5 pm, Dr. Allison Cameron checks out, finally!
"Going home, Allison?" Lily asked.
"Yep, at last" Cameron asked. "Shouldn't you be going home too and get ready for tonight?"
"I wished I was but my shift doesn't end until 7" Lily answered.
"Isn't it the ball at 8?" Lily nodded. "You won't get on time"
"I already have the fancy dress here, a quick change of clothes and right on time for the party" Lily said with a smile. "Wanna see it?"
"I.." Cameron started.
"Come on!" Lily took Cameron's hand and both went to the locker room. "Well, what do you think?"
"Well...I, I wasn't really expecting something like this, but..." Cameron said with a smile. "It's cool"
"Really?" Lily said.
"Yep, you'll be a great pin up lady. I'm sure you'll get a good Valentine" Lily smiled. "Well, you better go or your shift will be extended because you're not where you are supposed to be. Have fun at the party" And Allison headed to the door.
"Ally! Come to the party! You'll regret it later"
"I don't have any fancy dress and what's more, I don't see why we have to celebrate love this particular day. If you are really in love with a person, you celebrate it everyday not just once every year" Allison answered.
"First, you can be dressed as a nurse, second, it's a raising party, it's for raising money for the kids and third, you're right about celebrating love all year and not just one day but still..."
"And what happens with the people that are not in love? What about them? They get sad and miserable because they don't have anyone near them, because they don't have love in their lives"
"Honey, I don't have anybody either but still I'm an optimistic person. Valentine's is always a special day for couples and for single people. Lots of new relationships flourish this day because love is in the air. Our Prince Charming can be in front of us and who knows, maybe today is the day when that Prince Charming will gain courage and approach us"
"You're a dreamer, Lily" Allison said with a smirk
"Come on, Ally, please, please, don't make me beg you"
"You're already doing it"
"Come, stay for a while and if you don't feel comfortable then leave. Do it for the kids"
"I'll think about it but I don't promise you anything"
"That's my Ally" And Lily kissed her cheek.
"Now, go!" Cameron ordered.
It was 8 o'clock and the fancy dress party was about the start. The hospital hall was all dimly lit. All the ladies were in the hall in their best fancy dresses and wearing a mask whereas the men also wearing a mask where in the first floor leaning in the balcony getting a full view of the ladies below. Suddenly, the music ceased and a man went up the stage.
"Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to the first Valentine's fancy dress raising party!" Everybody clapped.
"About time, Wilson, what took you so long?" House said trying to contain his laughter. "Have you looked at yourself?"
"Got trouble tying my sandals. This is your fancy dress, a tuxedo?"
"I'm James Bond and I have license to smack you with my cane if you don't shut up" House said.
"You must think who's this guy?. I'm the one who's bringing the music tonight and well, Dr. Lisa Cuddy asked me to say her speech because she doesn't want to be discovered yet" The man said with a mischievous smile. "Who will be the lucky one? She's in between all these beautiful ladies, so gentleman, start looking"
"I know where she is" House said proudly
"Where?" Wilson whispered. "I need to know"
"You should have come earlier"
"Damn you, House" Wilson said annoyed
"Ok, now pay attention. Gentleman, this is for all of you. As you can see each lady is wearing a number on her lapel. You see this row of stools, each of them will sit in one of them and then they will be blindfolded. Then gentlemen interested in these ladies will come down and we will start the game" The man announced.
"She's the one which the Charleston fancy dress" House said as he started to move from his side.
"Where are you going?" Wilson asked
"It's obvious she's not coming..." House started as he was starting to untie his bowtie.
"Um, House..."Wilson said grabbing his arm.