Chapter two
It was the next day and she was sitting in the conference room with Chase and Foreman, awaiting the arrival of House and Harrington. They were discussing how old they thought that Harrington was. They all turned when they heard House's cranky voice.
"The coffee better be ready."
They all looked surprised as a grumpy House limped into the room.
"It's 8:50am. What are you doing here?" Chase asked.
"I missed your sunny face so much I couldn't wait to get here to see it again." House quipped.
"Seriously, what are you doing here?" Forman asked.
"He's here so that he can check out the competition. Isn't that right Dr. House?"
Dr. Harrington strolled into the room with a confident air. She wore a suit as she did yesterday; the only difference was that the shirt was a royal blue as was her stiletto shoes. She walked to the table, set her black leather briefcase on it along with her handbag. She pulled a mug out of the bag that looked like a young child painted it and walked over to the coffee maker and poured herself some. She took a couple sips before turning to the team and stating,
"This mug is mine. No one touches it." She eyed House as she said this.
House replied, "Don't look at me. I don't want girl cooties." Oh House, that was so mature. You could have done better than that!
Dr. Harrington ignored him and turned to the others.
"I hope you all had a good night. I appreciate that you are all on time. Now before we start on the new case, are there any questions that you have for me."
Cameron looked at Foreman and Chase uncertainly before Chase spoke up.
"Well, there was one thing that we were wondering about. How can you be so accomplished in your field and look so young?"
"Come on Chase, you know its taboo for women to give their age." House smirked.
Dr. Harrington ignored House again as she looked at the team and answered the question.
"I know that I look really young. And in normal circumstances I would be too young to have these accomplishments. I have a high IQ and good work ethic. I skipped a lot of grades while I was growing up. I graduated high school when I was 16 and I had taken all but one semester of college at the same time. I finished college that summer and in the fall I was in med school and by the time I was 24 I was a full-fledged doctor. I have been practicing medicine for almost 6 years now and I'm one of the best in my field."
"You're 29?" said an astonished Chase.
She's 29?Harrington was younger than her? This was not fair.
"I will be 30 in a few months. Does that make you feel better?"
"Actually it does." Chase replied. Cameron rolled her as and saw that Foreman had done the same thing and she heard House snicker.
"Now can we get on with the case? Someone is dying while we're sitting here hashing out my qualifications in respect to my age."
"All right. Chickpeas. Neither chick nor pea. Discuss." House said standing up and walking to the whiteboard.
Cameron sighed to herself, thinking, I wonder if it's possible for him to just get to the work? Oh who am I kidding? Of course not. It's been three years, I should know that by now!
She noticed that Forman and Harrington rolled their eyes and Chase laughed at what House had said. Why are you always laughing at what he says? House isn't going to favor you just because you laugh at his antics.
Cameron saw that House was looking at them, waiting for an answer.
"I take it, that that means you want us to start diagnosis?" Harrington stated dryly.
"Ding, ding, ding. Rod tell her what she's won!" House rudely said.
"Stop being an ass." Snapped back Harrington.
All right Harrington. Point to you!
"I don't think that is humanly possible." Forman put forth. Cameron looked at him and smiled.
Cameron was then startled when Harrington raised her voice and stood up. She watched as Harrington walked to the whiteboard and said,
"Stop! Let's just get on with our work." Harrington picked up a dry erase marker and started to take off the cap when House grabbed her hand and pried the marker from her. She looked at him in surprise. Umm yeah this doesn't seem good.
"Let's get a few things straight. Only I get to use the whiteboard. Also, their job and now yours, is to make suggestions on the diagnosis that I will mock, dismiss and then tell you the correct one."
Harrington replied, "Seeing as your memory seems to be fading, grandpa, let me refresh it. I am co-director now. So I can write on the damn whiteboard all I want. Second, these are very talented and intelligent doctors on this team. Their input is valuable. Maybe they'd learn to do their job even better if they didn't have you shooting them down all the time. Now I am done talking about this. Let's get on with the diagnosis."
Cameron smiled and thought She sure did put him in his place!
Cameron could tell that House was about to retort something that was most likely going to extremely rude but then Wilson came into the office.
"I'm sorry to interrupt but I need Dr. Harrington on a consult. It shouldn't take to long."
"I will be right with you." Harrington turned to them and said,
"Chase I want you to see if she has been to the tropics, Africa or Asia within the past 60 days. Cameron and Forman I want you to take a stool sample. Due to the inflammation, enlarged liver and her having gotten over pneumonia recently, I believe that she may have Ascariasis. It's worth looking into. And House, you can stay here and fiddle around with your precious whiteboard."
With that she turned on her heel and walked out the door with Wilson following after her. Cameron looked at Foreman and Chase and saw that they were thinking the same thing that she was; this was no time to stick around! She got up and headed out the door with the others.
--
It was the end of the week and the ducklings were out for dinner. They had gotten out of work an hour earlier. As they sat eating the rest of their dinner, they discussed Harrington.
"She is definitely giving House a run for his money." Foreman said.
"I find it amusing to see House's reaction to her. He really doesn't like Harrington and the feeling is quite mutual."
"Chase, why do you find such glee in seeing House and Harrington go at it? I thought that you were trying to get on House's good side. How can you do that when it's obvious that you find it amusing to see House get matched?"
"Ah it's not that bad. House does the same thing."
"Yeah, but that doesn't personally involve him. I'd watch out. House may not look favorably on you if you continue."
"Well, thanks for the advice but I'm sure that House is too caught up with Harrington to be concerned about me."
"I'd take heed Chase, if I were you. He probably won't find it amusing when he finds out that you're making bets against him."
"Nah I think he'd understand."
"Well, it's your job."
They finished their meal and each ordered a dessert. When they were done they paid the bill and started out of the restaurant.
"Goodnight Forman, see you tomorrow."
"Night Cameron, Chase." Foreman walked off to his car. Cameron and Chase watched him and then Chase turned to Cameron,
"So want some company tonight?"
"Chase, you know the answer to that. No."
"Hey, can't blame me for trying." He smiled at her.
"No, I can't I guess. I'll see you tomorrow Chase." She then got into her car and drove to her apartment. After locking the door behind her and hanging up her jacket, she turned on the lights and the TV. She settled down to watch the news but didn't pay attention. She couldn't help but think about Harrington and House. They sure didn't seem to like each other that much. Harrington was nice enough to the rest of them. Cameron hoped that House would accept Harrington soon. It would make work a lot more bearable. She felt a loyalty to House but Harrington was a great doctor. It was hard to know who to listen to the most. Cameron sighed to herself, clicked off the TV and then headed for bed. After she had gotten settled in, she lay on her side, hugging her pillow and thinking about House. As much as she tried, she couldn't help caring about him. As it was every other night, she made the wish that if they can't be together, then she could stop caring so much for him. But she knew deep down in her heart that just wasn't going to happen.