Chapter 29
House had finally fallen into a deep sleep when his alarm went off. He thought about going into work late and grabbing some extra sleep, but then remembered that Cameron needed his help today and reluctantly, he dragged himself out of bed. Cameron … if I can make it to work, at least I'll get to spend the day with Cameron… the thought brought a grin to his face as he remember the night before.
He stood in the shower, letting the hot water pour over his tired, sore body. It took its toll, the pain. It sapped his energy but he had to fight it each and every day.
As he stood naked looking at the clothes in his closet, he decided that he would at least be comfortable today and grabbed a pair of blue jeans, a t-shirt and one of his new sports shirts. Looking at himself in the mirror, he was satisfied.
I look like the old me, only better … and Cameron sure seemed to dig how I looked last night in my jeans.
He thought about Andrew Johnson, but decided that he had grown tired of playing the clothes game with him. I'll yank his chain for one more day and then I'll think of another way to irritate the little twerp.
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Chase and Foreman were already at work when Cameron arrived that morning.
Looking around, she asked,
"Good morning … is House here?"
"You just missed him…" said Foreman, "he's doing your clinic hours this morning so that I can work on a proposal for my lecture at JHM".
"Really… that's wonderful … do you have a date yet?"
"April 17th … so I have to decide on the topic … I'm trying to decide between two papers and House wants to see this done by noon."
Cameron was disappointed that she wouldn't see House that morning, but she and Chase got to work on her lecture; she had to finish all of the prep work by the end of the day, so she could concentrate on polishing her presentation.
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House arrived in the clinic to find the waiting room over-flowing with patients. He cursed to himself, but dove in, trying to clear the backlog as quickly as possible.
It was a mixed blessing that Andrew Johnson had been scheduled that morning. House had no use for the weasel, so he fobbed off all of the whiney kids on to the pediatrician and did his best to avoid him.
House's luck ran out after a couple of hours though. His leg was bothering him more than usual today; he was paying the price for all that dancing with Cameron, but it had been worth it. As he limped over to get more files from the clinic nursing station, House saw Johnson at the desk.
"Good morning, Dr. House."
"Morning." House grunted.
As he started to head back to the exam room, House dropped a file and Andrew bent down to pick it up for him and noticed he was wearing blue jeans.
"Here you go …" Andrew looked at House with a puzzled expression on his face.
"Thanks." said House as he turned to walk away.
"Um … Dr. House … I'm confused. A few days ago, do you remember telling me that I couldn't wear blue jeans and t-shirts to work?"
House just stared at him.
"Well, I can't help but notice what you're wearing today."
"And you're point would be …" said an irritated House.
"Uh … uh … I was just wondering why you said that to me."
"Ah … well … as I recall, I told you that Dr. Cuddy liked her doctors to be well-dressed. I didn't say that you weren't allowed to wear jeans, did I?" House smirked.
"Fished you in … LOSER … ", snarked House.
House turned his back on Andrew and smiled as he disappeared into Exam Room 1.
"You bastard …" muttered Andrew.
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Cameron sat at her desk twirling a pencil through her fingers as she recalled a conversation she had overheard that morning. On the way into the hospital, she decided to freshen up her lipstick and popped into the ladies washroom in the lobby. While she was rummaging around in her tote bag, Cindy came in with another student nurse. Not noticing Cameron, they chatted away with each other.
"You look happy today Cindy … c'mon, spill the beans girl … what's up?"
"Oh, I just heard that Dr. House is going to work in the clinic this morning instead of Dr. Foreman."
"Oooo … now I know why you're smiling … is he available?"
"I think so. I know he's not married. I've seen him around with Dr. Cameron, but she works for him so it's probably nothing. I tell you, I would love to get my hands on that man … he's so tall and good-looking … and those eyes … have you noticed his hands?"
"His hands?"
His hands …, Cameron thought, remembering how good they felt last night.
"Yea, his hands Becky, those strong hands, those long fingers … you know what they say …" Cindy said, winking at her friend.
"Cindy … you're bad …" The girls giggled.
"Well … I think that I'll just undo one more button … just in case I have to bend over and get something for Dr. House." Cindy laughed and checked her reflection in the mirror. The well-endowed girl adjusted herself carefully and left the room smiling.
Cameron re-played the scene over and over in her mind and as she did, she realized that her green eyes must be greener than ever.
I'm jealous … jealous of Cindy … how ironic, considering what happened yesterday with House and Chase …
"Cameron … Cameron …. Are you all right?" asked Chase.
"Yes, I'm fine … but there's something I have to do."
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As Cameron waited for the elevator, a million thoughts rushing through her mind.
After last night, Cameron woke up wanting to wear something flirty for House today, so she had chosen a short black skirt, black high-heeled pumps and a red knit sweater that accentuated all her curves. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she smiled. Unbuttoning her lab coat and fluffing her brown curls, she watched as the doors opened.
Her heart was racing by time the elevator reached the lobby. Stepping out she glanced around anxiously, looking for House.
There were people and staff everywhere; by the elevator, in the clinic, at the nursing station.
She waited and watched.
In a few moments the door of Exam Room 1 opened and House walked over to the nursing station. She smiled when she saw what he was wearing. The sight of his lean body in blue jeans and a t-shirt under his long flowing lab coat was too delicious for words.
Cameron took a big breath. It was now or never.
Striding across the lobby she called,
"Dr. House … Dr. House."
House looked up and smiled as he saw her walking towards him. He loved her in red and that short skirt and heels … he could feel his body reacting already.
Cameron could sense everyone's eyes following her. She could see Cindy and Becky standing at the nursing station and caught a glimpse of Andrew coming out of Exam Room 2.
As she neared, House noticed the sparkle in her lovely green eyes.
"Allison …"
Before he could say another word, Cameron reached up and pulled his face to hers, kissing him with all her might. Locking her lips with his, she opened her mouth, letting her frantic tongue reach its destination. As their kiss deepened, Cameron dropped her hands to the lapels of his lab coat and pulled House's body into her own. She heard his cane drop as his arms circled her waist.
They waited to the last second and then pulled apart sharply as they gasped for air.
Stepping back, Cameron straightened her clothes and flipped back her hair as she looked at an astonished House.
"Lunch, Dr. House … One o'clock?"
House nodded, unable to speak.
"Excellent." Cameron turned on her heels and strode back to the elevators, with her eyes front and her head held high.
House watched Cameron until the elevator doors closed behind her.
Shifting his lab coat so that it was sitting properly on his shoulders again, House took a deep breath. With his blue eyes shining and a huge grin on his face, he looked around at the sea of eyes watching his every move.
An orderly tapped House on his shoulder and handed him his cane.
"Thanks…" he said, reaching for a file.
"Clarkson … Clarkson … you can go in now …" he said to the patient, and smiled as he followed them into Exam Room 1.
tbc …
