Chapter 5

Wilson was so fucking pissed at House. Yes, they were best friends; yes, they had been through a lot together. He kept tightening his hand around the stress ball but it was having no effect what so ever, all it was doing was mashing through his fingers. He looked tiredly at the ball and then threw it at the wall just as Cameron walked in.

Cameron allowed her lips to curl upwards slightly as she walked to the front of Wilson's desk. "Bad day?" She asked with fake brightness.

Wilson smiled warmly at her and held up his hand in an apology. "Oh don't ask." He rubbed his hand over his face.

Cameron bent down to pick up the stress ball that had rolled back towards Wilson's desk. "These things are useless." She looked at the ball momentarily and then placed it on Wilson's desk. "They cause more stress than they ease."

Wilson leaned forward on his desk and picked up the stress ball and rolled it in his hands. "Yeah, well I bought it because it's easier to beat up than a sadistic S.O.B with a bad case of snark and a cane."

Cameron couldn't help but laugh lightly. "You've got a point. I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of House's cane."

"Oh, I was talking about my mother in-law." Wilson flashed what Cameron called his car salesman smile and continued light heartedly. "But, you're right. House qualifies too."

Cameron was now wearing a full smile and laughing warmly. Despite his smile she could tell that he was physically and emotionally exhausted. She stopped laughing and her smile became thin. She exhaled. "You should go home early for a change, get some decent sleep."

Wilson still held onto the ball and sank back into his chair. "No, I can't. I want to get as much of this paperwork out of the way before I leave for the holidays." He swept his eyes over his desk at the paperwork he had to finish as he looked back at Cameron. Beyond her smile, he noted a look of concern in her eyes.

She simply smiled. "Right, well I'll leave you to it." She turned on her heel to leave but stopped at the threshold of the doorway. "You know you do so much for others. Don't forget to do something for yourself once in a while."

Wilson tilted his head at her, with a playful but thankful smile on his face. "Don't forget to follow your own advice." He said warmly. "Now, go have some fun."

She smiled. "Don't work to hard."

Wilson gave her a salute. "Yes mother."

Cameron gave a little wave and a smile and left closing the door behind her unaware she was being watched by Chase.

He wasn't intentionally spying. The blinds at Wilson's office window were open and he could see the warm smiles and lingering looks pass between the two doctors. As he watched he felt a stab of jealousy in the pit of his stomach, which was immediately replaced by a feeling of stupidity. Chase knew that Cameron didn't want him. She never had, and despite what Cameron had said she was still hung up on House. Now it would seem casting her attention on Wilson. Chase laughed scornfully to himself. And you wonder why Cuddy chose Foreman over you. He thought.

He straightened up when he saw her leave Wilson's office and marched to catch up with her. He lightly tapped her shoulder. "Hey you want to go out for a drink tonight?"

Cameron continued toward the elevator, giving Chase a simple glance and smile before answering. "Oh no, not tonight. I'm going to do some last minute shopping."

"Oh, I thought you'd be one of those people who would have gotten all of their Christmas shopping out the way by now."

They stopped as they reached the elevator and Cameron lightly pressed the button to go down. "Well, I have most of them, but there is one person who I didn't know what to get until now." She said coyly.

No second guesses who. Chase thought. "Is it even worth it?" He scoffed not looking at her.

Cameron looked at him with confusion. "What?"

Chase turned his head to her with an expression that oozed disbelief, "Well it's not like it'll mean anything to him." He turned back to face the elevator slightly bouncing on his feet. "He no doubt gets many gifts from his mistresses."

The elevator arrived at the floor and the doors slid open. Chase stepped inside. "What makes you think he'll take notice of yours?" He turned in the elevator to look at Cameron his jaw set and his face had a steely complexion as he held the elevator door open for her.

Cameron ignored the impatiently beeping elevator, looking at her co-worker annoyed and even more frustrated. "Fuck you." She hissed as she walked away.

The doors began to close and Chase whispered smugly. "You already have."

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Wilson had taken Cameron's advice and had left early for the night, the sleep he got wasn't great but was better then what he had been having. He had arrived slightly later to work than he normally did but was still in before everyone was. He was thankful that the snow had eased and the roads were clear because it meant that House could ride his motorbike into work today and Wilson didn't have to give him a lift in. He was still pissed at House for yesterday and the comments he had made, all to simply bitch about Stacy again. Leaning his head against his office door, he laughed, for no reason in particular, he just laughed. He only knew that if he didn't laugh he'd scream.

He pushed open his office door and stood up straighter trying to ease the tense muscles in his back. Still wearing his un-amused smile, he closed the door. He made his way to his desk closing his eyes and rubbing his hand over his face, but quickly reopened them when he saw a sparkling something sitting in his chair. Sure enough, there was a large parcel wrapped in bright Christmas paper sitting in his chair. He looked at it somewhat perplexed as he placed his bag on the floor beside his desk and tossed his coat aside.

He looked at the gift tag that read. I thought you might need this Christmas present early. Santa xxx.

He shook his head and smiled at the loopy junior high school girl handwriting. It was a secret Santa that wasn't so secret. He felt like a child as he ripped open the paper with gusto, causing an envelope to fall out. Picking it up and placing it on the desk, he returned to removing the paper. He tilted the box slightly so he could read the side of it and saw that it was a blow-up punching bag. He was somewhat confused why she would buy him this, but figured that the answer was in the envelope. He picked it up and on the front it read, Instructions to Release Tension. Wilson smiled as it began to make sense. He opened the envelope and pulled out two separate pieces of paper. One was an old picture of House and the other instructions.

Obviously, blow up the punching bag.

Use tape to stick the picture of House (or you mother in-law) to the bag.

Relieve tension by continually punching House's mug without fear of snarkiness or being hit on the head with his cane.

It's so much more fun and effective than a stress ball. Trust me. Santa.

Wilson chuckled to himself. "Santa, you're a genius." He folded up the pieces of paper and placed them back in the envelope and placed that in his bottom drawer. He then stood with his hands on his hips for a moment biting his lower lip. "Right now were do I hide you?" He said himself. It was probably better to not let House see his new gift, as it would open the flood gates for a battery of questions and accusations. "He'd get Cameron's name out of me somehow." Wilson muttered aloud.

Wilson looked at his watch quickly. There was still time before House or his team showed up, "I can get this to the car quickly." Wilson muttered, throwing on his jacket and hurrying out of the room with his new stress ball.

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Cameron sat at her desk in the conference room sorting through House's mail with a knot in her stomach. It was stupid to let what Chase said get to her. She knew better. Besides, she and Wilson were friends, and that was all. Cameron tilted her head to the side. If their relationship was completely platonic why was she worried about giving him a Christmas present?

They were friends and it's not like it was anything expensive or special it was a gag gift and she loved those the most. Why should she let an arrogant wombat brat change the way she thought about her friendship with Wilson. Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard the beep of the coffee machine. She stood and stretched her arms over her head as she went to the percolator.

She stifled a yawn with her palm and poured herself a coffee. She jumped slightly as she heard Wilson's humorous and crisp clean voice cut through the silence of the office. "Look like you should have taken your own advice and gotten some decent sleep yourself."

She looked at him from over her glasses. "Is that your coded way of saying I look terrible?"

Wilson closed the distance between them and raised his hands in defence. "I would never dare insinuate such a thing." He dropped his hands to his hips. "House would. But me." Her raised a hand to his chest. "I'm the more sensitive one." He said in a subtly sarcastic tone.

Cameron turned around and leaned against the counter taking a sip of her coffee. "Ah, huh. Well that explains the two divorces." She said in an equally sarcastic tone.

Wilson gasped in mock shock. "Ouch. You know how to hit a guy were it hurts don't you?" He said pouting.

"Ah, you big baby." She placed her coffee down and turned to pick up the coffee pot and an empty cup. "Here, let me apologise my giving you some coffee."

"What makes you think I'm here for coffee." He asked with raised eyebrows taking the cup of coffee she was offering anyway.

She pointed accusingly at him. "Don't think I don't know that you sneak in here to steal our coffee when were not here! And even when we are, you conveniently are 'helping us' with a case just to get coffee!"

Wilson clicked his fingers. "Damn, you found me out." He stood beside her at the counter. "Actually, the reason I came here was to tell you I had a visit last night."

"Oh yeah? From who?" Cameron took another sip of her coffee.

"Santa." He said excitedly.

Wilson could see Cameron was smiling behind her cup. She lowered her mug her face serious. "Aren't you Jewish? Besides, a bit early for Christmas, isn't it?" Her tone was jovial.

Wilson nodded. "Hum." He took a sip of his coffee and let out a breath at the heat of the coffee. "That's what I thought. But he thought I might need this present early and who's Santa to let a religious difference get in the way of a good present?"

She saluted with her coffee cup, "True." She then brought it to her smiling lips for another sip. "You think this present will come in handy?"

"Oh yeah." Wilson starched his neck. "It'll be very useful." He looked at her smiling. "Very, very useful." He almost whispered.

They seemed to stand still for a few moments and allowed the silence to wash over them and comfort them.

Is this, Cameron thought, Is this what people see? The two of us so comfortable with one another that we can just be with each other. That we can allow silence to wash over us with ease. Is this why Chase and House think we're having an affair? Suddenly Cameron diverted her eyes from his as the realization hit. She stood up straight, steeling herself. Or that we will have an affair. She deliberated as she walked away from him and back to her desk.

Wilson was somewhat perplexed at her speediness to move away from him. "What's wrong?" He asked as he moved to stand by her desk. "Do I smell bad or something." He asked as he sniffed under his arm. "Cause I used a fair amount of Lynx this morning."

Just joke with him. Cameron told herself. You can't get into this right now. Not now, not here, not when you have to figure this out for yourself. That you've been falling for him all along.

She held her hand over her mouth as if she was going to gag. "Yeah. That's the problem." She moved her hand, tilted her head and smiled at him. Flirting that's what you two do well. She realized. But why now? Why did it take Chase to spell it out for you what you failed to see?

Wilson faked insult. "Right." He made his way to the door. "If that's the way you feel I'll go." He was part way out the door before he stuck his head back and pointed at the cup in his hand. "And I'm keep this as compensation for…"

"Damaged ego?" Cameron asked shrugging her shoulders.

Wilson glared at her. "No. Hurt feelings." He said childishly.

As Wilson walked away Cameron yelled. "Big baby." At which point Chase walked in which was good timing. Insulting two birds with one stone made Cameron's day.

"Morning to you to." Chased said laughing as if their conversation the night before hadn't happened.

Chase's ignorant attitude toward their fight yesterday turned Cameron's uncertain mood to an icy one. She sat up straighter and offered him a polite but hostile "Good morning." As she turned her chair to face her computer screen. Cameron chided herself for being so short with Chase, After all, he had awakened her to what was going on…or not going on between her and Wilson. So what? She thought angrily. He's an ass. It's none of his business. Cameron chose to ignore the fact that Chase had only spoken the truth. Who wants to hear that?

Chase looked nervously back at her as he took off his bag and jacket and went to pour himself a coffee. Great, she's playing the ice queen card with gusto. He took a sip of coffee and made his way gingerly towards her. He faked a cough. "Look Cameron. I was only concerned for you and…"

"Concerned." She repeated. She snapped her head towards him, her nostrils beginning to flare slightly. "Concerned about what exactly?"

"Well, he's a married man. You should be careful." He said cautiously.

"Well, you know what, Chase? I don't need your concern." She turned back to her computer and said under her breath but loud enough for him to hear. "Just your apology." For telling me the truth. I which I would have been happy to live without.

Chase scoffed. "For what, for being a friend? For seeing that you two are undoubtedly heading into bed and warning you about it?"

Cameron managed to hide the shock that Chase's words caused. So what if he's right? Chase awakened me to what everyone else sees. Cameron thought about the moments that she and Wilson had spent together. They were sweet, caring, and comfortable. We should have seen this coming.

She shook her head and gave Chase a pointed stare. Stick to denial, Allison. "You know nothing Chase." She said unemotionally. "So." She rose from her chair and walked past him. "Leave it. Alone." She continued out the door and down the hallway to the elevator wanting to avoid everyone. Unfortunately, she bumped into House as he was getting out of it.

"Where you going?" He asked, a bit too energetically.

Cameron stepped in the elevator and said shortly. "Clinic duty." To continue my affair.

House made a face at her. "Gee, who put the rod up your ass this morning?"

The doors to the elevator then closed. Me and Wilson.