Summery: Just
read…
Spoilers: Up until "Control"
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: You know I don't own it! I play.
Song owned by Ryan Adams.
House gave her a look of disbelief. "Excuse me, but did you just order me to take off my pants?"
"Yes I did. So get moving."
"You've finally gone 'round the bend, woman."
"I'm serious, House. Come on."
"No. No freakin' way."
"I want to clean up your knee and look at your thigh."
"Roll up my pant leg then."
"It won't roll that far up."
"Sucks for you."
"Listen," she said, starting to lose her patience, "I'm giving you the choice to do it yourself or I will forcefully do it. You must really be deranged."
"I'm deranged because I don't want to take off my pants?"
"No, you're deranged because any normal man would jump at the chance to drop trou in front of a 'stunning' – to use your description—woman." She leaned down to look him right in the eyes. "Plus, it's only fair. At least you're awake. I was out cold when you had to strip me."
"Now that's not fair," House said, trying not to bring up the images of a nearly naked Cameron. It was extremely difficult.
"Okay, here's the deal. I'm going into the bathroom to try and find something to clean your knee with. When I come back, you had better be de-pants." She went back to the bathroom.
How on earth did he get himself into this mess? Cameron telling him to strip. He must admit, though, this was not the situation he had expected to hear those words. Actually, he never imagined hearing those words until sometime between last week and this week, when he broke down his own walls. With Wilson's help. Which confused him. How could a guy who's been married three times really know that much about women? Maybe it was because he was married three times…
Well now, there was only one thing to do. Obey the lady. And get the scotch.
Cameron walked back into the room with hydrogen peroxide and some cotton. "You really need to straighten up in there. I had to dig around the cabinet under the sink for 10 minutes just to find the peroxide."
"You were only gone for 2."
"Yeah, well you still need to sort shit out."
She looked at him for a second. He must have gotten up, because he now had a bottle of Glenlivet next to him, with a glass half filled. His head was turned away and beneath the stubble, his cheeks had a slight pink tint to them. And the pants were off."Oh dear," she said, with a laugh in her voice, "Is the poor doctor shy?"
"No. Annoyed," he said looking at her.
"Awww. Now see," she said taking in his plain black boxers, "I would have taken you for a tighty whitey man." House just glared at her.
She got down on her knees in front of his leg, examining the abrasion. "It's not so bad. I don't even think you need to cover it. I'll just clean it and it should be fine." She poured some peroxide on a cotton pad.
House looked down at her. "I envisioned this situation in a totally different manner."
Cameron looked up at him, smiled, and placed the peroxide soaked pad on his cut.
"Hey, careful," he hissed, jerking. "That shit burns."
She kept on smiling. "Yes, it does. Now quit being a big baby." She finished up quickly, and moved up to his thigh.
He grabbed her hands before she had a chance to touch him. "I told you, you don't need to look at that."
Cameron looked him in the eyes. She was surprised to see some sadness there. "Yes," she said softly, "I do." She took her hands back and slowly pushed up the leg of his shorts.
House's thigh looked like any other thigh, except for the long, thick white scar that ran from the top to an inch and a half above his knee. It was maybe a bit thinner for lack of muscle, but otherwise a normal thigh. "Does this hurt," she asked, pressing gently.
"It always hurts," he said.
"Humor me, would
you?"
He sighed. "Not any more than usual. The Vicodin
should be kicking in anyway."
She moved her hand around the outside of his leg. When she pressed, she heard him catch his breath. Cameron moved her hands and looked down. There was an ugly looking bruise on the outer portion of his thigh. It looked like it was now the size of a baseball, but there were still yellow discoloring that gave away its original stature.
"Oh god, House, what happened?"
House looked at her. "Do you remember anything from Sunday?"
"Just that I fell asleep on the couch after you came and then woke up in my bed the next day."
"Do you know how you got into bed?"
"I guess I got up and walked?"
"Not exactly. You were in lala land from the fever. I put down my cane and helped you to your room."
"And that's how you got that bruise?"
"You passed out halfway there and took me down with you."
"Oh." She flushed slightly.
"Yes. You know the coffee table in the hallway. My leg and the table had a disagreement. The table won." He looked over at her. "Why on earth do you have a coffee table in the hallway?"
"Brian had a problem remembering to take his meds. He thought if he had to pass them every day, he'd remember better." She laughed a little. "I still had to remind him to take them half the time."
An awkward silence filled the room. After a minute, Cameron cleared her throat and said, "Ahh… you could… put your pants back on now. Not much I could do for a bruise. It's too late to ice it."
House finished the rest of his scotch, pulled on his pants and poured himself another glass.
"Can I get some of that?"
He raised his eyebrows at her. "You drink scotch?"
"Why not?"
"Interesting." He wandered into the kitchen to get some ice and another glass. He poured her just a little bit. "Here you go."
Cameron took a sip and her eyes immediately watered. She swallowed hard and tried not to cough.
He laughed. "Do you like?"
She raised her chin and downed the rest defiantly. That bit went down much easier. "Refill."
"Are you going to get drunk? 'Cause if you vomit, you have to clean it yourself."
"I can hold my liquor."
"Care to test that theory?"
"I am not going to have a drinking contest with you!" She sipped some more scotch. The stuff wasn't too bad. Made her feel nice and warm on the inside. She decided to get up and wander around, unconsciously swaying to the music in the background.
"This place isn't half bad."
"I'm so glad you approve," he said, dryly. He got up to follow her.
"Well, it could use some… pictures or something," she commented, finishing her second glass. Was it her, or was it warm in here?
"Ahh. A woman's touch?"
"That's it!"
"Are you offering?"
"Sure," she laughed. "I see a lot of pink in your future."
"I think not."
She laughed again at the look on his face. Then she tilted her head and closed her eyes.
"What's wrong," House asked.
"Nothing. Just listening. This is my favorite song on this album."
"Ah the night...here it comes again"
It's on with the jeans, the jacket and the shirt
How'd I end up feeling so badFor such a little girl
Cameron opened her eyes and looked at him. "Want to dance?" The alcohol was making her brave.
"Uh… No."
"Why not?"
"I can't," he said tightly, moving to go sit back down.
She grabbed his cane out of his hands. "What the hell, Cameron?"
"Can't or won't?" She threw the cane on the couch and took his hands in hers. "It's easy. One hand here," she placed his hand on her hip, "and the other here." She placed the other on her opposite hip. "Now just sway." Cameron wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his shoulder.
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
Feels so good but damn it makes me hurt
And I'm too scared to know to how I feel about you now
La Cienega just smiles..."see ya around"
House held himself stiffly and swallowed rapidly a few times. She was doing it to him again. Making him go all soft and un-House like. And she felt really, really good. He couldn't let it happen again. He couldn't be with her. He couldn't…
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
And raise my glass 'cause either way I'm dead
Neither of you really help me to sleep anymore
One breaks my body and the other breaks my soul
La Cienega just smiles as it waves goodbye
He was losing the battle.
"Ah the night...here it comes again"
It's off with the jeans, the jacket and the shirt
"Allison?"
How'd I end up feeling so bad
For such a little girl
"Yes?"
And I hold you close in the back of my mind
Feels so good but damn it makes me hurt
"Are you... drunk off those two drinks?"
And I'm too scared to know how I feel about you now
How I feel about you now
"No."
La Cienega just smiles and says, "I'll see you around"
"Good."
House leaned down and kissed her.