Why…. Just Another Letter in the Alphabet

Chapter 3: Realizations

As much as it bothered House, he knew Wilson was right. They were going to investigate to some degree. Cameron was going to get questioned. This was going to be messy…

So messy in fact, that he'd lost sleep over it. He'd even gone into work an hour early because he knew he had to do something. It bothered him, all of it. Caring…. It was exhausting.

He was debating how to handle the situation when the woman of the hour strode into the adjoining conference room. He allowed his eyes to travel the length of her body, granting himself a voyeuristic moment before realizing he'd have to speak to her. He glanced at the clock. 8:05 am. The others wouldn't be here for awhile. Good, they don't need to hear my little plan.

She'd just sat down at the small desk in the corner when his unmistakable voice came over the small speakerphone. "Cameron, I need to talk to you in my office." He said quietly and clicked off.

She did what she always did right before she went to see House. She smoothed her hands over her outfit, patted her hair, squared her shoulders and pushed through the double doors leading to his office.

Anytime she stepped into House's office, it felt like a different world, especially when it was just the two of them.

As soon as she entered, he nodded at her and stood up. She watched him with curious eyes as he made his way around the room, shutting all the blinds, darkening the office until the only light was the one on his desk, which he was now returning to.

House sighed heavily as he sat down. "What we're discussing… It's between you and me, I don't need prying eyes." He explained as he settled himself in. She nodded, trusting his judgement. "They're probably going to do an investigation Cameron. They're going to see you were here when he died and I wasn't." He started.

The realization sunk in slowly. She'd been so caught up in what she did that she'd forgotten those pesky little details.

"Did anyone see you do anything?" He asked levelly, keeping his voice calm.

"No, I was… I was by myself. It was so late…" She answered softly, her eyes downcast.

"Good, you're probably right, seeing as anyone who'd have seen you would've taken action." He replied, propping his feet up on the desk, his expression intense and thoughtful.

"What… What am I going to do?" She whispered, still in shock that her world, her career, could cease to exist in the blink of an eye.

"You're going to lie. You aren't taking the fall for this. They wouldn't believe you'd do it anyways. I'll let them think it might be me, but since they won't have proof, eventually they'll have to close the case, blame it on a nurse who used a little bit more morphine than need be, or maybe they'll blame it on him, he's a man of science, he could've gotten a hold of it. Either way, you keep your mouth shut. I'm not losing you over this." He told her, his voice a bit more vehement than he'd meant for it to be.

Apparently, Cameron noticed too. She looked up from her lap to meet his eyes, hoping to find the meaning behind the last 6 words he'd spoken. She saw something in his eyes, hidden deep, as if he didn't want her to see. She barely caught a glimpse of it, and then it was gone.

"I don't want to break up the team. I'll be hard pressed to find another immunologist as qualified as you. Plus, she probably wouldn't be as hot." He quipped, successfully bringing a serious conversation to a light sounding finish.

She stood and started for the door, only to be stopped by his voice again. "Oh and Cameron? I was serious when I said this was between us. Keep it to yourself." He reminded her. Her face burned. Of course he knew she talked to Wilson. She nodded and pushed through the doors back into the conference room.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully. No new patients, so Foreman took himself down to neurology in hopes of making himself useful. Chase broke out the crosswords and zoned out on those for a few hours while Cameron took care of paperwork. House was in his office, lights off, the Clash blaring through all available speakers.

"If I have to listen to 'London Calling' one more time…" Chase muttered, not even sparing a glance at the office that was hiding their boss.

Cameron watched Wilson walk by and open the door to House's office. She knew she shouldn't be watching, or staring, since that was what she was doing, but she'd by lying if she said she didn't want to know what was going on behind closed doors.

"The Clash huh? That kind of mood eh?" The oncologist questioned as he approached.

House said nothing, just turned his chair to face the window, propping his feet on the cabinet in front of the bay window, signaling to Wilson that he wasn't interested in having a conversation.

Wilson however, didn't really care what House was or wasn't interested in doing. He sat down across from House, propped his feet up on the diagnostician's desk and pulled out his lunch.

House heard the man settling and rolled his eyes.

"We aren't discussing anything because there is nothing to discuss." House told him, keeping his back to him.

"Sure there is. Maybe we can discuss why Cameron's sitting in the conference room looking at you like you're the last man on earth." Wilson suggested, watching his friend closely to see if he reacted.

It was barely there, a tensing of his shoulders, a brief pause in his cane twirling, his neck muscles stopping him from looking to the left and into the conference room.

"Why would I want to discuss that? She does that every day. Part of the whole 'daddy' complex she's got goin' on. Kinda hot, don't you think?" He snarked.

Wilson sighed. He knew better than to think this would be easy. It's NEVER easy with House.

Like I'd tell him… "Was there anything else you wanted or did you just pop in to show me your mani/pedi?" House questioned, his tone overflowing with sarcasm.

"I'm going. But House… If there is an investigation and you're implicated in anyway…" He trailed off.

"Relax would you? Jeez, you're such a downer. It'll be fine. Go bother Cuddy. Tell her I said her rack looks fab." He called as the man strode out the door.

House turned his head slightly and found himself staring into earnest blue eyes. He arched a brow at her, waiting to see if she'd take the bait. Smile for me… I know you can…Show me who's boss… He waited for the tell tale 'Cameron' grin but was instead shot a look identical to the one he'd shot her.

Interesting…He wasn't expecting her to play along, given the situation, but she appeared game.

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