House glanced up, dropping his PSP on the desk as Cameron limped awkwardly into his office. His eyes fell on her crutches and she smiled, letting the door swing shut behind her. "Sorry, metal beats wood."

He smirked folding his arms across his chest, "Yeah well, paper beats rock but I know which one I'd chose in a fight."

Cameron raised an eyebrow before moving with surprising ease across the floor, lowering herself in the chair opposite him. "Cuddy's looking for you. Your overdue twenty minutes for clinic duty."

"Damn," he reached for his cane, swiping his PSP back up off the table, "means I need to find somewhere to hide."

"I can do one better..."

A smile tugged at her lips and House hesitated, shooting her a look. "I'm listening."

Cameron resisted the urge to roll her eyes wondering if he avoided clinic duty because he really despised the job or if it had more to do with the fact he enjoyed irritating their boss. "I told Cuddy I need you to drive me home. Chase was meant to do it but he got called into surgery."

"Do I really have to drive you?" House questioned, wondering if it was just an excuse or if he had to make some sort of effort. There was a big difference between sitting in pediatrics with his PSP pretending to help out and actually helping out.

"Unless you want me to hang around here all day?" She threatened knowing which alternative he'd prefer, "I'm feeling awfully chatty after being in a coma and all."

He pulled a disapproving face before extending his hand and she smiled smugly handing over her keys, "Why thanks, how kind of you to offer."

House ignored the comment, shoving them in his pocket and limping towards the door. Cameron didn't miss a beat grabbing her crutches and catching up to him with ease.

It was a relatively quiet journey, despite various staff stopping to ask how she was doing, but even with the disruptions she managed to keep the pace and as they reached her car, House couldn't help but comment on the fact. "You seemed to have picked those up pretty quickly. Cheerleading accident?"

She scoffed as he unlocked the door, throwing her crutches over the backseat. "I dislocated my knee in high school."

"Netball?" He climbed in, hoping there was some sort of spandex involved and her face turned bright red revealing the answer. Smiling, he waited for her to fasten her seat belt before turning on the ignition and backing out of the parking space.

Cameron sunk down lower in her seat knowing he was imagining the outfit and stared out the window, changing the subject. "What you said the other day in my room, did you mean it?"

The question had the desired effect, wiping the smile right off his face and he sighed, the vision of short skirts blanking from his mind. He'd been hoping she wouldn't remember his slip, that maybe she'd been too out of it but clearly that wasn't the case.

Navigating through the exit of the car park, he attempted to throw her with a sarcastic retort, "Not at all. I'm sure Foreman's going to grow up to be a fine doctor, socks or not."

She turned back to him unsure whether or not to push the conversation but eventually curiosity got the better of her. Resting her elbow against the side of the window, she slipped her fingers through her hair, watching him carefully. "I meant that part about me coming back to work for you."

He was quiet for a moment contemplating the idea of actually giving her a serious answer. At the time it had been a fraudulent slip, a witty response he hadn't really thought about but if she was this interested then maybe they should discuss it. "Do you want to?"

Cameron tilted her head, surprised by his response, "Do you want me to?"

Shifting the gears back, House felt her eyes burn into him as they slowed for the approaching set of lights. It may have been childish but he was determined not to be the first one to concede. "I asked first."

The car idled roughly and Cameron let out a sigh, realizing she wasn't going to get a straight answer. "I don't know. I hadn't really thought about it."

The light flashed green and House stepped on the gas taking off. It wasn't what he wanted to hear and he refrained fromcommenting further causing an uncomfortable silence to settle between them, lasting right up until he parked the car outside her apartment block.

"Thanks for the lift." Cameron opened the door, more than a little surprised when he mimicked the movement. "You don't need to hang around,' she offered, unwilling to make the situation any more awkward, "I can manage."

He snorted, getting out and retrieving her crutches while she stood on the footpath, shaking her head, "Seriously, I'll be fine."

Moving around the back of the car, House threw a pointed look behind her, "I've been up and down those stairs enough times to know what a bitch they can be when you can't walk properly. Besides, if you fell down them I'd have to take you back to hospital and then I'd have to go back to clinic duty."

She rolled her eyes accepting the crutches as he handed them over, "I can walk, it's really not that bad." She wasn't lying. The only reason she'd agreed to staying off her foot was so the wound wouldn't be aggravated, not because she was incapable of applying pressure to the area but House set his stance determinedly, refusing to back down.

"Humor me."

Cameron sighed, reluctantly turning around and starting up the first set of stairs. As predicted, she made the journey without faltering even managing to get her keys out and open the door.

"Satisfied?" She asked, sounding confident but the words were spoken prematurely becuase a second later the foot of her crutch caught against the skirting board and she lost her balance, falling back into him.

House's arm shot out, catching her around the waist as the metal clanged to the ground and she turned placing her hand against his chest to steady herself. His heart was beating unusually fast beneath her finger tips and she risked glancing up at his face, caught off guard by the fierce intensity of his gaze.

For a moment neither of them moved and then before she could fully comprehend the advance his mouth was hungrily devouring her own, drawing the strength out of her knees. Instinctively she clasped his shirt tigher and he pulled her body closer in response causing a moan to escape her lips. She needed him now and she could tell by his hardness he felt the same way.

Pulling them backwards the small pain in her foot was forgotten as the desperate need to get him inside took precedence and House slammed the door shut using his free hand to claw at her hip.

It was overwhelming.

The need to be as close to her as humanly possible was suffocating but he couldn't get enough and somehow managed to stay firmly attached as they stumbled backwards through the lounge oblivious to the obstacles in their path. The chair, the coffee table, the bookcase, were all pushed aside as he pressed her hard against the wall.

Cameron groaned as he dropped kisses along her neck, bringing her leg up to secure him in place and his hand shot out to steady himself, realizing he wouldn't be able to support her weight for much longer.

"Bedroom."

His voice was raw, filled with lust and Cameron nodded releasing him from her hold but before she could move his fingers slipped under her shirt keeping her firmly in place. His other hand skillfully undid the buttons and her breath caught as he nipped her collarbone, pulling the blouse free from her shoulders.

"House." She pleaded, knowing if he didn't stop now they'd never make the rest of the distance to her room. Without breaking contact, he managed to keep his mouth firmly attached to her neck as he pulled them back through the apartment.

Reaching the bed, he switched their positions so she landed flat against the mattress and he hovered over her, removing his jacket. Cameron ran her fingers along his chest helping to take of his shirt before travelling back down to his belt.

Somewhere in the back of her mind she entertained the idea that they were moving too fast or in the very least that what they were doing was wrong but she couldn't maintain the thought as he pushed her hands away, taking control.

"House…"

The name died on her lips as slowly removed the last few pieces of clothing separating them, trailing kisses along the inside of her thigh and she reached out, closing her fists around the sheet as her body arched towards him. Feeling his own strain, he could no longer resist the invitation and he slid inside her rocking them into oblivion.

After taking a moment to compose himself, he withdrew, collapsing breathlessly beside her, "That was-" He swallowed dryly, the realization of what they'd just done fully sinking it. "That was a mistake."

Cameron flinched, pulling the sheet over herself to try and maintain some sort of dignity as he forced himself up.

Part of her want to challenge him, get him to finally admit that he felt something but there was another part of her that was terrified by what his response would be. Calling it a mistake was bad enough she didn't need it thrown further back in her face.

Fastening his belt House reached for his t-shirt, hesitating as he caught Cameron's gaze.

He wanted to say something, anything that wasn't an insult or at least explain that he needed time to work out why they'd just had sex.. but the words didn't come. Instead he remained silent pulling the shirt over his head. He was confused, scared by the fact that it hadn't felt as wrong as he imagined it would be, and he grasped his jacket feeling the need to put as much distance between them as possible.

A vibrant contrast to the position they been locked in only moments ago.

Squashing the wave of guilt that rose up as he limped towards the door, House didn't bother looking back as he closed it firmly behind him.


AN: Just want to say thanks again for all the wonderful reviews!! Also I deliberately wanted the sex to be quick (so it appeared spontanious) but had trouble keeping it from feeling rushed. Hopefully I achieved an okay balance... :)