Chapter 14 You'll Always Look Beautiful

Fall

It was the early morning where the sun hasn't risen yet. Cameron woke up with a start, her breathing heavy from the nightmare she just had. It's been a while since the last one and she doubted she'll be able to go back to sleep. Just as she was thinking of going out for a jog, she heard her two week old daughter start to cry. Tiredly getting up, she approached the crib and gently took Isabelle in her arms

"Ssh, it's ok Izzie. Mama's here," she cooed as she glanced at the clock, realizing it was time to feed her. She took her to the bed and started breast feeding her. She couldn't help but think about her dream. It wasn't a flashback which she was grateful for. It was just a really freaky nightmare that ended with her killing Chris and his lifeless dark eyes never leaving her. Somehow sensing his girlfriend's distress, Chase woke up to see her placing a sleeping Isabelle in her crib. He got up and stood behind her as she watched their little girl peacefully sleeping.

"What's wrong love," he whispered as he lovingly wrapped his arms around her waist and placed a small kiss on the top of her head.

"I just had a nightmare that's all. I'll be fine." Moving away from him, she headed to the closet and started pulling out some clothes. "I'm going for a run, Izzie's been fed so if she wakes up she'll probably just need to be changed and I'll be back before she gets hungry again."

"Allison," Chase said in concern as she started to change into a t shirt and jogging pants. "Talk to me, what's wrong."

"Nothing," she said, sounding so distant from him as she slipped on her shoes. "I just need some air. I'll be back." He didn't stop her from walking out, knowing it would be useless anyway. He figured the depression would fade after Isabelle was born but unfortunately it only got worse. Now she was distant from him and seemed to be angry all the time. He knew she was just frustrated that she didn't know how to deal with this and it killed him that she wouldn't let him help her. Checking on Isabelle one last time, he went into a light sleep just in case she happened to wake up later.

"Mind if I come in?" Cameron asked later that day. House sat at his desk in his office as Cameron walked in with her baby in the carseat. It was his lunch hour and he really didn't want to be bothered.

"Aren't you supposed to be on maternity leave?" he asked, sounding bored as he focused his attention on the computer screen in front of him.

"I'm meeting Chase for lunch but someone has him out on a break and entering mission with Foreman," she said putting emphasis on the word someone. He knew she was referring to him which was why he smirked, but as she sat down on his recliner and started taking the baby out of her carseat, his smirk faded.

"What are you doing?" he asked, sounding annoyed.

"He's on his way so I'm waiting for him."

"Not here you're not and especially with her."

"Well you're the one that sent him out and you try carrying that carseat around the hospital. I'm exhausted."

"Of course you are, considering how out of shape you are," he said, receiving an offended glare from Cameron.

"Come on, we both know you gained a few pounds," he said with a smirk. He figured if he annoyed her enough, she'll leave.

"You're a bastard but your right. I went for a jog this morning and I've never felt so out of shape in my life. Before I was pregnant I could run a mile without stopping but this morning I couldn't even finish it."

"How far did you go?" he smirked, actually amused by this.

"Down the street, I just power walked the rest," she admitted timidly making House laugh.

"Do you really want to get back into shape?" he asked. Cameron nodded as she cradled Izzie, her eyes never leaving her baby.

"Let me train you." Cameron looked up in confusion, wondering why he was offering to help her lose the baby weight.

"Ok, but what's in it for you?"

"Simple, I get my lobby art back." That wasn't the actual reason. House could tell her depression was worse the moment she walked in the room and the way Chase had been stressing these past weeks just said it all. He figured he can use this as a cover to help her. After all he didn't want people getting the wrong idea about him.

"So why are you here again?" Chase asked as he watched House going through the food in his fridge that evening.

"I'm helping Cameron get back into shape," he said, tossing an unopened pack of bacon in the big black trash bag he brought. "That means getting rid of all this unhealthy food and grocery shopping in your kitchen." Realizing House was planning to take the food for himself, Chase rolled his eyes just as Cameron walked in wearing running pants and a sweatshirt.

"Izzie's been fed and she's already asleep," she said, kissing Chase on the cheek. "Let's go House."

"Where are you going?" he asked in confusion as House closed the fridge and began to follow Cameron out with his bag of food.

"I'm going for a jog," Cameron said. "I'll be back soon."

Cameron was back an hour and a half later, looking exhausted. Chase was sitting on the couch with Isabelle when she walked in. She plopped herself on the couch next to him and smiled at her baby. "Hey you're supposed to sleeping," she cooed.

"She didn't feel like sleeping after I changed her diaper," Chase said, cuddling his two week old daughter. Cameron laughed affectionately as her daughter started cooing.

"How was your run?" Chase asked.

"Horrible," Cameron groaned. "House wasn't kidding when he said was going to be tough. "Everytime I stopped for a rest he made me do fifty push-ups."

"Maybe this is a bad idea. Don't you think he'll take this training thing a little too far?"

"No, it'll be fine," she said.

"But you don't need to lose weight Allison. You'll always look beautiful."

"I know but working out just helps gets my mind off everything…" she said sincerely. Chase looked into her eyes, knowing she was talking about Sullivan and the way she had taken his life. If working out and focusing on getting her body back helped her deal with the depression then he wasn't going to stop her.