A/N: recall that in the episode "Need to Know" House tells Cameron he loves her to prompt the inevitable jaw-drop in order to get a swab of her mouth for the HIV test. Apparently.
He limped in—she always thought of his limp as more of a lopsided saunter—and reached her before she pulled together a witty remark. Pushing her against the wall, he brushed dry, wanting words against her ear.
"House," she murmured, beginning to—
"Now, now, let's not fall back on formalities. You know you can't control yourself when you see me in black tie."
"Lucky for me you'll probably be dead next time I see you in anything washed."
"Unlucky for the coroner." She could feel his sneer against her neck. Tired with him, she pushed away.
"What do you want, House?" He clicked his tongue.
"Not in the mood, kitten? Fine. I have more interesting puzzles than you anyway."
He had his hand on the door when she called out in spite of herself,
"I heard you told Cameron you loved her." His eyebrows raised slightly as he calculated, then relaxed and he grinned.
"Jealousy always looks good on you. I should provoke it more often. I figured that get around eventually. I'd blame the wombat but I know the girl came to ask your advice." Cuddy hated that he was right. She came out from the protection of her desk to look at his eyes more closely. His fingers twitches but she didn't notice; he so wanted to bury his hand in her hair. Reservation and pride held fast, though; he remained tense, thinking of a provocation.
"Well, out with it woman, I have lives to save."
"Did you mean it?" She asked. His eyes begged to be closed as a sort of protection against the weary resignation in her voice. Instead, he smirked and drawled,
"You should know by now that saying I love you has nothing to do with meaning it."
All she knew to do was stand there speechless until she was alone. His words echoed, and she knew he did it on purpose, keeping a spectre near her always. On the one hand, he didn't love Cameron. But the seed of doubt had been planted—all those times she'd pretended to be asleep for hours just to hear three little words from the pillow next to her—they meant nothing?
This was a double-edged blade, but, as with everything related to House, both sides cut equally.