Title: Succumb (11?)
Author: Teenwitch
Summary: We have to succumb to the feelings we can never face.
Author's Note: I've been a little slack responding to some comments, so I just want to do that now. First of all, a big thank you to everyone reading and enjoying this. I do intend to continue 'Accused' and 'An Exercise in Futility', as soon as my final exams are over. I'm sorry for the extremely long delay :(
If it seems like I have no plan for this fic, I apologise, but I can assure you that isn't the case. In my style of writing I just tend to focus on the build-up a lot (perhaps too much if that is your view), and this can frustrate some people.
As for Brooklyn's paternity, I suggest re-reading chapter four for clues ;) I'll explain my reasoning at the end of this chapter, and I'm sorry if it's been left a little too ambigious.

So anyway, please enjoy, and more is to come!

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"I think he likes her."

Foreman glanced up from his perch behind the microscope. The clinical air in the small lab provided a lulling distraction from the throbbing in his temples, and he eyed Chase uncomprehendingly, waiting for him to elaborate. "Who, Cameron?"

Chase frowned strangely. "No— Brooklyn."

Foreman wheeled back his chair, blinking at his co-worker slowly. "You think House likes another human being?"

"Hey, it's not impossible. The guy does like people. He just won't admit it, that's all."

Foreman feigned shock. "You mean he likes us? Well, I wish I'd known…"

Chase rolled his eyes, leaning idly against the counter with a newfound determination to prove his point. He held up a hand, ticking names slowly off his fingers. "He likes Wilson."

"That's one," Foreman replied curtly, clearly unimpressed.

Chase narrowed his eyes, warming to the challenge. "Cuddy," he added.

Foreman furrowed his brow. "He does not like Cuddy."

"Sure he does. You think he's that nasty to someone he doesn't respect?"

"He respects her. It doesn't mean he likes her."

Chase scowled impatiently, waving a dismissive hand. "They have history, that's all I'm saying."

Foreman was eager for Chase to make his point and not dwell on the inner workings of one of House's few complicated relationships. "Fine. Who else?"

Chase paused, waggling his middle finger slowly. "Well, there is Cameron…"

Foreman scoffed. "Even that's debatable."

"Come on. You saw the way he reacted when she came back. He still has the hots for her."

Foreman shook his head, turning swiftly back to his work. "I really don't want to think of House in that capacity at all."

"Well, we both know he can actually have a girlfriend. And you're missing my point. He likes Brooklyn. I was with him in the courtyard before, and Cameron had him watching her."

At this, Foreman lifted his head. "What?"

Chase nodded in satisfaction. "See? He didn't even argue. That's weird."

"What's weird?"

They glanced up as Hudson slipped into the lab. The two of them exchanged a brief look. They tolerated Hudson and accepted him as a colleague, but neither of them could get over their initial awkwardness when he was around. They had developed a sort of loyalty with House that Hudson disrupted with his presence.

"Uh, House, and Cameron's kid," Chase supplied uneasily.

Hudson lifted an eyebrow, coming to rest against the counter opposite Foreman's equipment. "You noticed that too, huh? What's the deal with them?"

Foreman chuckled slightly, adjusting the scope over his blood sample. "What makes you think there is one?"

"He's been almost nice lately. At least to her. Did they date or something?"

Chase shrugged, looking faintly amused at the near accuracy of his statement. "Not… exactly," he answered hesitantly.

"But something happened?"

Foreman lifted his head. He didn't like it when people fished for information. Politics was a necessary part of their job, but it certainly didn't help when they had someone intentionally trying to disrupt their ranks. Hudson wasn't even being subtle about it. "What's with all the questions, Hudson? Are you interested in her?"

Hudson immediately scoffed, just as he knew he would. "No. Kids don't really make for a great relationship. I just think it's a little unprofessional that he lets her keep her kid around all day. This is a workplace, for God's sake, not a day-care centre."

"Well, we could always charge for it," House's familiar voice spoke up darkly. "I'll pitch the idea to the boss."

"Dr. House," Hudson said awkwardly, instantly straightening in place. His insincerity was completely transparent. Foreman honestly wondered how someone with House's integrity could possibly stand him. "I didn't mean to imply…"

House rolled his eyes, limping into the diffused room. "What have you got?" he asked Foreman bluntly, effectively ending Hudson's attempts to backtrack.

Foreman glanced back at him, more than willing to go along with it. "This is the patient's second biopsy tissue sample", he explained quickly. "There's no visible evidence that this is vasculitis."

House pursed his lips. "Okay. But the Medrol is working?"

"She's still stable," Chase concurred.

"All right then. Do an angiography and we'll see if you're right."

Foreman nodded, rising to his feet. House remained where he was, glancing over at Hudson slowly. His blue eyes narrowed with that familiar intensity they had whenever he was feeling particularly caustic. "If you've got any more complaints, take them up with Cuddy. They bore me, and I'm sure that's what you're going to do anyway."

He turned back to the door, and Foreman chanced a brief glance at Hudson before following after him.

"House."

House barely stopped, not bothering to dodge a pair of oncoming nurses and forcing them to part to make way for him. "Got something to add, Dr. Foreman?"

Foreman sighed, tucking his clipboard under one arm as he just managed to keep up the pace with his boss. For someone who walked with a cane, he was surprisingly speedy. "Hudson's an idiot."

House paused to glance back at him, reaching the elevators and edgily jabbing the 'up' button. "Thank you for the affirmation."

Foreman rolled his eyes impatiently. "I'm just saying, that he may be an idiot, but he has some credibility around here. If he starts complaining about something…"

"Right." House looked tired, uncharacteristically so. Foreman knew he loathed dealing with office politics, but he suspected there was something deeper going on.

The lights above the elevator doors slowly lit up, and Foreman eyed them before glancing at House slowly. "I don't know if you've considered the obvious solution here."

House turned to him, looking irritable. He tapped his cane on the floor. "Oh goody, advisement time."

Foreman ignored him. "Why don't you ask Cameron if she wants to come back to our department?"

House blinked at him slowly, expression typically unreadable. "Cameron's a busy girl. She's got mommy duty now."

"And she's looking for a job. Let Hudson apply for the Immunology position and rehire Cameron."

"Well, that's a great solution, except for the fact that Cameron doesn't live here anymore and she isn't looking for a job."

Foreman detected a hint of caginess in House's expression. He narrowed his eyes. "Please. It's only a matter of time before Cuddy offers her the Immunology job and she's going to take it. Why would she be here otherwise? Why can't you just admit for once that you actually want something and ask her to come back?"

House glared at him. Foreman could see his hand tighten around the handle of his cane and wondered if he had crossed some hidden personal boundary. It wasn't as if House ever had any respect for them himself.

"If I wanted guidance, I'd consult my Buddha."

Foreman rolled his eyes, bristling with frustration. It was time to cut the crap. "Hey, if I could pick anyone for Cam, it probably wouldn't be you. Actually, it definitely wouldn't be you. But for some reason she's still around, even after all this time, and she still likes you. Think about it."

He turned back towards the patient's room before House could offer some sort of sarcastic retort. He clashed with House on a regular basis but he wasn't one to interfere in his personal business. He could respect that much. Nevertheless, Cameron was his friend and he was willing to step up to the plate in order to defend her.

Things had gone on like this for long enough.

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Author's Note: House is not Brooklyn's father. Ihope I haven't dashed too many hopeson that :( My intention with this story is to show how House can feel for Cameron's daughter despite the fact that she isn't his own, because of his feelings for Cameron. I hope that makes sense and it still makes things interesting.