies that had uncomfortably gathered in his stomach, he marched towards her with more confidence than he felt.

"I like your hair"

Her head whipped around in surprise and he saw her cheeks flush red. She smiled shyly and shook her head.

"ER was swamped, sorry"

He leant forward, his voice lowering in intimacy.

"What was your excuse this morning?"

She threw him an embarrassed glance before excusing herself with the kid and walking into an empty exam room. He followed and when he closed the door behind him she stood to face him and crossed her arms over her chest defiantly. When she spoke her voice was powerful and decisive.

"Last night was ...good. But I don't expect us to live happily ever after now"

He held her stare trying to make her show her cards but she smiled and began to walk past him towards the door. He quickly stepped in her way, determined not to let her pull her great show off. He could smell the intoxicating smell of her and his memories of the previous night flooded back to him. His gaze flickered to her neck and he could just see the top of a mark he'd given her in the chaos of their passion. She pulled her collar subconsciously under his gaze. He leant forward and licked his lips instinctively. He heard her take a breath.

"It was great...not good" He purred, lips almost brushing hers. She leaned away.

"It was fantastic, not great, but it's not going to happen again. I don't expect you to be anything other than you"

With that she side stepped him, body boldly brushing his own and headed back into the chaos of the ER.

XXX

"What are you doing here?"

Cameron stood in her doorway, surprise etched on her face. House frowned and peered over her shoulder.

"Do you have company?" He enquired.

Her face returned his frown.

"No"

He peered over her shoulder once more feigning concern.

"I'm not sure. You sound elusive. Maybe I should come in and check"

With this he pushed past her, before she had a chance to protest and boldly stepped into her apartment.

"Come out and surrender now. I have a brilliant cane that would be no match for your futile weapons"

"House" Cameron protested, although he could tell that she was smiling. He turned to face her.

"It looks clear, but while I'm here I might as well stay for a coffee"

Cameron rolled her eyes and headed towards the kitchen. House followed her, pleased with his success.

"So, do you have any food in this joint?"

XXX

Twenty minutes later the Chinese takeaway arrived and House paid while Cameron brought in the cutlery. They settled on the couch and it amazed him how relaxed he felt. They ate in silence but it was comfortable, familiar. When they had finished, Cameron stood up, collected their plates, and headed towards the kitchen. House watched her go and settled back into the couch. He hadn't really thought past this point. He had felt compelled to come here but he hadn't thought past barging into her apartment. He hadn't expected to feel this comfortable. He had expected her to be needy but she had been anything but. She was not the person he had had dinner with 3 years ago; she was firmer, stronger but still all the things that made him weak. He had gone to her, he had tried to kiss her, he had shown up at apartment tonight and he had felt compelled to stay here. He stood up and rubbed his thigh. He looked at his cane before deciding to make do without it. Slowly he made his way to the kitchen. If she heard him enter she made no sign of it. He walked up behind her and saw her hands still in the water. Slowly, he placed his hands on the counter either side of her, careful not to touch her. He heard her breathing slow and when she didn't move away he took the invitation and slowly closed the distance between their bodies, placing a soft kiss on her neck. She moaned and exposed more of her neck to him; he kissed it willingly and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer.

"You know, you could have just said you wanted to come over"

Her voice was ragged and it pleased him that he could do this to her.

"You're right, I could have" He murmured in reply.