A/N: Sorry for the wait! I'm excited to be back to updating my fics in turn. It's been a little while as I wanted to complete at least ONE of my ongoing fics to try and relieve some responsibility. Having done so today, updates between the remaining stories will alternate fairly again, so shouldn't be as long in coming. That said, my reason for wanting to finish one might mean less free time overall!... Personal news from me- I made the exciting/ foolish/ oops/ oh dear/ big step of becoming a student again yesterday, so my time might be grossly limited. I really hope you'll stick with me while I come to the dawning realisation I've entered a whole new fresh breed of masochism :p But enough about me, and on with the story! I hope you enjoy this chapter, and please comment- I've missed you!
"Headed home?"
Hadley greets as she walks up behind Cameron in the locker room and slips out of her coat. She watches as the blonde pulls up the zipper of her jacket; still moving with a hint of caution that gives away recent events.
"Yeah."
Cameron replies hesitantly; glancing up at the clock which reads twenty past seven and unsure whether she should be perturbed or defensive. Noting the small frown adopted by her colleague, Thirteen offers a tight smile as she stashes her things in her locker and appeases swiftly
"I was just making small talk... I've never been very good at it."
"Oh."
The blonde shrugs awkwardly, before admitting in a more relaxed tone
"Me neither, to be honest."
"No?"
"No. I can get away with it to some extent, but it depends on the patient. I can act like I care because I do; I can talk for hours about what might be wrong with them and how it makes them feel... If they're hoping for a casual back and forth though, they're out of luck."
"Right. I just go in with the hope they'll think I'm hot and that'll distract them."
Hadley sighs, before catching the uncertainty that taints the blonde's smile and coming clean
"That was a joke... See? Not good at this."
"I didn't say anything."
Cameron replies politely, and the brunette chuckles as she points out
"Exactly."
Another courteous smile, and Thirteen sighs as she pulls her hair back and ties it in a ponytail.
"How's the patient?"
"... I don't know."
The blonde replies with a slight blush, and when Hadley frowns at this curious response, she admits quietly
"I haven't figured it out."
Her voice is low- plagued with guilt- and the brunette splays her palms as she reasons fairly
"None of us have."
"I know, but-"
"-You're worried we're expecting you to have all the answers because you've gatecrashed our case."
"It wasn't up to me, it was-"
"-Relax. I know. We all do... Don't let Taub get under your skin."
"I'm not, I just... I'm worried about losing this one."
"Yeah... Well, then you're lucky your shift's over. It won't be on your watch."
Thirteen sighs, before elaborating when she realises she sounds accusatory rather than bitter, explaining
"I've been dreading coming in all day. I know it's terrible to say so, but a part of me almost hoped it would be over, you know?"
"... You should never say that."
"I know. I know it's bad, I-"
"-It's bad to say it. Honestly, don't do it again, especially in front of the others... As for thinking it..."
Cameron shrugs as she lowers her eyes pointedly, and Hadley offers a tight smile as she watches the blonde pull her hair out of its tidy knot; inwardly musing on their little show of juxtaposition.
"Yeah, you'll admit to that? You?"
She teases, and the blonde frowns as she points out cooly
"You don't know me well enough to make that kind of joke."
"I've heard enough from Foreman, and I've watched you work down in the ER... What, you don't want me thinking you're nice?"
"Honestly, I'm not so sure being nice is all it's cracked up to be."
Cameron mutters, and Hadley raises a brow but doesn't push for the blonde to explain what she means. After all, Cameron had been right; she doesn't really know her well enough to continue with this awkward back and forth. What she does know, is that in spite of what the blonde seems to believe- and what some of the others have expressed rather loudly- she respects her. She has worked for House long enough now to know that only the strong of will survive, and her often volatile boss spares his ex-employee a soft spot that's plain to see. She has heard countless rumours of why that might be, but she knows- whether they're true or not- that House's rocky breed of fondness for the blonde has little to do with her appeal.
I could use some of that luck.
Yes, she could, as she imagines she's going to bear the brunt of House's frustration when she gets up to the office as he seems set on comparing her to the blonde (and accusing each of the other's failures), something sure to worsen astronomically if yet another one of their girls gives up on them while on her watch.
She's right, I shouldn't say it... But it almost seems unfair. That's not right, and I know it, but still...
"Hey, can I ask you something?"
She enquires as she snaps shut the padlock on her locker and looks up to meet green eyes. She can tell from Cameron's body language that she's keen to get going and she doesn't blame her, but true to form, the blonde nods agreeably and waits.
"How do you do it with House?"
"... What?"
"He likes you. I mean, I know there was that crap that went down the other day and it wasn't cool, but he does."
Silence, and the younger woman feels a little uneasy as there is something unreadable in the blonde's expression before Cameron answers her woodenly
"He doesn't like me any more than he likes you... Which he does, by the way."
"Really?... I mean, I'd hope so, but it's not the same, Allison, not at all. I feel like every time I say something, his only goal is to prove me wrong."
"Well, if he succeeds, then your theory was flawed. Look at it as a favour."
"He's constantly implying I'm not good enough to work my cases."
"He wants you to fight back... If you want a gold star for every case you solve, you're on the wrong team. But, if you want to learn something and get better with each case, then stick at it. It's why he's one of the best, and why you're lucky to be working for him, but you have to see it as a test and not a slight. It has to be worth it. If it's worth it to you... You'll make it."
"That's the answer? Just, 'take it'?"
"It's an answer. It's not the only answer, it's just my answer... But maybe you should ask Foreman; he's the one officially still working for House."
"By design, not by choice... And House accepts a working relationship with Foreman- some of the time- but he doesn't like him the same way he does you."
Thirteen insists, and Cameron shrugs as she indicates she has nothing more to say on the matter; turning to go before imparting quietly
"I wouldn't be so sure on that assumption... Good luck with the patient."
Slipping from the locker room at a brisk pace- anxious to get away and call an end to the conversation- she rolls her eyes at Chase who stands waiting at the end of the hall looking pointedly at his watch.
"What the hell were you doing in there?!"
"Girl stuff."
She replies, reaching up to tuck in the label of his scarf, and when he glances back at her with a lecherous smirk, she shakes her head and asks seriously
"Have you ever actually been in the girl's locker room?"
"Not when being used by said girls."
"Figures."
"How so?"
"Because that stupid look you get on your face when they're mentioned is the same look all inexperienced men get. I mean, what the hell are you imagining we actually do in there? It's a hospital locker room that includes a bin solely for scrubs stained with blood or vomit..."
"Well, that last part kind of kills it... But there are showers, and girls getting changed-"
"-Women, and you're right... That does go on in there... Damn, if only I was a guy; I too could be so easily pleased."
"Man."
Chase corrects her with a wink, and she rolls her eyes as she follows him down the stairs and out into the main entrance of the hospital.
"So go on, if you weren't in there giving one of the younger orderlies a sponge bath, why did it take you an age to put a coat on?"
"I ran into Thirteen."
"Hm, personally I just don't see it between you two, but go on..."
"She's worried our patient won't make it through the night and that House will take it out on her."
"Highly likely."
"She was asking me how to get him to like her... He does already, and I told her that, as well as why House is, well... Worth the crap he comes with."
"Yeah? How did you explain that one?"
Chase asks, and the blonde slips in front of him as he holds the door open for her, and replies simply
"I told her the truth."
"Dr House?"
A young man pokes his head around the door and addresses the greying doctor with an air of timidity. House looks up from his Gameboy with a frown; finally placing his visitor as one of the administration interns taken on over winter break.
"What?"
He replies gruffly, glancing over at his patient through the observation glass of the cleanroom before looking up at the clock.
5.26 AM.
She's lasted longer than he'd expected her to.
"Uh, I was sent up to let you know that there was a... A clerical error when booking in your patient..."
"What do you mean? She's a Jane Doe. What clerical work would that require?"
"A bag was mislabelled."
"What bag?"
House asks, pushing himself up with a wince as his leg has gone to sleep.
"She had one with her when she was dropped off. Someone was supposed to tell you, but..."
The young man trails off nervously, and House grunts at him as he limps past, commenting over his shoulder that it's a sign of weak character not to accept responsibility for one's mistakes. He doubts the man following him uncertainly down the hall would have the balls to admit to far less than possibly contributing to their patient's death, but he has no time to make the kid's life a misery.
"You."
He growls, looking back over his shoulder and pointing an accusatory finger at the man.
"Get that bag up to my office, and if you see any of my team, tell them to stop what they're doing and join me... And then get me a sandwich. I trust you can manage that much without error at least."