Author's notes: Hahaha! Nobody wants Chase to get any action. Your reviews are hilarious. No clues on who Cameron ends up with, but this chapter focuses on Cameron's warped friendship with House.

I'm trying to write longer chapters because... long chapters rock.

"Any luck?" House asked.

Cameron looked up from her papers, noticing her visitor for the first time. She wore a dark red blouse underneath her white lab coat. The top two buttons were still undone in response to that afternoon's sudden stuffiness throughout the hospital. House leaned on the doorframe to her office, his cerulean eyes focused intently on the crystal paperweight that rested on the edge of her desk. His jaw was covered in rough stubble, his dark hair disheveled in its usual fashion. She could sense that she was about to partake in one of House's circuitous conversations.

Cameron narrowed her eyes, her lips curling into a playful smile. "Are you spying on me, Dr. House?"

House snapped his fingers in feigned resignation. "There's just no getting past you, is there?"

"Guess not."

Cameron stood and picked up a large medical dictionary from her desk. She carried it to the bookshelf on the wall adjacent from where House leaned. House straightened slightly as she neared. He could almost taste the light vanilla of her perfume. She was close enough to feel the heat of his body – to sense his eyes slide from her face… to her neck… to…

"You are really enjoying this, aren't you?"

House's eyes snapped back up to find Cameron gazing questioningly at him.

"Come again?"

She willed herself not to smile. "These cases. You like watching us struggle, don't you?"

Relieved, House shrugged his shoulders in guilty acknowledgment. Cameron nodded; her eyes were bright with amusement. She slid the thick volume into its place among the other medical texts.

"Well, I'm glad I could be your source of amusement."

Silence settled throughout the room as the two doctors regarded each other. Cameron waited - her breath held - for House to say whatever he had come into her office to say. She saw the unfinished sentences and fragmented thoughts in his eyes. She tensed. Maybe this was something serious. House had never seemed so trapped in his own mind before.

"Is everything okay? You look like something is wro -"

"Would you like to go to lunch?"

"Lunch?"

"Lunch. A meal usually eaten at midday."

"Dr. House, it's... six o'clock..."

House regarded his watch. "Right."

Silence.

"Would you like a ride home?"

Cameron raised an eyebrow. "My car's in the lot."

"Right."

"Besides, I think I'll be staying here for a while. There's this really tough case that I'm working on." She leaned in confidentially. "Big prize if I figure it out fast enough."

House nodded solemnly and Cameron's smile faded.

"But I could use a break," she added softly.

The sky had settled into a deep rich blue. The beginnings of a half moon were tucked away beneath a small cluster clouds. Cameron and House sat next to each other on the concrete step of one of the hospital entrances. House watched the wind toss tiny strands of stray hair across Cameron's lips. She took a deep breath of crisp air, waiting for something - anything - to happen. Cameron had a long list of things she wished she could say to him, but this was his moment now. She had decided that tonight she would listen.

"Are you sleeping with Chase?"

Cameron laughed. Not exactly the deep, meaningful statement she had expected after the intense silence. She briefly considered not answering the question by simply stating that it was none of his business. But that night seemed like the night for complete honesty.

"After my husband died, I wasn't sure if I could handle being close to anyone again..." House squirmed noticeably. Cameron swallowed down a wave of annoyance. Her voice was sharp. "Short answer: No. I'm not."

House turned toward her. "I'm not good with sharing. People expect you to nod and sympathize and maybe pull some amazing advice out of your ass."

Cameron stood, her arms crossed. House looked up at her, the moonlight catching his almost pleading blue eyes.

House struggled to his feet and stood next to Cameron. She could barely hear him speak. "I just don't know what you want from me."

She paused.

"I'm not so sure that I know either."

They stood in silence. House cleared his throat as he timidly took her hand in his own. Cameron smiled to herself. They both looked into the distance as their fingers intertwined.