Disclaimer: Still not mine... sad, really.
A/N: I've never recieved so many reviews for any other story! Thank-you, thank-you! lol. You're all so very kind, and I love that you're enjoying my work :) I apologize for the multiple re-posts. I'm having issues editing here :P
ACMD- Yes, I do know it's a good thing to update quickly :) lol. I try to update quickly-- I usually like to post one chapter, while I have a new chapter in my notebook, and I'm working on the next one. Now that I'm done Spring classes, I'm writing in my free time. I'll do my best to keep working to update every day or few days.
Belligerent-road-pylon- Awww, thanks! You're comments were so uplifting and kind:)
Avelynn Tame- lol- what a lovely, long review! You know, I've never actually read The Catcher in the Rye, but to be compared to such a prestigious and well-known work is such an honor, thank-you:) I'm glad you liked that line-- someone from the FOX board said the same thing. It was my goal to build on Houses' reaction to Wilson in "Role Model"-- when Wilson taunts House saying "What makes you think I haven't put the moves on her Cameron". Someone in the FOX boards described the ensuing look as-- "I'll break your legs". I loved that, so I was attempting to increase on that. Thanks again:)
jeevesandwooster- Don't worry, I don't plan to "string him along" much longer. :) And, you know, I considered having Wilson tease him, but I think that Wilson knows when to push it with House and when to back off, and I wanted this to be a "back-off" moment. My above comments, about increasing on the "I'll break your legs" look is part of the reason why I did it this way. But don't worry, after this chapter, the next will see a return of the goading Wilson :)
Okay, well, that was long! Enjoy:)
Cameron fought to ignore the insistent ache that had settled behind her serene eyes. She stretched her white neck and finally relented. Cameron rose from her seat at the conference table just as House entered with Foreman following a few steps behind. Sighing softly, she lowered herself back into her seat as House passed without looking at her. Foreman seated himself beside Cameron and brushed her bare elbow lightly with his fingertips.
"How you feelin'?" he questioned in a low voice, brow raised in Houses' direction.
Cameron smiled weakly and nodded: "I'll be okay."
House turned to face them when he reached the front of the spacious room.
"It's almost four—where the hell is the kidney case?" he grumbled, his accusing gaze boring into Cameron.
The young woman simply blinked her long lashes and crossed one lean leg over the other, assuming a look of infinite patience.
"Infection—she can't risk being moved" Cameron answered, gesturing to her cell phone as it rested on the table top.
"Maybe tomorrow, if they can bring her fever down."
Cameron fixed her calm eyes on House and fought the urge to grimace in discomfort at her aching temples. House nodded and turned sharply towards his office. The glass door closed soundlessly behind him and Cameron released a long sigh, closing her eyes against the piercing light.
Foreman leaned forward, craning his neck to peer at her with concern.
"Why don't you take off? It's nearly five anyway" he said simply.
Cameron's lashes fluttered open and she took a moment before her lips dipped upward slightly.
"No, I'm alright" she sighed.
"Besides, like you said—it's almost five."
She pushed herself upward, moving gracefully out the door and down the hall.
Cameron paused; hand poised mere inches from the solid oak door. She drew a shaking breath and knocked twice, softly, and waited.
"Come in" a muffled voice called.
Cameron turned the knob and entered the carefully-arranged office of James Wilson. She smiled warmly, and his face lit as he looked up from his paperwork.
"Allison" he smiled, his pleasure melting into a concerned frown as he rose quickly.
"You alright?" he questioned, stepping away from his desk with every intention of circling it to reach her.
Cameron strengthened her smile and waved him off, taking a step closer to his darkly-varnished desk. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'm fine, I just…" she paused, feeling foolish.
Wilson rounded his desk and took her by the elbow, leading her to a nearby chair. Cameron shook her head gently at his tug and caught his concerned gaze.
"I'm fine, really. It's just my head" she explained.
Wilson's mouth opened in understanding: "Ah…" he breathed.
"Still aching, huh?" he asked, leaning over his desk to slide open a drawer. He withdrew a prescription bottle of ibuprofen and popped the lid.
Cameron nodded again. Wilson handed her two small tables and she smiled her thanks.
"Maybe you should go home—rest" he suggested gently. While Wilson had no doubt Cameron's head was aching, he had his suspicions as to the actual cause.
Cameron struggled to swallow the pills dry and raised her ivy eyes to his.
"It's already four" she smiled, "I'll be okay. Thank you; I don't usually take anything, so…"
Wilson nodded, perching himself on the edge of his desk to face her.
"You wanna grab some coffee? I usually find that helps" he propositioned.
Cameron hesitated, drawing her bottom lip between her teeth slightly. Her eyes wavered over his.
"I… shouldn't" she said quietly, averting his gaze.
Wilson arched a brow. Cameron cleared her rough throat and lifted her eyes to his once again. She smiled through her headache.
"I just have paperwork to finish" she assured him, "and by the looks of it, so do you" she teased, nodding towards the clutter of documents on his desk.
Wilson nodded slowly, his mouth set in a grim line. He blinked, rising from his spot, and returned to his seat behind the desk. Cameron smiled weakly and turned to leave.
"Allison" his voice was quiet and straight-forward, but still soft and un-accusing. She turned to face him.
"I hope you don't think…" Wilson began awkwardly.
Cameron's brows rose and she stepped towards him.
"No; no…" she insisted, "I just…" she sighed, dropping her gaze to the floor.
Wilson watched her from across the room as she attempted to choose her words.
"He's just…" she said at last, eyes lifting slowly to meet his, "he can be difficult. And at lunch…" Cameron scoffed.
She shook her head and moved to the empty chair facing the desk. She crossed one long leg over the other and rested her elbow on the cushioned arm, fingers gripping her pulsating temples. She inhaled deeply and straightened her lean frame in a composed manner.
"That's just Greg" Wilson assured her, linking his fingers on the top of his desk as he leaned towards her.
"For a scientific man, he tends to jump to certain assumptions" Wilson smirked slightly, his face not devoid of irritation.
Cameron rolled her green eyes and scoffed softly.
"Exactly…" she agreed quietly.
Wilson straightened and gestured with a strong hand, waving off her concerns.
"He's difficult, yes. His reaction today was… not unexpected, but…" Wilson hesitated—while he fully anticipated Houses' jealousy, the fervor of his reaction was surprising.
"That doesn't mean we can't be friends" he assured her.
Cameron nodded slightly and exhaled, scolding herself for her stupidity.
"But…" Wilson began slowly, "if you don't want me to take you to lunch again, I won't". His voice held a hint of playful sarcasm.
Cameron laughed—a gentle, melodic sound like a gentle breeze rustling through a field of bluebells.
"No" she smiled softly.
Wilson's lips drew into a mild curve as his chest relaxed.
"You're right." Cameron rose from the chair slowly, "thanks again."
She turned and drifted out of his office, closing the door behind her.
Noticing Wilson's door open, Stacy approached with a smile. True, she and James had remained in contact, but it was few and far between. Despite the awkwardness she felt spending her days at Princeton Plainsborough—after everything that had happened—she had to admit she relished the opportunity to spend more time with her old friend James Wilson; he was so easy to be with and they slipped into the old routine effortlessly. Greg, on the other hand…
She paused, a few feet from the open doorway, at the sound of voices. A woman, Stacy realized. A wry smirk crossed her fine features and she rolled her dark eyes dramatically—James Wilson, always the ladies man.
"If you don't want me to take you to lunch again, I won't" James's voice was low and deep.
Gentle laughter followed—'Wilson's latest conquest?' Stacy wondered absently.
"No, you're right".
Stacy knit her brow—the sultry voice of Wilson's guest seemed… vaguely familiar.
"Thanks again" the voice was closer now and Stacy instinctively drew back from the open door, taking a step towards the wall.
Her eyebrows twitched upward slightly as the slim form of Dr. Allison Cameron stepped from Wilson's office, pulling the door softly closed. Stacy took in the woman's appearance in one languid motion of the eyes—she was without her lab coat or suit jacket, her bare arms exposed in the dusty-rose colored v-neck that clung to her modest curves. Stacy noticed, for the first time, how attractive Dr. Cameron truly was.
Stacy stepped from the shadows and watched Cameron's curving frame as it disappeared down the hall and was surprised to feel a wash of relief that she hadn't been seen. She furrowed her brow, exhaling slowly. Dr. Cameron was young, true, but not too young. And she was certainly beautiful. These two factors, Stacy imagined, likely played a role in Cameron's hiring.
Stacy unconsciously smoothed her flowing skirt, stopping to gaze at the back of her hand. Certainly she was an attractive woman—her husband, Greg, many men had told her so, or made their opinion clear—but she was aging and, she feared, past her prime.
"So this is the one who's captured your heart?" she breathed softly.
Stacy shook herself from such nonsense; she was married, and Greg was free to make miserable any woman of his choosing—she had no say in it anymore.