Chapter 2

A few weeks earlier

It was late as Cameron calmly made her way down the empty corridor that was covered with Christmas decorations. It didn't fill her with the joy or warmth that Christmas used to bring her. The holiday had become somewhat depressing since becoming a doctor. She continued down the corridor and stopped when she saw the office door of the person she was looking for. 'Dr James Wilson Department of Oncology.' She thought it somewhat unfair of her to take her problems to Wilson but since House had become obsessed with Stacy, Wilson had taken on the role of mentor. She also assumed that he would have faced her current situation frequently, being in the speciality he was in. Though she trusted him, she had specifically waited until everyone else had gone home before she approached Wilson about what was bothering her.

Taking a deep breath, she rapped lightly on the door and immediately heard a sort but polite "Come in." Cameron quietly walked in and Wilson looked up from his papers and greeted her with a small smile that quickly transferred to concern as he saw the worry on her face. He stopped writing and sat up in his chair. "Cameron, what can I do for you?" He gestured for her to sit down.

Taking her bag from her shoulder as she shut the door, Cameron sat opposite Wilson's desk, carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Nervously she rubbed her damp palms on her pant legs and licked her dry lips.

"Cameron?" Wilson asked again with concern his brow furrowing. Cameron abruptly rose from her seat and paced a few steps in front of Wilson's desk. "Allison, what's wrong, what did House do this time?"

Cameron stopped her pacing as she faced Wilson with an amused look. It should have annoyed her that he thought the problem was about House but for some reason it pleased her instead. She could hardly blame Wilson to first suspect House as the cause of her distress. She nervously tucked a lose strand of hair behind her ear. "It's not House."

"Oh well, there goes my standard speech about House being an ass because he can be," He smiled at her and rose from his chair and walked to the front of his desk and sat on the edge of his desk he clasped his hands in between his legs. "So, what's the problem?"

Cameron stuffed her hands in her jacket pockets, Wilson noticed how small it made her look. With her shoulders hunched up like that she looked like a nervous teenager.

"Has a patient ever asked you to help them…" Her shoulders sagged. "To help them end it?"

Wilson looked at her deeply pained face, unsure what to say. He took a breath and gestured for Cameron to sit back down. Cameron complied looking up at Wilson who had paled slightly as he looked out the window at the snow falling as he gathered his thoughts. He looked back at Cameron with a sad smile. He pulled the spare chair out beside Cameron and sat down facing her leaning forward in his chair resting his arms on his thighs and his hands clasped together. He looked at her and then looked past her over her shoulder.

"It has been a question that I've been asked a number of times."

"I'm guessing you never agreed to help?" She asked warily, as euthanasia was not something that doctors spoke about openly.

"No, I thought about helping once." He admitted quietly, "When I was a first year resident. But in the end I couldn't do it. I couldn't have lived with the consequences."

"But, it's somewhat inhuman to let people suffer." Cameron stood from her chair and walked to the window, attempting to hide her pain by appearing engrossed in the beautiful harshness of the snow.

"Yes it is, but the fact is euthanasia is against the law. And well, this may seem harsh, but sometimes you have to do what's best for yourself."

Cameron closed her eyes and ran the pendent that hung around her neck between her fingers.

Wilson sat back in the chair somewhat confused. "What did you tell this patient?"

Cameron rubbed her forehead and pinched the top of her nose, "I didn't really tell him anything." She turned to face Wilson and dropped her hand to her side, "I was just to stunned. I said I'd be back to check on him and kind of ran out of the room."

Wilson rose from his chair and stood in front of Cameron regarding her with a wary expression. "Cameron, you cannot agree to help him. You have to think of the consequences to yourself."

Cameron nodded in agreement. "I know, I just wish there was something I could do to help ease his pain."

Wilson gently placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "I know, but we just have to do the best we can."

Cameron gave him a tried smile as she took his hand from her shoulder and held it in hers for a moment. "Thank you." She let go of his hand and moved to the chair to pick up her bag and placed it over her shoulder. Before she could leave Wilson gently grabbed her arm. "Allison, the next time a patient asks say no, straight away. No matter how hard or how torn it makes you say so."

She nodded "I will." She turned to leave and as she opened the door she stopped and looked at Wilson. "Thank you, again."

He smiled at her. "You're welcome."

When Cameron had shut the door behind her, Wilson let out a deep and suffering breath. He rubbed his hand over his face and headed towards the door that led to the balcony. The cool and crisp air instantly hit his face and his bare forearms but he didn't bother to roll down his sleeves. He stood with his arms crossed over his chest and looked out over the night covered city as the snow continued to fall. He watched as Cameron made her way to her car. As if she could sense his eyes on her, she turned around and looked up at the balcony, her arms wrapped tightly around her and her big coat and scarf making her look warmer than she felt. Even in the darkness he could tell she was smiling and her eyes were alight. She waved at him and Wilson waved back and watched as she turned around and disappeared into the snow.