"Rules of Engagement"
Chapter Six-High Tensions and Shrinks
Author's note: I have quite the problem since I am starting school soon, and will have very little time. I am going to finish the fic but I am debating if I shouldwirte a trequel or not.There is a littleangst in this, since most of the other chapters were mushy. Things balance out. Also I included all the characters in this, as well as a crossover from another medical show. Read the story and guess which show the guest character is from, and you win a cookie! Woohoo!
It was a normal mid December day at Princeton Plainsburo Teaching Hospital. Outside, snow was gentling falling from the sky as all three ducklings sat around the table in the meeting room. The only thing that wasn't normal was the fact that the hospital wasn't busy at all. No screaming kids, no puking people in the hallways. It was eery, but it wasn't the strangest even of the day. That's for sure.
"What do you and House have planned tonight?" Foreman asked.
"Nothing tonight, but I talked him into taking me on a date tomorrow night". Cameron said.
Foreman looked confused. "Since you two are engaged, I thought the dating part was over."
"We're dressing up and going to a fancy restaurant . So I am classifying it as a date" she smiled "He promised me that he was going to get me flowers. It is going to be so romantic."
In response, Chase rolled his eyes. Was there a single moment in her life when she wasn't thinking about him? Probably not. He watched heras she flipped through her magazine. Chase noticed that she didn't read anything, she only just looked at the pictures. The pictures of the dresses and shoes in particular. What a typical girl.
"I am going out to dinner with Sharon tonight." Foreman boasted.
"You still sleeping with her?" Cameron asked looking up from her issue of Instyle Wedding .
"I wouldn't call it that. I guess you would say we are dating now." Foreman said in an annoyed voice.
"Good for you." Cameron said. She glanced over at Chase who didn't seem like he was in the best of moods. "What's wrong with you?"
"He is just mad because he hasn't been laid in a long time" Foreman laughed.
"For your information, that it is not any of your business" Chase replied.
"When was the last time you had sex?" Foreman asked with a grin on his face.
Chase snarled "None of your business."
"You're not answering the question, which just verifies the fact that you're not getting any action." Foreman said, a wide grin still occupied his face.
Cameron looked magazine. There was a picture of a beautiful white, rimestone embroidered, strapless wedding dress. It was very elegant. The only bad thing about it was the price. It sold for a small fee of seven thousand dollars. If she bought that, House would probably kill her. "You're just lonely. We need to get you a nice girl, Chase. How about that cute redhead in Radiology?" She said getting back in to the conversation.
"I don't need any of your dating help, thank you very much." Chase snapped.
"Why? I am obviously much happier than you in that department." She said staring at him. After their last fight they weren't friends, but they weren't enemies.
"Yeah if marrying our ill tempered boss makes you happy, then I guess you are."
Then memories of their previous fight replayed in her head. This time she wasn't going to sit back and take it. She had to stand up for her man, and at the same time herself. "Ill tempered? I'll show you ill tempered, Dr. Chase." She got up from her seat.
"Sit down Cameron. You guys really have to stop bickering at work. I don't care if you beat the crap out of each other, just wait until our shift is over.
"And when there isn't so many witnesses." Cameron snarled as she sat back down and re-opened her magazine.
"Don't worry Foreman, I would never touch her. Because if I did big, bad Doctor House would cane me to death." He laughed.
She slammed the magazine back down on the table and got up again. She walked right up to him and stared him in the eye. He stood up so they were nose to nose.
"I want to know, why do you like him? Is it the fact that he is crippled? Or just plain irritable? Are you under the illusion that you can fix everything that is not perfect?"
She was searching for words to say. After thinking for a few seconds she realized words couldn't settle this. Cameron slapped him hard with her left hand. The bottom of her wedding ring scratched his face. Chase stepped back a few steps. He tried to fight her off as she tried to hit him a second time. She wanted to scratch his eyes out with her manicured finger nails. Luckily for Chase, Foreman was able to restrain her and pull her back before she could do some major damage.
House was able to squeeze out of the Clinic, which unlike the rest of the hospital, was fairly busy. But the runny nosed children could wait he wanted to see Cameron. He hadn't seen her since since their shift began. Luckily Cuddy was no where to be found, which was the reason he was able to escape. As he walked through the hallways he saw Wilson, who apparently was with a patient. That meant that he didn't have the time to talk, which was a good for House. Today was must be a good day. His view changed once he limped into the meeting room. Before his bewildered eyes he saw his fiancé being held back by Foreman. She was squirming around, trying her best to get out of his grip. He was very confused. Then he saw Chase, who had a big red hand print as well as a series of bright red scratches on his cheek. House wrapped her arms around her, allowing Foreman to let go. Cameron tried one final time to get to Chase, but had no luck. She didn't want to fight off House, so the best she could do was glare at Chase.
"What the hell just happened?" He looked at Chase who had absolutely nothing to say.
"Chase said something and she flipped out." Foreman said, wiping the sweat off of his hands. "I tried my best to-"
"What did you say?" House shouted to Chase. He opened his mouth but nothing came out. "What the fuck did you say to her?"
Cuddy who had been in a meeting barged into the room. "I can't even leave you all alone for an hour without you going out of control" she said as she flung the door open. She heard about what happened from a Nurse who was watching the whole thing happen thanks to the glass walls. "None of the other departments have problems like this. Just Diagnostics, which may I add, is often referred to as the smartest group, in other hospitals."
"We are the most intellectual group, that's the problem." House said. Cameron had calmed down so he let go of her. He glanced one more time at Chase. "Some of us just can't keep out smart little mouths closed."
"Huh! Look who is talking, Dr.House. The things that come out of your own mouth most of the time are astronomically more vile then what Chase could ever say." Cuddy leaned against the wall. "Like I said before I do not want the fact that you two dating interfering with your performance here. That includes starting fights. I don't care what he said Ally, I mean Doctor Cameron, you have no right to cause him any physical harm. If this problem continue, I will have to make some staff reductions. What do you have to say for yourselves?"
Deafening silence. That's what filled the room. No one knew what exactly what to say or who to blame. Cameron decided it was best for her to be the first to respond. "I didn't mean to snap like that. I have just been fed up with his nasty little comments. My personal life is none of his business, yet he brings it up constantly."
"Nasty little comments? Like your we don't get enough of those from your lovely fiancé. Now you know what I have to deal with daily. At first I had know clue why you two were together. Know I understand. You both are miserable. Though you try to hide it Cameron, it is very apparent that you are quite the bitch." Chase said.
She made yet another attempt to reach Chase. House just put her hand on her shoulder and she stopped.
"Doctor Chase! That is extremely uncalled for." Cuddy yelled in Cameron's defense.
Awkwardly Wilson and Stacy walked into the room. Stacy handed Cuddy a pile of files. She examined everyone with her eyes: Chase looked like he had just been attacked by a wild animal, Cameron was extremely pissed, Foreman had a blank look on his face, Cuddy seemed very stressed out and House looked like he was going to commit murder. "I think this is a bad time." Stacy mumbled.
"What happened?" Wilson asked.
"Ally beat the crap out of Dr.I-Know-All-The-Wrong-Things-To-Say over there." House turned to Cuddy. "Can I hit the living day lights out of him?"
"No! Everyone keep your arms.. and legs to yourselves. Dr.Foreman and Dr. Wilson I would appreciate if you go help out in the clinic, now." Cuddy said in a stern voice. The two doctors swiftly walked out the door, shutting the door behind them. "As for you three, you need to settle things."
"I agree. Cuddy, you hold Chase down while Ally and I take turns beating the crap out of him." House snickered.
"Stop that! You are acting like a group immature teenagers." Cuddy said
"Are we going to get detention? Because I have a biology final tomorrow and I need all the time I can get to study. " House said. Cameron nudged him with her elbow.
"House, seriously, now is not the time. I think it would be best if we all take a trip down to the social worker. She is new here, so don't scare her too much. Stacy, would you mind escorting these two down to the fist floor while I patch up Chase? We'll meet you down there in ten minutes."
She nodded. House and Cameron followed Stacy out the door as Cuddy began to clean up his face.
"Doctors are highly educated people. I wouldn't expect this out of one of my staff members. Maybe out of House, but he is an exclusion." Cuddy said.
"Now why does he get special treatment, and I don't? Because you are friends with him? Or you just like him better than everyone else?" Chase said. Normally no doctor in their right minds would say that to the dean of medicine, but Chase was not in the best of moods. His dad and just died and all this Cameron crap was happening.
"I never said I was giving him any special treatment or even that he is my friend. But he is an exclusion. He is one of the best doctors we have not to mention he has been through a lot. House is finally happy, and yet you are trying to ruin it. That is not an honorable thing."
"Oh, he had an infraction in his leg and now he has to walk with a cane. Boo-hoo" Chase snapped.
"I would of slapped you too." She put a bandage across his face. "Let's go. I have better things to do then play referee for a bunch of doctors who can't control themselves."
Wendall had been a social worker at a Chicago hospital for quite some time, but she decided a change of scenery would be best. New Jersey seemed like just the ticket. She had been a working as a hospital social worker for many years and was used to treating patients and their family. An astonished look swept across her face when she saw the hospital lawyer drag in two doctors. They both took a seat while Stacy stood in the corner.
"Dr. Cuddy told me to escort these two here. She will be down here in a few minutes." Stacy turned to Cameron and whispered "good luck." She then nodded at her ex-lover and walked out the door. Stacy didn't want to be a part of the battle, it was going to turn ugly.
"May I ask what the problem is between you two?" Wendall asked.
"Oh, there is no problem between us. I just-" Cameron was cut off by the sound of Cuddy and Chase walking in the room. Cuddy pulled over a chair for him to sit in, which was as far away from his co-workers as possible.
"Hello Doctor Cuddy." Wendall said leaning back into her chair. "Can you please explain to me what happened."
"Well, Doctor Chase here said some uncalled for comments about Doctor House and Doctor Cameron's relationship. Doctor Cameron then snapped, and as you can see damaged Doctor Chase quite a bit. When Doctor House entered the room, more nasty threats were said."
Wow, this is quite the hospital. I don't think I anyone would expect this out of doctors. Maybe out of preschoolers. "Dr.Chase do you mind restating what you said, verbatim if you can?" She asked.
At first Chase didn't want to speak. He had to admit what he said was very hurtful and restating it would only make things worse. After realizing things really couldn't get any worse he gave in. "Foreman and Cameron were making uncalled for remarks about my sex life-"
"-how it is non existent?" House snickered.
"House!" Cuddy snarled. That man just couldn't be controlled.
"Then said I didn't need her dating advice. I made a comment about how she was marrying our ill tempered boss and she got mad. Foreman reminded us not to fight at work. In response I told him that I would never touch Cameron because..."
"Keep going." she said.
"Big bad doctor House would cane me to death." He said.
"That is not a bad idea." House said gripping his cane.
"Then what happened next."
"I asked why she was with him and whether or not she just wanted to fix him." Chase said.
"And how did you respond Dr. Cameron?"
"I slapped him " Cameron said looking down at her shoes "and scratched him."
"Ok, then. Doctor House, any comments beofre we keep going?" Wendall asked calmly.
"Sorry, I don't talk to shrinks." House said.
"I don't have any time for this." Cuddy said in a frustrated tone. "Wendall, please deal with them. I don't expect them to apologize, I just don't want them killing each other. If things get out of control page security."
"If we kill each other then that wouldn't make the hospital look good. And god forbid that would ever happen." House said.
She gave House one of her famous stares and walked out of the room. How did I ever get stuck with a group of dysfunctional doctors like this? If things keep up I am going to be the one talking to the shrink.
"Cuddy came into the room and we tried to talk about it. I said that I was just fed up because all of Chase's previous comments. In reply he said that both House and I are miserable people and that I was a bitch."
"House then threatened to beat the crap out of me." Chase snitched.
"Like that is of any comparison to calling my fiancé a bitch. You can say what ever you want about me, but once you start talking about her it is a whole other ball game." House said staring at Chase.
"We have quite the situation here." She said interrupting them. "Dr. Chase what possessed you to insult her in the first place? Is it possible that you have or had feelings for her and now that she is with him you are jealous?"
"What ever feelings that I had - I am not saying I had any in the first place - are non existent now." Chase said.
"That's good." House muttered.
"Why is that Dr.Chase?"
"She went pysho and slapped me!" Chase yelled.
"I didn't go pysho! If you could only pull your head out of your ass you would realize that I am happy and you should hold your pitiful comments to yourself. I don't care what you say about me. Your opinion doesn't matter at all." she said.
"You don't care? Then you just hit me for the hell of it, right?"
"I don't care what you say about me. It's what you said about him."
"Don't take the heroic route and stick up for your lover. Spare me, please."
"You are quite the bastard. Why you think you had any authority to doubt that I should be with House, is beyond me. If you have ever wondered why I never was interested in you it's because you are a selfish and inconsiderate human being! No wonder you haven't had a girlfriend in god knows how long!" She yelled. House put his hand on her shoulder.
"I think you both needed to get that off of your chest. Dr.Chase whether you had feelings for her or not you need to realize that she is with him, and they are both happy. It is their own personal life and you had no right to say those things. Dr.Cameron you need to control your emotions better. Counting to ten always works. I can tell that you are a strong women, but you need to get less defensive. Dr. House... lay off the threats. This type of behavior doesn't belong in the workplace, let alone any where else. You all are highly intelligent and you should act that way. Take the weekend to think about things and come back Monday with a new mind set. I am going to ask that Dr. Chase you work in the clinic all of next week unless they absolutely need you just until things cool down. All I am asking is that you keep nasty remarks to yourselves and don't resort to violence. Are we understood?"
"Yes. Thank you." Cameron said politely.
"Yes." Chase said.
"Is my shift over?" House said yawning.
It is after five, so I believe so." Wendall said.
"Nice! Come on hunny, all this talking is getting me tired." He hoisted himself out of the seat and extended his arm to Cameron, helping her up. Chase remained seated and watched them walk out the door. They are happy.
Please review!
Guess who? If you guessed Grey's Anatomy, you're wrong. If youthought Scrubs, you were also wrong. If you were one of the three people who actually watched Medical Investigation and guess it, you're wrong. Think ER? Then you're right. That was too easy. ER is a great show, I have been watching it for years, but don't worry, I like House better. About that cookie, can I have a raincheck?