Chapter 10. Share and Share Alike
By the time Cameron escorted Mrs. Perry out, House had accumulated an entire file of information on the two doctors at the Snow Hill hospital. Some of it might even prove useful.
"I'm going to call Jake Brenner," Cameron announced. "Set up an appointment for later this afternoon."
It took House half a minute to remember that was the car dealer she'd planned to see about a replacement for her car. "I'll take you over there," he offered.
"Right. So you can help me pick out a car." The smirk and the arms crossed in front of her were so familiar that House had to smile.
"Of course," he smirked right back. "Everyone knows that car dealers and repair shops pay little attention to what women say. What about the insurance company? Did you ever talk to them?" he asked.
"They can't send an adjuster until tomorrow sometime," she replied. "Something about the huge number of claims from the storm."
House nodded in understanding.
She noticed finally that he'd been working on the computer. "What are you looking for now?" she asked. "You weren't checking out Mrs. Perry's file, were you?"
"No. I just wanted some background on Kirkwood and Meisner," he said with a shrug. He knew he didn't have to keep anything from her. "Did you know that Kirkwood nearly flunked out of med school?" he shared.
"Sounds like you'll be prepared for them," she said. "Good idea." She unclenched without him asking her to.
"Why do you always have so much faith in my intentions?" he asked. "Wilson always questioned whether I really knew what I wanted, and Cuddy..." He sighed when he thought about his ill-fated relationship with his former boss. "She always expected the worst, and then complained when it happened."
"Well, you no longer have to put up with them," Cameron said. "I'll admit I lost faith in you a couple of times, but...well, I was right when I said you do the right thing in the end."
"Not always," he said.
"No one always does. Still, your track record is significantly on the plus side."
"So you think I'm doing the right thing now, staying here, trying to start over?"
"Only time will tell, but if both your instincts and mine say it's right, then chances are it is."
"I like your attitude, Dr. Cameron." They stared at each other until House's emotions threatened to rise to the surface. That couldn't happen, so he changed the subject. "So, Mrs. Perry?" He actually hadn't stopped wondering about her patient.
Cameron smirked. "I knew you were curious. I'm surprised you haven't read her chart by now, or that you waited this long to ask."
House shrugged. "Too busy."
Cameron considered how much to tell him, not that there was much. "She's a sweet old thing, and deathly afraid of becoming senile," she shared. "She saw it happen with her husband and her sister. I think she comes in mostly for reassurance. Oh, she's got the usual ailments of someone in their eighties, arthritis and a bit of hearing loss, but overall, she's doing well."
"And mentally?"
"She forgets things sometimes, but don't we all. Still, she panics when it happens."
"And she's found a willing listener in compassionate Cameron."
She noticed that he didn't sneer when he said it. "I've read a lot about ways to keep people's minds active. What seems to work best with her is to take her down memory lane," Cameron said. "Actually, I enjoy it, because she's led an interesting life. Her husband was a diplomat, so they traveled to exotic locales. That sort of thing."
House nodded. But since there was no medical puzzle involved he wasn't as fascinated as Cameron. She sensed his lack of concern and changed the subject again. "Well I'd better go call Jake."
The rest of the afternoon passed rather uneventfully. A woman brought her husband in with an ankle twisted after he fell off a ladder, attempting to check the roof of their house for storm damage, and a man showed up with his son, who complained about ringing in his ears. Nothing exciting or even challenging for Cameron, but she tended to each of the patients with the same care she showed to any one.
At five she deemed it was time to close up shop for the day. She had an appointment for Jake to show her a few late model used cars at five thirty. "After we go car shopping, I'll treat you to pizza at the only place in town that makes a decent pie. After all, we can't eat at Mo's all the time, and I feel funny sponging off of Mrs. McClelland," she told him.
"Pizza sounds good," he agreed. "But I have no qualms about making my way through Mo's entire menu."
She laughed as she got her purse and keys and they headed out. Hopefully Jake would have just the right car for her. It was fine to have House drive her to and from the clinic every day, but she really needed wheels of her own, especially if he might be working at one of the hospitals in Snow Hill before long.