He woke slowly, enjoying the feel of soft hands move through his hair.
His left arm and head felt wonderfully warm and well rested. However the rest of his body felt uncomfortably cool and stiff.
He groaned softly against his warm soft pillow, his fingers curling softly around its curves.
"Morning," it replied softly.
His eyelids flickered momentarily in the cool light of the morning that flooded the room. Through a single and barely opened eye he looked upon the well rested form of Allison Cameron. It was a strange feeling to him, the content he felt with her delicate smile being the first thing he looked upon.
"Morning." he murmured against her abdomen.
He was reluctant to move but his right side was entirely in agony. He lifted his head slowly, fighting the urge to lay his head back down, his eyes still adjusting to the ample light. The weight of his hand passed over her flat taught stomach, causing Cameron shiver almost visibly but he felt it beneath his nimble fingers.
He reached deep into his jeans pocket for the two Vicodin pills he'd put there yesterday, now hidden between the lint and fluff that had gathered in the pocket. As his fingers out pulled two pills and some blue colored fluff he saw Cameron reach across to her morphine drip and up the flow by a couple of notches.
"Don't suppose there's a spare one of those lying around here?" House said picking out white from blue and swallowing his pills.
"Jealous?" She replied with a smirk.
"Extremely." he said with a soft smile.
The sat quietly as the sounds in the hallway increased and the hospital awoke around them. House glanced around the room looking anywhere but the inquisitive gaze of Cameron's cool blue eyes. Despite the fact that he refused to meet her gaze he had to concede the fact that the situation wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as he imagined.
The conversation was almost easy and being in her presence was almost soothing.
"I take it from the distinct lack of neurologists in the room you haven't talked to anyone else." He said cocking his head slightly.
"No. I had to..." she paused trying to find the right words, "I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"You were worried about me?" he asked incredulously, a warmth in him glowing brighter though he'd never show it, "You were the one that almost died because of me..."
"It wasn't your fault." she said exasperated.
"I shot you!" he said loudly in reply.
"You saved me!" she said louder.
House frowned and gulped, his gaze never wavering from hers seeking out her thoughts. But all he found was truth.
He sighed.
"All I'm saying is your niceness has reached new levels. It's almost pathetic." He said as if he had a bitter taste in his mouth, but his eyes glinted with a hidden smile.
Cameron rolled her eyes and smirked, "Almost?"
"It would be oh-so-easy to kick you now you're down, but I did sort of put you there."
"You're going easy on me?" she said almost grinning, "And just when I feel up to some verbal sparring too. We have to make sure my vocabulary hasn't been compromised."
"After that sentence I highly doubt it, and don't worry I'll be cutting you down with my extremely witty and sarcastic retorts in no time." he said a smile still shinning in his eyes.
"I might have a few come backs of my own." she said warningly, pointing at him with her left hand.
"I'll have none of that finger pointing." he said reaching out and taking a hold of that accusing hand. Neither of them let go as their palms pressed against each other and fell together to the soft mattress.
He couldn't let go.
He didn't want to let go.
"You'll have some time to think them up," He continued, "but the one thing you have to know it's all about the delivery."
"I'll keep that in mind." she said warmly, her fingers moving gently against his wrist.
The glass door of the room slid open.
"Well, good morning." William Cameron said as he stepped into the room, his wife following close behind. Both of them looking equally shocked to see the presence of one Doctor Gregory House in the room.
"Yes, it is." Cameron replied with a wide grin, "Hi mom, dad."
The presence of one Doctor Gregory House was almost completely forgotten.
Almost.
The two rushed forward with such speed that House barely had time to remember that his hand still held Cameron's.
Cameron's mom quickly embraced her daughter in a careful hug tears springing to her eyes. William stood next to his chair looking proudly into his daughters eyes. The nervous smile on her face told House that William had caught a glimpse of their clasped hands.
Which was House's cue to high tail it out of there.
He reached for his cane with his now empty hand and quickly vacated his chair. Turning he was faced with the shorter yet still formidable form of Cameron's dad standing before him and blocking his path.
"I told you she was worried about you." he said with a soft smile and a pat on the shoulder, before moving around him and closer to his wife and daughter.
House moved silently and swiftly to the door.
Glancing back he saw Cameron's gaze fixed on him from between a muddle of parental arms, her smile wide.
"Later." he mouthed a silent promise.
At this she grinned and nodded slightly before she began talking animatedly to her tearful mother and glad father.
She was alive, she could talk and she was still Cameron.
The worst was over.
Wasn't it?
A/N: More? Or should I leave it there?