Cameron glanced down at her watch. 6:10. Chase had left almost an hour ago, quite pissed off that he had spent almost the entire day in the clinic. House had just stopped into the lab on his way out to check on a few pending tests. The timing was perfect. She had just enough time to log the last lab results into her charts, check in on Foreman and then run back to the office for her things.
Almost an hour later, she turned her key in the large glass door of the clinic and pushed her way through. In the silence of the room, it made a loud clicking sound as it swung itself closed. The clinic was relatively dark except for a vague light coming from under the door of exam room one. Nervously, she straightened her jacket and flipped her hair off her shoulder. Just remember to breathe she tried to remind herself.
Linda was leaning against the corner of the exam table when Cameron opened the door. Wilson hadn't arrived yet but Linda walked towards her helping her with her satchel and coat, hanging them up on the hook on the back of the door. Cameron noted that she was a kind looking woman, maybe ten years older than she was. She was pretty, but somewhat plain. If she knew anything about Dr. Wilson's choice in women that worked for him, she was probably as nice and gentle as he was.
"Take off everything from the waist up, Dr. Cameron and put the gown on, ties towards the back and I'll be back in about five minutes with Dr. Wilson". Her voice was warm and caring and she gave Cameron's shoulder a light squeeze before slipping out the door.
Cameron undressed quickly and hopped up onto the table. She stared at her hands while her feet swung aimlessly over the side of the exam table. She'd been in this room a hundred times, she thought and never once did she think she'd be the one on this side of the table.
The light knock on the door made her jump even though she was anticipating it. Wilson stuck his head in while Linda followed behind on his heels – "all set?" he asked. His big brown eyes locked on her own as if to try and will her to relax.
"Cameron, I know this is awkward. So, if at any point you feel like you'd like to stop, just let me know".
Cameron nodded slightly and nervously ran her hands over her lap.
"Okay, then let's get started", Wilson said looking over at the nurse. She felt a pull of tightness in her throat and fought back a tear as Linda gently helped her lay back on the table. She tried to think of everything ordinary she possibly could. Her grocery list, the movies in her DVD collection- even tried to mentally balance her checkbook.
Wilson was talking softly now, his hands moving over her so gently she could barely tell what he was doing. Still, she couldn't look him in the eye, choosing rather to set her gaze off toward Linda instead.
"Allison", his voice was low and somber. "The size and posture of the larger cyst is a concern. I'm going to biopsy it along with the smaller one, just to be sure. Just relax for a minute or two".
Unable to get any words past her lips, she nodded at him instead. Wilson gestured towards the nurse who handed him two syringes. "Little bit of a pinch", he said softly.
The clear liquid from each injection burned little paths up her chest. "That really stings, doesn't it?" She said, as she held her breath waiting for the burning to stop.
"The area should be completely numbed in another minute", he said quietly. "You let me know if you feel any discomfort, all right?"
As if on cue, Linda wheeled the procedural tray over to his side and began cleaning the biopsy site with a sponge and betadine solution. Cameron could see her delicately begin to hand him various needles and collection dishes.
During each biopsy, she leaned close to Cameron, squeezing her hand and shoulder gently while she primed Cameron for what was about to happen. The tears flowed freely from Cameron's eyes now, falling onto the paper-like gown. She wanted to pick herself off of the table and run home. She couldn't remember when she last felt so alone.
"Ok, I'm all done, Allison. When you're ready, you can sit up slowly". Cameron nodded to Linda who gently helped to raise her to a sitting position and reposition her dressing gown. Wilson briefly turned away from her, pulling off his latex gloves before sitting down on the rolling chair to face her.
His face was relaxed and kind. A small, reassuring smile turned up the corner on one side of his mouth. His voice was flawless. "Considering your age and medical history, they're most likely fibroadenomas. I didn't feel anything at all in your lymph nodes. They seem to be contained to this one location. I should have the results back in a couple of days. I'll rush them through as much as possible. I know it's hard, but try to keep in mind that over 80 of biopsy results are benign".
"Do you have any questions?"
"No", she said weakly. "I'm ok".
"You should probably take a cab home rather than driving yourself. I can call one for you".
Cameron managed a weak nod and grabbed Wilson's hand as he started to push backwards on the chair. "Thank you. I really appreciate it". He covered her hand with his and gave her a gentle squeeze.
"No problem at all. I'm going to run these up to the lab while you're changing. When you're done, come on out and I'll wait with you for your cab." And with that, he closed the door gently behind him.
She winced in discomfort a bit as she slid her bra on over the band-aids and hooked it in the back. She swung her blouse over her shoulders and slid her arms through the sleeves. She'd managed to button three of the bottom buttons before there was loud bang at the door. "Just a minute, Dr. Wilson, please…." She started, but the door swung open before she could get the rest of the words or her blouse pulled together.
House slammed the door shut behind him as Cameron clutched at her gaping blouse. She turned her back slightly and fumbled with the remaining buttons. "House, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Looking back over her shoulder she could see that he was in a highly agitated state. His eyes were fixed on her, boring holes into her back.
"Where is he?" House demanded.
"House, what are you doing? What are you talking about? Why are you here?" She felt as if she could no longer keep it together. Her mind reeled.
"Where is he, Cameron?" he barked again, this time so close to her face that she felt herself slip back a bit against the exam table. Tears sprang to her eyes and softly began to fall down her cheeks.
"Why are you shouting?" She'd abandoned trying to button her entire blouse after two attempts at buttoning it incorrectly and pulled it together with her fists instead. She eyed her jacket that still hung on the hook behind House and quickly dismissed the possibility of trying to retrieve it.
"You don't think I knew about your little meetings today? The phone calls too?" His eyes were cutting into her. The palm of his left hand flew up towards his forehead. "How can you be so gullible? He's married, Cameron".
"You're insane, you know that?" she shot back. "Is that what you think? That I'm having an affair with him? It's nice to know just how very little you think of me, House. And what if I was? You've made it quite clear my personal life is of no interest to you" She could hear the shaking in her own voice as well as feel her hands tremble with anger. She felt woozy but sitting down was obviously not an option.
"Get out of my way" she fired off at him. But he remained inches away from her face as if glued in the spot. The muscle in his cheek twitching with every angry breath he took in.
"Move!" she said through her clenched teeth. As she tried to push her way past him, he suddenly reached out and grabbed her by the wrist, bending her arm up and holding it against his chest. "You're not going anywhere" his voice was low and devoid of inflection.
She strained against his grip. "Let me go, House. This isn't what you think it is. You're making a fool of yourself".
"Oh, really Cameron? Well, why don't you fill me in then, or let's say we just wait for the good doctor Jimmy to pop back in? Hmm? Gosh, this will be fun!"
Cameron felt a warm sensation spread across the back of her neck and chest. Feeling a bit dizzy as she struggled to hold her footing, quietly she said "House, please. Don't do this".
House loosened his hold on her wrist but pulled her hand lower against his belly. They were standing less than an inch apart, close enough for Cameron to feel the heat pouring off of him. With his other hand, he laid his cane to rest against her hip and reached up to wipe tears off of her cheek. He pressed his lips to her hair, brushing her ear and the side of her face.
"I will kill him, do you understand?" His breath was ragged and hot, smelling faintly like alcohol and coffee and his voice rumbled low in her ear sending shivers down Cameron's spine. He pulled her forcibly back towards him gathering up the back of her loose blouse in his fist and began to place eager, greedy kisses over her lips and neck.
The knock on the door abruptly broke them apart. "Ok, Allison, are you ready….Oh, House. What are you doing here?" Wilson looked stunned but quickly seeing the tears on Cameron's face and the searing look in House's eyes, realized he had just interrupted something more serious. Suddenly, Wilson felt more than a bit unnerved.
House turned to fully face his friend, fists clenched. Before he could speak, Wilson saw Cameron move, grabbing House's bicep and pulling it back towards her. Her voice was low and surprisingly calm.
"We're not having an affair; he was helping me with a consult- for myself". Her eyes searched his angry blue ones for some sort of connection of understanding.
Wilson pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes shut. "Jesus, House. Is that what you think we're doing? Well, this is a new low, even by your standards. You couldn't be more wrong, you know".
Wilson knew that last comment would probably cost him the receiving end of House's fist, but respecting his patient's privacy, refused to indulge him further.
Cameron's voice broke the icy stare between the two friends. "House, look at me. A couple of months ago I found two lumps in my breast. We've been so busy with new patients and having Foreman working part time, I couldn't get away to see my regular OB/GYN. I got nervous and I went to Wilson for help. That's it".
His eyes widened with both surprise and fear as he turned to look at her as if seeing her for the first time.
She reached her hand up gently pulling back the right corner of her blouse to reveal two large band-aids poking through the sheer lacy fabric of her bra. "Wilson performed the biopsy. I made him promise me he wouldn't mention it to you. That's all that is going on here".