A/N: Thanks go out to all of those who reviewed these first couple of chapters. I am having an inner debate about changing the end of this story which I had in mind. I guess we'll see as the story progresses….

Disclaimer: The show unfortunately is not mine. But my plan is that while the writer's are on strike, to burn any ideas that they once had, replace them with my own script, and have Cameron and House hot and sweaty for an entire hour….only in a perfect world.

It took another half hour and six cigarettes before he found himself walking into her building. While he would be resigning his position at Princeton Plainsboro and there would be no superior/subordinate rendezvous, he did not want her to think that he was only there because he was dying. When he stepped off onto her floor his steps were slow, and not just because of his leg, but doubt crowded his mind and his second thoughts reemerged.

When he stood in front of her door and lifted his cane to knock her face immediately popped into his mind. Only five hours ago she stood in front of him, looking so broken, so conflicted and professed her love for him. What would she say to him when she answered the door, would his being there finish her off, break her in half? Or would it heal her, allow her the comfort of knowing that he did love her and that he did not want to part from this earth without knowing her love. He wanted to hold her, to kiss her, to cherish her, to hold her so tight that no one would be able to distinguish where one began and the other ended. With that thought he allowed his cane to thump against the door, once, twice, three times, each thump harder than the first, the sound of wood on wood echoing throughout the hall and probably waking up half of the occupants of the floor.

He waited impatiently for her to answer his calls, bringing his cane to the floor and hitting the butt of his cane against the floor, a nervous habit. When it became apparent that she had not heard him he pulled his keys from his jeans pocket, finding her key almost immediately and pushing it into the lock and opening the door. The apartment was dark, a blast of lightning illuminating his way as he closed the door and locked it behind him. Limping silently through her apartment he came to her bedroom door that she had left open, looking at her sleeping form.

Lifting his cane to rest it on his forearm he moved into the room, resting his body in the chair that sat next to her bed. Settling in he debated on whether or not to wake her. Moisture lingered on her face and he could tell that even in her sleep she was crying for him and his body ached to touch her, to wrap his arms around her and never let go. He managed to contain himself, contemplating whether or not he should wake her. He decided to watch her sleep, his eyes watching her chest as it rose and fell underneath the blanket. He gasped aloud when her arm came up to pull the covers off her shoulders. He averted his eyes then, catching the sight of the clothes she had been wearing soaking in water on the floor beside the bed, she was indeed naked under the sheets.

Bringing his eyes back to her face he saw another tear roll down her cheek, his resolve breaking and his body beginning to stand. It was then that a loud clap of thunder resounded throughout the apartment and she shot up in the bed. Letting himself fall back into the cushion of his sheet he watched as she held her blanket to her chest, her head moving to her left to check her window before moving back his direction. "Cameron." He spoke, grimacing when she shrieked and pulled her body to the other side of the bed, clearly frightened.

"House?" She asked, her eyes squinting to adjust to his dark figure sitting in her chair. He moved to click on the lamp beside of him and she squinted more as her eyes settled on him. It was when he saw her face that he felt his heart wrench and burst into a million pieces, her forehead was creased in confusion and her eyes were puffy, she hadn't stopped crying. "What….are y-you doing here?" She asked, holding her bed clothes closer to her body.

"You left." He answered simply, his eyes pleading, causing her forehead to crease even more in confusion. He watched as she looked to her clock.

"You only have four-" She began.

"I don't want to talk about that." He interrupted; pulling his body up from his seat and propping his cane up on the arm of the chair, taking a step and lifting the blankets to sit on the bed, his back against the headboard beside her. With shaky hands he reached under her blankets and grasped her hips, feeling her gasp of surprise when he lifted her and pulled her in front of him, his arms wrapping around her naked waist and pulling her naked form against his damp clothes. She gasped at the feel of his warmth through the cold clothes as he placed one leg on either side of her thighs, turning her on her side and pulling her head to his chest, her right ear resting over his heart. Settling his hands on her hips he moved his left hand to find her right, covering her hand with his. "Do you hear that?" He asked her.

"Of course I do." She whispered, her words coming out shakily. Her body was tense against his, as if she was afraid and he kissed her hair before grasping her hand and maneuvering them under his shirt, resting her hand on his bare chest near her ear, his hand laying hers flat and covering it.

"Do you feel that?" He asked her.

"House, what's this-"

"Just answer me." He told her, both surprised by his soothing tone of voice.

"Yes." She answered simply, looking up at him, her head still resting on his chest.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"I'm positive."

"It beats for you." He told her and remained silent for a moment, she could hear the words forming in his chest before he vocalized them. "That rapid pace you are experiencing right now is there with the mere thought of your face. My heart longs for you and it has for a long time, you are my heart. As long as it beats, as long as I breathe, it is yours." Even with his clothes being damp he could feel her tears soaking his t-shirt, her breath quickening as he continued. "Seeing you on my step today, hearing you tell me that you loved me…I could feel your love for me when you spoke. I don't want you because I am dying, and I know that you don't want me for that reason either. There is no other way for me to prove that I love you other than this, I am not here because I am dying. Now, I'm going to ask you one last time….do you feel that?"

A/N: REVIEW please.