Dr. Allison Cameron checked herself over once more before joining the stream of nurses and patients entering PPTH. She tried to tell herself she wasn't nervous, but she always felt self-conscious beginning a new job or starting new classes. It wasn't that she was regretting her decision to join House's team, but the closer she got to his office, the more real everything became.
Cameron glanced at her watch, breathing a sigh of relief. She was exactly on time. Turning the corner, she noticed that Chase was sitting with his back to the door, perusing a case file. Dr. Eric Foreman, a good friend of theirs whom Chase had known in med school, was pouring himself some coffee and arguing with House about the case. Dr. Remi Hadley, whom House insisted on calling Thirteen, was a relatively new addition to their friend group, but someone who Cameron trusted and who knew everything about her past.
Taking a deep breath, Cameron opened the door and strode in as confidently as she could. All eyes immediately turned to stare at her and everyone fell silent. If the situation hadn't felt so tense, Cameron might have laughed. The absurdity of what they were all doing was unreal. Yet, if any of them slipped and House began to suspect that not all was as it seemed, he might begin to look into her past. And too much rummaging around in the past was guaranteed to bring trouble calling.
Before she could introduce herself, House did it for her. Gesturing theatrically, he cried out "Dr. Cameron, how good of you to join us. I'm Dr. Gregory House. The Brit is Dr. Chase. The felon is Dr. Foreman, and the mysterious one is Thirteen. And your wardrobe, excellent choice." And with that, he turned back to his whiteboard, pleased with himself.
Finding her voice, Cameron acknowledged him. "Drs. House, Chase, Foreman, um, Thirteen, it's a pleasure to meet you. Unfortunately, I won't be able to start work this week. I'll be tying up loose ends at the clinic. I'll see you Monday morning at 9am. That's when you actually start your days, isn't it?" This last statement she addressed to Foreman.
Foreman grinned at her. "9am unless we're already here working on a case, staying overnight, or otherwise being forced to come in at an unnatural hour."
She nodded. "9am Monday morning it is. Until then, gentleman, Thirteen. Oh, and start him on immunosuppressants." And with that, she turned to walk out.
"What?" House asked, preventing her from leaving.
As casually as possible Cameron glanced back at House. "Your patient, joint pain, fever, rash – it's lupus. Treat him with immunosuppressants."
Walking purposely out of the room without turning back, Cameron heard House mutter something about it never being lupus and Foreman counter with a review of the relevant symptoms. She smiled. Working with the team was certainly going to be interesting.