Chapter 2:In Which Chase Tries to Help
"Why House?"
Foreman looked up from his work to see Chase watching Cameron preparing samples in the adjacent lab. "What do you mean," he said warily.
"I just don't get it," said Chase, still staring at the window.
Foreman shook his head slightly. "Hey."
Chase looked up. Foreman wagged a finger at him. "STILL a bad idea."
Chase rolled his eyes and crossed his arms defensively. "How many times do I have to tell you this! She's a colleague, that's all."
"And it should stay that way. Are those test going to run themselves?" Foreman answered, gesturing towards a line of test tubes on the lab bench.
Chase moved towards the indicated samples, muttering, "I might have a girlfriend, for all you know."
Foreman let out a short, loud laugh that caused Cameron to look up from the other room inquisitively. He waved at her and she smiled, returning her attention to the microscope in front of her. Without having to look at Chase, he answered, "You're still looking at her. Stop."
He was answered by the sound of the lab door closing. Before Foreman could fully register what was going on, he saw the blonde doctor tap Cameron on the shoulder and smile nervously.
Foreman sighed and turned away with a slight smile gracing his lips. "Neither one of them ever listens to me," he said to himself.
--------------------------------------------------
Cameron had agreed to dinner between friends. Chase knew that she was essentially alone in Princeton, and that she was hurting. It was very sweet gesture on his part. It didn't occur to her until later to wonder why Chase had been so nervous if his kindness had stemmed from only friendship, or why he had been so insistent on repeating that point. But Foreman had been right there in the other room, watching the whole thing. She had to stop being so suspicious. Shrugging to herself, she moved her thoughts onto more interesting matters. Centrifuges, microscopes and computer readouts filled her mind with calm.
Chase, on the other hand, was not so lucky. Reading at his desk, he fidgeted and rustled papers, standing up every 5 minutes to stretch or pace the room floor. Finally a rubber football smacked him square in the back. He spun around to lock eyes with a very annoyed looking Foreman.
"Keep that up, and I swear I'll..." Foreman trailed off as House walked in. A curious expression on his face, House stood in the doorway, looking at Foreman, at Chase, and back again. Foreman shifted in his chair and cleared his throat. Chase hid the football behind his back and slowly edged his way towards his desk.
House rolled his eyes. "I don't know what you two lovebirds are arguing about, but quarrel on your own time, please. I don't want to have to testify at the divorce proceedings." He moved towards Foreman's desk. "Do we have an answer from the lab yet"
Foreman shook his head, getting up and handing House a file. "Cameron's running the last few gels right now."
"You're letting the GIRL do the work?" House's eyes widened in mock understanding. "Oh, I see, you wanted some alone time."
Choosing to ignore the jibe, Foreman silently handed House a file. Flipping through the pages, House continued, "And you know, I thought you were all such good..."
He paused. Foreman, curious, stood up and walked around to the front of his desk.
Chase looked up, interested. "What?" he questioned. He moved to join them, reading over House's shoulder. "Did you find something?"
House swatted at him distractedly and Chase moved to stand a little further away, still craning his neck to see. "What are you..."
"You idiot!" exclaimed House, shoving the file at Chase. "How could you miss something this obvious?"
A look of panic washed over Chase's expression. "What?" he asked, scouring the page with his eyes.
"Nothing," answered House, moving towards the door. "Do a full tox screen, PET scan and that thing with the tube and the clicking. You know what I mean." He assumed a martyr's expression. "Back to the clinic before Cuddy finds me. Page me when you've got something."
Chase threw the file down onto the table and swore. Foreman bit back a grin.
--------------------------------------------------
Four pm. House moved as stealthily as his complaining leg would allow him, past the orderlies and behind a series of strategically placed shelves. He had almost made it to the clinic door when Cameron moved quickly in front of him, cutting off his escape. He straightened up and sighed dramatically.
"Busted," he said, feigning remorse. "Don't tell Cuddy, please?"
She stood in front of him, hands in the pockets of her lab coat and staring up at him earnestly. He shifted his weight uncomfortably, moving back to lean heavily on the nursing station behind them. He was shocked to see her smiling. He had forgotten how long it had been since he had seen her with a smile on her face.
"Finished in the lab, it's not viral. MRI was clean. Chase is doing the angio now. And Stacy...Ms. Warner and Dr. Cuddy want to see you," Cameron said in even tones.
House looked at Cameron closely, a little surprised by the calmness with which she returned his look. "That's all," he answered slowly, in a tone making it somewhere in between a statement and a question.
Cameron nodded. "You left your pager in the office," she added, taking the object from her pocket and offering it to him. He took it from her slowly, and watched her hand retreat back into her pocket.
"Thanks," he said.
Cameron smiled again and turned to walk away. House stood where he was for a split second, then raised an eyebrow and made his way slowly to Cuddy's office. Stacy sat on one of the comfortable looking couches, files and papers littering the normally neat floor. House stood at the door, surveying the damage. "Wow," he said dryly. "Your organizational skills have gone to hell."
"And you'll be joining them shortly, I'm sure," she countered, a tell-tale smile on her lips. He smirked, and their eyes met. Cuddy walked in a split second later, recoiling slightly from the intensity in the room. She cleared her throat, assuming a professional air.
"Dr. House. Please do have a seat."
House smiled. "Why, Dr. Cuddy. You weren't nearly so formal last night. Call me Daddy."
Stacy rolled her eyes. "Sit down, Greg."
"I'd much rather stand, thanks."
Cuddy shrugged. "Okay, suit yourself. You've been invited to lecture at this hospital's annual fundraising banquet. Apparently you really inspired Dr. Riley's students. One of them is the son of someone important. Seems that you've made a friend."
House turned around to leave. Stacy moved quickly to stand between him and the door. "Greg, please."
"What is this, some sort of all-girl tag team?" House paused for a minute, as if savoring the thought. "Hmm, there's an idea."
Cuddy pointed a pen in his direction. "House, you're doing this lecture. We need the money. Do I need to remind you why?"
"No, but something tells me you're going to anyways." He sighed. "Ladies, I'd love to, but I have plans."
Stacy put her hands on her hips. "A bottle of whiskey and GH reruns are hardly plans."
House leaned forward, smiling sarcastically. "I beg to differ."
"This isn't a debate, House," interjected Cuddy. "This is a very small favor to do for a hospital you cost a hundred million dollars."
"I knew you'd find a way to bring that up." He looked from one woman to the other and sighed. "Fine. Whatever. Can I go now?"
Cuddy nodded. Stacy moved aside to let him pass. As he left, they shared a look. "Is it just me, or was that too easy?" asked Cuddy aloud.
Stacy could only shrug.
--------------------------------------------------
Cameron yawned and stretched at her desk. Chase looked up and watched her movements with interest. "Tired, Cameron?" he asked.
She nodded. "Haven't really been sleeping, or eating properly, for that matter." She smiled. "So where are we going tonight?"
Foreman coughed, as if to reaffirm his presence in the room. Cameron, oblivious to Chase's reaction, turned her smile to him and asked, "Foreman? How come you're not coming?"
Foreman briefly considered ruining Chase's evening just for the hell of it, but shook his head regretfully. "Sorry, got plans."
Cameron nodded. "Some other time, maybe." She turned to Chase. "So, I was asking...where are we going?"
Chase smiled and answered, "Where do you want to go?"
Cameron shrugged. "Doesn't really matter. I'm on a bit of a budget though, at least until our next paycheck clears." She smiled ruefully. "No shopping sprees for a while."
Chase waved it off nonchalantly. "My treat."
Cameron stared. "What?"
"My treat. Please, Cameron. I'll pick you up and we'll go wherever you want. And don't worry about the bill. I just want you to have a good time." She was still staring, so he gave his best imitation of the Wilson smile and added, "That way, you'll come to work in a good mood and won't try to bite our heads off like you did this morning."
Cameron laughed, a sound that neither Foreman or Chase had heard in a long time. "Are you sure, Chase?" she said, becoming serious again.
Chase nodded. "My pleasure."
Cameron smiled. "That's very sweet of you," she said. "Thanks. Well, I'm going to go home first. You decide where we're going, I'm good with anything. Call when you're ready."
Chase nodded. "See you later, then."
Foreman waved from his desk. "'night, Cameron. Have fun."
Cameron nodded, waved goodbye and left. Chase went back to work, a self-satisfied smile on his face. Until he looked up to see Foreman's hulking figure standing directly in front of him, his expression anything but pleased.
"Cameron is a sweet, trusting girl. Don't you know that?"
"Yes, of course..."
"And she's our friend as well as our colleague, or did you forget that part?"
"No, of course I didn't..."
"She may be strong, but you think she can't break? With everything that..."
"Quit interrupting me!" broke in Chase, his hands shaking with barely contained anger. "You don't think I know everything you've just said? What is your point?"
Foreman moved deliberately back to his desk and sank heavily into his chair, folding his arms. "We have a great team, Chase."
Chase ran a hand through his hair. "I know. I'm just trying to help."
"Who are you trying to help, exactly?" interjected Foreman forcefully.
Surprised by the vehemence of Foreman's reaction, Chase answered defensively, "Cameron, of course, who else?"
Foreman laughed, a short, bitter laugh not unlike the one earlier in the day. "You, looking out for someone else. Right."
Chase clenched his teeth. "You don't trust me?"
"Should I? House sure doesn't. And with reason, I might add."
"This is totally different! Cameron wants..."
Foreman stood up again, his sudden movement almost sending his chair across the room. "What? Her heart's broken and you're going to heal it? You're the one that she really wants? Stop being a child! This isn't a game! When everything's done, we still have to work together! What, things aren't screwed up enough already?"
In one violent motion, Foreman slung his bag over his shoulder and threw his coat over his arm, looking back as he walked through the doorway at an ashen Chase. "Just...just be careful, man," he said in a gentler tone. Chase nodded wordlessly and watched the wall for a few minutes before also packing up and leaving.
On the other side of the glass wall, House lay on the floor behind his desk, staring at the ceiling. His expression was grim.