Title: Succumb (14?)
Author: Teenwitch
Summary: We have to succumb to the feelings we can never face.
Author's Note: Again, I really adore your feedback. You're all too nice to me ;)

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"Dr. Cuddy?"

Cuddy lifted her head, fixing her gaze intently on Allison Cameron. The graceful younger doctor was poised hesitantly at her door, waiting politely for an invitation to enter.

Cuddy resisted a smile, inwardly wondering if she was really all that threatening. She suspected ingrained manners had more to do with it. "Dr. Cameron. Come in."

Cameron smiled her thanks, closing the door quietly behind her and crossing to the chair opposite Cuddy's desk.

"I'm assuming you're here about the Immunology position?" Cuddy guessed shrewdly.

Cameron blinked at her lack of preamble, crossing one leg over the other. She nodded slowly. "Uh, yes, I am. Dr. Kendall told me to submit my application to you first."

Cuddy nodded, closing the folder in front of her to give Cameron her full attention. The two women were really far too different to ever develop any sort of friendly rapport, and their professional dealings had rarely extended beyond dealing with House and the Diagnostic team's more controversial cases. Nevertheless, Cuddy could feel a genuine admiration for someone who was willing to see past House's many flaws and attempt to draw out the person underneath. Sure, it was probably a futile job, but she could appreciate the effort all the same.

"It's just a formality, as I'm sure you've been told," Cuddy explained to her. "Your references are above reproach, and the fact that you completed most of your fellowship here means that you're already well acquainted with the hospital. So if you want the position, it's yours to take."

"Thank you," Cameron said quietly.

Cuddy studied her a moment, taking Wilson's observations into consideration. It was true; she had developed a certain level of maturity that was previously lacking. Cuddy appreciated her skills as a doctor, and if her time at The New England Medical Centre was any indication, they had only flourished in her three-year absence. The one thing possibly marring her application, was knowing the effect she would inevitably have on House.

Of course, that was part of the reason she was rehiring her.

"There's one thing I want to ask first." Cuddy straightened in her chair, fixing her eyes on Cameron intently. She was an adaptive woman by nature, a trait she constantly used that to her advantage when relating to stuffy hospital administrators, visiting surgeons and wealthy patients. She paused before continuing, making the effortless transition to the sensitive supervisory role she assumed she would need in order to probe Cameron. "I want to make sure that your past relationship with House isn't going to be a problem."

Cameron surprised her, meeting her squarely in the eye. She barely hesitated in her response. "I'd hardly call it a relationship."

Cuddy's eyebrows ticked upward, and she subtly shifted tactics. "Okay, fair enough. I just want to be sure you understand how often you'll be seeing each other. The hospital isn't that big. You'll be dealing with him on a regular basis. That's a lot to ask of anyone. It can be a pretty huge emotional requirement."

"I lived through it once before," Cameron said calmly.

Cuddy cocked an eyebrow. This reaction was a little unexpected. "As long as you're sure," she said carefully.

"I am," Cameron replied, smiling tightly.

"What about your daughter? I'm sure the crèche staff could recommend some good nannies."

Cameron nodded. "I've been looking into it. There's a day-care centre near my street that accepts late enrolments."

Cuddy pursed her lips. "Okay. Well, it sounds like you have everything organised. Dr. Kendall should have all of the necessary paperwork, and I'm sure you can start right away."

"Great."

Cameron rose to her feet, and Cuddy sensed a certain eagerness on her part to escape as soon as possible. She was halfway to the door before Cuddy inwardly winced, and called out to her. I hope you appreciate this, House. God knows I've seen you destroy enough people.

"Dr. Cameron."

Cameron paused, calmly wheeling around to face her. However, Cuddy wasn't the Dean of Medicine for nothing. She read the momentary panic in her eyes, before it slid behind a carefully constructed mask of composure.

Cuddy sighed deeply, deciding to approach her candidly. "I don't want to intrude on your personal life. What doctors do or don't do in their own time… is really none of my business, and I like to keep it that way." She frowned, struggling to find the words and attempt to maintain a level of sensitivity. "House… cares about you," she said carefully. She scoffed ironically. "He may have a really terrible way of showing it, but he does. And I'm sure he would be more than willing to have you back in his department… if that's what you would prefer."

Cameron pursed her lips, slowly folding her arms over her front. "Are you sure this isn't just a tactic to make sure he keeps his job?"

Cuddy lifted her eyebrows, opening her mouth in surprise. The girl had a backbone; she would certainly give her that. "He told you about that?"

"Yes."

Cuddy was slightly taken aback. The fact that they were clearly socialising outside of work was enough to give her pause. She wondered exactly how much time House was spending with her.

"He also said you would think of something to keep him. I'm assuming this is Plan B."

Cuddy imitated Cameron's posture, folding her arms squarely over her chest. She was slightly impressed with her newfound confidence, but it was time to remind her who she was talking to here. "If you think the only reason I hire my doctors is to keep House in line, you might want to reconsider this position."

It had the desired effect. Cameron looked down, suitably cowed, frowning slightly. "I'm sorry," she conceded quietly. "I just don't want to go back to the team if that's all I have to offer."

"I'm not going to lie to you, Cameron," Cuddy said frankly. "You have some kind of positive influence on him, and God knows we need that around here." She tapped her manicured nails lightly against her desk. "But that's not why I'm offering it to you. House needs a team he trusts. You, and Foreman and Chase seem to be able to break through at least some of his barriers, and you work well together. Your success rate was better than we've ever had when you were still around. I'm trying to do what's best for the hospital. And what's best for House," she conceded reluctantly.

Cameron lifted her eyes, staring at her for a long moment. Her inner conflict was unmistakable. "Can I have some time to think about it?" she asked at last.

Cuddy unfolded her arms, resting them casually in front of her on her desk. She relaxed now that she had made her point. "Of course. You can have until the end of the week."

Cameron nodded slowly. She turned and left the office.

Cuddy exhaled loudly, slumping wearily back in her chair. Sometimes she wondered why she invested so much energy in House's screwed up personal life. She only hoped the end result would be worth the trouble.

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Her conversation with Cuddy had vaguely unsettled her, and though she couldn't pinpoint the exact reason, she had the feeling she had just been manipulated. She shook her head, rounding the clinic desk, and Cameron abruptly realised she was in for yet another emotional confrontation.

House leant casually against the counter, elbows propped on the edge. His eyes were focused on her steadily. He had clearly been watching her for some time; probably since she left Cuddy's office. When she met his stare, he didn't react or look away, almost searing her with his raw, unrestrained intensity.

She swallowed, slowing her steps as she approached him. To turn around now would be cowardly, as would passing him by completely. And, she could acknowledge, she was the one in the wrong here. She knew she must have hurt him last night, as much as he would try and hide it.

He tapped his cane idly on the floor at his feet, keeping his sleet blue eyes fixed on her as she stopped in front of him. "I didn't see you as hooky-playing type," he noted impassively, indicating her with his free hand.

Cameron cleared her throat, shifting awkwardly. "I'm sorry. I had a meeting with Cuddy."

"So I see. You get the job?"

She looked away, unable to stand his probing stare. She felt like he could read into her soul and she didn't like that kind of exposure. "I… don't know yet."

His lips quirked humourlessly. "You're lying."

Cameron frowned. She was vividly reminded of the sensation of his stubble against her cheek, and flushed faintly. "It's personal, and I don't want to share it. There's a difference."

"Distinguishing between different types of lies," House said darkly. "That's never a good sign."

Cameron closed her eyes, bending her head slightly and letting her hair curtain her face. Why not just get to the crux of the matter? "I'm sorry. About last night."

House barely reacted. "Apologising clearly comes easily to you too. I wonder if that means something."

She knew he had reverted to sarcasm as a form of self-protection. It didn't take the sting out of his words. "I wanted you to know that it wasn't because of you. I just needed time to think and…"

"'It's not me, it's you'?" House interrupted sardonically. "Dr. Cameron, I'm disappointed in you. I thought you could come up with something a little more inventive."

"That's not what I—"

"Dr. House", a burly nurse interrupted, appearing behind the desk and extending a clipboard impolitely between them. "Patient in Exam Room 1. He says he has meningitis."

"Great," House said abruptly, fingers closing around the clipboard. He turned to Cameron glibly. "You know what they say; the patient is always right. Or is it the customer? I always get the two of them confused. Just call me the caped crusader for disease. Duty calls."

He promptly lowered his cane and propped it on the floor, starting past her without giving her a backward glance.

Cameron watched him go, feeling a painful ache deep inside her heart. She forced herself to look away from his departing back; filled with the unwelcome knowledge that this was a sure sign he had closed her out completely. Penetrating House's distrust only worked so many times. She suspected she had just run out of chances.

And she only had herself to blame.

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