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CHAPTER THREE – SHALL WE COMPARE NOTES?
House stalked up to Wilson, where he stood conversing with an attractive blonde nurse. He interrupted them impatiently, a serious look on his face.
"Why did you and Cameron arrive together this morning?"
Wilson looked confused. "Why… did you arrive alone this morning?" He turned to the nurse and shot her an apologetic look before heading towards the elevators. His friend followed him.
"Why didn't you arrive alone? The question still stands."
Wilson sighed and turned to him, relenting. "I'm staying at her house."
"You're staying at her house?" he repeated, an incredulous look on his stubbled face.
"Yes, House, I'm staying at her… house. On her couch," he added.
House original shock wore off, and he quickly re-adopted his sarcastic tone. "Oh. You two get tired after a hard night's work and decide to slum it on the couch?"
James rolled his eyes, understanding the double meaning. "Allison and I—"
"Allison? So, you're on first-name basis. How cosy. Must be serious." He sniffed at his friend and observed, "You smell like her."
"Allison and I did not have sex."
"Really? Your lethargy and black eyes say otherwise. The Boy Wonder, straying from his marriage! What a surprise! What would Julie say?"
"Julie would probably just laugh," Wilson muttered. He got into a newly arrived elevator car.
"At you sleeping with another woman? I highly doubt that."
Wilson held up his left hand as the elevator doors slowly closed. The ring finger was empty.
House raised his eyebrows. "On the other hand, if the ring fits…"
Chase approached her confidently, sauntering into the lab and leaning on the bench next to her.
Cameron looked up and smiled. "Hey. What's up?"
He gave her a cool look and picked up a petri dish, casually studying its contents. "So."
She nodded. "Yeah. So…"
He replaced the dish. "So. You and Wilson, huh?"
"What about us?"
"You two… going out?"
"No."
He waited, but she didn't divulge any more information. "Sex buddies? Weekend friends?" he prompted.
"If you like." She remained stoic and vague.
He launched himself away from the bench and growled in frustration. "Why won't you answer me properly?"
"Because I don't have to. It's none of your business what I do."
He nodded. "Yeah. Okay. I think I've finally figured you out. You're looking for a father figure, aren't you?" Sneered. "Daddy didn't like you, treated you like crap, or something, so you go for the older men, the ones who can comfort you, lull you into a false sense of security. But it didn't work, this time, did it? Because you've chosen two of the wrong older men – one's a depressed old bastard who treats you worse than his pet rat, and the other is serial cheater, who couldn't stay faithful if he was tied down for the rest of his life!"
Cameron clenched her fists and remained calm during his tirade, waiting for him to finally finish, when she stepped closer to him, hands on her hips. When she spoke her voice was low, and filled with venom.
"And I think I finally figured you out. You are a jealous, idiotic, possessive little boy! You're insecure, you're so unbelievably unsure of yourself that you need to constantly feel like you're needed, and loved. Who was the one whose father left? You. You are the one who's looking for someone, someone to comfort and reassure you, except you're looking for it in the form of a woman. And when that woman finally realises what a needy, snobby, ridiculously naïve little rich boy you are, she wants nothing more to do with you. And you get jealous. And you hate." She stepped closer to him and he flinched. "Well, let me tell you this: we had sex, once. I am not your property. My purpose is not to make you feel better about yourself, or to satisfy you when you need something pretty to look at. I am my own person, I make my own decisions, and they are mine, not for you critique. I will see whoever I want, pine for whoever I want, and love whoever I want. Just know this." She stepped forward again, glaring and backing him into the wall. Her breath was hot on his face. "That person, the one I eventually end up with, will never be you. You are nothing compared to House. Or Wilson, for that matter. Nothing. And you have no chance in hell. Ever. So get over it. Fast."
She gave him one last disgusted look and turned to the door, gasping slightly and reddening. House was standing there, leaning on his cane, a surprised look on his face. She smoothed down her hair and brushed past him like nothing was wrong.
House looked at Chase's humiliated and stunned face. "Dude. I think she's angry with you… Interesting."
