Chapter 3

There were only a few more things he wanted to get from the condo immediately. His guitar, some clothes and most of the groceries. He may not have paid for them, but surely Wilson wouldn't want anything to spoil while he and Sam were out of town. He chuckled as he let himself in. He'd keep his key a bit longer, just in case.

The light was on in the hall. Strange. Wilson wouldn't leave lights on before going out of town. Then he noticed the coat folded over the back of the couch. A woman's coat. Perhaps Sam had forgotten to hang it up before they left. It would make sense; she had been excited about their little trip. Wilson had been, too, which would explain the light being on. He headed for his former bedroom, and then decided to have a little breakfast first. Cuddy had kept him up past his bedtime the night before. He needed his strength. Another chuckle accompanied his whistling. He put two slices of bread into the toaster and began making coffee.

Cameron was dreaming. He was tickling her nose, and no matter how she told him to stop, he just smiled and kept doing it. She giggled and he grinned and then looked at her very seriously.

"I don't even like you."

She sat straight up and realized her hair had been in her face, the ends rubbing on her nose. Shaking her head she ran a hand over her head. Her riotous curls spilled down her back, the sunlight seeping into the honey color, making it look liquid. She stretched and contemplated staying in bed. She had nothing to do today, unless you counted avoiding things. That was when she heard the whistling and smelled the coffee. Wilson and Sam must have decided to come back early. She rolled out of bed feeling guilty.

"James Wilson, I told you I'd be fine. I was just really tired last night, there was no need for you to come rushing back…"

Her heart was racing as she realized Wilson was not making coffee and whistling. House was. And he was staring at her. Actually he was staring at her legs, which were completely bare. She hadn't thought about the fact that the t-shirt barely skimmed the tops of her thighs. One misstep and her bits would be out in the open due to her lack of underwear.

Wilson and Cameron? Unbelievable that his friend would do that to him, but now that he'd seen her legs, it was a bit more believable. Why was he angry? His subconscious was trying to tell him, but he was busy praying for a slight gust of wind. Well, not praying but hoping really, really hard. She looked like she'd been loved intensely all night long. Her sleepy green eyes, the mussed waves of her hair, her rumpled appearance in only a Pink Floyd t-shirt in Wilson's house all pointed to… Why was she wearing his shirt? And coming from his room?

"That's my shirt."

His voice was a little more gruff than usual. He cleared his throat, but he was pretty sure the vacant look was still on his face. Cameron looked like a rabbit about to run from the wolf. And House really wanted to chase her and eat her up.

"I, well, Wilson said, and I know it's your shirt, but I needed a place, and I just didn't have clothes so-"

"You came from Chicago to Princeton without clothes, and decided to call Wilson? Interesting, let's talk about it. Coffee?"

She blushed and he felt his gut tighten in… something. He wasn't going to examine it.

"Let me go-"

"Change? No clothes remember? I guess my woefully inadequate shirt will have to do. I'm a doctor, Cameron, I've seen legs before. I could give you a physical if you want."

She rolled her eyes and stalked over to him, then changed to a slower pace when she saw his eyeballs glue themselves to the apex of her thighs. Coming up to the island, she looked warily at the barstools and opted to stand. Less chance of flashing her goods if she stood. House seemed to read her mind.

"I've seen it all before, Cameron."

"You haven't seen mine."

"I'm regretting that fact right now. We could remedy the situation, and maybe we'll both feel better. I'm always happy to get some material for the spank bank."

His leer calmed her. This she could handle. When he was a pervert, she could maintain her calm. She smirked at him, and teasingly played her fingertips around the hem of the shirt. House froze, unable to tear his eyes away. He quickly looked up at her face and she stepped forward until they were nearly touching. Then she leaned in and reached her arm around him, pressing her breasts to his chest. His audible gulp made her snicker.

"Thanks for the coffee."

She stepped back, holding his steaming mug.

"Where's the sugar?"

House felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. Cameron was like this in the office all the time. Tit for tat, she had learned how to dish it out when he started in on her. However, she had never been dressed in only one of his t-shirts when she did it. Cuddy might frown upon that kind of attire for work.

Cuddy. He had spent the night with Lisa last night, and he felt…something for her. Lisa loved him. Were they in a relationship now? He mentally shook himself and grabbed the sugar bowl, setting it next to Cameron on the counter.

"You still haven't told me why you're here. And in my shirt."

Her smile faltered. He was done with the moment. It was no more than a little diversion for him. Blowing on her coffee she took a moment to compose herself while she sipped.

"I got in pretty late last night, and with everything going on at the hospital I forgot to make hotel reservations. By the time I got out of there, I was dead on my feet and Wilson was the only person I could reach to find a spare bed. I left my luggage in the car and I was too tired to go back down and get it. Your shirt was in the dresser. Pretty simple."

House ignored the relief he felt at realizing she wasn't sleeping with Wilson. Which was a stupid idea anyway.

"So, if Wilson and Sam had come back, you're sure the first time she met you would have been so laid back and comfortable that nothing but a t-shirt was the appropriate attire. I love the imagery."

"How do you know it's just a shirt? I could be wearing panties."

"Show me."

Cameron's eyes widened and her mouth opened in shock.

"No!"

"No panties then."

She spluttered her denial.

"Maybe I just don't want to go around flashing my former boss my underwear!"

She slammed her mug onto the counter and flounced away. That was a big mistake since the shirt flounced with her and he got a perfect glimpse of her perfect behind sans panties before she slammed the bedroom door shut. He filed the image away for future reference, then grabbed her keys from the counter and went to get her luggage. He wanted that shirt back.