Disclaimer: I still don't own any of the characters. If I DID, however, there would be much happiness in the world.

Chapter Five

Chase returned to his apartment after work to find that the door was unlocked. He frowned and opened it, only to see Cameron on the couch watching the television. She had two duffle bags, a purse, and a packet of papers at her feet.

"Hey," she said with a small smile.

"Hey," he replied. "House took you to get your stuff."

"Yeah… There … wasn't much left," she said slowly, turning off the television. "I got some clothes, my credit and debit cards, some cash, and a couple of pairs of shoes. My laptop's toast and most of my clothes are ashes."

Chase frowned and sat next to her. "I'm sorry," he told her quietly. "That's got to be devastating."

She shrugged uncomfortably and prodded her bags with her feet. "It's okay," she replied hesitantly. "I just… I mean, insurance covers the apartment and most of the things inside. I'll be able to move back in about two months from now. I found a hotel that I can stay in for a week until my parents get back; then I'll stay with them until I get the all-clear to move back in."

They were quiet for a moment, each reflecting on their thoughts, until Cameron spoke again.

"I want to thank you, Chase. For everything. You've been great throughout this whole ordeal and I don't think I can thank you enough for that."

Chase smiled and placed a hand gently on Cameron's knee. "I'm a friend," he told her simply. "It's what friends do."

"Chase… You're…" Cameron grinned and took hold of the hand on her knee. "I've spent all afternoon with House," she said quietly, playing absently with Chase's fingers. "He gave me a … bit of an ultimatum."

"An ultimatum?" Chase asked, confused not only by Cameron's words, but by her actions.

"He knows that I find you attractive," she admitted shamelessly. "He also knows that I find him attractive. He thinks I need to … figure out which one of you I find more attractive." She turned over Chase's hand and traced random patterns on his palm, making him shiver. "He told me that I have a very scientific mind and that I ought to come up with a hypothesis and test it… But I don't know how willing I am to do that. To you or to him, though he claims he wants me to."

"Uh, Cameron?" Chase asked, clearing his throat after saying her name. "Ah… Wh-what sort of test?"

"You know… Spend time with both of you. See who I enjoy being with more." Her brow furrowed as she traced the random patterns with her nails instead of her fingertips. "But I don't think it's fair to either of you for me to do that. It would be like cheating on both of you with each other when you both knew… I can't do that. I don't have it in me."

"And, uh… Why don't you think that's fair?" he asked. He needed to loosen his tie. Christ. She looked so sweet…

"Well. Because I'm going to have to sleep with both of you. I'm sorry, but I can't enter into a relationship without knowing what the sex is like."

"Christ, Cameron…" His free hand flew to his throat to loosen his tie.

"I know. I don't think it's right, either."

"No. No, that isn't it." It was fine. Really. Chase was pretty sure that he was better in bed than a cripple who happened to be twice his age. "I just…" Quick! Excuse! "What if you get hurt in this whole process? It's fair to me and to House, if you think about it… We're both getting you for a while. But … I mean … you. It's not fair to you."

Cameron frowned and studied Chase. "I thought differently. I thought it wouldn't be fair to either of you, seeing as I'd get both of you for a while. But wouldn't you both be jealous? I can't screw up our work dynamic like that."

Please don't say 'screw,' he thought desperately. "Um … Cameron?"

"Yes?" She was still tracing those patterns on his hand, and her voice and become noticeably lower since they'd started this conversation. Was the thought of this possible fiasco turning her on?

"Do you … want to do this?" he asked, swallowing after asking the question.

"…Yes."

Hallelujah. "…Why?"

"I think House is right," she admitted with a shrug. "I think I need to spend time with both of you and decide which of you is right for me." She smiled slightly. "I need to experiment with it a bit. But I don't want to do that if you're against it."

"And if House is against it?"

"House suggested it."

"Ah." Ah, God. House might just be my new best friend. "Cameron, maybe this isn't such a good idea." Damn my noble side. All to hell. "I mean … if someone gets too attached, it could end badly."

"I know," she said quietly. "But I'm getting the opportunity here to really decide which man is right for me. I … don't know that I want to pass that up."

And I don't want you to pass it up, but if you get hurt… If I get hurt… If he gets hurt… "The possible repercussions…"

"I know them, Chase. I know what they are and I'm willing to risk them." She finally looked up at him, pinning him with her stunning green eyes. "Are you? If you aren't, we don't have to do this. I don't like playing games…"

"It's not a game," he said simply. "All three of us know what could happen in this situation. It's more of a tight-rope walk."

Cameron smirked, and Chase gulped. "Feeling risky?"

Risky? He was feeling overwhelmed. Did Cameron want to have sex with him? Now? Later? At all? Was she high? No … no her eyes were clear. She wasn't high this time. She was in her right mind and she was sitting here, on his couch, holding his hand and tracing patterns on it with her nails. And she was telling him, plain, that she wanted to choose between him and House.

"How risky are we talking?" he asked hesitantly.

"Not too risky…" she answered softly, bringing his hand to her lips and pressing a soft, sweet kiss to each of his fingertips.

"Cameron…"

"Allison," she responded with a smile.

"Allison," he whispered. "Are you sure…?"

"I'm so sure it's frightening," she assured him, letting go of his hand and scooting just a bit closer, her hands going to work on his tie to get it off of his neck. "You're so attractive, Chase. And you've got that cute accent…"

He let out a laugh of disbelief. Was Cameron here, in his living room, on his couch, taking off his tie and possibly trying to seduce him? She really wouldn't have to try all that hard. Probably knew it, too. He found it funny that he'd considered returning to the priesthood not three days ago.

"There have to be rules," Cameron said, interrupting Chase's thoughts.

"Rules?"

"Rules. You can't ask about House," she stated firmly. "You can't ask about how things are going with him because that really wouldn't be fair. No bragging to him about how things are going with us. No telling Foreman."

"That's fair." He wasn't planning on telling Foreman, anyway. Though he did sort of want to brag to House… Oh, well. He'd live. He grinned at Cameron and took hold of her hand, kissing her palm hesitantly. "I do have to ask, though… How does it feel knowing you're going to be able to be with two men at once for a while?"

She laughed breathlessly and took hold of his shirt, pulling him closer. "Exhilarating." She hesitated before brushing a soft kiss over his lips. "Are you going to get jealous?"

"Yes," Chase answered honestly. "But I'm going to keep it under control. This is an important decision for you to make." A very important decision.

"It is," she murmured, cupping his face in her hands and kissing him slowly, sweetly.

Chase cradled Cameron's neck and deepened the kiss almost hesitantly, knowing full well that things were going to be different this time. This was Cameron. This was. Not the dominant female that he'd encountered when she'd been high. Cameron. He didn't quite know what to do… Did he tread lightly, did he decide what was going to happen or was she going to? How was this going to work?

All of his thoughts stopped when Cameron changed the angle of the kiss and worked her way into his lap. She wasn't straddling him, choosing instead to sit across his lap and wrap her arms around his neck to kiss him. His hands rested on her waist and he returned her kiss leisurely; this was definitely different from drugged-Cameron, and he was very, very happy for that.

He pulled away from her and gave her a shy smile. "We don't have to do anything right now, you know."

"I know," she said, giving him an impish look. "I wanted to kiss you sober," she joked.

He laughed uncomfortably and she nudged him, staying on his lap and cuddling into his chest. "Thank you for doing this," she said quietly.

How could I not? he thought, wrapping his arms around her and resting his chin lightly on her head.

---

That evening, Cameron had taken her things to the hotel that she'd spoken of earlier. Chase had offered to let her stay with him until her parents got back, but she'd told him no. She didn't want to spend more time with either him or House; she wanted this to be as fair as humanly possible.

He'd frowned and stayed silent about the whole thing. This, he knew, was how things were going to be for a while. And he may not like it one bit, but it wasn't going to change until Cameron had made her decision; he just prayed that he'd be the one she decided on.

When he'd returned home, he'd realized that his apartment was in desperate need of food. He sighed, realized he'd have to go grocery shopping soon, and decided to go out for dinner. He passed a small diner and glanced inside, shocked to see Cameron sitting with House. Damn it all… He'd known that he'd get jealous, but this was nearly unbearable. He stalked away from the diner and tried to clear his mind.

---

Work on Friday delivered the biggest shock to Chase's system. House had told him to check on the new patient with Foreman and that Cameron would be running blood work in the lab. Chase had wanted to ask her to lunch, so he made his way down to the lab. He stopped cold at what he saw.

House was in the lab with Cameron, leaning close to her and talking to her about something by whispering it in her ear. Who knew what the hell he was saying? What mattered was that his hand was resting on her hip and she was blushing profusely, a small, silly grin on her face. House must've noticed his audience, because he pressed a kiss to Cameron's neck before pulling away from her and walking to the other side of the lab.

Chase turned around and went back to diagnostics. He'd promised not to ask Cameron about what was going on with House… He'd never promised not to ask House. So he waited in the man's office for him to come back and wasn't disappointed when House returned in ten minutes and smirked at him.

"Hope you enjoyed the show," he said snidely.

Chase frowned. "I want to know how far you've gone with her."

House smirked and sat down in his chair, propping a leg up on the table. "She made me promise not to brag, so no can do."

"You can't play with her like this!"

"Who's playing with her?" House asked coolly, tossing his tennis ball up in the air and catching it, making a smooth rhythm out of it. "She's playing with both of us, if I recall."

"Don't you have a problem with this?"

"Nope. Because in the end, I know that I'll get her. Let her fool around with you for a little bit… It isn't like it's going to last. And when it's over, I can fire your ass." He sounded so self-assured, and it annoyed the shit out of Chase.

"You're not going to fire me."

"No… But I will make your life hell."

"You're wrong," Chase said sternly, leaving the office. And House was wrong… He couldn't make Chase's life any more of a hell than it already was.