"Oh…uh nothing, I just couldn't wake you…almost scared me! Almost" House shrugged, "Nearly lost my only duckling that actually works" House's mask slipping right back on, "Well you're awake now so let's get inside, wouldn't want an embarrassing moment because of slippery footpaths…cane please?" House pointed at the cane still delicately lying on her lap
House limped to his front door before letting them inside, "Pardon the mess, only Wilson comes round and he just will not clean up! Oh and wet coats hang here" House hung up his dripping coat on the first of three available hooks.
Cameron giggled, she remembered House's place from when she quit a few months ago. It wasn't actually messy, just an organized jungle of medical journals, books, sheet music, the odd Sports Illustrated and some empty scotch bottles.
"Drink?" House asked holding up a full bottle of the golden liquid
"Ah yes actually, where will I be sleeping?" Cameron replied
"Ah always the efficient Dr. Cameron, in my bed of course" House smirked as her face paled
"House" Cameron's voice came out shaky but he could see the warning in her eyes.
"No seriously, I randomly sleep there; the couch here is my bed" House slapped the worn out leather
"Oh, well in that case can I just put my overnight bag in there? I grabbed it when I was near the office" Cameron explained holding up a small bag
"Yea sure, second door on the right, first one is the bathroom and the toilet is across the hall" House gave the simple directions
"Thanks I'm just gonna change" Cameron blushed before disappearing
House poured them both a drink before sitting at the piano; striking a few chords thinking of the events of the past few days and the revelation of Cameron's marriage. 'So he wasn't dieing when she married him, that so puts a hole in my theory…maybe she didn't know?'
Cameron returned in some pajama pants and a v-neck top; picking up her glass she curled up on House's couch as if it were a regular occurrence, "Hey House, I meant what I said about being happy for you"
House remained silent, not knowing what to say and not trusting himself not to spill, but finally he broke the silence. "He wasn't dieing when you married was he?"
"Actually he was, we just didn't know until a year later and by then the wedding had been planned, and we were a week from the aisle. Why the sudden interest House?" Cameron replied sadly
"You…ah you fell a sleep on the way over…did you know you talk in your sleep? No? Well when I went to wake you up you started talking to me like I was your husband" House explained
"Oh" was all that came out of Cameron's mouth; House could just picture the tears welling up in her eyes.
House just sat at the piano as the painful memories created a shadow across the beautiful young doctor's face. Unable to form the correct words in his head, House for once opted to be quiet.
"I wasn't always like this you know; I used to be less…tense" Cameron began holding back a sob.
"Look Cameron, you don't have to" House finally spoke, feelings and opening up wasn't something he liked, ever.
"Why not House? Are you that incompetent that you can't even handle being told you were wrong?" Cameron snapped, seeing he wasn't going to continue she went on, "I sat there and took all the bullshit you threw at me, now you can sit there and hear the damn truth for once House!" she took a deep breath before continuing, "I didn't know he was dieing when we married, but I do know you're damaged. If I had known before we got married, I still would have married him; so maybe that does make me a person with the need to 'fix' things, but answer me this House…how can someone fix cancer?" At this point Cameron stopped, tears streaming down her cheeks but she would no release that sob.
House watched as she stared absently at the half full glass in front of her, before she shot her head back taking the golden liquid with her, "Look Cameron, I don't do sentimental talking…"House began.
"No one is asking you to talk House, just to listen for once in your miserable life!" Cameron snapped again, "I have spent my entire life being shushed and ignored, John was the only person to actually let me talk. You obviously have no idea how hard it is to keep stuff in! You're always mouthing off!"
"That's about enough bullshit from you Dr. Cameron! You think you know everything about me? Try again!" House snarled grabbing a new bottle of scotch.
"You don't let anyone close enough to know anything and the only person who is close enough, you keep at arms length! You hide behind your snide remarks in hope that no one will try, well guess what Dr. House! I've heard all your remarks and I've stood there and took it all, but now House I'm done! I'm not going to stand on the sidelines and take anymore! Now if you don't mind I want to go to bed" Cameron retaliated
House watched as Cameron stormed past him heading towards his bedroom, "No one asked you to be 'Little Miss Perfect!" House yelled before he could stop himself. Cameron spun around before she reached his bedroom, "You want 'Little Miss Perfect? Then read a fucking fairytale House, don't ever label me with that again" Cameron warned
"Or you'll what? Tell the dominatrix Cuddy? Please, she's always on my side" House smirked
House watched for the first time as rage took control of Cameron's delicate features, "You may be able to call Cuddy anything you want, but we all know it's only because she pities you for what she agreed to do" Cameron stepped closer to House, "If you think Cuddy is bad, you've never seen what I could do, don't push me House" House raised himself from the piano bench and took a step towards Cameron
"Why? Are you a little minx in the bedroom?" House grinned, but her eyes told him to stop, "What are you afraid of Cameron?"
"It's not what I'm afraid of House, but what you are afraid of…patients, friends, love, and humanity" Cameron began to list before House stopped her
House's voice was barely above a whisper but she would have sworn it was louder, "You"
A/N: I want to give a big shout out to the girls who signed YAYAYAYAY! I'm glad it brightened your day, your review brightened mine…hope you all still enjoy it…once again it's short, but I wanted to leave it here.