Title: Save The Best For Last (Chapter 3 - revised)
Pairing: W/C, H/OC
Warnings: Spoilers through the end of Season 1
Summary: "Sometimes the very thing you're looking for is the one thing you can't see."
Disclaimer: Don't own "House, M.D." or any characters, locations or other things related to it. The title and summary are from the Vanessa Williams song "Save the Best for Last" Also, you may recognize bits of the dialogue here because they are a direct quote from the show and therefore not mine. Just borrowing it for a little while.

Chapter 3 – Alone

Monday morning Cameron walked into the Diagnostic's conference room with a smile and her head held high. She was determined not to let this House business keep her down. If he had moved on to someone else, good for him. She wasn't going to cry any more tears over him.

That way of thinking worked until Thursday night.

She was getting ready to get her things to leave. As she passed House's office she noticed that he was still there. Since it was already 6:30, she found it surprising that he hadn't left.

"You're here late." She said as she entered his office.

"So are you in case you hadn't noticed." His sarcasm wasn't as biting as usual. He'd said it as if it were more out of habit than anything. He turned to face her.

She froze at the sight of him. His black suit was neatly pressed, and the light blue shirt he wore matched his eyes. "You look nice." That was an understatement.

He didn't look at her as he moved to his desk to gather his things. "Yeah, got a date."

Time stopped. 'A date? Oh my god, he really has moved on.' She could feel the tears starting behind her eyes. "Oh." Her voice was quiet, threatening to break. "Well, have a good time." She turned and hurried out of the room before he could see the hurt in her eyes. Not that he'd been looking anyway.

Cameron nearly ran into Wilson in the hall. She wiped at the tears starting down her cheeks and muttered an apology as she hurried past him.

She made it to the bathroom before the sobs came. After all the effort she'd made to prove to herself that she was over him, she'd fallen apart at the mere mention of him having a date.

"What am I going to do?" She cried.

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Wilson was walking down the hall toward House's office when Cameron ran into him. She was wiping tears from her face and hurried away with a mumbled, "sorry," before he could react.

He stalked to House's office. "Why is Cameron crying?" His tone was accusing.

House looked at him, confused. "Cameron's crying?"

He shook his head. "I don't have time this right now; I'm going to be late."

Realization struck Wilson. "Right. Tonight is the big first date." And if Cameron had found out, she would be upset. He nodded. "Well, that makes sense." He fell into step by House as he headed to the elevators.

House was staring at the elevators. "I tried to discourage her from pursuing me from the moment I realized she was considering it. I can't be held responsible if she gets hurt because she didn't listen." His tone was slightly apologetic.

'Well that's not entirely true.' Wilson thought. 'You begged her to come back to work here, and took her on a date.' Not to mention the flirtatious and suggestive remarks he knew that House said to Cameron regularly. But he couldn't say any of this to him now. House was happy, truly happy for the first time since Stacy had left; Wilson couldn't ruin that. So, aloud he said. "No one is blaming you, but pretending that her feelings don't exist won't make them disappear. You need to talk to her. Really talk to her."

The elevator arrived and House shook his head as they got in. "I don't talk to people."

Wilson looked at him, and fought not to roll his eyes. "I'm pretty sure that's what we're doing now."

House did roll his eyes. "You're different."

Wilson was quiet for a moment, letting that sink in before asking his next question. "And Elizabeth?"

House looked at him then. "She's different too."

And Wilson understood. That one simple statement meant a lot. It meant that Elizabeth had really gotten to him, and that Cameron had never had a chance. Because despite how well she knew House, she'd never gotten inside like this new girl had. Whatever House was building with Elizabeth was real and strong, and Cameron would have to deal with that and move on, and he would be there to help her. By the time Wilson had thought it all out, they'd reached House's car. "Cameron will be okay; she'll get over you." He sounded sure of himself.

House turned to him. "I'm not the one worried about that." He got in his car and started the engine, then looked back up at Wilson. "Maybe you should ask her out; I'll bet she's easy on the rebound." He backed out of his parking space, leaving a stunned Wilson to stare after him.

Wilson was mad at House for talking about Cameron like that. He was also really thinking about what House had suggested. After a moment's hesitation, Wilson went back inside to find Cameron…to make sure she was okay, of course.

Twenty minutes later, he'd searched everywhere he thought she could be, and decided she must have gone home.

He returned to his office, gathered his things, and did the same.

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When Wilson walked into his house, he was promptly greeted by the sight of suitcases sitting by the front door. He took a deep breath and walked into the living room.

Julie looked up from where she sat on the couch. "You don't call me anymore." She sounded tired, not mad.

"I'm sorry." He sounded tired too.

"I know." She stood. "But you're married to your job, and I can't be the other woman anymore." She walked past him and to the door. She stopped with her hand on the doorknob and turned to him. "I'll be by this weekend to get the rest of my things. You'll get the papers next week. I don't see any reason we can't make this quick and easy. Right?"

Wilson nodded. "Sure."

She opened the door. "Goodbye, James." She was gone.

Wilson stood in his living room and tried to feel sorry or sad the Julie was gone. He felt nothing, not mad or surprised, just nothing.

Empty and alone.