JC, Greg definitely was pushed out of his comfort zone here, but in the best kind of way. I wish everyone was perceptive enough to feel the moods of the chapters, but alas they aren't. Chase was successful because he knows House and therefore understands Greg better than Greg understands. Thanks for the awesome review, - Nicole
Abby, Thanks as always, hope you enjoy the new chapter, - Nicole
HuddyGirl, Lol, he wouldn't be Greg if he wasn't. Thanks for the review, - Nicole
Alex, I don't know about the best story ever, but I'm glad you like it. Thanks for the support, - Nicole
Guest, Yes, there was definitely conflicting emotions in this one. Thanks for the review, - Nicole
CSIflea, I'm sorry I have failed you. I have not given Chase the proper time he deserves. In my idea Chase really does want to be a part of this. He want's to see Greg happy, since he feels like it's impossible to see House that way. I will try to be better. Thanks for the review, - Nicole
Guest, Wow, that sounds painful. ;) Thanks for the review
Fingirl, Welcome! I'm happy to hear you have been enjoying the story. Sorry for the wait, but it will be explained at the end of this new chapter. Thanks for all the reviews, - Nicole
Chloe, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I've been looking forward to writing Greg and Chase. Thanks for the supportive review, - Nicole
Cameron parked beside Chase's car in the garage. She'd been worried ever since Chase had called her about the fight that Greg got into at the park. Chase had assured her that Greg was fine, but she'd feel better once she saw him with her own two eyes. She quickly got out of the car and grabbed the groceries from the back of the car. She grimaced slightly hoping that her food would come out better than it had in last twenty years of her life as she walked in. She walked into the silent house and felt worried. Where were they? She only got more concerned with each step.
"Go!" Chase yelled and they both came charging through the hall toward her. She quickly moved out of the way to see them run past her into the living room and Greg touched the back of the couch and jumped up.
"See, I told you I was faster!" Greg sang with a smile. "For the tenth time, we should probably stop before you pass out or something. Your face is really red," he said with slightly concerned eyes and a small smirk.
Cameron shook her head at the pair of them while wearing an amused smile. "Well you two really know how to welcome a girl home." She said putting the groceries down on the kitchen counter.
Chase walked over to her while still trying to catch his breath, "He's deceptively fast," he said with a smile.
"Or maybe you're just getting slower in your old age," she quipped back at him with a smirk and gave him a kiss on his pouted lips.
"And people think you're the nice one," Chase said pretending to be hurt by her small stab.
Cameron's smile broadened on him and then she looked to Greg who was still standing in the living room watching them. "You know it's rude to make me ask for hug," she said fondly.
"Sorry, ma'am," Greg responded as he took slow steady steps toward them. He didn't want to give her a hug, he hardly knew her and he was still trying to figure out what Chase saw in her, but it was his job as a kid to do what adults asked him to do. He wrapped his arms around her loosely and gave her a forced smile.
"There, that's better," Cameron said with a smile as she ruffled his hair. "Now Chase, why don't you take a shower while we start cooking and then after we eat Greg can take a shower and we can all watch a movie."
Chase looked at Greg and then to Cameron with a polite smile, he knew Cameron was just trying to be helpful but he still needed to talk to her about not being so pushy around Greg. "Sounds good, but could I talk to you for a minute in the bedroom.
Cameron gave him a concerned look, "Sure," she said to him then looked to Greg, "I'll be right back, so stay here."
"Yes, ma'am," Greg responded as they walked off down the hall and as soon as he saw them closed the door behind them he ran his fingers through his hair, straightening it out some from her messing it up.
Chase gave her a sympathetic smile, "Why don't you take a seat on the bed," he said hoping this wouldn't upset her too much.
Cameron thought about refusing but Greg was here and she really didn't want to leave the curious boy alone too long. "Okay," she said with some annoyance and sat on the edge of the bed looking at him. "What's this about?"
Chase licked his lips, "You know how hard you try to be perfect, to make everything happy and everyone around you like you?" He asked with a grimace smile.
Cameron scoffed, "It's not about trying to get people to like me. I've explained this to you before; I try to please other people because knowing I make them happy makes me happy."
"Yeah," Chase said not completely believing her, "well, you know how sometimes... rarely really, you can take it a little too far and come off as... over bearing or pushy?" he said tenderly.
"Yes, I believe you and House have mentioned it from time to time," she said back tartly.
Chase sighed, he knew this was going to hurt her feelings and he really didn't want to do that, but right now Greg needed to feel comfortable more than she did. "Greg feels you're a little... well, that way. So you might want hold back some with him and not push so much," he said sympathetically as her saw her face fall.
"Greg... doesn't like me," Cameron said looking at the door with a frown.
"I didn't say that," he said softly. "He's hardly met you, I'm sure he'll love you once he gets to know you but right now, everything is still pretty new to him and his not use to being the center of attention or adults really taking an interest in him. I honestly think if you just dial down your people pleasing, he'll love you just like everyone else does in no time."
Cameron was still looking at the door. What if House hadn't been lying, what if he really hadn't ever had feelings for her? What if he too had found her too pushy, maybe those weren't meant to be joking stabs but advice from a friend? She looked back to Chase, "But... he gave me a hug?" she said not wanting to believe that both the boy and the man he grew up to be didn't like her.
Chase walked up to her putting a gentle hand on her shoulder, "Greg isn't House. If you asked the boy to jump off a cliff he would. With the way he's been brought up in a military home and a very strict father the thought of disobeying an adult is... unimaginable to him. You saw," he stopped as he saw Cameron close her eyes and swallow, he knew what she'd seen had been haunting her. "His father never made him feel like saying no was an option." He finished tenderly.
"He can't think... do you really think that he thinks I would hurt him like that?" Cameron asked looking at Chase with big concerned and saddened eyes.
Chase's eyes tingled some as they moistened slightly, "Honestly, I think he expects everyone to hurt him like that. I think at his age, considering how he's been treated, that he looks at that as normal and at us and the way we handle things as odd."
She shook her head softly, "It's hard to imagine that anyone could see... that as normal." She sat there for a moment, it was going to be hard for her to hold herself back from pushing her care onto the small abused boy, but if it would make him feel more comfortable then she'd do it. Greg deserved that. "I'll back off," she said slowly standing up and gave Chase a tender kiss as she made her way toward the door.
"I know all of this is hard, especially with your big heart, but try not to dwell on what's been done to him. He's still got some of House in him. The curious and easily amused parts are there," he said as he started taking off his stinky clothes.
"I'll try, love you," Cameron said and slipped out the door. She walked into the kitchen to find Greg standing in exactly the same spot he'd been in, probably to afraid that if he even took one step out of it he'd be punished harshly. She swallowed and pushed on a soft smile, "So Greg, do you want to help me cook?"
Greg nodded, "Yes, I like helping, but... well I've never really cooked before, so I probably won't be much help. See, I wasn't allowed in the kitchen unless my father was in there because he's the only that tells me what I can and can't eat." He said explaining his lack of knowledge about cooking, even though it had always been something he was interested in learning about.
Cameron found that to be slightly heart-breaking, even though it wasn't new knowledge. "It's your choice now. You can help if you want too, believe me you can't be any worse at cooking than I am, or you can watch TV or just sit at the counter and watch me, the choice is yours."
Greg frowned, he wasn't use to having choices and it concerned him that he might pick the wrong one. "Um... whatever, you pick I'll be fine with."
"No, you're our guest tonight. I want you to feel comfortable, so do whatever you want to do," Cameron insisted.
Greg looked around from the kitchen to the counter bar to the living room with worry and licked his lips. "I don't know which one I'm supposed to pick," he mumbled mainly to himself.
Cameron tried to keep the concern off her face, "There isn't a right or wrong answer Greg."
"Right," the boy said cynically remembering the few times his father had asked him to pick something only to discover he'd picked the wrong thing and he closed his eyes. The memory of his father snarling at him and yelling popped in his head and then grabbing him by his neck yelling 'what did you say you brat!' His breathing became rapid as the memory progressed to his father throwing him down on the ground and kicking and stepping on him as he told him what an ungrateful piece of crap he was, and he started shaking some.
Cameron's eyes moistened as she could see the boy was on his way to a panic attack, if not already there, over being given a choice. She took a step closer and barely touched the boys shoulder to hear a small distressed noise leave him as his eyes popped open full of fear on hers. "Greg, are you okay?" she asked trying to keep her eyes from getting anymore moist then they were for his sake.
Greg immediately dropped his head some, feeling ashamed that she'd seen the fear on his face. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry," he said not knowing what else to say as he felt weak and pathetic.
It was almost too much for her to bare, her eyes watered more at the whispered apologies from the small broken boy. "You don't have anything to apologize for Greg. It's fine... you're fine. No one is going to hurt you, I promise."
Greg swallowed as his chin shook, why did hearing that mean so much too him? Why did it feel like he had no control over his emotions lately? "I... never... make the right decision," he said in a broken whisper."
Cameron's hand covered her mouth as tears spilled over. She was grateful he wasn't looking at her because she knew he'd be mortified if he realized how emotional she was getting over this. How cruel his father had been tore into her heart. Giving the boy a choice only to punish him on whatever choice he made so he could break the boys confidence down even more. She desperately wanted to pick the boy up and hold him tight in her arms, but that was the very thing Chase had warned her about doing. She quickly tried to compose herself and wiped the tears away. "Fine, you'll cook with me, it'll be fine."
"Thank you, ma'am," Greg said looking up at her, grateful she'd made the decision for him.
"You can call me Cameron if you like, whatever you're comfortable with," she said pulling the groceries out of the bag.
Greg nodded and looked at the food, "So what are we cooking?"
"Spaghetti with meatballs... or at least that's what we're trying for," she said with a half-smile," not that it always works out that way. So don't be surprised if we just end up calling for take-out in a hour, but maybe with your help we'll be successful."
Greg didn't see how a simple dish could be ruined. "Maybe," he said back, looking at the ingredients, "So where do we start?"
"Well the first thing we need to do is get the water boiling for the pasta, since it can take a while," Cameron said getting out a medium pot and filling it with water.
Greg was biting the tip of his tongue, he'd heard his mother explaining to his father that if you don't use a big pot the pasta didn't have enough room to move and had a tendency to clump together or not cook evenly. He watched as she put the pot on the stove and sighed heavily.
Cameron looked at him with worry, "Is everything okay?" She asked to see him nod but stare at the post with unhappy features. She was afraid to ask why he was looking at it with intensity, what if his father hit him with them or threw boiling hot water on the boy. She swallowed and readied herself, "You can talk to me, if something about the pot is upsetting you."
Greg looked at her with relief, "Thank you ma'am. I'm sure you know more about cooking pasta then I do, but... well, my mother said you have to boil pasta in a really large pot, otherwise it won't cook right. I know it's not my place, but … I just thought you might want to know." He said feeling both anxious and scared; he didn't want her to think he was trying to tell her what to do when he was just trying to give her some friendly advice he'd heard from his mother.
Cameron half laughed, it was a relief that there wasn't any horrible abuse story behind kitchenware. "Thank you, I'll definitely give that a try, and don't be so quiet next time when you have some tips for me, I can use all the help I can get in the kitchen."
"You're not... offended to have me suggest things?" Greg asked before thinking about it, but as soon as it was out of his mouth he realized it had been rude to say and looked down. "I'm sorry, that wasn't polite. I hope you don't think of me as some heathen without manners; my parents brought me up better than that."
She thought about making a joke about how he has no manners as an adult but decided not to. She wasn't sure how he'd take it. "Not at all," she said switching the medium pot for a large one and adding some more water to it.
"My Mom also said that putting salt in the water helps it to boil faster," he said hoping to be helpful.
Cameron smiled as she added the salt, "Thank you, so I guess your mom cooked a lot."
Greg raised an eyebrow, "About the same as any other mother, I guess. She cooks every meal."
"Every meal, wow! She must have not worked," Cameron said as she started putting the ground pork and other ingredients for the meatballs in a bowl.
"Of course she didn't work. She was married and had me to look after. Do women with families work now days?" He asked finding the idea to be absurd.
She smiled at him, "More times than not, things have changed drastically in that regard since the sixties, just look at Cuddy. She's in her late thirties to early forties and she's running an entire hospital."
"But she doesn't have a family. It's not that I don't think girls are capable of doing a hard job. It's just I don't see how they can take care of a family at the same time. Who cleans the house and takes care of the kids? Who does all the buying for the home and cleans the laundry?" Greg asked.
Cameron put the last of her ingredients into the meat mix for the meatballs. "The women still do most of it, but most husbands help a good bit. Like with Robert and me, I keep the house clean and do the shopping for everything, but he's the one that does all of the laundry and we usually eat out since we don't have a lot of time for cooking." She answered, "Now wash your hands and I'll have you mix up the meatball mix."
Greg walked over to the sink and washed his hands then came back and looked in the bowl of meat and other ingredients. "So what do I mix it up with?"
She smirked, "The best tools you'll ever find in a kitchen, your hands."
He looked at her as if she was crazy, "You want me to mix it up with my hands?" He hoped he'd miss heard her because that sounded pretty disgusting.
"Yep, it'll be fine, I promise. It actually feels pretty neat." Cameron said watching him.
Greg swallowed, he couldn't back down in front of a girl and he'd already said he'd help. He grimaced as he put his hand in the mixture and started trying to mix it up. At first he was so hesitant and new at it that he couldn't get it to mix well, but then he started squeezing it more and got more comfortable. "It's...different, but not in a bad way, you know what I mean?" He said looking at the meatball mix with intrigue.
Cameron nodded, "That's good, now we need to roll it into balls." She grabbed some of the mixture and rolled it into a medium sized ball to demonstrate. "Like this, try to make them this size, if they are too small they will cook too fast and if they are too much bigger, then they won't get done in the middle. You want to try?" She asked as she picked out some more the mixture and made another on, putting both of them down on some wax paper she'd put out on the counter.
"Sure," Greg said and made a ball like she had, "like this?" he asked
"Perfect," She said and while making another one. "So what do you think of cooking so far?"
"I like it; do I cook a lot as an adult?" he asked glancing at her and away quickly as he hoped he wasn't pushing too much.
"Not that I know of, from the way Wilson talks you usually eat out unless he cooks for you," Cameron said looking at the boy. "But… cooking requires you to stand in one spot while doing something for a long time and with your leg that would hurt. House rarely stands in the same spot for more than a minute and then he's pacing."
"Oh," Greg said softly the licked his lips. "Can I ask you something... personal?" He said feeling more comfortable around her.
"Of course," Cameron responded.
"Jimmy said we went on a date once because you liked House a lot," he swallowed. "What was it you liked about me?"
Cameron studied the meatball in her hand as she was taken completely off guard by the question. "Um, well there were and still are a lot of things I like about Dr. House."
"Like what?" Greg asked looking up at her.
She blushed some, hoping beyond prayers that Chase wouldn't walk in now. "House is smart, honest, funny, and even sweet at times. He's very honorable in his own way and even though he's not as cute as you are, he's still very good looking." She said blushing more.
"Did we ever... you know...?" he asked, too embarrassed to say the word.
"No, we didn't," Cameron quickly answered surprised at his age he'd ask such a thing.
"Not even one kiss?" Greg asked, looking a little disappointed in himself.
Cameron blinked at him with wide eyes, of course he hadn't been talking about sex; he was six years old. "Well, maybe twice."
"So," he asked trying to sound calm even though he was a little afraid, "how was I?" He asked as he kept his eyes on the meat mix and rolling his meatballs.
Her mouth fell open some and she closed it fast. She felt her whole body flush as she remembered the deep kiss that made her knees weak. "You were very good," she said keeping her eyes on the meatballs and speaking softly.
"Then why did you move on to Robert?" Greg asked looking up at her with wonder.
Cameron felt her eyes moisten some, "Because you didn't feel the same way about me," she said still concentrating on making the meatballs, so she didn't have to look at him.
Greg could see the hurt and pain on her features and felt bad for her. She wasn't Cuddy, but so far she'd been a lot nicer than he'd ever thought she would be. "I'm sorry I'm such an idiot with women as an adult. You seem nice and sweet."
She looked at Greg and smiled some, "Thanks, but its fine. I love Robert and we're happy, it all worked out for the best." Greg nodded.
"Hey, how's the cooking coming along?" Chase said as he walked into the kitchen.
"I think this time it might be edible," Cameron said a little unnerved and hoping he hadn't heard the conversation.
Chase smiled, "See, I knew you could do it," he said giving her a minty kiss.
Sorry for the wait everyone. I have recently started a new job, that has me working 45 – 50 hours a week and on the road a good 15 hours added to that. So, as you might have guessed this has cut significantly into my writing time. I am still writing though, as you might have noticed by the new chapter. I will not stop writing my stories until they are complete. I want to assure you all of that. Also, I can no longer give realistic expectations on my writing, it might be up in a week if I'm not driving to far, it might take three if I'm driving a lot. All I can say is that I will continue to write and those who find my writing worth the wait will get to see where all this ends. Love you all and please review, - Nicole