Wilson was entirely confused by House's answer so he laid down the last fork and moved back into the kitchen to finish up dinner.
"What do you want to drink?" He asked from the kitchen.
"Water, please." Cameron said politely sitting down at the setting beside another and across from the empty table.
"I'll be right back." House said kissing the top of her head and going into the kitchen to retrieve their drinks.
"What are you having?" House asked moving to the fridge pulling out a cold one for himself.
"What do you mean you didn't sleep?" Wilson said pouring rice onto three plates.
House sighed and grabbed a bottle of water, opening a cupboard and retrieving a glass.
"She... she wanted to feel good."
There was a clatter of a spoon and pot falling into the sink. "You did not sleep with her." He said disbelieving.
"No, I already told you we didn't sleep."
"You know what I mean!" He hissed.
"No I didn't... she asked me to and I said no. It was the right thing... wasn't it?" He asked filling the glass and turning to his friend seeking reassurance.
"Yes House, it was defiantly the right thing." Wilson replied with a sigh of relief.
"She thinks so. I think." He said with a frown. "What are you having?"
"Gimme a beer." He said putting the finishing touches on the chilli sauce. "So what did you do? To make her feel good."
House grabbed another beer from the fridge and tucked the two beers in his arm and held the glass of water in his hand. "I held her. I kissed her... and I told her the truth... she's the most beautiful person I've ever met." And with that he left the kitchen and moved back to the dinning area not needing to see Wilson's shock to know it was there.
He lowered the drinks to their places on the table and sat close to Cameron, their bodies touching. "I hope you like chilli."
Wilson brought the heavily laden plates out in a way that made Cameron wonder if he'd ever been a waiter.
Before they'd even managed to taste the taste their food Cameron spoke. "Thank you... Dr Wilson for letting me stay."
He waved his fork in a dismissive manner as he swallowed a mouthful of rice.
"It's fine. Stay as long as you want I'm glad of the company and for your uncanny ability to keep him occupied and out of mischief. And don't worry about work; take as long as you need."
"Thank you, Dr..."
"James."
"Thank you, James." she murmured playing with her food somewhat.
He smiled kindly.
"Try this..." House said cutting through the moment's silence, his mouth half full of chilli as he tried to shovel more in. "It's great."
She smiled at him affectionately.
"Well you his atrocious table manners don't seem to repulse you and I think that's half the battle." Wilson said with a soft encouraging smile.
House rolled his eyes and shut his mouth and chewed with an air of "so there".
Cameron giggled slightly and began eating in earnest and rested her hand on House's thigh as she ate glad to have him close to her.
The conversation was smooth and light as House and Wilson regaled some of the exploits from the early years of their friendship. They moved to the couches House's arm falling over Cameron's shoulders and holding her close as he and Wilson continued to talk of years gone by, the gentle hum of the television covering the few short silences.
Cameron was soothed and entertained by the normal conversation and felt warmed pressed against his side. Her eyes began to droop and soon she was sleeping peacefully curled against House's body.
"House..." Wilson said nodding to Cameron as he noticed her sleeping.
"I know... She's been asleep a while now." he said softly, his hand smoothing through her hair able to feel the change in her breathing 10 minutes previous.
"House what are you going to do? Are you going to stay? Are you going to settle down?"
"I don't know." He said with a soft sigh. "I just... I can't leave her."
"There's always a job for you..."
"Wiping snot? I don't think so. It's not for me. No offence but I'm better than that... and so are you, I never understood why you didn't take that job on the east coast."
"I made a commitment here." He said sullenly. "Janice was happy here."
"So happy." House said sarcastically. Then in a suddenly serious tone he continued, "You weren't happy here which might explain why you slept around so much, who knows the woman of your dreams could have been waiting for you on the other side of the country."
Wilson rolled his eyes.
"That still doesn't solve your current problem." He said with a sigh.
"What problem?" House said in a nonchalant tone, "I have a job, a roof over my head and a girl at my side... I'm fine."
"But are you happy? Can you make her happy?"
"I will." He replied defensively and then with more force in his voice he echoed. "I will."
He looked down at Cameron and kissed her forehead softly his eyes closing as he basked in that sweet scent that was uniquely her.
"I don't believe it; three days and she's done something no woman has been able to do since..."
"Let's not go that far." House murmured darkly.
"Then what would you call it, Greg?" Wilson retorted.
Cameron whimpered and moaned at House's side, her body shivering against his. "No." She whispered.
House tensed instantly, drawing her closer.
"Allison, wake up." he ordered trying to coax her out of her nightmare.
She frowned and shook more violently.
"No!"
"Allison, wake up!" He said unable to hear another of her pleas finding it all to easy to imagine her cowering beneath her drunkard of an ex-boyfriend.
She screamed as she woke up trying her best to move away from the body that held her so close, tears streaming down her cheeks from heavy lidded eyes.
"It's me! Greg. It's me." He said holding her closer despite her limbs kicking out against his pained thigh. "Sh, sh."
She stilled and collapsed against him sobbing quietly into his chest.
He could feel his heart aching at the sound; he closed his eyes and held back his own tears before looking up at Wilson, nodding his head silently begging him to leave. She didn't need an audience. She didn't need to know Wilson saw anything.
House watched as he left as silently as possible disappearing into the kitchen to clean up the dishes and the pots.
"Come on Allie... bed time."
"I'm not a child!" She shouted pulling back from his chest.
"I know you're not." He said cupping her cheek, "I just want to take care of you."
"I'm not tired." She said defiantly, despite the fact that here eyes weren't fully open.
"Okay, but can we go lie down anyway? Just in case you do fall asleep because I'm in no condition to carry you and I don't want anyone else near you." he said in the kindest tone possible considering his protectiveness and possessiveness towards her which was also entirely evident in his voice.
She looked into his eyes and kissed him softly.
"Is that a yes then?" House asked.
She smiled secretly.
"Thank you."
"What for?"
"For taking care of me." She stood and held her hand out to him. "Come on, bed time."
He smiled as he stood and wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead softly, "You sound eager." he murmured with a soft grin.
She chuckled slightly. "Not that eager."
"There goes the notion that I'm sexy." he said rolling his eyes, a smirk on his lips.
"You are." She said quietly into his chest, "It's... its confusing being around you."
He frowned. "Let's talk about this somewhere more private."
He led her to the bedroom and slid into the bed. He watched, confused himself, as she paced the floor at the foot of the bed.
"How am I confusing you?" he asked softly.
"I don't want to have sex. For the last 6 years sex has been a job, a requirement, a god damn fucking pain in the ass!" She said angrily.
She stopped and sighed, her back to him.
"But with you..." She turned. "With you I want it. I want it because I want you; I want to be closer to you. I don't know what it is or how the hell is happened, I known you for just a few days and I think I... even before this, before you did all this I knew..."
"Allie, calm down." He begged with a soft sigh, he tapped the bed beside him, "Come here, baby."
She slid in beside him and lay on her side facing him, pressing her body to his.
"I haven't felt like this in so long." She whispered, her eyes not meeting his.
He kissed her forehead.
"Neither have I."
She sighed in relief and wrapped her body around his. "I want you so much."
He hated the anguish in her voice, echoing the feelings in her heart.
He cupped her cheek and kissed her softly.
"I want you too." he murmured.
"Then why can't we..." The look in her eyes stopped her from continuing; she knew he was right. She pulled back and began taking off her shirt.
"What are you doing?!" House hiss confused and shocked once more.
"I want to be closer to you so shirt and pants off please." she ordered pulling off her own pants leaving her in a pair of plain cotton panties.
He smirked somewhat and gave into her demands stripping down to his boxers with a "Yes, Mamme," on his lips.
She kissed him softly and turned pressing her back to his chest. He wrapped his arms around her instinctively, his body curling protectively around hers. Their fingers interlocked across her stomach.
"I don't know how I could get through this without you." she said softly.
"You'll never have to find out." He murmured against her shoulder as he kissed it before promptly falling asleep.
Allison Cameron stayed awake and silent thinking of the contents of the lockbox in her suitcase in the corner of the room and the man whose arms were wrapped so protectively around her.