Sorry about the wait! Like I've said before, I'm putting a lot of effort into this story so I can't just sit down at the computer and whip up another chapter, like I can for some of my other fics. DISCLAIMER: This is the part where I tell you I don't own the characters from House MD, but I shouldn't have to because you know this already.
Cameron woke up the following morning with the covers still bunched over her head. Her whole body was stiff from being curled in the same position all night, and her t-shirt was soaked with sweat. She felt very much the frightened little girl.
Upon peeking out from the covers Cameron noticed morning light filtering in through her curtains. The brightness reassured her, like it had all those times as a child. She tentatively pushed the covers away and gasped as the cool air hit her clammy skin. Now as she sat up in her bed, she tried to remember what had her so scared in the first place, and then she remembered Isabelle.
Allison Cameron was a woman of science. Of fact. She scolded herself for letting a silly vision frighten her. That's all it was. Dead girls don't stand around in people's hallways. A guilty conscience may play tricks on overtired, stressed doctors, but really, dead girls don't stand around in people's hallways.
Instead of searching for a deeper truth like many people would, Cameron convinced herself it was am image created by her subconscious spurred on by her guilty conscience.
"That'll do." She sighed as she popped her last two pieces of bread in the toaster. "…Must go to the store tonight." There was a small supermarket down the road that didn't close until nine o'clock, so she could stop by there after work. Her stomach churned painfully as she swallowed the toast; a reminder of the day before.
Her stomach was still protesting when she pulled into her parking space at the hospital. Every muscle in her body joined in when she climbed out of the car. She wasn't going to forget the previous day's events anytime soon. Not when something as simple as walking hurt so much.
Foreman noticed her wincing as she sat down. "What's the matter?" He asked, trying to look nonchalant. He hadn't forgotten either, which caused Cameron to wince further.
"Just a bit sore after I… vomited yesterday." She replied hesitantly. "Look, Foreman, I'm sorry I snapped at you. I had a lot on my mind, and I wasn't feeling the best." She apologised and he nodded slowly.
"It's alright. I'm just not accustomed to seeing you like that."
"Like what?" She smiled, relaxing a little. She valued Foreman's forgiveness. He paused for a moment.
"Like… a bitch." He laughed gently.
Cameron opened her mouth in mock horror. "I can be a bitch!" She exclaimed indignantly.
Foreman raised an eyebrow. He was about to continue their friendly banter when House limped in followed closely by Cuddy.
"Don't you walk away from me House!" Cuddy was saying angrily.
"Bye bye." House said brightly as he shut the door in his boss's face. Cuddy, who knew House better than anyone, glared at him through the glass before stalking off in the opposite direction.
"Won't take 'no' for an answer, our Cuddy," said House fondly. "She wants me, you know."
In her chair Cameron relaxed further. She could see this was going to be like any other day and the knowledge was surprisingly comforting.
At that moment Chase appeared, late as usual. He approached the door and was reaching for the handle when House spotted him.
"Oh that's no good." He said, locking the door with a 'click'. Chase tried and failed to open the door, frowning in confusion. Cameron snorted with laughter while Foreman grinned smugly next to her. Bullying Chase was an excellent way to take her mind off things.
Isabelle soon disappeared from her thoughts as she and Foreman watched Chase run back and forth trying to open the doors while House taunted the young doctor by unlocking the door furthest from him.
--------------HOUSE MD--------------
Cameron was in the lab when she felt something jab her in she shoulder. "Ow! What the…" She cursed, spinning around.
House stood in the doorway, cane outstretched. "So… have we got the old Cameron back?" He asked, poking her again.
"What do you mean, House?" She asked impatiently. She was fast becoming annoyed and didn't bother hiding it.
"Well, you seem to be channelling Linda Blair the past couple of days. Wrong move on the Ouija board?" He said conversationally, flicking her dishevelled hair with his cane to support his point. Cameron frowned as she tried to work out what he meant.
"Because… because I threw up yesterday and my hair is messy?" Her tone was incredulous when she answered him. "I wasn't feeling well!" Now she was becoming defensive. She was not about to open up to House right now.
"Don't forget about the screaming match with Foreman and that bruise on your temple you obviously weren't aware of." He added nonchalantly, looking around the room as he did.
Cameron's arm jerked as she stopped her hand from travelling up to her temple. What bruise? Then she remembered hitting the wall in her hallway the night before.
House noted her puzzled expression and grinned a self-satisfied grin." Just save it for the weekend Dr. Cameron." He told her before he hobbled back out the door, with her frowning after him.
"Save what?" she asked herself. Did he think she was on drugs? She wished she were on drugs for Christ's sake! Then she could explain the hallucination and the fact she spent all night hiding under the blankets like a little child!
She walked back to the conference room, wincing in frustration more than pain. After she found her make-up kit she headed to the bathroom to hide the bruise.
--------------HOUSE MD--------------
Dark clouds had gathered overhead by the time Cameron left the hospital. The air was still and the roads were quiet and eerie. She shivered as she climbed into her car. Her muscles had loosened up a bit so she forgot about the aching for the moment. She was writing a list for the store when something pounded on the window making her jump. It was Chase. He motioned for her to wind down the window.
"Sorry if I scared you. Do you have plans for tonight?" He asked. Cameron shook her head.
"No. Why?" She replied.
"I wanted to see if you'd catch a movie with me? I was gonna ask Foreman too." He added when she narrowed her eyes. "Purely platonic. I told you I was seeing someone, didn't I?"
Cameron thought about it. "Look, Chase, I'm not really in the mood for a movie right now." Which was true.
"Come on, it's the weekend. You can choose the movie." He tried again.
Cameron sighed. All she wanted was to go home and go to sleep. Home, where there was no one else there to bother her. Home, with its darkened corners and silent rooms. Home, where visions of a dead girl crept around scaring the life out of her. A chill ran down her spine. A movie? Yes, a movie would be great now she thought about it. She decided she'd rather put up with a movie than go home. She did not want to be left alone.
"Okay." She replied, trying not to sound too eager.
"Alright then. We'll just take our own cars. Hang on, let me ask Foreman." Cameron watched him stride over to Foreman, who was exiting the hospital. She chewed her lip waiting to see his response. Chase came back shaking his head.
"Damn." She murmured when he returned to his car. It was always nicer when the three of them went out together. They got along much better outside of work where there were no stressful cases and no House.
"You don't want to get changed, do you?" Chase asked as he climbed into his car, which occupied the space next to her.
"Nah," Cameron answered, waving her hand. It was only a casual trip to the movies and she was quite comfortable in her work clothes. Besides, getting changed would mean going home.
"Okay, let's go." Chase said. He wound his window up and switched the ignition on. Cameron followed suit and the two of them headed for the cinema.
--------------HOUSE MD--------------
"Okay, which one do you want to see?" Chase asked Cameron when they arrived.
She certainly wasn't in the mood for a horror movie, and romance didn't appeal to her at that time so she chose comedy. She needed something to take her mind off things. Plus Chase would appreciate a comedy too. She pointed one out.
"That one. It's got some good reviews and it starts in ten minutes."
Chase nodded his approval. "One of my friends saw that. Said it was hilarious. I'll get the tickets if you want to get some snacks?" He indicated the snack bar. She agreed and headed over to it.
She was still feeling a little queasy so she chose some unbuttered popcorn and lemonade for herself, some Coke and salted popcorn for Chase, and a packet of lollies for the both of them to share.
"Do you want an ice cream?" She asked him when he handed her a ticket. "No, this is enough, thanks." Chase replied. The two of them headed over to the cinema doors.
"Number four, down the hall to your left. Enjoy the movie." The young man told them when he ripped the butt off their tickets.
"It's quiet, isn't it?" Chase observed when they entered cinema four. Apart from a couple down the front they were the only people in there. The lights had already been turned off and an advertisement for the snack bar was showing as they crept down to find a seat.
Cameron had taken a few steps when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She spun around to find Chase next to her. "What?" she whispered. He looked at her.
"What?" he repeated. "You tapped me!" Cameron reminded him.
"No I didn't." He deadpanned. She narrowed her eyes to let him know she was onto him, and continued walking down the aisle.
"Let's sit here." Chase whispered, pointing out a row of seats. She stumbled a bit and let him walk in front of her.
She was edging her way down the row or chairs when she felt another tap on her shoulder. This time she froze. Her heart began drumming in her chest. She turned around and saw no one behind her. She turned back to see Chase sitting in a chair slurping his Coke. "What's up?" He asked when he noticed her standing there.
"Nothing, I just spilt some popcorn." Cameron lied, her voice shaking a tiny bit.
"Crikey… if I had a dollar for every time I've spilt popcorn down the aisle I'd be my own millionaire." He chuckled as he chewed on his straw. Cameron offered an uneasy laugh and sat down.
"Once when I was here on a date I tripped down the first couple of steps and emptied my popcorn all over the nearest row of seats. I can look back now and laugh but at the time I didn't think it was very funny" Chase's voice drifted off as the preview for a new action movie blared to life on the screen.
Cameron didn't relax through the majority of the film. She laughed a few times, but her heart wasn't in it. It was too busy thumping heavily in her chest. The air was freezing in the cinema so she drew her jacket tighter around her shoulders and tucked her feet up. The hairs on the back of her neck were on end and this caused her to shiver more.
"You cold?" Chase asked as he watched her curl up. She nodded hesitantly. "I'll show you what I like to do." He turned sideways in his seat and rested his legs over the armrest so his back was to her. He indicated she do the same. When she did he shifted backwards a bit so his back was against hers. This new position against his back was warmer and made her feel secure. Immediately she relaxed, though the hairs on her neck were still on end. For the second time over the last day she couldn't shake the feeling she was being watched.
I heart opinions! I realise that whole thing with Chase may seem OOC, but who knows how well the Ducklings get along outside of work? I don't know when all this is happening, but I'd probably say before Hunting, floating around somewhere between seasons one and two. Or you could say it's timeless. How mysterious... REVIEW! ... please