Chapter 14: From the Ashes
A/N: Hey everyone! Thank you so much for your positive feedback! Y'all rock. :)
The throbbing in Thirteen's temple stirred her from brittle slumber. Rolling over on her back, she unleashed a heavy sigh. Although her eyelids seemed determined to remain sealed shut, she willed her eyes to open. Through the nebulous glow of morning light, Thirteen faintly recognized the texture of her bedroom ceiling. She brought a hand to her forehead and instantly felt a tender patch of skin.
"Oww…" she moaned groggily. "Wha… the hell?"
Thirteen sat up on her elbow, still holding one hand to her head. As the blankets slid off her, she felt a chill, immediately drawing attention to the fact that Thirteen had fallen asleep in her bra and sweatpants. Blinking rapidly, she managed to clear some of the sleep from her eyes. She was in her bed. Alone.
Beside her in bed, Thirteen thought she could feel the vestige of Cameron's warmth. Once the brunette started crying last night, she was inconsolable. All Cameron could do was hold her tightly as Thirteen's sobs rang out through the empty night.
Thirteen immediately felt a heady feeling overtake her at the loss of her anchor to the Earth. She began to float upward against her will.
"Cameron?" she called, voice scratchy from crying and sleep.
From the kitchen, Thirteen heard the din of pots clanging. After a moment, the clanging ceased. Into her bedroom burst Cameron, brighter than the sun itself.
"Good morning!" the blonde chirped, grinning broadly.
How surreal it was to see Cameron in the doorway of her bedroom. But Thirteen had difficulty savoring the bliss Cameron awarded to her morning due to the pain emanating from her forehead. Thirteen flopped on her back again, rubbing her temple and groaning.
"Hey, are you okay?" Cameron asked, smile faltering.
"I'm fine," Thirteen muttered, squeezing her eyes shut tightly.
Cameron knelt beside the bed. "Tell that to your face." Brushing back Thirteen's hair, Cameron gasped, "Oh my God! Thirteen!"
"Owowow what?" Thirteen grumbled, batting Cameron's hand away.
"You've got a stellar bruise," Cameron stated, standing up. "Please don't tell me you slammed your head against the wall."
As Thirteen gingerly rubbed her temple, she remembered how the bruise had been inflicted. "House," Thirteen groaned. "He accidentally hit me with a door."
"Accidentally?" Cameron asked, bringing a hand to her mouth to stifle a laugh.
Thirteen grabbed one of her pillows and whacked Cameron in the side.
"Ow!" Cameron yelped, narrowing her eyes at Thirteen.
"That didn't hurt," Thirteen chuckled.
"Oh yeah?" Cameron challenged.
Thirteen smirked lopsidedly. "Yeah."
Cameron stared intently at Thirteen. Then quite suddenly, the blonde sprung in the air, hurling herself over Thirteen onto the other side of the bed. She snatched a pillow and then swiftly rolled off the other side of the bed.
Thirteen flung the covers away and tottered off the mattress. Immediately, a head rush incapacitated Thirteen and she stumbled into the nightstand. Using this to her advantage, the brunette dropped to her knees and slumped over.
"Thirteen?" Cameron asked frantically.
She dropped her pillow and rushed to Thirteen's side. As Cameron was helping Thirteen to stand, the brunette lightly shoved Cameron away and again whacked her with the pillow.
The incredulous look on Cameron's face reduced Thirteen to a puddle of laughter on the floor.
"I thought you were really hurt!" Cameron exclaimed, powerless to overcome the chuckle that crept into her voice.
When Thirteen finally composed herself, she breathed, "C'mon, Cameron. Everybody lies."
Cameron narrowed her eyes playfully at the brunette. "Next time I won't let you off so easily."
Thirteen leaned back on her elbows, fully revealing the cuts on her stomach. There was no point in hiding them any longer. Cameron was there.
The brunette snickered, "Yes, you will."
"Shut up," Cameron laughed, nudging Thirteen with her foot.
"Footsie already? I haven't even had breakfast yet," Thirteen remarked, quirking an eyebrow at the blonde.
Heat pricked Cameron's cheeks. Biting her lips she said, "I guess we'd better take care of that, then." Retreating from the bedroom, Cameron called, "What would you like?"
Staring after Cameron, Thirteen grinned. She's the absolute cutest, Thirteen thought. She pushed herself up from the floor and followed Cameron to the kitchen.
"I'll just have some toast," Thirteen decided.
She yanked open a drawer to retrieve a knife, but was taken aback when she found none. Pulling open another drawer, she was met with the same lack of utensils.
And then it occurred to her. "Did you really hide all of my knives?" Thirteen asked in disbelief.
"As well as a few other things," Cameron smirked, handing Thirteen a bag of frozen corn wrapped in a towel.
"I'm not going to cut again," Thirteen insisted. "I'm fine."
Thirteen pressed the bag to her temple.
"I believe you," Cameron replied earnestly, taking a seat at the kitchen table.
Narrowing her eyes at the blonde, Thirteen said, "Then give me back my can opener."
"No," Cameron grinned. The delight Cameron gleaned from having the upper hand was completely evident.
Tossing her head back, Thirteen groaned, "You're the woooorst."
"Don't worry, you'll get your all your sharp, pointy, and potentially harmful objects back eventually," Cameron said, leaning back comfortably in her chair.
Thirteen raised an eyebrow. "And where might these objects be?"
Cameron retrieved her key ring from her pocket and nonchalantly twirled the keys around her finger. "Possibly in my motorized chariot."
Eyes fixed on the keys, Thirteen muttered, "Chariots only have two wheels."
"Okay, but you get the picture," Cameron remarked, rolling her eyes.
Thirteen took the opportunity of Cameron's momentary distraction to lunge for the keys. Dropping the corn, with one hand she gripped the table; with the other she reached toward Cameron's key ring.
Cameron was quick to react. She flung her arm that grasped the keys backward, forcing Thirteen to stumble. To keep from falling, Thirteen gripped Cameron's shoulders with both hands. Only when she had steadied herself did Thirteen realize how close she was to Cameron. Their bodies were pressed flush against each other, and their faces were so near that Thirteen couldn't focus her vision on both of Cameron's eyes at once.
Clearing her throat, Thirteen withdrew herself from Cameron's personal bubble. Once the two women were unstuck from each other, Thirteen immediately retreated toward the refrigerator. As she pulled the door open and rooted around for something to eat, she didn't see the amused smile that lit up Cameron's visage.
"Cooking is going to be awfully difficult without knives," Thirteen remarked, trying to salvage what remained of her dignity. "I hope you realize."
"I realize," Cameron drawled.
Cameron's molasses-like words sent a chill down Thirteen's spine. Quickly grabbing the carton of milk, she shut the refrigerator door and hoped Cameron didn't notice what her voice did to the brunette.
As Thirteen reached in the cabinet for a bowl, she asked, "So, uh, about last night? You said House called you?"
"Yeah," Cameron replied after a moment. Her voice sounded small.
Thirteen glanced at Cameron out of the corner of her eye as she withdrew a box of Cheerios from the cupboard. Noting the onset of the blonde's sudden, somber demeanor, Thirteen remained silent as she waited for Cameron to speak.
The blonde continued, "It was pretty scary. I haven't gotten a phone call from House in the middle of the night for a long time."
Pouring cereal into the bowl, Thirteen offered a supportive chuckle.
"I picked up the phone and all he said was, 'Thirteen is going to kill herself. You should probably do something about it.' And then he hung up."
Thirteen slowly opened the drawer again. As she did, the squeaking noise her action produced seemed to fill her entire apartment. Quickly, she fished out a spoon and slammed the drawer shut.
"And then I drove here and… Well, you know," Cameron trailed off, forcing a chuckle.
As Thirteen poured milk over her cereal, she said, "Thank you."
Cameron grinned at the brunette. "You're welcome."
"If you hadn't come back I would have just continued—"
"It's okay," Cameron cut in gently, "Everything worked out."
"Work," Thirteen muttered faintly. Eyes widening, she blurted out, "Shit! I have to go to work!"
Scooping up a bite of cereal, Thirteen dashed back to her bedroom. She flung open the closet and frantically searched for something to wear.
Cameron strolled into the bedroom after her.
"Shit, Cameron. It's 9:30! Cuddy is gonna kill me," Thirteen fretted, pulling on a pair of jeans.
"Thirteen—"
"Oh, God," Thirteen sighed, "She said she'd fire me if anything worse happened—"
"Worse?" Cameron asked, voice rising in pitch.
As Thirteen buttoned her jeans she said, "A few weeks ago I… showed up to work hung over and almost…" Thirteen avoided looking at Cameron. "Killed a patient," she admitted nervously.
Cameron's eyes widened.
Shaking her head, Thirteen sighed, "I know. I drank a lot. Too much." Thirteen selected a navy blouse from her closet. "That's why I started cutting."
Thirteen quickly pulled on the blouse. When she was half-way through buttoning it up, Cameron laid a hand on her bicep, sending an electric pulse shooting through Thirteen's arm. The brunette was frozen.
"By the way," Cameron began, a smile itching at the corners of her mouth, "I called Cuddy. She said you can have the day off."
Thirteen fixed Cameron with her wide, brilliant eyes. "Are you shitting me?" she asked incredulously.
Biting her lip to conceal a laugh, Cameron shook her head.
Thirteen flung her arms in the air. "Why didn't you tell me that earlier?" Thirteen shouted, voice laden with irritation and relief.
"Seeing the oh-so-composed Thirteen all flustered is kind of funny," Cameron admitted, shrugging in amusement.
"You know, it is funny," Thirteen drawled, tapping a finger to her lips. "There was this woman that showed up at my apartment last night when I wasn't the least bit composed. You actually look a lot alike."
"Hilarious," Cameron said, shoving Thirteen's arm playfully.
Thirteen bowed exaggeratedly. When she again stood upright, Cameron drew very near to her.
"What are you—" Thirteen stammered.
Reaching out, Cameron's deft fingers began to button Thirteen's blouse. As Thirteen studied the flutter of Cameron's eyelashes and the arch of her lips, she couldn't help but be entranced by Cameron's quiet radiance. Thirteen wasn't used to having someone care for her so fondly.
I think I like it, Thirteen thought with a smile.
When she finished buttoning, Cameron asked slowly, "Are you working in Diagnostics again?"
Thirteen sensed Cameron's hesitation was due to the fact that Chase worked in Diagnostics. Even loose association with her ex-husband still seemed to upset the blonde. Shaking her head, Thirteen muttered sheepishly, "I'm, uh, actually the Head of the ER."
Cameron's eyes widened and a brilliant smile spread across her face. "Thirteen!" she exclaimed, fingers slipping around the brunette's wrist. "That's great! Congratulations!"
Turning her head bashfully, Thirteen felt a smile play on her lips. How does she do this to me? Thirteen thought.
"Oh, don't turn away!" Cameron laughed. "Your smile is pretty."
Thirteen bit her lip and faced Cameron.
"You're pretty," Cameron insisted. The corners of her eyes pinched as she smiled.
Thirteen shielded her face with her hands. "Cameron, stop it," she whined playfully.
Gently, Cameron peeled Thirteen's fingers away from her face. Lightly rubbing their noses together, the blonde whispered, "You're pretty."
Cameron's sweet breath ghosted over Thirteen's cheeks, and the brunette immediately felt a blush blooming across her face.
"No fair," Thirteen laughed nervously.
Thirteen thought, This woman is unreal.
Cameron dropped Thirteen's hands and brushed her index finger down Thirteen's nose affectionately. Heading for the couch, Cameron asked, "You up for a movie?"
Grinning, Thirteen replied, "Is that a question?"
"I bet they're having sweet lesbian make-up sex as we speak," House declared as he paraded into Wilson's office.
Wilson's eyes widened at House's outburst and he covered the receiver of the phone. "I'm busy!" he mouthed.
House held up his hands in defense, shrugging as he made himself comfortable on the couch.
"Okay, thank you very much," Wilson said earnestly. "No, no, I—just a guy at work. No, he was passing by in the hall. Never know what you'll hear in a hospital, huh?" Wilson forced a laugh. "Okay, thank you again. Good bye."
Hanging up the phone, the oncologist sighed heavily. "You couldn't have waited one minute?" Wilson asked.
"Mmmm nope," House decided. Smirking, he added, "So, as I was saying—"
"Why can't you just leave Cameron and Thirteen alone?" Wilson muttered, rubbing his temples.
"Well if that's how you want to look at it," House huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's not like I reunited them or anything."
Wilson jerked his up. "You what?"
Immediately, House realized his slip-up. "It was about time they unleashed the sexual tension," House said quickly, pushing himself off Wilson's couch with his cane.
Eyes sparkling, Wilson grinned broadly. "You felt guilty."
"What? No," House scoffed, standing before Wilson's desk. His escape attempt wasn't quick enough.
"You did! Oh my God, you did!" Wilson sputtered excitedly. "That's why you really brought Cameron back!"
House rolled his eyes.
"You were worried about Thirteen! Admit it!" Wilson pestered eagerly.
"Okay, fine!" House spat. "Thirteen was slowly killing herself. And I couldn't help her," House trailed off, eyes straying to the floor.
"And Cameron is the only one who could," Wilson reasoned softly.
House nodded almost imperceptibly.
"Maybe you are human after all," Wilson remarked in awe.
"This isn't going to be a regular occurrence, so don't hold your breath," House muttered.
A grin curled Wilson's lips. "Haven't you heard, House? Everybody lies."
A/N: WRITING FLUFF IS SUCH A STRUGGLE FOR ME. But I did it. For you. Because I love you. And a chapter of recuperation was necessary. :)