Chapter 21

House and Cameron slept very soundly that night. The day ahead involved HOUSE doing CAMERON's clinic hours. She was touched, but he acted like it was nothing. He didn't want her to fall behind. (House winked and Alysa smiled.) Still, they were caseless, so House did their clinic hours and came back to "visit" with Cameron. They just watched General Hospital, which made Cameron laugh. A grown man and a soap opera... odd. Oh well. She'd do anything to make him happy. He'd do the same. They occasionally glanced at each other with kind smiles, their eyes meeting several times. They played with Alysa on Cameron's bed for a while. She was becoming quite the cutey. But the whole day went without mention of yesterday's conversation. Cameron was satisfied, and so was House.

Wilson continued to see his cancer-kids and dumb clinic patients, but he slid into Cuddy's room every chance he got. They were becoming more affectionate by the second. Every time he saw her, they hugged and kissed on the cheeks, sometimes the lips. They always smiled at each other and talked so lovingly with each other.

Eventually, Wilson came into Cameron's room to gather Alysa's things. Cuddy wanted her daughter badly! House helped him gather her things, and Wilson said his farewells without commenting about himself and Cuddy or about House and Cameron. He walked out of the room in silence carrying Alysa in his arms. When he got to Cuddy's room, he layed Alysa in her lap, and all three smiled at each other. They felt like a family.

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The next day, Cameron was discharged, and Cuddy only had three more days. Thank god. Cameron gathered her things with help from House, and she was ready to go.

"House..." she said, watching him stumble about, popping a vicodin when things got really bad.

House looked up at her.

"You can't do this."

"Do what?"

"This. You... Alysa... House... look at yourself."

House literally looked down at himself, getting a laugh out of Cameron.

"House! I'm serious... let me help... I mean... you can barely walk, hold your daughter..."

House sighed and almost frowned. Cameron bit her lip and took Alysa from her father's arms. House finally nodded.

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House followed Cameron to her car. House still hadn't been outside of the hospital since the accident, but her car was there. She drove them to House's town house and they got out. House reached in his pocket and got out a key. He stumbled up the steps, but finally managed to get up and unlock the door. They walked in, and Cameron walked straight to the nursery and layed Alysa in her crib -- naptime! When she came back in, House wasn't there. She looked around and finally found him in the bedroom. She looked at him laying on the bed, eyes closed, but obviously not asleep.

"My bed's made," said House calmly.

Cameron bit her lip.

"Did you sleep in it?" He opened his eyes and looked at her.

Cameron walked over and layed down next to him. "Was I not supposed to?"

House smiled. "Nevermind."

Cameron smiled over at him. "Okay."

Their eyes met once again, and they smiled. Both closed their eyes and fell asleep next to each other on House's bed, completely and utterly content.

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Alysa had no response but a smile at her father. He didn't return the smile though. His eyes just glistened with memories.