Disclaimer: Please see Chapter I.
A/N: This fic assumes that House keeps the car given to him in "Mob Rules".
Cameron lay, shivering, her flat stomach exposed, on a tabletop in the now closed, and therefore dark and solitary clinic.
House raised his focus from the wound to her face.
"Okay?" he questioned, concern almost fully-hidden from his eyes.
Cameron forced a weak smile and nodded,
"Just cold."
House smoothed the gauze over the slash in her left side which he had cleaned and inspected.
"At least you won't need stitches" he said brightly, rolling to the nearby counter on the wheeled stool to retrieve a small metal tray displaying two wrapped syringes.
He filled the first with a clear liquid and presented it to her,
"Tetanus" he explained.
Cameron nodded and bit her bottom lip, closing her eyes against the brief pain.
She turned, hearing the clatter of the syringe into the trash, and looked at House.
Raising the second, wrapped syringe into her view, he tied the recognizable rubber tubing around her left upper arm.
She knit her brow faintly.
"Just in case" he answered her silent question.
"You never know where a guy like that has been".
Cameron exhaled slowly and relaxed against the crisp table-top of the clinic bed.
House deposited the blood sample into a sealed container and listed the necessary information on the label, slipping the package into his pocket.
"I'll get the results in a few days" he intoned.
Cameron nodded, smiling lightly.
"I know".
House smiled lamely.
"I guess you do".
He reached out and smoothed the edge of the tape against her white skin, brushing the warm flesh gently with his fingertips.
Cameron shivered slightly as goose bumps washed over her flat stomach.
Blinking, House stood and eased her up.
Cameron pulled her tattered and bloody sweater down over the exposed flesh and swept her dark hair over her left shoulder as she leaned forward above her knees.
House stood before her, watching closely.
Cameron, who for all intents and purposes, had remained remarkably calm and composed, now began to tremble.
House looked on painfully as a tear found its' way to her soft lips.
Removing his sports coat he draped it over her quivering shoulders.
"You're going into shock". His voice was quiet, gentle.
"No" Cameron laughed, haltingly, and shook her loose hair.
"I'm just cold".
A second tear slid silently down her pale face.
Houses' blue eyes took in the trembling woman. He placed a warm hand on her wan cheek and smoothed away the salty tear with his thumb.
"You could have been killed" he sighed, cupping her face in the palm of his hand.
Cameron's lashes fell: her head drooped forward, landing softly on his shoulder.
Surprised, House rested his hand on the back of her neck tenderly. She was cold; pale.
When her forehead touched him she jolted upwards, startled.
House steadied her, gripping her hips gently.
"Cameron" he began quietly.
She shook her hair loose and blinked, focusing her eyes on his.
"Sorry" she said, her voice high and loud in the stillness of the room.
"I'm fine" she continued, sliding off the table.
Quickly, her knees buckled beneath her.
Deftly, House caught the falling woman and leaned her back against the clinic table.
"Allison" he ordered kindly. "Stop."
Cameron laughed weakly.
"I'm good. I just need... a minute".
House shook his head and pulled his jacket closer around her shaking body.
"You're not". He looked at her. "Come on."
Gripping her elbow he eased her away from the table, wrapping his left arm carefully around her waist and leading her slowly out the door.
"You know" he smirked, "I'd be allot more useful right now without this damn bum leg".
His words were joking, but Cameron could hear the pained edge to his voice.
She smiled and briefly squeezed the hand that supported her.
"No" she said softly, stopping suddenly to look into his face.
"Did I say thank-you?" she asked weakly.
House smiled.
"Yeah. Let's go."
House eased Cameron into the passenger seat of his red, '65 corvette and leaned over her body to strap her in securely.
He tightened his coat around her cold body.
Cameron tossed her aching head back and forth, gently leaning against the plush leather of his seat.
"What are you doing? I'm fine" she insisted, struggling to lift her head.
House laughed aloud.
"Yeah, and I'm Steven Tyler. Shut-up and rest."
He closed the door and rounded the car, taking his seat next to her.
By the time he looked over at her, she was already sleeping quietly.
The night air rushing past felt good on her face- refreshing.
Cameron opened her dark eyes and turned to look at House.
He was silent, intense, eyes focused ahead, but she could tell he was mulling something over seriously.
"Where are you taking me?" she questioned hazily.
Without averting his gaze, House spoke:
"Home".
