Thanks so incredibly much for allthe reviews! I didn't expect to have any the first day. I'm so glad youlike it. :D
Okay, something I've learned from last time: Asterisks don't liketo work for me. So I'll use hypens instead for mystrange andmaniacal actions.-Runs around room with hyphens on head- Fwee!HYPHENS!
Several hours later, Cameron smiled at the little girl she had just finished examining. "Okay, everything's all set." She jotted something down on a pad of paper, ripped it off and handed it to the mother. "Just have her take one every morning and night, and it'll clear up in about a week." Gathering up her things, Cameron held the door open for the two and followed them out to the lobby. Striding over to the desk, she quickly recorded the time on the waiting clipboard. Brenda glanced up at the sound of scratching pencil.
"Already leaving, Dr. Cameron?"
Cameron nodded as she set down the pencil and turned to leave. "Yeah, clinic duty goes by quick. Maybe I'll put in more hours. House sure wouldn't object." She grinned. Brenda flashed back her own smile.
"He would even have you doing his, if Cuddy weren't around."
"That I don't doubt. But she is, so he'll have to suffer." She laughed."See you around, Brenda."
"See ya."
Cameron glanced at the elevators, saw they were drowned in lines of waiting people, and took the stairs. She was back at her desk in minutes, where she found Foreman and Chase idly flipping through various medical magazines. She looked over at House's office. It was empty.
"Where's House?"
Foreman didn't even look up. "He left."
Cameron rolled her eyes. Obviously. "So where'd he go?"
"Didn't say."
Chase tossed his magazine aside and picked up another from the stack in front of him. "I think he was going to see Cuddy."
"What makes you say that?" Cameron asked quizzically, sitting down in the nearest chair. Chase turned the page.
"Because he had a face that clearly read, 'I would rather be in a small room with a sugar-high cheerleader than doing this.'"
Cameron grinned, scanning the magazines. None seemed very interesting. "Where'd you get these?" She gestured to the pile.
"Bathroom." The two said in unison. Cameron wrinkled her nose.
"Why do they have magazines in the men's bathroom?"
Foreman finally glanced up at her. "Do you really want to know?"
"Probably not." She sighed in boredom. "So... we've done all our clinic hours, and no new cases." Pausing, she cast around for an idea. "Board game?"
Chase grinned. "How about Operation?" Cameron and Foreman looked at each other. Then all three burst from their seats, heading for the psychiatrists' offices, magazines forgotten.
-----
Cuddy looked up as House burst into her office, then returned to her paperwork. Nothing new here.
"I need to take today and tomorrow off."
Cuddy glanced back up. Something in House's voice seemed weird. "Why? So you won't be held responsible when a patient dies?"
House fidgeted, obviously not wanting to say anything. It was then she noticed the letter clutched in his hand. Lifting her eyes to meet his, she was surprised to see his eyes already on hers. The sky blue orbs were pleading with her. Don't ask questions. Just let me go.
Suddenly the sun, which had been hiding behind grey clouds all morning, burst out in a flash of defiance, concentrating solely on shining through Cuddy's window and onto House's figure. He squinted from the sudden light, but not before Cuddy could see his eyes were slightly red and puffy. Then the sun was overtaken by the clouds once again, leaving Cuddy to very confused thoughts. House? Crying? She shook her head slightly to get back in control. Putting pen to paperwork once again, she threw out, "Three hours of clinic duty the moment you get back, case or no case." There was a slight pause.
"Done."
By the time Cuddy looked up again, the door had closed, and no trace was left that House had ever been there other than one very troubled mind.
-----
Back at his office, House grabbed his coat and wallet, shut off his computer, and turned to leave. He stopped short and nearly groaned. "Now's not the time, Cameron."
She stood there in her light brown coat that reached down to her knees, seemingly waiting for him at the door he had just previously entered. How did he not notice her sitting there when he came in?
She gazed at him a moment with the ocean blue eyes. Then she said simply, "I knew her too." After a moment, House nodded, and the two left the hospital together.