Her hair still slightly damp from the hurried shower she'd taken after being woken by the insistent beeping of her pager, Cameron hurries briskly down the hall towards the diagnostics department. To her surprise, House is already sat at the long desk that features as the focal point of the room; gameboy clutched in both hands and a furrow of concentration on his brow. She takes off her coat and scarf and hangs them up on the hook by the door, pulling the sleeves of her sweater over her hands in an attempt to keep warm. The sky peaking through the gaps in the vertical blinds is still inky with night, and the temperature has dropped well below freezing. Fortunately, House actually arriving on time has resulted in the heating being pumped up full blast in the office.

"Are we the first ones in?"

"The first, and the only."

"What about Chase and Foreman?"

"It's just you and me, kid; didn't see the point in waking up all three of you to bounce ideas off."

"So the patient is fine?!"

"No, he's still dying, just not right this second."

"And I got the short straw because...?"

"Well, if I was going to have to sit across from one of you at this godawful hour, you seemed the most aesthetically appealing option. Shortly followed by Chase. I have to say, I was hoping for some sexy bed-hair though..."

Shaking out her freshly washed curls, Cameron gives him a bemused smile; folding her legs up beneath her into the chair opposite his. She yawns widely and watches as House pockets his gameboy and pulls a large, brown paper bag from beneath his seat.

"Cream-cheese or peanut-butter?"

"Huh?"

"I bought bagels."

House pulls a fresh cinnamon-raisin bagel from the bag along with the two proffered spreads and raises an eyebrow in question.

"Oh, thanks... Actually, I really hate raisins, so I'll pass, but thanks for the thou-"

"Not to worry, I also bought wholegrain."

"Actually, I-"

"-And plain, pumpernickel, blueberry and poppyseed."

She watches open-mouthed as he pulls each bagel out of the bag respective to the order he names them in and spreads the selection out on the table

"And if you don't fancy a bagel, I bought cereal."

He pulls the bag down to reveal its final contents to be a small box of cheerios. Her eyes wander over the food which has turned the table between them into a small buffet and back up to House's which are boring into her intently. They lock stares for a moment and there is a palpable tension in the looks passed between them. House catches a brief flicker of realization in her arrestingly green eyes before she swiftly guards her expression and leans casually back in her chair. She casts her hand over the table

"You bought all of this when you knew it was just going to be the two of us?"

"I didn't know what you'd like."

"So you bought out the gas station on your way over here?"

"Well, we wouldn't want you going hungry now, would we?"

He cocks his head as he utters the last few words, contemplating her questioningly. Cameron regards him with un-blinking neutrality, allowing a moment's cool silence to pass between them.

"No."

She reaches out for the blueberry bagel and cream cheese and proceeds to cut and slather accordingly, aware that House is watching her movements intently. She brings the food to her mouth and takes a purposeful bite, eyes locked on his with a very clear message.

I know what you're up to, and you're wrong.

House watches her soundlessly until she finishes the bagel; aware that his stare is making her both irritable and uncomfortable, but not all too bothered about either. She sits back in her chair and glares at him.

"Aren't you going to have anything?"

"Nah, I'm not hungry, I'll just have coffee."