A/N: Good news, I'm going to try and post more often. This story has a lot of chapters and I'm working on a new fic with Hughville so I want this to be done and posted by the time that other fic is done. So enjoy! And thanks as always for the awesome comments :) We're thrilled you're liking it so far.

Chapter Four

"So how did it go on your hot date with Cameron?" Wilson asked House first thing Monday when they arrived at the same time.

"Fine."

"That's it?"

"Yep. I don't kiss and tell."

"I think you just did."

House laughed. "No, I didn't. I was a perfect gentleman."

"Right. See ya, House," Wilson said as they parted ways at the elevator. House went into his office to see that his team was gathered in the conference room, chatting about their weekend.

"How's the patient?" he asked them.

"Still alive," Hoffs, one of his fellows, said.

"Which is more than I can say for you," House snarked at her. "Gotten your first vaccine yet?"

"No," she said, sullenly.

"Well if you want to work here, I suggest you get on it. We all did it. And where's your mask? The pandemic is still upon us, you know."

"It's recommended, not ordered."

"Wrong answer. It's recently been mandated and this is a hospital," House snapped at her and tossed her a disposable mask. "Wear the damn mask. Or go home and don't come back. It's your choice."

"Fine," she said as she stood up, took off her lab coat, tossed it at House and stormed out.

"Covid cunt," he grumbled under his breath. "Well," he said as he tossed her coat on the coat rack, "that was like the trash taking itself out. Anyone else not want to wear a mask or get vaccinated? There's the door."

The other fellows shook their heads, as they were all wearing theirs. "Good, then let's get to work."

Cameron walked by and glanced into House's open office door and he flagged her down. She walked in. "Yes?"

"Wanna grab a drink tonight?" he asked her, trying to be as casual as possible.

"I'm working late. How about a raincheck?"

"Well, let's just stick to drinks."

She giggled and shook her head. "Okay. Maybe the weekend?"

He nodded, feeling like he'd just gotten the brush-off. He also noticed Chase checking her out and shook his head and mouthed the word "MINE" at him, causing Chase to look away quickly.

"I saw that," Cameron said. "That wasn't nice."

"Don't waste your time with the wombat. He'll break your heart into tiny pieces."

"Right. And you won't?"

"Nope. I'm not the love 'em and leave 'em man whore type. That's Wilson's racket."

Cameron laughed again and sauntered out of his office, swaying her hips for House's benefit, which he appreciated.

When she returned to her own office, she gasped when she entered the room to find all the chairs stacked precariously on top of each other. Once she caught her breath, she took all the chairs down and put them back where they belonged.

"Not when I'm at work," she muttered as she sat down at her desk and turned her computer on. She had a lot of work to do that day and the last thing she needed was to be taunted by a poltergeist. They usually didn't come to work with her, but when they did they liked to make their presence known.

Ann ground her teeth in frustration. She followed House and Cameron out to that prison and answered their questions. Then, when they heard the truth, they left. When Ann piled the chairs up in Cameron's office, it backfired. While Cameron seemed startled at first, she simply put the chairs back in place. Ann watched Cameron as she settled at her desk. Cameron trusted House. Everyone trusted him and admired him. However, all Ann saw when she looked at him was Magistrate House. It didn't matter how respected he was or how kind he appeared to be. She must get her revenge so she could move on and be with Evan and James.

A thought occurred to her; Cameron could sense her presence.

Slowly she got up and approached the lady doctor. Leaning in close, she summoned all her remaining strength.

"Can you hear me, Doctor?" she asked.

Cameron's head shot up. "Who said that?"

Ann sagged with relief. "I am Mistress Ann Wilson. An ancestor of Doctor House had me hanged. You must help me exact my revenge upon him."

Cameron looked around in shock. "No! I won't do that. House isn't the one who killed you. Go toward the light!"

Ann howled in frustration and caused all the lights to flicker as papers swirled around the room.

"I must avenge myself!" she shouted.

"I won't help you hurt him!"

Ann howled again and vanished.

Cameron took several deep breaths to center herself. Once she was calm, she put her hands on her desk. "Well, shit. That explains a lot."

"Dr. House," Cameron called to him when he entered the lobby.

"Dr. Cameron," he replied. "How was your weekend?" he asked, and gave an over-exaggerated wink, which made her giggle.

"It was fine. How was yours?"

"Spooky. But then, Halloween is coming."

"That it is. Are you going to the fundraiser?"

"I don't want to, but Cuddy wants to parade me in front of the donors like a show horse, so I will have to show my face, if even for a little while. Thank God there's an open bar. Between you and me, I think the idea is stupid. The fundraiser is always held in April so why she suddenly wants it on Halloween night of all nights is even more ridiculous."

"There might be a reason for it."

"Oh yeah? What's that?"

"Haven't you noticed Dr. Cuddy is acting strange lately?"

"Strange how?" he asked.

"I haven't been here very long but compared to how she is now, to the way she was when she hired me, there's something different and...I guess, off about her."

House was intrigued. "Off?"

"Yes. I know how crazy it sounds but over the last couple of weeks, I've noticed it. As I said, I know I don't know her very well but…"

"Since you keep saying that, you don't know her at all."

"Not as well as you, apparently," she said with an edge to her voice.

House arched his eyebrow at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know damn well what it means. I can't avoid the rumor mill. For some reason, people like to share gossip with me, but that's as far as it goes. They say you and Dr. Cuddy have a history."

"It's not much, but yeah. So?"

"So you know her better than most. You and James. And you haven't noticed how weird she's been acting?"

"I try to avoid Cuddy as much as possible because I hate the clinic and she uses it as a form of power and control. Although she hasn't banished me there in a while. I thought it was because of you."

"Me?"

"I know you two have become friends. I thought maybe you had a hand in my relief from clinic duty."

"Sorry, no. I think Dr. Cuddy is simply distracted by other...things."

"What things? This place runs like a well-oiled machine. She knows everything that goes on."

"I have a question for you, purely hypothetical," she said.

"Of course. What is it?"

"Do you believe in possession?"

"No."

"Do you believe in reincarnation?"

House shrugged. "I've never given it much thought. But I like to believe that we go around with the same people from life to life. It explains why you immediately dislike a person, or feel like you've known someone for years. And who knows, you and I could have been lovers in a past life."

Cameron blushed and looked away. "Interesting theory." Just then, her pager went off so she checked it. "I have to go. Can we talk later? Perhaps you could take that raincheck."

"Perhaps," House nodded and watched her run off, shaking his head in wonder. On that note, he headed to Cuddy's office and stood outside, looking in, watching her through the glass doors. When nothing seemed amiss, he headed to Wilson's office.

"Notice anything off about Cuddy lately?" he asked his friend.

"Off? No, I can't say that I have. But then I haven't really seen or spoken to her lately. Why?"

"Cameron seems to think something's up."

"Yeah, well, Cameron is weird," Wilson chuckled, but wasn't expecting to get smacked by House. "Hey! What was that for?"

"That was low, even for you."

"She dumped me! For whatever stupid reason."

"I can't blame her. You called her a kook. A lot of people are capable of being empaths, and seeing and feeling spirits. What's so weird about that?"

"Most people keep it to themselves."

"So?"

"She said they spoke to her and told her things about me. Things that not even you know."

"Oooo," House said as he sat down. "Like what?"

"I'm not telling you. Anyway, it doesn't matter. Why? Are you going to date her?"

"I might. She seems to be interested, although I can't think why."

"Me neither."

"You're a very hurtful person sometimes. Anyway, we had fun at the prison. She has all these cool toys to talk to the dead."

"I know. She showed me. It's all crap."

"Spoken like a true Jew."

"Well, that was rude," Wilson muttered as he went back to writing in a chart. "You can go now, House. I have a patient coming in about ten minutes and I have to get this done."

"Whatever," House said as he got up. "I think I will go out with her. After all, I need to undo the damage that you did."

"Whatever. Don't waste your time, House. Her legs are locked together at the knee."

"Yeah right."

"It's true. She's a dead lay."

"I guess I'll have to find out for myself."

"I guess you will. Good luck with that," Wilson told him with a wave of his hand.

XXX

Cuddy looked up when Cameron knocked on the door to her office. She put her pen down and smiled.

"Come in, Allison," she called out.

Cameron entered and sat down in one of the chairs facing Cuddy's desk.

"Are you free on Friday night?" Cameron asked with a smile. "I need help with my costume for the fundraiser on Sunday night. I have to pick it up but it's huge and I could use some help. The owner of the costume shop said it will take two people just to get the box out to my Jeep."

"Sure. I'll bring wine and we'll make a night of it."

Cameron looked at her intently. "How are you feeling these days?"

"I'm...fine," Cuddy said with a forced smile.

Cameron could sense Ann in the room with them. She smiled brightly.

"Well, how about you meet me at Arlene's Costume Shop in Toms River at about four o'clock? They mostly do costumes for theatre companies but I found what I was looking for there."

"We can pick up dinner on the way back," Cuddy suggested.

Cameron stood up and nodded. "Sounds good. Do you have your costume yet?"

"Yes," Cuddy told her.

"No, she doesn't," Ann whispered in Cameron's ear. "But she will."

Cameron laughed. "Great. See you on Friday."

"I'm looking forward to it," Cuddy smiled before she turned back to the paperwork on her desk.

Cameron left and found a quiet spot in an adjoining hallway. "You have to leave Cuddy alone," she whispered.

"No, I do not," Ann told her. "How is it you are the only one I can communicate with in this realm?"

"I can sense spirits. Sometimes I can hear them faintly or see a brief image of them. This thing with you has never happened before."

She heard Ann laugh. "Perhaps my rage and thirst for vengeance gives me great power."

"House isn't like your ancestor. He would never hurt anyone."

"I have to achieve my revenge so I may join my beloved," Ann told her.

Cameron sensed her leave and shook her head. "There has to be another way."