Title: Days Go By

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

Author's Note: To everybody that has reviewed: THANK YOU: - ) Keep bringing them on!

Quotes from last chapter from "The Breakfast Club" and "The Princess Bride". Hope this chapter is up to par! I'm trying to keep them in character as much as possible, so if they're not, let me know.

Complications

Cameron stared at House while he cleaned up their soup bowls. She was amazed at his seemingly sudden generosity. Coming to check on her, take care of her, make her food. Soup from scratch, no less! He even had the sense to pick up some of those biscuits you just pop in the oven to have with the soup. It was a little unnerving to see him so—domestic. But he was still the same old grumbly, snarky self. So that evened it out a bit. She smiled at her thoughts. God, she loved—Whoa, whoa, whoa there brain! Not love. You like him a whole damn lot, but not love……

"Something on your mind? Or are you just admiring me in all of my manly glory?"

House's question brought her out of her reverie. Cameron shook her head to clear it. "Uh… No. I was just thinking how this is the first time I've seen you eat anything other than a ruben. Quite shocking."

"I do eat other foods, you know."

"Really? Go figure."

"Where did this smart mouth come from?"

"Well, considering who I've learned from…." She looked up at him and batted her eyelashes.

House opened his eyes wide in mock astonishment. "Moi? No!"

"Yes!"

"Well, gosh. What can I say? I'm honored."

They both made their way into the living room to relax.

"How are you feeling now?"

"Much better," Cameron admitted. "The food did help. Not to mention the Motrin."

"Temperature time. Open up."

"Fine."

"Hey, no complaining. Faster your fever stays down, the faster you get better, the faster you come back to work."

"Mmmmbbbmm."

"What," he said, taking out the thermometer. "99.2. Much better."

"I said 'Speaking work, weren't you supposed to be there today?'"

"I took a personal day. Told the wonder boys to page me if there was an emergency."

Cameron laughed. "Chase and Foreman? The 'wonder boys'? Great nickname."

House wandered over to the piano. "Yep. Or does 'boy wonders' sound better?" He sat down and started to play.

She closed her eyes when she heard the song. "Fur Elise," she said. "It's my favorite song. Brian used to play it all the time."

His fingers paused as he heard the sadness in her voice.

"No, it's okay," she said. "Don't stop. Please."

They were silent for a while as he continued playing. He knew he shouldn't ask, but he couldn't help himself. "Tell me about him. Brian. What was he like?"

"He was a very warm and loving person. Not a mean bone in his body. Kind to everyone. He wanted to be a teacher." She laughed. "Third graders specifically. Said they were the best age to teach." Cameron got up to sit next to him on the piano bench. "He even used the cheesiest pick up line on me when we met. 'Did it hurt falling from heaven?'"

House gave her a look that said, "You fell for that?"

She laughed. "I know, I know. But I thought he was so cute at the time, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt. And it wound up being one of the best choices I ever made." She gave a sad smile and her voice caught a bit. "He was also the strongest person I've ever known. Even after he was diagnosed, he never let it get to him. He was strong up until the moment he died." Cameron looked up at him and House saw the shimmer of tears in her eyes.

"He was a very lucky man to have you to take care of him," he said with sincerity.

"No, I was the lucky one. He made me a better person… and he's the reason I became a doctor."

"I wish I could thank him for that."

She tilted her head a bit. "You know, you remind me of him a little bit. You have the same kind of strength."

House saw where this was going. And as much as he wanted it, he had to avoid it. Things were complicated already. They didn't need to get worse.

"Yes… well," he said, "we defiantly don't have the same bedside manner. You know, with the niceness and all."

"Mmm. That's right. It's terribly awful of you to be taking care of me while I'm sick. What a horrible, horrible person you are."

"And you know it."

She smiled at him. God, how he wished she'd stop doing that! House never used the words "beam with pleasure" about himself, but every time she smiled at him, he did that—on the inside, of course.

He cleared his throat. "Well, it's getting late. You should get to bed and get some rest. You could probably come back to work in a day or two."

"Yeah, I still feel tired."

"Come on, I'll even tuck you in."

They walked down the hallway in silence. As Cameron was getting her things ready for bed, House said, "I should get going. I unfortunately have clinic duty tomorrow and if I miss it, Cuddy will throw a fit and I'll have to beat her down with my cane."

"House… You could… uh… " Cameron's stomach did a flip-flop. "You could stay—if you want. I have the room."

"Sorry, that couch did not seem like the most comfortable place to sleep."

"No… you can stay right here," she practically whispered. "And you know talking about… Brian…" She looked up at him… "You…."

"I am not a substitute for him," he said gently. Was that all she thought of him as?

"I know you're not. I never thought of you that way." How did tonight turn into a spill your guts episode? "You are something completely different, yet just as amazing."

"Cameron—you are still not feeling well. Why don't you just rest and we'll talk more tomorrow." He knew how she felt but was totally shaken by her admission. He had absolutely no witty comebacks or sarcastic comments. This was an almost deadly serious moment between them.

"No, House. I am totally in my right mind."

"Allison—"

"Just stay," she said cutting him off. "You can roll up a blanket and make a barrier between us if you want. Just don't leave. Please."

He broke. It was the "please" that did him in. Complications be damned.

So he kissed her.