A/N: in response to a comment made by Limaccia about the last chapter. I agree, I didn't make Wilson's reasoning as clear as I would've liked, I hope a few things Cameron says in this next chapter will clear a few things up.
House had no idea how long he had been sitting in his office, all he was aware of was it was now dark and his team had gone home. Picking up the glass of scotch that was on his desk, he looked at the dark liquid, watched as the faint light peaking through the blinds glimmered off it. Letting out a small sigh, he brought the glass to his lips and downed the drink in one, letting the alcohol burn as it trickled down his throat. He immediately went to pour another one but found the bottle empty. Mumbling curses under his breath, he didn't remember drinking that much, but then, he didn't really remember a great deal.
Wilson's words had hit deeper than he would've liked and he actually found himself wishing that he did blame him for Amber's death. Guilt was easier to deal with than this, this was hurt and House didn't deal well with hurt, he had always avoided all situations that could lead to hurt. Relationships of any kind were a big no, but Wilson's had always been different, well he had always thought it that way, now he saw that it was just like any other; it ended with him getting hurt.
Frustrated, he knocked the empty scotch bottle to the floor, getting little satisfaction from the sound of shattering glass. He needed to go home, more alcohol awaited him there, and he had every intention to forget everything. Pulling out his phone with the aim to call a cab, he found himself dialling another familiar number.
"Hello?" a tired voice answered.
"I need a lift" House informed, his gruff voice rougher than usual with the alcohol.
"House? What have you done? Where are you?" A now concerned voice asked.
"In my office...been drinking..." House slurred.
"House, I can't bail you out every time you feel the need to drown your sorrows"
"Cameron...please..." he said, not attempting to hide the pain from his voice. A brief pause and a small sigh, Cameron agreed before hanging up.
House placed his phone on the table, staring at it. He was setting himself up to get hurt again, even in this state he knew he was feeling closer to the immunologist, feeling comfortable around her and right now she was the only one to take him as he was. Before, he would say she was trying to fix him, that everything was because he was damaged, but now he wasn't so sure. After Amber's death, she didn't come running to him to console his damaged self; it was Cuddy by his side when he woke up. It was him who sought her out a few weeks later and her unspoken gestures didn't go unnoticed by him either. How she kept the weight off his bad leg when she took him home all those days ago, despite the fact she was already struggling with his weight. How she left a glass of water with his pills at his bedside before she left. How she made him coffee the morning after knowing he would need it. All these little things screamed at him that he was in trouble.
Cameron arrived at his office a little later, walking into the darkened office and up to House's desk. Seeing the broken bottle beside him she sighed, she knew he would be bad but she hadn't been able to judge how bad.
"You're angry" House stated, not taking his eyes off the younger doctor.
"I was woken up to pick you up because you've been drinking...again...of course I'm angry" Cameron replied. House took his eyes off her for the first time, looking intently at the wood grain of his desk. Cameron let out a sigh.
"Let's get you home" she said, her voice warmer. House nodded and stood up. Not realising how drunk he was, the movement caused him the stumble slightly but Cameron there waiting for him placed her arm around him, steadying him. He looked down at her, his piercing blue eyes connecting with hers in silent thanks. Cameron felt her heartbeat quicken at the intense look, internally cursing herself for letting him affect her in such a way. Breaking the gaze first, she handed him his cane and slowly helped him out of his office and towards her car.
The car journey was quiet. House was staring out of the passenger window, his eyes diluted and bloodshot. Cameron frequently threw a concerned glance his way before concentring again on the road. She knew it wasn't a coincidence that the day Wilson came back to work House got ridiculously drunk. Pulling up outside his apartment, she switched off the engine and looked at the older doctor. His gaze still hadn't wavered from the window and he made no indication that he knew he was home.
"House" Cameron said gently "House, we're here"
House nodded, his eyes still not moving. Cameron sighed and got out the car before helping House. He was hurting, and badly.
After some effort, she managed to get House to sit on his sofa and handed him a glass of water. House took the glass and stared at it for a moment.
"Need scotch" he said, placing the water on the table. Cameron sighed again and sat next to him.
"Don't you think you've drunk enough?" she asked.
"Nope"
"What happened House?" Cameron asked softly.
"Nothing's happened. I like scotch so I drink scotch" House replied, irritated.
"Did you see Wilson?" Cameron pressed, ignoring his answer. House's eyes darkened slightly.
"Yes, you happy now! I saw him, he said we're no longer friends, I walked out and drunk. End of story" he replied. "Now can I have more scotch?"
"He'll come round. He just needs time. This was the first time he saw you since Amber's death, it probably brought back bad memories." Cameron tried to reassure.
"Because you're such an expert" House said bitterly "Who have you got Cameron? Chase is off to Chicago and you're left alone again. Seems to me that being nice to people works just as well as being a jerk to people"
Cameron looked away, trying to hide the hurt evident in her eyes. Intentional or not, House had just hit a nerve. Fighting to hide the tears from her eyes and the pain from her voice she replied.
"I was just saying, when my husband died I couldn't...I couldn't even look at my best friends. They didn't even have anything to do with his death but just looking at them, they just reminded me of him. I found myself hating them because they hadn't suffered as much as I did...You need to give Wilson time because right now when he sees you all he'll be reminded of is Amber. He'll remember sooner or later why you were friends"
House looked at her, immediately regretting his earlier words seeing her struggle to hold in her emotion. "Cameron..." he started, trying to get out the words he wanted to say but his body not cooperating. Cameron looked at him, quickly wiping a stray tear.
"I better be going...it's getting late" she said quietly, standing up. A hand circling her wrist stopped her and she looked down at House with a questioning look.
"Stay"
"House..."
"It's late...just...stay"
Cameron studied House's face intently, seeing the vulnerability in his eyes. Letting out a breath she didn't even know she was holding, she nodded and relief flashed across House's face. Standing up, he led her towards his bedroom, his hand still not letting go of her wrist. At the bed Cameron hesitated and House looked at her.
"What? You don't expect me to let you sleep on the sofa do you? Wilson said it was uncomfortable. I'll keep my hands to myself, I promise, just get in" he said, taking off his shirt and climbing into the bed, leaving room for Cameron. Taking off her shoes slowly, she followed him under the covers, trying to switch off the thoughts running through her head. A small smile found its way onto House's face as he switched off the lights, feeling the effects off the alcohol drift him into a content slumber. It took Cameron a little longer to drift off but the night's events and the feeling of House's body heat beside her, she was also soon drifting off to a content sleep.
