Title: Days Go By

Summery: Now what happens…
Spoilers: Up until "Control"
Rating: PG, maybe PG-13
Disclaimer: You know I don't own it! I play.

Author's Note: To goodmorningstarshine: That review made my day! Never been someone's favorite author before! Yay!

Bonding Time

Eggs, half a loaf of bread, half of a half-gallon of milk, some rice, and a package of chicken in the freezer. That's what was in Cameron's entire kitchen. No wonder the girl is so goddamn skinny, House thought. There's no food here!

He decided to scramble her some eggs and toast. That should be light enough for her stomach to handle. As he was cooking, he caught his reflection in the microwave door. God, he looked like hell. He sniffed the air. He didn't smell too nice either. Usually, he carried some extra clothes and necessities in his car for emergencies. House decided to go downstairs to get his stuff once Cameron was settled.

"Here you go, madam. Eggs and toast."
Cameron scrunched up her face. "House…"

"I don't care. Eat. And I would have made something else—if there was something else."

"I've been laid up for the past week. I haven't been able to shop," she said, face reddening slightly.

"Excuses." He cleared his throat. "Can I have the keys to this place?"
Giving him a suspicious look, she asked, "What for?"

"I'm feeling unsanitary. I keep some extra items in my car and I was going to run downstairs to get them—"

Upon seeing Cameron's raised eyebrows, he said, "Fine. Hobble downstairs to get them. Are you taking insult lessons from Cuddy?"

She laughed and threw him the keys. "Watch out for Mrs. Johnson."

"Who? The one who dotes on 'poor, sweet Allison'?"

"Yeah. Watch her. She's a shark."

He opened the door to head out.

"Oh, House?"

"Yes?"

"You can take a shower if you want when you come back up. Soap and water I have plenty of."

"Oh. Thanks." He closed the door behind him.

House naked in my apartment, Cameron thought after he left. Am I insane? She felt her face get hot. Crap. I think my fever's coming back. Yeah. That's what that is.

She sighed and tried to force down some of the food.

>>

A shower sounded really good to House right now. But all he could think about was Cameron showering in the same spot. How could he… where she… girly smelling soaps… He sighed. It was Monday. It's been over 24 hours and he felt grotty. He could always go home and come back. No, that would waste too much time. He would have to go home eventually, though. Just not now. That was it. He had to shower.

No more thinking about that. He was still worried about Cameron. She needed to eat more and stuffing up on eggs wasn't going to cut it. As House grabbed his stuff out of the car, he had an idea. He remembered passing a grocery store a block away from Cameron's apartment. Looking at his watch he thought, 10 more minutes won't kill me.

>>

"Since when do your 'necessities' come in a nice, plastic Shop-rite bag," Cameron asked as House came back about 20 minutes later.

"Considering you and I both need food and there was none here, I made a pit stop."

"The eggs were fine. I don't need more food."

"Yes, you do. You are fighting a fever and I'm friggin' starving. It may not be a rueben, but homemade chicken soup is just what you need."

"Fine. Just don't blow up my kitchen."

"Again, I say 'shut up'." House went into the kitchen. He defrosted the chicken in the microwave and started cutting up the carrots, celery, and onions he bought. He threw the chicken in a large pot of water and set the heat on low. Now, all he had to do was wait for it to boil. He grabbed a bottle from the counter and went back into the living room.

"Okay, let's take your temperature again," he said.

"I hate these things," Cameron muttered, obediently trapping it under her tongue.

"Be glad it's not rectal. Even though watching you take off your pants…" He trailed away as she flipped him off. "Oh. Obscene finger gestures from such a pristine girl."

She choked on the thermometer as she tried not to laugh. Taking it out of her mouth, she said, "How are you going to get a proper reading if you keep quoting from my favorite movies?" She looked at it. "100.5. Still a bit up."

"What can I say? I work, listen to music and watch TV. I'm a bit of a nerd that way. Did you take more Motrin?"

"Yeah just a little while ago."
"Okay, we'll check your temp again in an hour. Here, drink this," he said handing her the bottle.

"What is it?"

"Gatorade. You've been vomiting and not eating. Water just doesn't cut it when you're not getting any calcium, sodium or potassium. You're probably mildly dehydrated."

"There is way too much sugar in this though!"

"What? Do you want Pedialyte or something? Not gonna work. You need the electrolytes. Drink."

"Can I at least get a glass?"

"No. Drink."

"Fine," she grumbled, taking a sip. "At least you picked a good flavor."

There was an awkward pause.

"So, Cameron," House said. "Is… ahh… the shower offer still available?"

"Yeah, sure. There are towels in the cabinet and shampoo under the sink."

He grabbed his bag and made his way to the bathroom. "I'll only be a few minutes."

"Take your time. I'm not going anywhere."

>>

There he was, standing in Cameron's bathroom, one towel wrapped around his waist, drying his hair with another, and steam fogging up the mirror. This was strange to say the least. He should be home, in his own bathroom. He was quite shocked, though. Head and Shoulders and Irish Spring soap. Nothing at all girly. She just kept on surprising him. No wonder he was falling for her. He paused mid-dry. Falling for her. That's the first time he admitted it to himself. He had been avoiding it for months, telling her no, telling himself no. He couldn't deny it anymore. House sighed and finished drying his hair and got dressed.

"A few minutes? I know coma patients who shower faster than you," Cameron quipped as he walked out.

"What can I say? I was in shock there was no poofy thing that smelled of a fresh spring day hanging from somewhere in the bathroom."

"Ha ha. Simple girl. Simple things."

"You are far from simple."

"Thank you. I think. Anyway, come sit. You're missing the movie."

"Just let me go check on the pot in the kitchen. I don't need to 'burn it down' like you think I will."

House took the chicken out and shredded it. Then he threw it back in the pot with all the veggies he cut up. Nothing beats a fever like homemade chicken soup. Let it simmer for a few hours and voila! Instant relief.

"What did you put on," he shouted as he seasoned the pot.

"INCONCIEVEABLE!"

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." Came blaring from the living room.

"Oh."

He finished up and went to join Cameron on the couch. "If I knew you were going to put on one of the movies I mentioned, I would have quoted from 'Debbie Does Dallas' or 'Deep Throat'."

"Shut up and watch, perv."