Title: Save The Best For Last (Chapter 7)
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.

Notes: Two new chapters in one day? Boy, I'm going to spoil you guys…lol. ;P Hope you like it. Reviews make me smile. ;)

Chapter 7 – Just Friends?

Cameron entered the clinic at nine a.m. on Monday. She knew House wouldn't look for her there, and if he was still mad about Saturday night, she didn't want him to find her.

"Hiding in the one place you know he won't dare look." Came the soft voice behind her.

She turned to look at Wilson. "I'm not hiding."

He raised an eyebrow. "Really?" His tone clearly implying that he didn't believe it.

'Damn him.' How did he see through her so easily? Know her so well? She gave him a half-shrug. "I don't know what to say to him."

"I'm sorry is a good start."

She looked at him. "Sorry hardly covers the hateful things I said."

He gave a brief nod. "True, but like I said, it's a good start."

Finally, she nodded back. "Ok. I'll talk to him later." At his look. "I promise."

"Ok. Before you leave today. Trust me; it'll make you feel better, too."

"I know. I just hate to think how he'll take it. You know him; he's hardly the most forgiving person."

Wilson nodded. "That's true, but I think you'll find that he's not as harsh as he used to be."

Cameron nodded. "Yeah." She paused. "It's because of her, isn't it?"

"I think so."

She thought about that for a minute. "That's good…for him, I mean. I'm glad he's happy."

He stepped forward and gave her a brief hug, then stepped back with a small smile. "You're a good person, Cameron."

She gave him a small smile in return. "But not good enough." She grabbed a file and walked away.

She was gone before she could hear his quiet response. "That's not true."

mdmdmdmdmdmd

After lunch, Cameron decided she had avoided House for long enough. She took a deep breath and entered his office. "House?"

"What do you need, Cameron?" He looked up from his Gameboy.

"Um, got a minute?" She sat across from him.

He set his video game aside. "Doesn't look like you'll go away anyway. Did you think up some more insults for Elizabeth?" His voice had an edge of iciness.

She shook her head. "I…I want to apologize for that. I didn't mean those things, and I wish I could take it back."

"Not possible, unless you've got a time machine." Came the sarcastic retort.

She looked at her hands, folded in her lap. "So, no chance you'll forgive me?"

House raised eyebrows at her. "Not for me to forgive. I'm not the one you called a whore."

"I didn't…" She stopped. She hadn't said that word, but it was the implication. She looked up at him. "I'm sorry, House. I don't know what else to say."

He sighed. "Don't say anything. Let's just forget about it. We have to work together; let's just leave it at that." He picked up his Gameboy, indicating that the conversation was over.

She nodded. "Ok, then." She stood and left the office.

mdmdmdmdmdmd

Wilson was waiting for Cameron as she exited House's office. "You ok?"

Cameron looked up at him. "Yeah. Wasn't necessarily what I hoped for, but it could have been a lot worse." She started down the hall.

He nodded and fell into step beside her. "What did he say?"

"He said we should just forget about it, and do what we have to, to work together."

He put an arm around her shoulders and gave her a little squeeze. "It'll be ok. Give him a little more time."

She relaxed into the friendly hug and put an arm around his back to return it. "Yeah. I'm ok, really. Thanks." She smiled up at him and pulled away as they reached the clinic. "You want to come over tonight? I'll cook."

He nodded. "Sounds good. Want me to bring something?"

She shook her head. "No, I'll take care of it."

"Ok. Seven?"

She nodded. "That'll be great. See you then." She gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek.

He watched her walk into the clinic. 'Just friends. Just friends.' He made it his mantra for the afternoon. 'This is going to be a long night.'