Okay, Part IV :)
It's a little short, but Part V will be longer. And I'm working on Part VI.
Cameron drifted into the smoky, dimly-lit bar with Mark a step behind her. It was about ten after 6, and 'Mary's' was perhaps half full: doctors, nurses, and interns, some she recognized, others she didn't, were scattered among the crowd, dominating the population.
Past the bar to her left, Cameron walked down the short two-step landing to a table where Chase and Foreman sat waiting, beer in hand.
They looked up from their conversation with a smile of greeting.
"Hey" Foreman called over the music, extending a hand to Mark.
"Glad you guys could make it".
Cameron and Mark sat down opposite the boys and smiled.
"Thanks man. This was a good idea" Mark smiled, shaking Foreman's hand.
Chase lifted his half-empty beer glass in salutation.
"We got a pitcher" he informed.
Mark nodded and poured himself a glass of the amber-colored ale.
Cameron shed her leather jacket and draped it over the back of her seat. She had changed into tight-fitting, dark blue jeans and a chocolate brown, peasant-style tank top with cream lace decorating the V-shaped neckline.
Her dark locks were pulled into a smooth ponytail; her wispy bangs hung in a soft arc over her forehead. She looked casual and stunning at the same time-- a truly understated beauty.
Foreman picked up the remaining empty glass to fill for Cameron when she shook her head.
"No thanks. I'm good" she smiled lightly.
"Oh, come on Cameron" Foreman teased, "you're not driving for a while".
"It's not that" Mark interjected.
He waved over a nearby waitress: "Grey-goose martini?" he ordered.
The waitress nodded and left to retrieve the order.
Cameron's mouth dropped open slightly in awe. She laughed.
"I can't believe you remember that!" she exclaimed.
Mark shrugged and drew in a deep swallow of his beer.
"I'm not that dim" he scoffed.
Cameron smiled, shaking her head.
"If you recall, I was the one to get you drunk for the fist time?"
Cameron grimaced.
"Oh I remember. That's probably why I don't like beer" she retorted.
Foreman smiled at them.
"So, Cameron says you two grew up together?" he inquired of Mark.
"Oh yeah" Mark tossed a casual arm around Cameron's shoulders, "Ally and I go way back".
Chase arched a brow in her direction: "Ally?"
Cameron smiled as the waitress delivered her drink. She sipped it, eyeing Chase over the rim.
"If you ever call me that..." she threatened.
Chase laughed and drank.
"So what brings you to Jersey?" he asked, turning his gaze on Mark.
Mark dropped his arm from Allison's shoulder and removed his coat-- he was handsome; well-built and toned beneath his faded black t-shirt.
"Just passing through" he said vaguely.
"What do you do?" Foreman persisted, leaning back in his chair.
"Mark's a guitarist" Cameron provided, "just went solo, right?" She turned to look at him with a smile.
"That's right. I was in Vegas with my band and... things didn't exactly go well. So, now I'm out on the road, scopin' out new prospects" he explained.
He picked up his glass and bobbed his head slightly, in time with the music.
Chase poured himself another glass of beer and flipped absent-mindedly through a menu.
"Do we want anything?"
House followed Wilson through the door, squinting against the poor light.
"Remind me again why we're here?" he grumbled.
"Male bonding" Wilson shouted over his shoulder.
"Remind me again why you changed your mind?" he questioned, sliding into a nearby booth.
"Sociological observation" House muttered, casting a furtive glance about the dim room as he sat down.
"What?" Wilson asked, unable to make out the response over the din.
"You said it" House answered, louder, "manly bonding-- don't get enough of it, must make time" he intoned dryly.
Wilson waved down a passing waitress who nodded at him as she continued past.
Wilson watched the woman go.
As she stepped away… "Hey" Wilson leaned forward, struggling to see in the smoke-filled haze, "isn't that Cameron?"
