Okay, so the reference to Mr. Dallas is my tribute to Jeevesandwooster who use that same name (or a variation) in their House stories. I'm sorry that the story is rushed and a bit sucky, but i wrote it in half an hour this morning.
He's magic and myth
As strong as what I believe
A tragedy with
More damage than a soul should see
The festive spirit had hit Cameron particularly hard this year, but evidently not as hard as it had hit Wilson. The oncologist was walking down the hall about 200 feet from Cameron and she laughed as she saw him ogle one of the interns. Poor Julie. She wondered how the woman could stay with him. Of course, Wilson simply maintained that he hadn't found the right woman. It seemed to be a marriage of convenience more than anything. Cameron called out to him, and he turned and stopped to let her catch up. As she got closer she started to giggle. He had a ridiculously loud light-up tie on, as well as a Christmas-pudding shaped hat on his head.
"Um, nice. Festive," was all she could say when she reached him. Wilson gave his trademark smile and they started towards House's office.
"Julie let you leave the house like that? Your marriage must be worse than I thought." The playful tone of House's voice shouldn't have surprised Cameron, but it did. Wilson grimaced. "So, are we still on for the bar crawl tonight?"
"Uh, House? There might be a little bit of a problem with that plan.
"Jimmy…" There was a warning tone to House's voice as he realized what his friend was trying to say. "You're not going to leave me alone on Christmas Eve, are you?"
Wilson seemed slightly flustered, and tried to explain himself. "Well, Julie and I… you know we've been having problems… her parents are coming up for Christmas… should be getting to the house about now actually…" His ramblings were cut short by a glare from House. "Julie told me if I wasn't home by 5.01 tonight I wouldn't have a home to go to."
House sighed. Despite how he acted, he cared deeply for his friend, and knew that failing at a third marriage would mean another two weeks sleeping on House's couch, eating House's food and drinking House's liquor.
"Wow. That was possibly the most pussy-whipped excuse I've ever heard you come out with. But anyway, don't worry. It's only drinks. Nothing important."
In truth it was important. Because drinks with Jimmy on Christmas Eve was his way of getting through the Christmas holidays. According to Cuddy he had to take Christmas Day off – a staff member could only work two out of every three Christmases. House looked at his watch and made a show of standing up. "Better gather all the Ducklings. Cameron," She looked up guiltily from where she stood at the coffee maker 'not listening'. "Page Foreman and Chase."
Two hours later and they had figured out what was wrong with Mr. Dallas. As Cameron gathered her things from the office, she noticed House sitting by the window, twirling his cane in thought.
A pang in her heart almost prompted her to start a conversation with him, but at the last second her brain reminded her that he didn't want to be with her.
"Doctor House?" He stopped twirling his cane, but apart from that gave no indication he had heard her.
"I'm going home now. Um, Merry Christmas." The last part came out hesitantly, almost whispered. Mentally she chastised herself. What, she couldn't even wish her boss a happy holiday now? Just because the date had been such a nightmare…
"I'll see you in a few days." Her thoughts were interrupted by his reply. Smiling wistfully to herself, Cameron picked up her bag and left. As she exited the room, she could have sworn she heard him softly wish her a happy holiday as well.
Cameron paced her living room. She stopped periodically in front of the heater, deep in thought before recommencing her movement.
But do I try to change him?
So hard not to blame him
Hold on tight
Hold on tight
Oh and I don't know
I don't know what he's after
But he's so beautiful
He's such a beautiful disaster
And if I could hold on
Through the tears and the laughter
Would it be beautiful?
Or just a beautiful disaster
How could this happen? For the first time in six years, home was no comfort to Cameron. It felt hollow, empty and cold. Within moments she had made up her mind. Like it or not, he was going to have to deal with it. Neither of them wanted to spend the night alone.
Cameron changed into some clothes that were more suitable for being seen in public, and before she knew it she was in her car, driving to his House. She had only been there once before – the night she had quit. Well, tonight was different. Tonight she was going there because she couldn't quit. Steve had shown her that. With Steve, Allison had been forced to face the knowledge that soon she could be alone. She had been forced to be strong, for her family, her husband and herself. But the dream the night before had shown her that things didn't always turn out the way you expect. Sometimes something happens that brightens your life.
I'm longing for love and the logical
But he's only happy hysterical
I'm searching for some kind of miracle
Waited so long
So long
Tentatively she knocked on the door. When she couldn't hear a sound inside, part of Cameron was tempted to leave. But the other part of her, the part that knew she couldn't handle being alone on the anniversary of her husband's death, willed her to stay. She knocked again.
"I'm not home."
A smile twitched across her face. Three more knocks. There was a shuffle behind the door and she found herself holding her breath as House looked through the peephole.
"Whatever you're selling, I don't want any." He opened the door and glared at Cameron. She simply gave him a sad look.
"Can I come in?"
"Can I stop you?" He opened the door wider and stepped back to let her pass. "Come to help me drown my sorrows? Or was Chase busy tonight?" The jibes were only half-hearted, so she ignored them. He walked past her as she stood in the hall and seated himself on the sofa. Cameron knew that he would try to irritate her by saying nothing, waiting for her to crack. So instead she moved towards him and sat herself on the other end of the sofa. But before long she turned to him.
"You know I don't want to fix you."
House snorted a laugh. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his Vicodin. Cameron expected him to stop her, and when he didn't she fell silent again. After a few minutes she tried again.
"I'm sorry for coming here. But I couldn't stay at home."
"What, you would have spent Christmas Eve wondering about the poor miserable cripple? Well rest assured, he has the company of a bottle of whisky." Cameron looked away from him, staring out of the window at the dark, swirling air.
"No. The reason I'm here is completely selfish. Today is the sixth anniversary of Steve's death." She flinched as she said this. "I couldn't… I couldn't stay by myself."
"And so you came here? I'm not much company." The bitterness in his voice was unmistakable. He was about to launch into a scathing attack about her emotions when he glanced across and saw the distinct shining trail of tears on her cheeks. Cameron furiously wiped them from her face. She hadn't come around here to cry. With burning eyes she turned on him.
"House, I don't want to fix you. I can't. I didn't want to fix Steve either. I truly loved him. The difference between you and him is that he let me in. You're think you're helping me by pretending you feel nothing. You think a young girl like me shouldn't be weighed down by a misanthropic old bastard like yourself. Well I have news for you. I'm a big girl Doctor House. I know how to look after myself."
"Are you finished?" His sarcastic interruption jolted her out of her rant. She nodded haltingly. "Good. Now this is probably just the whisky talking, and I know I'll regret this when I'm sober. But what the hell. Yes, I hired you because I thought you were like lobby art. Yes, I do believe that some part of you does want to fix me. And yes, I don't admit that I'm attracted to you because of the age difference."
He's soft to the touch
But frayed at the end he breaks
He's never enough
And still he's more than I can take
Cameron looked at the fierceness in her boss's eyes. She knew it matched her own. Her own anger flared up as his words sunk in. He still didn't believe that she could look after herself. He was exactly the same…
And then his lips were on hers, gentle and harsh at the same time. After the shock subsided she felt her body soften and lean towards his. Her lips parted slightly and their tongues meshed, shocks of electricity passing between them. Her mind went blank as they kissed passionately, and then after a while the kiss softened. House pulled back and Cameron slowly opened her eyes. The look in his eyes read of fear and mild confusion. But he had kissed her.
"Doctor Cameron, I…" He stuttered, trying to find a way to back out of what he had just done, but before he finished his sentence Allison leant back across and kissed him again, stopping his excuses before they could have even been formed.
Oh 'cause I don't know
I don't know what he's after
But he's so beautiful
Such a beautiful disaster
And if I could hold on
Through the tears and the laughter
Would it be beautiful?
Or just a beautiful disaster
He's beautiful
He's such a beautiful disaster
Please r&r... Merry Xmas!