A/N: When I initially wrote this chapter and read through it, I realized it was a complete trainwreck. Hopefully I've managed to fix it since then. If not, I suppose you'll just have to feed me to the wolves. It happens. I understand. ;)

Alisoba: I agree. This chapter is fluffy too but I'm trying to get them headed in a certain direction so I'm intentionally pushing the boundaries that the show gives us for their characters. Check out my sub-plot 'Visitors' (uploaded today also). That should keep you happy in banter-land while I muddle through this part. LOL Glad you're enjoying it though.

Chapter Six: Closer Together

A week later, physical therapy began in earnest. The stretches and exercises, though still done in bed, left House pale and shaking with pain. During this time, Cameron often attempted to stay with him but her support was rarely accepted. At times, even Wilson was run out of the room, threatened by pain of death. In spite of these abuses and the fact that they were rarely, if ever, summoned, Wilson and Cameron always remained nearby and available to their friend should he need them.

After one particularly grueling session about a month later, during which the therapist had gotten him up to try walking, House was particularly morose as Cameron wheeled him back to his room. He had fallen several times and was no closer to being able to walk, with or without a cane. Even his usual sarcasm was absent. All he could do was grit his teeth against the pain and try to pretend that his employee hadn't just watched him fall flat on his face. At least now Cameron knew better than to try to make conversation. She had been annoying the first few times even though he had known that she meant well. Especially because he had known that she meant well.

Unfortunately, he couldn't dismiss her because Cuddy, treacherous cow that she was, had specifically assigned Cameron the job of carting his ass around. It didn't seem to matter what he thought of the arrangement. Apparently, Cuddy was pulling rank on him.

They reached room 174, the room he'd been moved into to recuperate now that he no longer warranted the ICU, and Cameron helped him up out of the wheelchair. He hated this part more than anything else. He put all of his weight on his good leg in an attempt to lean on her as little as possible. The last thing he wanted to do was win himself more sympathy, least of all from her. Cameron got him into the bed and he shuddered with pain as he lifted his right leg. He hated the sad look on her face as he struggled to cope.

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Cameron felt sick with pity as she watched House fight down the wave of pain. She knew that there was nothing in the world that her boss hated more than pity but she couldn't help it. It hurt her deeply to see him suffering so much. She wanted to comfort him, to make it better somehow, but he would never allow such a thing. She had learned quickly not even to ask. Instead, she got out a Vicodin and handed it to him along with a cup of water. He ignored the cup and swallowed the pill dry.

She sat down, uninvited, in a chair by his bed and he stared at her in surprise and consternation. She wasn't sure what she planned to say or do, all she knew was that there was something inexplicable between them and she wasn't ready to give up on it yet. His eyes glittered a dark blue today. They were so changeable, she mused. She loved his eyes; a fact she kept very close to her vest.

The pair of them continued to look at each other, neither really wanting to look away. Cameron found herself lost in his gaze, not for the first time. She wondered how no one could see what she saw in him. Such a remarkable person; such a shame he couldn't see it in himself. After a while, House broke the silence unexpectedly.

"Why are you doing this? Why can't you leave anything alone?"

"What is it you think I'm trying to do exactly? Break you into pieces?"

"You think you can fix me but…"

"Oh will you give it a rest," she cut in sharply. "I'm not trying to change you! Believe it or not, I actually like you! Shocking I know."

"Just a little bit." He looked away. He never was able to look anyone in the eye when it counted.

"Why? What's so wrong with you that…"

"I don't deserve you," he spat out bitterly before he could stop himself. "You're perfect and I'm just…"

Surprise turned to affection on Cameron's face and she shook her head gently. "Nobody's perfect." She paused. "Why do you think I like you? Do you really think that I just have some messiah complex? That I have to save you?"

"That's the theory I've been operating on…yes."

"But you're so much better than that. You're more than your personal problems…vast as they may be…" She smiled.

"I don't think I'm really the guy you'd like to believe I am."

"That's okay. Apparently you've got me wrong too. We'll just have to work on it I guess. What I do know, is that love isn't perfect. It isn't easy. And I don't expect it to be. If you want me, if you need me, then that's good enough for me. And I'll be here. And I'll stay. I really will." She reached out for his hand, hoping against hope that he wouldn't pull away.

He eyed her carefully for a moment and then reached slowly for her hand. They sat like that, awkwardly for a while and then, hesitantly, almost cautiously, he pulled her toward him. Cameron rose and sat beside him on the edge of the bed. He protested mildly when she moved to touch his face.

"Just let me. I promise not to tell everyone what a softy you turned out to be." She grinned.

"Yeah, right…that's me. Just a great big ball of love and hope and cute fuzzy bunnies."

She leaned against his shoulder and felt him lay his hand tentatively against her back. It felt good to be near him again. He made her feel calm and strong and happy. One day she hoped that she could make him understand that. After a moment, he wrapped his arms around her, curious to know what it would feel like to hold her. She relaxed against him and he had to fight back a smile. He could get used to this.

Outside in the hallway, Dr. James Wilson, had been about to enter his friends' room when a very welcome sight brought him up short. Now he only grinned widely and turned to go. 'Those two just might be okay after all,' he thought.

A/N: Woohoo! My writers block seems to have passed. Maybe now I can actually make some progress on this thingy. Hope you enjoyed it. Please R&R!