Disclaimer: I do not own House, though I wouldn't mind having him for a night or two. House, Cameron and the show all belong to Fox, David Shore and Bryan Singer. I own the story.

Author's Note: Here is the next chapter. Thanks for all your reviews, especially those who have followed me over from the other sites this story is on.

Wasted Time: Part 2

House picked up his cane as if getting ready to stand up, but he decided to just bounce it up and down on the floor. In a rhythm that sounded suspiciously like his heart, which had sped up in the last few seconds after he noticed Cameron's presence. It was too much silence for him to handle so House did what he always did when this happened. He filled it with his own voice.

" So what brings you to the hospital at this late hour when Chase was the one suckered into his night off here?" He made a show of looking around suspiciously. " Your not having a steamy affair with some young intern and thought to use my office to have sex are you?" he made a face of mock disgust. " Because that's just gross."

Cameron couldn't help but smile, clearing her face of the emotionally conflicted expression that had been there moments ago. The thought of sleeping with an intern, especially after what she'd just heard was the most ridiculous thing House could of ever said. She gave House a cocky grin that could have rivaled some of his.

" Young interns aren't my type."

Another heavy silence. House saw the file in her hands and saw salvation.

" What do you have there then? Candidate head shots?"

Cameron smirked.

" It's the blood work we've been waiting for," she said holding it up.

House waved his hand for Cameron to give it to him. Looking through the file, House really didn't see what the lab had found. It was a blur before his eyes with such an inviting distraction looking over his shoulder to see what the file said as well. He snapped the file shut and Cameron straightened.

He swiveled in his chair to look at her.

"Coffee?" he asked.

Cameron shrugged. "Sure."

"No. I meant me, your not doing anything. I need to read," he said, waving the manila file in front of him.

Cameron realized House wanted her to make the coffee. She scoffed and went to the main office to start a pot for them.

Once Cameron had disappeared through the doorway House let his shoulders sag a little. He kept it in his mind that the wall between them was glass and the blinds weren't drawn so she could still see him. So he opened the file again as cover so she didn't become suspicious.

He wondered how long she had been standing here. Had he been so oblivious that Cameron had heard his entire sing-along? From the main office he could hear Cameron humming 'Wasted Time' sweetly as she poured two cups of coffee from the pot.

House rolled his eyes. Stupid question, stupid answer. The woman had been smiling like the cheshire cat since he first noticed her in the room, of course she had heard.

He got through half of the blood analysis report. Processing just enough of the words to see they were at least making a headway with the patients treatment, when House's red mug was set down directly in the middle of the report.

House looked at her accusingly.

" When Cuddy asks why there's a black ring on the blood work I won't even think twice before throwing you to the sharks," he warned.

Cameron rolled her eyes, made herself comfortable in the chair opposite him and tucked her legs underneath herself. She cradled her own mug between two dainty hands. House couldn't help admiring the way she looked sitting like that. He could imagine plenty of mornings in his own kitchen when Cameron would greet him in that position waiting to receive a well earned kiss.

"My favorite is Hotel California."

House raised his eyebrows at the sudden change in topic.

"Your favorite what?"

Cameron knew this was going to be unsteady ground, but her heart was beating so loudly in her ears that rational thought couldn't shout loud enough to stop her.

" My favorite Eagles song is Hotel California," she repeated.

House didn't like where this was going. But he could play this game with her if she wanted. Small talk with him was going to be as frustrating with him as possible. Maybe she'd go away without him resorting to evil bastard mode. He had to grudgingly admit he was more thrilled with her company above anyone else but if he let her take advantage of that it would end badly for the both of them.

" You picked one of thee most annoying songs ever made by the Eagles. It was passed off as a trendy pop song for years," House said scathingly. He was pleased to see Cameron become a little angry, her eyes lit up and he felt a dangerous tug at his body to move closer.

" Then what Eagle song do you like?" Cameron asked with a little venom in her voice.

House took his time to answer, stretching out his arms before intwining them behind his head.

" Hotel California."

Cameron stared at him with wide eyes.

" But you just..."

" First lesson of maintaining mystery. Never admit to liking what's popular. Or you end up being just like everyone else," he said, cutting Cameron off.

Her heart did a little flip when she saw House smile genuinely for the first time since she'd entered the office that night. How could she approach him about the situation between them without having him shut down on her? This one little conversation was a rare occurrence since Stacy's arrival. And even though House avoided Stacy like the plague, the woman had unconsciously put a wedge between what little connection Cameron and House had been able to create.

She watched House drink his coffee and pick up his ipod to play with again. He was trying to avoid talking to her and Cameron almost wanted to cry. She only had to pause for a second and House had the body armor and the ten foot pole out again.

Then an idea suddenly popped into Cameron's head and before it abandoned her, she stood up quickly with coffee mug still in hand. House was immediately suspicious about Cameron's sudden hurry to leave.

" And where are you going?"

Cameron literally beamed at him when she turned at the office door. " To see if Wilson's still around, I need to talk to him," she said sweetly.

House was suddenly on his feet. The last thing he needed was Cameron telling Wilson about his singing. Wilson would read too much into it, be breathing down House's neck about the coincidental appearance of Cameron and its meaning. Then House would have to resort to beating his friend with his cane until Wilson shut up.

" Now what would you need to talk to dear old Wilson about that you can't tell me?" House said with what he hoped was an intimidating air.

But Cameron remained unphased and put her half full cup in his free hand.

" I'm a big girl House, you don't have to know everything I do."

And with that she was gone in search of Wilson so she could set her plan in motion. He knew how to get a hold of the people she needed. Leaving a worried House staring at her cup in his hand. He mulled over his interpretation of her words. 'You don't need to know everything I do'.

" Yeah, I know. that's the part I hate."

House pulled out his Vicoden bottle and dry swallowed one, chasing it down with the rest of Cameron's luke warm coffee before he decided going home was safer then he thought.

Author's Note: What do you think? Do you like my House-isms? I don't know how long I stared at the computer screen trying to play out this scene but I think it was worth it. This chapter moves smoother then the last and had more dialogue in it. So i'm happy. But what do you suppose Cameron is up to?