a/n: Sorry for the delay in posting. I've been very sick from a reaction from a new drug they put me on. Here are the next two chapters. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 36: The Diagnosis and a Good-Bye

By the time Wilson had left it was late afternoon and Cameron was getting exhausted. Just when she thought she could get some sleep, Foreman and Chase showed up to see how she was doing.

Chase asked, "How are you feeling Cameron?"

Cameron wrote: Exhausted

Foreman looked down at her and said, "That's not surprising considering what your body has been through these past several days."

Cameron looked up at Foreman and wrote: Foreman, thank you for going with Wilson to my apartment. If it wasn't for you two finding me in the first place, I wouldn't be here right now.

Foreman replied, "Hey, that's what friends do."

Cameron smiled and then wrote: Thanks to BOTH of you for trying to save me in the ER. I don't want to talk about it now, but I just wanted to say I'm sorry I put you guys through all this. I'm sure you're disappointed in me.

Foreman replied in a strong tone, "Cameron, no one is judging anybody. And no one is disappointed in you."

Chase added, "That's right. Hell, we're the ones who feel stupid for not seeing how depressed you were. Whenever you are ready, and if you want, you know you can talk to either of us."

"And I'm sure Wilson….and I can't believe I'm saying this….but even House would be willing to talk or just listen," continued Foreman. "Ya know I have to admit it…I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own two eyes, but I think House actually does have a heart. He never left your bedside the first couple of days. Normally I would have kicked his ass for what he did, but after seeing how grief stricken he's been I didn't have the heart to do it."

From the door they heard House's voice say, "Foreman, this ass-kicking story is getting old. I told you not to hold your breath. Now both of you - Clinic NOW!"

As the two doctors walked through the door and heard it shut, Chase whispered to Foreman, "Damn, if it wasn't for a lack of tits, I'd swear House just turned into Cuddy!"

Foreman just shook his head and laughed as they headed toward the clinic.

Meanwhile back in Cameron's room, House sat in his usual chair and reached his hand out to see if Cameron would meet him half way. He saw her look at his hand for a brief moment and then place her hand in his.

As he held her hand in his left hand, he took his right and stroked her hair around her face. He said, "Cameron, I can tell you're tired but we never got to finish our discussion from earlier today. We need to talk about your vocal chords and your right leg."

Cameron wrote: Tell me what you need to tell me

"Since you're a doctor there probably isn't much you haven't figured out already," started House, "but as we suspected you have some brain damage in the left frontal lobe. In the Broca's Area: that's why your speech is affected. And in the rear of the left frontal lobe: which is why your motor skills in your right leg are not working."

Cameron had a bitter look on her face as she wrote: Well, I guess I can forget about singing and dancing on Broadway now!

"Allison," House tried to console, "We have no way of knowing if it is permanent or temporary yet. Or you could regain partial use back."

Trying to make light of the situation, Cameron wrote: You always have wanted to shut me up! No more "moral high ground" during DDX's"

She had meant it to be a joke, but she immediately saw the pain and guilt flash upon House's face.

This immediately brought tears to her eyes and she wrote frantically: House, I'm so sorry. I was trying to joke about the situation. I DON'T blame YOU. I SWALLOWED THE PILLS.

House wiped her tears away and promised, "We're going to get you better, Allison. I'm going to work with you each and every day and we'll either go through speech therapy or learn sign language together. And I'll help you with physical therapy too. I do happen to know a little something about having a bum right leg. What I'm trying to say is: I'm here for the duration babe…I'm not leaving your side. We're going to see this through together. I haven't been here for you in the past, but that's going to change."

Cameron wrote: Isn't your pre-trial tomorrow? What if things go badly and you have to go away? What then?

Greg replied, "Allison, please don't worry. If things don't go my way tomorrow, God forbid, then we'll find some way to work it out."

House looked Cameron over closely and asked her, "There's still something that is bothering you isn't there? Something you're keeping from me."

Cameron looked at him and got lost in his blue intense gaze for a moment. When she finally broke away from being mesmerized, she wrote: Yes, there is something. But can we talk about it tonight? I'm exhausted right now."

"Tell ya what," House said, "I'm going to leave for a while and go finish up some administrative nightmares before the pre-trial tomorrow. Why don't you take a nice long nap, and when I come back we can have that talk tonight. How does that sound?"

Cameron gave him a tired smile and wrote: Sounds good.

House stood up, leaned over till he was an inch from Allison's lips and whispered, "Sweet Dreams". He then touched his lips to hers and both felt a shot of electricity pass through their bodies. House put one hand on her shoulder which made her tremble. He smiled while never leaving her lips. He loved that she reacted that way to his touch.

Cameron was lost. She placed her hand on his jaw and sort of tugged down, opening his lips so that she could explore his mouth with her tongue. House moaned with pleasure at her boldness.

Cameron still had her hand on House's face and he had moved his hand to the back of her neck as their tongues continued to dance.

Suddenly Cameron pulled away slightly and leaned her forehead on his, and looked down closing her eyes…thus ending the kiss.

House, wondering why she had pulled away simply asked, "Allison?"

She reached for her whiteboard and he backed up. She wrote: I think we should take it slow for right now.

House knew what was going on. She didn't trust him yet. And if he was in her shoes, he wouldn't trust him either. He'd put her through two years of Hell, and now all of a sudden he's asking her to just forget all that. Forget all the hurt and the pain he'd inflicted.

House smiled down at Cameron and squeezed her hand and said, "That's fine. Whatever you feel comfortable with. Go ahead and get some sleep. I'll be back in a little while."

As he left the room and the door shut behind him, he turned and looked through the glass and watched Cameron settling in for a nap. He made a promise to himself right then and there. No matter how long it took, some how, some way, he would find a way to erase the pain he had put in her life and replace it with love.

Now, if he could just stay out of prison….

TBC……