"This is a cat," House said matter-of-factly, dropping said black, white and orange spotted animal on the table in diagnostics. Kutner looked at it curiously while the rest shot House strange looks.
"What's it for?" he asked, resisting the urge to coo at it. The cat purred as the infamous doctor kept it in place.
"Going once, going twice…" House paused as he gave everyone a look. "Okay, fine, I'll say it. Kutner, that was a stupid question." He let the cat go because it didn't seem to be going anywhere. The cat appeared to be oblivious to all the people in the room as he continued to purr in House's direct environment. "I'm going to forego the technical mumbo jumbo and tell you exactly what Fido here does."
"You just said it was a stupid—"
"Fido knows when you're getting laid," House interrupted, successfully intriguing everyone at the table.
"What? Did they run out of death cats?" Taub commented dryly. Fido perked up at his voice, lazily looking around the room with a patience that only cats could muster.
"If any of you want to know what the next case is about," he gave Taub a pointed look, "you have to pass Fido's test." Meanwhile, the cat stood up, nuzzling House's raised hand one last time before walking straight past him and towards Thirteen. She had been leaning with both arms on the table, so the animal had the opportunity to sniff and nudge at her without any trouble. She raised a hand absentmindedly to scratch the very pleased cat behind his ear.
Foreman sighed, reluctantly playing along. "What kind of test?"
"Pet it," House explained happily. Thirteen paused mid-scratch as everyone turned their eyes on her.
"That's not fair," Kutner huffed. "Thirteen's always getting some."
"Thirteen's also sitting within hearing range," she said irritably, continuing to pet Fido anyway. A brief silence befell the room, the content purring becoming deafening to those who had to fear it.
"What are you all waiting for? Cute&Snuggly is waiting for your attention," House announced, seating himself in a nearby chair. Exasperated sighs were exchanged before they all got up to pet the cat.
Taub was first and managed to pet the critter without any trouble, even going as far as rubbing it underneath his chin. Kutner got in a stroke before the cat started to hiss menacingly. He had the common sense to pull back his hand quickly before it did anything worse. Next up was Foreman, who was reluctant to go along with House's game.
House looked up from his place on the chair and raised his eyebrows in look Smartass. "You realize that the only way I'm going to be convinced that you're still getting your groove on is if you're able to pet the cat."
Foreman's shoulders sagged as he surrendered to the idea and raised his hand towards the cat. He didn't seem surprised when the cat backed away from him, issuing a low hiss. "There, happy?" he asked, briefly checking on Thirteen's reaction before turning his attention on House. Her reaction was nonexistent as she was busy fending off the cat who was entertained by a loose string on her sleeve.
"Interesting," House muttered, appearing to think something over.
"What?" Kutner asked.
"Thirteen is sleeping around, but Foreman isn't," he said, waiting for Kutner to draw his own conclusions. It took a second, but realization soon dawned on him
"You guys broke up for real?" He turned to Foreman and a playful Thirteen. Foreman frowned, a stark contrast to the amused Thirteen, who seemed to be ignoring the entire conversation.
"The case," Foreman insisted, not bothering to answer anything.
"There is none!" House exclaimed, getting up. "Go make yourself useful or something." With those words he got up and exited the room, leaving an exasperated team and a thoroughly annoyed Foreman behind.
Cameron rolled her neck as she walked down the corridor, feeling on edge. The day hadn't been particularly stressful, but she still felt the cramp beginning to build up in her neck. And to make things worse (or better, she couldn't quite decide), Thirteen was approaching her from the other end of the corridor.
"I don't have any cases," she said before the brunette could say anything. Thirteen closed her mouth, a look of surprise taking over her features.
"Not what I was going to ask, but okay."
"Sorry," Cameron apologized, forcing herself to relax somewhat. Thirteen took notice of her stiffness, but decided against prying. "What did you need?"
"I was on my way to the clinic, but I was kind of hoping the ER needed a few extra hands."
"No," she answered distractedly as she thought about it. "No, we're manag–…ing." Cameron looked at the ground as she saw a flash of orange black approach them. "Is that a cat?"
Thirteen followed the other woman's gaze to find that Fido had indeed escaped from diagnostics. She bent down to pick up the animal before it got himself into trouble, glad that he didn't seem to mind her doing so. In fact, he seemed quite content resting in her arms.
"It's House's cat, Fido," Thirteen explained, getting a knowing look on her face before she approached the blonde with the cat. "He'll like you."
"Fido?" Cameron asked, raising an incredulous brow. Thirteen shrugged, smiling slightly at her softening expression when she made a move to pet the cat. Cameron was silently amazed at how good Thirteen was with animals and found herself wondering what else she would be able to discover if she took the time. It was hard to say who was more surprised when Fido suddenly started hissing and fastened his nails in Cameron's lab coat threateningly. "You were saying?"
"That's strange." Thirteen let the cat go when it struggled to get out of the hold, watching him dash off towards his next unsuspecting victim after he landed on the ground. "Are you…" She stopped mid-sentence, realizing what she was about to ask was way too personal for her to know.
"Am I what?" she encouraged, wondering why she turned so thoughtful all of the sudden.
"It's the cat from a moment ago," she began, unsure of how to proceed.
"Coming through!" They were rudely interrupted by a few people pushing a gurney through the narrow hallway hastily. Thirteen stepped towards Cameron as she got out of the way, unintentionally pushing the blonde against the wall in the process. Thirteen hadn't realized what she'd done until she felt someone clutch at her coat and heard a faint whimper coming from the other woman. She looked down, ready to apologize but confused at the pained expression Cameron tried to hide.
"Allison," she said, unable to take a step back because the other woman was clutching at her. "What's wrong?"
"My leg," she whispered. Thirteen looked further down and saw how she had accidentally pressed her leg against the outside of Cameron's bruised knee. She quickly moved her leg, unconsciously placing her hands on the woman's elbows in the process.
Eventually the biting pain dissipated and Cameron was able to focus on the situation and those questioning, slightly guilty eyes again. The first thing she noticed was how close and intimate they were standing. She silently thanked whatever God was out there that they were standing in an abandoned hallway, because she was sure she would make a fool out of herself if they weren't. Well, at least she thought she would be considered a fool if anyone saw the smitten look she was desperately trying to hide. Here was Thirteen, holding her up against the wall and trying to be considerate about it.
Cameron was finding it very hard not to go weak in the knees at all the positive adjectives she was currently describing Thirteen with in her mind.
Thirteen frowned thoughtfully, seeing that expression on Cameron for the second time that week, but unable to place it. It was frustrating. Cameron was trying to tell her something and she couldn't understand.
Hold on.
Why hadn't they separated yet?
Thirteen studied the blonde some more and became conscious of the fact that she didn't mind standing like this at all. It was strange and confusing and dear God, was she really moving in or was it just her imagination?
Cameron smiled, aware that the other woman was overanalyzing the situation. Thirteen was probably so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she could pull off whatever stunt she wanted and get away with it too.
She gripped the coat in her hands a little more firmer, pulling down the taller woman until their lips were inches apart. Her smile brightened at the pliancy of the brunette, but most of all she was delighted with the way her breath hitched as she stopped before anything unethical happened.
Cameron chuckled slightly as she disengaged from the embrace, making sure to send Thirteen a flirtatious smile before walking off. With another grin she realized that the cramp in her neck had disappeared almost entirely.
Okay. Thirteen watched Cameron saunter off, temporarily stupefied. What was that?
Thank you Shelby-WakingtheDemon for mentioning the cat to me, I'm sure this wasn't what you had in mind xD And thank you Arrin for the awkward moment suggestion. It enabled me to improvise this chapter. There were some more suggestions I thought were good but haven't used because it would make this chapter a little too eventful.
Other than that... it's way too early. I can't think of anything to say.
Danielle G; Glad to have you on board again! It would be weird (and possibly bad too) without your reviews as well. Lets hope my 'genius' inspiration lasts until the end of this fic.
Wesley; Haha, Foreman also has the worst timing in human history. Or best, depends on how you look at it.
