"It Doesn't Hurt To Love"
Chapter Six- Vindication for the Past
author's note- I have got emails critizing the age difference. I hoped no1 would notice (ha,ha) to make it realistic,I had to slim the difference down.Hope you don't mind. Also there are medical terms in this chapter, and I am NOT a doctor, so they are probaly wrong.
House arrived at his usual time for work: late. He limped across the busy hallways of the hospital, trying to pretend he didn't notice the stares. More stares then usual. He smiled, it must be a world record for gossiping. House swiftly made his way his oasis, his office. On the desk, his mail was already sorted by Cameron, like it is every day. He flipped through the envelopes looking for something actually important. Patient Complaint. Invitation to some Nurse's baby shower. Another Patient Complaint. A note from Cuddy, saying he has to spend his lunch time in the clinic. He was about to throw everything in the trash, until he found a foreign, unsealed envelope. It read 'Dr.Gregory House' in big black, script letters. No return address. Then he noticed the curly 'g' in Gregory. Cameron he thought. He opened the letter.
Dr.House,
Are you free at lunch time? Also, are you aware that the whole hospital knows? A patient in the clinic this mourning asked how my new found love life is going. Chase asked me when the wedding was. Must be a world record for gossip. Your probably thinking the same thing. Please stay exactly how you are, irresistible! Talk to you soon.
(underneath a big heart it was signed)
Your not so secret admirer.
In typical House fashion, he rolled his eyes and tucked the letter in his pocket. He was out the door and on his way to see what the day had brought him.
Cameron knocked on Dr.Cuddy's door.
"If you are anyone other than Dr.House or Satan, you may come in" Cuddy called from her desk. Looking up she watched Cameron walk into the room and take a seat. "Oh, sorry Allison. I didn't mean that little pun there. Sit down,Sit down" Cuddy pushed out a little, fake smile. "I suppose you want to talk about something. I'm all ears"
"I am guessing you know about House and I"
"Yes I do, doesn't mean I understand why, but I know."
"You OK with it right?"
Cuddy sighed. "Yes I am. As long this doesn't interfere with your work. if it does..."
"You'll have to transfer one of us"
"Wow, you seem to be a pro at this" Cuddy flashed a smile, but this time a real one. "I have been meaning to talk to you"
"About what?"
"There is an opening for a Immunologist Specialist on the other floor. Since this is your specialty, you might be interested. More pay, and you still would be working here. Of course you will have to receive additional training, but I can replaceyour clinic hours with an internship"
"Well, I don't know."
"I am not expecting an answer now, over the next few months. Allison, you are smart. There is less of a demand where you are right now. You help out your team incredibly, but you would be doing more good by yourself. Just think about it."
"I will" Allison couldn't help but be flattered. She got up out of your seat.
"Your not leaving me just yet..." Cuddy crossed her arms "You have to tell me, about your 'boyfriend' "
Cameron sat back down and started to laugh. "He is a good kisser"
"Thats as far as you went.. right?"
Cameron nodded. She told Cuddy the whole story. "Allison, I like you a lot. You know, you can always come to me as a friend right? I have belief in you, just not the other half in your relationship. I am not his #1 fan."
"Thanks Lisa" She got up now and hugged her "I should be going now" Cameron left the room. Cuddy picked up the her office phone and dialed Wilson's number.
"Hey James, Its Lisa.. Uh Huh. Yes. I will like to add into the pool. $50 that it will last 3 weeks. Thanks." she hung up the phone, and continued her work. At that moment, she couldn't help but feel like a bitch.
"About time you got here Cameron. Don't expect any special treatment." Cameron swatted her hand in his direction and sat down, drinking her cold Coffee.
"Chase, who is our next headache?" House asked
"45 year old Male. Collapsed in the freezer of his restaurant. Extreme Pressure in his chest. Burning sensation."Chase read off his board.
"Heart Burn?" said Foreman
"No, his syptoms are too severe" Chase replied
"Sounds like Angina, simple enough." House said, proud of himself
"Thats what Dr.Zimmerman suggested. He prescribed him Sectral. It decreased his heart rate"
"Chase, thats what Sectral does." Cameron added
"I am not dumb, but his numbers became extremely low, even on the medication." Chase passed the board to House. Looking at his test results, House nodded in agreement.
"Come on, think. I wanna get this over with. I have to spend my only lunch hours in the clinic, so I don't need anymore work, come on." He looked at Cameron, she flashed him a smile. She took the look as an apologue for not being able to eat lunch with her.
"Sectral is typically prescribed to those with stable Angina" said Foreman
"Your point?" House snickered
"My point is, he might have unstable Angina.The Sectral decreased his already decreasing blood flow. Thats why it is dangerously low."
"If he has Unstable Angina, that means he had a heart attack." Cameron concluded.
"No, Dr.Zimmerman ruled the heart attack out." Chase pointed out
"He could be wrong, like he was with the Sectral"
"Dr.Zimmerman may be a sorry excuse for a doctor, but not a complete retard." House looked over the patients charts. "He was in the freezer right? When he collapsed?" The Ducklings nodded. "Alright, its Prinzmetal's Angina. Activated due to exposure to cold. Chances are he has Coronary Artery Disease also. Test him for that. It will come up positive, so treat him for it. My job is done. I'll be in the clinic. Kill me now." House walked out.
"Alright, who is doing the tests?" Chase asked.
"I think you two should. I told you every detail about my weekend earlier, its only fair" Cameron said
"Nope, you did it willingly" Foreman and Chase laughed.
"Did not. I am taking my lunch break now. Page me if anything goes wrong" Just like her boyfriend, she walked right off the door.
"How come she always wins?" Chase asked. Foreman shrugged his shoulders.
Cameron walked around the block to her usual lunch spot. Of course she usually ate with Rob, Lisa, James, or Eric but they were all busy today. She walked into the coffee shop and ordered a muffin and a cup coffee. Today she ordered Expresso, she need something strong. In the corner, she saw Stacy, house's ex and new hospital lawyer, reading the paper. She had never seen Stacy here before. Stacy probably wanted to come here, but always say Cameron's usual group and the window and decided to leave. 'Please don't let her see me. Please don't let her see me.' the thought kept repeating in her mind. "Allison! Come sit dear" 'Shit!' She could treat diseases, solve medical mysteries, and even get into Gregory House;s heart, but she really wanted to learn how to disappear. Unwillingly, she turned around, waved, and sat down a Stacy's table.
"Funny seeing you here. Small world, huh?" Cameron let out a small, nervous laugh and then sipping her coffee.
"Yes. Really small world. We meet up at lunch, work at the same place, and your dating my ex! Ha!" Stacy smiled. Cameron on the other hand, almost spit out her coffee. She was caught off guard.
"Oh, dear. I don't mean that in a malevolent way. Not at all" Stacy said
"How did you find out?"
"Same way everyone else did. Word spreads."
"I figured that"
"I want to let you know, I have no intentions on making any passes at him. Trust me."
"If you don't mind me asking, why did you leave him?"
"I left him because of him, quite honestly. He is the most stubborn person I ever met. I got to the point where I couldn't stand him. I don't even know why I got involved with him."
"Thats his personality. Nothing you can do about that. Being stubborn can be a good thing"
"And how is it good?"
"He stands up for what he believes in."
"What he believes in is usually wrong."
"No, its usually right."
"Uh Huh, what about his leg"
"He didn't want it amputated. House made that choice. He suffers from severe pain and has become addicted to Vicodin. It was his choice, I think he would done things differently, but he is overall happy"
"You think he is happy? How? My husband is happy. When he is with me. We laugh. We snuggle. When he is watching his favorite football team win. Thats happy." Stacy finished her coffee.
"You must not know him like I do."
"You have been involved for a few days" Stacy gave Cameron a blank look
"And thats all it took me to learn a lot more about him then you ever knew and ever will." Cameron was proud of herself, she never really stood up for for much in her life. Unless it was a patient.
"I should back off, happiness means different things to different people. Maybe he is happy now."
"Love means different things to different people"
"Your smart, no wonder your a doctor." Cameron's beeper, beeped. it was from Cuddy. 'Thank god!' she thought
"Duty calls, I should leave"
"Allison, one thing. I am happy for you. You obviously like House, more then I did, I have to admit. Things weren't always bad, when I was together with him. Thats not the point. Allison, I think we should be friends. or at least try to be. What do you say?" Stacy looked up, watching Cameron get up and open the door. Stacyfollowed.Cameron smiled then shut the door on Stacy's face.
Cameron gritted her teeth. Had she actually done that to her? Cameron realized she was out of character. She stopped walking. Should she apologize? Did Stacy apologize to House? Probably not. If she did, it probably wasn't sincere. Cameron continued walking.
"Lisa you beeped me" Cameron said
"Oh yes, you I was wondering where you were, you over stayed you lunch hour" Cuddy replied
"Sorry, I was tied up in a conversation"
"With Stacy Huh"
"How did you know?"
"I am a woman, I can tell by the expression on your face. So did you slap her? Rub it in her face?"
"I kind of wanted to" Cameron laughed.
"Thats my girl! I really don't like her. But she needed a job. She is a very good lawyer though."
"Yes she defiantly is a typical lawyer."
"And we are typical doctors, bad mouthing lawyers." The new friends looked at each other and broke into laughter.
"Bye Lisa, I have to go check on my patient"
"Alright, I have to go check on your boyfriend, a nurse said he made a twelve year old boy burst into tears in the clinic" Cameron couldn't help but laugh. She walked into the meeting room.
"How is he doing?" she asked
"He is doing good, House was right" Chase said rather proudly
"Nothing more we can do other then have the nurses keep an eyes on him, while he is getting treatment. Then he can go home. He'll have to take heart medication for the rest of his life though." Eric said
"You know what that means, since House is covering the Clinic, and we have no other patients we have nothing to do!" Chase clapped his hands like a little girl. Eric put his feet up on the table.
"For once we can slack off!" Eric said as he turned on the TV. All three of the Ducklings sat around the table, watching General hospital (which House taped). Cameron just couldn't concentrate. Stacy kept filling her mind. Cameron had a whole lot of guilt. What comforted her was that after leaving House, Stacy deserved it. After a couple hours, Wilson came in.
"Don't tell me House brainwashed you?" Wilson said in a worried voice.
"Nah, we're 'slacking off'. Wanna join?"
"Sorry for disappointing you, but I could use your hands. I have a patient who is not taking the cancer thing all too well. Throwing a temper tantrum." Wilson said. Both Chase and Eric moaned but agreed to help.
"Sorry, but I have to go check something out before I leave today, since my shift is almost over..." Cameron said. Wilson knew she had to see House, so he let her go.
Cameron sat in the Clinic waiting room for about 20 minutes. When all the patients were taking care of, she walked into Exam Room 4, where she would find House. She shut the door behind her and sat on the exam room table. House's back was facing her.
"Shit I thought I was done, whats your problem? If it isn't that tragic, just leave." he said, slowly turning around realizing it was Cameron. He smiled "Sorry, I didn't know it was you, thought it was some sick person"
"I missed you" She said
He closed the bln, and locked the door. Then he walked over to her, kissing her lips, soft at first, but it became rough.
"I see you missed me too." she laughed, gasping for breath. "How was your day?"
"It was horrible, until now."
"You were right about the patient."
"Aren't I always?" he smirked "What did you do today.?"
"I had a talk with Stacy."
"She didn't harass you or something. Cameron, I swear, I will cane her." he picked up his cane and waved it. Cameron's happy expression changed. He put his arm around her.
"I can handle her. She kept saying you were stubborn and unhappy. I defended you and she replied something nasty. I was about to lose it. Then she apologized and asked if we could be friends."
"And you said..?"
"I just closed the door on her face. Literally"
"Wow, Allison. Good Job.Are you sure you are OK?"
"Yea, I feel better, now I talked it out"
"Thats why you like talking about things, he makes you feel all happy. I like Just taking it out on someone, like I do with Cuddy." he laughed. "She is probably looking for me"
"Yea, have fun with Wilson tonight. Remember you have limits"
He laughed and rolled his eyes. She kissed him once more before they made their way at the door. the walk down the hallway, laughing. Out of the blue, Stacy appeared.
"Hello Allison. Greg. Allison, we should talk again. I didn't mean to hurt you." Stacy said
"I am a little busy right now" Cameron tried to smile, but nothing happened. House grabbed a nurse and whispered something in her ear. The nurse immediately escorted Stacy away.
"House what did you say?" she asked
"I told the nurse to take her back to the "special" floor.And that she escaped from herpadded room" House said, smiling a corky smile. Cameron burst out into laughter. Her mancame toher rescue.