Chapter 2 Don't Stop Believing
It was Christmas Eve and the staff at PPTH were all at the Christmas fundraiser concert. After a while of mingling in the lobby everyone made their way to the lecture hall which was beautifully decorated. Chase walked in and right away noticed Foreman, Thirteen, and Taub taking their seats in the middle of the room. He went over to them and took a seat next to Foreman. "Hey have you guys seen Cameron anywhere?" he asked.
"As soon as we stepped into the lobby she gave me her jacket and purse and left," Thirteen replied from Foreman's other side as she handed them to Chase.
"Strange," he said. "She's going to miss the concert."
"I'm sure she'll be here in a minute," said Foreman but before Chase can respond they were suddenly attacked by popcorn being thrown at them from behind. Chase angrily shook it out of his hair as he turned to see House and Wilson. House instantly stopped throwing the popcorn and looked away, whistling. Wilson shook his head in embarrassment.
"What the hell House!" Chase exclaimed.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"You were throwing popcorn at us!"
"Now why would I do that?"
"I saw you! We all did!" Everyone agreed and like Chase they were all losing their patience with House.
"He's right House," Wilson said, trying to keep the peace.
"Seriously," House laughed. "I didn't do it." Chase rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Of all the seats in here do you have to sit behind us?" Foreman asked as he brushed the popcorn off from his shoulders and Thirteen shook it out of her hair.
"I might get bored later. I have to annoy somebody," he replied sarcastically.
Foreman shook his head in annoyance when Thirteen suddenly said, "Aw crap I think popcorn went in my shirt. Thanks a lot House."
"This is a great excuse to take off your shirt," he snarked.
"You wish," she replied as she stood up, shaking her shirt in attempt to get the popcorn out.
"Chase when are you going to pick up the puppy? It's chewing and peeing on everything," Foreman said as Thirteen sat down.
"I'll pick it up tonight once Cameron falls asleep," he replied but groaned in annoyance when House said, "Speaking of puppies, where is Cameron?"
"I don't know. The ER probably."
"That's just sad that you don't even know where your puppy... I mean your wife is," he said with a smug smile.
"Shut up!" Chase snapped just as their boss and the dean of hospital Dr. Lisa Cuddy walked on stage. Everyone cheered but instantly got annoyed as House started whistling loudly, throwing popcorn, and yelling out inappropriate things to Cuddy. She angrily glared at him before she started to speak.
"Welcome everyone to our Christmas fundraiser concert. Tonight we have many performers from our staff and patients as well as our guest singer Taylor Swift." Everyone cheered loudly at the sound of that name. Knowing how much Cameron loved Taylor Swift, Chase pulled out his cell phone and texted, If you don't get here soon you're going to miss Taylor Swift and I'm not messing with you. She's here for real. He sent the message to Cameron as Cuddy kept talking.
"Our first performers tonight are some of our youngest patients in the play A Christmas Carol. Thanks for coming everyone and enjoy the show." The audience cheered as Cuddy stepped off the stage. The curtain went up and the children began their play.
After 20 minutes the kids were finished and everyone stood, cheering loudly except for House who was too preoccupied with his PSP to notice. Wilson cheered proudly for a couple of his patients that were in the play. After the curtain went down and everyone took their seats Chase checked his phone for what seemed like the millionth time tonight. "Would you relax Chase," said Foreman. "Like you said, she probably got caught up in the ER. She'll be here soon."
"You're right," Chase sighed as he put his phone away. After an hour of performances from the staff and patients the curtains went up, revealing Taylor Swift. Everyone cheered loudly as she started to sing the song Last Christmas. "Cameron loves Taylor Swift," Chase said, taking out his cell and calling her but it went straight to her voicemail. Thirteen rolled her eyes.
"Chase, she'll be here soon."
"Fine," he grumbled, putting his cell away. "It's just I feel bad that she's missing this while I'm watching it. I don't even like Taylor Swift."
"She probably came in late and is watching from the back. Just relax," Foreman said.
When Taylor finished singing Last Christmas everyone cheered but she wasn't done yet. The string instruments started to play followed by her playing guitar as artificial snow fell from above. She then started to sing her version of Silent night.
"Silent night, holy night
All is calm and all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glory streams from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing hallelujah
Christ, the savior is born
Christ, our savior is born
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, lord, at thy birth
Jesus, lord, at Thy birth
hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Ohhh Ohh Ohh Ohh
Christ, our savior is born"
Everyone cheered loudly as they gave her a standing ovation. Taylor smiled and gave her thanks before the curtain went down. "Cameron's going to be sooo jealous," House sneered low enough for Chase to hear. Ignoring House, Chase turned to Foreman and Thirteen.
"This isn't like Cameron to miss the concert," he said. "She's been talking about this for weeks and plus she helped Cuddy plan it."
"Well then she's probably backstage helping Cuddy or talking to Taylor Swift," Thirteen replied.
"Maybe," Chase agreed as the lecture hall suddenly went dark and all anyone can hear were people singing a background chorus. And then the next thing they knew the spotlight shined into the audience on Dr. Andrews from Radiology. He was standing as he sang the glee version of Don't Stop Believing by Journey. Chase could hear House snickering but just ignored him. He was glad this was the last song. When it was over he was getting as far away from House as he can.
"Just a small town girl living in a lonely world
She took the midnight train going anywhere"
The spotlight turned off, making Dr. Andrews disappear just as it shined on the other side of the room. Chase and everyone around him, including House gaped at who they saw. Cameron was standing there in a knee length black dress with her blonde hair curled and flowing around her shoulders. Chase thought she looked beautiful and he smiled as she sang.
"Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train going anywhere"
The spotlight turned off and she disappeared into darkness just as the stage started flashing with white lights.
"Was that Cameron?" Chase heard Foreman whisper to Thirteen who nodded, keeping her eyes on the stage. Chase couldn't believe it either.
If Foreman didn't mention Cameron he could've sworn he imagined her. He beamed with pride as suddenly the stage flashed once more before completely lighting up and revealing Cameron and Dr. Andrews. Behind them were a several people from the hospital staff singing the chorus.
Dr. Andrews - "A singer in a smoky room"
Cameron - "The smell of wine and cheap perfume"
Both - "For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on
Strangers, waiting
up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight, people
living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night"
Chase smiled as he watched Cameron sing and dance. Even though everyone was cheering he noticed House had becoming shockingly quiet. He just sat there, watching. Cameron suddenly locked eyes with Chase and smiled lovingly at him as she started to sing.
"Working hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill"
Both - "Paying anything to roll the dice
Just one more time"
Cameron - "Some will win"
Both - "Some will lose
Some are born to sing the blues
And now the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on
Strangers, waiting
up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight, people
living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night"
They stopped singing as they and some of the backup singers wove their way around the audience before getting up on a small piece of stage that was in the middle of the room. Silver and gold confetti fell from above as they danced. Cameron and Dr. Andrews were in the middle, side by side as they looked out into the audience and sang.
Both - "Don't stop believing
Hold on to that feeling
Streetlight, people
Don't stop believing
Hold on to that feeling
Streetlight, people
Don't stop"
The audience cheered loudly as the lights turned off leaving the room pitch black. Chase let out an ear piercing whistle.
"Yeah! That's my wife!" Thirteen laughed at Chase's cheer as the lights went back on.
"Yeah, singing and dancing with another man," House snapped.
"It was just a performance," Chase said in annoyance as everyone started making their way out of the lecture hall.
Chase right away saw Cameron talking with Cuddy. "That was awesome Allison. Thanks so much for performing and helping out. I don't know how I could have gotten everything done without your help."
"No problem Lisa. It was fun," Cameron smiled as they hugged. Once Cuddy left Chase went up to her.
"You were beautiful up there Ally," he said, kissing her sweetly on the lips.
"Thanks honey," she laughed. "I wanted to surprise you." Thirteen and Foreman came over.
"You should've seen him," Thirteen laughed. "He kept checking his phone and worrying about you the whole time. Especially when Taylor Swift came out." Cameron laughed, looking at Chase.
"Sorry, I left my phone in my purse." Chase groaned, handing it over.
"So you were sitting there the whole time?" Foreman asked.
"Yup," she said.
"See, told you she was sitting somewhere in the audience," he said to Chase, patting him on the back. "By the way, great performance Cameron."
"Thanks," she smiled.