Chapter 25. ...and Answers

"Before you start, there's something I think both of you should know," Wilson said. "Cuddy was reinstated as Administrator at the hospital."

"And this matters to us because?" House asked.

"It means she can offer you your job back. I just thought you'd want to know," Wilson said. "OK, now, the storm."

They told Wilson about the patients who'd come to Cameron's clinic with breathing problems just before the storm hit, how House stayed to help diagnose and treat them, and how he finally concluded that it was related to the mosquito spraying that had been done earlier in the week, how the storm had complicated things and how so many patients turned up after the storm that they'd shifted operations to the high school gym. The story coincided with what the waitress, Linda, had told him.

Cameron did most of the talking, which in itself surprised Wilson. He watched House's face as she related the entire experience. There was a smile on his friends face that he hadn't seen for a long time, if ever.

She didn't tell Wilson any of the intimate details. Nevertheless, it was apparent to Wilson that House and Cameron had grown closer during the ordeal.

"Satisfied?" House asked Wilson when Cameron was finally finished with the tale.

"That was just my first question," Wilson said, making House laugh.

"I see that the years of knowing House had an affect on you," Cameron said with a smirk. "OK. What else do you want to know?"

House expected him to ask about the position he'd been offered in Snow Hill. Cameron thought it might be their relationship. So they were both surprised by Wilson's second question. "Where do I sign up?"

House had to admit that he was tempted to ask Wilson to stick around town, maybe get a job at Mercy Hospital in Snow Hill, or work with Cameron at the clinic. But he knew that wasn't really the best thing for any of them.

"Cuddy needs you more than ever at PPTH," Cameron pointed out.

House nodded. She'd said exactly the right thing. Wilson needed to be needed, and with House himself gone, Cuddy really did need someone at the hospital who was more than an employee.

"You don't want me to stay," Wilson accused them both.

"Oh, don't look at me with that hang-dog expression," House said. "This town may be right for me, but it's definitely not a place you'd feel comfortable. There isn't a decent bagel place in town, and folksy folk would bore a city slicker like you."

"I liked Cameron's response better," Wilson said with a smirk.

"Yeah, well, so did I," House admitted.

"I just hope the two of you know what you're doing."

"We do," said Cameron. "Finally." She grinned at House.

"So, the two of you..." Wilson gestured with a couple of fingers between House and Cameron.

"Yes, Wilson. The two of us." Cameron smiled. "Come back for another visit sometime," she told him.

"And leave your friend back in Princeton," House said, hoping Wilson would be too busy to return.

"Well, we'd better leave you to get some sleep. You have a long drive tomorrow morning," Cameron told Wilson, walking toward the door. "I would recommend breakfast at Mo's."

"Her pancakes are even better 'n yours," House said, following Cameron out. Cameron gave Wilson a brief hug but House didn't even shake his hand. They just left him there staring after them almost wistfully.

The two of them got back into the Alfa and Cameron drove them home. "I think you handled that well," she told House. "There was a moment when I thought you might regress a bit, but you resisted."

"You mean when Wilson had that dumb idea about staying here himself?"

"Yeah," she said. "It would have been so easy to go back to the friendship you had with him."

House shook his head. "It was dysfunctional at best. I don't need him as much as he tells himself I do."

Cameron smiled. "No. You don't." They'd reached the house, and this time she drove all the way into the garage. As they walked hand-in-hand to the back door of the house, Cameron asked, "What do you think Wilson and Cuddy think about your new life?"

"Cuddy thinks I totally lost my mind," House said with conviction. "And Wilson is alternating between agreeing with her, and envying me."

"But they don't really understand that this..." she indicated everything around them. "...this is what you really needed."

"What I needed was to get away from Princeton and everyone there," House said. "I'm sure there'll be ripples on the surface of the calm here, your friend Chet for one, but starting fresh, knowing what I know now, I think I can handle him and them."

"Based on the way you handled Cuddy and Wilson, I'm sure you can."

Mrs. McClelland was sitting in the kitchen, drinking a cup of tea, when they entered. She smiled at them, a warm welcoming smile. "And how did your days go?" she asked. "Would you like a cuppa?"

House didn't hesitate to take a chair and tell her all about his interview and discussions with Meisner, while Cameron made them each a cup of tea.

"So, you'll be taking the position he's offering?" Mrs. McClelland asked when he finished.

He nodded. "It will be a pleasure to work for someone like Meisner."

"Especially compared to our former boss," Cameron said. "Speaking of whom..."

House shrugged. It would be all over Shelby by the next day. "She and my best friend from New Jersey showed up in town today looking for me."

"They want him to return to the hospital there," Cameron said.

"But you're not going to," Mrs. McClelland said with a smile.

"Nope," House said, grinning at the two women. "Not when I've found all that I need, all that I want, right here."