Also, since in this story, 'Role Model' didn't happen, I have to explain her absence somehow (well, not really…it just fits what I want to do). This is it.
Cameron sat nervously in front of Vogler's massive desk and tried not to throw up. She knew that not only did the big man controlled her future at the Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, but the rest of her medical career as well. Since the Chairman of the Board was not there yet (probably intentionally making me wait, she thought to herself), she contented herself with studying the office itself.
Covered with bookshelves stuffed with pretentious-looking volumes, and a large mahogany desk with an even larger black leather chair, it was like any high-powered executive's office except that it was smaller than one would expect – almost as if Vogler was only given half of an executive office.
'A man that size would have a problem in half an executive washroom,' she thought to herself and stifled a giggle at the mental image.
She was looking at a photo on his desk of a large cruise ship when his voice behind her made her jump.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting, Dr. Cameron," Vogler said as he eased his bulk into his chair. "I see you were looking at my yacht."
"Yacht? That's a cruise ship!" she spluttered, as she tried to get her bearings against this man.
"Yacht, cruise ship, what's the difference?" he said rhetorically. "I own the line. It's more profitable than trying to keep a yacht."
"You own a cruise line?"
He shrugged, "Actually, that's why I summoned you to my office. I need you to do me a favor."
"Uh, what favor?"
He shuffled around the in-box on his desk before pulling out a letter.
"I need a doctor on one of my boats for a few weeks while the regular one goes on maternity leave."
"Say what?"
"You heard me. I want you to be my ship's doctor for the next two months or so. By that time either the new mother will return or I'll have found a permanent replacement by then. Think of it as a working vacation. Dramamine can handle 99 percent of all your cases. You'll have two other doctors trading shifts with you, so you can sightsee and have some fun too."
She stared at him, trying to read some ulterior motive into this apparent gift. His face remained pleasantly blank. She sighed and realized she'd have to ask.
"I know this may be looking a gift horse in the mouth, but I have to know. Why me? Earlier today, not only were you ready to fire me, but you were also threatening to strip my license. What's the deal?"
The pleasantly blank expression got even more pleasant and blank.
"I got to thinking after I received this letter that I might need an immunologist on the boat, what with all those people getting sick on cruise ships and having you gone will tick off House. Two birds with one stone."
"There hasn't been a ship outbreak in months!"
"Better safe than sorry."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then you'll be the one from House's team that I fire and I look into stripping your license."
"That's blackmail!"
"That's effective. So, shall I have my secretary make your travel arrangements? Or should she draft the AMA complaint?"
"When do I leave?" Cameron slumped into the chair in defeat.
"Three days ought to give you enough time to pack. You do have your passport or at least a birth certificate, right?"
Cameron nodded sullenly.
"Well, you go on home and start preparing. You have the next three days off. I'll courier the tickets and other documents within the next couple days."
Cameron got up slowly and left Vogler's inner sanctum. As she headed out of the outer office, she caught sight of House pacing the hallway. As he swung around to make another pass, their eyes met and he stopped dead – the question unmistakable in his eyes.
"I'm not fired…exactly," she said with a shrug.
"What the hell does that mean?"
To be continued…