Chapter 35 - For Old Time's Sake
Cuddy woke up again, startled for the second time. This time it was Wilson to wake her up. She just looked up at him as if to say 'what the hell? i'm trying to sleep!' But then her glance moved over to the nurses that were rushing into the NICU. Cuddy stood up, and so did Wilson. They were so confused. What was going on?
--------------
Cameron awoke the next morning (still in House's arms) with a rather large headache. She wasn't as high as last night, but let's just say the room wasn't exactly sitting still...
"Stay home today."
"No..." said Cameron to House, "I have so much clinic duty."
House laughed. "What? Are you serious?"
Cameron just looked at House wide-eyed.
"Cam," said House, "Listen... you can't go to into the hospital like this."
"Why not?" she asked, "You do it all the time." She was just joking, but House didn't seem to catch it.
"I'm serious."
"House... what's wrong?" She'd gone into work high and hungover before. Why was this time any different?
House sighed and looked into Cameron's pale, and oh-so beautiful, green eyes. He finally spoke. "I told Cuddy."
"You what?!"
"I didn't know what to do!"
"House!"
"Cameron!"
They both went to hang their heads, but ended up knocking into each other's head. This got a laugh, but a quick one at that. Cameron's head started throbbing.
"Oww..."
House sat up and looked saddly down at Cameron. "Fine," he said, "But clinic duty and that's it."
"Clinic duty."
"If we get a case, you're going home, got it?"
Cameron just smiled and sat up. She pecked House on the forehead and proceeded to get dressed.
---------------
The nurses were crowded around Aly, not even touching her. They were just... talking. What was going on? Wilson and Cuddy sat back down. Obviously Aly wasn't in any immediate danger...
"Do you STILL think they're fit to be parents?" asked Cuddy, her eyes never leaving the nurses that surrounded her daughter.
Wilson looked over at Cuddy. "Okay..." said Wilson, "So Cameron slipped. House'll handle it. Trust me."
"Drug adicts are stupid, no matter how smart they are, they're stupid when it comes to their drugs."
Wilson just looked over at Cuddy. Only one person they knew could have said that, and Wilson almost despised Cuddy for saying what she'd said. He shook his head and left for his office. It was about time to get to work anyways.
---------------
House and Cameron rode to work together on House's bike. She, of course, got the helmet and House got his 'awesome shades.' Doctors, students, and patients alike stared at them as House sped into the parking lot of PPTH at 9:00 that morning. It surely was a sight to see. They began their walk up to their office, but Cameron stopped him.
"House..."
"What?"
"Why'd you have me ride to work with you if I have to go home early?" She laughed. She knew House had been planning this all along.
"Oops!" House just smirked and pushed Cameron towards the clinic. "Guess you can just... sleep in my office."
"Sounds lovely." She rolled her eyes and moved away.
"Allison!" shouted House, getting her to turn around.
"Yeah?"
House tossed her his badge. "Do me some hours while you're at it?"
Cameron laughed and caught the badge. With that, she left for the clinic.
-----------
On his way up to the office, House stopped. Wilson was in his office. Why? Ever since being admitted, he'd never left Alysa's side. Time to investigate! House barged into Wilson's office.
"What are you doing here?"
"Um... work?"
"Funny... you haven't done 'work' since Alysa was admitted."
Wilson just sighed, shook his head, and rolled his eyes. His usual response when House had found him out.
"Cuddy... is back to thinking about you and Cameron."
"What about me and Cam?"
"She... is concerned and still isn't sure if she can trust you guys with Alysa."
House just left the room without responding, and Wilson was worried. Today was going to be JUST FABULOUS. Ugh...
-------------
House limped his way down to the NICU, to find Cuddy in her usual spot. God, she was seriously going to wear that chair out. For once he wouldn't be the one responsible for damaging hospital property!
"Cuddy!"
Cuddy looked up to see House, but quickly ducked her head. There was only one reason he could be here: Wilson had spilled his guts... again.
"Cuddy..." House was desperate, yet very angry.
"House," said Cuddy, "It's not you, it's Cameron, okay?"
"Stop worrying about her, I've got it... okay?"
"House, you can't expect me to just leave it like that!"
"SHE'S FINE!"
"SHE IS NOT FINE!"
"SHE WILL BE," House shouted, then calmed down. This was definitely the wrong approach for a person trying to prevent losing custody of a child. "She's just going through a rough time... I've handled it... okay?"
"House..."
"Cuddy," said House, "I know I don't always tell the truth, and I know I'm not the best guy out there, but even you know I always do what's right for the patient... for Alysa. For Cameron."
Cuddy just looked up at him. He looked so worried and desperate. She bit her lip and hung her head. Finally, she nodded. House swung his head around in relief. With that, he simply thanked her and sat down next to her.
"Why'd Wilson leave?" he asked.
"He left when I told him about you and Cameron."
House nodded. "Didn't make him leave last time you told him, what'd you do THIS time?"
Cuddy was about to tell House what she'd said when the nurses finally walked out of the NICU.
"Dr. Cuddy?" one of them asked.
-------------
Cameron was busy at work in the clinic. She decided to do House's hours first so she'd have an excuse to stay longer so she could do her OWN hours. Not to mention House would be very pleased with her finishing off his hours.
Cameron grabbed a file from Nurse Brenda who simply said, "Exam 1."
Cameron nodded and made her way over to Exam Room 1. She looked down at the patient's file as she walked in. "Sore throat, headaches... it's probably just..." She looked up at the patient and stopped dead.
------------------
The nurse walked up to Dr. Cuddy, who was very tense. House stood up next to her.
"Dr. Cuddy," the nurse repeated, "Alysa's responding to treatment." She smiled.
Cuddy fell into House's arms, and House fell into the chair.
"We don't know exactly how... or why... but she's gonna be fine." The nurse just smiled and left House and Cuddy.
"Get off of me," said House rather rudely.
"Shut up," said Cuddy standing up, "Alysa's gonna be fine!"
"I know," quipped House, "Despite your beliefs, I do in fact listen to other people."
Cuddy just rolled her eyes as House walked away. Cuddy was left alone, debating whether to stay with Aly or to go tell Wilson.
-------------
Cameron was frozen, but finally regained composure. She made her way over to the doctor's stool and sat down. "It's probably either a cold, a sinus infection, or a rhino virus." She looked rudely and intently at the patient who was now staring down at her badge.
"You don't look like Dr. House," said the smirking man.
"You know," said Cameron very rudely, "I find it kind of odd that YOU of all people would request House."
The patient smirked and simply said, "Just wanted to check up on him."
Cameron stared intently. "He's fine, okay?"
"How'd rehab go?"
"Fine."
"Not looking too hot yourself... Dr. House." He laughed at his attempt of a joke, but appearantly Cameron didn't find it too funny.
"It's Cameron."
"I know, I --"
Cameron stuck her two fingers out and poked the patient in his cheeks, right below the eyes.
"What the hell was that for?!" said the patient rubbing his cheeks as Cameron looked back down at the chart.
"It's a rhino virus." Cameron could hear tapping on the glass wall behind her, and she finally stood up. She turned around and peered through the closed blinds, finally letting out a laugh. "Gimme a second." She left the patient alone and went to see her visitor.
"House! You can't just--" Her voice trailed off and the patient stood up, off of the examination table. He peered through the blinds to see Dr. Cameron joking around with House. House was... smiling?! He couldn't hear anything they were saying, but he noticed House tell Cameron something. Cameron immediately swung herself onto House in a hug, who fell to the ground. Cameron put her hand to her mouth and stood up. She helped House up, and they both laughed it off as House popped a vicodin. Cameron forced the pills immediately back into House's pocket as she peered at the blinds. House asked her a question, and Cameron answered it, pointing to the exam room. House looked interested and angry. He followed Cameron into Exam Room 1.