Cameron stood outside House's door with a small bag she'd grabbed from her locker at the hospital. House was checking the door was locked, as though trying to delay the inevitable journey. She was wrapped up in a thick warm coat, shivering slightly in the snow. He didn't bother to put on anything warmer than his usual black leather jacket.

"Come on. Let's go" she said gently. He sighed and rubbed his face. Her heart melted all over again for the suddenly vulnerable man.

"Fine. Where's your car?"

"Just down the end of the road"

"Wonderful, you're going to make a cripple walk in the snow and ice" he said snidely. Cameron dismissed his comment, knowing he was winding her up. They set off slowly round the corner, House taking painfully careful steps. His leg twinged suddenly, and he slipped an inch or two, his heart skipping a beat. Cameron reached out to grab his elbow but he recovered himself quickly, pushing her away. She sighed. It would be a long month if he wouldn't accept her help.

"Here we are then. We can get to New York in about an hour"

"Okay" they got into the car, and House shivered slightly at the cool leather. Cameron turned the radio on, and pop music blared over the speakers. House began to fiddle with the dial, frowning at the racket. Cameron rolled her eyes and pulled off his road. He finally settled on a classical jazz station and relaxed into his seat, rubbing his leg. They sat in silence, House's eyes closed, listening to the music, his fingers tapping to the piano notes. "I can't believe she didn't tell me about him" House said as they entered New York State.

"It's weird. I would have told the dad, even if we'd broken up"

"You always were the moral upstanding one though"

"You say that like it's a bad thing"

"It is, in large doses"

"Am I a large dose"

"You keep us human. You keep me human" he corrected, looking at her for the first time that day. She blushed confusedly.

"Um, thanks?"

"This morning, I was trying to think of who to call to help me. Wilson would be annoying, he'd physco-analyze everything. Cuddy wouldn't even consider living with me. Chase wouldn't care. Forman... I wouldn't even consider calling him. I only call my Mom when I'm about to die, which is more often than I'd like. So that left you. Sweet, caring Cameron."

"I don't know whether to be flattered or offended" She was confused at his strange speech, and didn't know what to say. She pushed her hair away from her face, embarrassed by the attention.

"Be flattered" he said quietly. They went back to silence, except now it was peaceful, not charged with awkwardness. Eventually, Cameron pulled up outside a tall building in New York, and House got out of the car uncomfortably, testing his leg on the ground before stepping out. He winced, pulled out a Vicodin and exhaled slowly through gritted teeth. Cameron looked worriedly at his attempts to hide his pain. There was no fooling her. House limped slowly up the steps leading to the front door of the building. His son was in there, somewhere. Spencer House.

The social worker had taken him and Cameron to a brightly coloured room and offered them child sized plastic chairs. House had scoffed at them, and leant against the wall instead. Five minutes later, they heard footsteps and humming outside. The door opened and two women and a little boy entered. House looked at his son. He had thick black hair, bright blue eyes, and he was smiling. Behind his eyes, House could sense deep thought, isolated from the world. Spencer was humming softly, a tune House had never heard. His hands were flapping slightly, tense at the side of his body like a penguin. He walked on tiptoes, looking down to the ground. Food, drool, grass, mud and several other unidentifiable liquids were smeared down his green T-shirt. He was beautiful. House went towards him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Heya Spencer. I'm your Daddy. You're going to come live with me for a while"

"There's no need to tell him everything, he doesn't understand" said one of the women. House scowled at her and dismissed them both silently. The little boy didn't look at him, and didn't acknowledge him at all. House sighed and glanced at Cameron, almost as though looking for reassurance. He was out of his depth. Peter, the social worker, presented him with some forms and he signed mechanically. Spencer came towards House and took his hand, leading him out of the room.

"Where's he going?" House asked.

"I think he just wants to go home, with you" Peter smiled "you'll be okay, you know. I've seen people pull out all the stops from positions far worse than yours, and they've all done wonders for the health of their children. Good luck, Dr House"

"Cheers" he said, feeling the stickiness of the child's hand in his. Spencer picked up everything as they went past it, putting plastic, paper and toys into his mouth. House hooked them out quickly, earning a smile from a shell shocked Cameron. House buckled the boy into the back of the car and they left to go back to his apartment.

"Thank you for coming" House almost growled

"That's okay. I didn't realise he would be so... Autistic"

"Well, that makes two of us" they fell silent, and Spencer started humming Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. To Cameron's surprise, House hummed softly with him.