Leaving Chase – figuratively – in her dust, Cameron rushes toward the hospital doors, checking over her shoulder a time or two to see if Chase is hot on her trail.
Suddenly, she collides with a warm body and a familiar smell.
"Shit, sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going," Cameron says, sheepishly looking at Thirteen with a half-smoked cigarette between her fingers.
The girl smiles and laughs quietly. "Yeah, right. I think you meant to do that."
Cameron blushes, then grabs the cigarette from the girl's hand and takes a long drag from it. As she exhales, letting wisps of smoke trickle out from between her lips, she smiles.
"Rough morning?" Thirteen inquires, accepting the cigarette back from Dr. Cameron. She inhales one final puff before extinguishing it in one of the hospital's designated butt canisters.
Cameron winces. "You have no idea."
Thirteen sneaks her arm around Cameron's and guides the woman toward the hospital doors. "Chin up, sunshine. Let's turn that frown upside down."
Cameron obliges and follows Thirteen, checking over her shoulder once more to see Chase trailing far behind chatting to Dr. Foreman animatedly.
The two check in with Dr. House at his office. He instructs Cameron to show Dr. Hadley a number of academic videos that demonstrate the importance of good bedside manner and then quiz the intern on the content afterwards. After explaining to them how to get to a small media room on the hospital's eighth floor, House leaves them with a snide comment about his own bedside manner.
"You know, ever since I was a kid, I've never been able to watch a film without eating popcorn," Thirteen says, genuinely.
"It's 9AM. You seriously want popcorn?" Cameron responds.
Thirteen shrugs and smiles innocently. "I guess coffee and a muffin will have to suffice, huh?"
Cameron nods, smiling and the two step into the elevator in unison.
"So, about your two truths and a lie yesterday…" Cameron begins.
"Ahh yes. It's true. I was an exotic dancer. It wasn't glamourous work by any stretch of the truth but it was good exercise and prevented me from being homeless," Thirteen says matter-of-factly. Cameron laughs.
"I was actually more curious about your 6-year marriage. Your husband – what's his name?"
Thirteen winces, beginning to fidget with her hands.
"Or her name. Sorry. I just always assume same-sex relationships refer to spouses as their 'partner'," Cameron stutters.
"No, no, his name is Rafael. It's just the word husband that disagrees with me," Thirteen begins, but stops herself before continuing. "It's a long story. My parents arranged it when I was young and he won't sign divorce papers. The rest is complicated."
Cameron nods in understanding, leaning back against the glass elevator wall.
"You? What's the story with Aussie?"
Cameron laughs having never heard anyone refer to Chase as simply 'Aussie'.
"It's complicated too. It's not.. well... it wasn't. But now it is."
Thirteen nods. "Clear as mud."
Thirteen steps back and the elevator door opens, allowing Cameron to lead the way to the media room. Once inside, she makes herself comfortable on the vintage couch directly in front of the projector screen.
"This is… interesting. I feel like I'm in an episode of That 70s Show," Thirteen says, resting her soft-shoed feet on a low table.
Cameron sets up the video and joins Thirteen on the couch, sitting awkwardly on the solid arm instead of on the cushion.
"I don't have cooties, y'know?"
"Hmm?" Cameron says, getting up to dim the lights.
"You can sit beside me. I don't have cooties."
"Oh, okay. Thanks," Cameron says, sitting down hesitantly. She wiggles a little, trying to get comfortable. As she does so, Thirteen reaches her arm behind the couch, her fingertips carefully finding their way onto Cameron's shoulder. Cameron takes a deep breath in and a long exhale out.
"I guess I should be taking notes if you-" Thirteen begins to say but is halted mid-sentence by Cameron's lips colliding with her own. The elder doctor nearly climbs onto the intern's lap, her hands clasped tightly onto each of her cheeks. The kiss quickly becomes passionate, hands groping at one another's clothes and eager moans escaping at any pause.
After what seems like no time at all, yet nearly 10 minutes in measurable space, Cameron pulls back and returns to her seat on the couch cushion beside Thirteen. Her hair tussled and her scrubs twisted, the doctor stares wide-eyed at the ground. The film in the background continues to play but with no sound.
"I… well… wow," Thirteen mutters. "That was unexpected."
Cameron looks up at the girl and then quickly back down at the ground. "I'm sorry. That wasn't supposed to… that shouldn't have happened and it won't happen again, I promise."
Thirteen faces Dr. Cameron, placing a single long finger beneath her chin. She lifts the woman's flushed face to eye-level with her own. She leans forward and plants one soft, slow and sensual kiss on Cameron's lips, their eyes closed.
"Don't make promises you can't keep."