Rules of Engagement
Chapter Three-Be my Escape
Author's Note- Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. This chapter has a bit more action than the other two, so enjoy.
They had exactly thirty minutes to get to work. House was already dressed, but much to his dismay, Cameron was still in the shower. Frustrated, he moved to the bathroom and flung open the shower curtain. He didn't care that she was naked. Why should he? It wasn't like he'd never seen her naked before. Still, Cameron looked at him in disgust.
"I am leaving for work in ten minutes. Whether or not you're in the car with me is entirely up to you. Hurry the hell up!" He yelled, closing the curtain.
"Sorry, I slept late. I'll be out in just a minute."
He limped towards the bathroom door and almost tripped on an empty shampoo bottle, "I would appreciate you not throwing your hair care products on the floor. Well, I'd prefer it if they weren't here at all…" he picked up the bottle, "Herbal Essences, huh? How come you're not moaning in pleasure like that woman in the commercial?"
"Well, because only you can give me that much pleasure," She said, peeking her head out of the shower, smiling.
He laughed to himself, "Please don't get me too excited. Then I'll have to join you in there and we'll never get to work."
She stopped the running water and stepped out of the shower, onto the wet floor, "I'm sure you can control yourself," she said as he handed her a towel, "Thanks."
"You have ten minutes to get yourself dressed and any do all those other 'woman' things you always do in the mornings."
"Do my hair, put on my make-up, and get dressed in only ten minutes. I don't think that's possible."
"Well then, you better start now then. Try for a personal best; I'll be in the kitchen."
It took her sixteen minutes to get dressed. He would have left without her six minutes ago, but he was feeling unusually generous today. The drive usually took less than fifteen minutes, so if they hurried they would probably make it in time. House drove at his normal speed: fast. Everything was going according to plan, they were going to make it, until they pulled off the parkway. Traffic was backed up all the way through town. House let out a big sigh. A police officer riding a motorcycle came into view. He quickly lowered the window.
"We have to get to work. What the hell happened?" He shouted out the window.
"An illegal protest is underway on Main Street by the campus, blocking the traffic. We can't let anyone through."
"You're a cop, you've got a gun. Shoot 'em!" House felt Cameron slap his arm.
The policeman didn't seem aggravated, "I'm sorry, I can't do that. Let me assure you we are doing the best we can."
"Can't you somehow let us through? We're both doctors a PPTH. We have lives to save!"
"There is nothing I can do."
House opened his mouth to argue but Cameron covered his mouth. "Thank you officer," she said as she raised the driver side window, "I guess we'll be stuck here for a while."
"I guess so. I'll call Cuddy and tell her we're stuck in traffic," House flipped out his cell phone and dialed her office number. It was scary, but he knew it by heart.
"Cuddy, my buddy!" He said cheerfully into the phone. Cameron couldn't help but laugh.
"Yes, House?" She didn't seem amused.
"It seems Cameron and I are stuck in traffic. Some stupid protest on Main. Doesn't look like we're going anywhere anytime soon."
"None of your staff are here yet and you have a patient. She is stable but I need you pronto. Where are you?"
"Grand Street."
"Find a parking spot. You're walking."
"What!" He yelled, "It's…like…ten blocks."
"Good thing you always wear those stupid running shoes."
"But I'm a cripple—"
"—who is capable of walking. See you in fifteen minutes at the latest," with that, Cuddy hung up the phone. He moaned as he pulled his car over to the side of the road. After handing him his cane, Cameron got out of the car after him. He wasn't in a good mood as he popped a Vicodin and started walking.
"Come on, I don't mind walking. Its good exercise," she reached for his hand and held it tight.
"Does it look like I need the exercise? You'll still love me if I become fat, right?" he asked playfully.
"Of course I would. But I have a feeling you're never going to become fat. Now me on the other hand…"
"You? You're kidding me right? You weigh, like, what? A hundred pounds?"
"I gained a couple pounds in the last few months."
"You can't tell the least bit. Gaining a few pounds will do you some good anyway. Don't you go anorexic on me."
"You're not just saying that are you?"
"Nope. Scout's honor," he held up two fingers in Girl Scout fashion.
"You were in scouts?" She said laughing.
"So what if I was? I scored free cookies," They walked into the middle of town. Luckily for them, they were now surrounded by stores. Cameron just loved window shopping. Well, she loved any shopping. When she would try to stop and look, House would get annoyed and remind her of all the dying people. That didn't stop her, though, when she caught sight of a real estate office. For some reason, it intrigued her. In the window was a poster for a beautiful two story colonial house just outside of Princeton.
"Greggy, one day I think we should buy a house," she smiled, using the nickname, knowing it annoyed him.
"For God's sake, what did I tell you about calling me Greggy? We're going to be late and I don't want to deal with Cuddy," He tugged on her arm, pulling here away.
She gave in and continued walking, "But wouldn't it be lovely living in a house of our very own?"
"Yes it would. But not now. Maybe after the wedding; we've got enough to deal with right now without a house," he looked up at the street sign, "Main Street. Oh goody, only three blocks to go."
"We should start saving then. When I get the chance, I'll go to the bank later and merge our accounts like we talked about."
"Alright, I'll play along. What kind of house are you interested in?"
"Something nice sized. Nothing extravagantly big, though. Maybe one of those houses just outside of town…"
"You want to live in total suburbia?"
"It's not that bad out there."
"Come on, Cameron. We'll be living a Desperate Housewives' kind of life."
"I don't think you'd mind that. There is a lot of sex on that show."
"That's the only reason I watch it, other than the fact that you force me. Hey, we can role-play! You can be that hot model," his happy expression quickly changed. "You're not screwing the gardener, are you?"
"We don't have a gardener."
"If we move out to suburbia we will. I know I am not mowing the lawn," He laughed.
It took them twenty minutes and two Vicodin to walk to the hospital. When they arrived, Cuddy was waiting for them. House was expecting a scolding but surprisingly Cuddy had a smile on her face.
"Let me see the ring!" Cameron eagerly extended her hand. Cuddy looked impressed, "It's so beautiful! I am so happy for you Ally."
"Thank you so much," she said, leaning forward for a hug. House scrunched up his face in disgust.
Cuddy threw a file at him. She would have hugged him also if he wasn't such an ass, "You may have a good taste in engagement rings, House, but you still have to get to work"
"I'm in a good mood today, so I'll take that as a compliment," House gave Cameron a quick kiss on the cheek and walked briskly towards the elevator. House enjoyed the loneliness inside of it. He knew that once the word got out about their engagement it would be hard to find a moment of peace. Everyone would ask so many questions.
He was right. His alone time quickly ended when the elevator doors opened. There stood Wilson with a huge grin on his face.
"Guess what I got?" Wilson eagerly asked.
"An STD? I told you not to sleep with those nurses without using protection. Tsk, tsk," House chastised, walking right past his friend and around the corner to his office. Wilson followed closely behind. Obviously he didn't take the hint.
"Two box seat tickets to the Yankees game. In New York. I know you don't like the Yankees, but it will be a good game. Any plans Friday night?"
"I don't know, I guess I'll have to ask my fiancé," as soon as the words left his mouth he wanted to yank them back in.
"Your fiancé?" Wilson echoed.
Shit. "You have a hearing problem?" House stepped into his office. Wilson did what he wasn't hoping for, he followed.
"I don't think so. That's not the point. You proposed to her?" He asked. House gave no reply, "Congratulations!" Wilson gave his friend a hug. House was appalled, and made a face, but he didn't back off.
"When's the wedding?"
"May 20th. What is it with you people and all these questions?" House snapped.
"I never thought I'd see the day when you would start showing interest in women, let alone be engaged."
"That's a real confidence raiser."
"You're not giving me a straight answer."
"Do I ever?"
"No…"
"Then why start now? Now excuse me, I have sick people to treat," He grabbed his coffee mug and walked out the door. When he arrived in the briefing room, he found all three ducklings discussing the case, "Can't you wait for me? Jesus, I was just getting my coffee mug."
Chase was the first to speak, "We can't agree on a diagnosis."
"That's why I'm here." He began to read from the file, "Denise Rivers. 21-year-old female. Suffering from extreme dizzy spells, headaches, and an irregular heartbeat."
"A brain tumor. It would explain the dizzy spells and headaches," Foreman said.
"But not the irregular heartbeat." Cameron argued.
"Anemia." Chase muttered out.
"Which headaches aren't a symptom of..." countered Foreman.
"Its white board time!" House said as he limped without his cane, to the board. Grabbing a red marker he wrote 'Anemia' and 'Brain Tumors'.
"Maybe wrongful use of a medication. An overdose?" Chase said.
"Alright, good. Anything else we can think of that would cause at least two of the symptoms?" All three of the ducklings shook their heads. "Then let's pick a diagnosis and get the girl in treatment."
"We can rule out the medication because nothing came up on her test results." Foreman said.
"The tests results aren't always right," Chase debated.
"And neither are your ideas, we still listen to them anyway," Foreman snapped.
House cracked a small smile, "I second that."
Chase gave him a bewildered look, "What, that the test results could be incorrect?"
"No, that your ideas are mostly wrong."
"Before she checked in to the hospital she was out drinking at a bar. Alcohol poisoning would explain the palpitations," Foreman said.
"And we have a diagnosis! Schedule her for a CT scan," House said as he erased 'Medication Abuse' and 'Anemia' from the whiteboard.
"Oh no we don't," Cameron said "She just started to drink so that rules out long term drinking, which is the only way palpitations can develop because of alcohol," She got up and ripped the marker out of House's hand, ignoring the look on his face, and rewrote 'Anemia'. That was when both Chase and Foreman noticed the huge rock on her ring finger. Oh my god, they got engaged!
However, Cameron didn't notice this, "We'll run some tests to check her CBC count."
"Then what would explain the headaches?" House asked.
"Stress or a toothache. From the condition of her teeth I can tell she hasn't been to a dentist in years."
"Alright. First, take some blood and run it over to the lab. Then schedule her for that CT scan." he said.
Three different voices spoke simultaneously, "CT scan?"
"You all call yourselves doctors. Pfft! If it is anemia then you need to find the underlying cause. Therefore, you need a CT scan," House looked at the clock. Fuck, "Looks like I have clinic duty. Page me when the test results come back or something exciting happens. Or not."
Cameron and Chase stood side by side in the lab, watching the blood they'd taken shake back and forth in the mixer, the first test underway.
"When were you going to tell me?" he asked.
"Tell you what?" she said confused.
"About your engagement to our boss."
"I didn't know it concerned you."
They were silent for a few minutes. "Are you absolutely sure that you want to marry him?"
"I am one hundred percent sure. Why are you asking?"
"Come on, Cameron, be honest, he's a bastard. I don't want you to get hurt. I'm your friend—"
"A friend of mine would have faith that I know what I'm doing," she argued.
They were silent for about a minute. Without thinking, Chase opened up his mouth, "How much longer until he gets tired of you? Cheats on you? Trades you in for someone new?" Shit! I shouldn't have said that, "I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking." Nice, the icing on the cake.
Cameron wanted to slap him right then in there. For the sake of her sanity, she just took a deep breath, "Get something straight. You think you know me, but you don't. And you sure as hell don't know him. Don't you ever make assumptions about someone who you know nothing about. He isn't the misanthropic bastard he appears to be. I know that for a fact," Right on time, the lab results printed out. In anger she ripped them out and headed for the door. She couldn't help but yell, "Fuck you Chase!"
After reviewing the test results, Denise Rivers was diagnosed with anemia. The CT scan also showed the source for her blood problems, which was a small tumor in her colon. House happily handed Wilson her file; she wasn't his problem anymore. He'd done his job. Now he could go home, as soon as he located Cameron. He found her in her office, with the lights off. Oh, crap. Just what she needs, drama. He hated seeing her upset more then anything else.
"What is the matter? Foreman hit on you? Or was it Chase? I'll kick their ass for you," He asked.
"Chase."
"I told you, anything that comes out of his mouth is complete shit. Come on, we'll talk about it on the way home. Cuddy offered to drive us to the car. Normally I would refuse, but I don't want to walk."
"Let me get my things."
They met up with Cuddy at the clinic, and began walking to her car.
"Shotgun!" House yelled obnoxiously.
"That seat is reserved for my stuff. Sit in the back with your fiancé," Cuddy said as she put the car in drive.
"Thanks again for the ride, Lisa." Cameron said.
"You're welcome. I was the one who made you walk in the first place, so I guess I owe it to you to drive you back to your car."
"You sure do. Let's get back to the apartment. Anyone else in the mood for a threesome?" House asked hopefully.
Both Cuddy and Cameron were stunned. They were sure any man in his position would be thinking it, but only House had the balls to say it. When it all settled Cameron slapped him in the arm and Cuddy flashed him a dirty look.
"Can't blame a guy for trying," he laughed. The rest of the ride was silent for a reason. Cuddy drove as fast as she could to Grand Street.
"Always a pleasure, Cuddy!" House said as he helped Cameron out of the car.
She put her hand on her head. "I need some Advil."
"And probably a nice cold shower as well."
"You really don't know when to stop talking," she shook her head, "Have a safe ride home."
"Greg, you are truly embarrassing," Cameron said as they began the drive home.
"I was kidding. You guys can't take a joke. Speaking of jokes, tell me what happened with Chase."
"He asked me if I knew what I was doing. Then he asked how long it was going to be before you got tired of me and leave."
House gripped the steering wheel tightly, "That mother fucker. What did you say?"
Cameron just shrugged. She wasn't about to let Chase get the best of her, "I told him that he had no right to say that. I know you would never do that to me. So, I told him to fuck off."
"Nice. I'd never leave you, and if that British bastard can't see that, that's too bad."
"Australian."
"I don't care," he sighed, "I guess that removes him from the invite list."
"I guess so. Although I didn't want to ruin our friendship quite like that."
"He doesn't deserve to have a friend like you if he says things like that. You're too good for him," They reached their apartment building, but House kept driving down the road.
"Where are we going?"
"A place where we can get away from all this drama. God knows we both need it."
He parked the car on top of McAuthor hill. Every one of Princeton's thirty thousand residents was familiar with its breathtaking views of the city. Luckily for Cameron and House, they came just in time to catch the sunset. They got out from the car and sat at the edge of the hill on the grass. She wrapped her arms around him, and as they watched the sun set, her troubles seemed to fade away. She forgot about how she lost one of her friends earlier that afternoon. She forgot about the upcoming months or strenuous wedding planning. House was her distraction from her troubles.
"Cause I've been housing all this doubt and insecurity and
I've been locked inside that house all the while You hold the key
And I've been dying to get out and that might be the death of me
And even though, there's no way in knowing where to go, promise I'm going because
Cause I'm afraid that this complacency is something I can't shake
And I'm begging You, I'm begging You, I'm begging You to be my escape." - 'Be my escape' by Relient K