DISCLAIMER: House MD belongs to FOX, not me. Remember, if you hate, don't review!
Seven
The next morning when House entered his office, at the usual time of nine-thirty, his fellows looked up from their work in interest as they saw their boss was accompanied by someone else.
"Wow," the woman said, looking around the room in interest. "You haven't changed a single thing in three years!"
"Uh, excuse me!" House replied, sounding insulted. He pointed to the whiteboard.
"I got new markers."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I don't know how I could have missed that," she said sarcastically.
House smiled softly at her, a move which startled his fellows, and prompted one of them to finally speak.
"Uh, House?"
House frowned at his fellows and sighed. "You guys are so nosy!"
The woman snorted softly and House stared at her.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"Yeah, because that's not the pot calling the kettle black," she grinned and sat herself down in a chair by the door.
House didn't answer her, and moved away to pour himself a cup of coffee.
"Hi," House's sole female fellow said to her. "I'm Emma Radcliffe."
The woman shook her hand cordially, standing back up to meet them. "Allison Cameron."
The two men's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, didn't you used to work here?"
Cameron nodded. "Yeah. For three and a half years."
Radcliffe nudged her co-workers sharply as they gaped at the visitor. "Sorry, this is Dr. Daniel Potter, and Dr. Hamish Lee," she introduced them, both of whom shook Cameron's hand embarrassedly.
"Sorry," Potter apologised. "Would you like some coffee?"
Cameron shook her hand. "No thanks. I'm kind of caffeine-free at the moment."
"Are you working here now?" Lee inquired.
"No, I'm not," she answered but offered no further explanation.
Radcliffe frowned. "That's a very interesting accent you have."
Self conscious, Cameron laughed. "Oh, thanks. I've been in Ireland for the past three years, so I guess I picked a little of it up."
"Wow! What were you doing over there?" Potter asked, and she told them about it.
"It sounds amazing! Why would you leave?" Lee asked.
House froze, but no one noticed and Cameron answered casually. "Oh, my husband and I split up, so I thought it was time to leave," she said.
"Don't you have a doctor's appointment?" House interrupted her, preventing any further questions.
Cameron's appointment wasn't for another twenty minutes, but she knew what House was doing so she nodded and stood up.
"Yeah. Ok, it was nice to meet you all," she said politely.
They nodded and she turned to House. "I'll see you later," she told him, smiling softly.
He nodded and watched her leave before entering his office and ignoring his fellows. As soon as his office door closed behind him, Lee turned to his co-workers in curiosity.
"Why do you think she's back?"
Radcliffe shrugged. "I don't know. House said she has a doctor's appointment, maybe she's sick?"
Lee looked uncertain. "She said she and her husband had split up. Why would they split up if she was sick?"
"Maybe he couldn't deal with her being sick?" Potter suggested.
Lee wouldn't give up that easily. "But why New Jersey? Why this hospital?"
"Maybe she wants House to save her?" Potter joked.
Forty minutes later, Cameron left Dr. Stewart's office and decided to stop in on House again before she left to look for a new car. Cuddy was going looking with her, and she still had a few minutes before she had to meet her in the lobby.
"Hey," she greeted House and Wilson, who were in his office when she entered. She noticed the blinds between his office and the conference room were closed, and smiled to herself.
"Hey. How'd it go?" House asked her.
She nodded. "Good. I really like Dr. Stewart, and she's already up to date with my medical history, so that's handy. She says it should be a really smooth pregnancy."
She couldn't help but grin as she nodded towards the conference room. "What did they do?"
House rolled his eyes. "All they've done all morning, is guess why you're here."
"Anything good?" she asked, sitting down opposite his desk.
"Apparently, you're dying. I think they think forthcoming death is the only reason anyone who's ever worked for me would come back," House shrugged.
Cameron and Wilson both nodded in agreement. "I can see that," she said casually to Wilson.
House spluttered at her. "Excuse me?"
"You know people only apply to work for you because it looks good on a CV," Wilson told him reasonably.
"Or to see how much of the stories about you are true. Even in Dublin, people were impressed that I worked for you," Cameron added.
House didn't answer and Wilson suddenly stood up. "Ok, I just remembered I have to go... I'll see you guys later," he made a hasty exit and Cameron perched her chin on her hand and studied him.
"You're not dying," House finally said and Cameron smiled gently.
"No," she agreed softly. She stood up and came around the desk to stand next to his chair, leaning against the desk.
"But you came back," he continued. "Why?"
Cameron frowned slightly. "Because I wanted to. I'm not like the other people you've hired. Did any of your other fellows ever fall in love with you?"
"Well, there was this one guy," House began and Cameron laughed.
Relaxing, House pulled her down on to his lap, where she sat comfortably resting her weight on his good leg.
"Have you wondered what happens if we stuff this up?" House asked her.
"Yeah," she admitted and House's heart leapt. "In the millisecond before I said yes. It's a risk I'm willing to take."
"But one you weren't willing to take three years ago."
She was silent for a moment. "No. Three years ago, someone I loved had never asked me to get rid of a baby. The minute I found out about this baby, I had to get over being scared. I have no idea about being a mother! But I'm going to have to do it. And yeah, sometimes how much I love you terrifies me, but I'm going to do it."
House carefully placed his hand on her stomach, and she covered his hand with her own.
"Last night... you asked if I had another explanation other than that you grew on me. I thought of one."
"What?" she asked him softly.
House took a deep breath, staring at their hands folded together. "I fell in love with you."
Cameron made a contented murmur in her throat and rested her head on his shoulder. "Being here... in the hospital... in this office... it feels like home," she whispered and House smiled slightly, completely reassured.
"Don't you have to meet Cuddy?" he asked her, checking his watch.
Cameron sighed and reluctantly got up. "Yeah, I should go. I'll see you tonight."
"Ok," he replied.
She was just waiting for the elevator, when House suddenly appeared behind her. "One favour," he spoke. "No station wagons."
Cameron turned and raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with a station wagon?"
"They're really uncool," House complained. "I can't be associated with anyone who drives a station wagon, no matter how good the sex is."
Cameron grinned. "I am so getting a station wagon now," she teased.
The elevator arrived and she stepped inside. House stopped the doors from closing as they began to shut, and kissed her lightly, resting a hand on her stomach one last time.
"One day soon, you'll do that and get kicked in return," she beamed.
House pictured it and smiled. "Good. I can't wait. See ya."
"Bye," she smiled and the doors closed.
House turned, and grimaced as he met the stares of his shocked fellows and every nurse at the nurses' station. "Damn."
I did consider writing in Kutner, Taub and 13 but I wrote this at the end of season 3 before new people were chosen. Lol... House got new markers... If you're wondering why Cameron would go car shopping with Cuddy, it's all explained in the next chapter.
