Chapter 10

A/N: Whoa. Rereading this chapter, I used 'said' very rarely. That probably makes this chapter seem a bit...forced. Sorry.

Their return was well-received, and there was no mention of their quest. The king was quite sure the trip had had the desired effect.

"Cameron!" House barked. "What'd Chase do to you?"

She and Chase exchanged a grin.

"I sprained my ankle."

"Whoa, steady on, Chase," House said, feigning disapproval. "That's the last time I leave you in a bed together."

A minute of stony silence followed.

"Now that wasn't funny," Cameron said at last.

"Tell me, did you sleep on the edge of the bed, snuggled together somewhere in the middle, or on your respective sides but holding hands in? Or was there not much sleeping going on?" he appended, with a suggestive growl.

"We went to reception and got a change of room" Cameron told him, smirking.

"What number?" House demanded.

"64," Chase made up quickly.

"There was no 64," House said slyly.

"Yes there was," Chase put in. "We were in it."

Cameron had no idea how Chase knew House was bluffing, but House seemed content with that answer.

"And back to the drawing board," House said, tapping the whiteboard.

"Leukaemia," Chase posed.

"Look at the white count," Cameron said, shaking her head.

"True." Chase inclined his head in acknowledgement.

"What about the he lungs?" Cameron said.

"The lungs don't have anything to do with any of the symptoms," Chase pointed out kindly.

"No, listen," Cameron insisted. "TB might-"

"No, it wouldn't," Foreman said bluntly.

"Ok," Cameron accepted easily.

"I'm going to go talk to her," House announced. The three fellows watched him limp out.

"Wonder what he's really up to," Chase mused.

"Can I get you coffee?" Cameron asked the room at large, bending down to retrieve a fallen crutch.

"No," Chase said harshly, narrowing his eyes. "You're injured. I'll get you coffee.

Cameron smiled appreciatively to Foreman, who didn't give much of a reaction.

"You look really tired, Cameron," Chase said, sounding concerned.

"Jet lag."

"It was an afternoon flight," Foreman said incredulously. "And there's no time different between here and Illinois."

Cameron laughed. "Yeah, but I gotta blame it on something."

"Sleep ok last night?" Chase turned around and leant against the counter, waiting for the kettle to boil.

"Not really. Don't see why, though, it's good to be back in my own bed."

"Is your ankle still troubling you?" Chase asked, though he was fairly certain Cameron was suffering from the same condition he as: empty bed syndrome.

"No, not at all," Cameron said. "You did a good job with the bandage."

"'s'my job."

"They're not fighting so much today," House remarked, almost succeeding in taking a piece of Wilson's chicken.

"Good for them."

"We had an almost civilised differential."

Wilson said nothing.

"Have we switched roles today?" House asked. "Why is it me talking and you not listening?"

The prince and princess found it easier to be a little more intimate with each other, having been closer than ever the last couple of days. It was at this point that acknowledging their own love for one another was unavoidable, but sharing these feelings proved much more difficult.

"Hey, Cameron, want to grab a drink?"

Cameron looked up at Chase, standing with his hands on his hips.

"Sure. Let me just finish this up."

Chase nodded, and sat down opposite her. They were silent for about half a minute, Cameron's keys tapping every now and then. Suddenly, Cameron raised her arms in a stretch.

"I can't work with you sitting there," she yawned, shutting down her computer. Chase cocked his head curiously.

"There's something about you that's…distracting."

Cameron hadn't intended for that to sound flirty, but there was no denying it did.

"Are we waiting for Foreman?" she asked, trying to erase the stunned expression off Chase's face.

"Just you and me," Chase said, and he didn't have the guts to tell her he hadn't even asked Foreman.

"Are you sure it doesn't hurt?"

"How many times do you want me to tell you your bandaging is fantastic?"

"I'm just concerned, Cameron."

Cameron sighed.

"Thanks, Chase, but it's not necessary." She took a drink. "Do you call up your patients and ask if they're still in pain?"

"You're different."

"I should hope so," Cameron snorted. "But still."

"Want another?" Chase asked as she drained her glass.

"I shouldn't."

"I'll pay," he offered, not wanting to end the night so soon.

"No you won't. You paid last time." She pushed a couple of notes cross the table.

"For you as well. Seeing as you seem intent me not moving, I'd better pay you for your services."

Chase looked a little guilty at that, but took the money.

Chase had been extremely helpful the last couple of days. While irritating the hell out of her when he did the most simple things for her, when she stopped and looked at the situation, she realised how many simple things she couldn't do at the moment.

"Keep the change," she said when Chase came back, but he gave her the coins with her drink, which she took without fuss.

"What shampoo do you use?" he asked when he'd settled down again. Cameron looked up in surprise.

"Why?"

"It smells good," Chase shrugged.

"I haven't used it for a couple of days," Cameron said curiously. "It shouldn't still be-"

"Not today. The other night."

Without extra information, Cameron knew exactly what he was talking about.

"I'm sorry, she said. "You should have told me. It's pretty strong. I mustn't have been easy to sleep with that in your face."

"No, it was fine."

By this time, both Chase and Cameron had figured out the neither of them had slept much that night. But still, by some sort of unwritten rule, they kept on lying.

"We should get going. I need to sleep," Cameron moaned. Chase closed his eyes for a second – they dried quicker when he was tired – and he was having a bit of trouble focusing on things for too long. He wasn't sure if this was the drink, or the fatigue.

Chase stood up and held out a hand to help Cameron up. She looked at it for a moment, wondering if he was offering to shake her hand.

He jerked his head, and that, for some reason, told Cameron what his intentions were.

"Thanks."

His hands were cold, from holding his drink. Her hands were warm, from sitting clasped on the table.

Chase pushed his chair in. He had driven Cameron to the bar and assumed he'd be driving her home. He was feeling quite flushed as he opened the car door for Cameron. He hoped he hadn't drunk too much.

"Do you know where you're going?" Cameron asked him.

"Colac road, right?"

"That's the one. A right here."

"I know where I'm going," he insisted.

"I'm sorry," she apologised immediately, knowing what her dad was like when it came to backseat drivers.

"I'm really bad at navigating."

"I'm not bad," he said stiffly, and Cameron wisely shut her mouth for the rest of the trip.

"I'll walk you up," Chase offered when they reached Cameron's apartment block.

"You'll be here all night," she said, stifling a yawn. "I'll just take the elevator."

She smiled warmly at him.

"Do you want me to swing by for you tomorrow?"

"Sorry?" Cameron was gathering her belongings.

"How've you been getting to the hospital each morning?" Chase asked, suddenly realising why she's been later than normal the past few days.

"I bus. There's a stop a little way down the road."

"Where do you get off?"

"Stemp road."

"That's years away!" Chase exclaimed.

"It's not that far."

"For you, it'd-"

"For God's sake, Chase, I'm not a cripple!" Cameron burst.

As soon as she said it, Cameron regretted it.

"I'll be round at quarter past 8," Chase said quietly, pretending she hadn't just yelled at him. Cameron was chewing words, not sure which ones to spit out.

"That would be…appreciated," she said eventually.

"See you tomorrow."

"Good night, Chase."