Note: I wrote the first part back in December on a whim, forgot about it altogether and re-read it two days ago when someone asked if I had any intention of writing more. I'm in a completely different frame of mind now; I apologise in advance for not being able to come with something better, not being able to do justice at all to these three rocking characters and for the cheesy bed talk. But I just had to get this over with.
Thirteen follows Chase to the bedroom, steps unsure against the tiled floor. Her heartbeat is racing; sweaty palms brushing against her jeans-covered thighs with her every move and she could definitely use a drink for her dry mouth. Once Chase pushes open the door slightly, the usually composed doctor finds she has to grip the side of the door in order to steady herself, for the sight that greets her eyes is nothing but unsettling. Dabbled in moonlight that illuminates the room through a small slit between the curtains, Cameron lies fully on the back in bed, eyes closed, chest heaving uniformly; the drumming of her fingers on her chest to an imaginary tune the only tell-tale sign that she is not yet asleep. Thirteen's eyes take in every detail as her gaze travels upwards; from her feet crossed over each other, to the length of bare, smooth skin of her legs exposed by her wearing a pair of black boyshorts, the faint outline of her breasts and nipples visible through the flimsy material of her shirt, the smallest of smiles tugging at her lips on her relaxed, glowing face and last but not the least, long, blonde locks fanning out across the pillow.
"I know. She takes my breath away too," Chase's words against her earlobe snaps her out of her reverie. She looks up at him and responses with a grin of her own. Releasing the side of the door, she flexes her white-knuckled fingers, calming herself with a deep breath for what is about to ensue.
At the sound of not one but two pairs of soft footsteps entering her room, Cameron pops open her eyes, the realisation, that it is not a hallucination courtesy of her sleep-deprived brain that Thirteen is present in her bedroom on a Friday night on Christmas eve, forcing her to sit upright.
"Wh-What's all this about?"
"Thirteen followed me home. I was thinking maybe we can keep her for the night."
Thirteen throws an incredulous glance in the direction of Chase, half impressed, half horrified at his quip and calm demeanour when her insides are rumbling so hard that she is about to faint. When the girl in bed does not speak nor does anything for the second longest two minutes of Thirteen's life, during which she has the time to map her breathing according to the ticking of the clock in the hallway, the younger woman decides to take the hint.
"It's ok, Dr Cameron. I understand," she reassures her, starting to back away, the need to disappear now hitting her hard as she struggles to maintain a composed self, heart constricting painfully at the rejection even though she prepared herself mentally for it countless times ever since that conversation with Chase. Hand on the doorknob, she stills a moment before turning and marching purposefully towards the bed, leaning forward to plant a small kiss on Cameron's forehead. Meeting Chase's eyes for a split second, she nods almost imperceptibly and walks out of the room.
The little thud of the door closing at last snaps Cameron out of her stupor and she turns to Chase, searching his face. His twinkling eyes provide the unequivocal answer to her unspoken question and bouncing off the bed, she pulls open the door with a big bang, running hastily along the hallway. "Remy!"
Thirteen stops and swirls, startled at being called by her real name; at being addressed at all for that matter and waits.
Cameron finds hollering Thirteen to make her stop is much easier than closing the small distance between them, now that she has the brunette's full attention. Shuffling one foot after the other, she is suddenly hit by the vision of her on her wedding day walking to the front of the aisle where her husband is waiting. Baffled at why she is reminiscing about this now, she cannot help wonder with dread if her subconscious is trying to warn her she will have to pay a hefty price later on, should she give in to the overwhelming temptation.
Visibly shaking, she comes to rest inches away, fingertips barely grazing Thirteen's hand, which the latter immediately remedies to by intertwining their digits.
"I've never done this before," the blonde doctor admits quietly, warm breath tickling the brunette's jaw line.
"That's alright," Thirteen whispers soothingly, taking one hand to her mouth and kissing the fingertips gingerly, delight sweeping the previous concerned look away when Cameron does not flinch. Bold now, the taller woman takes hold of one hand more firmly, pulling the other woman behind her, thankful once more when Cameron allows herself to be led away towards the bedroom.
"Merry Christmas," Cameron singsongs first thing on Saturday morning upon walking into the kitchen, where Chase is busy making breakfast. He pauses from pouring them coffee, swirling around to sweep her into a tight hug and pecking at her lips before pulling back slightly to admire her adoringly, "Merry Christmas too."
"Thank you."
"Dunno if you remember but you've already thanked me last night when Thirteen was licking her way up from your bellybutton and I was—"
"Chase!" Cameron is quick to cut him off, smacking his arm with her palm, eliciting a chuckle from the latter. "That was a crazy thing to do. And I still can't picture you actually meeting Thirteen and having the conversation with her. It's insane. But…tomorrow if I wanna do something crazier like go skinny dipping in winter or bungee jumping or…moving in together…getting engaged…I know you'll be up for it."
Chase is too stunned to come up with a proper worded response, so he merely lifts her up into his arms, leading them to the bedroom Cameron just exited a while ago, to show her his utter bliss.
Thirteen rouses from her sleep early Sunday morning only to register the additional weight on the bed next to her. Racking her brains, she discovers she has no freaking idea who that person may be. Just fucking wonderful. Another nameless, faceless girl in your bed. Always go to her place. Never bring her back to your apartment. It gets so awkward in the morning. When will you learn, Thirteen? Peeking open her eyes, she turns to face the latter, already preparing herself for whatever is about to ensue only to stop dead in her tracks. The scowl on her face altogether disappears, her features softening into a giddy smile. Cameron.
Although only one day has gone by since she last found herself in a bed with the girl, this comes as a total surprise since she had already convinced herself that Friday night was a fluke; a once-in-a-lifetime experience that took place due to the festive atmosphere brought about by snow-bound Christmas. Which is why the hand that was about to brush strands of blonde hair aside halts in mid-air. No, not yet. She wants to bask in this moment for as long as she can since this chanced opportunity may definitely be a last one.
Cameron eventually opens her eyes a few minutes later, rubbing her eyes groggily and then, Thirteen is met with the most breathtaking smile ever.
"Since when are you here and how did you get in?"
Stretching her arms lazily above her head, Cameron rolls her eyes, albeit answering sweetly. "Good morning to you too."
Thirteen winces, closing her eyes momentarily, wanting so badly to slap herself. She must have sounded as if she was pissed off at having the girl in her bed, which is such a far cry from the truth. Fuck, she can be such an idiot sometimes. "Sorry and morning," she tries to placate the latter with a sheepish smile and she lets out a barely concealed sigh of relief when Cameron nods at her.
"Twenty minutes and…uh oh."
"Uh oh what?"
Cameron cringes, not at all happy she is the one having to inform the brunette about her former boss's antics. "House keeps the key to his employees' apartment in his office…"
Instead of the expected lashing out, Thirteen merely shakes her head in exasperation instead before scanning the ceiling for something. "Should I be worried that there could be a camera in there aimed at my bed?" she asks after a while, pointing towards her closet in the right corner of her room that rises up to almost the ceiling, leaving a small but certain space at the top.
To the outsider, the question would have been laughable but they both know House is capable of pretty much anything. "Um…definitely?"
An eye roll is all the brunette resorts to before a thought crosses her mind. "Why aren't you worried then?" She asks, eyes vivid with curiosity. "Should this be a possibility, by tomorrow the whole hospital would know about you being in my bed."
"The only person who matters to me is Chase and he already knows about us," Cameron replies after a while, deep in thought. "And I don't think Cuddy would bother telling me anything seeing I didn't listen to her last time."
"Last time?"
The blonde girl shrugs nonchalantly. "She warned me against making out with Chase when we were still on the team lest she would have to fire one of us should something go wrong."
"I see. So what are you doing here? I'm sure it's not to enjoy my morning breath because I must stink—"
Right on cue, Cameron grabs her head, crashing their mouths together in a kiss that starts out rough but then her soft lips meshing with that of Thirteen's more than make up for the brutal assault. They pull apart after a couple of minutes, breathing heavily but grinning like idiots.
"I came here for this," Cameron rolls to the side to retrieve something from her bag at the foot of the bed and placing the said thing in between their bodies.
"You didn't open it," Thirteen remarks, staring at the gift she had left on the kitchen top when she had quietly slipped away early the previous morning.
"Not because I don't want it," Cameron is quick to reassure her, noting the disappointment dripping from her voice, smile widening when Thirteen flickers her gaze upwards to meet her eyes. "Chase rightly suggested that I should open it in front of you so you can see my reaction."
Impressed at Chase's thoughtfulness, the brunette makes a note to acknowledge him later for it and then motions for her to sit up in bed. Trailing her fingertips, Thirteen gently closes the latter's eyelids, smiling with glee when the older doctors purrs into her touch.
"Don't peek."
"I won't."
Tearing the wrapping paper on the small jewellery box, she opens it, taking out the glass pieces. She had spent hours scouring for that little, special something and had finally found it in a pair of crystal studded earrings. Pushing back Cameron's hair behind her ears, she fastens them delicately, making sure not to hurt her earlobes. She stretches to reach her nightstand and takes out a pocket-sized mirror from the drawer, which she places in the latter's hand.
"I hope you'll like them. You can look now."
"They are beautiful," the older girl gushes, fingering them, her voice taking on a more raspy tone. She spends a few moments admiring them in the mirror. "Remy can you…"
"Can I what?" Thirteen inquires, not sure what to make of the toned down, shy smile and the way she is not meeting her eyes.
"Hold me please?"
The younger woman stares back in wonder as she takes in the stark vulnerability on her face and the slight quivering of her bottom lip that Cameron somehow tries to hide with her entrapping it with her teeth. Nothing like a good quip to remedy the situation.
"You steal my keys from House's office, sneak into my apartment, into my bed, under my blanket and kiss me, but you hesitate into asking me something as simple as cuddling you? God, you're really something. Come here."
Lifting herself up, she clamps her back against the headboard, pulling Cameron's lissom body against hers and enwrapping her arms around her.
"Friday night was amazing."
"You were amazing."
"Really? I mean it was my first time…with a girl, not very experimental you know…while you…you know…you have so much…experience…not that's a bad thing…I just mean…it's—"
Thirteen interrupts her with an index finger on her lips, trying her best to stifle the bout of laughter that threatens to spill from her own lips. She manages to onlyrelease an amused chortle. Rambling, nervous Cameron is just too adorable.
"Allison, you were damn excellent. I'm honest."
Cameron returns Thirteen's grin and resumes her previous position with the back of her head against the other girl's chest. Thirteen smiles to herself, sighing blissfully at the sweet, fruity smell of the latter's shampoo that tingles her nostrils. To think about it, having the beautiful doctor in her arms in her apartment is all thanks to…Chase. She almost laughs out loud. Before that famous conversation with Chase, she had respect for the doctor but none for the man. After all, had not he demanded Cameron in front of everyone if she had slept with House? In her opinion, such things were discussed in private, not in front of your co-workers. But hell, in what a stunning way has he redeemed himself in her eyes.
"Are you over House?"
"Yes," Cameron replies without a hint of hesitation before craning her head to the side to look up, "Why?"
"I can't believe I'm saying this but…what Chase did was whoa. He's…nice."
Cameron cannot help but laugh at the comical expression on the girl's face, which is a combination of her frowning slightly, a perfectly shaped eyebrow quirked upwards and eyes big as saucers. "That he is. So…when do we do another one?"
"We can't take advantage of Chase's kindness that soon. It's only been one day, you know. I'd say…in two, three days at least."
"He won't mind, not if he's in the middle this time…you know, now that you like him…"
Thirteen freezes, forgetting to breathe for around ten seconds before her brain actually processes the smirk on Cameron's face. Of course, she is toying with me. Duh.
"Good one. Really good one Cameron."
The sound of the doorbell saves her from further embarrassment and she silently thanks whoever the person behind the door is. Pausing one moment to throw back a glance at the girl still in her bed, she catches sight of Cameron waving mischievously at her. Thirteen cannot help but shake her head in disbelief as she walks out. Who would have thought Cameron could be such a riot? I certainly didn't.
Lost in thoughts, she yanks open the door of the apartment to reveal…Chase, a shopping bag in hand, a slight frown creasing his forehead.
Dishevelled clothes, tousled hair and dazed expression. Uh oh. I hope I haven't interrupted anything.
"Hey."
"Hi," Thirteen moves aside to let him come in, "What's in the bag?"
"You slipped away so quietly that we couldn't celebrate," Chase smiles at her, "What could have been a major disaster turned out to be remarkably great. I've brought champagne."
Thirteen smiles back, gesturing him towards her bedroom. "I'll just be back."
The brunette returns some moments later with three flutes, which Chase proceeds to fill once he has opened the cork on the champagne bottle with a small 'pop'. Thirteen settles back in bed, crossing her legs under her as she lifts the glass that Cameron hands over to her. "So what do we toast to?"
"Our new friendship?" Chase suggests, looking back and forth at the two women, who acquiesce, speaking in unison, "To our friendship."
"And Remy?
"Yea?"
Cameron leans in to whisper directly in Thirteen's ear. "I wasn't joking."
