Disclaimer: I am not currently in the possession of these characters. But if I have to go through hell, high water, and monkey feces, I will get it! As God as my witness, I shall... Ah, forget it.

A/N: Thanks again to my great betas. :) Sorry about the typos in the last chapter. I edited it on here instead of on my Microsoft Word, so... Yeah. lol

Chapter Thirteen

Cameron slammed her car door and stood beside the car, staring at the Wegman's Supermarket that she'd pulled into for the groceries. She shouldn't have yelled… House was right, after all. If the rest of the hospital got wind of their current status, they'd both be terminated on the spot, no questions asked. It pissed her off that he was right, and made her even angrier to realize that she'd completely overreacted.

How typical.

With a sigh, she made her way into the store and grabbed a buggy. She really had needed to shop; she was just putting it off until she absolutely had to do it. She was bad about that.

As she made her way through the aisles, she let her mind wander. After all, she'd been shopping for her own groceries for over ten years. It was pretty much an automatic pilot task now.

Her thoughts wandered, also automatically, to Greg House. Elusive, amazing, destructive, and more than likely horribly bad for her. But she couldn't help being attracted to him. It was almost as though he were the sun and she were Mercury; she was just pulled in by his gravitational force, and there was no way out of it. Maybe he'd been right when he'd told her that she needed him because he was damaged. And she hated that possibility, but it was there, nonetheless.

As she walked through the freezer section, she glanced at the different sorts of meat available and, after a little debate, picked up a package of steaks. She didn't eat red meat, but she knew that House did. Maybe she'd make him something special, and… Oh, Christ, who was she trying to kid? She couldn't stay angry at him, which made her angry at herself. What if he did something to seriously piss her off? Like … cheat on her? Would she be able to stay angry at him then?

Cameron shook her head and tossed the small package of steak into the cart. She'd cross the angry bridge when she came to it. Why bother beforehand? House was completely unpredictable. She had no idea what he would do in the future or how long "being with him" would even last. For all she knew, her childish reaction earlier would push him far away, and they'd revert back to snark and awkwardness at work. The thought of that was pure torture to her. She couldn't lose him so quick now that she'd finally gotten him.

And she didn't expect a miracle, either. That would be completely naïve. What she expected was for him to stay the same old House. Maybe she could make him a happier man. Maybe she could get him to take a few less pills each day or get him to try a little harder to do the physical therapy that he really did need for his leg. It would also be nice to know that he wasn't mixing alcohol with his pills. But she didn't expect to change his personality. She didn't want to change is personality. She loved him the way he was: snarky, bitter, and arrogant as all hell.

As she passed the alcohol, his words sprang up in her mind. "Would a womanly thing include going to the store and getting some big kid drinks?" She debated with herself whether or not she'd pick up some alcohol. She rarely actually drank it; she was more of a social drinker, not an alcoholic. But a thought worked its way into her mind, and then she smirked to herself. Whoever said that she wasn't manipulative in the slightest was wrong beyond their wildest dreams. She turned down the aisle and grabbed up a couple bottles of wine.

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House pounded on Wilson's door, storming inside when he answered it. Wilson's eyes widened and he watched House pace the floor and rant without a greeting.

"She's insane!" he exclaimed. "She has no hindsight. She doesn't bother to think about things before she turns into a complete dragon and breathes fucking fire at my head." He turned and faced his friend. "Are you completely sure there's no way I can stay here? Those exterminators still haven't called! I will sleep on the floor, for Christ's sake."

Wilson blinked a few times, staying completely silent, before laughing uproariously. "House, why the hell are you here?" he asked between guffaws.

House glared at Wilson and found a box to sit on. "I fought with Cameron this morning and I don't want to stay there now."

Shaking his head, Wilson crossed to sit on the box next to the one House was currently occupying. "You fight with Cameron all the time."

"No, we argue in a friendly and professional manner." He stared out the bay window of Wilson's house. "How did you afford this place with three wives that you have to pay?"

"We aren't talking about my alimony payments right now," Wilson responded with a scowl. "What the hell are you doing here? Go … intimidate her or something."

"I can't anymore," he said angrily. "She's un-intimidatable."

"That's definitely not a word."

"Well, it is now." He blew out a breath and tapped his cane on the floor. "I had sex with her," he admitted quickly. "And I may have mentioned to her younger siblings that I was her boyfriend. And we may have discussed it a bit. But now we've argued about something completely ridiculous and I don't want to talk to her right now."

"You're having sex with her."

"I did have sex with her."

"Like … once, right?"

His gaze slid over to Wilson before he sighed. "Like … three or four times," he mumbled. "But that's not the point right now, Jimmy-"

"You're sexing up Allison Cameron!" Wilson exclaimed with glee. "And you're her boyfriend."

"Wilson, I swear to God, I'll shove this cane up your ass."

"It's just so cute, House," he gushed dramatically. "And you've already had your first argument! So when's the wedding?"

"Goddammit, Jim…"

"I know a good planner."

"Or three."

"Of course, the only places I know of are Jewish synagogues, so you'll have to find your own place for the wedding-"

"Hey, Jimmy? Fuck off. I'm being angry right now." He frowned and dropped his cane to the floor, rubbing his eyes. "She wanted me to go grocery shopping with her."

"And…?"

"And if someone from the hospital were there, they'd question it and we'd both be fired on Monday," House snapped. "What's with you and her? Neither of you seem to realize that."

"House… You're staying with her right now. I think just about everyone knows that. A lot of the doctors were betting that she'd throw you out on your ass and then quit. Cuddy and I were betting against the nay-sayers and that you two would resolve all of the sexual tension. Anyway… Anyone who may have seen you two at the grocer's would know that you have to go with her to buy what the two of you need for food."

He glared at his friend and bent down to pick up his cane. "Well, you're loads of help."

"Wait. Why did you argue?"

"She wants people to know." He sighed angrily and then corrected himself. "She said she didn't mind people at the hospital knowing."

"And that's why you two argued?"

"Yes!" House exclaimed. "She doesn't seem to realize that if everyone in the hospital knew, we'd both lose our jobs and she may was well forget any future fellowships."

"I'm … pretty sure she's not about to skip through the hallways passing out little Valentine's cards about the two of you getting together," Wilson replied, amused. "Does she even speak with any of the other doctors in the hospital?"

"I don't know," House snapped. After Wilson gave him a look, he rolled his eyes. "No, she doesn't."

"So basically, what you're saying is that you're completely paranoid about people finding out that the two of you are dating." Wilson paused and looked around his still-empty home. "I know you'll hate me for asking, but I have to ask it. Are you more worried that other doctors will find out or that Stacy will find out?"

"Stacy's gone," he replied with a frown. "If she were here, I'd rub it in her damned face."

Wilson frowned thoughtfully and hesitated before voicing his thoughts on the whole situation. "Greg… I need to know. Are you in love her?"

"No. She's a flaming bitch."

His friend let out an exasperated sound. "Not Stacy. Cameron."

House stilled, taking in a deep breath. Was he in love Cameron? Yes. Would he admit it out loud? That was the challenge. Because saying it out loud made it more real than ever, and that wasn't something he was quite ready to allow. "I love her," he said softly.

"I already know that," Wilson said with a small smile. "But in love… There's a difference, you know."

"After seeing you through three marriages, I kind of figured it out," he snarked quickly. And that was the truth. Wilson loved to love and be loved. He didn't do the falling in love crap that everyone always talked about. He married because he loved the women at the time. Probably still loved all of them. But none of them had been able to keep his attention.

"Look, I'm trying to be the good guy here." Wilson stood and shifted his weight from one foot to another. "Just go back to Cameron's apartment. You don't even have to apologize for upsetting her, just explain your actions."

"That'll go over well. 'Cameron. Here's the thing. I'm not sorry for pissing you off and I won't be. But I just wanted to let you know that I'd really like to keep my job.' I'm sure she'll throw herself into my arms in happiness after that one."

Wilson snorted. "Or she'll kick you out on your currently homeless ass."

House opened his mouth to retort when he heard something familiar. It was the squeaking sound of a hamster wheel. Son of a bitch… "Yeah, about that. Have the exterminators called you, by any chance?"

"Why would they call me?"

"Either you got a hamster, despite the fact that you hate rodents, or Steve McQueen is down the hallway."

Wilson looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Busted, House thought with a smirk. "Someone's been a very bad boy," he chided, following the noise of the hamster wheel. Down the hallway and two doors to the right was a cage sitting on a desk. Inside was his rat. "Is my place roach-free?" he asked, turning to face Wilson, who had followed him. "I mean, I'd like to know. Since the exterminators apparently call the friends of their clients now."

Wilson laughed nervously and scratched the back of his neck. "It was ready to move back into Thursday evening."

"I can't believe you made me stay with Cameron any longer than I had to," he groused, sticking a finger through the cage and petting the rat under its chin. "Aren't you supposed to be a friend?"

"You're dating her!" Wilson exclaimed with a smile. "I'm a damned good friend."

House rolled his eyes and made his way to the front door. "I'll be back later for the rat."

Wilson watched his friend leave and felt unease settle in his stomach. He hoped, sincerely hoped, that House wouldn't do something rash just because he had his place back.

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When House got back to the apartment, Cameron was there putting groceries away and singing softly with the radio. He listened for a moment, surprised to find that she wasn't completely tone deaf. By no means was she a great singer, but she could carry a tune.

He went into the kitchen and cleared his throat to let her know that he was there. She turned, gave him a small smile, and returned to her task. "My apartment's done," he told her simply.

She felt a small jolt in her stomach and faltered slightly as she placed a bottle of wine in the fridge. "Oh… Are you going back today then?"

"I was planning on going back later tonight." He once more tapped his cane on the ground, thinking of how he'd say what was on his mind. "After dinner?" he asked. "I'll need your help… I've got to pick up my rat."

Cameron's brow furrowed and she turned to face him. "I thought they said it was all right to leave him there."

"My oh-so-wonderful friend James Wilson played a little trick on us," he said, moving closer to Cameron. "You see… He called the exterminators and told them to do a full extermination of the apartment and took Steve in the meantime. He also changed my contact number to his cell phone. Wasn't that sweet of him?"

"Wilson?" she asked, dumbfounded. "Wilson did that?"

"He wanted to see us together, so he twisted the stakes in his favor." He took a strand of Cameron's hair and played with the bottom of it. "Can't say I hate him for it." He dropped the hair and let his hand drop to his side. "I was abrasive this morning," he acknowledged without an apology.

"I was childish, so I suppose we're even." She didn't apologize, either. And she wouldn't any time soon.

"I suppose we are." His eyes skimmed over the groceries she'd bought and he pursed his lips. "Wine?"

She shrugged and put the second bottle that she'd bought in the fridge. "I figured I'd buy some big kid drinks," she said with a grin.

"Aww, how cute. Allison's all grown up." He effectively dodged the hand that attempted to swat at him. "Do I get some of the big kid drinks?"

"How many Vicodin have you had today?"

His eyes narrowed dangerously. "Three," he answered honestly. "I've had three since four this morning."

Cameron looked at the clock. It was now one in the afternoon. She was pleasantly surprised. "You can have one more pill before four and then I'll let you have big kid drinks with dinner," she compromised.

He glared at her. "You sound like an over-protective parent," he warned.

"No," she argued. "I sound like someone who cares and worries about you." She grabbed the belt loop of his jeans and tugged to bring him to her before brushing her lips over his. "One pill before four. Wine with dinner."

"Stay with me tonight," he shot back, his eyes searching her face. "Stay with me at my place and I'll do it."

"I'm all yours," she replied with a smile. Part of her was surprised at just how true that statement was.