A/N: We're glad to see you're enjoying this.

To the "guest" who left a review: Where does it say that Cameron thought House was "gross"? She's attracted to him, and it drives her crazy but not once did we imply that she thought he was "gross". Comprehension is a beautiful thing when it comes to reading something. If you have issues with the story, create an account and PM me. I'd be more than happy to discuss it. Don't "hide" behind a guest account. #justsayin

Chapter Three

A few weeks passed without incident. Cameron was able to avoid House with her personal assistant running interference whenever possible. That was part of Rowland's job, after all, but Cameron thought she enjoyed it a little too much. She could see from her office the looks exchanged between them. One thing was certain, when Rowland was at her desk, nobody got by her. Not even House could charm his way past her. Cameron made a mental note to give her a bonus next quarter. Rowland was an ex Marine who served two tours in Iraq before being honorably discharged. It was rumored she once worked as a bouncer, and she was a personal trainer during her spare time. Cameron mentally questioned her sexuality, but the way she looked at House and continually flirted with him, Cameron doubted it. Of course, she could hardly blame the woman. If she were honest, House was the sexiest, most infuriating man she'd ever met.

He was everything she despised in a man. He was abrasive and rude, clearly didn't care to make an effort to look presentable, and he certainly didn't fit her ideal image of a department head. Patients complained about him and he could make nurses cry simply by looking at them.

However, Cuddy was right about him. He was brilliant, used risky methods to get the results he needed and hadn't lost a patient since she'd been there.

His fellows also proved to be an asset to the hospital. Chase, an Intensivist, was young, good looking, an excellent surgeon and very popular with the ladies. His Australian accent and perfect blonde hair made women melt. However, there was a touch of insincerity about him which Cameron found to be a little off-putting when she dealt with him. Still, he was nice to look at.

The other two were brilliant in their own way, but Cameron didn't know much about them. House kept them busy, and when needed, they helped out in the ER, trying to find cases for House to solve when he became restless.

He was very particular about how he chose his cases. The criteria both confused and intrigued her. Sometimes it seemed when all hope was lost, the patient would make a complete turnaround and be cured based on some epiphany of House's at the last minute.

House was, in simple terms, an insane genius and it turned her on. It was years since she was intimate with a man and she viewed sex as nothing but a simple release of tension. She didn't have time for feelings to get in the way. Sex was just sex. Of course, losing her virginity at a young age to the boy next door and him being clueless about sex didn't help, either. The men that followed weren't much better, affirming her belief that sex was overrated and nothing but a distraction. She didn't have time for such things. As Dean of Medicine, she worked 50-60 hours a week. A relationship would only make it harder to focus, and she needed to be on her toes where House was concerned. Having to keep her guard up was mentally exhausting, however, and her only outlet was her daily workout. Rowland proved helpful in that arena as well, and they worked out together every day in the hospital gym before their lunch break.

"Something wrong?" Rowland inquired one day as they used the elliptical side by side.

"No, why do you ask?"

"You just seem….quiet lately. Everything okay?"

"Why is everyone always asking me that?" Cameron snapped, and then she shook her head. "Sorry, I didn't mean to lash out I'm just...stressed."

"I can see that, but why? Is it House?"

Cameron let out a small laugh as she increased the speed of her machine. "The man is infuriating!"

"Yes, he is. But he's hot as hell. I don't know how you do it. I would've had him in my bed from day one."

What Rowland said surprised Cameron. "Seriously?"

"Oh, God, yes! I'm not his type though. He said as much when he told me that he doesn't go for the lesbian golfer look. I assured him that I'm not a lesbian, but he wasn't buying it. Pity. He would've been very pleasantly surprised. Doesn't stop me from hitting on him. Maybe one of these days he'll give into my...womanly wiles," she said with her usual saucy grin.

"You might want to keep it on the downlow. House is the kind of guy who could slap you with a sexual harassment charge just to annoy us both and to amuse himself."

Rowland frowned. "You really think he would go that far?"

"I don't put anything past that man. Just watch yourself. Besides," Cameron said as they stepped off their machines and headed for the weights, "why him?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why not Chase? I've seen you flirt with him, too. He certainly seems interested in you."

"Honey, I flirt with everyone. However, Chase makes me feel like a cougar. He's too young for me and I refuse to go out with a guy who's prettier and has better hair than I do."

Cameron nearly choked on the water she sipped and Rowland patted her on the back a few times.

"On top of that, I heard he's a bit of a man whore and he'll screw anything with a pulse. And Doctor Wilson, too. He's known as the Panty Peeler of PPTH. He's probably had every nurse in the hospital," she continued.

"Wow, how do you know all of this?"

"The better question is, why don't you? It's your hospital."

"I guess I've just never been interested in hospital gossip or the grapevine, or whatever you call it."

"Well maybe you should. I hear things about House that I probably didn't want to know. But stuff spreads like wildfire in this place."

Now Cameron was intrigued. "What things?"

Rowland glanced around. "We'll talk over lunch. Even the walls have ears."

"Gotcha."

They finished their workout and were headed to the cafeteria when House intercepted them. He glanced from Cameron, to Rowland and took in their sweaty, flushed appearance.

"Ladies. All hot and sweaty...damn...and I'm not the cause? What a waste," he said, clicking his tongue.

"We could change that," Rowland said as she winked at him. "Right now."

"As pleasing as the offer sounds, Doctor Cameron is too uptight for a threesome. But thanks anyway."

Before Cameron could come up with a reply, he limped away from them. For a man with a cane he could certainly move quickly when he wanted to.

"Wow," Rowland said after letting out a low whistle. "The sexual tension between you two is so thick, one could cut it with a knife."

Cameron laughed out loud as they waited in line for their lunch. "Please! House doesn't like me and I sure as hell don't like him. What could we possibly have in common with each other?"

"Sex."

"That's not much to go on. Besides, sex is overrated."

"To you, maybe, but I believe what House lacks in personality, he makes up for in, shall we say, other areas," Rowland laughed as she paid for her lunch and looked for an empty table.

"I wouldn't know. Speaking of which, are you going to share what you've heard?" Cameron asked as she followed Rowland to a booth in the back. They sat down and Rowland leaned forward.

"One of his fellows has a crush on him, which he ignores. His ex girlfriend is responsible for the limp and he likes to use hookers. Oh, and he makes no secret of his love for porn."

"What guy doesn't love porn?" Cameron scoffed.

"Good point. I like it too."

Cameron's eyes widened. "Seriously?"

Rowland shrugged. "Hey, a girl has needs too. And while you may be having a serious dry spell, it doesn't mean I can't have a bumper crop. Besides, there's nothing wrong with porn. It gets a bad rep but it shouldn't."

"It's disgusting. And it degrades women."

"Not all of it." Rowland took a long sip of her drink. "Have you always been like this?"

Cameron's eyes narrowed. "Like what?"

Rowland considered her next words carefully. She liked Cameron and over time they developed a close friendship so she didn't want to offend her. "How do I put this so you won't slap me? Umm...a prude?"

"I guess I just don't have a lot of experience or dated many men. None of them exactly measured up. It's not that my standards are too high. That's not it. I can't really have high standards if I have no basis for comparison, right?"

Rowland simply nodded so Cameron continued.

"Besides, I don't think I want a relationship that's just sexual."

"Then what do you want?"

"I want a friend...a partner...someone who just wants to be with me and hang out, do stuff. Sex doesn't have to be the end-all for me any more. You know?"

"No but it's the glue that holds it all together. Friendship will only get you so far. Besides, you can have a friends with benefits thing. Just sex, nobody gets hurt, so it's all good."

"That's not enough for me any more."

"Don't you have any other friends?"

Cameron shook her head. "All my friends are back in Chicago. I'll only see them on holidays when I fly back there. I don't have much time for anything other than work since I moved here."

"Well anytime you wanna hang out, call me. We'll do something."

Cameron smiled. "That would be great."