Ok, so the final chapter! I might cry but I feel that it's coming to an end for Inevitable. But you never know, there may always be a sequel in future! Sorry for the delay, what with my recent exam to focus on I haven't really been able to do much, not even write. I hope you like this chapter, and thank you for reading this far! I would just like to thank everyone who reviewed my fic, it inspired me to carry on with it! Also, a special shout out to addtcdtohows for amazingly amazing support and prompting to continue! Thanks to Angi as well, who never fails to inspire!
Oh, and just a final comment, I DON'T OWN THE CHARACTERS… can't believe I missed that out all this time! Enjoy!
Chapter twenty five- Closing words.
11,
12,
13 seconds since he entered the room, and still had not looked at her. She knew he wouldn't. She found herself feeling smug again, as SHE had been right. A novelty feeling. Taking the first sip of his coffee (which she had made, and left on the counter next to where she was leaning) he sighed in satisfaction. She bit back a smile; she had heard that sigh in a very different context.
"Ducklings" he greeted "what'ya got for me"
"Thirty-nine year old female, complaining of headaches-" Foreman started but was interrupted by House who had quirked his eyebrow, saying.
"Headaches? Oh boy, what could POSSIBLY be the answer? I just wish I'd covered this in medical school."
Foreman rolled his eyes and hooked House on the bait of the other unusual symptoms. Each duckling was sent to do their tests, and each left the room. Cameron had considered staying behind to talk to House, but he wasn't looking at her and if he was uncomfortable she didn't feel the need to make him more so.
She was running a test in the pathology lab later that day when she sensed someone watching her. This sensation was soon clarified by the swish of the door as it opened and the observer entered. She didn't hesitate in turning around, and was not surprised to see House standing by the doorway. He looked almost guilty for being seen, and looked at her for a quiet moment before stating:
"Gosh darn it! Can't creep up on anyone when you got one of these!" He held his cane up a little for emphasis.
She smiled and moved a slide to a less precarious place on the workbench. She stood up and turned to face him. Removing her glasses and placing them on the bench behind her she asked,
"Need me to run another test? These have all been negative, and I'm sure the repeats will be too."
"We got the answer"
"Yeah?" She questioned "She going to be ok?"
"Yep, Cuddy really should give us more challenging cases than people FAKING crippling headaches"
"What about the stomach ulcers, the vomiting?" Cameron asked, confused.
"Stomach ulcer was real. Vomiting was self induced. She's n her way to the psych ward now"
"Ok" She nodded
"I'm gonna need you to do the discharge report for the department."
"Sure" She always did before, and had figured (correctly) that some things would never change.
There were a few moments of silence before she asked, dubiously:
"Anything else you wanted… or?"
"Nope, that was it" He said hurriedly, and left before he thought she would have a chance to sense he was nervous. But she had sensed, and sighed smiling to herself. Some things really would never change.
---
It was two days later that he said it. The ducklings had spent the afternoon in their warm bubble of a differential diagnosis room, sipping coffee and doing sudoku puzzles. It had been another slow day.
They were all alone when she entered his office, with her coat on and his leather jacket in one hand. He got up from behind his desk swiftly, he loved going home, even more now 'home' always had an association with Cameron. He pecked her on the cheek when she handed him his jacket, very affectionate for him whilst they weren't hidden away from the world.
He looked at her in silence for a few moments. She didn't know what she had done to deserve the scrutiny he was giving her, and shifted under his gaze smiling a little.
"Cameron" He half questioned, half stated.
"Yeah?"
"I- uh" he stumbled over the words a little, averting his eyes for a brief second "I love you".
She took a deep breath, before linking her fingers through his and smiling up at him, asking
"Your not trying to swab my mouth again are you?"
He was relieved for the deflation of tension in the situation, and answered:
"No"
She smiled again: "Then let's go home"
He would have been disappointed; she had not said it back.
In his mind she had done. She had cried and laughed and kissed him deeply. Imaginary Cameron had asked him to love her forever and if she could live with him. She had asked to have his children. But this was not his mind, this was reality.
She wasn't the imaginary Cameron, she was the real thing. She wouldn't act in the way imaginary Cameron did in the situations in his mind. Sometimes she was the complete opposite. Sometimes she was different, confusing even. The real Cameron couldn't be predicted. Sometimes, like tonight, she was the unexpected. She was just herself.
And she was so much better that way.