Reset, Chapter 4

"And then this guy…" Wilson clapped Foreman on the shoulder, "…says no way, it's not my fault! I was trying to do a tracheotomy!" Foreman shrugged, looking equal parts embarrassed and amused while everyone else laughed uproariously. It was ten o'clock on a Friday night and a farewell party for Foreman was winding down in the doctors' lounge. Most of the well-wishers had come and gone and only those closest to the guest of honour remained: the past and present members of House's diagnostics team along with Wilson and Cuddy. Conspicuous by his absence was House himself, but really, no one had expected him to attend. Least of all Foreman.

As if by unspoken agreement, the three current diagnostics fellows rose as one from the sofa they had been sitting on. "We'd better be going," Taub said. "Good luck, Foreman. It's been a pleasure."

"Thanks," Foreman replied, walking over to shake Taub's hand.

"Yeah, man. It won't be the same with you," Kutner contributed. "Who's going to run interference with House for us?"

"That would be me," Cameron laughed and raised her hand. Chase shot her a disgusted look from across the room but didn't say anything. The two had been maintaining a careful distance all night.

"And trust me," Foreman said grinning, "She's much better at it than I ever was." He shook Kutner's hand and gave Thirteen a quick hug. The three doctors filed out of the room and Foreman wandered over to talk to Chase, leaving Cameron, Cuddy and Wilson alone in the seating area.

"Sooo," Wilson said. "You and Chase?"

"Not good, Wilson," Cameron replied, shaking her head.

"Well yes, I got that much from the daggers that have been flying out of his eyes all night. Dare I ask what happened?"

"I think you can probably guess."

"He doesn't want you going back to work with House?"

"Got it in one." Cameron looked wistfully over to the far corner of the room where Foreman and Chase were talking animatedly. It wasn't that long ago when it would have been the three of them in that corner. It hurt to know that she may never experience that kind of easy companionship amongst colleagues again. What they had as a team had been truly unique and for an instant she hated them all, herself included, for their parts in destroying it. She pulled herself out of her reverie in time to hear Cuddy asking if she thought Chase would come around eventually.

"I don't think so. He said he was done with me. But to be honest, it's probably for the best. I don't think we would have made it anyway. If it wasn't this, it would have been something else." Cameron had spent a great deal of time thinking about her last fight with Chase and she had to admit, if only to herself, that some of the things he'd said to her hit home. She still didn't think calling him by his surname held any particular significance, but that didn't make the conclusion he had drawn any less true. She did love him, but not the way she should. Chase was far from perfect, but he was a good man at heart and he deserved better than what she could offer him. She watched as Foreman and Chase first shook hands and then quickly embraced, slapping each other on the back as men do in these situations. Chase headed for the door, giving the rest of them a quick wave and good night.

Foreman walked back over to the others just as Cuddy stifled a yawn. "I should be going as well or I'm going to be falling asleep at the wheel." She stood and embraced Foreman. "Good luck Dr. Foreman. Be sure to keep in touch."

"I'll walk you to your car, Lisa." Wilson rose and after saying his goodbyes, walked out with Cuddy leaving Foreman and Cameron alone in the lounge.

"So…no present this time?" he asked with an wicked grin, sinking down onto the sofa beside her.

"Nope, sorry. You already reached your quota on going away presents. Plus, you only stole the one article from me."

"That you know of."

Cameron looked sharply at him before realizing he was kidding. She started laughing.

"Ha, I almost had you," Foreman shook a finger at her. "You always were easy."

"Hey, I resemble that!" she retorted in mock annoyance.

"Are you sure you're doing the right thing?" he asked, suddenly serious.

Cameron knew exactly what he was referring to. "Sure? As sure as I can be I guess. I miss it, Foreman. I miss it a lot. I tried to be happy in the ER, I really did. And at times it was rewarding…helping people, saving lives. But there's just no comparison to the thrill of solving the unsolvable puzzle, you know?"

"I know. But how much of it is the job you miss and how much is the man?"

"I don't know. I think maybe for me they're one in the same."

"Just be careful, Cameron."

"Oh, whatever shall I do without my big brother to look after me," Cameron said, rolling her eyes. "Don't worry, I can handle him. I'm not the same naïve young thing I was when you met me."

"No, I guess you're not. But if you ever need your big brother to complain to, you know how to reach me."

"I do. And on that note, I think I'll call it a night." They both rose to their feet and Foreman pulled her into a tight hug.

"Goodbye Cameron."

"Bye Foreman. Be happy, okay?" She pulled out of his embrace, gave him one last smile and headed out the door.

Foreman dropped back onto the sofa, closed his eyes and spent a few minutes letting the memories, good and bad, wash over him. He wasn't quite ready to leave yet.

"No one show up at your party?"

Foreman opened one eye to find House helping himself to some leftover cake. "Party's over. You're late."

"Obviously not late enough. You're still here. Guess I'll take my cake to go." House shoved a piece of cake in his mouth, grabbed another one and headed for the door.

"House," Foreman said, "Just a minute, I have some things I want to say to you."

"Oh, is this where I get my mushy goodbye? Save it." Despite his harsh words, House made no further move to leave.

"Just shut up for once in your life and listen. Last time I left, I said it was because I didn't want to be you." House opened his mouth to retort but Foreman held up a hand. "I said, shut up! Let me finish. You're still a wretched, miserable excuse for a human being and I still don't want to be you. But...you're damned good at what you do and if I'm even half the diagnostician you are...well I thank you for that."

House nodded. "Is it my turn to talk yet?" he asked sarcastically.

"No. I have one more thing to say. A couple of years ago, when you were taking Cameron out, I stuck my nose in where it didn't belong. Told you to be a jerk to her and that some relationships weren't meant to be."

House nodded again. He remembered the conversation.

"Well, I may have been wrong. You two...well you could've been good for each other. Hindsight's 20/20, right? I'm sorry if I played any part in screwing that up for you."

"Don't worry; I'm quite capable of screwing things up for myself."

"Yeah, well anyway...you're not dead yet and she's still here. So..."

"Your nose still doesn't belong, Foreman."

Foreman snorted. "Right, well I think I'll head out. Lots of packing to do yet. I'd say keep in touch, but well..." He shrugged and turned to leave.

"Foreman." House waited for Foreman to turn around to face him. "Good luck." The younger man looked startled, but then smiled and nodded.

"Thanks. You too." And then he was gone.

XXXXXXXXXX

After leaving the doctors' lounge, Cameron had fully intended on getting her things from her locker and heading home. But when she stopped walking, she found herself not in the locker room but standing in front of the door to the Diagnostics Department instead. Peering through the darkness into House's office, she determined that he wasn't there and so it was safe for her to go in. Walking around the conference room aimlessly, she ran her hand over the familiar surfaces and objects. She randomly opened cupboards and drawers, noting that very little had changed in the last year. The new fellows seemed not to have made much of a mark on the space at all. Her selection of herbal teas was still in the cupboard of the kitchenette. Pulling the box out and opening it, she smiled to herself when she noticed that someone had been drinking the black walnut and ginger.

"I seem to have acquired a taste for that crap," House said from the doorway.

Cameron dropped the box and teabags scattered across the floor. Falling to her knees she started gathering them up and putting them back in box. "House, you scared the crap out of me. What are you doing here?"

"It's my office; I should be asking you that."

Rising from the floor and shoving the box of teabags back in the cupboard, Cameron replied, "I just finished saying goodbye to Foreman. I guess I was feeling a little nostalgic."

"For tea? Don't they have a kettle in the ER?"

Cameron sighed. "Not for the tea, but you knew that. It's late, I'd better go. I guess I'll see you on Monday."

"So you really are coming back, huh?" House couldn't quite meet her eyes so he looked at her right ear instead and hoped she wouldn't notice how important her answer was to him.

"Yes, House. I'm really coming back." She walked over to him and waited for him to move out of the doorway so she could leave. He took his time in doing so; now that he had heard the answer he wanted, he allowed himself a moment to look into her eyes, searching for doubt. He saw none and so he moved aside to let her pass.

"Good night, House." She gave his arm a quick squeeze as she left. He walked into his office and settled into his chair. Maybe he'd go home later.