Disclaimer: Same 'ol, same 'ol.
A/N: So, I'm home sick today and I can't spend much time on the computer because the light makes my head ache.
This chapter is a bit shorter than the last, so you're aware, but there is another chapter coming. It's in my notebook, and when my head clears, I'm already into part VI.
Thank-you ever so much to Avelynn Tame for pointing out to me that I wasn't allowing anonymous reviews-- I had no idea. I'm not sure how much it will matter, but I apologize to any shy people who have been unable to review at your leisure-- I didn't know. It has been amended. Also, Avelynn, thanks so much for your very kind comments-- I love when people elaborate (although, of course, short and to the point is just as brilliant) because it helps me to gague what you like and what I should continue doing-- details make the world go 'round :)
Thanks so much to everyone and please enjoy :)
Eric Foreman looked up from a magazine article on Growth Hormone Deficiency in children as Cameron entered the conference room.
"Hey Cam" he greeted casually.
Cameron forced a strained yet pleasant smile and set her paperwork down, dropping into a seat across from him. Foreman knit his brow, taking in his colleagues' worn appearance.
"You okay?" he questioned, closing the magazine and dropping it onto the table top with a soft 'smack'. He leaned forward, examining her more closely.
Cameron reached up and gripped the back of her aching neck, stifling a yawn. She forced herself to brighten and nodded at him.
"Three hours contorted over a microscope" she laughed softly, hoping he would accept such a plausible excuse.
Foreman grimaced and stood, moving towards the half-empty coffee pot. He poured a fresh cup and adjusted it withone-percent milk and an artificial sweetener, stirring slowly as he returned to the table. He set the cup down in front of Cameron who opened her eyes and released the hold on her neck. She smiled genuinely and brought the cup to her lips.
"Thank-you Eric" she breathed, inhaling the rich scent before taking a sip.
Foreman cocked his head and smirked in a pleased manner. Coming to stand behind Cameron he grasped her delicate shoulders in his strong hands and squeezed. Cameron brought the cup away from her mouth in surprise ashe applied greater pressure, moving his thumbs in slow circles at the base of her neck. Cameron drew a sharp intake of breath at the slight spasm of pain and moaned softly.
"Mm… you're good at this…" she chuckled softly, setting the cup down.
Foreman smiled and gripped her shoulders again. Cameron exhaled slowly and closed her aching eyes.
"Mmmm…" she breathed again.
"Foreman?" Chases' sharp cut through her reverie. Cameron's eyes flew open and Foreman released his grasp on her shoulders.
"What, exactly are you doing to her?" Chases' coy voice teased from behind them.
Foreman rolled his dark eyes and turned to face the third member of their team.
"Nothing nearly as lascivious as you're prone to in your off time". Foreman's rich voice was crisp with irritation. He paused, discovering as he turned that Chase was not alone—House stood just behind the Australian doctor, holding the glass door open as he stood at the threshold.
"I should hope not" House said flatly, prodding Chase with his cane to move past him.
"I have serious reservations that at least half of what Chase does is even legal in this state". He came to a halt at the white board and turned to face Cameron whose cheeks were dusted with a vague, rosy hue. Foreman cleared his throat and returned to his seat across from Cameron.
"I'm all for kink" House continued, eyes skimming between Cameron and Foreman in a half-playful manner, "I just think Cuddy would unwind if such… 'lascivious' behavior was going on under her expensive nose—at least find a room that's not entirely made of glass" he quipped, raising a brow at Foreman before moving to the coffee pot.
Foreman rolled his eyes as Chase stifled a chuckle and dropped into the seat next to Cameron. Cameron picked up her cup and sipped its' soothing contents, attempting to hide her blush behind the coffees' heat.
"So, whadda we got?" House questioned, stirring his cup and turning to face them. He hobbled slowly towards the center of the room to stand before his team.
"Nothing" Foreman said flatly.
Cameron set her cup down and fixed her neutral gaze on House.
"You have a referral from March coming in at three—progressive kidney failure; everything comes back negative".
"Maybe he just needs a new kidney" House said dryly, his 'humor' not lost on the three.
"She, and if it was as simple as that, March wouldn't be sending her to you" Cameron responded dully.
House arched a brow and nodded: "Right—I'm 'da man; I keep forgetting".
He swallowed the last of his coffee in a large gulp and handed the empty cup to Cameron.
"Well, have fun 'til then. Wake me at five". He moved towards his adjoining office, pausing at the threshold to turn and face them.
"Oh, to hell with it" he said suddenly.
The three doctors gazed at him in confusion.
"To what?" Chase queried.
"To Cuddy" a wry smirk tugged at Houses' attractive lips. "Let her unwind. In fact, I'd pay to see it. Foreman, feel free to make Cameron moan whenever you like, just memo me so I know to bring a video camera".
He entered his office, the glass door closing soundlessly behind him.
Chase released an explosive laugh but silenced it at Cameron's fierce glare. Clearing his throat, he rose hastily and left Foreman and Cameron alone. 'The Clash' filtered through the silence from Houses' office and Cameron sighed, moving towards the sink to empty her cup and deposit both cups into the basin.
Foreman bent to pick up her stack of papers and handed them to her as she approached. He laid a warm hand on her upper arm and raised a sympathetic brow.
"Don't let him get to you" he said gently.
Cameron smiled convincingly but her eyes held no mirth.
"Oh—I can handle that, don't worry" she smiled.
Foreman squeezed her arm slightly before turning to open the door for her. Following Cameron out of the conference room, he nodded his goodbye and strode in the opposite direction. Cameron fixed her gaze forward and passed before Houses' office with a careless grace borne of genetics and much experience suffering difficulty.
House knit his brow, leaning back in his chair, leg propped on the desktop. His head moved slightly to the rhythm of the music flooding from the speakers yet his icy-blue gaze followed Cameron's path across his windowed domain.