Allison and her daughter walked up to the main desk.
The nurse that was sitting behind it came out and greeted them.
'Allison- I heard you're coming back for good! That's great news! And that's a beautiful little girl you have there'
'Thank you. I'm glad I'm back too'
She put on an empty smile.
'Is something wrong? Your looking a little pale'
'No nothing. I'm just tired that's all. The little one's been keeping me going all day'
The nurse looked at Ellie who was starting to look tired herself as she made a small yawn and rubbed her eyes.
'Um I left some bags down here earlier and asked for Amy to get the boys to help her with them. Have you got any idea where they ended up?'
'Oh yes. Follow me'
The nurse showed Cameron to a small room close by that had about 7 filing cabinets around it. At the corner was Allison's luggage. Her eyes widened as she looked at her stack of bags.
'Damn. Do you think it would be all right if I left most of them here over night and I'll get the rest tomorrow. There's nothing valuable in them really'
'That's probably okay, we hardly use this room anyway'
'Thank you so much!'
------------------------
Once outside in the lobby again Ellie tugged at her mum's pants.
Cameron looked down at her.
'Pick up! Carry mommy, I want a carry!'
'Mommy's very tired Ellie, can u stay on your feet a little longer?'
Ellie shook her head.
Allison wasn't up for another tantrum. She patiently bent over and picked up her daughter, juggling her in one hand as the other pulled the suitcase.
----------------------------------
Within five minutes or so, a cab pulled up and Cameron and her daughter were on their way to a hotel.
She massaged her temples as Ellie fell asleep next to her. It was obvious that talking to House was not going to be easy and she knew he would be stubborn. But the way he treated her was almost selfish and through the all the time she had known him, that type of personality from him just too unexpected for her. Usually he would have shown some tolerance to awkward situations.
Almost drifting off to sleep herself, she felt the cab come to a stop.
'Motel 8?'
Allison sparked back to reality.
'Um yes, that great thank you'
'Anytime'
She payed the cab driver and worked on getting Ellie out of the car.
-----------------------------------
Cameron walked up to the counter, Ellie flopped over her shoulder.
'Hey'
'Hi, um I was wondering if you had any vacant rooms tonight'
'Hang on let me check- Yeup, um how long were you planning to stay for'
'One night'
'Sure, just give us a shout if you need to extend your visit.'
After fixing up payments the lady handed Allison her room key.
Cameron stood there blankly. How was she to handle luggage and a child as well as opening the door or the room?
The lady got the message.
'Sorry, how rude of me. Here I'll come and open the door for you'
'Hope that's not too much trouble but I'd like that.'
------------------------------------
'Thanks again'
'No problems'
It was a decent sized room that had one double bed.
Allison hurried over and tucked her daughter in and helped her remove her shoes and socks.
Just then her cell rang.
'Hello?'
'Ally, sorry I know its late- just wanted to double check on you'
'Everything's fine Jen'
'Why are you whispering?'
'Ellie's sleeping, it's been a long day'
'So your at Greg's?'
'Umm .. no- things didn't really go to plan'
'Oh gosh. Are you alright?'
'I'm fine, its all good. I guess it was too much of a rush. I shouldn't have been so naïve'
'Don't worry Ally, I'm sure it'll work out. I better let you get some rest- you've got work tomorrow eh?'
'Yeh I do. Thanks for checking up on me Jen. I'll talk to you soon'
'Always'
'Bye'
After hanging up, Cameron went over to her suitcase and pulled out some comfortable clothes before popping them on, and putting herself in bed next to Ellie.
She stroked her daughter's hair and gave her a soft kiss on her forehead.
'Good night kiddo'
-----------------------------------------
Gregory House sat on his couch with a half empty bottle of scotch next to him.
His head was spinning with the guilt of leaving her and the picture of his child stained in his mind.
He didn't even know now whether he liked the woman or whether he lov-
No, he wouldn't go there. It was one night, and whatever made him do it four and a half years ago was a blur for him now.
A feeling of failure struck him. He knew he had to talk to her but he'd chickened out and instead thrown a huge ball of anger at the women he would never dream of hurting so long ago.
He wondered where she had stayed for the night. Where did she go after he turned her down? He wished he hadn't told her off.
He didn't want her to be alone, with a child, but he wasn't up to having her with him either.
As the night dragged on, House debated with himself about Cameron.
In the end he wondered why he even bothered. Why was he so upset about the whole situation? He knew he couldn't be a good father, he could hardly open up to people.
And then it struck him- he did like her and he did care for her. Four years apart from each other had been hell and he didn't want to see her everyday and realise she wasn't his. He didn't want to be in the habit of protecting himself from real emotions, the ones that meant something. It hurt him every time she walked away, but every time he'd convinced himself it didn't matter.
He was too afraid to admit it to her though and it was disappointing that the only puzzle he found hard to solve was his own. But he had to give this thing a chance and he didn't want his little girl growing up and hating him. (Not that it would have mattered if it were any other person).
On the other hand, he hoped that his conclusion wasn't the result of too much scotch.
----------------------------
The alarm rang bright and early at 6:30 am.
Cameron sat up in the bed. Ellie was curled up in a ball and still asleep beside her.
She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and slipped out of the bed heading for the bathroom.
It was to be her first day back at Princeton today. She wasn't too sure how she was going to survive it but she was certainly looking forward to working with her friends again.
They had all handled her returning so well (except for House) and she was more than grateful for that.
By 7:00 Allison was dressed and ready to go, but she couldn't.
Ellie hadn't woken up yet and she didn't want to disturb her sleep. She couldn't complain about her daughter's behaviour so far. She had been better than she had expected her to be, considering such a big move.
Not too long after, Ellie's eyes slowly blinked open.
'Hey sleepy'
It took a while for her little girl to waken but gradually she got up.
Cameron walked over to her and gave her a morning hug and kiss.
'Mommy's going to have to take you to work today, just until we settle in and find you a day care hopefully. You think you're up for it?'
'Yesh'
'Alright, well we better get you dressed so mommy won't be late for work'
Taking Ellie's hand she went to get her ready.
In somewhat 20 minutes the two were ready to go.
'Oh dear, I'm going to need to extend my stay' Allison thought to herself. Since House was obviously not going to take her in.
She went up to the reception desk on the way and fixed up some more payments.
'Oh miss?'
'Yeh?'
'Would you like your complimentary breakfast'?
Cameron looked at Ellie.
'Sure, I might as well grab a bite for this one'
She went over to the breakfast table and put some cheese spread on a bagel, handing it to Ellie.
Greedily Ellie took the bread from her mother and began munching it.
--------------------------------
The cab pulled up at Princeton and Cameron helped her daughter out of the car.
As the two stepped into the elevator, Cuddy chased up to them and slipped in just before the door closed.
'Morning you two'
'Morning Lisa'
Ellie looked up at Cuddy curiously, who spotted the child's fascination.
'And good morning to you Ellie'
'Guw'd morning'
She stepped a little closer to her mother, feeling her security. Ellie was still getting use to the new people.
'Did you talk to Greg?'
'You saw what happened yesterday, I don't think his up for it- and I'm not in the mood for what happened either. I think its best we just leave all this for now'
Cuddy nodded.
'You're okay?'
'Yeah I'm fine'
'Good- well you know where I am if the bastard pisses you off'
'Yeah -Thanks'
Cuddy laughed.
'No problem- this is my floor, chat later then'
Lisa exited the lift, leaving Cameron and Ellie to continue up to their level.
Once out, Cameron could already feel the rush of memories from the earlier years come back to her.
But as for her daughter, it was a whole new world. The rest of the way, she held tight to her mother's hand and stayed close.
Doctors and nurses created a rapid atmosphere as over a dozen feet walked back and forwards past her. She could see the wheels of beds and drips being pushed around and the noise of constant phone calls and paging.
'You okay sweetie?'
Cameron realised her daughter's response to the new environment.
Ellie dared not look up to her mother just in case she missed something and fell or got swept away but the movements. She remained alert as Allison led her to the diagnostics room.
It wasn't her earliest arrival. Usually the boys would not have been there when she came to work so it allowed her time to make their coffee. But so far she was just getting use to getting back into an old routine alongside the challenge of having a child with her.
Chase and Foreman were sitting at the table when she arrived. Foreman was reading a newspaper and Chase was dumbly swinging on his chair, watching Foreman read.
Cameron took a deep breath and walked in.
'Morning guys!'
Chase immediately greeted her back.
'Hey Cam'
Foreman looked up from his newspaper.
'Morning'
' You got your kid?' He glanced at Ellie, not being too impressed that Cameron had brought her child to work.
'Yeah, I've got nowhere to put her. I still need to find a decent day care- she's pretty well behaved though'
'Hmm'
She released her hold on Ellie's hand and went to hang up her coat.
Intimidated and shy, Ellie followed her mother around the room.
Chase's watched as the toddler walked behind her mother from one end of the room to another. The little girls behaviour got him to realise why House always called them his ducklings.
'Is House in yet?'
Chase snapped out.
'No, the guys always late'
He spotted a pen on the table and picked it up, occupying himself as he began to click it.
Foreman started to get annoyed.
'Have you got anything better to do?'
'Not really- sorry'
Chase put down the pen.
Cameron decided that House's delay would give her time to check his mail. She went into his office with Ellie trailing behind her.
---------------------------------
As House approached the glass room, he decided he'd go through the door of his office- just so he could buy himself a little time, fiddling around in there before he had to face the boys- and Cameron.
Too indulged in his cheeky thought he hadn't realised that someone was sitting at his desk with a child on her lap as he slipped into the room.
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A/N; oh dear, I didn't feel that this chapter was as good as the rest. I've made it quite long though. Hope that it's all right.
I'm trying hard to keep up with consistent updating. You've all being so wonderful with the comments. Thank you so much.
