Title: Aftermath

Rating: PG-13

Spoilers: Up to "Babies and Bathwater"

Disclaimer: I don't own 'em. Nope, just don't.

Summary: Cuddy saved the team and vanquished Vogler, but all is far from well...

Author's Note: In case no one noticed yet, I'm switching between House and Cameron's perspectives. It's a shame, too, because this chapter would have been inifinitely easier if it had been done in House's.

House, M.D.

Cameron sat in the passenger seat of House's corvette, looking out the window. They had been driving for about twenty minutes and neither had said anything. Brilliant, Cameron. You get in a car with your boss, with no idea where the hell you're going. What is this, 'Ignore-every-safety-rule-you-were-ever-taught' Day? She snuck a glance over at House, whose eyes were focussed on the road ahead. "Where are you taking me?"

"You'll see."

Cameron groaned, "You have no idea, do you?"

"Of course I do. What kind of idiot do you think I am?"

Cameron giggled slightly. She couldn't resist, "The kind that practically drags his coworkers into his car without knowing what comes next."

House looked away from the road just long enough to frown at her, "Very funny. Do you want me to kick you out right here?"

Cameron paused, pretending to think about it. "Actually, yes." She paused for a moment, then added, "And I'm still going to kill you if I miss my flight."

She watched House roll his eyes and waited for a response, but none came.. After a few more minutes, the car stopped. "We're here."

Cameron turned her head to look out the window. "A park?"

House gave a small nod and climbed out the car, waiting for Cameron to do the same.

She stepped out slowly, taking in her surroundings. It was a small park, with just a slide, a set of swings, and a sandbox, but it was nice. "Where are we, anyway?"

House shrugged, "Just outside the city."

"How do you know about this place?"

House shrugged again, but didn't answer, instead walking over to the swings and sitting on one.

Cameron followed, sitting on the swing next to him. Smiling, she got herself started on the swing, high enough to be enjoyable, but low enough that she could still talk to House with ease. "Why here?"

"There's no one else around," House replied. Then, after a moment, "Besides, you're relaxing."

Cameron slowed down until she was still swinging but barely, digging her feet into the dirt as she had done as a child, "Yeah, I guess I am. It's just that... well, I haven't been on a swing set since I was a kid. I forgot how much fun it is."

House's hand shot out and grabbed the chain that held one side of the swing up, and Cameron turned to face him. As the words came out of his mouth, Cameron had to fight the urge to back away.

"Don't go."

"I don't want to," Cameron said softly. She could feel tears welling up, and struggled not to let them flow. "But I can't do this. I can't go to work every morning, know that I'm going to see you, have you so close... I just can't." Oh, no.. No, no, no.. I can't cry. Not here, not now... Not in front of House... She looked up at him for a brief moment, seeing what almost looked like pain in those brilliant blue eyes, she continued,with more conviction, "And this can't happen." No matter how much I want it to.

"Would you have said that before Vogler came in and screwed up our lives? Before you performed your extremely selfish act of sacrifice? Before -"

Cameron cut him off, not wanting to hear any more, "I don't know. Probably not. But it happened, all of that. And there's nothing we can do about it. And it may suck, it may hurt like hell. . . But it's real. No matter how much you wish it wasn't."

"You're not talking about us anymore."

It wasn't a question. "Not exclusively, no. God, I'm sorry, House. I'm just... that is, I... Sometimes I just want to scream."

"Why don't you?"

"What? Are you serious?" One look in House's eyes told her that he was very serious indeed.

"Why not?"

Cameron paused for a moment, thinking it over. Then, a smile slowly spread across her face, "I will if you will." She waited for House's answer, and when she recieved a small nod, her smile grew. "On three. One. . . Two. . . Three. . ."

Both clutching the chains of the swings they were on, they lifted their heads to the sky and screamed.

They fell into a companionable silence for a few minutes before Cameron spoke. "That felt. . . really good."

House smirked, feeling considerably more relaxed than usual, "Of course it did. Just what the doctor ordered."

"Yeah. Thank you. . . Doctor." Cameron stifled a yawn.

"Come on. It's late and you need rest."

Cameron looked up and laughed, "Oh, now you care."

House ignored her and helped her up.

Maybe coming back wouldn't be so bad after all...

T.B.C.