Disclaimer: I do not own House MD; it is created by David Shore, and affiliated to FOX Broadcasting Network.
Parings: House/Cameron
Rating: K+
A/N: Thanks again reviewers, you guys rock :D So here's more . . .
Enjoy!
Not Without Flaws
Chapter 4
As Cameron looked down into House's mesmerizing orbs, she prayed that he could not hear the heavy pounding of her heart.
She tried to pull her head back but instead, she breathed out. ". . .House . . ."
House passed out.
Maybe it was the phenol, maybe it was the gentle heaving of Cameron's chest, or maybe it was the warmth of her breath on his lips, when she uttered his name.
> > >
House opened his eyes. The world slowly adjusted itself into focus. What in the . . .? He tried to prop himself up and noticed his elbows received little support. They sank into the soft padding underneath. House grunted. Where am I? He looked down around him and realized that he was in a bed.
"Coffee?" Came an unmistakably familiar voice. "How are you feeling?"
"Cameron?" House frowned, still feeling dazed. "What are you doing in my room?"
Cameron let out a small laugh and arched her brows. "I should ask you the same thing!" she walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Here." She extended the mug that she had in her hands. "This'll make you feel better."
"What?" House looked slightly alarmed as he managed to sit himself up, ignoring Cameron's offer. "This is . . . your bed?" A thousand possibilities flashed through his mind and for the first time in his life, House wished he was wrong.
"What did you think?" Cameron swerved the mug, letting the bittersweet aroma of the coffee beans fill the room. "I'm not going to hold this all day you know."
Vaguely, House accepted the mug. He didn't look too well. "Umm . . . Cameron . . ?" his eyes strayed ahead; they were glazed.
"Yeah?" Cameron cocked her head to one side questioningly.
"We didn't . . . uh . . ." House spun a finger in the air, straining for a way to word his concerns. "You know . . . do anything . . . did we?"
The outburst of Cameron's laugh was enough to relieve him. Damn. I can't believe I just asked—you crippled old fool, Greg . . . Cameron was definitely not about to let him off the hook with this one. "Do anything?" she mimicked. "Did you really think you'd get that lucky? Yeah . . . maybe in your dreams." She gave another laugh.
House gave himself a mental beating, how could he have been so careless. He got his act together before speaking again. "Taking advantage of a cripple and then denying it? Save some dignity!"
"Taking—? Is this how you always thank people after they save you?" Cameron sat in a bit further on the bed, causing House to retreat his leg hastily. "Ugh." The pain seared through his thigh, he gritted his teeth.
"House?" Cameron looked worried.
"Oh don't just sit there! Where's my Vicodin?" He reached down to his pant pocket, but to his horror, found himself in his boxers. "Shit. You not only take away my lifeline, but leave me helplessly in shame?" House glared, thankful that his undershirt was still on.
Cameron explained defensively. "After you passed out, I found Dr. Wilson, who carried you in here and—"
"Don't lie." House cut in. "I know that's not true. Okay, so maybe I did pass out . . ." he was having flashbacks. "But I know Wilson would never—"
"Well apparently, he and his wife were in a dispute. He didn't think bringing a mean-spirited old man home would help with the situation. Frankly, I agree." She gave him and blank look before continuing. "So . . . I volunteered to take c—responsibility of you—"
"Wait a minute. Cut all that crap. My point was—you stripped me down?" he raised an eyebrow.
Cameron rolled her eyes in response. "Use some common sense. If I left you in your clothes, you would have caught a cold after you woke up." She paused. "Just be grateful that I 'stripped' you down, and not Wilson."
House pondered for a moment. "Huh. Point taken." He brought the mug to his lips and let the warmth of its contents regenerate him. "Mmm. Good. But not good enough. I need my Vicodin; the leg is killing me." He held out a hand palm up.
"Alright." Cameron retrieved House's pants from a nearby chair and tossed it to him. "There. It's waffles for breakfast, don't complain." She started towards the door.
"Breakfast? I slept the night here?" House looked bewildered. Phenol shouldn't have kept me out that long . . .
"You were tired no doubt. Don't blame me. You're the one that slept so long."
"Well . . ." he set the mug aside. "As long as you didn't use any date rape drugs . . ."
Cameron chuckled and shook her head. "Hurry up and get dressed, the waffles are getting cold." With a smile, she left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
House found his Vicodin bottle and dry swallowed a few. Curse that girl for being so . . . obscenely niceHe sighed and laid back, spreading his arms out on the bed linen. A faint pang of lilac reminded House where he was. He sat up abruptly and swung his legs over the side. Damn it Greg . . . this is not good . . . you have officially spent a night in your gorgeous female co-worker's bed. House shook his head at himself and quickly slid his pants on. He reached for his shirt. It lay on the chair, neatly folded.
> > >
Cameron was opening the kitchen cupboards when House hobbled into view. "Honey syrup?" She asked. "Or maple?"
"I don't think I can take any more sweetness." House pursed his lips slightly. "But . . . maple." He moved over to the table and pulled out a chair, inviting himself to a seat.
Cameron reached up. Damn it. The syrup bottle was only inches away. "A little help here?" she motioned with a tilt of her head. House exhaled and got himself up, starting toward her. "How did you get it there in the first place?"
"I must have shoved it in a bit too far and . . ." House had stopped behind her. He was so close. Cameron angled her head ever so slightly and looked into his sapphires. This is just like a replay of that time in the lab . . . She inhaled as House reached up with his arm and retrieved the bottle with little effort. "Here." He turned to face her.
". . . Thanks." Cameron breathed out. She wanted to kiss him so bad right now, it hurt. House saw the petty recoil in her body language and the flicker of distress in her brows. "Heartburn?" he inquired nonchalantly, his voice soft.
Cameron's lips broke into a sad smile.
"I think it is."
She looked away, breaking the eye contact they had held for so long. She made her way to the table and took a seat. House followed silently and sat down next to her.
"Well . . . have you . . . tried any medications yet?" House asked, unsure. He knew what she really meant by heartburn.
Medications? How can you ask me that? Cameron felt her eyes start to water and forced it back. She poured some syrup on her waffle unhurriedly. "No . . ." she picked up her knife and fork. "Because I know they won't work."
A small silence donned the room before House spoke. "You shouldn't ignore it." He poured a generous helping of syrup on his own waffle and started cutting. "It'll get worse if you don't find something to ease it." He stuck a piece in his mouth and chewed. "Mmn. Pretty good."
Cameron had only start to cut her serving. "Thing is . . ." she lifted her head and looked him in the eyes. "The source, and the treatment . . ." she lingered for a moment, ". . . are one."
A/N: I'll have to balance doing this story and my other one 'The Line Between Truth and Deception' (give it a try if you want). But I think I'll write one chapter for this, then one for the other. :)
ACMD
