Ok, it appears 'the Morning After' will turn into 'the Week After.' But that's okay, right:o)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN – Bridge Over Troubled Waters
'Gotta get to his apartment … gotta hide … what? Was I really riding his bike? No, that couldn't have happened. Wait, what did happen? Head hurts, arm hurts. Nurse? NURSE? Why can't anyone hear me?'
HOUSE M.D. HOUSE M.D. HOUSE M.D
As Chase slowly wakes up in the early morning hours at first he thinks he's in a strange room then familiarity comes back and he knows the room well. He subconsciously reaches out for Cameron but all he sees is an empty spot and an indent on a pillow where a head once lay on it. He sits up and listens for any noise from the bathroom, as he thinks that's where she might be. After a few moments of silence he gets out of bed and heads to the living room, softly calling out her name. There is no answer.
He walks past the couch and almost misses her sitting in the recliner in the dark, staring at him with a blank expression on her face. "Oh, Allison, you scared me for a sec." She still doesn't answer. He takes a deep breath and sits on the couch next to the recliner. "You okay?" he asks, with no reply. "Please talk to me," he begs.
Silence fills the room after he sighs heavily and leans back on the sofa, not once taking his eyes off of her. He notices the wrinkles from worry in the corners of her eyes; the blackness under her eyelids and the sadness in her eyes. But he doesn't know why she's so sad. 'Do I really want to know?' he thinks to himself.
After almost ten minutes Chase jumps suddenly when he hears Cameron's voice break the silence. "Robert?" He leans forward on the couch and listens intently to her. "Why did you talk to Wilson about that night we, uh, you came over?" she asks quietly, not looking at him but continues to stare out the dark window.
"Because you were completely freaked out with the meth and in the process you freaked me out. I should have stopped us. I shouldn't have let it happen but it did, and I told you it didn't suck. But it didn't seem like it meant anything to you."
"Of course it didn't mean anything." At those words his face instantly changes into a man that has just had his heart plucked out. "Look, we never really talked about that night but I'm sorry it happened."
"Oh, really?" he asks with a tone of cynicism. "Granted, you were stoned, but why did you ask me over and not House? Huh? Why was it that night you attacked me and not him?" he angrily demands.
At the mention of his name her head turns and glares at him with the look of a wild cat about to pounce on an unsuspecting mouse. She stands up and starts to pace back and forth in front of the window, never answering his question. He stands, too, and steps in front of her on one of her turns.
"Answer me, Cameron! You were so high that night you could have called House and I'm sure he would have run over here in two seconds flat, bum leg or no. But you called me. Why me, Allison? If you don't subconsciously like me why DID YOU CALL ME INSTEAD OF HOUSE?" he demands, getting more furious at every word.
She hesitates then backs up a few steps, putting her hands on her hips and whispers, "Because he knew I was high and wouldn't come over." And those words forced Chase to take a few steps back himself.
"Oh, I get it. I knew you used me for sex but I was your second choice?" he says, his voice getting louder with every word. "Unbelievable, Cameron, really unreal. I don't even know you anymore. That man has got you all twisted in the panties and you can't even think straight."
"Robert, I didn't want you to know…"
"Oh, well, I know now, don't I? You don't get it, Allison! That man doesn't give a SHIT about anybody but himself. You don't deserve to be treated like that…"
"You think you know what I do and do not need?" she shoots back.
"All I know is you sure as hell don't need a man like House."
"And what makes you think I need someone like YOU, Chase?"
Chase smiles, not wickedly but more reassuringly and walks toward the apartment door, opening it before he turns to face her once more. "Because subconsciously, whether you want to accept it or not, you like me. You just can't admit it to yourself. It's okay, though. But if and when you do decide you want me, I may not be available." He walks through the door and purposely slams the door shut.
Cameron stands in the room in complete shock staring at the paneling on the back of the door. "YOU SON OF A KOALA TURD! I DON'T WANT YOU! I'D RATHER…I'D rather…."
She is so out of control at this point she brings her right leg back and swings it forward, aiming directly at the bottom of the couch. Unfortunately for her there is a thick piece of wood that meets her five toes and she hears a few of them cracking. She screams out with several curse words before she collapses on the sofa from the pain, crying heavily.
After several minutes the pain subsides just a bit and she realizes she's no longer crying about her broken toes, but actually over the man that just walked out of her apartment. He is right and she knows it; she just can't convince herself whether it's worth falling in love with Chase or not.
Outside in the hallway Chase is leaning against the wall by her apartment door, listening to her curse and scream and cry and he's wearing a sly half-grin. He turns to walk to the stairs when he hears a door open and his name being called. He ignores it until he reaches the top of the steps and stops, turns and looks at Cameron, who is limping down the hall on her right heel.
"Chase," she begs but he makes no effort to console her. As she got within five feet of her she stops and leans against the wall. "I think I broke some toes."
"Really? Hmm, why don't you call House?" he says snottily.
"Low blow, Chase."
"Yeah, it was. Like it?"
She shook her head then leans it against the wall. "Chase, look, I'm sorry. You're right. Please, it's 3:30 in the morning. Stay til we're ready to go back to the hospital to see House and Wilson."
"Oh? And why should I stay if I'm not wanted?"
All the fight is out of her and she knows she's been defeated and forces a little smile. "You're wanted, Robert, you're wanted. Besides, I'll need you to drive me to the hospital about my broken toes."
"Ah, there she goes again, using me," he says, but she picks up on the fact that he is indeed teasing, although he is not smiling and still looks very stern.
"You like being used, don't you? Please, I'm sorry, Chase. I'll make waffles," she offers.
He looks down at her right foot and says, "Don't think you'll be standing on that leg for long periods for a while."
"Hey! Maybe I'll get a cane, just like House!" Cameron says with a little laugh as she turns and walks back to her apartment.
After she takes a few steps she realizes he isn't behind her so she stops and turns around. But he's still there, watching her.
"Fine, you get the cane. But if you start acting like House I will PERSONALLY throw you off the balcony of House's office!" he said with a smile before he starts walking toward her.
When he reaches her she's says, "Deal."
And the two walk back to her apartment as if nothing has happened: no angry words were spat, no names were called, no accusations that weren't true, but some that were.
Drs. Chase and Cameron have just crossed one rickety, dangerous and vulnerable bridge with no planks of wood falling to the depths of a giant crevice. That's a good sign. That's a very good sign.